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December2017
InThisSeasonofGiving…Anumberofyearsago,JohnandIdecidedtosimplifyourChristmasgiDgiving.Oursib-lingsareallsuccessfuladults,wholiveinnicehousesfilledwithlovelythings.TheyareabletopurchasepreJywellanythingtheyneedwhenevertheyneedit.TryingtofindspecialandmeaningfulgiDsonaKghtbudgetthatalsoallowedforshippingthemtodistantpartsofCanadaandtheUSAseemedsooverwhelming.ThenwediscoveredELCAGoodGi*s.
ELCAGoodGi*sprovidesmorethan50differentgiD-givingopKonsthatgrowthechurch,fighthungerandtransformlives.ThesegiDs,starKngatjust$10,providedirectsupportforthechurch-wideministriesoftheELCA.OurgiDssupportprojectsin83countriesabouttheglobe.TheseincludeliteracytrainingandeducaKon,anK-hungerprograms,refugeesupport,healthcare,programsdesignedtoenablefamiliestobecomeself-supporKng,andmore.Morethan90%ofyourdonaKongoesdirectlytoprogramsupportintheareasofgreatestneed.
OurAdventtreeintheNarthexisdecoratedwithELCAGoodGi*sornamentsandwillremainupthroughtheAdventandChristmasseasons.Youareinvitedtoselectanornament(orseveral)andmakeadonaKontoSt.Stephen’s(write“ELCAGoodGi*s”onthememoline).Taketheornament(s)homeasareminderofyourgiD,or,youcandoasJohnandIintendtodo,sendtheornamentstooursiblingsle1ngthemknowthatwe’rehonoringthembysuppor7nggoodworkintheirnames.
IfyouprefertopurchasemoretradiKonalgiDsforyourlovedones,youcansKllprovidelife-changingopportunityformarginalizedarKsans,farmers,andtheirfamiliesaroundtheworldbypurchasingFairTradeGi<sfromSERRVonSunday,December10.ShopforbeauKfulhandmadegiDsforyourfamilyandfriends:chocolatebars,jewelry,scarves,purses,baskets,puzzleboxes,naKvitysets,onyxsculptures,leatherbanks,andmanyotheritems.
ThroughyourpurchaseoffairtradegiDs,arKsansin25countriesareliDedoutofpoverty.Theyaregivenavoiceandtreatedwithrespect.Theycanearnafairincome,sendtheirchildrentoschool,learnnewskills,andde-velopcommunityprojectslikewaterwellsandmedicalclinics.Remembertobringcashoracheck.
Inthisseasonofgiving,considergivingadoubleblessing(1)toyourlovedones,and(2)tothosewhostruggleforsomanyofthethingswetakeforgranted.
Blessings,Pastor Ritva
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UsuallywhenIsitdowntowritemyarKcleIlookaheadtotheupcomingmonth.However,thismonthIamgoingtodeviatefromthatnormalapproach.ThereasonisthattheyouthhavehadaverybusymonthinNo-vember.SoIdecidedtoshare
somehighlightsfromthemonthwhichjustpassedinsteadoflookingahead.
LastmonthIwrotetoyouaboutourannualapplepiefundraiserandhowthemonieswouldbeused.Iamverypleasedtotellyouthatdotothehandworkoftheparentsandyouth,andthepieswhichyouandcommunitymemberspurchased,wewereabletoraisealmost$2800.ThankyoutoDeeAnnHebrinkfororganizingallthedetailsofthisfundraiser.
AnothereventwhichisinitssecondyearisOper-aKonTurkeySandwich.WeparKcipatedinthiseventforthefirstKmelastyear.Aswedidlastyear,wejoinedwithyouthandadultsfromtheIslamicCentertomakeonehundredturkeysand-wichsacklunchesonthenightbeforeThanksgiv-ing.ThanksgivingmorningtheyouthandparentsdeliveredfiDyofthoselunchestoemployeesworkinginbusinessesandpublicsafetylocaKonsonthesoutheastside.Thisisourwaytoremem-berthosewhoserveusontheholidaysandliveout,“Loveyourneighbor.”
