The Evangel - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/ststephenlutheranchurch/documents/October_3.pdfat...
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The Evangel St. Stephen Lutheran Church Inside this issue: Finance Matters; Thanksgiving Baskets; Thank You: Birthdays & Anniversaries 2 Food Bank Sunday; Faith Book Group; Pub Theology Group; Great- er Lansing Crop Walk; Bonhoeffer Event 3 Congregation Finances 4 Photos of Refuge Lan- sing Exhibit/ Presentation 5 Daily Lectionary Read- ings 6 Lay Minister Schedule 7 Potluck with a Pur- pose 8 Volume , Issue October 2018 From the Pastor... Justified by grace, we are a Community of Servants who follow Jesus’ example by living lives of service to others. Dear Members and Friends of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink? (Matthew 25:37) This year’s CROP Hunger Walk will be on Sunday, October 14 (see further details in this newsletter.) The CROP Walk is always an inspiring and fun event. I encourage you all to take part in some way, either by walking and/or financially supporting our St. Stephen walkers. Funds raised support the work of Church World Service (CWS) in helping hungry people around the world and in our own community. 25% of the monies raised in Lansing stay right here in our community to support local hunger ministries. For a number of years I served on the Advisory Board for Church World Service in Michigan and I had the op- portunity to learn a lot about the work of Church World Service in our country and around the world. Church World Service, like its partner agencies Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and ELCA World Hunger, does wonderful work around the world in relief, development and advocacy on behalf of people in poverty. CWS doesn’t just provide emergency food and blankets, but helps poor communities with development projects that help people help themselves. Through CWS, LWR and ELCA World Hunger we are able to be Christ’s arms and hands reach- ing out in love around the world. Please make a pledge on someone, and get out your walking shoes! “We walk, because they walk.” To join our St. Stephen Team or donate to support our walkers go to: www.CROPHungerWalk.org/LansingMI. For more information contact Mike Borta, our St. Stephen CROP Walk captain. I’ll be gone the weekend of our CROP Walk, so I plan on doing an “alternate walk” on Wednesday, October 17 at noon. If you’d like to join me during the lunch hour, come by St. Stephen and we’ll walk for an hour or so for Church World Service. We have started a new adult Bible study on Sunday and Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am. It’s a study of ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s four emphases in her teaching: We are church. We are Lutheran. We are church together. We are church for the sake of the world.” Each week we begin with a brief baptismal remem- brance liturgy. Come and join us. God’s love and peace be with you all. Yours in Christ, Pastor Erick Johnson “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” —Unknown
Transcript of The Evangel - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/ststephenlutheranchurch/documents/October_3.pdfat...
The Evangel St . S tep hen Lut h eran Ch ur c h
Inside this issue:
Finance Matters;
Thanksgiving Baskets;
Thank You: Birthdays &
Anniversaries
2
Food Bank Sunday;
Faith Book Group; Pub
Theology Group; Great-
er Lansing Crop Walk;
Bonhoeffer Event
3
Congregation Finances 4
Photos of Refuge Lan-
sing Exhibit/
Presentation
5
Daily Lectionary Read-
ings
6
Lay Minister Schedule 7
Potluck with a Pur-
pose
8
Volume , Issue October 2018
From the Pastor...
Justified by grace, we are a
Community of Servants who
follow Jesus’ example by living
lives of service to others.
Dear Members and Friends of St. Stephen Lutheran Church,
Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you
or thirsty and give you something to drink? (Matthew 25:37)
This year’s CROP Hunger Walk will be on Sunday, October 14 (see further details in
this newsletter.) The CROP Walk is always an inspiring and fun event. I encourage
you all to take part in some way, either by walking and/or financially supporting our St. Stephen walkers.
Funds raised support the work of Church World Service (CWS) in helping hungry people around the world and in
our own community. 25% of the monies raised in Lansing stay right here in our community to support local
hunger ministries.
For a number of years I served on the Advisory Board for Church World Service in Michigan and I had the op-
portunity to learn a lot about the work of Church World Service in our country and around the world. Church
World Service, like its partner agencies Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and ELCA World Hunger, does wonderful
work around the world in relief, development and advocacy on behalf of people in poverty. CWS doesn’t just
provide emergency food and blankets, but helps poor communities with development projects that help people
help themselves. Through CWS, LWR and ELCA World Hunger we are able to be Christ’s arms and hands reach-
ing out in love around the world. Please make a pledge on someone, and get out your walking shoes! “We
walk, because they walk.” To join our St. Stephen Team or donate to support our walkers go to:
www.CROPHungerWalk.org/LansingMI. For more information contact Mike Borta, our St. Stephen CROP Walk
captain.
I’ll be gone the weekend of our CROP Walk, so I plan on doing an “alternate walk” on Wednesday, October 17
at noon. If you’d like to join me during the lunch hour, come by St. Stephen and we’ll walk for an hour or so for
Church World Service.
