the interpreter su aint nited stephens church of christ · 2017-07-13 · july 11 , 2017 the...

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E-MAIL US Reverend Kyle Carnes Tina L. Scott-Bus. Manager Kelly Krembs-Admin. Asst. Jason Chandler-Facilities Mgr Mary Pat Campbell-Interim Pastoral Associate The Interpreter INSIDE THIS ISSUE Re-Member Reflections 2 Gardening Bounty 2 Search Process Update 3 Fill the Gazebo 3 Silent Auction 4 Women’s Retreat 4 Taco Tuesdays 5 Noah’s Ark 5 Text to Give 6 Electronic Giving 6 Feed Your Spirit 7 Humor 7 VBS Coloring Page 8 Vacation Bible School 9 Crunching the Numbers 11 Weekly Calendar 12 LINK UP UCC WI Conference NW Association July 11, 2017 No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here. Summer Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 8-3:30 | Fri 8-1 Rev. Kyle Carnes, Senior Minister The Interpreter Saint Stephens United Church of Christ 903 E 2nd St Merrill WI 54452 Office: 715-536-7322 Pastoral Care Needs: 715.575.3191 TWO UPDATES Five years ago, a program was started to help make sure that kids had enough food over the weekend. Food for Kids, since its inception, has been housed at Calvary Lutheran Church in Pine River and has been lovingly operated by their pastor, Sue Christiansen, and her husband, Don. Food is delivered every Friday to kids in four of our elementary schools to take home for the weekend. Saint Stephens volunteers have been packing these bags for Washington Elementary for the past three years. Three other churches have packed for the other schools. This spring, Sue and Don announced that they would be retiring and stepping away from the coordination of Food for Kids. Through discussion with our current volunteers, staff, and Church Council, the conversation became, could Saint Stephens “adopt” Food for Kids and become the sponsoring organization for it? I’m thrilled with the enthusiasm and clear sense from these three groups of people that it was indeed something that fit within our mission and ideals of who we are as a congregation, and at their May meeting, your Church Council voted to officially sponsor and administrate Food for Kids. We have since had church member and current member of Council, Beth Houle, accept the call to be the lead person for this project. Beth will be the primary person corresponding with the schools and working to secure donor and donations for the program. Tina and I will be working closely with her to keep this project alive and to bring it into the future. There will be more to come about this wonderful mission. Stay tuned! FAMILY TIME AND PRAYERS By now, I hope that most of you have heard that Jamie’s mom was diagnosed with cancer back in December. Since then she has undergone treatments of radiation and a version of chemotherapy, and they have gone really well. Next week she begins a stem cell transplant treatment, which will leave her in the hospital for about three weeks. After the procedure, the protocol is that someone be with her 24 hours a day for the next 100 days. This can be shortened, but it all depends on whether her body accepts or rejects the treatment. I will be traveling to Colorado next week for a family reunion. Every two years since I was six years old, my mom’s extended family travels someplace around the country and camps together for a week. This year, Jamie will be staying with her mom, while the kids and I travel, along with their grandparents. This will allow Jamie to be with her mom without the usual interruption of three little kids. When we get back, however, we don’t yet know what her mom will need. We know that Jamie, with or without the kids, will be spending more time in Michigan. In order to balance all that will be going on, including the life of the church, I will likely need to get away for a few days at a time in the next couple of months. If all goes well, it likely won’t be for long stretches of time, but I will likely need to be away. I plan to do what I can to avoid extra Sundays beyond the days of vacation that I have already scheduled. As a general rule, I try to load my Sundays off into the summer, when many of you also take vacation and the church schedule is lighter, so that I am around for the seasons of Advent and Lent, Christmas and Easter. I have talked through this with Church Council and the church staff, and I’m exceedingly grateful for their leadership and support. We have an excellent Council doing the work of the church, and we are building a great team in the church staff, who are passionate about their work and dedicated to being an integral part of the Saint Stephens community. So, if it seems like I’m a little more scarce during the week, this is why. I’m grateful for your support, love, and prayers. My family and I are blessed to be a part of this community. I am proud to say that I am your pastor, and continually grateful for all that we are doing together and the future we are building. I give thanks and praise for the journey we share, Blessings, Kyle

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Page 1: The Interpreter SU aint nited Stephens Church of Christ · 2017-07-13 · July 11 , 2017 THE INTERPRETER Page 2 Saint STEPHENS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RE-MEMBER: I found the week

E-MAIL USReverend Kyle Carnes

Tina L. Scott-Bus. Manager

Kelly Krembs-Admin. Asst.

