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 September 2015 Volume 56, Issue 9 Inside this issue: God s Work. Our Hands; Cumberland School Supplies; Birthdays & Anniversaries; Sunday Narrative Lectionary Upcoming Youth Events from Pastor Laura and photos from the Nat l Youth Gathering Sunday School Info; Companion Care; Offering Counters Needed; July Noisy Offering Vacation Bible School Photos Daily Narrative Lectionary Readings Faith and works are like the light and heat of a candle; they cannot be separated. Joseph Beaumont 2 3 4 5 6 Lay Minister Schedule 7 Reminders 8 From the Pastor... It hardly seems possible that summer is nearly over, schools are getting started again, football season is upon us, and all the fall activities are about to begin. Summer has flown by way too fast. But I always enjoy the fall and all that it brings. As we begin a new program year this month, I want to highlight two things. First, God s Work Our Hands Sunday... Sunday, September 13 - in addition to returning to two worship services, Sunday School beginning, and starting a new year of the Narrative Lectionary is God s Work Our Hands Sunday. Rather than doing our usual Fall Festival pork roast and meal after the second service, (we will do this at a later date this fall), we ll be participating with ELCA congregations across the country in God s Work Our Hands Sunday. For this Sunday, congregations throughout the ELCA will go to work to be God s Hands in their communities, reaching out in some special way to serve and do God s Work. This year we re taking a two track approach. Some of us will head over to Cumberland Elementary School to do some weeding and yard cleanup, and some of us will stay at St. Stephen to do some very badly needed cleanup of the church gardens and grounds. But first, immediately after worship, we ll join together in the Fellowship Hall for a simple lunch of sub sandwiches. We really need your help and participation to make this a success. There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall but you can also respond to Sarah Holland or me to let us know you ll be involved. Thanks in advance for your participation in this important ministry. Here s a challenge... let s have 50 people involved in God s Work Our Hands Sunday! Imagine what we could accomplish. Will you be one of the 50? Second, I m beginning a new class on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School time of 9:45 10:45 beginning on September 13. The class is called Painting the Stars. Celebrating the communion of science and faith, Painting the Stars explores the promise of evolutionary Christian spirituality. Featuring over a dozen leading theologians (including our own Professor of New Testament, Barbara Rossing from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago) and progressive thinkers, the seven-session class looks at science and faith and the interconnectedness of the two. This seven week class covers these themes: Session 1: Toward Healing the Rift Session 2: A Renaissance of Wonder Session 3: Getting Genesis Wrong Session 4: An Evolving Faith Session 5: Evolutionary Christianity Session 6: Imagining a Future Session 7: An Evolving Spirituality This should be a marvelous and thought provoking class that helps us move past the science or faith debate that we can get pushed into. In a world that often puts science and faith in opposing corners, this class will help us take both our faith and science seriously. I ll also be repeating this class on Thursday mornings at 9 a.m. beginning September 17. I hope you ll take advantage of this opportunity to learn and grow. Fall is a wonderful time, a time of new beginnings. I hope you ll take advantage of one or both of these new beginnings. Pastor Gary
Volume 56, Issue 9 Page 2 God s Work. Our Hands. Please join us in doing God's Work with Our Hands on September 13! We will be cleaning up gardens and weeding both at Cumberland Elementary and here at St. Stephen. To keep energy and spirits up, sub sandwiches will be served following the 11 a.m. service. There is a sign-up sheet on the Serve Ministry Table in the Fellowship Hall. Thank you! Cumberland School Supplies Margaret Sheffer, Coordinator The supplies for Cumberland were delivered on Wednesday. Thank you to everyone who contributed, you made a lot of people happy! SEPTEMBER Birthdays SEPTEMBER Anniversaries 3 Naida Schelter Kali Montgomery Alex Holly 5 June Hansen Jordan Dixon 7 Jackie Williams-Armstrong 11 Christine Miller 12 Mike Borta 13 Judy Higgins 17 Quenten Carpenter Virginia David Elijah Yusten 18 Sandy Bara Bishop Craig Satterlee 19 John Cox 21 Kristine Ranger Brian Holmes 25 Carlos Vallin Eric David 27 Linda Stiffler Donna Milnes 28 Joyce Rohrer 28 Andrew Roman 29 Nancy Storm 8 Jack & Nancy Beyerhelm 19 Kevin & Deann Butts 24 Joe & Rachel Sturdevant 26 David & Jessica Leese Sunday Narrative Lectionary Readings September 6: Hebrews 11:1-16 (12:1-2), The Meaning of Faith September 13: Genesis 2:4b-25, The Garden of Eden September 20: Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7, Isaac Born to Sarah September 27: Genesis 32:22-30, Jacob Wrestles God
Page 3 The Evangel Doors for Humanity Pastor Laura Kuntz High School youth and young adults are participating in a creative art project. They will be decorating a door which then will be displayed and auctioned off in the Doors for Humanity exhibit at the Blues Festival in Old Town. Half of the profits from the sale will be given to our group to designate toward another ministry or mission, and the other half of the profits will be split toward Habitat for Humanity and MICA. (Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art). Below is the door before decorating began. A photo of the finished project will appear in the next newsletter!