We have started a new adult Bible study on Sunday and Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am. It’s a study of ELCA
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s four emphases in her teaching: We are church. We are Lutheran. We are
church together. We are church for the sake of the world.” Each week we begin with a brief baptismal remem-
brance liturgy. Come and join us. God’s love and peace be with you all.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Erick Johnson
“Be thankful for what you have;
you’ll end up having more. If
you concentrate on what you
don’t have, you will never, ever
have enough.”
—Unknown
The Evangel Page 2
2 Mike & Amy Bucht
6 Ron & Chris Miller
Ken & Tara Busha
23 Stan & Sandi Kotajarvi
10 Hazel Hiester
15 Zach Telder
19 Heather Lewis
Lilliana Butts
20 Evelyn Toomey
23 Susan Leeming
24 Jim Lahti
26 Ben Carpenter
27 Paul Bielawski
Tessa Cox
29 Julie Dartt
30 Maxine Jubb
31 Amanda Lewis
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Thank you for generously supporting our second offering in August designated for Trinity Lutheran Seminary. Your gifts in August totaled $308.
Thanksgiving Baskets
During the month of October, our second offering supports our donation of Thanksgiving Baskets to families referred to us by Christian Services. We
have $1,036 currently designated for this purpose, and trust that with your gifts during the month of October, we can provide 20 baskets as has
been our custom.
Last year, we did not participate because of our negative unrestricted fund balance and corresponding lack of cash on hand. Thank you for your
faithful generosity this year. Our unrestricted fund balance continues to grow, allowing us to use designated funds for their intended purposes.
Finance Matters
Thanksgiving Baskets
“A tisket, a tasket” it’s almost time for THANKSGIVING BASKETS. The information received from CHRISTIAN SERVICES was shared at our September
Church Council meeting. The decision was made to do twenty baskets this year.
Baskets will be filled on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. People receiving a basket will be picking them up at church that same day instead of us making
the delivery. (Those who have volunteered to deliver in the past found no one to be home—even after several attempts.)
Toward the end of October there will be sign up sheets on the serve table in the fellowship hall to provide homemade baked goods, assembling
baskets, and assistance picking up the food. PLEASE let Claudia Cameron know if you would like to help out with this important ministry. (517-323-
8258 or [email protected])
Giving thanks and praise to GOD from whom all blessing flow that we are able to provide a complete THANKSGIVING feast for 20 families in our
community.
Holly Lefanty sends a big thank
you for the beautiful card she
received from St. Stephen.
Page 3 Volume , Issue
Please join the Synod Publicly Engaged Church Table (formerly Church in Society Committee) as we explore the life and teachings of Dietrich Bonhoef-
fer. Who is he? What did he do? Why are we even speaking about him now? Join us to explore these questions on Saturday, October 27, 11:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Portage.
This event will be moderated by Pastor Erick Johnson. He will begin with a brief overview of Bonhoeffer’s life and theology. This will be followed by
a viewing of the documentary, “Bonhoeffer.” The event will conclude with a discussion session. Lunch will be provided, and a free-will offering will
be accepted to cover lunch expenses. To register for this event, go to www.mittensynod.org.
For the Living of These Days: Are We Living in a “Bonhoeffer” Moment?
Just a reminder that next Sunday, October 7, is a Food Bank Sunday. (Food Bank Sundays are the first Sunday of each month.) Please place
food items in the Food Bank shopping cart in the fellowship hall. Much needed items are: canned tuna (lots of requests for this item), cooking oil,
coffee, hot chocolate, boxed potatoes, syrup, canned fruits & vegetables. Thank you for your help with this important ministry.
Food Bank Sunday
Faith Book Group welcomes new members. We meet next on Thursday, October 25, 5:30pm at 1231 N Hayford, Lansing for supper and discussion
of “Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had” by Brad Cohen and Lisa Wysocky. Contact Margaret Sheffer for
more information.
Faith Book Group
Pub Theology Group will meet on Thursday, October 18, at 7:00 pm at Dimes Brewhouse in Dimondale (145 Bridge Street).
The discussion questions will be emailed and posted on the website (www.StStephenOnline.org) as the date nears. If you
are not on the church email list and would like to be, please contact the church office, 517-321-2244 or Of-
Pub Theology Group
There is still time to register for the Greater Lansing Crop Hunger Walk on Sunday, October 14. The walk is a 3-mile route
and will begin at Grace United Methodist Church, 1900 Boston Blvd., Lansing, 48910. Sign in time is 1:00 pm and the walk
begins at 2:00 pm. Watch for details on walking with others from St. Stephen and supporting this event by sponsoring
walkers with your financial contributions. Our Walk Captain is Mike Borta. Please see or contact Mike if you have any
questions or would like to register (email: [email protected])
Greater Lansing Crop Hunger Walk
The Evangel Page 4
Page 5 Volume , Issue
Below are photos from St. Stephen hosting the traveling exhibit “Refuge Lansing: Stories of Resettlement in Mid-Michigan.” We heard a very in-
formative presentation by Erika Brown-Binion during our Potluck with a Purpose on September 9. We also collected personal clothing items that are
much needed at the Refugee Center. Thanks for your donations and participation in this wonderful event.
