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April2016
Wehaveanewfixtureinthesanctuary–aneternallight.Thetradi>onofhavinganeternallightorflameinholyplacesgoesbacktothestoryoftheExodus.GodgivesMosesinstruc>onstocommandtheIsraelitestobringpureclearoliveoiltokeepalampburningcon>nuallybeforetheplacewherethearkofthecovenantresides(Exodus27:20-21).Sincebiblical>mesGod’speoplehavelitaneternalflamefirstinthedeserttabernacle,thenintheJerusalemTemple,andfinallyinlocalsynagogueswherepeoplegatherforSabbathworship.
ThefollowersofJesuscarriedonthetradi>onoftheeternalflame.InRomanCatholicchurchesthelightburnsnear“thetabernacle”–areceptacleforthereservedsacrament(specificallyconsecratedbreadandwineleVoverfromtheEucharist).SomeEpiscopalandLutheranchurcheshaveasimilarprac>ce.
AtSt.Stephen’swedonothaveatabernacle,nordowereservethesacrament.Forus,theeternallightisareminderthatChrististhelightoftheworld(John8:12),shiningalwayswithinandaroundus,hereinthisplaceandeverywhere.Theeternallightalsoremindsusofourbap>smalvoca>ontoletourinnerlightshinebydoinggoodworksthatshowforthChrist’sloveforallpeoplewithoutexcep>on,andgiveglorytoGod(MaZhew5:16).
Thedecisiontoincludeaneternallightinoursanctuaryisaresponsetorequestsfromsomemembers.ThedecisionwasmadebythetheWorshipandMusicMinistryTeamandtheMinistersoftheTablewhowillmaintainit.WeareallverygratefultothefamiliesofJennieDavis,BurgePetersen,andBobWestercampforprovidingmemorialfundstocoverthepurchaseofthisnewfixture.WehopetodedicatetheeternallampduringourEasterservices.
JoinusforHolyWeekServicesaswecon>nuetowalkinthefootstepsofJesustothecrossandintotheresurrec>on.
MaundyThursday,March24,6:30pmAbsolu>on,FootWashing&HolyCommunion
GoodFriday,March25,6:30pmTenebraeService
HolySaturdayVigil,March26,6:30pmCantata:TheHighestPlace–Love’sStoryTold
EasterSunday,March27,8:00&10:30amEasterBreakfast9:15amEasterEggHunt10:00am
Blessingsonyourjourney,Pastor Ritva
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Growing Our Mission: Strategic Working Groups
YouthMinistryStatusUpdate:ThisgrouphascompletedinitialinterviewswithallthreeapplicantsfortheYouthDirector’sposition.Twooftheapplicantshavebeeninvitedforasecondinterviewduringwhichtheteamwillobservethemleadingalessonandactivityforourmiddleandhighschoolyouth.TheteamexpectstohireaYouthDirectorbytheendofApril.
Members:DavidHebrink,DeeAnnHebrink,JohnHebrink,EmmaIsrael(Council),AmyKuhn,KarenVanderSanden,OliviaVanderSanden(CouncilYouthRep).
SmallGroupMinistriesStatusUpdate:Thisgroupisstrugglingtofinda>mewheneveryonecanmeet.Membersofthisgrouphavemettwice,thewholegrouponce.Aninforma>onal“coffeeshop”eveninghasbeententa>velyscheduledforThursday,April28.Lookformoreinforma>ontocomeaVerEaster.
Members:NormBarnes,JonathanChambers,BarbaraKusler,TerriPetersen,TimSagers,JeanneTowell(Council)
Invi=ngOtherstoJoinOurStoryStatusUpdate:Thisgrouphascompletedaninventoryofallthewayswecurrently“invite”otherstojoinus,andbrainstormedacomprehensivelistofwaysthatwecommunicatethestoryofSt.Stephen’s.Membersofthegrouparereachingouttootherchurches(toavoidduplica>onofministries,andexplorepossiblecoopera>veventures);areworkingtoiden>fyapossible
videoteamandcontac>nglocalmediaoutlets;andlookingathowwecanimproveourwelcometovisitors.