Again,thankyouforallyoursupportandprayers.BesuretoaskayouthabouttheirparKcipaKonintheseevents.
Blessings,
Mark HowlandYouth&YoungAdultMinister
Asachild,IwasalwaysaliJleconfusedaboutwhatAdventreallymeantandquitehonestly,amsKllaliJleconfusedbyittoday.IwasalwaystaughtthatAd-ventwasaKmeofexpec-tantwaiKng;wewerewait-ingforandjourneyingto-
wardthebirthofJesusandthecelebraKonGodcomingamongus.Whilethiswasalwaysafunthingtobeapartofasakid,parKcipaKngintheChristmasprogramanddecoraKngthechurch;asIgotolder,IwonderedwhatweweretodowiththisseasonaDerwewereoutofSundayschoolandtoobusytogobacktochurchintheaDernoontoaddcharacterstotheNaKvityscene.
TheolderIget,themoreIrealizethatwaiKngishardtoo,especiallyduringAdventwhenwethinkweknowhowthestoryends.ButinthejourneyoftryingtofigureoutthisbusinessofAdvent,I’vecomeacrosssomeinteresKngthingstoconsider.WhatifwereframethewaywethinkaboutAdvent?WhatifinsteadofdreadingthewaiKng,wewaitwithhope?WhatifwewaitwiththehopethattheincarnaKonwillactuallybringchangeandGoodNews?Whatifinsteadofthinkingweknowtheendofthestory,welookforwaysforthatstorytosur-priseus?WhatifwelayasideourexpectaKonsandassumpKonsforthisseasonandreallylookforGodatworkandforwaysthatGodhasandconKnuestoenterintolifewithus?
SoforthisAdventseason,Iinviteyoutowonderandwaitandkeepwatchwithme. God’speace,
Vicar Mikayla Kopp
Mother Has The Most Brilliant Idea Of Explaining ‘Santa’ As Kids Grow Older…(thisarAclehasbeencirculaAnginonlineforumsforyearsandrecentlyappearedinFBpost)
“Inourfamily,wehaveaspecialwayoftransiKoningthekidsfromreceivingfromSan-ta,tobecomingaSanta.Thisway,theSantaconstructisnotaliethatgetsdiscovered,butanunfoldingseriesofgooddeedsandChristmasspirit.
Whentheyare6or7,wheneveryouseethatdawningsuspicionthatSantamaynotbeamaterialbeing,thatmeansthechildisready.Itakethemout“forcoffee”atthelocalwher-ever.Wegetabooth,orderourdrinks,andthefollowingpronouncementismade:
“Yousurehavegrownanawfullotthisyear.Notonlyareyoutaller,butIcanseethatyourhearthasgrown,too.[Pointout2-3examplesofempatheKcbehavior,consideraKonofpeople’sfeelings,gooddeedsetc,thekidhasdoneinthepastyear].Infact,yourhearthasgrownsomuchthatIthinkyouarereadytobecomeaSantaClaus.YouprobablyhavenoKcedthatmostoftheSantasyouseearepeopledresseduplikehim.SomeofyourfriendsmighthaveeventoldyouthatthereisnoSanta.Alotofchil-drenthinkthatbecausetheyaren’treadytoBEaSantayet,butYOUARE.TellmethebestthingsaboutSanta.WhatdoesSantagetforallofhistrouble?[leadthekidfrom“cookies”tothegoodfeelingofhavingdonesomethingforsomeoneelse].Well,nowYOUarereadytodoyourfirstjobasaSanta!”Makesureyoumaintaintheproperconspiratorialtone.
Wethenhavethechildchoosesomeonetheyknow–aneighbor,usually.Thechild’smissionistosecret-ly,deviously,findoutsomethingthatthepersonneeds,andthenprovideit,wrapit,deliverit–andnev-errevealtothetargetwhereitcamefrom.BeingaSantaisn’taboutgeqngcredit,yousee.It’sun-selfishgiving.
