the interpreter su aint nited stephens church of christ€¦ · awaited capital campaign to address...

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 ISSUE

Rev. Carnes 2

Sponsors Needed 2

Registration(s) Open 3

Walgreens Scrip 3

Food for Kids 4

10:30 Worship 5

New Babies 5

Income & Expenses 5

Baptisms 6

Feed Your Spirit 7

Memorials 7

Volunteers Potluck 8

SWOT Results 9

Upcoming Events 10

Council Appointment 11

Weekly Calendar 12

LINK UPUCC

WI Conference

NW Association

August 8, 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

THINKING OF ALL THAT IS TO COME ...

As soon as we hit August every year, I begin to think about the fall. I begin to imagine what the next church program year (September through May) is going to look like. Even though I still have some of my allotted vacation left according to my call agreement, my mind has turned to the fall and Advent, and all that happens in those 9 months of our active church life.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to know exactly how you all sense what’s happening in the life of the church, but I can tell you that from my perspective, this is a big time in the life of this church. In the last few months, the Church Council has voted to move ahead with the long awaited capital campaign to address some of the more obvious big ticket items that have been in need for a decade or more, like the sanctuary roof and interior. It will include a new electronic organ, since our current organ has many needed repairs and is technologically 4 decades behind. There are some other things that are less obvious, but just as crucial, that will set us up for the future. These things include rewiring much of the building, since most of the electrical is not up to code except for the office wing.

The parsonage also needs a new roof and exterior paint, and all of the windows need to be redone because of deteriorating paint and wood and the presence of lead paint. This project will likely become the first to be tackled because of the lead present in the house, which is at least four years overdue.

As we embark on this capital journey, investing in the infrastructure of this congregation, we will also have plenty of places to dream about what we want to do to set us up for the future and to imagine the impact we would like to have on the community for decades to come. What big things might you imagine about the infrastructure and life of this congregation?

The journey through capital improvements, however, also calls upon us to be clear about what our vision and mission are, and how do they drive what we do today, why we are willing to spend very large sums of money on our facilities, and what do we hope this investment will allow us to accomplish in the years to come. There has been some conversation about including a philanthropic element to the campaign, where we tithe (or give 10%) of our campaign away to make a huge impact in the life of Merrill. This is still undetermined, but could be a great thing for our city.

We are also well into our search for our next Associate Minister of Saint Stephens UCC. There has already been some interest in our church and position, and there will be more to come. As we add a second clergy back into the life of the church, there will be new opportunities for new gifts to be shared and the gospel to come to life in new ways.

Perhaps the most important thing that I see coming towards us though, is greater opportunity for more participation from the congregation. When the congregation voted to change the bylaws a couple years ago, the goal and the hope was to free up the committee structure so that nearly anyone could come in with an idea, or jump into mission opportunity, do it for the allotted time, and then do something else or something new. If you have ideas or visions for this congregation, come talk to me. We live in a time when so much is changing. We need new visions and bold strokes to bring the old story of love, grace, mercy, and justice of the gospel to ears who are accustomed to hearing anything but these things. We have a serious responsibility to use the resources of this congregation to make space for those who have no space; to speak love confidently and courageously into places of fear and hatred; to address places of despair and disfunction; and to show up and offer a hope-filled alternative. We are being called to reimagine what worship looks like both, inside the sanctuary and outside those walls.

Saint Stephens is strong, and there’s so much more knocking on the door just around the corner. So jump in. All hands on deck. The ship is moving, and it’s already making a difference.

Blessings,

Kyle

August 8 , 2017THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

BACK TO SCHOOL ... WITH SCRIP!Is it really time for Back to School? According to the stores it certainly is! And the schools have their supply lists out. So it seems it is time to start Back to School shopping ... with Scrip, of course!

Whether you’re shopping for crayons and clay, new jeans and gym shorts, notebooks and Nikes, or anything else on your long and growing list of clothes and school supplies needed for the growing kiddos ... Scrip can help you get what you need. And not just for kindergarteners through high school seniors either.

College kids need to set up their dorms or housing and get situated, too. From hampers and shower caddies to mini fridges and the

ramen noodles and spaghetti o’s to stock their pantries, both upperclassman and freshmen have their own long lists of “necessities.”

Department stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, grocery stores ... we’ve got the Scrip you need, both for shopping locally and in your nearest college town. Stop and see all we have to offer at the Scrip table, and special order any cards we don’t carry in stock, or stop in the office during the week to pick up those in-stock Scrip cards. School shopping gets easier ... with Scrip!