Members:PaulBelow(Secretary),MarkHowland(Chair),EmilyRobins(Council),JonathanChambers,BobStreeper,TerriPetersen,KennNye
NeighborhoodMinistryStatusUpdate:MembersofthisgrouphavereachedouttoWaypoint,CalvinSinclairPresbyterianChurch,andAllSaints,andareworkingonsejngupmee>ngsaVerEastertoassessneighborhoodneedsandexplorepossiblejointventures.
Members:JonathanChambers,BobStreeper,MelanieOstmo(Council),JohnWilliams,MarkHowland
SpaceStudyStatusUpdate:Thisgroupstartedbywalkingthroughthebuildingandiden>fyingareasthatneedaZen>on.Theirexperimentwithrearrangingthefurnitureinthenarthexisreceivingposi>vecomments.Weseepeopleu>lizingthecafetableseverySundaytovisitwithoneanother.Thegroupisexploringamorepermanentcoffeebarforthenarthex,reorganizingthefellowshiphalltoprovidebeZeraccesstotherestrooms,gejnges>matesforrenova>onsthatdonotrequireexpandingthebuilding.Youwillbehearingmuchmorefromthisgroupastheycon>nuetheirwork.
Members:VickiHyland,EmmaIsrael(Secretary/Council),KathyNathan,KenNathan(Council),EvPetersen,VicarLuciSesvold,AaronTank(Council),MattWeber.
NEXTMEETING:TUESDAY,APRIL12,7:00PM
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YoumayormaynothaverealizedthatEarthDayoccursinApril.MyearliestEarthDaymemoryisfrommyKindergartenyear.MyteacherhadacraVinmind.Shehadsentnoteshome,weeksprior,tobringaplainwhite(orlight)
coloredt-shirtfortheEarthDayproject.An>-cipa>onwashighfordayswhilewetriedtoguesswhatwewouldbedoing.
Finally,thedayarrivedandwewerecalledonebyonetothecraVsta>on.Wewerescreenprin>ngaworldimageonourt-shirts!Thereweretwostencils,oneforblue,oneforgreen,andwewereencouragedtoputontheinkandsqueegeeitacrossthestencil.Irememberthejoyandhonorofbeingtrustedwithsuchan
important,andpoten>allymessy,craV.Irememberwan>ngtobesoverycarefultogetitjustright.IremembertheprideIfeltwhilewearingthist-shirtthatImade,eventhoughitwasmydad’soldshirtandhugeonme.
It’sbeennearly25yearssinceImadethisEarthDayshirt,andthememoriess>llhaveamajorimpactonme.Thefeelingsofan>cipa>on,surprise,joy,honor,trust,protec>on,andpride.Whatwoulditmeanifweeachhadthosefeelings,notjustonEarthDay,buteverydayoftheyear?WhatifwelookedatGod’screa>onthesamewaythatsix-year-oldmelookedatthatt-shirt?Whatimpactwouldwehaveifwecaredforcrea>onthisway?
BlessingtoyouandHappyEarthDay!Vicar Luci Sesvold
LayInternshipCommi1eeWantsYourFeedbackOurLayInternshipCommiUee–MaUWeber,DanHusmann,LeslieHyland,AusVnHebrink,MaryTank,andCaroleButz(Chair)–meetseachmonthtosupportVicarLucithroughherInternshipyearatSt.Stephen's.PleasecontactamemberofthecommiUeeore-mailCarolemccsbutz@gmail.comwithanyfeedbackyoumighthaveasVicarLuciconVnuestoprogressthroughheryearwithus.
Life-Long Learning in April
April3 IslaminAmerica ImamHassanSelim–IslamicCenterofCR
April10 IslaminAmerica ImamHassanSelim–IslamicCenterofCR
April17 LutheranServicesinIowaSharedMinistries DebWhioord,LSI
April24 SeniorYearReflec>ons AleeseBaldwin
Earth Day
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PRAYER
Mondaysat12:30pm–JoinusasweprayforeachotherandSt.Stephen’s.