Myoldestchosethe“witchlady”onthecorner.Shereallywashorrible–hadafencearoundthehouseandwouldneverletthekidsgoinandgetastrayballorFrisbee.She’dyellatthemtoplayquieter,etc–arealpill.HenoKcedwhenwedrovetoschoolthatshecameouteverymorningtogetherpaperinbarefeet,sohedecidedsheneededslippers.Sothenhehadtogospyanddecidehowbigherfeetwere.
HehidinthebushesoneSaturdayanddecidedshewasamedium.WewenttoKmartandboughtwarmslippers.Hewrappedthemup,andtaggedit“merryChristmasfromSanta.”ADerdinneroneevening,heslippeddowntoherhouseandslidthepackageunderherdrivewaygate.Thenextmorning,wewatchedherwaddleouttogetthepaper,pickupthepresent,andgoinside.Mysonwasallexcited,andcouldn’twaittoseewhatwouldhappennext.Thenextmorning,aswedroveoff,thereshewas,outgeqngherpaper–wearingtheslippers.HewasecstaKc.IhadtoremindhimthatNOONEcouldeverknowwhathedid,orhewouldn’tbeaSanta.
Overtheyears,hechoseagoodnumberoftargets,alwayscomingupwithauniquepresentjustforthem.Oneyear,hepolisheduphisbike,putanewseatonit,andgaveittooneofourfriend’sdaugh-ters.Thesepeoplewereandareverypoor.Wedidaskthedadifitwasok.Thelookonherface,whenshesawthebikeonthepaKowithabigbowonit,wasalmostasgoodasthelookonmyson’sface.
WhenitcameKmeforSon#2tojointheranks,myoldestcamealongandhelpedwiththeinducKonspeech.TheyarebothexcellentgiDers,bytheway,andneverfeltthattheyhadbeenliedto–becausetheywereletinontheSecretofBeingaSanta.”
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AtthisKmeofThanksgivingI’dliketoshineaspotlightonallthevolunteerswhohavebeencaringforourlandduringtheseason.YourhelpisappreciatedandnoKced.ThankyouallplusMarilynLoanwhokeptusallupdatedandin-formed.
DanStarkJack&WillBickelKenNathanTomKenneyNormBarnesChuckBarnesTekesteGebrekidanJoeLahoreMaJWeberEvPetersenAmy,Brian&LincolnKuhnJohn&DavidHebrink
DaveCoatesMowingCoordinator
Abigthankyoutoallwhosupportedourannualapplepiefundraiser!AsImenKonedinmyarK-cle,wewereabletoraisealmost$2800thisyear.Sothankyoutoallthemiddleandhighschoolyouth,theparents,thecongregaKonandcommunitymembers.
Iwouldespeciallyliketothank:
• HyVeeonMtVernonRoadforhelpinguswithsupplies,donaKngthebagsandthediscountwhichwereceived.
• Allan’sOrchardforsupplyingtheapplesatadiscountedprice.
• DeeAnnHebrinkformanagingallthelogisKcs.
Pleasemakesuretothankthebusinessesnotonlyinwordbutalsobypatronizingtheirbusi-ness.
MarkHowland
SpecialworshipservicesinDecember:
• EveryWednesday-6:30pm-HoldenEveningPrayerwithHolyCommunion
• Sunday,December24-9:00am-Worship(onlyoneserviceinthemorning) 5:00pm-NaKvityofOurLord(ChristmasEve)7:00pm-NaKvityofOurLord(ChristmasEve)
• Sunday,December31-9:00am-Worship(onlyoneserviceinthemorning)
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Practice Discipleship in Daily Life Join 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.
WORSHIP SundayWorshipSchedule,8:00and10:30am.