Concert to Benefit Jessi’s Wish Foundationfeaturing local instrumentalists and vocalists

performing primarily classical worksTuesday, August 15, at 7:00 PM

Saint Stephens United Church of Christin the Sanctuary

A free will offering will be taken

THANK YOU GUYS!Thanks to Dan Pick, Randy Perry, and George Dintelman for their help in packing more than 200 boxes at the Fill the Gazebo Community Food Drive this weekend. More than 7500 pounds of food items were collected. A final report will follow as soon as we get all of the final numbers and statistics from the committee.

CAN YOU SPONSOR A COFFEE HOUR?We need Coffee Hour sponsors! Can you help? How do you host a Coffee Hour? It’s easy! Bring in some treats, make coffee as soon as you arrive (instructions are on the side of the fridge), and arrange the treats on the head table with napkins, small plates, and coffee cups, creamer, and sweetener. Coffee Hour is held between the conclusion of the 9:00 AM worship service and the beginning of the 10:30 AM worship. Visit with people and get to know them. Welcome visitors! It’s fun! Clean up the area the way you found it. That’s all there is to it!

Call the office if you would be willing to sponsor a Coffee Hour or sign up on the chart now hanging on the kiosk in the Kuck Lounge. Or call the office, and we are happy to sign you up!

REV. CARNES ANNUAL FAMILY GATHERINGRev. Carnes will be with Jamie’s family for their annual trip to Northern Michigan to be with Jamie’s family, beginning this Saturday, where they will also celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. He will be back on Saturday, July 19, in time to worship and celebrate communion with all of you on Sunday, July 20.

RADIO SPONSORS NEEDEDWould you like to sponsor a radio broadcast? The cost is $190, the same as last year. Call the office to schedule your broadcast. Open dates on listed on page 10. Take a peek!

August 8, 2017THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS


WOMEN’S RETREAT … REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

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?

Registration for the second annual women’s retreat at Moon Beach in St. Germain, Wisconsin, is now open! The retreat will begin Friday, November 3, at 7:30 PM and go through Sunday, November 5, at 11:30 AM. Open to women of all ages ... invite a friend, sister, daughter, mother ... hosted by Saint Stephens.

Cost is $150 and includes all but two activities (Yoga and Bless This Mess are an additional fee) plus breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, brunch on Sunday, and the Inspirational Chocolates project. Cabins are heated and include modern bathroom facilities. Just bring your own sheets (or sleeping bag), pillow, and towels. (Each bed is fitted with a handmade quilt.) Map/directions, schedule, and reminders will be sent after registration.

You deserve this! So register and come and refresh, renew, regroup, re-energize, and/or relax! Customize your retreat to meet your needs.

Please register by October 13. Registration forms are available in the office and on the table near the Scrip table and the coat closet. Completed registration forms should be returned to the office with your payment.

Any questions? Contact Kelly Wallace at 715.218.2543 or [email protected]

SUNDAY SCHOOLNEWS

SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!Sunday School will begin on Sunday, September 10, in conjunction with our Fall Kickoff! Please register your child for the 2017-2018 Program Year. Registration forms are available on the table near the coat closet and Scrip table or in the church office during the week, or we can send you a form via email. Deadline for registration is September 3.

CONFIRMATION CLASSESWe are in the process of developing the new Confirmation Program here at Saint Stephens. The Program will begin this fall, so we are asking the parents of all students or adults, going into the 9th grade this academic year or older, who have not yet been confirmed and wish to be confirmed here at Saint Stephens, to complete a Confirmation Registration Form so that we can contact you with more information soon. Registration forms are available on the table near the coat closet or in the church office during the week, or we can send you a registration form by email. Please register ASAP.

THANK YOU DARLENE JOHNSON!Music is an important part of my life. Church service wouldn’t be the same without it! Sunday’s hymn sing was wonderful. A big thank you to Darlene Johnson for writing the interesting information about each hymn, and for sharing her talent with us. I also want to thank her for putting together the chime music we played and for taking time away from the cottage to practice with us! - Paula McIntyre

THIS SUNDAY’S WORSHIPPlease extend a warm Saint Stephens welcome to Rev. Dale Bishop who will be leading worship this Sunday, August 13, while Rev. Carnes is vacationing with his family. We hope he will enjoy his visit, and all of you, as well!



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 helpers for Tuesday, August 15 & August 22. Sign up on the sheet in the Kuck Lounge.

Volunteers should meet with Carol Weber briefly after Sunday’s service the week prior to the Tuesday they will volunteer.

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!”

