We will gather and observe our namesake Saint Stephen Sunday – a heart-breaking, but powerfully moving witness as the first follower of Jesus to be killed because of his faith in God’s way. Our stained glass window reminds us of who we were named after 70 years ago, when we see the 3 stones on top of the Bible below the ascending Jesus’ feet.
“Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ offers the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another, to following the way of his commandments like Stephen, and to share his risen life with all the world. Amen.”
We will gather for worship on the 5th Sunday of Easter, May 7th at 10:00 am. 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:
- Gala Fundraiser Sat. May 13th from 6pm-8:30pm – Association of Faith Communities Homeless Programs. Please contact Pastor Jim to join his table. $50 per person.
- COPA 20th Anniversary Assembly – Saturday May 20th 5 – 7pm at the Golden State Theater in Monterey. Please save the date. We are trying to get as many people as possible from our church to attend. There will be a bus and carpools from church.
- Family Holy Communion Celebration for our little ones – Sunday June 4th at 10am worship. Make a special effort to be in church to make sure our little ones feel as welcome as possible as their place at God’s Table is especially lifted up.
Prayers:
- For Darlene Woodburn, friend of Barbara Rice, as she recuperates from a fall.
- For Barbara Allen as she recovers from pneumonia.
- For Marshall Bautz as he enters hospice care.
- For Carla Brown’s health and struggles at work.
- For Keith’s sobriety.
- For Joel Hurtgamm that his eyesight will be improved.
- For Beau Gray and his family in his recurrence of brain cancer.
- For Dorothy Ronning as she struggles with chronic pain.
- For Tina’s sister Lisa and friend Jacob’s health.
- For Jeannette Dawson’s brother Craig who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
- For Connie and Paul Cunningham as Paul undergoes treatment for colon cancer.
- For Bob Charves daughter.
- For Beth Stiles and her father and mother as their health has declined recently.
- For Kyle Lapp as he heals and prepares for a new direction in a Sober Living Environment (SLE). Thanksgiving for employment.
- For thanksgiving and continued healing for Janet Slay’s grandson Tyler, as he makes his adjustments to living independently.
- 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. 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm.
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, May 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
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