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ST. STEPHEN’S CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
1100 Hunters Chase Lane
Lebanon PA 17046
717-273-3912 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.saintstephenscfc.org
The list is located in the back hallway. Please sign up now for your date for alter flowers or bulletins. It is
always nice to see fresh flowers on our altar on a Sunday morning.
Alter Flowers are $36.00 a week.
Bulletins are $12.00 a week
If needed call Kathy in the office at 717-273-3912
Crazy for Daisies is our supplier
Alter Flowers and Bulletins
July/August 2013
Special Thanks
There are some special thanks
we need to give to those who
offer their help in so many
ways.
Thanks to all those people who
are helping Kaitlyn Day with
VBS. Thanks goes to not only
the teachers, but to the craft
helpers, servers and to the
cleaning crew. It takes a
number of people to make this
a successful project. A BIG
Thank you to Kaitlyn Day for
pulling this program together.
Thank you to Steve Gipe and
his crew for the great job of
cleaning up the front flag pole
area.
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July/August 2013
Our Worship Team List
Greeters: Ushers: Lectors:
Counting Teams:
July 7
Richard & Janice Rights; Devon Gill
July 14
Richard & Janice Rights; Brian Weidman
July 21
Charles & Velma Artz; Devon Gill
July 28
Bruce & June Barry; Chris Boltz
August 4
Brian & Kim Weidman; Jere Snavely
August 11
Jim & Joanne Bomberger; Cindy
Klingler
August 18
Steve & Melody Gipe; Cindy Klingler
August 25
Tyler & Erin Frantz; Jere Snavely
July 7 Cindy Klingler
July 14 Brian Weidman
July 21 Daniel Light
July 28 Chris Boltz
August 4 Kim Weidman
August 11 Cindy Klingler
August 18 Erin Frantz
August 25 Joy Weidman
July 7 Dorothy Ditzler &
Dorothy Moyer
July 14 Dorothy Ditzler &
Dorothy Moyer
July 21 Bruce & June Barry
July 28 Bruce & June Barry
August 4 Ken & Pat Shank
August 11 Ken & Pat Shank
August 18 Steve & Melody Gipe
August 25 Tyler & Erin Frantz
July 7 Team # 5 Cindy Klingler, Jim & Joanne Bomberger
July 14 Team #1 June Barry, Bruce Barry
July 21 Team #2 Shirley Golembiewski, Ken & Pat Shank
July 28 Team #3 Brian Weidman, Kim Weidman & Jere Snavely
August 4 Team #4 Janet Light & Dan Light
August 11 Team # 5 Cindy Klingler, Jim & Joanne Bomberger
August 18 Team #6 Johan Berger, Paul & Joy Weidman
August 25 Team #7 Beth Kapp, Joan Mentzer
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From your president’s computer “Hiking Through”
I am currently reading and thoroughly enjoying the book Hiking Through by Paul Stutzman. It is a book about his “thru-hike” of
the Appalachian Trail (AT) which he took shortly after his wife passed away from cancer. Thru-hike is the term used for hiking
the entire AT. I would like to share just one small portion of this book with you. The following is taken from Chapter 16.
As I hike that Sunday morning, I had my own church. It was not a religious experience at all. As a matter of fact, I was losing my
religion out here. And what I lost in religion, I gained in spirituality.
Just the two of us walking together that Sunday—the Creator of the universe and me, worshiping in His grand cathedral, I didn’t
enjoy God’s choice of music that morning; all around me, cicadas were screaming.
But in spite of the cicada’s noise, I hiked with the clarity of thought that was a gift of the trail. Alone and without distractions, I knew
without a doubt that I had done the right thing in leaving my job. I knew I was where I was supposed to be. I knew my life was in
God’s hands and I could trust Him completely. And I knew He was walking with me.
One of the things God was showing me more clearly was how available He is to every man and woman alive, and I also saw how
many obstacles we put between ourselves and Him. Some of you, my readers, may be convinced I’ve taken a leave of my senses
when I tell you of conversations with Him. I assure you, I’m not crazy. (I know, I know. I quit my job and decided to walk 2,200 miles;
perhaps you do have a right to question my sanity.)
When I started my AT hike and planned to write a book about the experience, that was all I intended to write: the walk, the
adventure, a few observations about life. I never had any intentions of writing a “spiritual” book; but then, I also had no idea that I
would lose my religion and become spiritual. I tell you this—dialogue with God is available to you, to anyone. And furthermore,
God actually desires conversation with us.