BAKED GOODS NEEDED FOR EMPTY BOWLS Can you make baked goods for the Empty Bowls Pay-It 4-Ward Pasta Dinner bake sale? All proceeds benefit the Food for Kids program which Saint Stephens has adopted! Baked goods may be delivered to the Edward Jones office at 100 South Mill Street on August 21, (Monday) between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. Containers cannot be returned, so please package your items in disposable containers. Thank you! Any questions? Email [email protected]

FOOD FOR KIDSSaint Stephens is now able to accept donations for the Food for Kids program we have adopted. Checks for Food for Kids should be made payable to: Food for Kids and may be dropped into the collection plate or delivered to the church office.

1st Annual Empty BowlsPay It 4-WARD PASTA DINNER

Tuesday, August 22 - 4:30 PM to 7:00 PMMerrill Enrichment Center

303 N. Sales Streeet - Merrill

Join the Optimist Club of Merrill for a meal to help fight hunger in our community. For a minimum donation of $10, get a one-of-a-kind handcrafted bowl made by people in our community and a pasta dinner. 100% of the proceeds go to the Food for Kids program, recently adopted by Saint Stephens!

Dinner includes spaghetti, garlic bread, and a beverage. Meatballs and dessert will also be available

for purchase.

(Gluten friendly pasta and sauce available upon request. Bowls available while supplies last.)

Live entertainment will be provided. TICKETS SOLD AT SAINT STEPHENS OFFICE.

Because No Child Should Ever Go Hungry ...

WALGREENS SCRIP CARDS Our Scrip provider has informed us that Walgreens cards (that we normally keep in inventory - in $25 and $100 amounts) are temporarily unavailable until further notice. We have tried to order them for the past two weeks without success but have received information that we will be notified when the cards are once again available. We are sorry for the inconvenience and will post a follow-up notice when they are available again.

- Scrip Committee

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL THANK YOU!Thanks to the following individuals for helping with Vacation Bible School (VBS), either instructing or with snacks: Lydia McIntyre, Taylor Zastrow, Anna Bowe, Sara Rajek, Brooke Slagoski, Paige Plautz, Emma Golisch, Piper Plautz, Lexi Slagoski, David Golish, Barbara Davenport, Melissa Stevenson, Beth Badeau, and Nancy Seidel. And a HUGE thank you to Sue Gleason who coordinated and led this year’s VBS program!



A NEW BABY!Congratulations to Mandy & Josh Kohnhorst on the birth of a beautiful baby girl! Maddie Marie Kohnhorst was born June 24, 2017, weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and measuring 21” long. Welcome to the world, Maddie! We are glad you are here!

A NEW BABY!Congratulations to Eric & Nicole Soberg on the birth of a beautiful baby boy! Tryden Scott Soberg was born July 1, 2017, at 10:09 AM weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and measuring 21” long. Welcome to the world, Tryden! We are glad you are here!

A NOTE ABOUT NOTESAnonymous notes (such as those dropped into the collection plate or left in the office) are discarded, because we honestly don’t know what to do with them. We don’t know who to respond to.

If you have concerns, please feel free to address them to the office or Rev. Carnes directly and sign your name. We will be happy to respond. We will be happy to have any conversations anyone would like to have, either in person or in response to your signed letter or note.

Thank you!

10:30 WORSHIP SERVICE ON TRIAL BASISOur 10:30 AM Sunday worship service is historically less consistent than Wednesday evening service and has a low attendance. We want to be mindful of our time and resources, but we also know that there are a few people who are truly enamored of our 10:30 AM service. On the other hand, most 10:30 AM worshippers only come occasionally to that particular service, and there are so many benefits to all worshipping together at one service, so we are considering eliminating the 10:30 AM Sunday worship.

With that being said, we will continue to have the 10:30 AM service on a trial basis for the fall, beginning on Sunday, September 10, and continuing through Sunday, December 17. (There will be no 10:30 AM worship on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, or New Year’s Eve Day, Sunday, December 31. After this trial period concludes, we will evaluate whether we will include a 10:30 AM worship as part of our 2018 schedule. CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

General Fund income totaled $24,879 in July while General Fund expenses were only $19,731, resulting in a net gain to our bank account of $5,148. Not a bad place to be in the middle of summer and slightly more than halfway through the fiscal year.

Ever mindful of increased expenses to come once we find a full-time Associate Minister to join us here at Saint Stephens, our current financial position serves us well this month. 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!



Elaina Mae Brock, daughter of Matt & Stephanie Brock, was baptized at 10:30 AM worship on Sunday, May 14, 2017. Godparents are Sara Stiemke and Lucas Schulz. What a blessing Elaina is!

