The Evangel. From the Pastor... Justified by grace, we are a Community of Servants who follow Jesus example by living lives of service to others.

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1 The Evangel Justified by grace, we are a Community of Servants who follow Jesus example by living lives of service to others. St. Stephen Lut h eran Church October 2014 Volume 55, Issue 10 Inside this issue: Children & Youth Upcoming Events from Pastor Laura; Birthdays & Anniversaries; Sunday Narrative Lectionary Readings Spotlight on Serve; Sunday School; Fall Clean-Up; & Thank You Garden of weden Winds Down Second Year Fight truth decay; study the Bible daily. Anonymous Fall Festival Photos 5 Daily Narrative Lectionary Readings 6 Lay Minister Schedule 7 Fall Festival 8 From the Pastor... This month I m amazed to say that I will mark the 30 th anniversary of my ordination! I find that hard to believe. It s been an incredible journey. How the years have flown by. What I also find amazing is that my understanding of God s Word has changed and evolved over those years. I find that how I understand a particular passage of Scripture will often change over time, and that the same Word of God speaks to me in a new way. One of those passages that keeps changing and involving for me is the marvelous passage, Genesis 1:27 where the biblical writer says: So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. I ve thought about how whatever color our skin is... black, white, brown or anywhere in between, we re all created in the image of God. I ve thought about how male, female, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, whatever, we re all created in the image of God. I ve also wondered about how I love being creative with my woodworking... created in the image of God. I ve thought the same with those who are creative with gardening... or cooking... or sewing... making music... or... Created in the image of God. What does it mean to be created in the image of God? There s a lot to think about. Later this month we ll begin our stewardship focus for this year around the theme: Created in the Image of God. I d never really thought about that as a theme for stewardship, but it s marvelous. As I have come to know our God, I ve come to know a God who is a gracious, generous and abundant giver. A God who gives us so much... all that we have... all that we are... all that we will become... are gifts from God. And if we are created in the image of God, then we are created to be generous givers! It s in our DNA! That s where stewardship and our giving enter the picture. Since we were created in God s image, we are created to be givers. When we give, when we are generous with what has been entrusted to us, we are more Godlike. Giving is basic to who we are as a child of God and follower of Jesus... the one who gave all, even his life. As you think about your giving to support the mission and ministry of St. Stephen and what you will give this coming year, I hope that you will seriously consider growing in your giving... growing in being more God-like. Your giving is the engine that drives our ministry. Our ministry is as limited or as empowered as your/our giving. Without your giving, we have no ministry. How is God calling you to grow in your giving? God has created us in God s image... to be gracious, generous and abundant givers. Blessings, Pastor Gary

2 Volume 55, Issue 10 Page 2 Children and Youth Upcoming Events An Event for all children, youth, and their families: Pick a Peck for People Sunday, October 26 at 2:00 P.M. Come pick a bag of apples for those in need and receive a complimentary hayride or corn maze ticket. This is a free event. All apples picked are donated to the Mid-Michigan Food Bank and the St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank who will have a truck on hand to haul away all the apples that you pick. We can also go to the Haunted Cider Mill, Haunted House for Kids, Corn Maze, Train Rides to the Orchard. Country Mill is located at 4648 Otto Rd, Charlotte, MI We will meet at the stationary train car at 2:00. Afterwards you can stay as long as you would like until 5:00 pm. Just for High School Youth: Zapp Zone on October 12 th We will meet at Calvary (6301 E St. Joe Hwy, Lansing) after church then go to Zapp Zone and play 2-3 games of laser tag depending on the wait. We will return to Calvary at 3:30. The cost will be $14-$18 for the games. Parents are needed to help drive for the event. Please let Pastor Laura know if you can drive. pastorlaurak@gmail.com Pastor Laura Kuntz ***Reminder for High School Youth: The deadline for the National Youth Gathering Registration is October 14 th. *** OCTOBER Birthdays 6 Phil Nicolay Gary Bunge 7 Margie Bauer 10 Hazel Hiester 15 Zach Telder 16 Crystal Piirainen 19 Heather Lewis Lilliana Butts 20 Scott Milnes 23 Sue Erickson 24 Jim Lahti Emily Neumann 26 Ben Carpenter 27 Paul Bielawski Tessa Cox 29 Julie Dartt 30 Maxine Jubb OCTOBER Anniversaries 2 Mike & Amy Bucht 6 Ron & Chris Miller Ken & Tara Busha 7 Robert & Jennifer Jones 23 Stan & Sandi Kotajarvi 31 James & Nicole Greiter Sunday Narrative Lectionary Readings October 5: Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17, Covenant and Commandments October 12: Joshua 24:1-15, Joshua Renews the Covenant October 19: 2 Samuel 12:1-9; Psalm 51:1-9, David and Bathsheba October 26: 1 Kings 3:4-9, (10-15), 16-28, Solomon s Wisdom

