March 5, 2021

Important Details for Tomorrow Morning

Learn to Pray the Psalms this Lent! - Registration for In Person Attendance is Now Full, and attendance is by registration only. See below for the livestream link.

Saturday Mass at 8:30am has no registration, but given the large numbers attending the Morning of Reflection, Saturday, 8:30am Mass may reach capacity quickly. If you intend to come to 8:30am Mass please arrive early or you might not be able to be seated.

After Mass is over, everyone will be asked to leave the Church and those registered will need to check-in before entering the Church, at 9:30am. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

To Attend Praying the Psalms via Livestream Click Here at 9:30 AM. For the 8:30 Mass Click Here.

Our Lenten Morning of Reflection with Abbot Marion Q. Nguyen, O.S.B. of St. Martin's Abbey (University) on March 6th; follows Daily Mass from 9:30-Noon in the Church. You will experience the timeless power of the Psalms by listening to Abbot Marion's talk and praying with him the Psalms. Praying the Psalms nourished Jesus, and they continue to provide believers with a path to faith, strength, gratitude, praise, and joy! Renew your spirituality with the life-giving power of the Psalms!

Abbot Marion has been a doctorate student in monastic spirituality from the Pontifical Atheneum of Sant’Anselmo in Rome. He also taught classes at St. Martin’s University, worked for the campus’ Benedictine Institute and the University Office of Institutional Advancement, and served at St. Mary Parish in Anacortes. To learn more about our featured speaker Abbot Marion click here!

For more info or questions contact Anne Merklin at sstmassociate@gmail.com or 253-631-1940 ext 126.

Special Screenings of Pray: The Motion Picture Saturday March 27

Mark your calendar now to attend a screening of the inspiring true story of Patrick Peyton, who immigrated to America, experienced hardships, a calling to priesthood and healing through the miraculous power of prayer. This moving documentary tells the story of a tireless missionary, an unlikely hero, and one of history’s greatest advocates for family prayer. Watch for screening details in next weeks Update!

40 Cans or 40 Bucks Food Drive

One in four children faces hunger every day (moveforhunger.org)

The Knights of Columbus from St. Stephen the Martyr Parish is holding a Drive thru Food Drive. It will be Sunday, March 14, 2021, after the Sunday Masses. Grocery bags with a list of items needed will be handed out after all masses this Sunday or available in the Narthex during the week.15 lbs. of canned goods can feed a family of four for one day Donations are tax deductible. Receipts will be available Checks may be written to the Knights of Columbus Lenten Food Drive and given to any Knight or placed in the collection receptacle during the drive.

Go To Joseph!

St. Joseph is a powerful intercessor. Rich in virtue, he was chosen by God as the protector and leader of the Holy Family. He does the same for us in our personal lives and as Patron of the Universal Church. In this Year of St. Joseph, Archbishop Etienne invites Catholics to join in a novena of prayer to St. Joseph March 10-18 as we prepare to celebrate his solemnity on March 19. Click HERE for the Novena prayer.

Save the Date: March 20

8:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Give Up a Saturday for Lent March 20

Join us for a day of fellowship & happy chores!

Begins with 8:30 Mass followed by snacks & then work (mostly outside). Lunch provided with outdoor dining. Sign-up details in next weeks Update.

The Rite of Christian Initiation Scrutinies:

A Call to Continuing Conversion

Why are the Scrutinies celebrated during Lent?

During Lent our Elect and Candidates in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) are preparing to be baptized or received into the Church as Catholics at Easter Vigil. We have 6 Elect (those who are asking to be baptized at Easter Vigil) and 4 Candidates (those converting to Catholicism and baptized in another Christian tradition and Catholics completing their Sacraments) who have been preparing for Easter Vigil. The Elect and Candidates will celebrate three Scrutinies on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent.

The Scrutinies are celebrated as communal prayers during the Mass to strengthen both the Elect and the Candidates to overcome the power of sin in their lives and to grow in virtue. The community does not scrutinize their lives; they scrutinize their own lives and allow God to scrutinize them and to heal them through the prayers of Scrutinies. The Scrutiny prayers also offer the Elect and the Candidates the support they need to be baptized or become a Catholic at Easter Vigil.

Please pray for our Elect and Candidates at the Scrutinies and all during Lent!

1^st Scrutiny, Sunday, March 7 at 11am Mass

2^nd Scrutiny, Sunday, March 14 at 11am Mass

3^rd Scrutiny, Sunday, March 21 at 11am Mass

Thanks from St Vincent de Paul

Thank you for listening and hearing about our neighbors' needs. We would like to share and thank everyone for listening to our Lords call and taking the first step of signing up to walk with Jesus through St Vincent de Paul. We have 12 parishioners who answered this call to try and share their gifts of life with our neighbors. We also want to thank the parishioners of St Stephen’s the Martyr for your generous donation of $1,014.40 collected at last weekend's Masses. Thank you! We would still like to invite everyone who did not get a chance to sign up after mass. You can still walk with Jesus through St Vincent de Paul, just call China Krismer at 206-393-0672 or Theresa Milette at 206-714-7168.

