St. Stephen s Christian Fellowship Church

Transcription

1 St. Stephen s Christian Fellowship Church 1100 Hunters Chase Lane Lebanon, PA December 2018 Steeple Don t forget to join us on Sundays for Christian Education at 9:00 a.m. and our worship service at 10:30 a.m. See you in the pew! Altar Flowers & Bulletins It is always nice to see fresh flowers on our altar on a Sunday morning. So, please sign up now for your date for altar flowers or bulletins. The sign up list is located in the church narthex. Altar Flowers are $37.50 a week. Bulletins are $12.00 a week Questions or dedications, call the office at or ststephcfc@comcast.net Our flowers are supplied by Crazy for Daisies IN THIS ISSUE OF THE STEEPLE: --A Note from Pastor Ron --Monthly Worship Team Schedule --Church Activity Calendar FEATURED ANNOUNCEMENTS: --Christmas Cantata! --Mystery Dinner Theater! --Volunteers Needed for Communion, Lector, Usher, & Greeter Duties! --Advent Activities! WORDS FOR REFLECTION: --Prayer Opportunities Any articles or information for the next monthly Steeple should be submitted to the church secretary s office via or mailbox a week in advance of the last day of the month.

2 A Note from Pastor Ron A Most Joyous Christmas and Happy New Year to All Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ the single most important event in human history (along with the rest of Jesus life), but even if people fail to acknowledge its true meaning, that doesn t change its significance. Why is Christ s birth so important? One reason is because of who He was and Who He is: the divine Son of God. To those who witnessed His birth, He probably looked like any other newborn baby but in reality He was far more. He was God in human form fully human, but also fully God. Only Jesus could say, Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9). Only Jesus could say, I and the Father are one (John 10:30). Do you want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus Christ, for He was and is God in human flesh. However, His identity is veiled to those who do not believe. Christ s birth was also important because of what He did. He came to show us God but more than that, He came to open the way to God. We are separated from God because of sin but Jesus came to take away our sins. He did this by becoming the final and complete sacrifice for sin through His death on the cross. Admittedly, Christmas for many people has become little more than a secular holiday. Don t let this happen to you. Instead, put Christ at the absolute center of your Christmas this year and at the center of your life for the rest of your life and He will give you the access to eternal bliss. If you have circumstantially drifted away from the Church, don t worry. He and we will always love to have you back with us. After all you are part of us! Have a Blessed Christmas Season and may it carry you through the rest of the year.. And forever! pastorron

3 ST. STEPHEN S CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH CHOIR PRESENTS: Sunday, December 23 rd 10:30 a.m. Come and be moved by the story of Christ s birth through the music of WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

4 December 2018 Our Worship Team List Lectors: Ushers: Greeters: December 2 Joy Weidman December 9 Tyler Frantz December 16 Paul Weidman December 23 Kim Weidman December 30 Janet Light December 2 Ken Shank & Pat Shank December 9 Bruce Barry & June Barry December 16 Paul Weidman & Joy Weidman December 23 Tyler Frantz & Erin Frantz December 30 Devin Gill & Sarah Light December 2 Steve Gipe & Melody Gipe December 9 Kaitlyn Day December 16 Ken Shank & Pat Shank December 23 Johan Berger & Cindy Klingler December 30 Tyler Frantz & Erin Frantz Counting Teams: Dec. 2 Team #5 Cindy Klingler Dec. 9 Team #6 Johan Berger Dec. 16 Team #1 June Barry Dec. 23 Team #2 Ken Shank Nursery Schedule: December 2 nd Steph Bossler & Kaitlyn Day December 9 th Janet Light & Joy Weidman December 16 th Joanne Krall & Erin Frantz December 23 rd Cindy Klingler & Jill Barr December 30 th Kim & Brian Weidman Dec. 30 Team #3 Brian Weidman Communion Usher Schedule: DATE: USHER 1: USHER 2: December 2 Richard Rights June Barry January 5, 2019 Erin Frantz Tyler Frantz