Wednesday Worship is at 6:30pm during theseason of Advent: Holden Evening Prayer withHolyCommunion
Wouldyouliketosingwithus?JoinusWednes-day nights following worship at 7:15-8:15pm.Childcareisprovidedduringrehearsals.
STUDY Sunday Morning Children’s Time at 9:15am.InDecember, children of all ages (3-5 year oldsand1st-4thgrades)intheChildren’sPlace(lowerlevel) to prepare for the Children &YouthChristmas Service on Sunday, December 17 at10:30am. Dress rehearsal will be on Saturday,December16at1:00pm.
SundaymorningHighSchoolYouthDiscussion:(YouthRoom)-seewebsitefortopics.
Life Long Learning 9:15am (Fellowship Hall)seeSundaybulleKninsertfortopics.
Bring Your Bible to Brunch the 1st & 3rd Sun-days eachmonth, at LionBridge, 59 16thAve.Join Pastor Ritva and John as they explore thelecKonaryreadingsforthefollowingSunday.
Men’sCoffee&StudyGroup(Mondaysat8am)atMr.BeansinMarion.
Women’sBibleStudy(Tuesdaysat10am)study-ing Wm. Paul Young’s book, Lies We Believe
aboutGodwillwrapuponTuesday,December12andtakeawinterbreak.
Wednesday Evening Confirma^on Program forMiddle School Youth (6th-8th grades) inRoom9.ContactPastorRitvaorYYAMMarkHowlandformoreinformaKon.
INVITE Advent Soup Suppers — Every Wednesdaynight, 5:45pm. Join for salad, soup, bread anddessert in the FellowshipHall. If youwould liketohelpprovidefoodforthesupper,contactAmyKuhnatamykuhn2@aol.comor270-6365.
Caroling— Sunday, December 10, 2pm. ComeandsingChristmascarolstopaKentsatStLuke’sHospitalandPrairieHills.
Cocoa&Carols—Sunday,December24,10am-Fellowship Hall. Enjoy some cocoa and treatswhilewesingChristmasCarolstogether.
Women50+Luncheon-Tuesday,December12,11:30 in the Fellowship Hall. For informaKon,RSVPArdellBegalskeatreb4724@imonmail.comor319-393-7073.
WomenWineWisdom – Tuesday, December 12,6pmat theChurchFellowshipHall.Thiswillbeour annual Christmas giD exchange and dinner.RSVP Amy at amykuhn2@aol.com or 270-6365.Childcareandridescanbearranged.
SERVE Quil^ngMinistry:ContactBarbaraKusler–319-826-3794(home).
Opera^onBackPack-EveryotherWednesdayat7:15pmintheNarthex.
Hospitality Hosts - Sundays at 9:00am in theNarthex and FellowshipHall. Each Sunday youhavetheopportunitytoproviderefreshmentsforguestsandmembers.Thiscreatesawelcomeat-mosphereandthedevelopmentofrelaKonships.FormoreinformaKonortosignup,contactAmyKuhn at amykuhn2@aol.com or 270-6365 orNicole Brooks at nab21871@aol.com or270-0900,HospitalityTeam.
GIVE Opportuni^estoSignUpfor…
AltarFlowers–Sponsoringflowersforthealtarisa niceway to honor a loved one’s birthday, an-niversary,orotherspecialdate. Signupiseasy!Go through Signup Genius or check the sign upon the What Would Jesus Sign Up For bulleKnboard.
Thecost is$25.Youcanplaceacheck intheof-feringwith“flowers”onthememoline,payatthekiosk in the narthex, or pay online through thewebsite.TakeyourflowershomeaDerthesecondserviceor leavethemtobesharedwithamem-berwhocannotaJendservices.
CoffeeSponsor -Helpprovide coffee for fellow-ship between services and other church events.Thecost is$10.Youcanplaceacheck intheof-feringwith“coffee”onthememoline,payatthekiosk in the narthex, or pay online through thewebsite.
SanctuaryLampOil-Keepthesanctuarylamplit.Thecostis$10.Youcanplaceacheckintheof-feringwith“coffee”onthememoline,payatthekioskinthenarthex,orpayonlinethroughthewebsite.
