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The Ambassador January 2011 St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church A vital, eclectic Episcopal congregation committed to the ministry of all the baptized

Thank you to Joy Coffey for coordinating From Our Priest Christmas flowers. Thank you and blessing for 2011! Thank you also to Dean Steve Sellers for Dear friends at St. Stephen’s, preaching a very meaningful homily at our St. Stephen’s Day Mass (despite the fact that It was a glorious Christmas here at St. the heating wasn’t working that morning!) Stephen’s. Our Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve services were full houses. I am deeply grateful to each and every one And I am still hearing from people how of you for being part of this wonderful wonderful the Christmas tableau of family of St. Stephen’s. children at Christmas Eve Mass was, from My love, prayers and blessings be with each our sweetly rogue shepherd to the of you for a safe and prosperous 2011. And I attempted donkey ride to the tender placing ask your prayers as well as we look forward of the infant at the Station at the to a very bright future together at St. Crèche. Stephen’s in 2011 and beyond. I am grateful to all who you who made our Peace, Jamie+ Christmas Services a joyous and blessed time at St. Stephen’s. Thanks especially to our wonderful musicians – James Mackay Christmas at St. Stephen's and Michelle Gelinske. The music, I think we all have to admit, was particularly beautiful. Special thanks to James for playing at all the Wednesday night Masses in Advent and Christmas. Thank you to all of all the acolytes, worship leaders, lectors, greeters and ushers and everyone who worked hard behind the scenes. The Altar Guild did a wonderful once again of making our Church beautiful. And the added touch of the Jesse Tree for Advent was very nice. Thank to William Weightman for his patience and care in making the Christmas Children’s tableau such a beautiful success. Thank you once again to Annette Morrow and the Morrow family for the donation of the absolutely lovely Nativity set, which is has been the source of much praise. Thank you to Alice Hauan for preparing gifts for the children.

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The second part of that question is “to come So, what are the duties of an together week by week for corporate worship.” For us as Episcopalians, this is Episcopalian? essential. Worship naturally comes for us Here we are in our New Year of 2011. It’s a right after following . Episcopalians time of new beginnings and we are all, even are not solitary creatures. We need each despite the miserable weather, looking other and we need to come together and forward in hope. worship together, even when doing so in inconvenient. There is a reason why we With this hopefulness for the future in expect our Vestry members to attend mind, I recently had a question asked of me worship regularly. They set the example for that I realized I have never discussed in the rest of us in regular attendance at our much detail. The question that was posed worship service. And with multiple services was this, “So, do Episcopalians have any offered at St. Stephen’s, regular worship at responsibilities as Episcopalians. Is there St. Stephen’s is certain not impossible. In anything that is expected of one to be an fact, it is pretty convenient. Episcopalian?” As you have probably noticed in these last I liked that question, and like all good few months, our attendance at St. Stephen’s Episcopalians, we can find the answer in has been pretty impressive. Part of this, no our trusty Prayer Book. There, on page 856, doubt, has much to do with the fact that in our Catechism, we find this question: many of you know how important regular “What is the duty of all Christians?” worship is, not just to us personally, but to the wider community. Besides, I think we Now, I understand that this is not a all feel a certain pride and joy at seeing our question specifically about Episcopalians. little church filled with people. However since Episcopalians are, of course, Christians, the answer works perfectly. And The third section of the answer just sort of that answer is: sums up the rest. Our duty after following Christ and regularly attending worship is to “The duty of all Christians is follow (we actually need to do something as Christ; to come together week by week for work corporate worship; and to work, pray and Christians—it is not enough to simply come give for the spread of the kingdom of to church on Sundays, we actually have to God.” go out and work for the kingdom), pray (we don’t only pray on Sundays, but should be It really is the perfect answer to this praying daily for each other and for the question. So, let’s take a look at it in a bit church) and give (the congregation needs more depth. the time and talent of each of us, as well as The first part of the answer is, hopefully, a financial offerings—the kingdom cannot be given. Our first duty as Episcopal spread only with our work and our Christians is to follow Christ. We follow offerings of financial help). Christ in all that we do and say. Of course, So, there, in a nutshell, are the duties we often fail, but that’s not the issue. The expected of all Episcopalians. issue is that, even when we fail, even we are led s=astray, we pick ourselves and we keep on following Christ.

