FIRST EPISCOPAL VISITATION
OF OUR BISHOP
THE RIGHT REVEREND CHARLES G. VONROSENBERG

Sunday, June 16 at 10:00 A.M.

At this Service the Bishop will Preach, Confirm, and Celebrate, and by "Confirming" he will bring into full membership in the Episcopal Church those who have been preparing for that moment.

Be sure too attend the first ever visit of our new Bishop!

A reception will follow.

AN "OPERATOR'S HANDBOOK" FOR THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

WITH THE RIGHT REVEREND CHARLES vonROSENBERG coming for his first "Episcopal Visit"* to the parish on June 16 (since he officially became the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina in the wake of the "rupture" between the national Episcopal Church body and the Diocese of South Carolina), this will be the time for all who have studied recently to receive Confirmation and Reception into the Episcopal Church to meet him and be Confirmed.Learning as an adult is a lot more interesting since we can range far and wide in our interest and questions about what we are as a church and people of God. The beauty is that adults have a lot more questions than younger folks; and a lot more life experience to draw upon.

There will be no tiresome Catechism. What there will be is information to stimulate your thoughts and promote conversation. All you need to do is be ready to learn something and then bring on the conversation. This will be a simple three-week journey with one another toward being Confirmed by our Bishop (or Received if you have already been Confirmed in another Christian tradition).

Sign up soon so I can begin to work on our format and perhaps pull in some of our wonderful adjunct clergy and deacons to help out.  Let me know by calling me at (843) 722-0038 or by sending me an email at David9612@aol.com. Let's get started!

SATURDAY DATES

MAY 25 AT 10:00 A.M.
JUNE 1 AT 10:00 A.M.
JUNE 8 AT 10:00 A.M.

Faithfully,
Fr. Williams

* By Canon Law all Bishops of a Diocese are required to visit all of the parishes and missions within their jurisdiction every year. When this is not possible, due to the size of the Diocese, Assisting or Retired Bishops are often called into service.

It has not been that long ago (about nine years, to be exact) that during the summer months we held our main Sunday Service at 10:00 A.M., allowing people to have more time for relaxation and recreation. After careful consultation with many of you, and thoughtful comments from some of our clergy, it seemed a good idea once again to resume that custom.
 
So, here will be the weekend schedule of Service from June 2 to September 1.

• Throughout the summer, the SATURDAY @ 6:00 P.M. service will continue in its present manner.

• The SUNDAY 8:00 A.M. service will remain the same as well.

• BEGINNING JUNE 2, THE SUNDAY SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION WILL BEGIN AT 10:00 A.M.  Childcare & Sunday School will start at 9:30.

After Labor Day we will resume with our 11:00 A.M. Service - September 8th.

Closer to both the beginning and the end of the Summer 10:00 A.M. service, we'll remind you.
 
I hope that all of you enjoy your summer, and this alteration in our schedule will make your summer months even more spiritually refreshing and relaxing.
 
Yours in Christ,

David+

IT'S PARISH PICNIC TIME!
Plan to share a great day in the sun with our St. Stephen's family. 

PLEASE RSVP BY CONTACTING JAN VAN NORTE AT janvannorte@gmail.com!

This year's picnic will be held on Sunday, June 23 at James Island County Park. We will gather at the Wando Shelter, which is located along a six-acre grassy meadow, and offers a playground, horseshoe pit, picnic tables, grills, a sand volleyball court, and accessible restrooms. Stay for the day and enjoy kayaking, bike trails, or the dog park.

Admission to the park is $1.00 per person, and the shelter is reserved for St. Stephen's from 9:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

The church will provide the meat, drinks, and paper products, but we need volunteers to bring salads, chips, desserts, and hamburger toppings, as well as to help with set-up and clean-up. Sign-up sheets for these items and for set-up and clean-up volunteers are located in Stephen's Hall. You may also contact the Parish Administrator at (843) 723-8818 or 67anson@bellsouth.com,  and he will record your preferences on the sign-up sheets for you.

