November2019

TheBuildingRenova0onProject—NextSteps

Here’saquicksynopsisoftheinforma<onthatwaspresentedonSundayOctober27regardingwhereweareinthisprocessandwhatthenextstepsare.

ThesurveyconductedinMayshowedthat90%ofrespondentsfeltweneededtodosomethingtoremovebarriersandimproveac-cessinourbuilding.Basedonthatresponse,yourCouncilinter-viewedtwocapitalappealconsul<ngfirmsandisnowrecom-mendingthatweundertakeaguidedcapitalappeal.YourCouncilfeelsthatthisisthebestwaytodeterminehowmuchrenova<onwecanrealis<callyaffordatthis<me.

Inthenextweekyouwillreceiveaformalno<ceofaspecialcongrega<onalmee<ngtobeheldonSunday,November17at9:15am.Theonlybusinesstobeconductedatthismee<ngwillbeconsidera<onofCouncil’srecommenda<ontoapproveaguidedcapitalappealprogramforthepurposeoffundingourbuildingrenova<onproject.

AyesvoteonNovember17,willauthorizetheCouncilto:• signacontractwiththeRev.KurtNordbyofGenerosityCoachingfortheamountof$4,500.

• conveneaCapitalAppealTeamtodevelopandcarryoutthecapitalappealprogramundertheguidanceoftheRev.KurtNordby.

• conveneaBuildingRenova<onTeamtoworkwiththearchitect,CapitalAppealTeam,andthecongrega<ontodevelop“ThePlan”thatwecanrealis<callyafford.

TheCouncilenvisionsasecondcongrega<onalvoteinmid-2020toapprove“ThePlan,”withgroundbreakinginearly2021andconsecra<oninmid-2022,ideallytocoincidewiththecele-bra<onofthe75thanniversaryofthefoundingofSt.Stephen’sLutheranChurch.

Asecondinforma<onsessionisscheduledforWednesday,November6ay7:15pmforthosewhowereunabletoabendlastSunday.

Blessings,Pastor Ritva

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AmessagefromyourMinisterforFaithLife

AmessagefromyourCouncilPresidentDearFriends,

YourCouncilmettheendofSeptember.Thefol-lowingarehighlightsfromthemee<ng.Ifyouareinterested,theminutesfromthemee<ngareavailablethroughourwebsite.-ThethemefortheAnnualStewardshipDrive,whichweareinthemidstof,isGivinginGrace.MemberswillgivetempletalksonthefourSundaysduringthedrive.AThanks-For-Giv-ingbrunchwillbeheldattheendofthedriveonNov.10.-Inanefforttostreamlineourbudget,wewillnowincludeallHospitalityitemsunderonelineitem.Thisincludesthecoffeebudget.Themoneygiveninthepastforcoffeewills<llbeusedforcoffee.Forques<onsaboutthis,pleaseseeRobinorme.-Therehasbeenmoneyinanundesignatedmemorialfundforseveralyears.Aeermul<pleunsuccessfulabemptsatcontac<ngthefamily,wevotedtomovethismoneytotheLOAF.-Weclarifiedastatementthatisinacon<nuingresolu<on.Pleaseseetheminutesfordetailsonthis.-OurvotefortheCapitalAppealwillbeheldSun-day11/17t9:15a.m.Therewillbeinforma<onsessionspriortothevote-thesewillbeSunday,10/27andWednesday,11/6.-Wediscussedthebudgetprocessand<melineforthe2020budget.AgroupincludingourTrea-surerwilldraethebudgetinNovember.Councilwillvoteonit12/12.-Weendedthemee<nginprayersofthanksgiv-ingandofintercessionformembersinneedandforthelifeofourcongrega<on.Onasidenote,pleaseconsiderwhereyouareinrela<ontowhatyouhavepledgedingivingthisyear.We'dliketoremindanyonewhoisabletofulfillwhattheyhavepledged,todoso.Weap-preciateallofthegivingof<meandfinancialre-sourceshereatSt.Stephen's.Thankyou!Inyourhumbleservice,DeeAnn