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 6 Volume , Issue
Monday, October 1, Exodus 15:1-21, Songs of Moses and Miriam
Tuesday, October 2, Exodus 15:22-27, Bitter Water Made Sweet
Wednesday, October 3, Exodus 16:1-21, Bread from Heaven
Thursday, October 4, Exodus 17:1-7, Water from the Rock
Friday, October 5, Exodus 17:8-16, Amalek Attacks Israel and Is Defeated
Saturday, October 6, Exodus 18:13-27, Jethro’s Advice
Sunday, October 7, Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17
Monday, October 8, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Moses Dies
Tuesday, October 9, Joshua 1:1-9, God’s Commission to Joshua
Wednesday, October 10, Joshua 2:1-21, Spies Sent to Jericho
Thursday, October 11, Joshua 3:1-17, Israel Crosses the Jordan
Friday, October 12, Joshua 6:1-14, Jericho Taken and Destroyed
Saturday, October 13, Joshua 6:15-27, Jericho Destroyed and Rahab Spared
Sunday, October 14, Joshua 24:1-15 [16-26]
Monday, October 15, 1 Samuel 1:1-28, Samuel’s Birth
Tuesday, October 16, 1 Samuel 3:1-18, Samuel’s Calling and Prophecies
Wednesday, October 17, 1 Samuel 7:3-15, Samuel as Judge
Thursday, October 18, 1 Samuel 8:1-22, Israel Demands a King
Friday, October 19, 1 Samuel 9:27 – 10:8, Saul Anointed as King
Saturday, October 20, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, David Anointed as King
Sunday, October 21, 2 Samuel [11:1-5, 26-27]; 12:1-9
Monday, October 22, 2 Samuel 12:15b-23, Bathsheba’s Child Dies
Tuesday, October 23, 2 Samuel 12:24-25, Solomon Is Born
Wednesday, October 24, 1 Kings 1:1-21, The Struggle for Succession
Thursday, October 25, 1 Kings 1:22-27, The Struggle for the Succession
Friday, October 26, 1 Kings 1:28-53, The Accession of Solomon
Saturday, October 27, 1 Kings 2:13-25, Solomon Consolidates His Reign
Sunday, October 28, 1 Kings 3:4-9, (10-15), 16-28
Monday, October 29, 1 Kings 6:1-22, Solomon Builds the Temple
Tuesday, October 30, 1 Kings 8:1-13, Dedication of the Temple
Wednesday, October 31, 1 Kings 8:54-61, Solomon Blesses the Assembly
NARRATIVE LECTIONARY READINGS for October
LAY MINISTER SCHEDULE FOR OCTOBER
Council Meeting
Sunday, October 21
11:30 am
Staff Members
Erick Johnson, Pastor [email protected]
Renee Dixon, Office Manager [email protected]
Rebecca Bossenbroek, Director of Worship [email protected]
Council Members
Jackie Williams-Armstrong, President [email protected]
Margaret Sheffer, Recording Secretary [email protected]
Don Sheffer, Facility Development Team Leader [email protected]
Amber McPherson, Financial Development [email protected]
Bob Cameron, Endowment Fund Team Leader [email protected]
**Position Open** Leadership Development Team Leader
Gary Hansen, WELCOME Ministry Development [email protected]
Julie Dartt, NOURISH Ministry Development [email protected]
Claudia Cameron, SERVE Ministry Development [email protected]
St. Stephen Lutheran Church 2900 North Waverly Road, Lansing, MI 48906
Phone: 517-321-2244 Fax: 517-321-2632
Email: [email protected] | Website: StStephenOnline.org Worship: Sundays at 10:00 am
Sunday School Class: Sundays at 9:00 am (Sept – May)
Bible Study: Sundays 9:00 -9:50 am
Church Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Evangel Page 7
Oct 7 Oct 14 Oct 21 Oct 28
ALTAR FLOWERS Jan & Jerry Becker Gloria Kandle ___________ The Cox Family
ASSISTING MINISTERS Lynn Kriser Lorri Yusten Mike Borta Diane Singletary
(Paulette Piirainen)
USHERS ___________ ___________ Mike & Amy Bucht Cindy Jenks
ALTAR CARE Claudia & Robert Cameron for entire month.
(Claudia Cameron )
COFFEE HOUR Potluck with a ____________ Cindy Jenks & Connie Rohrer ___________
Purpose
GREETERS ***Greeters needed for all four Sundays***
OFFERING COUNTERS Bob Cameron Jackie Williams-Armstrong Bob Cameron Angie Bennett
Claudia Cameron June Hansen/Lynn Kriser Erin Wenger Gladys Collison
Ruth Gaudard Abby Kriser Ruth Gaudard Gloria Kandle
2900 N. Waverly Rd.
Lansing, MI 48906
St . S tep hen Lut her an Chur ch
Phone: 517-321-2244
Fax: 517-321-2632
Email: [email protected]
Website: StStephenOnline.org
OR CURRENT OCCUPANT
Our next Potluck with a Purpose is on
Sunday, October 7.
We will enjoy a reprise of “God’s Family Reunion” with
fun games for all ages.
Bring a dish to pass and join us after worship!