 Directions to James Island County Park: Take Calhoun Street onto the James Island connector. Take exit three, toward Folly Beach. Keep right at the fork to go onto Folly Road. Turn left onto central Park Road. Go approximately one mile and turn left onto River land Drive. The park is half a mile on the right..

YOUR PRAYERFUL SUPPORT IS ASKED FOR

Edward Bryan & Family,
Lewis Nix,
Carol Koehler,
Phyllis Pacifico,
Leon Helmly,
Barbara Sprinkle,
Fred Pittman,
Sam & Lisa Clowney,
Evelyn Gore (mother of Betty Gore),
&
Cheryl Glenn

If you know of a parishioner who is in the hospital or recuperating at home, please contact the Parish Office at (843) 723-8818 or 67anson@bellsouth.net so that we may include him or her on this list.

Several months ago the Vestry and the Sunday School teachers and volunteers in childcare, with the assistance of our Vestry Member Dr. Nancy Muller, produced a survey that went out to all parents who have, from time to time, used the Sunday School or our childcare facilities. Surprisingly, some parents had no idea that we even have a Sunday School and had already made plans to move their membership from St. Stephen's to another parish church. Others, sadly, have already done so. Yet others were delighted to hear that the Vestry was interested in funding a Director of Christian Education to manage scheduling volunteer teachers, developing curricula, staying in touch with parents, and looking after and involving children of all ages in enriching Christian education.
 
We interviewed several candidates from a variety of backgrounds and finally decided that Margaret Ann "Muffy" Morris was the best of the group. Through the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Vestry, led by Junior Warden Joe Sylvan, future initiatives may include finding additional room for our Sunday School participants as the program grows. Their creative thinking will be very helpful in assisting us all in realizing that we have more room for expansion than we often think, and "re-purposing" older spaces can be achieved when thoughtful people capture a renewed vision of our future.
 
We have been blessed by a marvelous group of volunteers to teach our children, yet as intimate as our program is, we now find that, if we want to build our program to accommodate an influx of new families to our church, it really is unfair to expect volunteers to manage all the "nuts and bolts" of doing so. A part-time coordinator will assist us all tremendously, as I hope you all will agree.
 
Welcome Muffy, and if you are so inclined, ask her how you can volunteer to vitalize our work with our youth. She is a native of Alabama, and has called Charleston home for the past two years. The University of Kentucky graduate has grown up in the Episcopal Church, which has not only enriched her faith, but fostered an appreciation and respect for the church community. Currently a member of Grace Episcopal here in Charleston, Muffy has firmly ensconced herself in the Charleston community. She chartered the Charleston Sigma Sigma Sigma alumnae chapter and is an extremely active member of the Junior League of Charleston. Her volunteer and previous work experience in childhood development with such organizations as the Girl Scouts, 4H, YMCA, Kennolyn Camp, and lead for Children's Programs at the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory, provides an excellent foundation for the position she has accepted.
 

On Sunday, May 19, Karen Eichman is teaching Sunday School, andthe lesson will be "Paul Spreads the Good News."
 
For more information about Sunday School, please contact our new Director of Christian Education Muffy Morris by e-mailing her at margaretann.m.morris@gmail.com or by calling the Parish Office at (843) 723-8818, and selecting extension 12..
 

On Saturday, May 18 from 9:00 A.M. to Noon, we will have a Yard Clean-Up Day. There is plenty of pruning to do in the church yard, so come with your hand clippers and help with the task.  All the azaleas should be pruned now so that they bloom better next year.  And other plants also need your TLC.  We will have brown yard debris bags for clean-up.  This could also be an opportunity to wash the windows of the Parish Hall for anyone interested. For more information, please contact Linda Williams at (843) 973-3030.
 

JOIN US FOR TEA TIME ON SUNDAY AFTER THE 11:00 SERVICE!
THIS SUNDAY'S TEA TIME WILL BE HOSTED BY MECHELLE MALLOV AND BARBARA CARTER

TEA TIME SPONSORS URGENTLY NEEDED. We are looking for members to sign up for Tea Time. Please consider doing so, and maybe getting one of two friends to help you. It’s really simple. You supply the goodies, and we supply and make the tea, coffee, cups, plates, utensils, napkins, ice, serving plates, and everything else. YOU can supply anything you would like, be it cookies, cake, finger food, chips/dip, and small sandwiches. The average cost for tea time is around $25 to $35, and the average attendance is around 50 people. Lee Werry always has the sign-up sheet in Stephen’s Hall during Tea Time. Please help us out in this ministry! It’s a great way to get to know members and newcomers better, and also helps us with the hospitality budget for the year. 