2 May this Epiphany Blessing be a reminder The Blessing of Chalk/ that Christ is incarnate in the love and care we manifest to each other in our ordinary Homes at Epiphanytide daily lives together. On Wednesday, January 5, the eve of the Even if you were unable to make it to the Epiphany, we had a traditional “Blessing of Epiphany Eve Mass this year, the chalk will the Chalk” and “Blessing of the homes of be available for anyone who would like to the parish” use it as a blessing on their homes. Since the Middle Ages there has been a tradition that on (or near) the feast of the Epiphany we pray for God’s blessing on our Annual Meeting homes, marking the entrance with chalk (an St. Stephen’s Annual Meeting will be held incarnational image reminding us of the January 30 following the 11:00 a.m. dust of the earth from which we were Morning Prayer/Holy Eucharist. made). We mark the main door of our home with the initials of the Magi and the Reports for the Annual Meeting booklet numerals of the new year, connected with should be sent to Laura Nylander or to Fr. crosses: Jamie [email protected] by January 17. 20 + C + M + B + 11 The initials remind us of the legendary New Integrity Province 6 names of the Magi – , , and Balthasar – and also stand for the Coordinator Named motto: Christus mansionem benedicat, Integrity has “May Christ bless this house.” In the Book recently of Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors announced the with blood so that the Lord would pass New Province 6 over their homes; but in this ritual, we mark Coordinator for our doors with chalk as a sign that we have Integrity, the invited God’s presence and blessing into Revd Scott our homes. Monson, from It is traditional to write the inscription on St. Paul, MN. the lintel, above the door, but it can be More written anywhere near the entrance. The information following prayer may be said while the about Fr. entrance is marked: Monson follows. The three Wise Men, As you know, St. Stephen’s is a partner C Caspar, congregation of Integrity, a group of M Melchior, Episcopalians whose mission is “to be the B and Balthasar followed the star of witness of the lesbian and gay community God’s Son who became human in the Episcopal Church and of the 20 two thousand Episcopal Church in the lesbian and gay 11 and eleven years ago. community.” ++ May Christ bless our home http://www.integrityusa.org/ ++ and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen. From Integrity:

3 Dear friends: It is my great pleasure and February 6. He can be contacted at St. honor to introduce and appoint the Rev. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Fargo: (701) Scott Monson as the Province 6 Coordinator 235-5591 for Integrity USA. Scott has been in During Fr. Jamie’s vacation, Sandy leadership positions for Integrity for a Holbrook will lead Evening Prayer on number of years. He is already at work Wednesday night, February 2 and preparing for Integrity's presence and Wednesday, February 9. Wednesday hospitality at Creating Change/Practice evening Mass will resume February 16. Spirit, Do Justice Conference in Minneapolis this February. Please welcome Scott! More About Scott: Around the Parish A Minnesotan by birth and inclination, Scott has a wide-ranging employment history, no St. Stephen's is now listed among the GLBT doubt owing to his life-long academic friendly churches in the FM area on the pursuit of the liberal arts with degree work Pride Collective website. Check it out: in history, literature, theater and http://www.pridecollective.com/fm- communication. Scott is privileged to have resources/religious-philosophical/ served as special assistant to Archbishop Leigh Wilson-Mattson received a Fulbright Desmond Tutu and as a past president of Scholarship to study in Malaysia. She left on Integrity Minnesota. An alumnus of January 2 and will be back in November. Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, he Fr. Jamie’s latest book of poems, Fargo, has been as a parish rector, currently assists 1957, was published in December. There at St. Paul’s on-the-Hill, St. Paul, is a was a very well-attended reading and member of Seabury’s board of trustees and publication party at the Spirit Room in is studying the interplay of religion and Fargo on December 18, with music supplied culture at the University of Minnesota. He is by oboist Justin Schwartz. an avid reader and armchair historian, and wishes he were a better musician. Scott lives William Holman, brother of Bonnie Miller, in Lilydale, MN, on the banks of the died December 29. His funeral was held on Mississippi River. Jan. 3 at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo. Contact info: The Rev. Scott Monson 1015 Sibley Memorial Hwy. #310 New Website St. Paul, MN 55118-3684 Our newly remodeled web site is up and 651-785-5103 (mobile) running at ststephensfargo.org and it is frequently updated. You will find the current and past issues of The Ambassador, Father Jamie's Vacation the weekly schedule of events, stories of our ministries, and photos. The calendar page Fr. Jamie will be on vacation from January lists services and events. All of the 31 through February 12. He will be days from Holy Women, Holy Men, are on the traveling, once again, to Florida. calendar. If you click the ’s name, you While he is away, Pastor Mark Strobel of St. will be redirected to the history of that saint. Mark’s Lutheran will be on call for any There are 4 to 19 visitors to the web pages pastoral emergencies. Pastor Strobel will every day. We get feedback that people look also preach and preside at Mass on Sunday, at the pages and find us from the