WednesdayEveningWorshipwithPrayerAroundtheCrossat6:30pm.
STUDYChildren: Sundays9:15amSundaySchool(4/3,17,24)Children’sMusicHour(4/10)
Adults:Sundays9:15amLife-LongLearning–seepage3forApriltopics
SundayBibleBrunchPastorRitva’sopeninvita>ontocometogetherforfood,fellowship,andBiblefun.WeexploretheScripturereadingsforthefollowingSundayseekingtounderstandwhattheymeanandhowwecanlivethemoutfaithfully.We’llmeet
onApril3and17at11:45amattheNewboAlehouse(12013rdStSE).
Men’sGroup(Mondaysat8am)atMr.BeansinMarion.ComeandhavesomefunandfellowshipwiththemenofSt.Stephen's.
Women’sBibleStudy,Tuesdaysat10:00amWe’restudyingwomenofthebible:April5:NoBibleStudyApril12:Deborah,Jephthah'sDaughter,DelilahApril19:Michal,Abigail,BathshebaApril26:Tamar
Confirma=onforMiddleSchoolYouth:Wednesdays7:15pm,Rm9
INVITE&ENCOURAGE
WomenWineWisdom,Thursday,April7,6:30pmatZeppelins–5300EdgewoodRdNE.Bringafriend,sister,[email protected].
Men’sBowlingNight,Monday,April11,6:30-8:30pm,WestdaleBowlingCenter,2020ScoZyDriveSW.RSVPAaronTank563-299-0708oraarontank@hotmail.com.
SuperSeniorsSororityWomen'sGroupforour50+ladiesgathersatthechurchTuesday,April12,11:30amforlunchandfellowship.Costis$1tohelpdefrayexpenses.RSVPArdellBegalskeat393-7073/[email protected].
EarlyRegistra=onforCampEWALU–Registra>onformsreceivedorpostmarkedbyApril15areeligiblefora$20discountonweek-longprograms.St.Stephen’soffersaddi>onalcamperships:contactKenNathan,[email protected].
Practice Discipleship in Daily LifeJoin us as we explore the seven faith practices that are the foundation for
following Jesus in daily life: Worship, Prayer, Encourage, Study, Give, Invite, Serve.
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St.Stephen’sOnlineGivingishere!Checkitoutatwww.ssluth.com.Thisprovidesanalternateopportunityforbothmembersandnon-memberstogiveto11different
funds,usingVisa,MasterCard,orDiscover.
OurQuiltingMinistryhascompletedthefirstbatchofquilts–nowreadyforshippingtoLSI.LSIquiltsaredistributedstatewide.Withare
eightmorequiltsintheworks,ourministrycontinuestoaskfordonationsofyarnfortying,thread,andfabric.ThegroupmeetsatBarbaraKusler'shome(nospecificdayortime),behindthecornerofEastPostRoadandMt.VernonRoad(off40thSt.),3849SoutterAve.Ct.SE.Giveheracallat319-826-3794or214-202-8646(cell).
Opera=onBackpack,Wednesdays,7:15pm,Rm10downstairs!VolunteersassemblefoodpackagesforstudentsatGrant
WoodElementarySchooltotakehomefortheweekend.Thepackagesaredeliveredthefollowingday.Ifyou’dliketoassist,pleasecontactMelanieOstmo([email protected])orJeanneTowell([email protected]).Monetarydona>onscanbemadeouttoSt.Stephen’s(memoline:BACKPACK)andputinthecollec>onplateoryoucanpaythroughourwebsite’sonlinegivingop>on.
St.Stephen’sRummageSaleSetforSaturday,May21.Ifyoucanhelpout,contactMollyChambersatmollyjeanchambers@gmail.comor319-775-2959.PleasekeepSt.Stephen'sinmindasyoudoyour
springcleaninganddonateitemstothesale!
AltarFlowersSignUpOpportuni=es!Selectadateandindicateifitisaspecialcommemora>on.PlaceyourgiVof$25(marked“FLOWERS)intheofferingplateorpaythroughourwebsite’sonlinegivinglink.Following
secondservice,youmaytakeyourflowershomeorhavethemgivenduringpastoralvisits.