Jason Chandler-Facilities Mgr

Mary Pat Campbell-Interim Pastoral Associate

The Interpreter

INSIDE THIS ISSUERe-Member Reflections

2

Gardening Bounty 2

Search Process Update 3

Fill the Gazebo 3

Silent Auction 4

Women’s Retreat 4

Taco Tuesdays 5

Noah’s Ark 5

Text to Give 6

Electronic Giving 6

Feed Your Spirit 7

Humor 7

VBS Coloring Page 8

Vacation Bible School 9Crunching the

Numbers11

Weekly Calendar 12

LINK UPUCC

WI Conference

NW Association

July 11, 2017

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.

Summer Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 8-3:30 | Fri 8-1 Rev. Kyle Carnes, Senior Minister

The Interpreter Saint Stephens United Church of Christ

903 E 2nd St Merrill WI 54452

Office: 715-536-7322

Pastoral Care Needs:715.575.3191

TWO UPDATES

Five years ago, a program was started to help make sure that kids had enough food over the weekend. Food for Kids, since its inception, has been housed at Calvary Lutheran Church in Pine River and has been lovingly operated by their pastor, Sue Christiansen, and her husband, Don. Food is delivered every Friday to kids in four of our elementary schools to take home for the weekend. Saint Stephens volunteers have been packing these bags for Washington Elementary for the past three years. Three other churches have packed for the other schools.

This spring, Sue and Don announced that they would be retiring and stepping away from the coordination of Food for Kids. Through discussion with our current volunteers, staff, and Church Council, the conversation became, could Saint Stephens “adopt” Food for Kids and become the sponsoring organization for it? I’m thrilled with the enthusiasm and clear sense from these three groups of people that it was indeed something that fit within our mission and ideals of who we are as a congregation, and at their May meeting, your Church Council voted to officially sponsor and administrate Food for Kids. We have since had church member and current member of Council, Beth Houle, accept the call to be the lead person for this project. Beth will be the primary person corresponding with the schools and working to secure donor and donations for the program. Tina and I will be working closely with her to keep this project alive and to bring it into the future. There will be more to come about this wonderful mission. Stay tuned!

FAMILY TIME AND PRAYERS

By now, I hope that most of you have heard that Jamie’s mom was diagnosed with cancer back in December. Since then she has undergone treatments of radiation and a version of chemotherapy, and they have gone really well. Next week she begins a stem cell transplant treatment, which will leave her in the hospital for about three weeks. After the procedure, the protocol is that someone be with her 24 hours a day for the next 100 days. This can be shortened, but it all depends on whether her body accepts or rejects the treatment.

I will be traveling to Colorado next week for a family reunion. Every two years since I was six years old, my mom’s extended family travels someplace around the country and camps together for a week. This year, Jamie will be staying with her mom, while the kids and I travel, along with their grandparents. This will allow Jamie to be with her mom without the usual interruption of three little kids.

When we get back, however, we don’t yet know what her mom will need. We know that Jamie, with or without the kids, will be spending more time in Michigan. In order to balance all that will be going on, including the life of the church, I will likely need to get away for a few days at a time in the next couple of months. If all goes well, it likely won’t be for long stretches of time, but I will likely need to be away. I plan to do what I can to avoid extra Sundays beyond the days of vacation that I have already scheduled. As a general rule, I try to load my Sundays off into the summer, when many of you also take vacation and the church schedule is lighter, so that I am around for the seasons of Advent and Lent, Christmas and Easter.

I have talked through this with Church Council and the church staff, and I’m exceedingly grateful for their leadership and support. We have an excellent Council doing the work of the church, and we are building a great team in the church staff, who are passionate about their work and dedicated to being an integral part of the Saint Stephens community. So, if it seems like I’m a little more scarce during the week, this is why. I’m grateful for your support, love, and prayers. My family and I are blessed to be a part of this community. I am proud to say that I am your pastor, and continually grateful for all that we are doing together and the future we are building.

