july 2016 msgr web · july 2016 the rev. elizabeth eaton, presiding bishop of the elca issued a...

July2016

TheRev.ElizabethEaton,presidingbishopoftheELCAissuedaleBerinresponsetotheSunday,June12shooDngatthePulsenightclubinOrlando.ShebeginsbystaDng,“Wearekillingourselves.WebelievethatallpeoplearecreatedinGod’simage,”andconcludeswithacallto“standwithpeoplewhohavebeenothered,”“tospeakpeaceandreconcilia=onintothecacophonyofhatredanddivision,”andto“livethetruththatallpeoplearecreatedintheimageofGod.”

WhatdoeslivingthetruththatallpeoplearecreatedinGod’simagelooklikehereatSt.Stephen’s?WeareaReconcilinginChristcongregaDon.InobediencetoChrist’scommandtoloveoneanotherashelovesus,wewelcomeallpersonswithoutexcepDon,withoutregardforage,race,genderidenDty,sexualorientaDon,financialorfamilystatus,physicalormentalabiliDes,oranyotherhumandisDncDonusedtodiscriminateandexclude.Therainbowheartwhichappearswithourlogoonourwebsiteandonprintedmaterialsisasymbolofthatcommitment.

Recentlywehungarainbowflaginthenarthex.ItwasagiSgiventothecongregaDonwhenweofficiallybecameReconcilinginChrist.ImustconfessthatthisflagsatforgoBenonashelfinmyofficefortwoyears.ASerfindingitagainandconsulDngwithourcouncilleaders,wedecideditwouldbeappropriatetohangitinthenarthexalongsideotherflagssuchastheChrisDanflagandtheLutherRoseflag,thatsymbolizeourcommonidenDtyasChrisDansintheLutherantradiDon.

RainbowflagshavebeenaroundforareallylongDme.ThefirstEuropeanrainbowflagwashoistedduringthereformaDonbyThomasMuntzer,apeerandcriDcofMarDnLuther.Inthe1960stherainbowflagbecameasymbolofthepeacemovement.ThefirstLGBTprideflagwasdesignedbySanFranciscoarDstGilbertBakerin1978.Heexpandedthefive-stripedrainbowflagofthehumanracestosymbolizethepride,hope,anddiversityoftheLGBTQcommunitywhichcomesfromallracesandculturalbackgrounds,allreligions,alllanguages,allabiliDes,andalldisabiliDes.

Asonecouncilmembersaid,“Therainbowflagreallyrepresentsallofus.”Evenifyoudonotfeelitrepresentsyoupersonally,therainbowflagdoessymbolizeourcommitmenttolivethetruththatallpeoplearecreatedinGod’simage.Itsignalstoeveryonewhocomesthroughourdoorsthatinthisplaceallpeople,withoutexcepDon,areregardedashumanbeingscreatedinGod’simage,worthyofloveandrespect,evenifwedon’tfullyunderstandwhatitisliketowalkintheirshoes.

InlightoftheeventsinOrlando,Iwonder,however,ifitisenoughtojusthangupaflag?

Blessings,Pastor Ritva

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OnMay6and7IhadtheprivilegeofjoiningwithTerriPetersen,PastorRitva,andVicarLuciasweaBendedtheannualSoutheasternIowaELCAAssemblyinCoralville.Thetheme"DrawntotheLightofGod"servedtoinspireusallaswesawtothebusinessoftheChurchandtookDmeaswellforworshipthroughprayerandsinging.UndertheleadershipofBishopBurk,assemblyspeakersaddressedtheneedsofourcongre-gaDonsforgrowthinmembership,service,andgivingaswemoveforwardinthe21stcentury.

FridayeveningsawthecelebraDonofHolyCommunioninaveryinspiraDonalserviceledbythebishop,andonSaturdayweheardthestories ofdedicatedworkersofthechurchastheydescribedtheirserviceinministry.Throughoutitall,atalentedbiblical"story-teller"walkedamongustellingtalesfromscriptureinanenthusiasDcandthought-provokingmanner.

