Pentecost

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

[Read more…]

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…]

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

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. 11 – Bible Study  11 am & 7:30 pm
• Tues. Sept. 10  – Church Council 6:30 pm
• Thurs. Sept. 12  – MMRR Circle Fall kick off 10:30 am
• 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 TBA (1 hour, 1 faith question, 1 drink)
• Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm
• Fridays –  A.A. 7:00 pm

[Read more…]

We will gather for worship on this 25th Sunday after Pentecost – November 19th 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: 

• Nov. 19 – Dec.  (TBD) MMRR Children’s Gift Tree – Please take an ornament and bring back a gift for a child in need.
• Nov. 18 – Property work day
• Nov. 19 – Consecration Sunday – Prayerfully bring your tithes and commitments.
• Nov. 26 – First Sunday of Advent
• Dec. 10 – Children and Preschool Christmas Program at 10 am Worship.
• Dec. 24 – Sunday Worship at 10am AND  Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship at 7pm.

[Read more…]