I give thanks and praise for the journey we share,

Blessings, Kyle

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July 11 , 2017Page 2THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

RE-MEMBER:

I found the week on the Lakota Reservation working with about 35 Re-Member volunteers to be tremendously enlightening, educational, and life-affirming. I received more than I gave. The gifts I received came from four groups: the Saint Stephens contingent, the other volunteers, the Re-Member staff, and, most of all, the Lakota People. According to the great-great Grandson of one of the medicine men killed in the the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, the four characteristics represented in the Lakota sacred medicine circle are courage, respect,

generosity, and wisdom. The following “wisdoms” are some of my take-aways from the Re-Member experience. There are many parallels to philosophical and religious traditions familiar to all.

- The two most important days in a person’s life are the day they were born and the day they discover why they were born.

- Judge not.

- Every living thing and non-living thing are related.

- There is no more honorable action than serving one another.

- The best answer to the “bad” is the living of the “better.”

- Respect elders. [One of my favorites :-)]

- Avoid sentences that begin with “if they would just do _____” or “why don’t they just try_______.” The Lakota’s plight is very complex.

- My needs pale in comparison to the needs of people on the reservation.

- No service is too small.

- Live with daily gratitude.

- The power of people working together is far greater than the sum of its parts.

Thank you to Pastor Carnes, Scott and Kelly, Linda, Melissa, and Sally. It was a true pleasure to share this experience with you.

- Jim Bjorklund

COUNCIL/FISCAL TRANSPARENCYIf you are ever curious about what is happening with your Church Council and church finances, you are always able to request a copy of the most recent Council Minutes and Treasurer’s Report at any time. While these two documents are too lengthy and cumbersome to include here in their entirety each month, they are always readily available to you. We want everyone to know what is happening in the life of the church.

Simply call Tina in the church office and she will make you a photocopy.

DOES YOUR GARDEN OVERFLOWETH?It’s a little soon to be harvesting most things from our gardens, but when things begin to ripen and mature, we hope you will keep Dinner @ Five in mind if you have an overabundance at harvest time. Dave Raddenbach invites you to bring in fresh fruits or vegetables to the church kitchen on MONDAYS at 1:00 PM. Your contribution will either be served with the Dinner @ Five Community Meal or will be shared with the community that evening. Don’t let your hard work go to waste! Let us help you share God’s bounty with others!

SOFTBALL SCORESSaint Stephens played two games this past Sunday. The first game was a forfeit and the second game was a good effort but ended in a lose 15-9, thank you to everyone that came out.

Come out and support us at our next game this Sunday 1:30 PM at Faith Lutheran when we play St. Peter, Schofield.

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July 11, 2017Page 3THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

SEARCH PROCESS UPDATEWe promised a couple of months ago to update you on our Search process for an Associate Pastor. That process has now formally begun. To enter the Search process in the United Church of Christ, we must complete a Profile of our Church. The profile document allows us, or actually requires us, to consider our history, our present, and to ponder our future: Who are we, who is our neighbor, who do we want to be, and how do we want to serve the still speaking God?

To accomplish this task, a subcommittee was formed to allow more flexibility in meeting times. Four individuals volunteered to work on this project: Jennifer Porath, Kelly Wallace, Nancy Dabbert, and Rev. Kyle Carnes. Many hours were spent considering our past, discerning our present, and pondering our future. Church & Ministry reviewed the Profile several times and were in conversation with the Profile group about it throughout the process. The Profile group did some amazing work. Please thank them for their time when you see them.

A search team was gathered and approved by Church & Ministry, and has now met twice. The first time we met with Rev. Rob MacDougall, Associate Conference Minister for the Northwest Association. Rev. MacDougall went through the Search process with us and made recommendations on how we might form, work together, and conduct the Search. The second time we met was to organize among ourselves how we would operate as the Search Committee. Members of the Search Committee are: Bill McIntyre Mary Stamm Cliff Williams Kristine Bowe Clint Golisch Kelly Wallace Tyler Drake Jennifer Porath Gary Schwartz

Mary Stamm will be our Secretary, Kelly Wallace will be our Chaplain, and Jennifer Porath and Gary Schwartz will Co-Chair the Search process.