MuchofthelastdaywasdevotedtocraSingandapprovingresoluDonsexpressingtheposiDonof

theChurchonmanysocialissues.Weendedbylookingforwardtothe500thanniversaryofMarDnLuther'sworknextyear,andtherolethateachofourcongregaDonscanplayinthatcelebraDon.

ThiswasmyfirstexperienceinaBendanceatasynodicalgatheringandIwasstruckbythededi-caDonandenthusiasmofourchurchleaders.IwouldwholeheartedlyrecommendparDcipaDonbyeveryonewhowishesinourcongregaDonaswelooktowardfutureassemblies.

Finance Team ChangesIhavesteppedawayfromtheFinancialSecretaryposiDon,resulDnginthereorganizaDonofthefinanceteam.JennyWeberisournewFinancialSecretaryandJimDaubenmierisourleadcounter.BothJennyandJimhavealotofexperienceandthegiSstomanagetheseposiDonssuccessfully.

JennywillrecordallcontribuDonstothechurch(Sunday,EFT,andonlinecontribuDons)andwillalsopreparegiS-in-kindleBers.Quarterly,shewillgeneratecontribuDonstatementstodonors.JennywouldbehappytoanswerquesDonsatjenny.a.weber@gmail.comor712-249-6645.We’relookingforvolunteerstohelpassemblequarterlystewardshipletters,includingcontributionstatements.Thistakesplacethemonthaftereachquarterend.WehavetwovolunteerssigneduptohelpinJuly.WeneedtwopeopleinOctober2016,andJanuary,April,July,andOctober2017.Ifinterested,pleaseletJennyormeknow.JimwilloverseethecounteracDviDesandcreatethecounterscheduleeachquarter.AreyouinterestedincounDng?Ifso,contactJimatjimdaubenmier@gmail.comor378-9494.IwillconDnueaschurchaccountant.Thisincludesmonthlyfinancialstatements,payroll,W-2s,1099s,andanyreporDngneededbyourFinanceCommiBee.

Ithasbeenhonorservingasthechurch’sFinancialSecretarythepastseveralyears.IleavetheseresponsibiliDesinveryqualifiedhands.Thankyoufortheopportunitytoserve.

Jackie Lee

Marty Johnson’s Southeast Iowa Synod Assembly Observations

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Fivehundredtwenty-fivethousand,sixhundredminutes.ThisisthefirstlineinacttwoofthemusicalRENT.525,600minutes,thenumberofminutesinoneyear.ThesongconDnuestodescribedifferentwaystomeasureDme:indaylights,in

sunsets,inmidnights,incupsofcoffee,ininches,inmiles,inlaughter,instrife.

Now,IamfairlycertainthatDmeseemstopassindirectopposiDonfromwhatyoudesire.Itseemsthatjustablinkago,IwasturningthecalendartoMay,andnowit’stheendofJune.IamlookingatdaysratherthanweeksbeforemyfamilyandImove,yetagain,backtoDubuque.

AndalthoughIspentjustshyofayearwithyou,IsitherereflecDngonthememorableminutesofthispastyear.TheminutesthatIwillholdaslearningmoments,theminutesofjoythatIwillcherish,andtheminutesofgrief;alltheseminutesthatwillstaywithmelongaSerIleave.

Sayinggood-byeisnevereasy.Butinordertopar-ticipateinahealthy“leave-taking,”Iinviteyou,Iaskyou,totakeaminutetoshareinthistransitionthatweareallfacing.Takeaminutetosaygood-byetome.Andplease,inafewweeks,whenyournewVicarKristiarrives,takeaminutetoshowherandherhusbandtheSt.Stephen’shospitality.