On the trek north from Springer, I settled the question of whether or not God was in control of events in my life. Although I still often
asked why He took Mary from our lives, I no longer doubted that there was a reason. God sees the big picture, and perhaps I will
not have my “why” answered until my next life.
The day when God so vividly revealed to me that He has adopted me as a son and therefore I was heir to everything I walked
through, I had boldly (and perhaps foolishly)asked, “God, I have another question. Why do You allow young and innocent children
to be harmed? If You are in control, why does that happen?”
His reply was, Son, if you knew the answer to that, then you would be God. So many things in life are a mystery; so many things I
cannot possibly understand. I decided to just let God be God, and accept whatever He chose to reveal to me. What I could not
comprehend, I did not need to know.
I hope you enjoyed this small excerpt from this book and that you too can hike a path that leads you to a closure, spiritual relationship with
God.
May God bless your hike through life!
Brian Weidman, Church Council President.
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List of Birthdays:
7/1 David Barry
7/3 Julie Class
7/5 Gary Marks
Susan Ziegler
7/6 Johan Berger
7/9 George Miller
Blake Miller
7/20 Richard Hoover
Jennifer Sheehan
7/26 Diane Suk
Lori Nolt
7/30 Elizabeth Kapp
8/3 Bruce Barry
8/4 Bradley Spotts
8/8 Margaret Minerick
8/9 Janice Rights
8/11 Sue Patches
8/15 Peg Bender
Kevin Koons
8/19 Devin Gill
8/21 Kathy Jo Bomberger
8/23 Paul Deckert
8/24 Jonathan Hoke
Randy Dubbs
8/26 Patricia Shank
Steve Earl Gipe
8/.28 Donna Schies
8/29 Jane Meyer
Joesph Meyer
8/30 Colin Leonard
Prayer Shawl Update:
Please continue
to work on the Shawls and Lap Robes from home over the
summer.
Women’s Guild Information:
The Women’s Guild will not be meeting
through the summer months, but will
resume their meetings in September. We
hope all the women who can possibly
join us on September 9th at 2:00 p.m.
LCCM-is still in need of the following:
Bath Towels Canned Chicken 5oz
Hand Towels Canned Luncheon Meat
Wash Cloths Jelly 18oz & 32oz
Boy’s Shirts Complete Pancake Mix
Shampoo/soap Mac & Cheese
Please remember the 4th Sunday of each month is Food Bank
Sunday and bring in those bags for LCCM
Save the Date:
Sunday, September 8
Is the date set for
RALLY DAY
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From your Pastor
God bless America! That phrase sounds almost synonymous with Independence Day doesn't it? This is pretty much rightly so, is it not? Well, I don't think so. By
that, I mean it should be used sincerely and reverently, not just as a cliché. "God bless America" expresses what God has done in this great Nation. It also
suggests what He may continue to do based on what we do. But we need to remember why He has blessed this nation with its inception and what is
required to maintain this blessing. Near the end of the eighteenth century, the founding fathers made bold choices to sacrificially lead those 13 colonies in the fight for freedom. The revolutionists, in size and experience were far behind the
loyalists from England and were at quite a disadvantage. However, God was with those forces and helped them defeat England much like David defeated
Goliath. Why did God do this? The answer is complicated, but it can be generalized into one basic reason - and
that's because America blessed the Nation of Israel. God was being faithful in keeping His promise to Abraham. God blessed those who showed favor to
Abraham's descendants. Before the Declaration of Independence, some Jewish folks immigrated to those colonies where they were accepted and given the
opportunity to start new lives. Part of God's purpose for America was to provide a "safe haven" for His chosen people, and also for it to be a Godly resource for the world. Since God assisted America in its fight in 1776, He has continually blessed America to stand strong and expand to fifty states today. A strong
heritage for America's identity is and always will be, as long as it remains, it's friendship with Israel. This friendship is at the heart of America's protection and
strength and international influence. As America continues to stand with Israel, God will continue to bless this Nation. Equally, if America turns it's back on Israel, or the Jewish people in general, God will keep His promise to Abraham in that He will curse America. Simply put, God
has blessed America because America has blessed Israel. On this Fourth of July, let us reflect on, and remember why we have what we have, what God's purpose truly is, and the fact that Abraham's promise from
God is irrevocable, no matter what politicians may think or do. We are here to honor Him, to do His will, to express Him to the nations, and to provide help to others in His Name, by doing good through Abraham's promise. God never said
He would bless the world through America, let's get that straight. He said He would bless all nations through Abraham's seed. Abraham's seed is both physical, (heritage), and Spiritual, (the church), and if America continues
blessing Israel, God will continue to bless this Nation.
