Altar Flowers & Bulletins

It is always nice to see fresh flowers on our altar on a Sunday morning.

So, please sign up now for your date for altar flowers or bulletins.

The sign up list is located in the church narthex.

Altar Flowers are $37.50 a week.

Bulletins are $12.00 a week

Questions or dedications, call the office at 717-273-3912 or email ststephcfc@comcast.net

Our flowers are supplied by ‘Crazy for Daisies’

September 2019 Steeple

Don’t forget to join us on Sundays for Christian Education at 9:00 am and our worship service at 10:30 am.

See you in the pew!

IN THIS ISSUE OF THE STEEPLE:

--A Note from Pastor Ron

--An article by the Church Council

President, Paul Weidman

--Music News & Views from Music

Director Steve Suk

--Monthly Worship Team Schedule

--Church Activity Calendar

FEATURED ANNOUNCEMENTS:

--RALLY DAY!

--Return to normal worship schedule

--UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

--CHANGES to Food Bank

Most Needed Items!!!

Any articles or information for

the next monthly Steeple should

be submitted to the church

secretary’s office via email or

mailbox a week in advance of the

last day of the month.

St. Stephen’s Christian Fellowship Church 1100 Hunters Chase Lane

Lebanon, PA 17046

WORDS FOR REFLECTION:

A Note from Pastor Ron

T h e Ra p id D eca y o f O ur Na t io n

Our nation, that once honored God, has plunged into an immoral abyss, and the decay has reached the

point where, in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, this nation” does not even know how to blush (Jeremiah

6:15).” The descent has been swift. When I was born in 1953:

Abortionists were sent to prison.

Homosexuals were still in the closet and were thought of as “far from God.”

Pregnancy out of wedlock was thought of as scandalous, and “living together” was unthinkable.

Drugs were something you bought at a drug store.

Alcoholism was considered a sin, not a disease.

Popular music was free of demonic beats and words.

Movies were free from nudity, mindless violence, and filthy language.

Eastern religion was still in the East.

The corrupting influence of television was non-existent.

Pornography was something that circulated underground.

Public school students prayed in their classes and read the Bible, and creation could still be taught as

an alternative to evolution.

High school graduates could read their diplomas.

The Ten Commandments were still legal.

Our government still promoted Christian values rather than abortion, gender studies, and gambling.

Christian teaching focused on living for Christ rather than material success.

Houses and cars did not have to be locked.

Social security was having a job. Living on welfare, if one could work, was considered a disgrace.

Language was civil. Manners were evident and people were treated with dignity and respect.

Looking back over the last 66 years, the old Virginia Slims cigarette ad seems to sum it up best:

“We’ve come a long way, baby!” Yes, we have, and it has been in the wrong direction. We are reaping what

we have sown:

Today, we are murdering 4,000 babies a day in the name of “choice.”

We spend more on gambling each year than we do on food.

We are consuming 55% of all the illegal drugs in the world, while we make up only 5% of the

world’s population.

Our families are being destroyed by an epidemic of drugs, violence, abuse, and divorce.

Our prisons are overflowing because of a lack of law and order.

Many of our cities are full of violence where people dare not go out at night.

Our homes now have security systems monitoring the doors and windows.

Our schools are filled with drugs, rebellion, and violence.

Our governing bodies are shot full of corruption.

Many of our churches are apathetic and compromised by worldliness.

You have no way of perceiving that the wood under the front porch is rotting until one day your foot goes

through it. Few people notice how far from the safety of the dock the boat has drifted. Even outside of the

culture, we ourselves are always in danger of drifting away from God. The Bible says to “guard your heart.”

One of the ways to do that is stay close to your Bible, spend time away from the powerful influence of “the

world.” Be faithful in study and worship and remember, anything that is taking your attention away from

God is a tool by which Satan, not might, but will destroy you.

-Pastor Ron

Church Council President’s Comments Hello!

The Summer of 2019 has come to a close. Hopefully everyone had a chance to do some exciting things.

So it is back to school, back to a regular work schedule, and for you retirees a change in seasons.

St. Stephen’s is kicking off the new church year with Rally Day on September 8th which is also our

return to the 10:30am Worship time. After the service we are having a covered dish and social time to

share all those summer stories! Please join us!

On Sunday September 29th at 6:30 pm we will again be hosting Barry Ward. Barry is a song writer

and singer who grow up and worked on the family farm. He has received many awards (must recently

2018 Male Vocalist of the Year, Academy of Western artists) over the years for his music which was

inspired from his life experiences working alongside his father and Grandfather. Barry and his wife

Victoria make their trip east every two years to share Barry’s music ministry east of the Mississippi

River. Please spread the word regarding Barry and come out for a great evening!

Church Council will be looking for three new members to start a three year term in January 2020.

These new members will be elected at the fall Congregational Meeting in October. If you are

interested in this service to St. Stephen’s, please let any council member know. It would truly be

appreciated if volunteers would come forward. Otherwise, you may be asked about serving.

The other major business item being worked on at the committee level and then to Council is the 2020

Budget.

Stay tuned for the date of the Fall Annual Congregational meeting and plan to attend. The meeting

will be as brief as possible and will be held immediately following Worship.

Enjoy September and may God bless all of you!