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MembersSteveThomas MickButzPeteHansen JoanPetersen ToniLeeJudyNyeHarrietHemphill ElfriedeHansen AnnKleman CrisNodruD GailHusmann
Rela7vesTrentRosbergDaveGoepfert MaryRoseBarnotesGertrudeLeeJohnRosentreterJenniBeckEllaBartules
FriendsPatSchnitzel GlennaHoutzMichelleStafford JerimeMitchell MarthaHandleyRachelHollingsheadRev.LilianaStahlberg
Family&Friendsof:GregGoodall(HACAP-OBPcoordinator)diedNov.3KimMarieEllies(nieceofJeanMine-hart)diedNov.4
PleasecontacttheofficeoruseaPrayerRequestcard(inyourpewrack)toplaceyourlovedone’snameonthislistfortwoweeksand/orrequestprayerofthepastoralstaff.Ifyourlovedonedesiresapastoralvisit,pleasecontactPas-torRitvabyvoiceortextat319-693-2087orbyemailatpastorritva@gmail.com.
Servinginthemilitaryand/oroverseasAlexGraz,ArmyNaKonalGuard
LORD Hear Our Prayers
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Preschool101:“AParent’sGuidetoAllSaintsPreschool”PleasejoinusforanopportunitytocheckoutAllSaintsPreschoolandregisterforthe2018-2019schoolyearonTuesday,January30,2018at6:30PMintheschoolcafeteria.AllSaintsSchoolislocatedat72029thSt.SE.TheeveningwillbefilledwithprogramandcurriculuminformaKon,toursofthePreschoolclassrooms,achancetomeetandgreetthePreschoolstaff,andanopportunitytoregisterforthe2018-2019schoolyear!InaddiKon,wewillshareinformaKonaboutwraparoundChildCareforfamiliesinneedofChildCare.ChildrenarewelcometoaJend.SupervisedacKviKeswillbeprovidedintheChildCareCenterduringtheinformaKonalsession.
IfyoucannotaJendthemeeKngandwouldliketovisitPreschoolorChildCare,pleasecallAllSaintsSchoolat319.298.9844orcontactPreschooldirector,SheriMiller,atsmiller@allsaints-crschool.org.
ParentMee^ngforKindergarten2018-2019Tuesday,January30,2018–6:30p.m.
Asparents,providingyourchildwithanoutstandingeducaKon,inanenvironmentthatfostersthede-velopmentoftheirCatholicfaithanddeepenstheirloveofGod,isthemostimportantgiDyoucangive.AllSaintsCatholicSchoolcanprovidethisexperience,withrewardsthatwilllastyourstudent’slifeKme.
IfyouareinterestedinlearningmoreaboutAllSaintsCatholicSchool,pleasejoinusonTuesday,January30th@6:30p.m.tolearnmoreaboutourprogram.WewouldappreciatetheopportunitytovisitwithyouandansweranyquesKonsyoumayhaveabouttheeducaKonalplanforyourchild.
L.O.A.F.MINISTRYUPDATETheCouncilhasdesignatedthisyear’sspecialThanksgivingOfferingforthe LOAF fundwhichprovide emergency assistance tomembers andneighbors. Themajority of requests that we receive are for housingassistance— usually rent, someKmes uKliKes— but other requestsincludecarrepairs,daycareassistance,clothing,food,andmuchmore.AsofOctober31thebalanceinthisfundwas$639.Thankyouforthe$285thatwasgivenonSunday,November19.SpecialThanksgivingofferingenvelopeswillbeavail-ableonSunday,November26also.
MerryChristmasfromLSI!
“Thelightshinesinthedarkness,andthedarknesshasnotovercomeit.”—John1:5
AsChristmasapproaches,wegivethankstoyou!Everyday,asaministrypartnerofLSI,youhelpbringthelightofChristtoothers.