Octoberhasbeenbusy.ThefirstweekofthemonthwemadeourfirstOpera-<onBackpackdeliveriestoErskineandGrantWoodElementarySchools.Iwashappytobeabletohave2ofourconfirmandsuptothe20thannualLutheranStudentCenterMiddleSchoolLock-InheldattheWellnessandRecre-a<onCenterontheUNIcampus.Thereweremorethan400studentsthere.Wesharedacouplelargegroupworshipexperiencesandthekidsgottherunofthecenterallnightlong.Iappreciatedgekngtomeetandnetworkwithoth-ersworkingwithyouthministry.InearlyOctoberwefinallygotschedulesinlineandmanagedtogatherwithsomeofthebusyhighschoolyouthforsomefunatQuarterBarrel.Wemetagain,overawonderfuldinnerattheVanderSandenhometostarttalkingpies.ManyofusarehavingvisionsofDutchCrumbApplePiesinourdreams.TheApplePieSaleisthemainyouthfundraiserdoneatSt.Stephen’sanditisquiteaproduc-<onfortheyouthandtheadultshelp-ing.ThesalesjustbeganonSundaythe20thandwehadafantas<cfirstdayofsales.Wewillbetakingpre-ordersthroughNovember16th.Ifyouhavenotorderedorfeelyoumayneedoneortwomorecontactanyofthehighschoolormiddleschoolyouthorme.Ordersheetsareavailableinthechurchofficeaswell.

YOUR GENEROSITY BLESSES

OUR CHURCH & OUR NEIGHBORS!Thank you!

3rd Quarter Financial Update (Treasurer Robin Kenney)

Thankyoutoeveryonewhohassubmi5edapledgefor2020.IfyourpledgewasreceivedbyOctober20,yournamewillbeenteredintoadrawingforthefabulousprize.

Ifyouhavenotyetmadeyourpledgefor2020,youcandosobyfillinginapledgecardandre-turningittothechurchbymailorplacingitintheofferingplateonSunday.Alterna0velyyoucanfillintheonlinepledgeformonourwebsite(www.sslulth.com),orjustemailourFinancialSecre-taryJennyWeberatjenny.a.weber@gamil.com.ShewouldalsobehappytosetyouupforamonthlyElectronicFundsTransfer(EFT).

Join us Sunday, November 10 AT 9:15am for our annual THANKS-FOR-GIVING

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Words from theEndowment Committee:

Thinkofitasa(sortof)Re0re-mentFund

Yes,that’sright.Onewaytolookattheendow-mentfundsistoconsiderthemasre<rementfundsofsorts.

Whenwework,weputmoneyawayforre<re-ment,atleasttothegreatestextentpossible.Then,whenwere<re,thatmoney–whichtypical-lyhasbeeninvestedinsomething–hasgrownsothatwecanre<reandnotworrytoomuchaboutincome.AddinSocialSecurityandourownre-<rementaccountsandsocialsecuritybecomeourre<rementincome.

Theendowmentisnotmuchdifferent,except,ofcourse,weasachurchwouldnotreceivesocialsecurity!Butwewillreceivetheincomefromourinvestmentsovertheyears;andthatinvestmentincomeismeanttobespentonministry,mainte-nance,mission–whateverthecongrega<oncoun-cilorcongrega<ondeemsnecessary.

Tobeclear,thecongrega<ondoeshavesomemeasureofcontroloversomeoftheprincipleoftheendowmentfunds.However,thewholepointofanendowmentistospendtheinterestandearningsandNOTspendtheini<alinvestment.That’swhyacri<calmassofendowmentfundsisimportant,justasacri<calamountofre<rementfundsareimportantforourpersonalandfamilialwell-beingaeerwe’redoneworking.