BeginningJuly21,thedayafterwemoveout,Iwillbetakingathree-month“Sabbath”fromsocialmediacommunicationwithpeopleatSt.Stephen’s.WhileIwillstillbeonlineforpersonaluse,Iwillnotreply,“like,”orrespondtofriendrequestsduringthistime.AsmuchasIhaveenjoyedbeingyourVicar,thisisarolethatIcannotcontinuebeyondmyyearwithyou.Followingthesethreemonths,ifyouwouldliketoremainincontact,Iwouldlovetohearupdatesonhowyouaredoing.Ipraythatyouunderstandthisneedfordistanceinorderthatwecanallhaveahealthytransition.

IgivethanksforthiscommunityandlookforwardtotheminutesthatwehaveleStogetherandthememoriesthatwilllastfarintomyjourney.

Vicar Luci Sesvold

AsIpromisedlastmonth,IamtakingthenextfewmonthstotalkaboutmyposiDon’sresponsi-biliDesandmyphilosophyregardingthem.ThegoalistogiveyouinsightintotheworkIamdoingwithandforyou.Thismonth’sresponsibilitycanbe

summarizedasbeingpresentwithmiddleandhighschoolyouth.

Firstitisimportanttodefinewhatitmeansto“bepresent.”MyunderstandingofthisphraseistobeacDvelyengagedinthelivesofothers.Thismaybedoneinformalandinformalserngs.Withtheyouth,someofthisengagementwillbeprogram-medandsomemorerelaxed.AtDmesitwillhappeninone-on-oneorsmallgroupserngs.OtherDmesitwilloccurinlargegatherings.Socialmediawilldefinitelybeapartofmybeingpresentwiththemiddleandhighschoolyouth.

Howthisresponsibilitywillbefulfilledisbybeingwheretheyouthareintheirlives.ThiswillincludebeingatthechurchonSundaymornings,manyWednesdaynights,andanyotherDmeswearehavingeventswhereyouthareacDvelyinvolved.TheresponsibilitywillalsobefulfilledbyaBendingschoolandcommunityeventsyouthparDcipatein.IwillalsobecreaDngopportuniDesforyouthtogatherwithmeforDmesofconversaDonandfun.

ThegoalinallofthesesituaDonsistodeveloprelaDonshipsbetweeneachyouthandmyself,aswellasbetweentheyouth.ThisgoalsupportsmyministryphilosophiesbecauseoneofmychiefphilosophiesofministryisthatministryisonlypossiblethroughrelaDonships.SobeingpresentisvitaltothebuildingofrelaDonships.RelaDonshipscannotbeformedormaintainedunlessDmeisspenttogether.

Pleasefeelfreetodiscussanyofthiswithme.Ienjoyanyopportunitytosharethisawesomeministryandthewonderfulaspectseachofouryouthbringtoit.Also,suggesDonsanddesirestovolunteerarealwayssought.

Mark HowlandYouth&YoungAdultMinister

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WORSHIP

AnewsummerworshipscheduleforSundaymorningsbeganonMay29.WeconDnuetooffertwoservices,8:00and10:00am.ThehourinbetweenservicesprovidesopportuniDesforextendedfellowshipandguidedconversaDon.

Wednesdayworshipduringthesummerwillbeat6:30pmaccordingtothefollowingschedule:1stWednesday... Taize-styleWorship2ndWednesday...WorshipAroundtheTable3rdWednesday... HealingService4thWednesday... WorshipAroundtheTable

STUDY

DiscoveringGod’sVisionforYourLife:YouandYourSpiritualGiOs—anew8weekclassbeginningSunday,July10at6pm.Sign-upsheetisavailableinthenarthexorcontactMarilynLoan,marilyn.loan@me.comor551-7632.

PRAY

ThePrayerTeammeetseveryMondayat12:30pmtoprayforconcernsidenDfiedbymembers,andfor

thelifeofthiscongregaDon.

GIVE

SanctuaryLampOilSponsorOpportunity!IfyouwishtosponsoraweekofoilforourEternalLamp,pleaseput$10intheoffering.Besuretodesignateinthememolineoronyourenvelopethatthisisyourintent.OryoucansignuponlinethroughSignUpGenius

(hBp://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c45abaa2da57-fellowship1)andpaythroughouronlinegivingopDon.