If you have any questions, please call Lee Werry or Dusty Parker at (843) 856-3650.

HAVE YOU "LIKED"  ST. STEPHEN'S ON FACEBOOK?  

Click here https://www.facebook.com/ststephenscharleston?ref=hl. 
 

Volunteers are needed to prepare and serve breakfast at Crisis Ministries Men’s Shelter on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:00 A.M. New volunteers are welcome!

We continue to accept your ongoing gifts of jam, pepper, coffee, and grits. Many thanks! These items may be placed on the small table in the Parish Hall. We continue to collect small toiletries for Charleston Area Senior Citizens and Crisis Ministries. There are baskets in the Parish Hall for these items. Thank you!

For more information or to volunteer please contact Iris Carson at irisleecarson@gmail.com or (843) 795-2819.

 

The Shawl Ministry is making fleece chemo scarves for the patients at Hollings. These require no sewing and only the use of pinking shears. A yard of fleece will yield three scarves. You can help with this project either by making a contribution toward the purchase of fleece, or by starting to cut out your own to give. Hancock Fabrics has great sales on fleece ($5.00 to $7.00 per yard), and they have many fabric designs that will do a great deal to pick up the spirits of a cancer patient.

We also continue to collect magazines for Hollings. Please bring only current magazines. Also needed are DVDs because there is a significant amount of sitting time while receiving treatment.

For more information, please contact Linda Williams at (843) 973-3030.

The Thursday Evening Women's Bible Study is beginning a new study for the summer. We will be reading a book by C. S. Lewis entitled The Joyful Christian, which offers inspiration for all who hunger and thirst after joy. The class is always open to newcomers. The Women's Bible Study meets on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 P.M. in Stephen's Hall.

For more information, call Mary Lou Titus at (843) 737-2693.

The Association for the Blind's Refocus Program provides eyeglasses for underserved children in Title 1 schools. The Association will screen approximately 3,000 four- and five-year-olds this fall in 22 area Title 1 schools. In the first two years of these in-school screenings, 25% of these children needed eyeglasses. One out of every four school-aged children suffers from vision problems, yet poor vision often goes undetected by physicians, parents and teachers. Since 80% of children's learning is visually acquired, these conditions negatively impact children's abilities to learn, to thrive and ultimately to succeed in completing their schooling.

The Refocus Program is one of St. Stephen's Outreach Partners.  Volunteers are needed to assist with working with the children who are being tested.  So far we have four wonderful volunteers:  Colette Simone, Mary Lou Titus, Michael Fenwrick, and Deborah Millet.  However, we would be delighted to have more. 

Please contact Judy Sawyer at (843) 577-5183 or sawyerj37@yahoo.com to learn more about the program and how you might help.

The women of St Stephen's got together Tuesday evening at Betty Gore's lovely house on Albemarle Point for our May Potluck Dinner.  We were treated to one of the prettiest evenings so far this spring.  We ate outside by the pool, watching the late afternoon sun sparkle on the Ashley River.... It was perfect!  The only thing that could have made it better was if more of our ladies could have been there.  We missed many of our "regulars," but had a great group of eight, and we were able to crowd around one table and all talk and laugh together!  Thank you Betty, for once again being such a gracious hostess!
 
The next Women of St. Stephen's Potluck Dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, June 25 at Susan Roehrich's home (340 N. Civitas St.,
Mt. Pleasant, 29464).  The Women of St. Stephen's get together monthly on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. in each other's homes. The hostess usually provides a main course, and everyone brings a side dish or dessert to share. It is a wonderful way to spend time together, deepening friendships and making new ones. The evenings are fun and filled with laughter, and the food is always wonderful! Don't forget to ask someone who hasn't been to one of our dinners to come with you, especially our newcomers!