Grief Ministry March 21

If you are grieving the death of a loved one, come find strength and compassion with the St. Stephen’s Virtual Grief Support Group on Sunday, March 21, from 1:00-2:30 pm. Our topic will be “Pain, Pain Go Away”. For more information and to register, please contact Sharon Rasmussen at srasmussen910@yahoo.com.

“God comforts us in all our troubles so that we will be able to comfort others.” 2 Corinthians 1, 4

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross return on Friday nights, February 19 - March 26, at 7:00 PM in the church. Live music begins at 6:45 PM. To avoid crowding around the stations participants will be asked to remain in their pews for the duration of the prayer.

Living Stations of the Cross

Attention teens: Planning is underway for a Covid-safe version of the Living Stations to be presented on Good Friday. Teens, contact Debbie Bloomquist at sstm.youth@gmail.com.

Online Living Stations of the Cross

Last year, the living Stations of the Cross was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and an online version was presented for parishioners. The 36-minute video is again available by clicking the image above. Please pray for our youth as we explore a special live adaptation for this year's Good Friday.

Help Wanted: Experienced Full Charge Bookkeeper, 20 – 25 Hours per Week

Saint Stephen the Martyr is looking for a faith-filled, enthusiastic, collaborative, detailed orientated, and experienced Full Charge part-time Bookkeeper that will contribute to our parish vision of “Sharing the Transforming Light of Christ and leads a life consistent with Catholic social and moral teaching.
Duties include a/r, a/p, bi-weekly payroll, preparing financial statements for pastor and finance council, and light human resource paperwork. Accounting software, Excel, and Word experience required and PDS knowledge a plus. The successful candidate will have strong relational, collaborative, verbal, and written communication skills. Training on processes and systems available from the current pastoral assistant for administration. Competitive pay, DOE. Please submit inquiries to Eric Miller, PAA, and Bookkeeper, sstmbookkeeping@gmail.com

Help Us Update Our Records!

It has become evident that our parish database is in dire need of an update! So many folks have changed their contact information or had children that our records are now inaccurate or incomplete. Please click the image to go directly to our online update form.

St Stephen's Now Livestreaming on Vimeo!

Our livestream broadcasts have recently been upgraded with the addition of the video hosting service, Vimeo. Click the image above or visit https://www.ststephenslife.com/holy-mass-live-stream where you can enjoy Mass and devotions live, within a media player right on our parish website (yes, you can expand to full screen). Want to watch yesterday's Mass? In our new Vimeo player the liturgy won't be interrupted with commercials! Still a big Facebook or Youtube fan? No worries; our liturgies will continue to be simulcast to those platforms as well.

Little Saints Preschool

Registration for Little Saints Preschool for the 2021-2022 school year is underway! The Mon/ Wed/Fri 3's & 4's class is already full but there are still openings in the Tuesday/Thursday 3's class and the Monday-Thursday Pre-K class. Pick up a form in the kiosk by the windows near the parish office and send to: Abbie Nelson, Little Saints Preschool, St. Stephen the Martyr, 13055 SE 192nd St. Renton, WA 98058 or sstm.littlesaints@gmail.com. We anticipate being back to our full schedule beginning in September! If you have any questions, email Abbie at sstm.littlesaints@gmail.com.

Gabriel Angels & PREPARES

Gabriel Angels & PREPARES Companions say thank you again for diapers & supplies. Please continue to donate laundry soap pods, wipes, larger size diapers 3 to 6 and pull-ups 4T-5T-6L for our families. The newborns are thriving and growing. We are in need of Gift Cards especially Fred Meyer for gas and non-covered items. Zoom Training for NEW VOLUNTEERS is coming soon. Contact Roberta at robertajorgensen@comcast.net or Kathleen at 253-653-6074 for more information.

Welcome Video Reviews Details for Coming to Mass

Please click the image above for a video discussing details for attending Mass at St Stephen the Martyr.

Holy Land Olive Wood

We are happy to have Bethlehem Olive Wood carvings available for sale this weekend only. One hour before and after Saturday evening Mass and after Sunday morning Masses until 3pm. The Olive Wood will be located downstairs in the classroom wing, rooms 128/129 so to maintain safe distancing. We appreciate your support of the families who are living in the Holy Land.

Please Continue Your Financial Support

The restrictions on public Masses have seriously impacted our weekly collections. Like most parishes, 90% of our revenue comes from the generous support of our faith community. This generosity supports the many ministries of the church as well as maintenance of the building and grounds, utilities, insurance, and payroll. Please remember our parish in your prayers and by making your regular donation. You may donate through the mail or via electronic giving by clicking here.

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

If your loved one is in need of anointing, please call the St. Stephens parish office to make arrangements for Fr. Ed to visit. If the person in need of anointing has or is suspected of having COVID-19, we will assist you in connecting with one of the dedicated Priests the Archdiocese has commissioned to administer sacraments to COVID-19 patients.

Want to Learn More?

Click the image on the left to see our weekly bulletins