AltarFlowersSignUpOpportunity!SelectadateandindicateifitisaspecialcommemoraDon.PlaceyourgiSof$25(marked“FLOWERS)intheofferingplateorpaythroughourwebsite’sonlinegivinglink.

Practice Discipleship in Daily LifeJoin us as we explore the seven faith practices that are the foundation for

following Jesus in daily life: Worship, Prayer, Encourage, Study, Give, Invite, Serve.

Fourth Annual Pool PartySaturday, July 16, 6pm-8pm at Bever.

Thepoolhasbeenreservedforus,sobringyourfamilyandfriends!Allarewelcome.Sign-upsheetcomingsoon.

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HowOurQuilTngMinistryGroupWorks:Wehavevariousprojectsfromwhichtochoose,forsewersandnon-sewers.Youworkathomeatyourownpace.WenowhaveneckDesforaquilt–

somethingnew!Ourgoalistohave15quiltsreadyforthenextdeliverytoLSI.ThankyouforallthedonaDons.

BarbaraKusler–319-826-3794(home)or214-202-8646(cell)

SummerGrillOutsWednesday,July13&27at5:45pm.Inviteyourfriendsandneighborsforfood,fellowship,worshiparoundthetable,andendtheevening

withs'moresaroundthecampfire.Wehopetoseeyouthere!

VicarandFamilyareMovingOut!Wednesday,July20,VicarLuciandfamilywillbeleavingtheVicarageandtrekkingitbacktoDubuque.InordertobeattheJulyheatthey’llstartloadinginthemorningandarehopingformanyhandstospeedup

theprocess.TentaDvestartDmeis9am;thiswillgetfirmedupclosertothedate.Anyamountofhelpwillbegreatlyappreciated!PleaseletVicarLuciknowifyouareplanningonhelpingsoshecanplanaccordingly.

HospitalityOpportuniTes!PleaseconsidersigningupfortheSundaycoffeehour.Nosignups/notreats.ThisisoneoftheeasiestwaystobeinvolvedatSt.Stephen’s.SignupathBp://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c45abaa2da57-fellowship1oronthenarthexbulleDnboard.

GrillersneededfortheWednesdaysummergrill-outs.Allyouhavetodoisgrillthemeat;thegrillisreadytogoby5:15asweeatat5:45.SignupathBp://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c45abaa2da57-wednesdaysoronthenarthexbulleDnboard.

Pleaseremembertocleanthekitchenandrunthedishwasher.

SERVE

DearfriendsandmembersofSt.Stephen’s,

Ithankyouallsoverymuchforyourkindbirthdaywishes,bothsungandinahandshakeorahug.MyimprovedhealthcouldnothavebeenpossibleifIhadnothadalltheprayersyouprayedforme!Thankyou!PraiseGod!Whatagreatchurch!!

Suzanne Schmidt• • •

ThankyoufromtheboNomofmyheartforthelovelycakeandcoffeebrunchatchurch.SpecialthankstoPastorRitva,Terri,andEvfortheirpartsinit.Iappreciateitallmorethanyou’lleverknow.

Love,Jane Severide

Thank You!

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Through the Week at St. Stephen’sWhat’s usually happening on a given day

Sundays 8:00am 1stWorshipService 9:00am Fellowship 10:00am 2ndWorshipService 6:00pm SmallGroup:DiscoveringGod’sVision forYourLife(7/10,17,24,31) July31 Signupdeadlinefor2017ReformaDon Tour

Mondays OfficeclosedJuly4 9to2:00 Churchofficeopen 8:00am Men’sGroupatMr.BeansinMarion 12:00pm eNewsdeadline 12:30pm PrayerTeam