LyleAKleman,ChairpersonAshleyHartNicholePlaggeDeeAnnHebrink,exofficioPrRitvaWilliams,exofficio

���Life Long Learning

Nov.3rd:EricGutschmidt—AnAmericaninIranNov.10th:Thanks-for-GivingBrunchNov.17th:SpecialCongrega<onalMee<ngNov.24th:MakingChrismons(anIntergenera<onalac<vity)

� It’sApplePieTimeatSt.Stephen’s!OurmiddleandhighschoolyouthareonceagainsellingDutchcrumbapplepies.Thepiesarehandmadefromlocalapplesandfreshlyfrozensotheycanbepoppedrightintoyouroven.Costis$13perpie.Orderyoursnowbycallingthechurchofficeat319-364-2637orfillingoutaformonSunday.PieswillbereadyforpickupSat.Nov16(pm)orSun.Nov17(am).Thisannualfundrais-ersupportsyouthac<vi<esandmissiontrips.

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Practice Discipleship

OurGlobalMissionPartnersTheRev.RoseMfukoandpeopleofKisiwaniParish, Tanzania(ourCompanionCongrega<on)andBishop.CharlesRabsonMjemaandstaff,PareDiocese,Tanzania.

ThechildrenandstaffattheEbenezerGlennOrphanageinHai<.

Bible&BookStudies

SundaySchool,Sundaysat9:15am.Childrenages3through5thgradeareinvitedtogatherintheChildren’sPlaceandRoom8,LowerLevel.……………………………………………………………………………AdultLifelongLearning,Sundays9:15amintheFellowship.Seebulle<ninsertfortopicsandspeakers.……………………………………………………………………………LyricalBibleStudyisaFacebookgroup,focusingonpsalms,poems,andsongsintheBible.TojoincontactAlexLongatalong111361gmail.com……………………………………………………………………………Men’sCoffee&StudyGroup—Mondays8am,atMrBeansinMarion.……………………………………………………………………………Women’sBibleStudy—Tuesdaysat10am,intheFellowshipHall.WewillbeginastudyofRichardRohr’sFallingUpward:ASpiritualityfortheTwoHalvesofLife……………………………………………………………………………Confirma0onClasses,Wednesdaysat7:15pmforMiddleSchoolYouth,gatherinRoom9,lowerlevel.

HonoringourLovedOnes

Sundays8am&10:30am

Wednesdays6:30pm

LIFECHANGINGSACREDPRACTICES

IntercessoryPrayer

MembersKenFeeMaryFlecksingHarrietHemphillAnnKleman

ToniLeeMelanieMunroJudyNyeArleneOrtgiesLarryOrtgiesSteveThomasCarolWightman

RelaMvesTrentRosbergGertrudeLeeMarthaAdamsonTraceyBeltzKrousie

FriendsKristianLeitzenTinaCarltonBrentPahl

TheGrievingFamily&Friendsof:GloriaLarson(diedOct2)auntofJackieLee

MargaretHyland(diedOct11)grandmotherofLeslieHyland

IsaacRayLee(diedOct21)sonofTomandTheresaJeffTank(diedOct28)fatherofAaronTank

Servinginthemilitaryand/oroverseasAlexGray,ArmyNa<onalGuardJacobAune,MarinesJaysonClinton,Army

Tohonoralovedone’sbirthday,anniversary,orotherspecialdate,considersponsoring:AltarFlowers—thecostis$25Keeptheeternitylamplit—thecostis$10.Signupiseasy!GothroughSignupGeniusorcheckthesignuponthe“WhatWhatJesusSignUp4”bulle<nboard.Paybyplacingacheckintheofferingwith“flowers”or“eternitylamp”onthememoline,payatthekioskinthenarthex,oron-lineatwww.ssluth.com.Takeyourflowershomesaeerthesecondserviceorleavethemtobesharedwithamemberwhocannotabend.

