join us for “spirited conversations” brought to you by sunday … · 2020-03-28 · things wrap...
TRANSCRIPT
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),[email protected].
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([email protected]).
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 [email protected]&YoungAdultMinister MarkHowland [email protected] LuciSesvold [email protected] SusanHallock [email protected] DavidHaas [email protected] LeslieHyland [email protected] DebbiePolk (319)329-7655CouncilPresident JeanneTowell [email protected] MarilynLoan [email protected]
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