The Search process, by design and demand, is very confidential. We will be dealing with the private information of Pastors who are expressing an interest in receiving a Call from you, the congregation of Saint Stephens. We will not be able to discuss the individuals we will be in conversation with. However, we will keep you posted as to how the process itself is moving forward.

Where are we going and how will we get there? What will we, the congregation of Saint Stephens, look like when we get there? This is an exciting journey we are on. Think of the possibilities and pray for Saint Stephens.

- Jennifer Porath- Gary Schwartz

FIFTH ANNUAL FILL THE GAZEBO EVENT!It’s time for FILL THE GAZEBO NUMBER 5! FILL THE GAZEBO is a community-wide food drive to benefit Merrill’s three food pantries and the Food for Kids Program. This year’s Big Fill will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2017, from 9:00 AM until 12:00 Noon at the Gazebo in Normal Park.

Items to bring include nonperishable food items, personal care items, and monetary donations. Please remember to note the expiration date on items brought. Checks may be made out to the Merrill Food Pantry. From there, all donations will be divided equally between Merrill’s three

food pantries. You can also designate donations specifically for Food for Kids. In case of rain, the collection will be moved to Our Saviours Lutheran Church, 300 Logan Street.

Here at Saint Stephens we have a “gazebo” of our own set up in the Kuck Lounge as a collection point for nonperishable food items for the FILL THE GAZEBO event and we will then ensure that all of those donations are transported to the Gazebo at Normal Park on Saturday, August 5. We will need some helpers to help us do that. If you can help, please let us know. Feel free to just bring your donation directly to the Gazebo that day if you prefer.

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July 11 , 2017Page 4THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

SILENT AUCTIONOur silent auction continues this week as we dispose of some items that have been stored for a lengthy time and/or are no longer being used here at the church. The pictured items are available for “silent auction” type bids this week. All items are in the office with a “silent auction” type bid sheet near each one. Anyone interested in acquiring any of these items should stop in the office during office hours this week or before/after worship on Sunday, July 16, to bid on the item. Bids will be accepted in even $1 increments.

Each of the below items will be considered “sold” to whomever has the highest bid when the office opens Monday, July 17, at 8:00 AM. Items with no bids will be sold on Facebook or donated to St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores.

Below: Glass bowl of purple glass “stones;” framed vintage picture of Christ child; pair of silk floral arrangements; tall green lamp (for a dorm room perhaps?); pair of hardcover books, all available for silent auction bid this week.

ITEMS AVAILABLE THIS WEEK

WOMEN’S RETREAT …

Looking for some peace and quiet? Need to rekindle your relationship with former hobbies? Want some “girl time”? Drawn to nature? Need a refresher course on finding yourself? Hoping to get to know other women with similar interests?

As I begin planning for the second annual women’s retreat at Moon Beach, my mind replays scenes from the first retreat last November. I am reminded of what a blessing we are to each other. Retreat attendees ranged from 17 to … well … retired.

Although we were at different stages of our lives, we all recognized our tendency to neglect our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and the retreat was just the forum to re-energize on all three levels. We found each other an inspiration and explored ways to strengthen each other via sharing, relaxation, finding common interests, and meditation/worship. Please mark your calendars for November 3-5 and consider joining this year’s retreat. We will revisit some of last year’s favorites and discover new talents, interests and meaning. All you have to do is show up! Keep watching The Interpreter for more details …

- Kelly Wallace

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July 11, 2017Page 5THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

PICNIC IN THE PARK ... TACO TUESDAYSVOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!

Our “Taco Tuesday” lunches at Stange’s Park are in full swing, and we still need a few more volunteers! Specifically, we still need lead people for the following Tuesdays:

August 15 August 22

We also need one or two helpers for the following Tuesdays:

July 25 August 15 August 22

Please check the sign up sheet in the Kuck Lounge. Or you may call the church office and leave your name and number and someone will call you back.

Volunteers will meet with Carol Weber after Sunday service before your date for instructions in gathering the items needed. Everything will be supplied for you to pick up at the church on your date. In case of rain and wet grounds, you will be notified of cancellation.

P.S. Volunteers get a free taco lunch!

Volunteers, you are a blessing!“Who doesn’t love a picnic in the park!”