God Bless America, for sure, but America needs to bless God.
pastorron
List of Anniversaries: 7/2 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph
Golembiewski
7/9 Mr. & Mrs. Tyler Frantz
7/12 Mr. & Mrs. Joshua
Weidman
7/17 Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Bender
7/24 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas
Minerick
7/25 Mr. & Mrs. Shutter
7/29 Mr. & Mrs. Kerry Marsden
8/2 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rights
8/3 Mr. and Mrs. Wilson
Morinchin
8/18 Mr. and Mrs. William
Mentzer
8/25 Mr. and Mrs. Dana Kapp
8/29 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meyer
8/30 Pastor and Mrs. R Salem
8/31 Mr. and Mrs. Randy Dubbs
July/August Anniversaries
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Music News and Views
July/August 2013 by Steve Suk
Short History of the hymn, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
Though John Wesley is called the father of Methodism, his brother Charles Wesley (1707-1788) may be called the father of Methodist congregational singing.
Charles disliked the prevalence of the psalms in worship songs of his time. Out of that, he gave Methodism and modern hymnody many original hymn texts, including “O for a Thousand
Tongues to Sing,” which he wrote for Sunday, May 21, 1739—the first anniversary of his conversion on Pentecost Sunday, or Whitsunday as it was known then. The conversion had
preceded by three days John Wesley’s famous reaffirmation of his faith at Aldersgate Chapel.
The hymn was first published in A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists (1780). The significance of this hymn in the Methodist tradition is symbolized by its
appearance as the first hymn in the United Methodist Hymnal (1989). Isaac Watts (1674-1748), an early contemporary of the Wesley brothers, introduced hymn singing as a common experience. Watts bridged the era between rigid metrical psalm singing
and the freer expression of hymns, and is often called the father of English hymnody. However, the Wesleys emphasized the nature of human experience within a hymn rather than
the more objective perspective of Watts. In this, Charles Wesley reached much further into the emotional realm of human experience.
Wesley’s poetic response to his conversion is replete with literary elegance and beautiful
control of language. In the text set in the UM Hymnal, Wesley employs hyperbole right from the start with “O for a thousand tongues to sing,” to heighten the emotional impact of the
poem. According to several scholars, this famous opening line may have been inspired by Charles’ spiritual mentor, German-born Moravian missionary Peter Böhler, who said, “Had I a
thousand tongues, I would praise him with them all!” To further heighten the emotional nature of the poem, Wesley punctuates words like
“Jesus” and the last words of phrases with an exclamation point. Other poetic devices used to
express the incredible nature of salvation include the oxymorons present in stanza six: “Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; ye blind, behold your savior
come, and leap, ye lame, for joy.” Wesley uses antithesis throughout to contrast the darkness of sin with the light of the
atoning blood that heals and humble our hearts, and replaces our fears with the rejoicing for a
new life. This contrast underscores the nature of Wesley’s own conversion. The original hymn had 18 stanzas. The seventh stanza became the first stanza of the hymn
that we now know. Lowell Mason’s (1792-1872) arrangement of the Carl G. Gläser (1784-1829) tune AZMON is
used with “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” in the UM Hymnal. Gläser was a German
composer and contemporary of Beethoven. Though Charles Wesley’s text has been sung to a number of tunes through the years, AZMON is the dominant choice throughout the hymnody of
the mainline denominations. Thanks to Marybeth Sanders, Southern Methodist University. www.Umportal.org
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Don’t Forget!
Our Facebook:
Haven’t liked us on
Facebook yet?
It’s not to late, check us
out at…
St. Stephen’s Christian
Fellowship Church
Our Website:
Check us out online for
updates on news around the
church and church
information. Check us out
at:
www.saintstephenscfc.org
Also if you have any
information for the website
see that Kaitlyn Day
receives it as early as
possible
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER FOR THIS
YEAR’S VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!!!
INVITE CHILDREN AGES 3-10 TO JOIN US FOR
OUR FUN, FANTASTIC, ENERGETIC, GOD
LOVING WEEK!!!
JULY 14TH-JULY 18TH
6:15-8:30PM
CLICK THE LINK TO REGISTER TODAY:
WWW.VACATIONBIBLESCHOOL.COM/STSTEPHENSCFC
ANY QUESTIONS CONTACT KAITLYN DAY AT
Any questions please email Kaitlyn Day at
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St. Stephen’s Christian
Fellowship Church 1100 Hunters Chase Lane
Lebanon, PA 17046
[Recipient]
Don’t forget to join us on Sundays for our worship service at 10:30am
See you in the pew!
St. Stephen’s Christian Fellowship Church
July/August 2013 Steeple
