December 2014 PARISH NEWSLETTER. St. Stephen s Lutheran Church. Hicksville, New York. Preparing Today for God s Tomorrow

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1 December 2014 PARISH NEWSLETTER St. Stephen s Lutheran Church Hicksville, New York St. Stephen s Lutheran Church 270 South Broadway, Hicksville, NY RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Preparing Today for God s Tomorrow Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 203 Hicksville, NY

2 December Gree ngs from the Congrega on Council President Dear Friends and fellow members of St. Stephen s: Here we are at the most excing me of the year Christmas! I didn't have a chance to introduce our new Organist/Choir Director Joseph Demarest as yet, so I take this opportunity to welcome Joe into our midst. You will all agree with me that our worship services are indeed enriched by Joe s talent at both the organ and the piano. Plus, he has a wonderful voice which he uses to assist our choir in their anthem offerings and throughout the worship service. I m excited to see what he will have in store for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. The following will be Lessons and Carols and his talent will again come forth. Joe welcome to our St. Stephen s family. We are indeed fortunate to have you. Once again Christmas Eve services will be at 7:30 PM and 11:00 PM. Christmas Day service at 10:00 AM. Please use any of these services to worship our Lord, celebrang His birth and thanking God for the opportunity to do so. As we come to the end of the calendar year, we are beginning our Church year. The Advent season has begun and gives us the opportunity to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ Child. See you in church. With blessings this Christmas season, Ellen Bruwer The Parish Newsleer is distributed among the members and friends of St. Stephen s Lutheran Church 270 South Broadway Hicksville, NY Coverage Pastor Pastor Eric Olsen Ellen Bruwer, Council President Fern Funk, Parish Administrator Joseph Demarest, Organist/Choir Director Parish Office 516/ ststephenoffice@msn.com Church website: Gail Agarenzo, Director of the Nursery School Nursery School Office 516/ ( ststephennurseryschool@msn.com) Nursery School website: Help us to provide good pastoral care by keeping the church up-todate with what s going on in our lives as part of God s family. Please call the church office and let Pastor know if * You are in need of prayer; * You are ill or hospitalized; * You wish to be anointed for healing and/or wholeness; * A baby is born in your family; * A family member dies; * You wish to be married; * You wish to be bapzed or have a child bapzed; * You wish to receive communion; * You are moving, or have changed your contact informaon * You would like to join St. Stephen s Contact Fern Funk in the office for emergencies Monday through Friday, Church Office:

3 In Memoria. GiHs to the Memorial Fund/Capital Campaign Fund were gratefully received to the glory of God and in memory of John LiIerer by Marna Schmid Peter Marion by Henry Brengel, Jr. Ed Larssen by Lois Angstadt Social Ministry submied by Joan Hagner Our Ignite Young Minds through Reading book collecon is finished. We don t have a final count, but it appears we will have several boxes to donate to the Early Life Centers in New York. We also have books for older children, which will be donated to The Book Fairies, an organizaon that accepts and redistributes the books in the Metropolitan New York area. Thanks to all who donated! WOW...GOD S WORK-OUR HANDS On November 4th, we delivered to the New Life Center in Uniondale 380 lbs. of food, a large bag of toiletries, one new car seat and two $20 gih cards. God bless you all for your open hearts helping those in need. CELEBRATIONS FOR DECEMBER December 6th - Barbara Hiestand Our Christmas at Sea program has started. There is a list of items needed posted in the church lobby, and Christmas bags for your donaons. Our goal is to fill 25 satchels, enough for all the workers on one ship. All donaons must be in by December 7th. Your parcipaon in this program is deeply appreciated. ************************* December 13th - Barbara & Kevin Barcavage 14 3

