For the Week Beginning August 1, 2010

 

Our Prayers

 

 We pray for each other in our daily journeys in faith.

 

Pray to know God’s will for healing: Olivia Bishop, Lea Chenault, Tracy Gulden, Jack Harris, Walt Heide, Paul Kristiansen, Randy Punchard, Judie Schrag, Chuck Schumacher, Dan Stimson, and Soni York.

 

Pray for those who are physically unable to get to worship: Eileen Calender, Pat Chandler, Elsa Englert, Bernice Fahncke, Elsie Hall, Willetta Heising, Anna Lou Hobday, Jean Kircheis, Helen Lenox, Ernie Pilant, Jo Schumacher, John Warner, Dot Wright, and Earl and Lois Wysong.

 

Pray for these loved ones of our congregation: Ty Anderson, Marjaita Havola Bloise, Roy Bauschatz, Frances Boitnott-Schluter, Ron Campana, Angie Cobb, Michael Compton, Brenda Cook, Connie Cummings, Matt Davis, Nancy DiVincenzo, Sarah Farmer, Mae Failoni, Lonna Gibson, JR Griffin, Mary Jo Hill, Kyle Iddings, Elizabeth Kennis, Carl Knauss, Janet Overdorf, Bill Pate, Bob Reeves, Don Romig, William Thies, Jr., Gary Toler, Jr., Nancy Trosko, and Cassidy Weekes.

 

We have refreshed the prayer list.  We will do this the first Sunday of each month.  If you find that the name of a loved one is not on the list, simply use the blue sheet to add him or her!

 

Today

 

Notes on today’s worship: The season of Pentecost extends until the First Sunday of Advent.  “Practicing holiness during this time means devoting half your year to acknowledging the divine that infuses the every day.  The season of Pentecost is simple time.  Unadorned with festive holy days, this period helps us focus on God in our ordinary lives.”  (From explorefaith.org)  The color during Pentecost is green, signifying growth in faith.  

 

We give thanks for Pastor David Gunderlach, who is our preacher and celebrant at Holy Communion this morning.  Pastor Gunderlach is a counselor  at the Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center, and vacancy pastor at Reformation Lutheran Church in Newport News.  Pastor Gunderlach is a retired Navy chaplain.

 

Some of you don’t sing the hymns.  (You know who you are!)  Pastor Ballentine requests that you read along as the congregation sings.  The hymn texts are extraordinary expressions of faith, selected for the theme of the morning’s worship.

 

We thank God for the special music this morning offered by Marj Gottschalk-Trone.

 

Flowers are given to the Glory of God by Gloria and Marv Happel in celebration of their 55th wedding anniversary.

 

Upcoming

 

All women are welcome to attend the Sarah Circle’s next luncheon meeting on Thursday, August 5 at the Carrot Tree on Jamestown Road.  Please call Sonja Landvogt (565-0244) to say you are coming.  Please arrive between 11:30 AM and 11:45 AM.

 

Vacation Bible School will be a High Seas Expedition this year!  VBS will run August 9-13 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon for children aged 3 through 5th Grade.  Get ready for a swashbuckling adventure through God’s Word, and discover how God shows his powerful love through scripture. 

  • Participants will have a memorable time playing games, singing and creating crafts while making new friends along the way, as well as help fulfill a special mission project to make blankets for needy children in Africa. Registration forms are available in the narthex and on the St. Stephen website. 
  • Adult staff is needed.  Please mark the blue sheet if you’re able to help.  If you have nautical props that we can use, please contact Toby Lucy, VBS Director (tlucy@cox.net or 345-2955)

 

Are you  new to St. Stephen?  Pastor Ballentine will meet with those new to the congregation, and others who are interested in joining the congregation, in the College Room on Sunday mornings, 10:00 – 10:45, August 15, 22 and 29.  We’ll explore the Lutheran tradition of Christianity, using Luther’s Small Catechism as our guide.  The conversation will be lively!  Join us!

 

ArtWorks 2010 will benefit the Client Assistance Fund of the Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center, August 20 and 21.  This fundraiser will feature more than 20 regional artists in various media.  For more information, go to www.peninsulapastoral.org.

 

Pastor Ballentine will lead a six-session study of Romans, using a study guide from the excellent Book of Faith materials produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  The group will meet in the Fellowship Hall on these Monday evenings: September 13, 20, 27, October 4, 18, 25, beginning at 7:00 PM.  If you want us to order a study guide for you, check the blue sheet or call Sandy in the church office.  The cost of each study guide will be about $8.  Deadline for ordering: August 29.  Would anyone like to lead this study on Thursday afternoons?  Soni York led the summer study of Exodus, and she can tell you how good the leader’s guide is!

 

Take Advantage of Serious Study in the Lutheran Christian Tradition, as part of the Ambassadors Community for Theological Study (ACTS), sponsored by the Virginia Synod.  Seminary professors teach courses in Lutheran Confessions, Old Testament, New Testament, Biblical Models of Leadership, Spirituality and Leadership, and Living the Christian Life.  The New Testament course will be offered this fall, taught by Professor Brian Peterson, from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.  He will give presentations September 18 and October 30, in either Waynesboro or Norfolk.  Regional small groups meet following each presentation.  To find more information, visit the St. Stephen web site.  Sandy Croushore and Heidi Flatin have both completed the entire series of ACTS courses, and can answer questions.

