November 20th, 2011

Fr. Ed’s Catechism 101 class has undergone a change!The newly renovated class,
“Knowing your Faith: Catholicism with Fr. Ed” is using Fr. Robert Barron’s nationally recognized Catholicism DVD series to more deeply explore what we believe as Catholics.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to learn more but don’t like the formal setting of the “classroom”, join us every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 7:30 PM for a journey that will take you further then you thought you could go!


Parish Offices will be closed Thrsday, November 24th through Sunday November 27th for the Thanksgiving Holiday. There are no classes on the 23rd or 27th

Advent Reconciliation will be December 15th at 7:00pm.

St. Stephen's Advent Morning of Reflection “Prepare our Homes, Prepare our Hearts” is the theme that Deacon Bill Eckert will speak to on Saturday, Nov 19, from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Take this time for prayer, reflection and sharing as we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Savior. Sign-up in the narthex or contact cyndebosshart@gmail.com. Contact Brigitte (425-351-5518) to arrange childcare.

2012 Entertainment Books The SSPC will be selling 2012 Entertainment Books in the Narthex after all masses Nov 19 - 20 and Dec 3 - 4. If you would like to buy a book, please contact Krista Whalen (425-961-0492 or responselx@msn.com). They make great Christmas gifts!

Grief Support If you are grieving the death of a loved one, come find strength and compassion with the St. Stephen’s Grief Support Group on Sunday, Nov 20 from 1-2:30 PM in the Chapel. Our topic will be "Pathways Through The Holiday Season". For more info, contact Sharon Rasmussen (425-228-1437). “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Mt. 5, 4)

Thanksgiving Candle Exchange On Thanksgiving Day at St. Stephen’s we encourage people to bring a 3” candle to Mass to exchange (each family takes home another person or family’s candle) and use for prayer during Advent. Please write your name on your candle and place it on the baptismal font when you come to the Thanksgiving Day Mass at 9 AM. This is a great chance to reach out to others in our faith community!

Help Decorate the Church Decorating the church is very important but requires lots of help. We will especially need help on the following days. No experience is needed, just a desire to help. If interested, please contact Cynde (cyndebosshart@gmail.com or 253-631-1940 x104).
• Advent decorating: Saturday, Nov 26, 9 AM – noon
• Christmas decorating: Sunday, Dec 18, 6:45 PM - 8:30 PM AND Monday, Dec 19, 9 AM – noon
• Christmas decoration removal: Monday, Jan 9, 9 AM – noon

Seattle Council of Catholic Women The Central Deanery of ACCW invites all Catholic Women of King County to their open Board Meeting on Thursday, Dec 1, from 11 AM -1:30 PM in the Father Lane Room at St. Anthony's Parish (314 S 4th St, Renton). Agenda items include: the election of officers, budget planning, and fundraiser planning. Please bring a sack lunch. If intersted, RSVP to Lori (253-833-3380 or lorimar1915@hotmail.com).

The Lit & Latte Girl Group (Girlfriends Book Club) is reading Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo, Lynn Vincent. Please join us on Monday, Dec 5 at 7 PM in the St Stephen's Room to discuss the book. Questions? Contact Pam Redmond (futuretrust@hotmail.com or 425-235-8790).

Youth Choir Accompanist Needed St. Stephen's Youth Choir is seeking an accompanist for rehearsals, which are two or three Sundays per month, October - June, from 10-10:45 AM in the chapel; masses (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, for a First Eucharist Mass); and a variety of other parish functions. If you are interested in volunteering please call Laurie Samora (253-631-3473).

Blanket Drive Many thanks to all who generously donated to our blanket drive! SSHA accept donations all year - please bring new or gently used blankets to our office in the Outreach Annex, Monday - Thursday, 9 AM - 2 PM. Questions? Call 253-638-9798. Thank you!!

Coupon Queens Needed We are going to begin couponing for a cause. Contact Darlene (253-631-1940 or darsimpson@gmail.com).

Donations Wanted Please contact Parish Outreach if you have an automobile, truck or adult bicycle you can donate (tax receipts are available). We are also in need of a working freezer. If you can help with any of these things, we can arrange to have it picked-up!

Homeless Backpacks We are still collecting items. Please see last week’s bulletins for more details.

ARISE Men’s shelter will be at King of Kings Lutheran Church on Benson during November. Corrected instructions will be the Narthex.

Seeking a special, empathetic and compassionate person to work in Direct Aid. Contact Darlene (253-631-1940 or darsimpson@gmail.com).

2011 Adopt-A-Family for Christmas Program St. Stephen's Housing Association (SSHA) currently has 20 families living in its transitional housing. Coming from a homeless shelter, these families are very limited financially and may not be able to purchase Christmas gifts for their families. To help brighten their lives, we have an Adopt-A-Family Program where we ask our parishioners to sponsor a family with modest gifts for Christmas. If you cannot afford to sponsor an entire family, please consider helping a child or two; or, your financial donation of any amount will be combined with others to make this a very Merry Christmas! Please consider donating to this program. For more info contact Barbara Brownlow (425-228-0541).


November 21 Monday
8:30a – 9:00a Morning Prayer & Rosary
10:00a – 12:00p Facilities & Grounds
5:30p – 6:00p Evening Prayer
6:30p – 7:00p MASS
7:00p – 8:00p Eucharistic Adoration
7:00p – 8:30p Boy Scout Troop 714

November 22 Tuesday
8:30a – 9:00a Morning Prayer & Rosary
9:00a – 3:00p Eucharistic Adoration
6:30p – 8:00p Cub Scouts
6:30p – 8:30p Fil-Am Choir
7:00p – 9:00p Stephen Ministry

November 23 Wednesday
8:30a – 9:00a Morning Prayer & Rosary
9:00a – 3:00p Eucharistic Adoration
5:30p – 6:00p Evening Prayer
6:30p -- 7:00p MASS
7:15p – 9:00p Choir Practice

Novemb er 24 Thursday
9:00a – 9:30a MASS
1:00p – 3:00p Thanksgiving Dinner

November 25 Friday
8:30a – 9:00a MASS
9:00a – 10:00a Reconciliation
9:00a – 3:00p Eucharistic Adoration

November 26 Saturday
8:00a – 10:00a SSTM Men's Group
8:30a – 9:00a Morning Prayer & Rosary
9:00a – 3:00p Eucharistic Adoration
3:00p – 4:00p Reconciliation
5:00p – 6:00p Vigil MASS

November 27 Sunday
8:30a – 9:30a MASS (Nursery open)
11:00a – 12:00p MASS (Nursery open)
5:30p – 6:30p Life Teen MASS (Nursery open)
6:30p – 9:00p Charismatic Prayer Group