4 information there. Look over the web pages years before venturing into this full-time and let Fr. Jamie or John Baird know if you ministry portraying great saints and have other ideas for improving the site. martyrs of the 20th Century. He has made presentations all across the US, Canada and Europe, bringing to life the characters he Children's Chapel Update presents. Dr. Bonhoeffer and Archbishop Romero were both martyrs for peace and Our Children's Chapel program has been social justice, and their lives reflect very active over the past months. More authentic Christian faith. children are participating with attendance of 12-14 at times. The program offers a simple liturgy with a Episcopal Peace Fellowship lesson appropriate for younger The Episcopal Peace Fellowship is a children. The children are engaged in community of Christians committed to worship, music, prayers, lighting of candles, peace, justice, reconciliation and non- an object lesson and an activity. violence. The group offers a variety of During the Advent season the children resources that promote peacemaking made decorations for the Jesse Tree. They including personal devotions and studies, learned about St. Nicholaus, making bishop non-violence training, publications, retreats, mitres and cutouts, Our Lady of conferences and action groups. Guadalupe, whose feast is celebrated I have been a member of EPF for two years during Advent, and made stars and white and encourage others to join. If we have five doves. Some of the childrens' other works members who join from St. Stephen's we are displayed in the undercroft. Each child can become an official chapter of EPF and has been asked to complete a page about be a witness in our community and diocese. themselves with a photo and description. These are posted on the bulletin board as A display of materials from the Episcopal they are returned. Please take time to check Peace Fellowship will be set up at church. out these delightful little biographies. Membership cards are available or more information can be found at We have a good team of leaders and helpers www.epfnational.org who are prepared for each Sunday's session. As this ministry is growing in numbers we could use a few more leaders. The Share Your Christmas preparation is easy and you will only need to serve about once every 4-5 weeks. Please Letters? contact Gin if you are interested. You may have seen the recent article in the Forum about Dr. Ann Burnett’s research on Christmas/holiday letters. As she continues An Evening with Two Martyrs this research, Burnett would be glad to have any of the Christmas/holiday letters you’ve Mark your calendars for Sunday evening, received that you’re willing to share with January 23, at 7 p.m. Dr. Al Staggs will do a her – from this year or previous years. You one-man portrayal of Dr. Dietrich can give letters to Mark Meister or to Sandy Bonhoeffer and Archbishop Oscar Romero Holbrook; they’ll be glad to pass them along at Gethsemane. Dr. Skaggs, from Sante Fe, to Ann who sends her thanks to any of you New Mexico, was a full-time pastor for 20 willing to share with her. Thanks.

5 We moved to Fargo in 1975. Early in 1976 Meet the Vestry Bishop Masuda asked me to serve on the Alice Mae McPherson Hauan, born in Higher Education Committee, begin Marshfield, WI; Raised in Litchfield, IL. developing a library of Christian Education materials, and do some part-time work on I attended McKendree College in Lebanon, the SHEAF. I was involved in Higher IL, a liberal arts college and Garrett Biblical Education Committee work and was Institute and Northwestern University, all coordinator of the Province Six Higher affiliated with the Methodist Church. There Education Committee and secretary of the I majored in Religious Education, received Province Six Council. These took me many my Masters Degree in Education and met places around the country where I was Jim Hauan, who was attending for a Master thrilled to see the church at work in cultural of Divinity degree. settings with which I was not familiar and We were married in September, 1958 and meet some outstanding leaders of our moved to Mankato, MN, where Jim was church. I also had the privilege of attending Associate pastor of Centenary Methodist National Conventions. Church and director of Campus Ministries. In Fargo I directed and sang in the choir, In 1960 Jim resigned from the Methodist taught Church School, etc! When Jim went Church and was confirmed in the Episcopal full time into the chaplaincy at the Veterans Church. We moved to St. Peter, MN. I Hospital, I chose to remain at St. Stephen’s. became a member of the Education That is where my support community has Commission of the Diocese of Minnesota. I always been. Jim and I were blessed with also was involved in other committees and four children, (’59), (’60), organizations, mostly for Diocesan and William (’64) and Rachel (’70). All are National efforts. We moved to New Ulm married, one is widowed and all have given and then to Brookings, SD. In South Dakota us wonderful (what else?!) grandchildren. I was coordinator of the Diocesan UTO committee and traveled around the Diocese I LOVE what is happening at St. Stephen’s to visit parishes on the reservations. It was a since Fr. Jamie joined us and am blessed to wonderful time. I also attended the 1970 be a member of this loving parish National Church Convention and witnessed community. All are very precious to me. monumental changes in our church at that AMEN time. I served on the Education committee, directed our local choir, etc!

