july 2017 msr-web€¦ · (phil. 3:3-5) camp ewalu payments sign up for camp is starcng. the...
TRANSCRIPT
July2017
ThisisapieceoftheinfamousBerlinwall.Itwasgiventous—St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch—asaparCnggiDfromourGermanguidewhogrewupandlivesnearwherethiswalloncestood.
ManyofusrememberPresidentRonaldReagan’schallenge,“Mr.Gorbachev,teardownthiswall,”deliveredattheBrandenburgGateinJune1987,andthetelevisioncoverageofthewallbeingbreachedinNovember1989.WhatmanyofusarenotawareofistherolethattheEvangelicalChurchinGermanyplayedinthedemiseofthecommunistregimeandthesubsequentreunificaConofGermany.
Throughoutthe1980sthepastorsofthe800yearoldNikolaikircheinLeipzigheldprayermeeCngsonMondaysat5:00pm.Atfirstonlyafewpeopleshowedup,butthepastorswerethereeveryMon-daywithoutfailleadingprayersforpeaceandfacilitaCngconversaConsaboutthingsthatma[eredtothepeoplewhocame.By1989theseMondayprayermeeCngswerea[racCnghundreds,andthenthousandsofpeoplefrustratedbygovernmentcorrupCon,riggedelecCons,andthelackoffreedomineastGermany.Finally,thepastorsandleaderscommi[edthemselvestoanonviolentdemonstra-ConscheduledforMonday,October9.At5pm8,000peoplefilledNikolaikirche.ADeranhour-longworshipservice,thepastorsledthepeopleoutsideintoAugustusplatzwheretheywerejoinedbythousandsmore.AstheyslowlywalkedontheringroadtowardthecentraltrainstaCon,carryinglitcandlesandbannersproclaiming,“Wearethepeople,”peopleleDtheircarsandtramsandhousestojointheprotesters.About70,000peopleintotalturnedoutthatnight.ThefollowingMonday120,000turnedup.Thenextweek320,000protestersmarchedpeacefullythroughLeipzig.TheBerlinWallcamedowntwoweekslateronNovember9,1989.TheMondayprayermeeCngsanddemon-straConsconCnuedunClMarch1990andthefirstfreemulC-partyelecConsinEastGermanythatpavedthewayforGermanreunificaCon.
Sohereweare…recipientsofafragmentoftheinfamousBerlinWall.Whatshallwedowithit?Perhaps,weshouldframeitsothatwecandisplayitinaprominentplacehereatSt.Stephen’s,asasymbolofwhatfaithcanaccomplish.ItmightremindusthatwearecalledtoparCcipateinChrist’smissionofproclaimingthegoodnewsofGod’sempoweringlovetoallpeople,ofteachingpeaceandjusCce,non-violenceandresponsiblestewardshipofallcreaCon,andofhealingthewoundscausedbymisunderstanding,prejudice,andconflict.Itmightremindusthatwearecalledtobuildbridgesnotwalls,thatwearecalledtoloveourneighborsnotshutthemout.ItmightsymbolizeforusthelightthatnodarknesscanexCnguish,andhelpusimaginewhatthekingdomofGodmightlooklikeinreallife.
Blessings, Pastor Ritva
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IreturnedfromGermanyinmid-Juneandthelastfewweeksofinternshiphavesincebeenflyingby.Germanywaswonderful.Thankyouagaintothosewhosupportedmefinanciallytomakethisopportunitypossible.
Iwasstruckbyhowpeopleoffaithhavehadthepowertomakeadifferencethroughouthistory:fromMarCnLutherandhissignificantcontribuContotheGospelandtheChurch,toPastorsDietrichBonhoefferorPaulSchneiderwholosttheirlivesforchallengingtheideologyoftheNazis,tothethousandsofpeoplewhocametoprayervigilsduringtheCommunistoccupaConofEastGermanyandwhosepeacefuldemonstraConsledtothefalloftheBerlinWallinthelate1980s.
For500yearsLutheranshavebeenlivingoutthepoweroftheGospelinwordanddeedforthesakeoftheleastofthese.IwillbeforevershapedbythisexperienceasIamformedasapastorintheELCA,andIknowthatIwillsharephotosandstorieswiththemanypeopleIserveindecadestocome.Thankyou.