4 December 2014 November was a me for thanks thanks for our nursery school children and families. The children are now preparing for St. Nicholas day and learning the story of the real Santa Claus. The Advent season is upon us and we re geong ready for the coming of the baby Jesus on Christmas Day. The paper chains and coion ball lambs are being prepared for the countdown to the special day! The children are also busy making decoraons to put on the Christmas trees that will adorn the nursery school lobbies. We had a visit last month from Miss Theresa at GoIa Dance who helped us sing and dance and exercise to music. What fun was had by all. We also had our first Chapel visit, whereby the children were introduced to church for the Thanksgiving holiday. Some of us are geong ready for our holiday celebraons and school vacaons. Some of us have goien a head-start on shopping and have some gihs wrapped and tucked away. Some of us are geong ready to send out our Christmas cards and are already on to meal planning. Wherever you stand with your holiday preparaons, it seems safe to say we are all looking forward to having our children home us, hugging them close and witnessing their delight at the enduring tradions of the season. Reminder nursery school will be closed for the Christmas holidays from December 22nd through January 2nd school reconvenes Monday, January 5th. Reminder there is sll me to VOTE in the BEST OF compeon. You have unl December 15th to cast your vote online at to vote for St. Stephen s Nursery school. A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! NURSERY SCHOOL NEWS "We received a case statement put together by a group of stakeholders who consulted on how to best spend the money, which included many imagina- ve and creave ideas of ways funds raised could engage youth and young adults in this church," said Hulden. "We wanted to put our support behind creang the capacity to undertake more of those efforts." "One of the most excing things about this to me is the energy for and commitment to youth and young adult ministries that the Church Council demonstrated in our extensive, lively and passionate discussion around this acon," said Hulden in an interview. "It was an excing connuaon of the energy at the Churchwide Assembly around youth and young adult ministry that is reflecve of the commitment of this church to fully engage and include youth and young adults." As work on a case statement for Disability Ministries connues, the council moved to implement the program into the ELCA's comprehensive campaign and to "encourage all expressions of this church to connue to consider ways to support the [campaign] in order for the ELCA to be beier-posioned to do God's work in Jesus' name throughout the world for decades to come." Through The Campaign for the ELCA, ELCA members are seeking to expand "ministries with people living with disabilies to become an inclusive, whole community of faith by connecng and equipping members and congregaons with the resources necessary to welcome all of God's people." About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: The ELCA is one of the largest Chrisan denominaons in the United States, with about 4 million members in nearly 10,000 congregaons across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Chrisans and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the wrings of the German church reformer, Marn Luther. -Gail Agarenzo- 4 13

5 GOD S WORK. OUR HANDS. Read on to find out what the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is doing on our behalf, as compiled from the ELCA news service website Here is where your mission dollars go! WORSHIP WITH US! Worship with St. Stephen s Lutheran Church at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM Sundays ELCA Church Council adds youth and young adult, disability ministries to campaign CHICAGO (ELCA) The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved the implementaon of this church's Disability Ministries and Youth and Young Adult programs into Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA. Among its other acons, the council conferred the tle of "emeritus" to the three former ELCA presiding bishops, elected a new member, considered budget maiers, received updates, reports and more when it met here Nov The council serves as the ELCA's board of directors. The council received a "Youth and Young Adult Case Statement" that outlines the objecves for how the ELCA will raise and expend funds as part of the campaign to "culvate young leaders, lih up the importance of diversity and inclusion, and build a robust network of support for youth and young adults." The case statement also addresses allocaon of current and endowed gihs designated to this campaign priority. The campaign goal for the iniave is $4 million. In its ac- on, the council thanked the youth, young adults and others who prepared the case statement and affirmed the statement's objecves. The resoluon the council approved was an amended substute moon that set a goal of $2 million for the creaon of a permanent endowment to support youth and young adult ministries "into the future," and it set a goal of $2 million in current fund gihs to support the program. Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA seeks to raise $198 million by Jan. 31, 2019, to help sustain and grow the ministries of this church. Approved by the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly and officially launched in February 2014, the nearly $200 million goal represents a 64 percent increase in designated funding. Maren Hulden, a member of the Church Council from Minneapolis, said the council took the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly's acon of recommending a youth and young adult ministries iniave to the campaign as "a call to lih lihup the work of engaging youth and young adults as a top priority. Come, hear good news of great joy! The Nativity of Our Lord/Christmas Eve Wednesday, December 24 th at 7:30 pm & 11:00 pm a Candlelight Carol Service of Holy Communion Come join the heavenly chorus of every time and every place and ring out your Glory to God in the highest! for the incredible gift: the prince of peace born in our midst as one of us. God comes to us as one of us so that we may be bearers of the divine light to all the world. The Nativity of Our Lord/Christmas Day Thursday, December 25 th at 10:00 am a Carol Service of Holy Communion Celebrate the birth of the Word made flesh, Christ our Lord. The Word dwells among us full of grace and truth; the light shines in the darkness. Sleigh bells ring! Join us in sharing the JOY as we carol for some of our homebound members. We will meet at church, and come back to share refreshments. For questions call Maureen O Brien at 516/ First Sunday in Christmas, December 28th 9:30 am - A Service of Lessons and Carols Rejoice and carol through all twelve of the 12 days of Christmas! Hear the stories. Sing the songs. Rejoice and be glad. 12 5

