join us for “spirited conversations” brought to you by sunday … · 2020-03-28 · things wrap...

June2016

Ourconversa1onswillbesparkedbyshortvideosfeaturingemergingchurchleadersposingques1onslike:

“WhatdoesitmeantocommitourselvestoachurchfamilyforbeCerorforworse?”“Whatroledoesorganizedreligionplayinhelping–orhindering–spiritualgrowth?”“WhoexactlyistheGodweworship?”“Whatifourchurchesbecameplaceswhereweprac1cedbeinglikeJesus?”

Hereisthescheduleoftopics:June5: BruceReyes-Chow,“Church–AnImperfectFamily”June12: LillianDaniel,“Religion–SpiritualityisNotEnough”June19: BrianMcLaren,“God–FaithisaQuest”June26: MarkScandreCe,“Jesus–TheRevolu1onofLove”

OnSunday,June26,wewillbereceivingnewmembersbyaffirma1onoffaith.

Thisisawonderfulopportunityforprospec1ve,new,andlong-1mememberstogettoknoweachother,tobuildrela1onships,andtosharetheirfaithstories.

Blessings,Pastor Ritva

Join us for “Spirited Conversations”brought to you by

Sunday mornings at 9:00am in the Fellowship Hall

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Growing Our Mission: Strategic Working Groups

Progress Report

YouthMinistryTheYouthMinistryworkinggroupismorphingintoaYouthLeadershipSupportTeamunderthedirec1onofourYouthandYoungAdultMinister,MarkHowland.Members:DavidHebrink,DeeAnnHebrink,JohnHebrink,EmmaIsrael(Council),AmyKuhn,KarenVanderSanden,OliviaVanderSanden(CouncilYouthRep).

SmallGroupMinistriesThisgrouphassuggestedusingasmallgroupdiscussionformatforhelpingestablished,new,andprospec1vemembersgettoknoweachotherthatwillbepilotedinJuneas“AnimateSpiritedConversa1ons.”Members:NormBarnes,JonathanChambers,BarbaraKusler,TerriPetersen,TimSagers,JeanneTowell(Council)

Invi6ngOtherstoJoinOurStoryThisworkinggroupisorganizingourpresenceatCedarRapidsPrideFestonSaturday,June4(noon-6pm).Inaddi1ontotellingthestoryofSt.Stephen’s,wewillhandingoutbrochures,andprovidingchildren’sac1vi1es,e.g.taCoos,bubbles,andcookies.Members:PaulBelow(Secretary),MarkHowland(Chair),EmilyRobins(Council),JonathanChambers,BobStreeper,TerriPetersen,KennNye

NeighborhoodMinistryMembersofthisgrouphavereachedouttoWaypoint,CalvinSinclairPresbyterianChurch,andAllSaints,andareworkingonseengupmee1ngstoassessneighborhoodneedsandexplorepossiblejointventures.Members:JonathanChambers,BobStreeper,MelanieOstmo(Council),JohnWilliams,MarkHowland

SpaceStudyMembersofthisgrouphavemettwicewitharchitectBradLangtoexplorepossiblerenova1onsthatwouldimproveourmainfloorrestrooms,kitchens,offices,andfellowshipspace.Thegroupisnowworkingongeengroughes1matesofwhatsuchrenova1onswouldcost.Members:VickiHyland,EmmaIsrael(Secretary/Council),KathyNathan,KenNathan(Council),EvPetersen,VicarLuciSesvold,AaronTank(Council),MaRWeber.

NEXTMEETING:TUESDAY,JUNE14,7:00PM

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ChangesarecomingtoStewardshipatSt.Stephen’s.UsingtheELCAresource,StewardsofGod’sLove,asaguidetohowwethinkandtalkaboutstewardship.Ourlongtermgoalsincludeexpandingstewardshiptoincludeservice,providingfinancialtraining

opportuni1es,improvingrevenuestability,andincreasingrevenuefromexternalresources.

Ourimmediate(short-term)goalisencouragefolkstothinkabout“how”wegiveratherthan“howmuch”wegive(thoughgivingmoreisokaytoo).Whyshouldyouconsidergivingdifferently?

FolksatSt.Stephen’scurrentlygiveinoneofthreeways:• OfferingPlate–Sundayofferingofchecks,cash,andcoins

• ElectronicFundsTransfer(EFT)–automa1cwithdrawalfromcheckingorsavingsaccount

• On-LineGivingatwww.ssluth.com–one1meorrecurringgilsusingcreditcard

ThegraphsattherightshowusthepaCernofgivingoverthelastthreeyears.Whatweseeisthatalthoughwehavemanagedeachyeartomeetouroverallbudget,monthlygivingisinconsistent.Somemonthswemeetourneededbudget,othermonthswedon’t.WealsoseethatasEFTgivinghasincreased,wemissourbudgetlessoPen.