IamsadtosharethatJuly16willbemylastSundayatSt.Stephen’sandJonathanandIwillbemovingbacktoDubuqueonFriday,July21.InordertoallowasmoothtransiConasyoupre-paretowelcomeVicarMikaylaKopp,Iwillbetakingathree-monthhiatusfromsocialmediacontactwithpeoplefrominternshipstarCng
July21.IfyouwouldliketostayconnectedaDerthatCme(October21),don’thesitatetoreachouttome.ThisisaveryhealthytradiConandithasallowedSt.Stephen’stobeastrongintern-shipsiteforthelastfouryearsandhopefully,manymoreinthefuture.IhopeandtrustthatyouwillallowsomespaceforahealthytransiConandmakeroominyourheartstoreceiveVicarMikaylaasyouwelcomedmeayearago.
Ithastrulybeenanhonorandprivilegetojour-neywithyouthisyearasyourVicar.Iwillmissyouall,giveGodthanksforyouwhenIrememberyou,andconCnuetokeepyouinmyprayersasIleavethismeaningfulplace.
Vicar Kristi Grieder
“I thank God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in my prayers for you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now…”
(Phil. 3:3-5)
Camp Ewalu Payments
SignupforcampisstarCng.Thepreferredpayment
methodfora[endeesisforparentstomakepaymenttoCampEWALUdirectly.Thealter-naCvepaymentmethodwhichisacceptableaswellistomakepaymenttothechurch.
IfyouhavequesCons,pleasecontactKenNathan([email protected]).
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Visitwww.LSIowa.org.JoinusonFace-bookatwww.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.
AsasocialministryorganizationoftheELCA,LSIisthankfulforyourpartnershipinministry!Thankstoyou,we’reabletoprovideeducationforyoungparentsandempowermenttosomeofIowa’smostvulnerablechildrenandfamilies.Thismonth,wegivespecialthanksforthoseofyouwhohavemadeLSIafocusofa“God’swork.Ourhands.”project.Thisprojectispartoftheanniversarycel-ebrationoftheELCA,andit’sawaytoreachouttoyourcommunitiesandbuildastrongerIowa.Sep-tember10iswhencongregationsareencouragedtoparticipateinaprojectfor“God’swork.Ourhands.”–aperfectopportunitytodogooddeeds/raisemoneyasachurchforanonprofitlikeLSI.IfyouareinterestedinsupporCngthoseservedbyLSIandknowmoreaboutcurrentneeds,pleasecontactDebWhipord,LSIdirectorofphil-anthropyandchurchrelaCons,[email protected].
CopingThroughCreaEvityTherapycanbeagreatwayforkids,adults,andfamiliestoovercomepasttrauma.Forsome,ittakesalittleextrainnovationandcreativitytofindatherapeutictechniquetohelpthemthrive.Sherry,anLSItherapist,struggledtofindatech-niquethatworkedforseveralchildrenshesaweachweek.Theydidn’twanttoopenuptoher.Theysaid“no”toparticipatinginanyactivitiesorconversations.That’swhensheturnedtoher“workbooks,”whichfocusonachild’sloveofdrawingandcoloring.Forinstance,Sherryaskedonechildtodrawwhattheword“love,”meanttoher.Shedrewapictureofachildandparenthuggingandthroughthat,Sherrylearnedthechildwantedloveandsupportfromherparentathome.Shesaysthetechniquehasbeenabreakthroughforseveralofthekids.“Thisbookissomethingthat’stheirs,”Sherrysays.“Theycanlookbackthroughtheirimagesandseetheprogressthey’vemadeandhowfarthey’vecome.”
God’s work. Our hands.
WhatdoesitmeantobeROOT-EDinlove?ThisiswhateighthighschoolyouthandtwoadultsfromSt.Stephen’ssetouttodis-coverJune11-17.Alongwithover240otheryouthandadultsfromtheSoutheastIowaSynodandtheGrandCanyonSynod,we
spentaweekserving,learning,andexperiencingfriendshipsintheloveofGod.Itwastrulyanamazingweekaswefocusedonhomelessness,creation,humantrafficking,refugees,andimmi-gration.Weworshipedtogether,atemealstogeth-er,rodebusesandplanestogether,andservedalongsidechildrenofGodtogether.HopefullyyouwereabletoattendworshiponJune25sothatyouheardthestoriestheyouthbroughthomefromthisadventure.Ifnot,IwillbeuploadingavideoonlinetogiveyouaglimpsebothonthechurchwebpageandFacebookpage.