AtLSI,weknowmanypeopleexperiencingdeepdarkness.Weknowparentswhofeelhopeless,withliJletonoresourcestoraisetheiryoungchildren.WeknowadultswithdisabiliKeswhofeelvoiceless,withnosupportsystemorconnecKontotheircommunity.Weknowteenswhoareagingoutofthefostercaresystem,whofeartheywillneverbelongtoanyoneorhaveafamilytolovethem.
LSI’sworkisChristmaswork,shininglove,compassion,andlightinplacesofdarkness,despair,abuse,neglect,ad-dicKon,andloneliness.Wecouldnotdothisimportantworkwithoutyou,andwearesograteful.
WishingyouablessedandmerryChristmasfromLSI!
OurMission:LutheranServicesinIowarespondstotheloveofJesusChristthroughcompassionateservice.LSIisanaffiliatedsocialministrypartneroftheIowacongregaAonsoftheELCA(EvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica)andamemberofLSA(LutheranServicesinAmerica).Weproudlyservepeopleofallages,abiliAes,religions,sexes,genderidenAAes,naAonalorigins,ethniciAes,races,andsexualorientaAons.Learnmoreatwww.LSIowa.organdwww.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.AVoiceforChange
MorganstruggledwithangermanagementbeforecomingtoLSI’sBremwoodResidenKalTreatmentCenterinWa-verly.WhenshewasinstressfulsituaKons,shetriedtoescapeheremoKonsbyrunningaway.Butshecanremem-bertheexactmomentsheknewshewantedtomakeachange.
“OnedayatBremwood,anotherresidentlashedoutatastaff.IwasjustsiqngtherethinkingthisisnotthelifeIwanttolive,”Morgansays.“Thisisnotme.ThisisnotwhoIwanttobe.”
SheworkedhardtopracKcehercopingskillsandsoongraduatedoutofBremwood.ButMorganwantedtodomoretogivebackandhelpothers.
Morgan,now19,isgoingtocollegeforAgriculturalBusiness.SherecentlytookherfirstinternaKonaltriptoHaiKtostudylocalfarming,andshe’salreadysavingmoneytotakeasimilartriptoBrazilnextyear.
MorganturnedtoLSIonceagain–butthisKme,notforherself.Instead,tohelpothersinneed:youthjustlikeherwhoneedsupport,alisteningearandwordsofencouragement.LSIandWoodhavenShelterhadbeenthereforMorganduringsomeofherdarkestKmes.Now,shewantstobethereforthosewhoneedit.
SheisnowemployedasaYouthAssociateinLSI’sWoodhavenShelter!Whenanewresidentcomesthroughthedoors,MorganistheretoshowthemthatnomaJertheodds,theycanmakeabeJerlifeforthemselves.Sheistheretohelpotheryouthfindtheirpathtohope,healingandwholeness.
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Apple Pies…
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Property Workday Saturday November 18
Serving our neighbors with Operation Turkey Sandwich…
St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch,ELCA61031stSt.SECedarRapids,IA52403-3021
ELECTRONICSERVICEREQUESTED
StaffDirectoryPastor Rev.Dr.RitvaWilliams pastorritva@gmail.comYouth&YoungAdultMinister MarkHowland mhowland1983@gmail.comPastoralIntern MikaylaKopp kopp.mikayla@gmail.comOfficeManager SherryMercil office@ssluth.comMusicDirector DavidHaas music@ssluth.comPianoAccompanist LeslieHyland lesliehyland@gmail.comPremisesKeeper DebbiePolk (319)329-7655CouncilPresident JeanneTowell thetowells@msn.comCommunicaKonCoordinator MarkHowland sslcommcoord@gmail.com
SundayMorningSchedule8:00am FirstWorshipService9:00am Coffee&Fellowship 9:15am LearningHour10:30am SecondWorshipService
WednesdayEveningSchedule6:30pm Worship
St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch(ELCA)isaReconcilinginChristcongregaKonthatwelcomesdiversi-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
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