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WARM-HEARTEDHOSPITALITY

Thanks-for-GivingBrunch—Sunday,November10,9:15am.ThisisagiefromSt.Stephen’stoeveryonefortheirgeneroussupportofourmis-sionandministriesthroughthegivingof<meandenergy,talentsandtreasure.Allarewelcome!……………………………………………………………………………Women’s50+Luncheon-Tuesday,November12,11:30am.Allwomen50+andfriendsareinvitedtoenjoyfoodandfellowship.Costis$1todefrayexpenses.RSVPArdellBegalskeat393-7073orreb4724@imonmail.com……………………………………………………………………………HospitalityMinistryOpportuni0es• AmyKuhnTeamLeaderstoworkwithSallyTerukinaandIanS<vers.AmyKuhnwillprovidecoaching.

• SundayMorningFellowshipHoststoprovideahealthyorsweettreat.Setupup8:30am.Cleanupat10:30or11:30am.Tosignupseetheclip-boardontheWhatWouldJesusSignUp4boardinthenarthexoratwww.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c4aa9aa2ba3f94-hospitality.

• CoffeeSponsorships—arebeingre-evaluatedaswehavealotofcoffeeonhand,andenoughinthecoffeefundtopurchasemorethanayear’sworthofcoffee.

Gotques<ons?ContactAmyKuhnatamykuhn2@aol.comor270-6365.……………………………………………………………………………

JOYFULWITNESS

ChoirandCantorRehearsals,Wednesdays,7:15pm.Joinusaswelearnliturgies,hymns,andanthemsforSundayworship.…………………………………………………………………………….GRATEFULSERVICE

Quil0ngMinistry—BarbaraKuslarrecentlycompleted13quiltsthatwillbedeliveredtoLutheranServicesinIowa!IfyouwouldliketohelpcontactBarbaraat319-826-3794.………………………………………………………………………………………Opera0onBackpackPickup/DeliveryOpportunityWearelookingforpersonswhohaveavehiclewithlargecargocapacityandwhoareavailableduringday<meweekdayhourstopickupfoodpackagesfromtheHACAPFoodReservoir,1515HawkeyeDr.HiawathaanddelivertoGrantWoodsElementarySchool.Interested?ContactMFLMar-ileeTorresat241-1978ormflmarilee@gmail.com.………………………………………………………………………………………ApplePieMaking—SaturdayNovember16,9amComeandgiveyourmiddleandhighschoolyouthahandatmakingapplepies.

Welcometonewmembers:Marilyn&RichardHermstad

(parentsofKaraHermstadBuckaloo)YoucancontactthemthroughMarilyn’scell:1-253-632-8994orMarilyn’semail:mvhermstad@gmail.com

Women,Wine&Wisdom—BoardandBrushEvent—SATURDAY,November9,8:30AM,@St.Stephen’s—Breakfastserved9-9:45AM,BoardandBrush10:00-12:00.Cost:$35.00.RSVPand/ortoarrangeridesorchildcarecontactAmyKuhnat270-6365oramykuhn2@aol.com.……………………………………………………………………………

STAYINFORMED!

Youcanviewthecouncilmee0ngminutes,pre-viousMessengers,councilmembers,videosoftheSundaysermons,andmoreonourwebsite! CouncilMee0ngMinutes:hbps://ssluth.com/our_councilPastMessengers:hbps://ssluth.com/newslebers

PastSermons:hbps://ssluth.com/sermons

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Na0onalAdop0onMonth

NovemberisNa<onalAdop<onMonth,a<metohonorfamilieswhohaveopenedtheirheartsandhomestochildreninneed.ForLSI,itisa<metocelebratethefamilieswesupportthroughFosterCareandAdop<on,andtoraiseawarenessforthehundredsofIowachildreninneedofasafe,lovinghome.

In30coun<esacrosswesternIowa,LSIFosterCareandAdop<onrecruits,licenses,andsupportsfosterandadop<vefamiliestoensureeveryIowachildgrowsupinasafe,stableenvironment.

Butmoreworkneedstobedone.Accordingtothemostrecentfederaldata,morethan100,000chil-drenintheU.S.arewai<ngtobeadoptedfromfostercare,andthousandsofteensageoutoffostercareeveryyearwithoutapermanentfamily.Tolearnmoreaboutsuppor<ngIowachildreninfostercare,visitLSIowa.org/Foster,orcontactDebWhi�ord,LSIdirectorofphilanthropyandchurchrela<ons,atDeborah.Whi�ord@LSIowa.orgor563.676.2065.

