ST. STEPHEN S CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH 1100 Hunters Chase Lane Lebanon PA 17046 717-273-3912 Email: ststephcfc@comcast.net Website: www.saintstephenscfc.org November 2017 Special Thanks Special thanks goes out to everyone who helped with the Autumn Glory Bazaar! REMINDER!!!!!! November 5 th begins the end of daylight savings time. Remember to turn your clocks back!
BE THANKFUL (ALWAYS) A Note from Pastor Ron It is not always easy to give thanks, but this is the very thing we must do in order to see God's will accomplished in our lives. Thanksgiving has great power to bring joy and break the power of the enemy. Whenever you give thanks to God, despite the most difficult circumstances, the enemy loses a big battle in your life. When you give thanks in the midst of difficulty, you bring pleasure to God's heart. He is looking for Christians who live in a realm of praise and thanksgiving where the enemy no longer has an ability to hold or manipulate that person. Satan is defeated when we have a thankful heart because thankfulness during difficulty is a sacrifice pleasing to God. Are you thankful? Are you thankful for your present circumstances? Are you thankful for your salvation, your friendships, and your job? Thankfulness is a key to your life. It is the key that turns your situation around because it changes you, your outlook, and your attitude. There is power in a thankful heart. Begin to thank God for all the blessings he has given you instead of dwelling on the negative. Discontent dries up the soul. Look at what Elizabeth Elliott, who lost her husband on the mission field and has faced multitudes of hardships, says about loving God's will and being content: "To love God is to love His will. It is to wait quietly for life to be measured by one who knows us through and through. It is to be content with His timing and His wise apportionment. It is to follow in the steps of the Master, as did Paul, who was able to say that he had learned contentment no matter what the circumstances. His circumstances when he wrote that? Prison. No easy lesson, but great gain which is the sum of godliness plus contentment (I Timothy 6:6)." 2
Look at the example of Jesus. He followed the will of His Father to the very end. He obeyed without complaint. Paul says that we should have the same attitude. Jesus made himself nothing and took on the very nature of a servant. He humbled Himself and became obedient to death. We also are to have this same attitude with a humble and thankful acceptance of God's will for our lives. "Jesus loved the will of His Father. He embraced the limitations, the necessities, the conditions, the very chains of His humanity as He walked and worked here on earth, fulfilling moment by moment His divine commission and the stern demands of His incarnation. Never was there a word or even a look of complaint." -- Elizabeth Elliott David said in Psalm 116:17, "I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord." Let each of us seek to have an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving, rising to a new level of holiness in our lives. Here are 3 ways to practice an attitude of thankfulness in everyday life: Thank and praise God for everything in your life. Thank Him for even the difficulties. It is a sacrifice to do this. But He can turn troubles to triumph. "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise -- the fruit of lips that confess his name" Don't allow yourself to complain about anything. During the difficult times, be very careful to watch your tongue. Instead of complaining, think of ways you can verbally offer God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Don't compare yourself with others. Don't wish that your life was different. God knows what is best. The Bible says having a thankful heart is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. When we begin to thank God for what we have rather than comparing ourselves with others, it opens the door for God's blessings. Have a blessed thanksgiving and be thankful all year long! pastorron 3
Church Council President s Comments Greetings, At the recent Congregational Meeting on October 22 nd, a budget for 2018 was approved and three new Church Council members were elected. They are Tyler Franz, Melody Gipe, and Cindy Klingler. Congratulations needs to be shared with the new members willing to serve. A big thanks to Bruce Barry, Linda Focht, and Steph Bossler for their three years of faithful service to the council as their term expires at the end of the year. A few other things discussed at the meeting were: Brian Weidman, representing the Church and Ministry Committee, gave an update regarding the surveys conducted in the spring. The committee is meeting with Pastor Ron and Pastor Miller of the Evangelical Association periodically to review progress and concerns. The proposed land donation by the Kerchers. This land is two lots across Grace Avenue from the church. We are very grateful to the Kerchers for their proposed gift which is anticipated to happen at the end of this year for one lot and the beginning of the year for the second lot. There was a concern regarding the Steeple distribution. There is a list of people who receive the Steeple by email and a list of people who receive the Steeple by mail. If there is anyone