3 Page 3 The Evangel Spotlight on Serve The weather is getting chillier and it's time to start thinking about holiday times. Let's serve our community in Jesus' name and make the world a better place. Sarah Holland, Serve Ministry Leader October 4, 1:00-3:00 pm Infant/Child Education Event: This event was rescheduled from September. St. Stephen is partnering with the City of Lansing to host an educational event for families with infants and young children. The Ingham County Health Department will be setting up stations in the Fellowship Hall where people can learn about basic infant and child care including using cloth diapers, using nose syringes, cleaning ears, and thermometer use. The Health Department will provide nurses to train and coach congregational volunteers who will be helping out with the educational stations. We need volunteers for this event. October 31, Halloween Trunk or Treat, 6:00-8:00 pm Time to circle the wagons, SUVs, sports cars or whatever you happen to drive into the St. Stephen parking lot for candy giveaway! If you can't show up to pass out candy, please consider donating some bagged Halloween candy for this fun event. It's a time we can reconnect with some of the people we served during VBS, or connect with new people from the neighboring area. November As always, St. Stephen will be assembling and delivering Thanksgiving baskets. Additionally, November 30 is a 5 th Sunday and we will be preparing a meal at Advent House. Look for more details coming up! It's not too early to start thinking about the Hat and Mitten Christmas Tree for Cumberland kids. Keep it in mind for when you see these things on sale! No one should be cold this winter! God's Work, Our Hands Sunday on September 7 was a huge success. We were able to touch many, many lives by our congregation's work with Cumberland Elementary, and we had coverage in the local media to boot! Thanks to all who participated in this event. We know everyone appreciated it. Please contact me for more details or to volunteer for any or all of these amazing service opportunities! Let's make great things happen in His name! Sunday School Miriam Bunge & Cindy Jenks, Co-Coordinators Remember Sunday School from 9:45am-10:45am, Grades K-4 (up ramp and first classroom on the left) and Grades 5-8 (up the ramp and in the Lounge on left)!! Fall Clean-Up Cindy Jenks Next Sunday, October 5, we will have a Fall clean-up for the church grounds at 12:15 after the second service. Contact Cindy Jenks, nanajenks@gmail.com for more information. We will be weeding and pruning so please dress according to the weather. Rain date will be Sunday, October 12. Thank You! Many thanks for all the personal care items (bar soap, dish soap, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, etc.) that you generously gave during the month of August. On September 03, 2014, two BIG boxes were delivered to the Personal Needs Closet Presbyterian Church. The volunteers bubbled with joy, giving thanks for our "lather" of love.

4 Page 4 The Evangel Garden of weden Winds Down Second Year Our little garden continues to be a great source of joy and pride for all participants and their families. This past year, we had an abundance of rain -and therefore produce. Donations to the Food Bank totaled over 350 lbs, including 108# of squash and zucchini, 15# of cabbage and 14# of lettuce. One of the new approaches we tried this year involved the Sunday School classes in planting a bed as a lesson in giving. As you can see, Emily Liston, (granddaughter of Cindy Jenks), a frequent guest to our church, enjoyed planting, harvesting and packaging fresh produce for the Food Bank families. This year the overall garden plot size was expanded to include an area of tilled soil for sweet corn and vine crops. Many participants utilized the additional space, however our squash was affected with Late Blight. Overall, the quantities and varieties of produce were excellent, ranging from super sized carrots to endless grape tomatoes to the obligatory gigantic zucchini. Needless to say, zucchini cake and bread were enjoyed by all! Fall cleanup is underway now. We ask all participants to contact one of us for more information. Kristine Ranger, Co Chair (kmranger@frontier.com) Cindy Jenks, Co Chair (nanajenks@gmail.com)

5 Volume 55, Issue 10 Page 5 Having fellowship and fun while waiting in line. Brian Holmes dishing out his famous yummy pork!