EFTandrecurringon-linegilsformasolidfounda1on,makingfinancesandbudge1ngmorepredictable.EFTandrecurringon-linegils

takecareofyourdona1ons,evenwhenyouarenothere.

EFTformsareavailablefromJackieLee241-5399orjalpanther@hotmail.comoratwww.ssluth.comwhereyoucanalsoaccessOn-LineGiving.

Prayerfullyconsidergivingdifferently!

Budget

$5k EFTMissed Budget

7 Months

Budget

$6.4k EFTMissed Budget

6 Months

Budget

$6.9k EFTMissed Budget

5 Months

Give Differently Lee Paulsen, Chair, Stewardship Ministry Team

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WORSHIP

AnimateSpiritedConversa6ons–FourSundaysinJune,9:00-9:50am.SmallgroupdiscussionovermorningcoffeeaboutChris1anfaithandprac1cefeaturingvideopresenta1onsbyemergingchurchleaders.Anexcellentopportunitytogettoknowestablished,new,andprospec1vemembers.(Seepage1forscheduledetails.)

AnewsummerworshipscheduleforSundaymorningsbeganonMay29.Wecon1nuetooffertwoservices,8:00and10:00am.Pleasenotethatitisthesecondservicethatwillbeofferedhalfanhourearlier.Thehourinbetweenserviceswillprovideopportuni1esforextendedfellowshipandguidedconversa1on.

Wednesdayworshipduringthesummerwillbeat6:30pmaccordingtothefollowingschedule:

1stWednesday... Taize-styleWorship2ndWednesday... Interac1ve3rdWednesday... HealingService4thWednesday... Interac1ve

PRAY

ThePrayerTeammeetseveryMondayat12:30pmtoprayforconcernsiden1fiedbymembers,andfor

thelifeofthiscongrega1on.

GIVE

SanctuaryLampOilSponsorOpportunity!IfyouwishtosponsoraweekofoilforourEternalLamp,pleaseput$10intheoffering.Besuretodesignateinthememolineoronyourenvelopethatthisisyourintent.OryoucansignuponlinethroughSignUpGenius

(hCp://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c45abaa2da57-fellowship1)andpaythroughouronlinegivingop1on.

AltarFlowersSignUpOpportunity!Selectadateandindicateifitisaspecialcommemora1on.Placeyourgilof$25(marked“FLOWERS)intheofferingplateorpaythroughourwebsite’sonlinegivinglink.

Practice Discipleship in Daily LifeJoin us as we explore the seven faith practices that are the foundation for

following Jesus in daily life: Worship, Prayer, Encourage, Study, Give, Invite, Serve.

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OurQuil6ngMinistrydeliveredninequitstoLutheranServicesinIowa(LSI).Thereareeightmoreintheworks.Thisministrywelcomesgilsofyarn,threadandfabric.ThegroupmeetsatBarbara

Kusler'shome(nospecificdayor1me),3849SouCerAve.St.SE.Giveheracallat319-826-3794(home)or214-202-8646(cell).

LawnMovingOpportuni6es!Eachyearvolunteerslikeyouhelpthechurchsavethousandsofdollarsbytakingaweek

ortwotomowandtrimourgrounds.Wethankyou!

DaveCoateshasasign-upsheetwiththisyear’s

dates.Pleasetakealookatyourcalendarandsignup.Ifyouhaveanyques1ons,youcancontactDaveat:363-4164(home),360-5436(cell),dcoates10@gmail.com.

SummerGrillOutsWednesday,June8&22at5:45pm,andwillberepeatedonthesecondandfourthWednesdayofeachmonthduringthesummer.Invite

yourfriendsandneighborsforfood,fellowship,worshiparoundthetable,andendtheeveningwiths'moresaroundthecampfire.

Wehopetoseeyouthere;beCeryetsignuptohelpmakethisagreatsummerforall!(hCp://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c45abaa2da57-wednesdays)

CampEWALUPaymentsSignupforcampisstar1ng.ThepreferredpaymentmethodforaCendeesisforparentstomakepaymenttoCampEWALUdirectly.

Thealterna1vepaymentmethodwhichisacceptableaswellistomakepaymenttothechurch.Ifyouhaveques1ons,pleasecontactKenNathan(kenkathynathan@gmail.comor393-5615).