Tuesdays 9to2:00 Churchofficeopen 5:30pm Worship&MusicTeamMtg(7/12) 6:30pm MinistryTeamsMeeDngs(7/12) 7:00pm StrategicWorkingGroups(7/12)

Wednesdays 9to2:00 Churchofficeopen 10:30am StaffMeeDng 5:45pm SummerGrillOut(7/13,27) 6:30pm Worship(TaizeWorship7/6) 7:15pm Campfire,S’Mores,&Fun(7/13,27) 7:15pm VocalistsRehearsal 8:30pm InstrumentalistsRehearsal

Thursdays 9to2:00 Churchofficeopen 6:00pm WomenWineWisdom@ MandarinSpiceAsianGrill, 1412TwixtTownRd,Marion(7/7) 6:30pm FinanceCommiBeeMeeDng(7/14) 6:30pm CouncilMeeDng(7/21)

Fridays Pastor’sSabbath 7:00pm Men’sBonfireatAaronTank’shome, 5040BroadviewDr.SE(7/15)

Saturdays 6:00pm 4thAnnualPoolPartyatBever(7/16)

We welcome:LukeDavidLemke,sonofJennyandAdam,bapDzedSunday,June12.

NewmembersChrisandSallyTerukinatogetherwithMasonCookandAmberSuhr,whoaffirmedtheirfaithSunday,June26.

Farewell and Godspeed to:JoeandSherrieAvila,whoarereDringtoGrimes,Iowa.

We pray for the families and friends of:JudyHahn(MaryFlecksing’smother),whopassedonJune3.

On the Prayer List

PleasecontacttheofficeoruseaPrayerRequestcard(inyourpewrack)toplaceyourlovedone’snameonthislistfortwoweeksand/orrequestprayeroftheMondayPrayerTeam.Ifyourlovedonedesiresapastoralvisit,pleasecontactPastorRitva.

Servinginthemilitaryand/oroverseasKateMunro(Malawi)NickWheeler,ArmyNaDonalGuard(grandsonofGail&DanHusmann)AlexGraz,ArmyNaDonalGuard

MembersSteveThomasMickButzLeeTramutoloPeteHansenKenKaiserJoanPetersenElainePetersToniLeeJudyNyeSuzanneSchmidtAnnKlemanSallyBeltzHarrietHemphillEvPetersen

Rela=vesTerrySwalveTrentRosbergShirleyCoatesRev.RichardHermstadLaRueHagenDaveGoepfertCathyGoepfertAnnSandersonErikHamalainen

FriendsConBerger

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ForinformaDononLutheranServicesinIowa,visitwww.LSIowa.org.JoinusonFacebookatwww.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.

AsasocialministryorganizaDonoftheELCA,LutheranServicesinIowa(LSI)issothankfulforyourpartnershipinministry!WegivespecialthanksforthemanycongregaDonsmakingLSIthefocusoftheir“God’swork.Ourhands.”projects.

Past“God’swork.Ourhands.”projectshaveincludeddonaDonsoftoolsfordadsenrolledinourearlychildhoodprograms,pluschildren’sbooks,towelbundles,schoolsuppliesandbackpacks.LSIhasalsobeenblessedtoreceive“noisy”offerings,specialofferingsandproceedsfromyardworkorluncheons.SomeSundaySchoolclassesandyouthgroupshavealsoencouragedyouthatLSI’sBeloitandBremwoodResidenDalTreatmentCentersthroughquiltsandleBers.

WethankyouforyourwitnessofGod’sloveandyourservice!IfyouareinterestedinministeringtothoseservedbyLSIandwouldliketoknowmoreaboutcurrentneeds,pleasecontactDebWhi{ord,LSIdirectorofphilanthropyandchurchrelaDons,atdeborah.whi{ord@LSIowa.org.

LSIisproudtobeanaffiliatedsocialministryorganiza=onoftheEvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica(ELCA).Learnmoreatwww.LSIowa.organdwww.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.

