We gather on the 4th Sunday of Easter, April 21st, at 10am for worship AND for a very special Dedication of the Buswell Family Playground. The entire Buswell family will be there and eight of our preschool families will attend as well. The children will be singing some of their Chapel songs at the beginning of worship.
At the end of worship, we will all go over to the playground for the Dedication Service, which especially honors the work and life of Ron Buswell, who gave so much of his time and skill to our church and preschool. His loving handprint is seen just about everywhere we look at our church. There will be a cake and coffee reception immediately following on the playground.
You can also participate in worship through the livestream and recording at www.ststephenslutheran.org.
There is usually a Children’s Church / Sunday School program planned during worship. Please contact Leslie Lapp 476-4700 for more info. The Family Room is always available adjacent to the sanctuary for little one’s activities if you need it. We love having children in church and all that brings as part of worship!
Coffee Fellowship: Please contact our Church Administrator Leslie if you are willing to host. We need you!
Upcoming Events:
- Weds. April 3 – May 8: Zoom Bible Study resumes
- Sun. April 21st – 10am Worship with Dedication of Buswell Family Playground.
- Sun. May 5th – 10 am Worship with Glenn and Barbara Johnston Dedication of Playground Shelter and All-Church Potluck at 11:30am.
- Sat. May 18th – Association of Faith Communities Gala Dinner and Silent Auction 6-8pm at Holy Cross.
Prayers:
- Thanksgiving for the life and witness of Gary Meeker our dear, long-time brother of the St. Stephen’s Family.
- For Janet’s brother Barry to be comforted and strengthened.
- For James for a wheelchair accessible van.
- For Robbin as she seeks new employment. For the Robe and Volpi families.
- For George’s health and spirit as he receives cancer treatments.
- For our new Council President Beth Stiles as she prepares for shoulder surgery om May 8th.
- For Rebecca as she recovers from a broken hip, leg and shoulder. Give courage and strength and peace and healing.
- For Lew and Bobbie Erickson
- For Ed Valencia.
- For our newly elected Church Council members Sofia Bartee and Mark Linder, and for the newly formed Long-Range Planning Task Force: Mark Linder, Steven Hendrickson, Tina Gates, Jeanette Dawson and Doug Hahn.
- For Margaret diagnosed with rheumatic polymyalgia. For her friend Sandy who has had a recurrence.
- For Debra’s son James in his recovery / strength.
- For Francisco’s healing.
- For Reina’s Grandma Maria to recover well from surgery for cancer and starts chemotherapy.
- For Lisa’s grandson Dustin that he would be strengthened for his upcoming cancer treatments and that he would be healed.
- For Pastor Jim’s friend Eric as he lives with CLL.
- For Judi and Robert’s son and family.
- For Jeanne’s brother James to find the proper care he needs. For Peace of Mind.
- For Barb’s friend Charlie to have strength as his husband Tracey struggles with advanced MS. For her brother-in-law Gary diagnosed with kidney cancer. For Cousin Bruce who is very ill with leukemia.
- For Shelly’s Uncle Jack diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer, and thanksgiving for her friend Sam’s progress on his recovery.
- For Margaret’s older sister Karin as she recovers from a broken hip and a bad fall. For Rena’s healing and recovery from leukemia.
- For Susan’s friends and family: Randy, Homer, Bill, Jessie, Sierra, Renee, Brandon, Tina, Lurline, Susan, Mike, Caitlin, Chelsea, John, Mateo, Monte and Tim. For Andre awaiting a kidney transplant. For Cody learning to walk again.
- For Bill’s niece Linda to receive adequate care going forward. Thanksgiving for her new residence.
- For Jody, Renny, Iris and Evelyn as they move to LaCrosse, WI for the next year. Bring strength, patience and courage in their transition.
- For Nancy’s friends and our neighbors at St. Stephen’s Senior Housing: Jane, Annetta, Joyce, Bentley and Jeannie. Also for James, John, and Elida
- For Kim’s son Ty to find meaningful work, and for grandsons Isaac and Mateo, and for Atlas’ surgery & rehabilitation. For Marisa to find a wheelchair access apartment, and for Katrina’s peace of mind and soul.
- For Janica to be healed from cancer.
- For Nancy’s 15 yr old trans son Gray, and for Joshua, Hailey and Jesse. For friendship with Samuel.
- For Joel as his eyesight diminishes.
- For Beau and his family in his recurrence of brain cancer.
- For Dorothy as she struggles with chronic pain.
- For Tina’s brother Frank’s strength during treatment.
- For Jeannette’s brother Craig who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. For Tom in the loss of his best friend, Sgt. William Nelson – Honored Veteran of Viet Nam War. For comfort for his family and friends. For successful surgery for Jen.
- For Paul’s strength and healing.
- For Beth to find a new apartment. For her father and mother as their health declines.
- For Kyle as he continues to heal.
- For thanksgiving and continued healing for Janet’s grandson Tyler, as he makes his adjustments to living independently, And for his Grandmother Jan recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. For Keith’s continued recovery. For Noelle and Ensley.
- For Miller, Shelby, Ashley, April, Marty, Will and other young adults we know, as they struggle mightily with the world and all its ways that harm them. Bring them to healing and wholeness and grace and new life.
Church office hours are now Mon-Fri. 12noon – 5pm.
Thank you for your continued faithfulness in your financial giving back to God through our church. Please remember to either give your offering through the mail, through our website donation option, signing up for monthly electronic giving, or bringing it by the church office during the week.
Flowers for Worship: Please sign up to provide flowers in honor of someone or a special occasion as another way to offer yourself in worship to God. The Flower Chart will be available at worship, or you can call the church office – 476-4700.
Other notes:
- Preschool “Inflation Donations” are being collected at church now. This is to help us not have to increase tuition on the families we serve through our Child Development Center ministry. There are lists on the basket in the back of the church and they will be inserted into the Sunday bulletins and the monthly newsletter. These are items that you can add to your Costco and grocery lists.
- Donations are being collected at church for Socks and Toiletries. These will go towards our work with serving those who take part in our Association of Faith Communities programs for the unhoused, and for the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center respectively.
- Habitat for Humanity Lunches. We will be providing Lunches (sandwiches, chips, fruit & cookies) for 10 volunteers. Reply to this email or call the office if you would like to help out. Our next date is Tuesday, April 23rd.
- A few copies of “White Fragility” are available to borrow. Call the office to inquire. This is a congregation-wide perspective that we are trying to adopt as we seek better understanding about the roots of racism, its consequences, and how our lives can better reflect an anti-racism perspective.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jim
We welcome all who are seeking God’s love and grace. We welcome all because God welcomes all, regardless of race or culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or relationship status. We welcome all without regard to addictions, physical or mental health, imprisonment, socio-economic circumstances, or anything that too often divides us. Our unity is in Christ.”
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