Summer Office HoursSummer office hours are in effect, now until Labor Day. Enjoy your summer!

Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM Friday 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

YOUTH TRIP TO NOAH’S ARK!Youth in Grades 6 through the Class of 2017 are invited to go on our annual trip to Noah’s Ark on Tuesday, July 18. Friends are invited, too! There is a sign up sheet in the office and Permission Slips (also in the office) are required.

Cost is $20 per person who will attend. Plan to arrive at church by 7:30 AM (bus leaves promptly at 8:00 AM) and be picked up at 8:00 PM (bus arrives right around 8:00-8:30 PM depending on traffic). Remember to bring your own food and snacks for the day. And don’t forget to bring sunblock!

Sign up in the office and return your Permission Slips, along with your payment, to the office as soon as possible.

NEW AT SAINT STEPHENS ... KIDS ACTIVITY BAGS!Parents and grandparents ... take a peek in the back of church and you’ll see our brightly colored Kids Activity Bags on hooks on either side of the main entrance into the sanctuary. On your way into church, feel free to let your little one(s) select a bag to take with them into the sanctuary to occupy them during the service. These bags are designed to be “boredom busters” for little ones, so from time to time, we will be incorporating different things in the bags. On your way out of the sanctuary, simply return the bag and its contents to the hooks.

Come one, Come allWednesday night worshipA simple, meditative, communion service.

Wednesday evening worship begins at 6:00 PM

Come as you are, to find a space of rest and reflection and peace, a moment away from the

hectic world we live in.

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July 11 , 2017Page 6THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

ELECTRONIC GIVING OPTIONSHave you tried electronic giving yet? It’s fast, easy, and secure, and there are several different ways you can do it.

1. First, you can use your bank’s Bill Pay system to initiate checks being sent to the church according to whatever schedule you choose.

2. Second, you can pay electronically online from your home computer. It’s easy to do, and you can either

“set it and forget it” for regular weekly or monthly contributions, or you can go in and enter contributions, memorials, or special offerings whenever you choose.

For complete instructions on how to begin giving electronically, contact Tina in the church office. She will email you easy-to-follow instructions.

3. Third, you can text to give right from your phone, even while sitting in church if you want to. While everyone else is dropping an envelope into the collection plate, you could theoretically be making a donation via text at the same time. You could also do this before or after services or any time at all! Complete Text Giving instructions are printed in this edition of the Interpreter!

TEXT TO GIVE! It’s Fast, Quick, Easy & Convenient ... Wherever You Are

Have a “smart” cell phone? Then you can donate to Saint Stephens by sending a Text. It’s Simple. Here’s all you need to do:

1. Text SaintStephens (no spaces in between) to 732562. You will get a reply message with a link. Tap the link & it will take you to a screen that lets you input:

• The Dollar Amount you want to give (minimum of $3 per transaction for text giving).

• The Fund you want your money to go to (by default it will go in Weekly/Pledged Giving ... the General Fund ... but you can choose any fund listed).

• The Account Type you want to use to make your payment (Credit/Debit Card, Checking, Savings).

3. Beneath that, you will be prompted to enter the appropriate account numbers, expiration date, and/or security information for the account you selected. Be assured this is a secure system and we at Saint Stephens will never see your account information.4. Check the box that says “I’m Not a Robot” and follow the instructions to verify you are not a robot. It will be a simple “human” test such as selecting some photos that meet a certain criteria.5. Click the GIVE button.

You will get a Thank You message with a receipt immediately following your transaction to confirm that it went through. A receipt will simultaneously be texted to your phone number and sent to the email address you entered.

If you have any questions or concerns, call Tina in the office. She tried it and successfully processed a personal donation to create this set of instructions.

PINE CRESTThe July Pine Crest worship service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 27. Members scheduled to assist residents to the service are Kathy Case, Linda Hass, and Penny Hommerding. Rev. Kyle Carnes will lead the worship service and Darlene Johnson is the pianist.

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July 11, 2017Page 7THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

FEED YOUR SPIRIT . . .Not Peace

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” - Matthew 10:34

Most of us long for peace. Many of us identify as pacifists, many of us are members of peace organizations and Just Peace congregations. Few of us wish for more war and conflict. And for peaceniks like us, this kind of talk from Jesus makes us nervous. Were we wrong about Jesus? Is he a meet-me-on-the-playground-at-3 kind of leader after all?