FindingHelpandHopeBernie’sdaughter-in-lawwalkedintoherhouseandsethernewbabyonthelivingroomsofa.ShetoldBerniethebabywas"amistake"andthatshecouldn'tparenthim.Sheneverreturned.Atage50,Berniebecameamomtoher2-month-oldgrandson,Bryce.Bernie'sson–thebaby'sbiologicalfather–hadmedicalandmentalhealthissuesthatlefthimunabletocareforthechild.

WhenBrycewasyoung,hewasdiagnosedwithADHD,ODD(OppositionalDefiantDisorder),fetaldrugandalcoholsyndrome,mentalretardation,andpartialbipolardisorder.Ashegrewolder,Brycebegantodevelopangerissues.Bernieknewhewasstruggling,soshereachedouttoLSI.

BrycebeganreceivingregularhomevisitsfromaBehavioralHealthIntervenDonServicesworker,whocoachedBryceonangermanagement.BrycealsobeganseeinganLSItherapist.

Today,Bryceis15yearsold.HeaBendsspecialeducaDonclasses,andisdoingwonderfully.Whenheisupset,hereachesouttohisLSItherapistforhelp.BrycesDllstruggleswithanger,butBernieandhisLSIsupportteamworktogethertomeetBrycewhereheis.

"IwanttothankeachandeveryoneofourworkersfromLSI,"Berniesays."Theyaredoingmarvelousworkwithhim."

AndthankstoLSIdonors,Brycereceivesthehelp,hope,andsupportheneeds.

God’s work. Our hands.

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WomenWineWisdommetJune2attheFarmer’sDaughter’sMarket.

Sunday,June12,duringthesecondservice,wewelcomedLukeDavidLemke,sonofJennyandAdam,tothebodyofChristthroughtheRiteofHolyBapTsm.

PastorRitvaWilliamsandYouthandYoungAdultMinisterMarkHowlandjoinedintheCedarRapidsPrayerVigilfortheOrlandovicTmsSundayevening,June12.

Wednesday,June8,wasafineeveningforacTviTesaOerthegrilloutat5:45andworshipat6:30pm.

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Sunday,June19,weheldafarewellrecepTonforJoeandSherrieAvilawhoarereTringtoGrimes,Iowa.

Tuesday,June21,formerVicarAleeseBaldwinwasordainedasaministerofWordandSacramentinRothschild,MN,withPastorRitva(John)andArdellandRolandBegalskeinagendance.PastorAleesewillserveShepherdoftheCrossLutheranChurch,MuscaTne,IA.

Tuesday,June21,YouthServiceProject–Youthandadultvolunteerscleaneduplandscapingaroundthechurch.

St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch,ELCA61031stSt.S.E.CedarRapids,IA52403-3021

ELECTRONICSERVICEREQUESTED

Non-ProfitOrg.USPOSTAGE

PAIDCedarRapids,IowaPermitNo.140

StaffDirectoryPastor Rev.Dr.RitvaWilliams pastorritva@gmail.comYouth&YoungAdultMinister MarkHowland mhowland1983@gmail.comPastoralIntern LuciSesvold iverson.luci@gmail.comOfficeManager SusanHallock office@ssluth.comMusicDirector DavidHaas music@ssluth.comPianoAccompanist LeslieHyland lesliehyland@gmail.comPremisesKeeper DebbiePolk (319)329-7655CouncilPresident JeanneTowell thetowells@msn.comeNewsEditor MarilynLoan marilyn.loan@me.com

SundayMorningSchedule(SummerHours)8:00am Worship9:05am Coffee&Fellowship10:00am Worship

PleasejoinusWednesdays:6:30pm Worship

St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch(ELCA)isaReconcilinginChristcongregaDonthatwelcomesdiversity,whichenriches,nurtures,andchallengesourlifeandministry.

Comeandjoinusasweknow,live,andshareChristtogetherinlove.

St. Stephen’sLutheran Church, ELCA

To Know, Live, and Share Christ. ssluth.com • 319-364-2637