Jacqueline & Robert Gremler, Jr., brought Milo Robert Gremler to be welcomed into the community of Saint Stephens through the waters of baptism on Sunday, May 7, at 10:30 AM worship. Godparents are Jennifer Nienow and Jesse VenRooy. Welcome Milo!

Brooklyn Marie Oestreich joined our Christian community when she was baptized Sunday, May 7, 2017. Brooklyn is the daughter of Brian & Jennifer Oestreich. Godparents are Kari Weiland and Michele Statz. Welcome to Saint Stephens, Brooklyn!

Christopher & Samantha Nelson are stationed in Italy where son, Taylor Thomas Nelson, was born. On a short trip back to the U.S., immediate family gathered with Taylor and his parents to witness his baptism here at Saint Stephens in a private ceremony on May 22, 2017. Godparents are Jon Hughes and Trista Hess.

WATCHING OUR CHURCH GROWOur church community at Saint Stephens continues to grow. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me ...” (Matthew 19:14). Saint Stephens, too, welcomes all children to be a part of our story, as we tell the story of and learn more about the one we call Jesus. What a privilege to watch families grow and to see them coming to Saint Stephens! They are the future of our faith.

Croix Michael Boquist, son of Stephanie Lambrecht, was baptized at Saint Stephens on May 20, 2017. Godparents are Stacey Smrecek and Michael Lambrecht. Welcome to the community of Saint Stephens, Croix! (Photo not available)

Mark your calendar ...

Saint Stephens Annual MeetingSunday, October 15, 2017

after the 9:00 AM Worship(No 10:30 AM Worship that day)Annual reports, Council elections

More information to follow.



FEED YOUR SPIRIT . . .“Like Amen to That”

“Ask, and it will be given you; search and you will find; knock, and the door shall be opened for you.” - Matthew 7: 7

The message of this passage is something Jesus says a bunch of times in a bunch of different ways: BE BOLD IN PRAYER. Ask, seek, knock — each one ups the intensity level.

Is the point that God responds to aggression, that we need to shout to get God’s attention? No, the point is that our prayers, well at least my prayers, are often tepid, timid and half-hearted. Pray as if you mean it. Pray as if God were real and something might happen.

One Sunday a woman named Irma showed up at church. When it was time to pray, we asked God to comfort Sid

who was getting over gall bladder surgery and hoped to be playing golf again soon. We asked God to be with the homeless people and all people in need.

Then Irma got to her feet and started in. She told God it was rough out there but that she was trying to stay on the way. She said that this week she had come “this close” to picking up a gun and using it. She wanted to, but she knew that wasn’t right, she knew that wasn’t what Jesus wanted. Irma called on Jesus to give her the strength to do the right thing. She asked Jesus to “hook her up with the weapons of spiritual warfare,” because she was up against some seriously nasty demons. She prayed for a victory over Satan. And at the end, Irma murmured, “in the precious name of Jesus,” several times, then sat down.

Not a sound until some hitherto bored teenager sat up and said, “Wow . . . like Amen to that.”

After church, at the door, one of the first people out said to me, “Your services have gotten more interesting. I think I’ll come again next Sunday.”

I thought, “Lord, that Prayer of Invocation where I asked you to break in among us, I didn’t mean . . .”

Prayer

Grant us the courage to pray boldly, honestly, passionately dear God, trusting that you can do more than we think or imagine. Amen.

By Tony Robinson

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

Memorial $250.00 in memorial of Venita Stevens and Carlen Stevens from Nancy & Allen Lohrbach

New Organ $75.00 in memory of Nathan Knospe from Richard & Christine Polebitski

Capital Improvement $100.00 in honor of my 100th birthday, August 16. Every day is a gift. Thanks be to God. From Lenore Ehlert

Anniversary $100.00 in honor of the marriage of Shelby Grefe & Casey Penrod from Grandma & Grandpa Grefe

Hargrave Appliance, Merrill Radio Shack, and VIP Office Products will send a percentage of your purchase of $100 or more by cash or check to Saint Stephens as a part of the Scrip program. Miller Furniture also

participates in the Scrip program in this same manner. Just tell whichever store you are shopping at that you belong to Saint Stephens when you pay!



Medical Equipment Ministry Annual Volunteer Potluck

Thursday, August 24, beginning at 4:30 PM

The Medical Equipment Ministry is a free lending program for area residents. Volunteers clean and sanitize returned or donated equipment. Additional volunteers are always welcome. If you are interested in learning more, join our volunteers for our annual medical ministry volunteer potluck dinner and meeting on Thursday, August 24, beginning at 4:30 PM. Please call Jerry Geiss for more details at 715.536.9229.

