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We gather on the 21st Sunday after Pentecost for worship at 10am.

The rich man who comes to ask Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life is a good man, sincere in his asking.  Mark’s gospel is alone in saying that Jesus looked on him and loved him.  Out of love, not as judgment, Jesus offers him an open door to life; sell all you own and give it to the poor.  Our culture bombards us with the message that we will find life by consuming .  Our assemblies counter this message with the invitation to find life by divesting for the sake of the other.

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. Oct. 16 – Bible Study  11 am & 7:30 pm
• Wed.  Oct. 16 offsite TBA –  Women’s Café Group 6:00 pm
• Sat. Oct. 26 – COPA 3:00pm  90 5^th Sanborn in Spreckles
• Sat. Oct. 26 – Set up for Oktober Feast 10 am
• Sun. Oct. 27 – Reformation / Polka Mass / Oktober Feast potluck / Tree planting 
• Sign up now & Invite friends
• Mon. Oct. 28 –  Women’s Café Group 6:00 pm
• Oct. 31  – Preschool Halloween Parade 9:00 am
• Tues. Nov. 5 – New Trinity Tuesday 6:30 pm local pub (Discretion Brewing Co. 41^st Ave. )
• 1 hour, 1 faith question, 1 drink                   Info. Kathy Allen 430-6359
• Tues. Nov. 12 – Church Council 6:30 pm
• Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm
• Fridays –  A.A. 7:00 pm

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We gather on the 20th Sunday after Pentecost for worship at 10am.

Today’s gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we find comforting.  Jesus’ saying on divorce is another of his rejections of human legislation in favor of the original intent of God’ law. Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples who are fending off the children should challenge us as well.  What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God as a child does?

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: 

• Tues. Oct. 8 – Church Council 6:30 pm
• Weds. Oct. 9 – Bible Study  11 am & 7:30 pm
• Thurs. Oct. 10 – MMRR Women’s Circle 10:30 am
• Wed.  Oct. 16 offsite TBA –  Women’s Café Group 6:00 pm
• Sun. Oct. 27 – Reformation / Polka Mass / Oktober Feast potluck / Tree planting
• Invite friends and Sign up now
• Mon. Oct. 28 –  Women’s Café Group 6:00 pm
• Oct. 31  – Preschool Halloween Parade 9:00 am
• Tues. Nov. 5 – New Trinity Tuesday 6:30 pm local pub (Discretion Brewing Co. 41^st Ave. )
  • 1 hour, 1 faith question, 1 drink                   Info. Kathy Allen 430-6359
• Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm
• Fridays –  A.A. 7:00 pm

[Read more…]

We gather on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost for worship at 10am.

Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and the disciples want him stopped.  They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization.  Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat.  Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control.  The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on. 

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: 

• Tues. Oct. 1 – New Trinity Tuesday 6:30 pm local pub (Discretion Brewing Co. 41^st Ave. )
• 1 hour, 1 faith question, 1 drink
• Weds. Oct. 2 – Bible Study  11 am & 7:30 pm
• Thurs. Oct. 10 – MMRR Women’s Circle 10:30 am
• Mon. Sept. 30 –  Women’s Café Group 6:00 pm
• Sun. Oct. 27 – Reformation / Polka Mass / Oktober Feast potluck / Tree planting
• Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm
• Fridays –  A.A. 7:00 pm

[Read more…]

We gather on the 18th Sunday after Pentecost for worship at 10am.

Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest.  Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve.  Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them a flesh-and-blood child.  We are called to welcome the children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the assembly.

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: 

• Sat. September 21 – Sister Parish 30 yr Celebration at Watsonville Public House 2:00 pm
• Tues. Sept. 24- Provide Habitat lunches 10:30 am
• Weds. Sept. 25 – Bible Study  11 am & 7:30 pm
• Thurs. Sept. 26 – Newsletter Collating 2:00 pm – helpers needed
• Mon. Sept. 30 –  Women’s Café Group 6:00 pm
• Tues. Oct. 1 – New Trinity Tuesday 6:30 pm local pub (Discretion Brewing Co.)
• 1 hour, 1 faith question, 1 drink
• Sun. Oct. 27 – Reformation / Polka Mass / Oktober Feast potluck / Tree planting
• Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm
• Fridays –  A.A. 7:00 pm

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We gather on the 16th Sunday after Pentecost for worship at 10am.

Three weeks ago we heard Peter’s confession of faith as told in John’s gospel.  This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.”  In John, the stumbling block is Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world.  In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus’ words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus’ words.  But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of messiah) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3); so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross.

James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel.  Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the goods meant for God’s children?  Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply?  Either way, the story tells us that God shows no partiality.  Everyone who brings a need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir.

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. Sept. 18 – Bible Study  11 am & 7:30 pm
• Tues. Sept. TBA  – Church Council 6:30 pm (rescheduled)
• Mon. Sept. 16 & 30 –  Women’s Café Group 6:00 pm
• Sat. September 21 – Sister Parish 30 yr Celebration at Watsonville Public House 2:00 pm
• Tues. Oct. 1 – New Trinity Tuesday 6:30 pm local pub (Discretion Brewing Co.)
• 1 hour, 1 faith question, 1 drink
• Sun. Oct. 27 – Reformation / Polka Mass / Oktober Feast potluck / Tree planting
• Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm
• Fridays –  A.A. 7:00 pm

[Read more…]