June 25
Susan Roehrich, 340 N. Civitas St.,
Mt. Pleasant, 29464, (843) 388-5950

August 20
Nicole Watts, 1020 Tyron Circle
Charleston, 29414, (843) 766-0160.

September 24
Deborah Millet, 1296 Wisteria Way Dr,
Mt. Pleasant, 29464, (843) 849-2913

October 22
Iris Carson, 572 Harborview Circle,
Charleston, 29412, (843) 795-2819

November 19
LaNelle Barber, 1883 Bowen's Island Rd,
Charleston, 29412, (843) 870-0962

The Wednesday study group will discuss Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, chapters three to six, on May 22.

All are welcome to join us in the front room of Stephen's Hall on Wednesdays from noon until 1:00 P.M.

We will be changing the locks on all buildings on campus in the near future. Everyone will be required to see the Parish Administrator during Parish Office hours to sign out and receive any keys. If your group needs keys to any campus building on a permanent basis, please submit a list of those people to 67anson@bellsouth.net  We will give plenty of notice before the lock change takes effect.

A brochure entitled A Sacred Rest in a Sacred Place is now available in the Narthex. If you are interested in finding out more about having your cremains deposited under one of the granite tablets, please complete and return the form in the brochure.  The Memorial Garden Committee is Betsy Walker, Rolf Kolconay, Sallie Duell, and Linda Williams. 

For more information, please contact our Parish Administrator Dave Hoey at (843) 723-8818 or 67anson@bellsouth.net.
 

Have you attended a Saturday @ Six service?
JOIN US!

• Call for Music volunteers - Come sing for us or play guitar?

• Come and bring a friend!

• To sign up for refreshments, go to www.SignUpGenius.com/go/70A0F49AAAC28A57-saturday/7322495.

For more in formation on Saturday @ Six services, contact Tom Massey at (843) 388-5718 or tom.massey1@comcast.net. 

The website for the Episcopal Church in South Carolina is www.episcopalchurchsc.org.

 Also, you may subscribe to the Episcopal Journal, which comes out monthly, at a yearly rate of $6.18 by contacting ejournal@egpp.com.

MAY 27 - JUNE 7
 
During the annual Spoleto Festival USA in late May and early June, Grace Church operates a Tea Room and a gift shop, the Church Mouse Boutique. Lunch is served Monday through Saturday from 11:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.  
 
The entire parish is involved in the Tea Room, from planning and publicity, to food preparation and cleaning up afterward. Grace welcomes many visitors to Grace during these two weeks, and everyone makes new friends while working together for a good cause. All the proceeds from the Tea Room and Gift Shop are used to support the outreach efforts in our community. Since it began in 1992, the Tea Room has given away more than $500,000 in grants to local outreach organizations in the Lowcountry. For more information about the Tea Room, contact Susan Cromwell at (843) 277-2361.
 
The Church Mouse Boutique is open 10:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. daily during the Tea Room. Browse a selection of new or gently used books, jewelry, china, crystal, silver, lamps, artwork, handmade and decorative items, small tables, and small appliances. All proceeds go to worthy local charities.

The deadline for submitting announcements for The Deacon is noon each Wednesday.
Announcements are subject to editing. All announcements must be sent via e-mail to 67anson@bellsouth.net.
Announcements submitted after the deadline will be considered the following week.
 
If you would like a PDF of The Deacon e-mailed to you, please let us know by contacting the Parish Office at (843) 723-8818 or 67anson@bellsouth.net. PDF (Protected Document Format) may be downloaded for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/.
 
The Deacon is also available as a PDF on our website: www.ststephenscharleston.org – Click on “Communications” and then “Newsletters.”
 
Announcements may also be found on our website’s Announcements page (under Communications). The Deacon is also sent as an “e-blast” on Thursdays, and it is periodically available as part of the Sunday Order of Service.
 

Did you know that you may access both print and audio versions of some of our sermons on our website? The Sunday 11:00 Orders of Service are also available as PDFs.

On our Home page, click on "Communications" in the left column, and then in the drop-down menu, select "Sermons" or "Orders of Service."