OneofmystoriesfromthetripinvolvesourworkattheSalvationArmycampusinLasVegas.EarlyMondaymorningwetraveledtothesitetoassistwithsmallprojectstohelpprovidewater,food,shelter,andinsomecases,medicalcareforhome-lessindividuals.Asweapproachedthesite,weexitedtheinterstateandbeganwindingaroundstreets.Oneofthefirstcornerswedrovebyhada“DayWork”officeonit.Thesidewalksaroundthefenced-inofficewerecoveredwithsmalltentsandblanketswherehomelessindividualswereliving.Ihaveseenhomelesscampsites,butthisisthefirsttimeIwitnessedhomelessindividualssettingupacampsitedirectlyonasidewalk.Thisisalastingimagethatremindsmeofourcontinuedneedtowalkalongsidethosewhohavenohome,nocon-sistentfoodsource,noconsistentincome.
Ifyouhavenotalreadyhadtheopportunity,Iencourageyoutotalkwiththeyouthandheartheirstoriesfromthetrip.AmyKuhnandIwouldalsoenjoysharingourexperiences.Thankyouforyoursupportthroughourfundraising,yourprayers,andyourencouragementtoallwhowentontheROOTED–ASynodPartnershiptrip.
Mark Howland, Youth&YoungAdultMinister
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Practice Discipleship in Daily Life Join 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.
WORSHIP SummerworshipEmesbeganMay28.Sundaymorningservicesareat8:00and10:00am.
Wednesdayworshipisat6:30pmaccordingtothefollowingschedule:
1stWednesday... WorshipontheLawn
2ndWednesday... Taize-styleWorship
3rdWednesday... WorshipontheLawn
4thWednesday... HealingService
5thWednesday... Youth-LedWorship
Wouldyouliketosingwithus?JoinusWednes-daynightsfollowingworshipat7:15-8:15pm.Childcareisprovidedduringrehearsals.Follow-ingrehearsal,thereisacraRbeerexchange!
STUDY BringYourBibletoBrunchisonhiatusinJuneandJuly.
Men’sStudyGroup(Mondaysat8am)atMr.BeansinMarion.
SmallStudyGroup(Wednesdays,July12&19,August2-23,7:15pm)–TheELCATaskForceonWomenandJusCceinvitescongregaConalre-sponsesaswedevelopanewsocialstatementFaith,Sexism,Jus/ce.Come,learn,share,andaddyourvoiceasPastorRitvafacilitatesthisim-portantstudy.
INVITE WomenWineWisdom–Tuesday,July11,6pmatOliveGarden.RSVPAmyatamykuhn2@aol.comor270-6365.Childcareandridescanbearranged.
WednesdayNightSummerGrill-Outs,5:45pm,followedbyWorshipontheLawn,6:30pm–July5&19,August2,9,&16.
St.Stephen’sAnnualPoolParty–Saturday,July15,from6-8pm.
UpcomingYouthDates:Wednesday,July5,7:15pmMS&HSGameNight(outdoorsunlessrain)Saturday,July15,TBDServiceProjectatBeverParkSaturday,July15,6-8pmAnnualPoolPartyatBeverPoolMonday,July31,TBDTraveltoVanderSanden’scabinand spendthedayatthelake
WaterofLifeVacaEonBibleSchool&DayCamp,August7-11,8:30am-5:00pm.K-5thgradeledbyCampEWALUCounselors;Preschoolprogramforages4-5(notyetcompletedKinder-garten).RegistraConmaterialscanbepickedupintheNarthex,ath[p://www.ssluth.com/ children_s_ministry,[email protected].
FarewellandGodspeedRecepEon
for VicarKrisEand JonathanGrieder
Sunday,July16,9am
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MembersSteveThomas MickButzPeteHansen JoanPetersen ToniLeeJudyNyeHarrietHemphill ElfriedeHansen AnnKleman
RelaEvesTrentRosbergShirleyCoates
DaveGoepfert BerdellaPitzMaryRoseBarnotesGertrudeLeeJohnRosentreterAlanHenderson
FriendsPatSchnitzel GlennaHoutzMichelleStafford JerimeMitchell AliceAdams PhyllisStark
PleasecontacttheofficeoruseaPrayerRequestcard(inyourpewrack)toplaceyourlovedone’snameonthislistfortwoweeksand/orrequestprayeroftheMondayPrayerTeam.Ifyourlovedonedesiresapas-toralvisit,pleasecontactPastorRitva.
