|
For the Good of the Church . .
.
Lent begins Wednesday, February 22. This season is one in
which we turn our thoughts and hearts to the baptismal
waters of Easter. It is a season introspection as we wander
and wonder about who we are and who God is. While we still
celebrate God’s love and mercy on Sunday mornings, we are
aware that gone are the “Alleluias” of worship. We wonder
where our journey is leading us and what we might discover
along the way. Throughout this journey we will discover that
we are not alone and that the crucified and risen Jesus
walks with us every step of the way. May you wonder during
this season through worship and reflection, through our
Lenten daily devotionals, or even our book study Making
Sense of the Cross. Keep your eyes ahead, on the horizon,
and wait for the Lord.
Women’s Spiritual Formation
Be still and know. On Thursday, February 23, at 4:00
p.m. we will gather to be still. “But I can do that at
home,” you say. Yes, but sometimes it is hard to carve out
the time or the self discipline. Our book also tells us that
practices that can be done alone take on new power when done
in a group. Please join us if you would like to try
listening in a new way. For more info, contact Nancy Morris
at 298-7657.
Lent: Getting Ready
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday
This year, Ash Wednesday is February
22. Throughout Lent, worship will be at noon and 6:45 pm
each Wednesday, and the rest of the season we will focus on
Jonah.
Lent Soup Suppers
Each Wednesday in Lent, 5:30 to 6:30, there are soup suppers
that give us a chance to gather together and to raise funds
for youth summer experiences. Please see sign-up sheets for
ways to contribute.
Lenten Devotions
Booklets are available with daily
Bible readings, plus reflections and prayers written by
sisters and brothers from St. Stephen’s.
Lenten Book Study
Copies are available of Making
Sense of the Cross, by a great Luther Seminary
preaching professor. A very easy and helpful read, we will
discuss one chapter each Wednesday, or you can read on your
own. Books cost $12.
Other Devotions
Two other great ways to guide your faith during Lent are
available online. The Lutheran Office for Public Policy in
WI (with Pastor Nick) has put together an advocacy guide for
the season http://bit.ly/LOPPWLentenCalendar2012. You might
also like to focus on creation care with a carbon fast
www.macucc.org/carbonfast.
Confirmation
During Lent, there are no classes for 6th-9th graders.
Students and families should be at midweek worship together.
Scholarships
Applications Available
The St. Stephen’s Foundation is pleased to offer
scholarships for any post-secondary students. Scholarship
applications are due in the Church Office by Monday, April
30. When you log out an application form, be sure to leave
your name/phone number/date taken next to the appropriate
number on the check-out form.
Needs for the Homeless
The homeless have continual needs of mittens, hand warmers,
gloves, hand lotion in tubes, Carmex, Blistex (or
comparable), and warm socks. Thanks to your generosity we
have plenty of jackets and clothing available. Please put
your donations in the container in the narthex labeled
“Homeless”.
Rides for the Chauhan Family
We are looking for volunteers to help with transporting the
Chauhan family of eight to and from Sunday School and
church. What does this involve?
Click here for details.
Women's Ministries
The Women's Spiritual Formation Group
meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays each month. A
Lutheran Women Today Bible study takes place the 3rd
Thursday of each month. For more information on these and
other adult enrichment opportunities,
click here.
Don't Miss Worship
Cable Access:
Monona Cable Access channel 990 runs St. Stephen's 10:00
a.m. service from the previous week on Sundays at 10:00 a.m.
For those who have Charter expanded basic cable service, you
can find us on channel 98.
Audio/Video Recordings:
Audio tape recordings & Videos
on DVD of Sunday worship are available by
calling the church office.
Sermon Copies:
Sermon copies are available in the
wall rack by the Pheasant Hill door.
AA & Al-Anon
See the calendar for these weekly meetings. For information
about AA, contact Florian at 215-1172 and for Al-Anon,
contact Fran at 212-3083.
Summer 2012 Trips
Boundary Waters Canoeing:
July 1-6, 2012
We
leave out of Tuscarora Lodge on the Gunflint Trail
in northern MN. The trip is open to confirmation students and
interested adults. Questions? Talk to one
of the pastors.
Women’s Kayaking Trip! Summer 2012
We are planning for a great women’s event for next summer—an Apostle Islands
kayaking trip August 17-20, 2012! This trip is great for beginners and
experienced paddlers alike. Brochures are available.
Click here for details.
Holden Village:
New Dates
The new dates for the Holden Village trip will be Aug.
