We gather on the 15th Sunday after Pentecost for worship at 10am.
Jesus protests against human customers being given the weight of divine law while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us, “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We who were washed in the word when we were born in the font return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts.
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. 4 – 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 Celebration at Watsonville Public House 2:00 pm
- Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm
- Fridays – A.A. 7:00 pm
Prayers:
- For Reina’s God mother Arianne as she recovers from knee surgery.
- For Kim’s mother in law
- For the family of Lauren Patrick
- For the family of Barbara Klapper
- For the summer staff of Mt. Cross as they leave
- For friends in Tel Aviv
- For John Wickham as he recovers from a car accident & surgery.
- For the family of Sandra Barker as they grieve her sudden loss.
- Thanksgiving for the life and witness of our St. Stephen’s Senior Housing friend Joyce Simpson.
- For Nick to be guided in using his gifts to serve
- For Candace and Bill as they grieve the loss of her mother.
- For Galahad as he navigates new struggles and for the support he needs.
- For Janet and family as she grieves the loss of her brother Barry.
- For James for a wheelchair accessible van.
- For Barb’s friend Jen as she suffers from M.S.
- For The Moore family
- For the Brown family in grieving the passing of Rena Brown
- For Mary
- For Sam’s healing
- For Michael Lee – hospitalization
- 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 Lew and Bobbie Erickson
- For Ed Valencia family
- 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 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 and for a resolution to their housing needs.
- 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 disease. 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 Patrick & family.
- For Margaret’s older sister Karin as she recovers from a broken hip and a bad fall. For Carla’s health.
- For Susan’s friends and family: Beth Mills, Randy, Mike 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, Bentley and Jeannie. Also for James, John, and Elida
- 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 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.
- 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
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