OurMission:LutheranServicesinIowarespondstotheloveofJesusChristthroughcompassionateservice.LSIisanaffiliatedsocialministrypartneroftheIowacongregaGonsoftheELCA(EvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica)andamemberofLSA(LutheranSer-vicesinAmerica).Weproudlyservepeopleofallages,abiliGes,religions,sexes,genderidenGGes,naGonalorigins,ethniciGes,races,andsexualorientaGons.LearnmoreatLSIowa.organdFacebook.com/LSI.Iowa.

AGrowingFamily

LindseyandAndreawerenostrangerstofosterparen<ng.Theirolderbrotherfosteredchildrenfor10years,andtheywereinspiredbyhisdriveandpassionforsuppor<ngvulnerablechildren.Un<lrecently,theyhadn’tseenthemselvesasfosterparents.Butsomethingintheirheartstoldthemtheywereneeded.“It’sbeenonourheartsforalotofyears,andwehavetheroomandlove,”Andreasays.“It’ssomethingweknewwecoulddoandit’sneeded.”ThetwosistersdecidedtobecomelicensedfosterparentsearlierthisyearthroughLSIFosterCareandAdop<on.Now,theyarecaringforchildreninfostercareatthesame<me.LindseyandAndrearegularlymeetuptosupportoneanotherandensurethechildrencanconnectandfeellessaloneduringthemostvulnerable<meintheiryounglives.

“It’sbeensoimportanttohaveaconnec<ontoanotherfosterfamily,”Lindseysays.“Thekidscanseethey’renotdifferent.Thereareotherchildrenintheirsamesitua<on.”

Meanwhile,theyarebusybuildingastrongbondwiththechildren’sbirthfamilies.Lindseysaysfosterparen<ngisawayforthemtogiveachildstabilitywhilealsonurturingtheirwholefamily.

LindseyandAndreahavealsofoundsupportfromotherlocalfosterfamilies.Theyarethere for each other, of-fering a shoulder to lean on when anyone needs an extra boost on the difficult days.

“There is a need for foster families in Iowa, and there is so much good that comes out of fostering,” An-drea says.

St. Stephen’s October Events

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BLESSING OF PETS (Oct 2)

CONFIRMATION STUDENTS

Temple Judah (Sept 23)

UNI Lock-In (Oct 19)

HIGH SCHOOLERS @ Quarter Barrel (Oct 2)

CROP Walk (October 13th)

Thanks to a generous anony-mous donor who matched St. Stephen’s donations, we raised $2,000!

St. Stephen’s October Events

HACAP Packing Event (October 23)

Thank you to all who came and helped pack food for Operation Backpack!

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St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch,ELCA61031stSt.SECedarRapids,IA52403-3021

ELECTRONICSERVICEREQUESTED

StaffDirectoryPastor Rev.Dr.RitvaWilliams pastorritva@gmail.comOfficeAdministrator SherryMercil office@ssluth.comMusicDirector DavidHaas music@ssluth.comPianoAccompanist LeslieHyland lesliehyland@gmail.comPremisesKeeper DebbiePolk (319)329-7655CouncilPresident DeeAnnHebrink dhebrink@yahoo.comCommunica<onCoordinator DavidZorn sslcommcoord@gmail.com

SundayMorningSchedule8:00am FirstWorshipService9:00am Coffee&Fellowship9:15am LearningHour10:30am SecondWorshipService

WednesdayEveningSchedule6:30pm Worship

St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch(ELCA)isaReconcilinginChristcongrega<onthatwelcomesdiversi-ty,whichenriches,nurtures,andchallengesourlifeandministry.

Comeandjoinusasweknow,live,andshareChrist togetherinlove.

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, ELCA To Know, Live, and Share Christ.

ssluth.com • 319-364-2637