We live in a world where war is good business. Where

corporations and governments profit from the conflict between police and poor, and from the resulting imprisonment of millions. Where the powerful know that as long as the weak are fighting each other, they’re unlikely to turn on the ones holding the reins. Try to bring peace to any of those situations, and if their violence wasn’t already directed at you, it will be soon.

This is what Jesus meant, I think. Claim that every human life matters, and those who profit from the ending of lives are going to get mad at you. Demand that leaders see humans the way God sees humans, and leaders whose position depends on grinding others to dust are going to react. Show up as the Prince of Peace, and the lords of war are going to scramble their jets.

It’s not that Jesus likes violence, I don’t think. It’s more that he knows that in a world built on it, you can’t avoid it. It’s not desirable, but it’s inevitable. The only choice, really, is between living with the violence that already is, and living with the violence that comes with trying to change it.

Prayer

God, I don’t know if the future I’m trying for will be better than the present, but I’m going to keep trying anyway. Amen.

By Quinn G. Caldwell

SUMMER STUFF• Sunday worship is at 9:00 AM. (No 10:30 AM

services for the summer.) Wednesday worship is at 6:00 PM. Join us!

• Sunday School is now on Summer Break! See you all in the fall!

• Still lots of opportunities for getting involved: Taco Tuesday, Dinner @ Five, projects here at church, and more! Call the office and we can hook you up with a project that matches your interests! Whether you like to work with kids or adults, work alone or with others, work with your hands or your intellect, we’ve got a project that will be a perfect fit for you!

Remember: SCRIP costs you NOTHING to use in

place of cash!

When doubts and worries set in ...“Ah Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

- Jeremiah 32:17

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July 11 , 2017Page 8THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

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Vacation Bible School Coloring Page!

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July 11, 2017Page 9THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Vacation Bible School is happening NOW! So much FUN for the Kids & the Helpers!

Camp Kilimanjaro at Vacation Bible SchoolJuly 10-14, 2017

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July 11 , 2017Page 10THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

MEMORIALSMemorials will be printed with the dollar figures shown unless otherwise specified.

Medical Ministry $5.00 in memory of Bill Storm from Harold Schulz

Radio $200.00 in memory of Barbara Hopp for her July 26 birthday from Harold Hopp

Memorial $100.00 in memory of our parents, Ray & Betty Herdt, for their birthdays from Wendel & Debbie Mathis and Family and Todd HerdtNew Roof

$50.00 in loving memory of Norbert Krause on his bridtay July 11 from his family, Mark & Sally Woller and Dan & Becky Krause

St. Paul’s Cemetary $250.00 in memory of wife, Ann Krueger, on the July 12 anniversary of her passing, from Ron Krueger and Family

SAINT STEPHENS FAST PITCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE TEAM ... 2017 SEASON SCHEDULE

Date Time Location TeamsJuly 16 1:30 PM Faith Lutheran vs. St. Peter, SchofieldJuly 23 Division 1 Tournament @ St. John’sJuly 30 3:00 PM Immanuel vs. St. Paul’s Irma 2 (Ben)July 30 6:00 PM Immanueel vs. Our Saviour/St. John (Makeup Game)August 6 3:00 PM St. John’s vs. Christ Lutheran, Merrill/ Mtn of the Lord, WausauAugust 13 Make Up Games

SEVERE WEATHER IN WISCONSINSevere thunderstorms, strong winds, and even tornados can wreak havoc on Wisconsin from this time of year right up into early fall. It’s a long season, and it’s easy to get complacent and not take severe weather watches and warnings seriously. But remember, a WARNING for your area means to TAKE COVER. Does your family have an emergency plan? Does everyone know where to go and what to do to be safe? What if your children couldn’t reach you? Would they know what to do? Talk it through now and be prepared.