SERVE

Tosay“thankyou”doesn’tquitecutit.Asacommunity,youhavecon]nuedtosupportandprayforDanandI.ForthatwegivethankstoGod.

Thankyoufortheopportunitytopreach,teach,hug,talk,andlaughtogether.ItwasablessingtogatherwithacommunitythathasformedmeasIlookforward.

Icon]nuetoprayforyou,andfortheministryofSt.Stephen’s.Thankyouforhelpingmetoknow,live,andshareChrist!

Peace,AleeseBaldwin

•••

Thankyousomuchforyourkindnessandwillingnesstogotheextramile.Youarelovedandappreciated.

BeRyDaniels,Waypoint(forthepersonalhygienekits)

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Through the Week at St. Stephen’sWhat’s usually happening on a given day

Sundays 8:00am 1stWorshipService 8:00am Farewell&Godspeedto Sherrie&JoeAvila(6/19) 9:00am AnimateSpiritedConversa1ons 10:00am 2ndWorshipService 10:00am Bap1smofLukeLemke(6/12) 10:00am NewMemberAffirmationofFaith(6/26)

Mondays 9to2:00 Churchofficeopen 8:00am Men’sGroupatMr.BeansinMarion 12:00pm eNewsdeadline 12:30pm PrayerTeam 6:30pm StephenMinistry(6/6,20) 6:30pm Ordina1onofAleeseBaldwin, Rothschild,WI(6/20) 7:00pm BoyScouts(6/13) 7:30pm Men’sPuCPuCGolfatAirport Na1onalWaterfallMiniCourse(6/6)

Tuesdays 9to2:00 Churchofficeopen 5:30pm Worship&MusicTeamMtg(6/14) 6:30pm MinistryTeamsMee1ngs(6/14) 7:00pm StrategicWorkingGroups(6/14)

Wednesdays 9to2:00 Churchofficeopen 10:30am StaffMee1ng 5:45pm SummerGrillOut(6/8,22) 6:30pm Worship(TaizeWorship6/1) 7:15pm Campfire,S’Mores,&Fun(6/8,22) 7:15pm VocalistsRehearsal 8:30pm InstrumentalistsRehearsal

Thursdays 9to2:00 Churchofficeopen 6:00pm WomenWineWisdom@Farmer’s Daughter’sMarket,Hiawatha(6/2)

Fridays Pastor’sSabbath

Saturdays 11:00am SetupatBasixforPrideFest (6/4,openfrom12-6pm)

We welcome:JosephCharlesIlten,bornMay17inMinneapolistoPeterandKa1eIlten,weighing10lb.13oz.HejoinssisterHaeeandisthefourthgrandsonofEllenandDaveDennis.

We pray for the families and friends of:CraigandVickiShadleonthedeathoftheirdaughterJill(friendsofAmyKuhn).

On the Prayer List

PleasecontacttheofficeoruseaPrayerRequestcard(inyourpewrack)toplaceyourlovedone’snameonthislistfortwoweeksand/orrequestprayeroftheMondayPrayerTeam.Ifyourlovedonedesiresapastoralvisit,pleasecontactPastorRitva.

Servinginthemilitaryand/oroverseasKateMunro(Malawi)

NickWheeler,ArmyNa1onalGuard(grandsonofGail&DanHusmann)

MembersSteveThomasMickButzLeeTramutoloPeteHansenKenKaiserJoanPetersenElainePetersToniLeeJudyNyeSuzanneSchmidtAnnKlemanArleneOrtgiesRetaWestercampMelanieMunroSallyBeltz

JacksonSmithHarrietHemphill

Rela]vesTerrySwalveTrentRosbergShirleyCoatesRev.RichardHermstadLaRueHagenDaveGoepfertCathyGoepfert

FriendsAnnNordbyGlennKelley

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AsIwatchgradua1onannouncementsrollin,Ihearofallthefamilysummerplans,andtheexcitementoftheseasonstartstobuzz,Ithinkofthisblessing:asendingoutintotheworld.Summerisanexci1ng1meformanypeople.Asthingswrapup,orthingspreparetobegin,it’seasytogetcaughtupinthetransi1ons,thefunandthewarmweather,andthehustleandbustleofthechange.IpraythatnomaCerwhat

yoursummerbrings,beitachapterending,achapterbeginning,oracon1nua1onofreoccurringevents,rememberthatGodiswithyouinandthroughitall.

Blessingstoyouforasafeandenjoyablesummer.