5 CENTRAL PA FOOD BANK Please consider supporting the food bank s efforts by providing the most needed items: Peanut Butter (to go size) Shelf Stable 100% Fruit Juice Canned Chicken and Tuna Single serve Macaroni and Cheese Shelf Stable Milk 8oz Almonds Individual Fruit Cups 4oz (peaches, pears, mixed fruit) 12/03 Karen Hess 12/04 Steve Leonard 12/06 James Bomberger 12/07 Joanne Krall 12/11 Linda Miller 12/12 Jason Schies 12/14 Steve Suk 12/17 Kristi Earhart & Dawn Wise 12/23 Dan Cannistraci COFFEE HOUR (Every second Sunday of the month) We are still in need of some volunteers to help with coffee hour! There are two ways you can sign-up: Sign-up Sheet in the church Narthex or contact Erin Frantz at or ecmf001@gmail.com. ADVENT ACTIVITIES December 1st, 10:00 a.m. We will be decorating the church and fellowship hall for the Christmas season. Hope all can join us! Advent Family Service-Hanging of the Greens December 2nd, 10:30 a.m. Please join us as we begin the Advent season with our 1st Hanging of the Greens Service! There will be a meal to follow with card making. Family Movie Night December 15th Movie: The Star 12/17 Brian & Kim Weidman PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES The church is asking for volunteers to become members of the prayer chain. A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex or you can sign-up by contacting the church secretary s office at If My People Pray prayer meetings are held on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm here at the church.

6 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: For the upcoming year! Don t Forget! If you are or have been a Council member and would like to be a communion usher, please see Erin Frantz or her at ecmf001@gmail.com If you are interested in helping by being a lector, usher, or greeter, please contact the church via (ststephcfc@comcast.net) or by calling the church at Please state which positions you would like to help with, and if there are any conflicting dates on which you d be unable to help. SERVICE PROJECT FOR ADVENT The Church s service project for Advent is for Bethany Children s Home. We are asking you, our congregation, to please look at the list below or in the Narthex and bring in some of the items on December 2nd. We will have a place in the fellowship hall to place your donations. Residential Youth Wishes School Supplies Bath Towels Pocket Folders Pool Towels Subject Dividers Twin Sheet Sets White Printer Paper Twin Size Comforters 1 Subject Notebooks Overnight Travel Bags Backpacks Electric Digital Alarm Clocks Poster Board Water Shoes Calculators Flip flops 3 Ring Binders (1 & 2 inch) Socks & Bath Robes Sheet Protectors Young Women & Men s Trifold Display Boards (Foam Style) Athletic Shorts Men s White Out Strips-No Liquid S, M, & L Combination Locks Pajamas Young Women & Mechanical Pencils Men s S, M, & L Duffle Bags Slippers Women & Men s Sizes White t-shirts Sports Bras M, L, XL Cottage Needs Men s & Ladies Bathing Suits DVDs (G, PG, & PG-13 ONLY) Gift Cards: AC Moore, Lowes, Acrylic Paints, Canvases, Home Depot, Michaels, Walmart, & Sketch Pads Target, McDonald s, & Kohls Journals Board Games for Teens **ALL DONATIONS MUST Card Games for Teens BE NEW PURCHASES** Our Facebook: Haven t liked us on Facebook yet? It s not too 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: Also, if you have any information for the website or monthly Steeple see that our secretary receives it as early as possible!

7 December 2018 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat Worship Family Advent Program Camera Club (SH) 6:00 pm Prayer Meeting 6:30 pm Choir Practice 7:00 pm Worship Praise Service 6:30 pm Church Council 7:00 pm Prayer Meeting 6:30 pm Choir Practice 7:00 pm Worship Prayer Meeting 6:30 pm Choir Practice 7:00 pm MOVIE NIGHT: THE STAR Christmas Cantata CHRISTMAS EVE Candlelight Service 10:35 pm CHRISTMAS DAY MERRY CHRISTMAS! 30 Worship 31 NEW YEAR S EVE SH-Social Hall CR- Conference Room

8 ST. STEPHEN S CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 1100 Hunters Chase Lane Lebanon PA ststephcfc@comcast.net Website: December 2018 A special thank-you goes out to everyone who helps during the season of Advent. Whether it be decorating the church, donating items for our service project, or helping with our various activities, your work is much appreciated!