Gotnews?Ifyouknowofanupcomingevent,pleasesubmititverbally,inwri>ng,orthroughemail(preferred)totheoffice([email protected])sowecanupdateourwebsite’scalendar.SubmissionsfortheMessengerneedtobeinbythethirdWednesdayofthe
month.AndpleaseremembertocopytheofficewhenplanningeventswithPastorRitva.Thankyou!
Haveyoumoved?PleasenoFfytheoffice([email protected],364-2637)sowecanchangeyouraddressinourdatabase.Weare
chargedthefirst-classmailrateforMessengersreturnedtous.
SERVE
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Through the Week at St. Stephen’sWhat’s usually happening on a given day
Sundays 8:00am 1stWorshipService 9:05am Fellowship 9:15am SundaySchool 9:15am Cantor&WorshipRehearsal(4/3,17,24) 9:15am Children’sMusicHour(4/10) 10:30am 2ndWorshipService 11:45am ChoirRehearsal 12:00pm AuditCommiZeeMee>ng(4/24) 12:45pm SundayBibleBrunchat NewBoAlehouse(4/3,17) 6:30pm Las>ngImpactCouncilSmallGroup Mee>ng(4/3,10,17)
Mondays 9to1:00 Churchofficeopen 8:00am Men’sGroupatMr.BeansinMarion 12:00pm eNewsdeadline 12:30pm PrayerTeam 6:30pm StephenMinistry(4/4,18,25) 6:30pm Men’sBowlingatWestdaleBC(4/11) 7:00pm BoyScouts(4/4,18,25)
Tuesdays 9to1:00 Churchofficeopen 10:00am Women’sBibleStudy(4/12,19,26) 11:30am SuperSeniorsSororityLunch(4/12) 5:30pm Worship&MusicTeamMtg(4/12) 6:30pm MinistryTeamsMee>ngs(4/12) 7:00pm StrategicWorkingGroups(4/12)
Wednesdays 9to1:00 Churchofficeopen 6:30pm Worship 7:15pm Confirma>onClass 7:15pm Opera>onBackPack
Thursdays 9to1:00 Churchofficeopen 6:00pm WomenWineWisdomatZeppelins(4/7) 6:30pm FinanceCommiZeeMee>ng(4/14) 6:30pm CouncilMee>ng(4/21)
Fridays Churchofficeopenbyappointment Pastor’sSabbath 7:00pm FamilyPromiseBenefitConcert-St.Paul’s UnitedMethodistChurch(4/22)
We pray for the families and friends of:
InezMiller(BeckyLahart’sgrandmother)whodiedSaturday,February27.
JeaneZe“J”Andreae(friendofEmmaIsrael)whodiedSaturday,February27.
On the Prayer List
PleasecontacttheofficeoruseaPrayerRequestcard(inyourpewrack)toplaceyourlovedone’snameonthislistfortwoweeksand/orrequestprayeroftheMondayPrayerTeam.Ifyourlovedonedesiresapastoralvisit,pleasecontactPastorRitva.
Servinginthemilitaryand/oroverseasKateMunro(Malawi)
NickWheeler,FortGordon,GA(grandsonofGail&DanHusmann)
MembersSteveThomasMickButzLeeTramutoloPeteHansenKenKaiserJoanPetersenElainePetersToniLeeJudyNyeSuzanneSchmidtAnnKlemanArleneOrtgiesKaylaMarnerRetaWestercamp
MelanieMunroSallyBeltzVickyJohnsonJacksonSmith
RelaVvesTerrySwalveGaryCoatesTrentRosbergShirleyCoatesRev.RichardHermstad
FriendsMarkIveyLindaNines
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Forinforma>ononLutheranServicesinIowa,visitwww.LSIowa.org.JoinusonFacebookatwww.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.
AccordingtoPreventChildAbuseIowa,morethan7,400Iowachildrenwerefoundtobeabusedin2014.Themostcommonformsofabuseincludeddenialofcri>calcare,physicalinjury,exposuretoillegaldrugs,andsexualabuse.