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Prayer Chain - 2010 If you would like to request prayers for any reason, please contact any of those listed below, and they will contact others on the Prayer Chain:

Betty De La Garza 218-456-2293 [email protected] Sandy Holbrook 232-1667 [email protected] Lavonne Marubbio 280-0436 [email protected] Laura Nylander h: 233-6016 [email protected] w: 284-2276 Jamie Parsley+ (cell) 701-793-1953 [email protected] Betty Spur 235-3917 (none available) Gin Templeton 701-371-5544 [email protected]

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Schedule of Ministries at St. Stephen’s for January -February * Schedule January 2 January 9 January 16 January 23 January 30 Acolyte Holbrook Marubbio Meister Weightman Holbrook Altar Guild Marubbio Marubbio Nylander Nylander Spurbeck Worship Ldr/ EM Hauan Baird Marubbio Meister Stewart Lector Droppers Hauan Wilking Holbrook Johnson Usher Coffey Wilking Stewart Coffey Baird Coffey Holbrook Nylander Marubbio Wilson Euch. Visitor Hauan Holbrook Marubbio Baird Hauan Coffee Holbrook Coffey Droppers Hauan Baird Cleaning Wilson Wilson Coffey Coffey Holbrook Children’s Chapel Templeton Nylander Stewart Dolence Templeton Schedule February 6 February 13 February 20 February 27 Acolyte Marubbio Meister Weightman Holbrook Altar Guild Spurbeck Coffey Coffey Hauan Worship Ldr/EM Holbrook Hauan Baird Meister Lector Meister Marubbio Nylander Stewart, J

Usher Coffey Holbrook Stewart, M Baird Coffey Nylander Wilking Wilson Euch. Visitor Holbrook Marubbio Baird Hauan Mackay/ Coffee Nylander Ranney Stewart Weightman Cleaning Holbrook Marubbio Marubbio Coffey Children’s Chapel Nylander Stewart Dolence Templeton

*Communion is available for those who are unable to attend Sunday worship. Please call the church to request communion after the Sunday service.

**If you are unavailable to serve on a date when you are assigned, please find a substitute and let James ([email protected]) know who the substitute will be as early as possible so he can include the correct names in the bulletins. THANKS.

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ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 120 20 Avenue North Fargo, ND 58102 January 2011

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 THE HOLY NAME

2 2 CHRISTMAS 3 Bl. William Passavant 4 St. Elizabeth Seton 5 6 THE EPIPHANY 7 8 Bl. Harriet Bedell

11 am Mass Children’s Chapel 6 pm Mass

9 1 EPIPHANY 10 Bl William Laud 11 12 St. Aelred of Rievaulx 13 St. Hilary 14 15 11 am Mass Children’s Chapel 6 pm Mass 2 pm Evangelism

16 2 EPIPHANY 17 St. Antony 18 The Confession 19 St. Wulfstan 20 St. Fabian 21 St. Agnes 22 St. Vincent of Sara- 11 am Mass MLK Day of St. Peter gossa Children’s Chapel 12:45 Vestry 6 pm Mass 4 pm Alm/Beckius wedding

23 3 EPIPHANY 24 Bl Florence Li Tim- 25 The Conversion 26 Sts. Timothy, & 27 Sts. Lydia, & 28 St. 29 Bl. Andrei Rublev 11 am Mass Oi of St. Paul Silas Salvation Army Baptism Children’s Chapel 6 pm Mass

30 4 EPIPHANY 31 St. John Bosco/Bl. Fr. Jamie’s office hours 11 am MP/Mass Shoemaker Fr. Jamie keeps office hours at Annual Meeting Fr. Jamie’s vacation the Diocesan Office (3600 25 St. S.) Tues.-Th. 9am – 5pm