Weprayforthefamilyandfriendsof:BruceBates(friendofPastorRitvaandJohn),whodiedTuesday,June13.
JoshuaFontenoy(DebbieAckerman’sbrother),whodiedTuesday,May30.
AlfBarnes(Norm’sbrother),whodiedSaturday,May27.
Servinginthemilitaryand/oroverseasAlexGraw,ArmyNaConalGuard
LORD Hear Our Prayers
SERVE WednesdayNightSummerGrill-OutVolunteerOpportuniEes–WesCllhavesomeopenings!Youcansignupath[p://www.signupgenius.-com/go/5080c45abaa2da57-wednesday1or contactAmyKuhn(270-6365).
QuilEngMinistry:ContactBarbaraKusler–319-826-3794(home).
GIVE OpportuniEestoSignUpforAltarFlowers–WesCllhavesomespotsopentosponsorflowersforthealtar.Thisisareallynicewaytohonoralovedone’sbirthday,anniversary,orotherspecialdate.
Signupiseasy!GothroughSignupGeniush[p://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050b45aaad2da20-flowers.
Thecostis$25.Youcanplaceacheckintheof-feringwith“flowers”onthememolineorpayonline.YourflowersmaybetakenhomeaDerthesecondservice.FlowersleDbehindwillbesharedwithamemberwhocannota[endservices.
We welcome… NewmembersJanKvachandRossandSarahBlanchard,whobecamemembersthroughtheRiteofAffirmaConofFaithonSunday,June25.
Child Safety Training IfyouareinterestedinvolunteeringforVaca-ConBibleSchooloranyacCviCesinvolvingchildrenandyouth,hereisanopportunityforyoutoa[endoneofourtrainingsonourChildandYouthSafetypolicy.Thistrainingisre-quiredforanyoneinaleadershiproleworkinginourchildrenoryouthministries.Theoppor-tuniCesare:
• Sunday,July9,11:00am• Wednesday,July12,7:15pm• Wednesday,July19,7:15pm
PleaseregisterinadvancewithMarkHowland ([email protected]).
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Luther’s Germany Tour – May 30-June 9 Prague Extension – June 9-11
PastorRitvawithlife-sizeLutherfigure.
Eisenach.
DininginPrague,June9.
VicarKrisEatLuther'sEpitaph,Wilenberg.
EmmaIsrael.
Goldlhelm,June2. FarewellDinnerwithJodockinBerlin,June8.
ROOTED Youth Partner Synod Journey to Las Vegas, Phoenix, & Tuscon via the Grand Canyon – June 11-17
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WetnWildWaterpark,Friday,June16.WorshipingatMt.ZioninTucson,Thursday,June15.
YouthCommissioningbeforedepartureonSunday,June11.
AttheSalvaEonArmy,Monday,June12.
Workingin105⚬heatonThursday,June15.
St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch,ELCA61031stSt.SECedarRapids,IA52403-3021
ELECTRONICSERVICEREQUESTED
Non-ProfitOrg.USPOSTAGE
PAIDCedarRapids,IowaPermitNo.140
StaffDirectoryPastor Rev.Dr.RitvaWilliams [email protected]&YoungAdultMinister MarkHowland [email protected] KrisCGrieder [email protected] SusanHallock [email protected] DavidHaas [email protected] LeslieHyland [email protected] DebbiePolk (319)329-7655CouncilPresident JeanneTowell [email protected] MarilynLoan [email protected]
SundayMorningSchedule8:00am FirstWorshipService9:00am Coffee&Fellowship 9:15am EducaConHour10:00am SecondWorshipService
WednesdayEveningSchedule6:30pm Worship
St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch(ELCA)isaReconcilinginChristcongregaConthatwelcomesdiversi-ty,whichenriches,nurtures,andchallengesourlifeandministry.
Comeandjoinusasweknow,live,andshareChrist togetherinlove.
St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, ELCA To Know, Live, and Share Christ.
ssluth.com • 319-364-2637