HERE AT ST. STEPHENSIn the event of a tornado warning here at Saint Stephens, all adults should

go directly to the Fellowship Hall. If children are participating in activities at the church at that time (Sunday School, nursery, Scout meetings, youth group, etc.), all children and youth are to make their way to the Choir Room in the basement along with their adult caregivers, teachers, or chaperones. This direction is specifically given to avoid the chaos or panic that might ensue were parents to try to locate their children elsewhere in the building during such a time, and to ensure that all children are accounted for. It’s easy to brush off even a tornado warning since they have become fairly commonplace, but if you are in the church building and hear the tornado siren (next door) going off--and it’s NOT Wednesday at noon when they test the sirens--go immediately to the designated area.

SEVERE WEATHER PLANNING

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July 11, 2017Page 11THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

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2017 CONTRIBUTION ENVELOPES Boxes of contribution envelopes for 2017 are still available. Stop in the office if you would like a box.

WHY USE SCRIP?

• Scrip costs you no extra money!

• Scrip makes it easy to live on a budget.

• Scrip makes a great gift for any occasion.

• Scrip profit goes to our church.

Stop in the church office to pick up some Scrip before you head out shopping! We now have MANY vendors’ Scrip here in stock.

And the Scrip volunteers will be happy to special order other Scrip on Sunday for you, too!

OPEN SPONSORSHIP DATES

Flowers Sign up in Office August 13, 20, 27 September 17, 24

October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Radio Ministry Call the Office

August 6, 13, 20, 27 September 3, 10

October 1, 8, 22, 29

Coffee Hour July 23, 30

August 6, 13, 20, 27

2017 CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS/OFFICERS

President Bill McIntyreVice President Kent ReinhardtTreasurer Sara ZastrowSecretary Terry Krueger Kristine Bowe Tyler Drake Kevin Golisch Jennifer Oestreich Cliff Williams Beth Houle Marge Johnson VacancyClergy: Rev. Kyle Carnes

At 5 PM Monday

Pork Ribs & Pork Fillets over Pasta Hot Veggie

Dessert (when available) and Beverages

THIS SUNDAY, JULY 16: Worship at 9:00 AM with Nursery; Coffee Hour after worship service.

DINNER @ FIVE Every Monday at 5:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall EVERY WEDNESDAY: Worship at 6:00 PM

YOUTH TRIP TO NOAH’S ARK: Tuesday, July 18 - The bus leaves @ 8:00 AM!

UPCOMING EVENTS

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERSMay income exceeded expenses by over $4,000. As we go into the slower summer months, we will likely

“use up” some of the “money in the bank” we’ve accumulated during the months when income exceeded expenses so far this year. Thank you for another month of support, generosity, and faith in the life and ministry of Saint Stephens United Church of Christ! Your support ... financially and in every possible way ... truly matters!

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SUNDAY, JULY 16 ... Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Rev. Wayne Druek

Worship at 9:00 AM Nursery Available

Musicians are Darlene Johnson and Paula McIntyre.Flowers on the altar are in honor of our 64th wedding anniversary from

Rev. Dale & Jacqueline Kuck. Radio Ministry is in loving memory of our son, brother, husband, and daddy,

Stephen Rajek, who left us 7 years ago on July 14, 2010, by his familyCoffee Hour is sponsored by Jackie Kuck, Debbie Seeger, and Renee Williams.

Nursery will be staffed by Beth Badeau and Beth Houle.

For subscriptions, removals or changes of address: 715-536-7322 or [email protected] PROVIDES THE BEST SERVICE.

WEEKLY CALENDARMONDAY, JULY 17 9:30 Former PALS 5:00 Dinner @ Five 5:00 Aerobics

TUESDAY, JULY 18 8:00 Youth Noah’s Ark Trip

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 9:30 Former PALS 6:00 Worship 6:30 Narcotics Anonymous (Open Meeting)

THURSDAY, JULY 20 9:30 Former PALS 5:00 Aerobics

FRIDAY, JULY 21 12:00 Alcoholics Anonymous

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Pastoral Care Telephone Number: 715.575.3191.

Please add this number to the contacts in your cell phone or keep with your other important or emergency telephone numbers.

NURSERYNursery care is available during our 9:00 AM worship service. If your little ones would like to play and socialize with other little people their age, feel free to bring them to the nursery where our adult volunteers will be happy to care for them during the service. (If you have not already done so, please complete an enrollment form for your child.)

Food Pantry donations

for July totaled 155 pounds ...Thank you!!!