who is not receiving the Steeple by either method, but would like to receive it, the church secretary, Sarah Light, needs to be informed and advised as to how they would like it sent to them. A question was raised regarding the value of the Church property for insurance purposes. This will be evaluated by Church Council. Our next big event will be Advent Family Night on Sunday, December 3rd. The evening will start out with us sharing a covered dish dinner, then we will be decorating and filling gift boxes for shut-ins and other people in need. We will end the evening in the Sanctuary decorating the Christmas Tree(s) and singing Christmas Carrols. Please come out and join in the fun, food, fellowship, and serving the Lord creating these gifts. As with everything we try, we pray that God s Blessing is upon our programs. May God Bless You, Paul Weidman 4
November 2017 Our Worship Team List Lectors: Ushers: Greeters: November 5 November 5 November 5 Tyler Frantz November 12 Paul Weidman November 19 Joy Weidman November 26 Janet Light Ken & Pat Shank November 12 Linda Focht & Helen Crawford November 19 Paul & Joy Weidman November 26 Janet & Sarah Light Ken & Pat Shank November 12 Paul & Joy Weidman November 19 Kaitlyn Day November 26 Richard & Janice Rights Counting Teams: November 5 Team #3 Brian Weidman November 12 Team #4 Janet Light November 19 Team #5 Cindy Klingler November 26 Team #6 Johan Berger Communion Usher Schedule: November 5 th Johan Berger & Kim Weidman December 3 rd Erin Frantz & Stephanie Bossler January 7 th, 2018 Helen Crawford & Linda Focht 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) 11/1 Frances Hocker 11/4 Austin Weidman 11/6 Amy Cannistraci 11/7 Kenneth Bender 11/10 Catherine Koons 11/11 James Boland & John Blouch 11/15 Lillian Arnt 11/17 Derek Welch 11/22 Jennie Wise 11/24 Jessica Meyer & Jacob Earhart 11/30 Scott Bossler CHURCH NEWS Our church is sharing worship services with those unable to attend through recording with cassettes. Currently, we have two cassette players available. Please contact the church secretary if you or someone you know is interested. Jill Barr will deliver the recorded services to the individual s home. NURSERY SCHEDULE November 5th - Erin Frantz & Joanne Krall November 12th - Bruce & June Barry November 19th - Joy & Matthew Weidman November 26th - Amy Cannistraci & Janet Light December 3rd - Brian & Kim Weidman December 10th - Cindy Klingler & Jill Barr December 17th - Kaitlyn Day & Steph Bossler December 24th - Erin Frantz & Joanne Krall December 31st - Bruce & June Barry 11/3 Jonathan & Stephanie Hoke 11/14 Ken & Pat Shank Calling all Communion Ushers!! If you have served or are serving on council and would like to be a communion usher for 2018, please contact: Erin Frantz ecmf001@gmail.com 717-376-9460 6
ADVENT FAMILY NIGHT December 3rd Covered dish meal 6:15 pm Decorate and fill boxes, trimming the tree Don t Forget! Suggested items for the boxes, which can be placed in the baskets out in the narthex: non-perishables (canned items, pastas, etc.), warm socks, adult coloring books, colored pencils & sharpeners, crossword puzzle books, toiletry items, and snacks. It is anticipated that we will be filling more boxes than we need, so if you have any suggestions of people we should give a box to, please let the secretary or a committee member of Music & Worship know. Our Facebook: Haven t liked us on Facebook yet? It s not too late, check us out at St. Stephen s Christian Fellowship Church For those who would like to give money toward the purchase of items, there is a box next to the item baskets in the narthex. Any money will be taken each Sunday. A sign-up sheet for the covered dish meal will show up in the narthex closer to the date of Advent Family Night. Our Website: Check us out online for updates on news around the church and church information. Check us out at: For anyone interested in properly disposing of tattered or torn flags they have at home, Tucker Weidman s Cub Scout group will be holding an official flag burning ceremony Veteran s Day weekend. Any flags should be given to Kim or Brian Weidman. Also if you have any information for the website see that our secretary receives it as early as possible 7
NOVEMBER 2017 Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Christian Education 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Camera Club (SH) 6:00 pm 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Christian Education 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Praise Service 6:15 pm YC Bible Study 6:30 pm 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Christian Education 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Camera Club Library 6:00 pm 26 27 28 29 30 Christian Education 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Christian Ed. and Music & Worship Meeting Men s Brotherhood 6:30 pm SH-Social Hall CR- Conference Room
St. Stephen s Christian Fellowship Church 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 717-273-3912 or email ststephcfc@comcast.net Our flowers are supplied by Crazy for Daisies November 2017 Steeple Don t forget to join us on Sundays for our worship service at 10:30am and Christian Education at 9:30am See you in the pew! St. Stephen s Christian Fellowship Church 1100 Hunters Chase Lane Lebanon, PA 17046 9