LutheranServicesinIowa(LSI)helpscombatchildabusethroughpreven>on,safetyandstabilityservicesandmentalandbehavioralhealthtreatment.
LSI’searlychildhoodprogramspreventchildabusebygivingparentssupportandresourcestobuildahealthy,stablehomeenvironmentfortheirchildren.In2015,LSImademorethan15,000homevisitstoparentsofinfants,toddlers,andpreschoolers!
LSI’sFamily,Safety,Risk,andPermanencyServiceshelpchildrenandfamiliesalreadyinvolvedinacrisisorabusesitua>ontobecomesaferandmorestable,andLSI’sresiden>alprogramsatBeloitandBremwoodservemanychildrenandyouthwhohaveexperiencedtraumafrompastabuseorneglect.
YoumakeadirectimpactonthesechildrenandfamiliesthroughyoursupportofLSI.Thankyou!
LSIisproudtobeanaffiliatedsocialministryorganizaVonoftheEvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica(ELCA).Learnmoreatwww.LSIowa.organdwww.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.
AllAbouttheLoveTheheartbeatofSyntesha’shomeismadeupofthreeliZlewords:Iloveyou.Iloveyou.Iloveyou.“Itellmysonallday,‘Iloveyou,’”shesaid.“Ididn’tknowwhatlovemeantunVlIhadmybaby.ThedefiniVonoflovehaschangedforme.”
Synteshagrewupinatroubled,violenthome.Herchildhoodinvolvedfights.Skippingschool.Livingwithonegrandparent,thenanother.“Iwouldn’tevencallitahome,”shesaid.“Mymomanddadwereinandoutofjailgrowingup.Theywereyoung.I’m21,andmymomis35.I’vebeenthroughanythingyoucanname.Physical,emoVonal,sexualabuse.Homeless.Shelter.Evicted.”
At18,shewasbarelyreadytotakecareofherself,letaloneachild.Sowhenshewassevenmonthspregnant,shesignedupforLSI’shomevisi>ngservices.LSIhelpedthismo>vatedyoungmomwithpoZytraining,budge>ng,posi>veparen>ng>ps,encouragedhercollegedreams.“Ifyou’reasinglemom,Ithinkthisistheabsolutelybestprogram,”Synteshasaid.
Nowafull->mecollegestudent,Synteshaisworkinghardforherdreamswhilealsopreparingtowelcomeanotherchildintoherfamily.Shehopestohelplocalyouthwhofacethesamestrugglessheoncedid.“IwantmysontoknowtherearebiggerandbeUerthingsoutthereintheworld.”
Whatabig,brilliant,beau>fulkindoflove.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
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OnSunday,February28,thechildrenofSt.Stephen'slearnedaboutbuildingastrongfounda=on.
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SaintsofSt.Stephen’staughtusthestoryofJesuscalmingthestormonthelakeduringthechildren’smessageonSunday,March6.
AfuturesuperstarintrainingwiththeSt.Stephen’sChoironSunday,March6.
St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch,ELCA61031stSt.S.E.CedarRapids,IA52403-3021
ELECTRONICSERVICEREQUESTED
Non-ProfitOrg.USPOSTAGE
PAIDCedarRapids,IowaPermitNo.140
StaffDirectoryPastor Rev.Dr.RitvaWilliams [email protected] LuciSesvold [email protected] SusanHallock [email protected] DavidHaas [email protected] LeslieHyland [email protected] DebbiePolk (319)329-7655CouncilPresident DianeDaubenmier [email protected] MarilynLoan [email protected]
SundayMorningSchedule8:00am Worship9:05am Coffee&Fellowship9:15am SundaySchool10:30am Worship
PleasejoinusWednesdays:6:30pm Worship7:15pm Confirma>onClass
St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch(ELCA)isaReconcilinginChristcongrega>onthatwelcomesdiversity,whichenriches,nurtures,andchallengesourlifeandministry.
Comeandjoinusasweknow,live,andshareChristtogetherinlove.
St. Stephen’sLutheran Church, ELCA
To Know, Live, and Share Christ.