12-20. There is still a window for you to join the group.
$300 due February 29. Total cost is about $750. Talk to Pastor Nick.
E-Newsletter & Email Updates
Save on Paper & Postage!
You can receive the monthly newsletter electronically. Call
the church office if you'd like to learn more! Also, if you
would like to be on a St. Stephen's email list for
occasional reminders, contact the church office.
|
Newsletter
 Click
to download an issue of "For All The Saints"
February, 2012 Newsletter
February, 2012
Calendar & Volunteer Schedule
Click here for Previous Issues
New Staff
Email Addresses!
Please Note the Changes
With some IT upgrades, St. Stephen's staff has new email
addresses:
Rev. Tim Hansen, Senior Pastor:
tim@ststlc.net
Rev. Nick Utphall, Associate Pastor:
nick@ststlc.net
Rebecca Redmann, Director of Music Ministries:
music@ststlc.net
Rev. Edward Johnson, Senior Visitation Ministries:
edward@ststlc.net
Alex Whitaker, Organist/Accompanist:
Alex@ststlc.net
Jane Voss, Church Secretary:
office@ststlc.net
Karl Cinlar, Custodian:
karl@ststlc.net
 St.
Stephen's Lenten Devotional Booklet
Click
here to download the bookelt.
This is a collection of daily Bible readings, reflections
and prayers written by sisters and brothers from St.
Stephen’s.
Family Friendship Brunch
February 26 at 11:15 a.m.
Please join us in the Fireside Room for a Family
Friendships Brunch on Feb. 26 at 11:15 following the 10 a.m.
worship service. Family Friendships is for families with
children who are age (0-3). Our goal is simple...to get to
know each other! Our hope is to create a network of family
friendships for support as well as fun. For more info,
please contact Becky Mitchell, Jane Dohler or Nancy Morris.
 Ecumenical Morning
Prayer
Thursday Mornings at 8:00
a.m.
The service of Morning Prayer is offered every Thursday, 8:00-8:30
a.m. in the sanctuary. All who wish to attend are welcome.
In January, we were fortunate
to be joined by Pr. Rafael Cubilette's mother (front,
center) during her visit from the Dominican Republic.
Pr. Cubilette, an active participant in Morning Prayer,
serves at Monona United Methodist Church and is deeply
involved in ministry with the Hispanic community.
Lutherdale Bible Camp
Registration
David Box, a program manager from Lutherdale Bible Camp
will be with us February 19 at 9:10 a.m. in Agape Annex.
Come and learn about the camp and start to register for this
summer. For those who register next week, there are
discounts!
Little Dresses Work Day
Saturday, February 25
Let’s continue the great work we started at our women’s
retreat. We will gather in Agape Annex on Saturday, February
25 at 9 a.m. for a morning of sewing, drinking coffee and
make some more little dresses. Bring your sewing machine (if
you have one) and a treat to share with coffee. Non-sewers
and those who did not attend the retreat are also welcome;
there are lots of tasks that don’t require sewing skills,
and instruction will be provided. For those of you who would
like to make little dresses at home, take an instruction
sheet from the green folder on the bulletin board.
Adult Education
Sunday Adult Forum
United Methodists: March 4 & 11
Learn from an expert on the UMC, our own Edward
Johnson! On Sundays near the celebration of John and Charles
Wesley, Edward will be leading two adult forums helping us
to know about our full communion partner. Join him at 9:10
a.m. on March 4 and 11.
Spirituals
In honor of African-American History Month, we will be
singing a spiritual every week in worship. Please join
Rebecca Redmann on Feb. 26 at 9:10 am in Library to explore
the significance of Spirituals in the tradition of sacred
song. Topics may include a brief history, coded or
subversive messages embodied in the performance of certain
examples, as well as issues of performance practice.
Trinity Class
Five of us gathered to watch a very engaging lecture from
Prof. Steve Paulson of Luther Seminary. There are four more
weeks of this webcast class on the Trinity, and you are
welcome to join us Monday evenings 7:00-9:00 p.m. through
February 27.
New
Member Class
Interested in learning more about Lutheran Christianity and
St. Stephen’s? A new member class begins gathering on
February 12 at 9:10 a.m. in the library.
Bishop's
Convocation
October, 2011; Fontana, WI
Thanks to Kimberly Schreiber Han
for these great photos!
Food Pantry
Bags
The Pantry is in need of brown paper grocery bags.
|