Vicar Luci Sesvold

Helloeveryone!Soitis1meformetowritemyfirstofficialMessengerar1clefromtheseatofYouthandYoungAdultMinister.WhatanabsolutelyawesomeviewIhavefromthatseatbecauseallthatIcanseeisgreatpossibilityand

unendingopportuni1es.

Someofyoumayhavebeensurprisedwhenyouheardmyofficial1tlewasYouthandYoungAdultMinister.Youmayhavenotedthatthisisachangefromthe1tleunderwhichtheposi1onwasadver1sed.Thereasonforthischangewasduetotheconversa1onsintheinterviewprocess,conversa1onswithPastorRitvaandthepersonnelcommiCee,andthegils/passionthatIhaveforministry.ThismonthIwillgiveasynopsisofmyresponsibili1esandoverthenextfewmonthsIwillsharemoredetailsandmyministryphilosophy.

Herearethoseresponsibili1es:• Beingpresentwithmiddleschoolandhighschoolyouth

• Teaching• Reachingouttotheyouthofourneighborhoodandourcommunity

• Workingwiththeyoungadultsofourcongrega1onandthecommunity

• Someadministra1vedu1es

IhopethisgivesyouatleastathumbnailsketchofhowIwillbespendingmy1measyournewYouthandYoungAdultMinister.Iencourageyoutohaveconversa1onwithmeregardinganyofmyresponsibili1esorvisionforthisministry.Ilookforwardtohearingfromyouregardinghowyouwouldliketobeapartofthisministry.

God’sblessings,Mark Howland

As you leave this place, know that God goes with you; God goes behind you to encourage you, beside you to befriend you, above you to watch over you, beneath you to lift you from your sorrows, within you, and always before you to show you the way.

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May1fellowship6mewasspentpacking98personalhygienekitsplusextrasuppliestodonatetoWaypoint.Wehadagreatvolunteerturnout,represen6ngallgenera6ons!$938.60wasraisedforthepurchaseoftheseitemsduringourLentenFast.

WomenWineWisdommetatPei’sonMay3.

Ourconfirma6onstudentsvisitedtheCedarRapidsIslamicCenterApril27.

JuniorhighyouthsharealightheartedmomentwithPastorRitvaWilliams,YouthandYoungAdultMinisterMarkHowland,andVicarLuciSesvoldonMay4.

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PentecostSunday(May15)wasalsoConfirma6onSunday.NicklausMuellerandArynMarnergavetheirwitnessduringtheeduca6onhour,followedbymakingtheirAffirma6onsofFaithatthe10:30amservice.

Sunday,May22,werecognizedourgraduates(KaelanAbernathey,ShaniaChristensen,KatharineGoodwin,AmandaHalvorson,AshleyHart,Aus6nHebrink,KarenMiddleswarth,KyleMiller,andBarbSchneider.PicturedaboveareBarbandAus6n.

WehadalottoofferatourRummageSaleonSaturday,May21.AhugethankyougoestoMollyChamberswhospearheadedthiseventandallhervolunteers!

Proceedsfromthesaleareearmarkedforkitchenrenova6onatthevicarage.

Sunday,May22,WorshipLeadersMarkHowland,JohnWilliams,andLeahHowardappearedtohavecolormatchedtheirounits!

St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch,ELCA61031stSt.S.E.CedarRapids,IA52403-3021

ELECTRONICSERVICEREQUESTED

Non-ProfitOrg.USPOSTAGE

PAIDCedarRapids,IowaPermitNo.140

StaffDirectoryPastor Rev.Dr.RitvaWilliams pastorritva@gmail.comYouth&YoungAdultMinister MarkHowland mhowland1983@gmail.comPastoralIntern LuciSesvold iverson.luci@gmail.comOfficeManager SusanHallock office@ssluth.comMusicDirector DavidHaas music@ssluth.comPianoAccompanist LeslieHyland lesliehyland@gmail.comPremisesKeeper DebbiePolk (319)329-7655CouncilPresident JeanneTowell thetowells@msn.comeNewsEditor MarilynLoan marilyn.loan@me.com

SundayMorningSchedule(SummerHours)8:00am Worship9:05am Coffee&Fellowship10:00am Worship

PleasejoinusWednesdays:6:30pm Worship

St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch(ELCA)isaReconcilinginChristcongrega1onthatwelcomesdiversity,whichenriches,nurtures,andchallengesourlifeandministry.

Comeandjoinusasweknow,live,andshareChristtogetherinlove.

St. Stephen’sLutheran Church, ELCA

To Know, Live, and Share Christ. ssluth.com • 319-364-2637