6 Volume 55, Issue 10 Page 6 Wednesday, Oct. 1, Exodus 16:1-21, Bread from Heaven Thursday, Oct. 2, Exodus 17:1-7, Water from the Rock Friday, Oct. 3, Exodus 17:8-16, Amalek Attacks Israel and Is Defeated Saturday, Oct. 4, Exodus 18:13-27, Jethro s Advice Sunday, Oct. 5, Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17, Covenant and Commandments Monday, Oct. 6, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Moses Dies Tuesday, Oct. 7, Joshua 1:1-9, God s Commission to Joshua Wednesday, Oct. 8, Joshua 2:1-21, Spies Sent to Jericho Thursday, Oct. 9, Joshua 3:1-17, Israel Crosses the Jordan Friday, Oct. 10, Joshua 6:1-14, Jericho Taken and Destroyed Saturday, Oct. 11, Joshua 6:15-27, Jericho Destroyed and Rahab Spared Sunday, Oct. 12, Joshua 24:1-15, Joshua Renews the Covenant Monday, Oct. 13, 1 Samuel 1:1-28, Samuel s Birth and Dedication Tuesday, Oct. 14, 1 Samuel 3:1-18, Samuel s Calling and Prophecies Wednesday, Oct. 15, 1 Samuel 7:3-15, Samuel as Judge Thursday, Oct. 16, 1 Samuel 8:1-22, Israel Demands a King Friday, Oct. 17, 1 Samuel 9:27 10:8, Saul Anointing as King Saturday, Oct. 18, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, David Anointed as King Sunday, Oct. 19, 2 Samuel 12:1-9; Psalm 51:1-9, David and Bathsheba Monday, Oct. 20, 2 Samuel 12:15b-23, Bathsheba s Child Dies Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2 Samuel 12:24-25, Solomon Is Born Wednesday, Oct. 22, 1 Kings 1:1-21, The Struggle for Succession Thursday, Oct. 23, 1 Kings 1:22-27, The Struggle for the Succession Friday, Oct. 24, 1 Kings 1:28-53, The Accession of Solomon Saturday, Oct. 25, 1 Kings 2:13-25, Solomon Consolidates His Reign Sunday, Oct. 26, 1 Kings 3:4-9, (10-15), 16-28, Solomon s Wisdom Monday, Oct. 27, 1 Kings 6:1-22, Solomon Builds the Temple Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1 Kings 8:1-13, Dedication of the Temple Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1 Kings 8:54-61, Solomon Blesses the Assembly Thursday, Oct. 30, 1 Kings 10:1-13, Visit of the Queen of Sheba Friday, Oct. 31, 1 Kings 10:14-29, Visit of the Queen of Sheba DAILY NARRATIVE LECTIONARY READINGS for October The Narrative Lectionary readings will also be listed in each Sunday s announcements, posted on the St. Stephen website, and found in the online version of The Evangel.

7 Page 7 The Evangel LAY MINISTER SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER Council Meeting Tuesday, October21 7:00 pm St. Stephen Lutheran Church 2900 North Waverly Road, Lansing, MI Phone: Fax: office@ststephenonline.org Website: StStephenOnline.org Traditional Worship: Sundays at 8:30 am Sunday School Class: Sundays at 9:45 am (Sept May) Contemporary Worship: Sundays at 11:00 am Church Office Hours: Monday Friday, 9:00 am 1:00 pm Staff Members Gary A. Bunge, Pastor Laura Kuntz, Children/Youth/Young Adult Pastor Renee Dixon, Office Manager Misun Moon, Contemporary Worship Leader Council Members Lynn Kriser, President Rebecca Bossenbroek, Recording Secretary Brian Yusten, Treasurer Don Sheffer, Facility Development Team Leader Bob Cameron, Financial Development Diane Singletary, Leadership Development Team Leader Cindy Jenks, WELCOME Ministry Development Andy Roman, NOURISH Ministry Development Sarah Holland, SERVE Ministry Development garybunge@sbcglobal.net PastorLauraK@gmail.com office@ststephenonline.org misunmoon1@gmail.com knitterlynn@gmail.com rebeccabossenbroek@comcast.net brianyusten@yahoo.com sheffer.1283@yahoo.com cameronw6216@sbcglobal.net rickard50@att.net nanajenks@gmail.com andyroman@hotmail.com saraha.holland@gmail.com OCT 5 OCT 12 OCT 19 OCT 26 ALTAR FLOWERS Diane Singletary Gloria Kandle Crystal Piirainen Community Garden (Cindy Jenks & Kristine Ranger) ASSISTING MINISTERS Lorri Yusten Diane Singletary Cindy Jenks Mike Borta (Mike Borta, ) Brian Yusten Lynn Kriser John V Soske Miriam Bunge USHERS Sarah Holland Terry Greiner Ron Miller Cindy & Norma Jenks (Terry Greiner, ) (Ken Bauer, ) Kristine Ranger & Ingrid Hall & Mari Ingrid Hall & Mari & Dave Lyons ALTAR CARE (Claudia Cameron, ) Bob & Claudia Cameron for the entire month.

8 St. Step hen Lut her an Chur ch 2900 N. Waverly Rd. Lansing, MI Phone: Fax: Website: StStephenOnline.org DATED MATERIAL OR CURRENT OCCUPANT Please mark your calendars: Fall Clean-Up after the 11:00 service on October 5th.