Annual Outdoor Service and End-of-Summer Potluck

At 9:45 we gathered in Pittsfield's Argue Park. The morning started out overcast but soon we saw sunshine and blue sky!

Fr. Curtis reads the Collect.



George on guitar, and singers.



After the service, the picnic.



Chris and Fayth Noyes were our ministers of meat--cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for all on the enormous grill.



Some of the many dishes provided by our parishioners.



The Sr. Warden at the food table.



The children enjoyed the playground.



Rosie's getting so big!



Thanks to Lucinda for organizing the event, and the Welches, and Keith and Katie and George, and all who moved prayer books and hymnals and beverages to and from the Park, and all the wonderful cooks!

Thanks from Sabra

Dear St. Stephen's family,

To all the cooks, delivery persons, wait staff....and I do mean wait..... Set up crew, clean up crew, the on the field spotters, underwriting angels and the people in their lives who put up with yet another fundraiser or call for help this summer and all the people who offered a prayer for us.... Thank You.

We earned another $1000.00 dollars for our efforts to feed the balloonists and their sponsors this year. Unlike last years washout, the balloon's flew this yesterday....and we waited to serve our meal after the crews returned to Pittsfield. We served our first meal at 7:35 PM and our last at 10:30 PM. We certainly had a tired but dedicated clean up crew who just wanted to go home but did the job right...before heading out.

A special "Thanks" to Joe Knox who long ago taught me that the way to do a "Turkey Dinner" for a crowd was to have the meat cooked and sliced, placed in roasters to warm with the juices.... We got rave reviews again. Also a special Thanks to Marion who made 10 pans of stuffing....and doesn't want to see bread until after Thanksgiving.

We distributed the left over turkey and small amounts of the remaining salads ( they were the big hit this year) after church today..... and hoped that everyone who took some of remaining baskets of bread, quail (turkey), etc. enjoys the fruits of our labor....how the Rotary Club manages to schedule the balloon week-end to coincide with the scriptures of feeding the many through faith in God is a mystery( they could be a week off once in a while) ..... and a pretty great way for Curtis to highlight his sermon again during the announcements.

Again thank you to all, including our summer family, and new family members as well as "the old hands " who make the little Church with the big heart , an active force in the communities we live in and serve.

Blessings for you and those you love,

Sabra

Rainy Day

Rain-drenched peony on the walkway.



And dry ones on our altar.



Some of the flowers growing around the church

.

Silent Auction and Old Home Day Info

Info from Marylee:

Plans are already underway for St. Stephen's participation in Pittsfield's Old Home Day on July 18th. At this event we will be holding a silent auction as an important part of our festivities. This year's theme will be "In the Good Old Summertime". So while you are hunting for yard sale treasures, if you should uncover a really wonderful treasure.....a gift that wasn't quite right for you, new sporting goods, summertime things....we would love to have them for the silent auction. Perhaps you know of a business that might donate a gift certificate....We already have a gourmet picnic basket and those beautiful handmade pottery birdbaths by Ursula Allen, AND I have even heard that Denise is trying to secure the donation of some Red Sox tickets!

If you have questions about silent auction items please email or call me. As these challenging economic times continue to impact more and more of our friends and neighbors, our fundraising efforts at St. Stephen's become more and more important.

New Cross Installation

Our new cross, constructed by George Booth and Chris Noyes and painted by Fayth Noyes, was blessed last October by Bishop Robinson.



After spending many months in the Undercroft awaiting installation, it's now on top of the church!

The bucket truck, early this morning.



In the bucket.



Securing the cross.



Finished!



Many thanks to Daniel Welch for the action photos!

Blue Jeans Sunday

Spring clean-up day, indoors



and out!



Sabra also gave a flower-arranging lesson for those who were interested.

H1N1 (Swine) Flu information

Information provided by the NH Council of Churches.

Church Activity:

For a copy of the 28 page booklet "Pandemic Influenza Planning for Parishes" (created for Episcopal parishes and the Avian Flu but applies for all houses of worship and the swine flu) go to: Pandemic Influenza Planning for Parishes.

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services:

Human cases of an influenza A (H1N1) virus infection that has a swine component have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. An investigation and response effort surrounding the outbreak of swine flu is ongoing on the national level and here in New Hampshire. The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu in humans and may include:

Fever (greater than 100°F)
Sore throat
Cough
Stuffy nose
Chills
Headache and body aches
Fatigue

Some of the people who have become ill with swine flu reported diarrhea and vomiting as well. Severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported as well.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is working very closely with all our State partners as well as with health officials in at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and officials in other states to monitor and respond to this outbreak of illness. The DHHS Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) is performing active surveillance for any potential cases. DHHS will keep the public updated with information as it becomes available because this is a constantly changing situation.

This illness is spread from person to person and there is no risk of contracting this flu virus by eating pork. There are, however, some basic precautions that everyone should be taking to prevent becoming ill or spreading illnesses, not just swine flu are:

WASH HANDS/ALCOHOL GEL
SNEEZE IN ARM
STAY HOME WHEN SICK

DHHS Swine Flu line open during business hours for questions:
Public Inquiry Line
1-888-330-6764
8:00 AM-8:00 PM

Common questions from callers:

Pets: It does not appear that Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu puts our household pets at risk.

Vaccine: There is not a vaccine for Influenza A (H1N1) Swine Flu, however, its in development.

For further information go to
NH Dept. of Health & Human Services
Offers variousu resources, up-to-date information, and links to other sources of information, Fact Sheet, FAQ's, etc.

Centers for Disease Control

World Health Organization.