Page 4 The Evangel Sunday School Information Cindy Jenks & Miriam Bunge Greetings Sunday School Families!! Sunday School for grades Kindergarten-Grade 12 will begin on Sept. 13, from 9:45-10:45am. Grades K-4 will be taught by Julie Dartt on the mid level in the First Room to the left. Grades 5-8 will be taught by Brian Yusten on the mid level in the Lounge. Grades 9-12 will be taught by Mike Borta in Pastor Gary's Office. (We are excited to have this High School class this year as we have not had one in a long time.) Look for the balloons in the hallway for registration. Hope to see you there! Companion Care There is a need for volunteers who can go to Alison House on a regular basis, play games, go for walks, make dinners, etc. for the residents. There are a few residents who do not work and only leave the building when someone is accompanying them. Some of the residents would just like someone to talk to and interact with them. All of the residents are physically disabled and are in need of some type of companion care. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Jessica Cage at 517-323-4222 or jcage@lssm.org. Offering Counters Needed Our Finance teams need your help. Can you spare one hour after Second Service once every 3 weeks to help count the offering? Two people are desperately needed. The second person would be a fill-in when a team member is not available to count. Please contact Bob Cameron, Finance Team Leader: cameronw6216@sbcglobal.net or 517-323-8258. Second (Noisy) Offering from July July s Second (Noisy) Offering was designated to support Send a Kid to Camp which is a ministry of Lutheran Social Services of Michigan (LSSM) and our synod s camping and outdoor ministry, Living Water Ministries. A total of $929.45 was collected! Thank you for your generosity for this important ministry.
Volume 56, Issue 9 Photos from Vacation Bible School which was held in Grand Woods Park from July 27-August 31. A big thanks to the coordinators, teachers, and helpers for making VBS possible. Page 5
Volume 56, Issue 9 Page 6 DAILY NARRATIVE LECTIONARY READINGS for September Tuesday, Sept. 1, Hebrews 11:23-28, The Faith of Moses Wednesday, Sept. 2, Hebrews 11:29-40, The Faith of Others Thursday, Sept. 3, Hebrews 12:1-6, The Example of Jesus Friday, Sept. 4, Hebrews 12:7-13, The Example of Jesus Saturday, Sept. 5, Hebrews 12:14-17, Warnings against Rejecting God s Grace Sunday, Sept. 6, Hebrews 11:1-16 (12:1-2), The Meaning of Faith Monday, Sept. 7, Hebrews 12:18-24, Warning against Rejecting God s Grace Tuesday, Sept. 8, Hebrews 12:25-29, Warning against Rejecting God s Grace Wednesday, Sept. 9, Hebrews 13:1-6, Service Well-Pleasing to God Thursday, Sept. 10, Hebrews 13:7-19, Service Well-Pleasing to God Friday, Sept. 11, Hebrews 13:20-21, Benediction Saturday, Sept. 12, Hebrews 13:22-25, Final Greetings Sunday, Sept. 13, Genesis 2:4b-25, The Garden of Eden Monday, Sept. 14, Genesis 1:1-4a, First Creation Story Tuesday, Sept. 15, Genesis 3:1-24, Sin and Punishment Wednesday, Sept. 16, Genesis 4:1-16, Cain and Abel Thursday, Sept. 