Community

We will gather for worship on this 3rd Sunday in Lent  – March 3rd at 10am.

You can also participate 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. February 28,  March 6, 13, 20  – 6:30pm Soup Supper and 7:15pm Worship. Watch for Zoom email link.
• Thurs. March 21^st from 6pm-8pm – Interfaith Seder Meal at Temple Beth El. All are invited.
• Sat. March 23^rd from 9a-12noon – Cutting of the palms and adorning the sanctuary for Holy Week.
• Sun. March 24^th  at 11:30am after worship. – House Meeting about Behavioral/Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment needs in the community. Please join Pastor Jim, Mark Linder and our COPA Organizer Eli Holliday for a time to discuss how our community can better serve those affected. Please invite any that you know who might be experiencing the frustration with a lack of adequate services. Bring your stories and hopes.
• Thurs. March 28^th at 7pm.  – Maundy Thursday Worship
• Fri. March 29^th at 7pm. – Good Friday Worship
• Sun. March 31^st – 9am Easter Breakfast
• Sat. April 6^th from 10am -12noon:  COPA Civic Academy on Behavioral/Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment shortcomings and opportunities for expansion in Santa Cruz County.
• Sun. April 21^st – 10am Worship with Dedication of Buswell Family Playground.  

Prayers:

• For James as he recovers from heart surgery/ receiving a stent, and for his benefits appeal, and for a wheelchair accessible van.
• Thanksgiving for the birth and health of Zoey Flynn Ronning, Daughter of Joe, Granddaughter of Mitch and Linda, Great-granddaugher of Tex and Dorothy.
• For Robbin as she seeks new employment. For the Robe and Volpi families.
• For Marta’s mother’s health and for friend Michael as he prepares for surgery.  
• For our new Council President Beth Stiles as she engages in the Leadership Academy for the next 4 months.
• For Rebecca as she recovers from a broken hip, leg and shoulder. Give courage and strength and peace and healing.
• For Lew and Bobbie and their daughter Eva, whose husband Bill passed away recently. Give comfort and peace in their grief.
• For Ed Valencia and his family as they grieve the loss of Emily.
• For our newly elected Church Council members Sofia Bartee and Mark Linder, and for the newly forming Long-Range Planning Task Force.
• For Margaret diagnosed with rheumatic polymyalgia.
• For Debra’s son James in his recovery / strength.
• For Julie R. in memory of her mother.
• For Francisco’s healing.
• For Reina’s Grandma Maria to recover well from surgery for cancer and starts chemotherapy. For her and Ila’s new home to be a safe place.
• For Anne’s continued recovery as she undergoes treatment. For healing and strength for her and her family.
• For Andrew’s Aunt Cheryl diagnosed with cancer.
• 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 and for her friend’s mother beginning treatment for breast cancer. For her brother-in-law Gary diagnosed with kidney cancer. For Cousin Bruce who is very ill with leukemia. For grandchild Asher, who lost a friend to osteosarcoma, and for her friend’s family and friends.
• 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 friends and family of Susan: 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 son and daughter-in-law Joshua & Andrea for new housing, and for 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 that his eyesight will be improved.
• 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. Successful surgery and healing for Tom.
• For Paul’s strength and healing.
• For Bob’s husband & daughter.
• 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 and thanksgiving for coming this far. 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, March 26th.
• 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