For those members of the parish who are unable to attend a Wednesday night service, Rev. Kinsey will be at the church at 12 noon for imposition of ashes.

• Download the Annual Meeting Reports (PDF, 365KB)

Was it a difficult year? I know you will agree with me when I say — oh yes, it has been difficult. But I believe we here at St. Stephen’s needed to take this past year to be calm and listen to what the Lord wanted us to do, where he wants us to head, and how we were going to be able to do His work in the future.

We as a Vestry spent many months restructuring ourselves — the Finance Committee, Worship Committee, Pastoral Care Committee, Outreach and so on. We will have much more to accomplish as we grow stronger. We contemplated the need for the continuation of the fish fries, and under the direction of Mrs. Cassie Pratt, it was a huge success. The fish fry was a great financial boost for the beginning quarter of 2011. Thank you to all who participated in that six-week event. Every hand was needed and so appreciated.

Although we did not have a Rector throughout this year, we did have continuous support throughout the year. We were blessed with being able to utilize consistently the service of the Rev. Marty Wright for the first six months. He brought a calming presence 
to our congregation. When Fr. Wright was called to be Rector at Johnstown on July 3, 2011, we again felt a severe loss. We had come to feel that he belonged to us.

Thankfully within three weeks we had found the Rev. David Kinsey to join us as a supply priest. It was apparent in a very short time that many of our parishioners liked and respected Fr. Kinsey. Although at first he was not looking to stay, the Lord had a very different idea of what was to come.

I am sure that everyone is well aware that Fr. Kinsey has agreed to commit to St. Stephen’s a minimum of one year of his service. Over the last month we as a vestry have accepted his offer and have requested that during this next year he take the position of Priest in Charge. We have made that request to the Diocese and Bishop Price. All meetings and requirements have been met, and officially as of Feb. 1, 2012, the Rev. David Kinsey is indeed Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s Church.

Hopefully I can speak for all of us when I say that our Lord has made a perfect fit for St. Stephen’s with his choice of who shall walk, teach, and guide us into the future of where St. Stephen’s fits in His great and glorious plan.

May our gracious Lord bless St. Stephen’s and the congregation that holds it up to do his work!

Yours in Christ,
Karen L. Slobodian
Senior Warden
St. Stephen’s Church

Other announcements:

• Welcome Carolyn Slaugh as our guest organist! Carolyn is filling in during Georgia’s vacation.
• Please call the office if you would like to place flowers on the altar. The cost per vase is $15. Jan. 22 and 29 and Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26 are available.

The preliminary slate was unanimously recommended by the nominating committee and unanimously accepted by the diocese’s standing committee. The slate is preliminary because names may be added to the ballot by petition. (Download PDF.)

Petitions may be downloaded from the diocesan website and must be postmarked by Feb. 5.

The candidates (in alphabetical order) are:

Rev. Canon Michael N. Ambler Jr., rector, Grace Episcopal Church, Bath, Maine

Rev. Dorsey W.M. McConnell, rector, Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Rev. R. Stanley Runnels, rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Mo.

Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, rector, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Denver, Colo.

The four were selected from an initial field of 125 names submitted to the nominating committee last year, a diocesan spokesperson said. The committee then narrowed the selection over the course of several months through a review of submitted documents, telephone interviews and face-to-face meetings.

All candidates on the final slate are scheduled to visit the diocese and answer questions in a series of public forums known as “walk-abouts.”   These are scheduled to take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on:

• Tuesday, March 20 – St. Brendan’s, Franklin Park
• Wednesday, March 21 – St. Peter’s, Brentwood
• Thursday, March 22 – Holy Cross, Homewood
• Friday, March 23 – St. Michael’s of the Valley, Ligonier

The Eighth Bishop of Pittsburgh will be elected at a special convention of the diocese to be held at Trinity Cathedral on April 21.

(All information supplied by Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh)

Advent is the story of a loving God who loved the world so much he sent His son to come into the world to save those who put their trust in him.

The word “Advent” comes from the Latin advenire which means coming to or arriving at. It refers to God’s coming into the world through Jesus.

Christmas is a time to spend with your family and friends. We are inviting you to come spend time with your church family and friends by attending a worship service at St. Stephen’s praising the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

St. Stephen’s continues to preach the Gospel at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sundays, proclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that our salvation is His gift to us.

Our Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24, with the Rev. David Kinsey will be a joyous affair, followed by a Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 25.

Our prayer for all of you and yours is for a blessed Christmas Season.

—The Vestry of St. Stephen’s

(Download the November 2011 newsletter)

Bring your favorite dish and join us for a good time of learning and fellowship!

TREASURES FOR CHILDREN: As has been our custom for the last several years, we will participate in Salvation Army’s Treasures for Children.

Within the next couple of weeks you will find names in the undercroft. If you are interested in participating in the program, take a tag, purchase a toy for that child (between $10 and $15), wrap the gift, tape the tag to the gift and return the gift to the office.

The deadline for returning the gifts to the office is Monday, Dec. 12.