SOWING, REAPING ... AND SHARINGDo you have a farm or garden? Are you beginning to see the fruits of your labors? You’ve sown the seeds and now it is time to reap the harvest. No matter what you’re harvesting from your garden, please keep Dinner @ Five in mind if you have an overabundance of produce. 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!

125th Anniversary CelebrationEvangelical Lutheran St. Paul’s Church Town of Pine River, Merrill, Wisconsin

August 20 ~ 10:00 AM Worship/Communion/SpeakerSpecial music by Sharon (Pieper) Voight

Catered dinner, historical items, skit, some dressed in 1890’s style clothing.

Reserve dinner tickets by calling Lois at 715.536.6965. Seating is limited to 120.

Merrill Area Meal Ministry“Breaking Bread”

Thursday, August 17 - 4:30 -6:00 PMEagles Club, 1205 Lake Street, Merrill

Sponsored by Church Mutual Insurance CompanyMenu: Sloppy Joes, Chips, Pasta Salad, Dessert Milk, Coffee, and Lemonade

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.

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

Remember: SCRIP costs you NOTHING to use in

place of cash!



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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.

OPEN SPONSORSHIP DATES

Flowers Sign up in Office September 17, 24

October 1, 15, 22, 29

Radio Ministry Call the Office

August 27 September 3

October 1, 8, 22, 29

Coffee Hour August 13, 20, 27

September 10, 17, 24

At 5 PM Monday

Sloppy Joes Hot Veggie

Dessert (when available) and Beverages

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

THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 13: 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

MISSION TRIP SUNDAY: August 27FALL KICKOFF: Sunday, September 10

10:30 AM WORSHIP RESUMES: Sunday, September 10 (on a trial basis)ANNUAL MEETING: Sunday, October 15

UPCOMING EVENTS

Merrill Relay for Life Schedule of EventsMerrill Festival Grounds (a/k/a Fairgrounds)

Friday, August 114:00-6:00 PM Bingo in the Sell Building (resumes after Opening Ceremony)5:00 PM Survivor Registration in the Sell Building6:00 PM Opening Ceremony - Introduction of Survivors and “Hero of Hope”

Food Stands throughout the EventEvents include: Games, horse wagon rides, Grandpa’s Farm petting zoo, sled dog demo, fire ladder truck, police dog Eros, Dorinda’s dancers demo, and Andy Goretski (artist)9:00 PM Luminary Ceremony Celebration of Life Fireworks Display in Grandstand

Saturday, August 127:30 - 9:30 Pancake Breakfast in Sell BuildingCharitable Big Ticket & Basket DrawingsClosing Ceremony

PLANNING AHEAD FOR CHRISTMAS EVEThere will be a change to the times for Christmas Eve worship this year, and we hope this change will make it easier for families, especially those with small children, to come and worship together. The service times for Christmas Eve will be: 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM. On Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, there will be a 9:00 AM worship service only.



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.

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 for a copy.

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 Christopher StammClergy: Rev. Kyle Carnes

CHURCH COUNCIL RESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENTChurch Council accepted the resignation of Michelle Roberge and has since appointed Christopher Stamm to take her place for the remainder of 2017. Elections for your 2018 Council members will take place at our Annual Meeting in the fall.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 ... Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

- Rev. Dale Bishop

Worship at 9:00 AM Nursery Available

Musicians are Marlene Krueger and Betsy Pagel.Flowers on the altar are in celebration of our 37th wedding anniversary and in

memory of our parents anniversaries August 16 from Laura & Gordon Bertagnoli. Radio Ministry is in honor of mother, Lenore Ehlert’s, 100th birthday on

August 16, 2017, from Gay & Sally Oberg.Coffee Hour is unsponsored as of the time of this printing. Nursery will be staffed by Beth Badeau and Molly Lyon.

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

WEEKLY CALENDARMONDAY, AUGUST 14 9:30 Former PALS 5:00 Dinner @ Five 5:00 Aerobics

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15 2:00 Jenny Towers 7:00 Benefit Concert for Jessi’s Wish Foundation

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16 9:30 Former PALS 6:00 Worship 6:30 Narcotics Anonymous (Open Meeting)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 9:30 Former PALS 5:00 Aerobics

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 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.)

SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!Sunday School will begin on Sunday, September 10, in conjunction with our Fall Kickoff! Please register your child for the 2017-2018 Program Year. Registration forms are available on the table near the coat closet or in the church office during the week, or we can send you a form via email. Deadline for registration is September 3.

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