6 CHRISTMAS ALTAR PLANTS AND GREENS 2014 Loss of a Good Friend John Manzolilla submied by Maureen O Brien Many were shocked and saddened by the news that our friend, John Manzolilla passed away unexpectedly at the young age of 42. You might remember him as big John, who sat in a front pew and always had a pleasant smile and friendly personality. John never came empty-handed...he always had something for our social ministry collecons and our coffee hour. He enjoyed our parish picnics and Chinese New Years party and brought special treats and even developed several DVD s for the event. John had an extraordinary gih of translang his dreams and creaons into book form that was truly impressive. Now, his presence will be a blessing in heaven. Advent and Christmas will soon be here. The Altar Guild will again decorate the Sanctuary and the front entrance with the tradional evergreen wreaths while the chancel will be brightened with poinseoas. We would appreciate your support. Contribuons toward plants and/or wreaths may be designated as memorials, either in thanksgiving/honor of living loved ones, or in memory of loved ones who have gone before. Checks should be payable to St. Stephens Lutheran Church, enclosed with the response form below. If you are submiong this request by placing it in the offering plate Sunday morning, please use the Memorial envelopes found in the pew racks, indicang OTHER: poinseoa. You may also drop your order off or mail it to Fern Funk, our Parish Administrator. Orders are due by Sunday, December 7th. Plant orders will be filled on a first come first served basis unl all 50 poinseoas are purchased. Addional memorial money will be put toward wreaths/greens. Plants may be picked up aher the evening Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (11:00 pm) or they may be leh to beaufy the chancel for the rest of the holiday season. POINSETTIA OFFERING FORM $12.00 per plant Please place in offering plate or return to the parish office by Sunday, Dec. 7th 1. In Memory of In Honor of In Thanksgiving for: 4th Annual Pumpkin Carving Party submied by Nan Maurer It was a great evening with over 30 people carving pumpkins...outstanding pumpkins from apparently expert carvers! Everyone had a fun evening eang, chaong, carving and creang the best designs ever. There were 22 beauful pumpkins. Please be sure to take a look at the pictures in the display case in the narthex. See you next year and bring a friend. Thanks to all who prepared, aiended, cleaned up and enjoyed! 6 Given by: In Memory of In Honor of In Thanksgiving for: Given by: In Memory of In Honor of In Thanksgiving for: Given by: Your phone # should we have any quesons: Please indicate if you would like to take your plant(s) home: (circle one) YES, please. NO, thank you. 11

7 The Grace of God He gives me hope and courage To face each newborn day. He guides me through the shadow To light and show the way. He comforts and sustains me In times of my distress. He gives me inspiration To find true happiness. He grants to me forgiveness When I may go astray. He helps me in my trials And does my tears allay. He never does forsake me In moments of despair And when I need a helping hand I always find Him there Harold F. Mohn NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN submied by Barbara Barcavage St. Stephen s has been awarded a $10,000 capital improvement grant by the Metro NY Synod as part of their strategic plan implemented this year. We are thrilled and most grateful to have been chosen from among the many applicants. These monies will go a long way in helping with our upcoming projects. The Pastor s office has been painted and refurnished; repairs and renovaons at the parsonage are almost complete and next on the agenda is replacing the sign on the corner of Broadway and 4th Street and having a chair life installed on the stairs to the social hall. The Property CommiIee and work day volunteers have done an enormous amount of work at both the church and parsonage, so much so that we have been able to stretch our funds a lot farther than originally ancipated. We give thanks for their willingness to share their me and talents. CALL COMMITTEE UPDATE submied by Bob Maurer The Call CommiIee has met 8 mes in the past 5 months and is currently in the interview process. We are also working with Synod on this process and geong clarificaon to some of our quesons. We hope to have more to report next month. The Call Commiee 10 7

8 December 2014 Sun Mon. Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat NYEC = NY Eden Church AA=Back to Basics Light type = AM Bold type = PM :00 Advent potluck supper & service (7:30) at Good Shepherd, Plainview 06:30 Confirmation Class 4 Nursery School - Chapel 07:30 Prayer Group 5 Nursery School - Chapel 10:00 WELCA Bible Study at Our Redeemer, Seaford 6 7 2nd Sunday of Advent 08:00 Holy Communion 09:15 Growing with God 09:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:30 Holy Communion 01:00 NYCE :00 Advent potluck supper & service (7:30) at Good Shepherd, Plainview 06:30 Confirmation Class rd Sunday of Advent 08:00 Holy Communion 09:15 Growing with God 09:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:30 Holy Communion 01:00 NYCE NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 15 07:30 Executive Committee 08:00 Congregation Council 16 Nursery School Play 17 Nursery School Play 06:00 Advent potluck supper & service (7:30) at Good Shepherd, Plainview 06:30 Confirmation Class \ 21 4th Sunday of Advent 08:00 Holy Communion 09:15 Growing with God 09:30 Choir Rehearsal 10:30 Holy Communion 01:00 NYCE 22 < 23 Nursery School Closed 24 Christmas Eve 07:30 Candlelight Service Holy Communion 11:00 Candlelight Service Holy Communion < Parish Office Closed 25 Christmas Day The Nativity of Our Lord 10:00 Service 26 > -> st Sunday of Christmas 9:30 Lessons & Carols 01:00 NYCE Nursery School Closed 31 -> Note: Every effort has been made to be accurate with calendar information. Occasionally there are omissions and or errors. Please check when in doubt. 8 9