 

Healing thru Gardening The Virginia Cooperative Extension and the James City County/Williamsburg Master Gardeners present a symposium designed for professionals, allied professionals, community volunteers and all caregivers for persons with special needs on Wednesday, September 22 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.  The cost is $20, including lunch, and it will be held at the James City/Williamsburg Community Center on Longhill Road.  Pre-registration is required.  The brochure and registration form is available at the  www.jccwmg.org website or you can call Susan Voigt  (804-966-8487).

 

Please Note

 

Pastor Ballentine has finished a week’s stay at Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist Monastery near Charleston, SC.  This morning he is worshiping at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church in Little Mountain, SC.  Even though his Ballentine family roots are in Little Mountain, and many of his ancestors are buried in the Mt. Tabor cemetery, this is the first time he’s been to worship there.  This coming week he will be with extended family at Pawley’s Island, SC, and will return from vacation August 9.  Several Stephen Ministers are on call to make hospital visits.  If you have need, please call the church office.  Pastor David Gunderlach will preach and lead worship again on August 8. 

 

Summer Church Office Hours:  9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Monday through Thursday; 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Friday. 

 

We need adults to help receive empty glasses at the communion rail, especially at the 11:00 service.  Will you assist the acolytes by serving in this way?  Please mark the blue sheet.  Questions? Ask Pastor Ballentine!

 

Do you need a name tag?  Is your name tag incorrect?  Please mark the blue sheet.

 

During the summer, the need for food is greater at the FISH emergency food pantry and the Grove Christian Outreach Center because there are no subsidized meals at school for children.  Please place your food offerings in the baskets in the narthex. 

  • Items needed at FISH:  peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti and sauce, macaroni and cheese; canned foods (corn, green beans, pork and beans, canned fruits).
  • Items needed at Grove Christian Outreach Center: tuna, canned pasta (Spaghetti O’s/Ravioli), canned fruit, canned veggies (mixed veggies, greens, carrots, potatoes, beets), juice, breakfast items, soup (chunky/cream of chicken/cream of mushroom), peanut butter and jelly, baked beans, boxed potatoes, boxed meals, (Hamburger/ Chicken/Tuna Helper), ramen noodles.

Plastic jars (for spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and jelly) are preferred over glass jars! 

 

What are your suggestions and questions about the church renovation? As planning continues for the multi-faceted renovation project approved at the June Congregational meeting, the Council and Renovation Committee want to hear your suggestions and address your questions. You may use the renovation comment form, available in the narthex to make sure your point or question is considered and addressed by those involved in planning, and so that we may respond directly to you.   

 

Here’s an easy way to fulfill the promises you make when a child is baptized: help staff the Sunday morning nursery!  Please sign up to assist the paid nursery attendant.   This evangelism ministry makes it possible for parents of young children to participate in worship.  If you can help, please mark the blue sheet. 

 

Is your ministry story-telling?  The Christian Education committee is organizing those who will help with Sunday morning Faith Formation which starts on September 19.  This fall, we will focus on the stories of Noah’s Ark, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jonah and the Big Fish, and Fruit of the Spirit. Here are some questions you may be asking yourself:

  • What is Faith Formation? Preschool and elementary-age children meet between the services downstairs in the undercroft to learn about the Bible and its teachings. We reinforce the story message through three centers: Bible study, music, and activities.
  • How can I help?  We welcome your help, either short-term or long-term!  If there is a particular story or center you would like to help teach, let us know. If you want to keep your schedule flexible, but have some dates when you can help, that would be great!
  • For more information, contact Susanna Owens (owens@widomaker.com or 566-4648). A meeting will be held in August to schedule you for the fall. Stories and dates will be posted on the church website.

 

Sneaker Time!  We are providing new sneakers for the school children of the Grove Christian Outreach Center. New names are added to the board each Sunday. Here is how to give:

  1. Take an index card from the bulletin board on the table in the narthex and purchase the shoe size indicated. NO character shoes and NO black shoes for girls.
  2. Tape the index card to the OUTSIDE TOP of the box, and put the gift receipt only INSIDE the box. If you don’t get a gift receipt, write the name of the store where you purchased the shoes on the INSIDE LID; this will make it easier for exchanges if needed.
  3. Please return all shoes to the container underneath the table in the narthex by Sunday, August 15.
  4. If you would like to contribute money for Marilyn Johnson to purchase the shoes for you, please put cash or a check made out to Marilyn in an envelope and give it to her.
  5. Any questions?? Call Marilyn at 345-0806.

NOTE:  three credit card receipts were included in boxes of sneakers!  Two are from Target, one from Walmart.  If you think these are yours, please call Marilyn! 

 

Williamsburg Architectural Review Board unanimously passed the plans developed by Architect Harry Harris for the St. Stephen narthex expansion.  Bob Harman and Glenn Joppa attended the meeting along with Harry Harris.  The ARB could see that we are determined to maintain the special architectural features of St. Stephen, and on that point, one of the board members commented that “St. Stephen is the best looking building on Jamestown Road.”  With this approval, we are now able to develop detailed specifications, solicit bids, and determine actual costs.