17, Genesis 4:17-26, Beginnings of Civilization Friday, Sept. 18, Genesis 6:1-8, Human Wickedness Saturday, Sept. 19, Genesis 6:9-22, Noah Pleases God Sunday, Sept. 20, Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7, Isaac Born to Sarah Monday, Sept. 21, Genesis 16:1-16, The Birth of Ishmael Tuesday, Sept. 22, Genesis 17:1-27, God s Covenant with Abraham Wednesday, Sept. 23, Genesis 21:1-21, The Birth of Isaac Thursday, Sept. 24, Genesis 24:1-67, The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah Friday, Sept. 25, Genesis 25:19-24, The Birth of Esau and Jacob Saturday, Sept. 26, Genesis 27:1-46, Isaac Blesses Jacob Sunday, Sept. 27, Genesis 32:22-30, Jacob Wrestles God Monday, Sept. 28, Genesis 32:3-21, Jacob Sends Gifts to Esau Tuesday, Sept. 29, Genesis 33:1-20, Jacob and Esau Meet Wednesday, Sept. 30, Genesis 37:1-11, Jacob s Son, Joseph The Narrative Lectionary readings will also be listed in each Sunday s announcements, posted on the St. Stephen website (www.ststepheononline.org), and found in the online version of The Evangel.
Page 7 The Evangel LAY MINISTER SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER Council Meeting Tuesday, September 15 7:00 pm St. Stephen Lutheran Church 2900 North Waverly Road, Lansing, MI 48906 Phone: 517-321-2244 Fax: 517-321-2632 Email: 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 Rebecca Bossenbroek, Director of Worship Council Members Jay Bennett, President Rebecca Bossenbroek, Recording Secretary Brian Yusten, Treasurer Don Sheffer, Facility Development Team Leader Bob Cameron, Financial Development Margie Bauer, Leadership Development Team Leader Cindy Jenks, WELCOME Ministry Development Leanne Roman, NOURISH Ministry Development Sarah Holland, SERVE Ministry Development garybunge@sbcglobal.net PastorLauraK@gmail.com office@ststephenonline.org rebeccabossenbroek@comcast.net jayb118@gmail.com rebeccabossenbroek@comcast.net brianyusten@yahoo.com sheffer.1283@yahoo.com cameronw6216@sbcglobal.net mtpbauer@sbcglobal.net nanajenks@gmail.com andyroman@hotmail.com saraha.holland@gmail.com SEPT 6 SEPT 13 SEPT 20 SEPT 27 (9:30am) ALTAR FLOWERS Robert & Naida Paulette Piirainen Norma Jenks Community Garden Schelter ASSISTING MINISTERS 8:30am Cindy Jenks Lorri Yusten Margaret Sheffer Diane Singletary (Paulette Piirainen, 256-9740) 11:00am Brian Yusten John V Soske Diane Singletary USHERS 8:30am Terry Greiner Cindy Jenks Jim & Char Seifert (Terry Greiner, 694-5358) (Ken Bauer, 669-2301) 11:00 am ALTAR CARE (Claudia Cameron, 323-8258) Bob & Claudia Cameron (Sept 6 & 27) and Char Seifert (Sept 13 & 20). COFFEE HOUR Sponsored by Praise Care Group (Position Open) for entire month.
St. Step hen Lut her an Chur ch 2900 N. Waverly Rd. Lansing, MI 48906 Phone: 517-321-2244 Fax: 517-321-2632 Email: office@ststephenonline.org Website: StStephenOnline.org DATED MATERIAL OR CURRENT OCCUPANT Reminders for September 13: We return to two worship services 8:30 am (traditional service) 11:00 am (contemporary service) Sunday School begins We will be participating in God s Work Our Hands