Paul

Music News and Views – September 2019 By Steve Suk

Did you ever wonder how we got the “Doxology” (also called “Old Hundreth: a hymn

tune in Long Metre from Pseaumes Octante Trois de David (1551) (the second edition

of the Genevan Psalter) that we usually sing every Sunday? It seems like all

denominations sing this powerful hymn of praise. But when do you think this hymned

was created? Was it a “stand-alone” hymn or part of something else? I decided to

research this a little and here is what I found.

Each week, around the world, thousands of Christian congregations raise their voices

in worship:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heavenly host:

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

In countless languages this “Doxology” is treasured. Yet few know the story behind

these words, first published in 1709, and fewer still the life of their composer,

Anglican Bishop Thomas Ken (1637–1711).

Raised by “The Compleat Angler”

Thomas Ken was orphaned in childhood. He was raised by his older sister, Ann, and

her husband, Izaak Walton, noted for his classic The Compleat Angler. In 1651, Ken

became a scholar of Winchester College and, in 1661, received his B.A. at New

College, Oxford. Such Presbyterian schooling during times of political and religious

turbulence only deepened his love for the Anglican heritage of his youth.

In adulthood, Ken held various church and academic positions. He even served as

chaplain to Princess Mary until he stood firmly against, in George Crawford’s words,

“a case of immorality at the Court.” Later, Ken became chaplain to Charles II. But he

would not let his house be used to lodge the royal mistress. This time, instead of being

dismissed, Ken was rewarded for his courage with a bishopric.

Writing Hymns for Students

Until becoming Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1684, Ken spent most of his life

intertwined with Winchester, both College and Cathedral. There the small-statured

prelate, through preaching and music, sought to uplift the spiritual lives of his

students. In 1674, Ken published A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Scholars of

Winchester College. In it, he charged his readers to “be sure to sing the Morning and

Evening Hymn in your chamber devoutly.” These hymns were, evidently, already in

private circulation.

In the 1695 edition, the words to these hymns (and a “Midnight Hymn”) were

published as an appendix. The “Doxology” we sing today was the closing stanza of

each of these three hymns (“Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun,” “All Praise to Thee,

My God, This Night,” and “My God, I Now from Sleep Awake”).

In a 1709 edition, Ken changed “Praise him above y’ Angelick Host” to “Praise him

above, ye heavenly host,” and the lines reached their final form. The world had gained

a priceless instrument of praise.

Final Lines of a Long Hymn

Here are the first, ninth, and last stanzas of Thomas Ken’s “Morning Hymn,” which

originally contained fourteen stanzas:

Awake, my Soul, and with the Sun,

Thy daily Stage of duty run,

Shake off dull Sloath, and joyful rise,

To pay thy Morning Sacrifice.

All Praise to Thee, who safe hast kept,

And hast refresh’d me whilst I slept,

Grant, Lord, when I from Death shall wake,

I may of endless Light partake.

Praise God from whom all Blessings flow,

Praise him all Creatures here below,

Praise him above, ye Heavenly Host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

References: Christian History on the web (several sources)

Christianhistory.net

PRAISE SERVICE

Sunday, September 29th

6:30 pm

St. Stephen’s Christian Fellowship Church

1100 Hunters Chase Lane

Lebanon, PA 17046

717-273-3912

Come join us and our special

guest Barry Ward as he

shares his musical ministry!

Child care will be provided!

Refreshments following the service!

Barry grew up on the western plains of Kansas. His great-grandparents settled there in the late 1880s. Barry, or

“Bear” as he has come to be known by his friends, worked alongside his father and grandfather, working cattle and

farm work. These rugged men of the land became equally at home in a saddle or on the seat of a tractor. His

original songs deal not only with his experiences as a cowboy, but with his experiences as a farmer. Add to that a

strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, a love for his country and our Veterans, and you’ve got a guy who’s

overflowing with credibility. In 2003 he was honored to be included in a small handful of Western singers to

perform at Carnegie Hall with the Great American Cowboy in Concert.

2018 Male Vocalist of the Year, Academy of Western Artists 2018 Classic Cowboy CD of the Year, Rural Roots Music Commission

2017 CD of the Year, Rural Roots Music Commission

2014 Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductee, Cowboy Artist/Entertainer 2014 & 2015 Western CD of the Year, Rural Roots Music Commission

2014 Male Vocalist of the Year, Academy of Western Artists

2013 Male Performer of the Year, Western Music Association 2012 Song of the Year, Academy of Western Artists

2008 Male Vocalist of the Year, Western Music Division of the Country Gospel Music Association

September 2019

Our Worship Team List

Lectors:

Ushers: Greeters:

Sept. 1

Amy Cannistraci

Sept. 8

Janet Light

Sept. 15

Brian Weidman

Sept. 22

Kim Weidman

Sept. 29

Tyler Frantz

Sept. 1

Dan Light & Janet Light

Sept. 8

Devin Gill & Sarah Gill

Sept. 15

Francis Feaser & Linda Focht

Sept. 22

Bruce Barry & June Barry

Sept. 29

Stephanie Bossler & Joanne Krall

Sept. 1

Ken Shank

Sept. 8

Stephanie Bossler

Sept. 15

Cindy Klingler & Francis Feaser

Sept. 22

Richard Rights & Kaitlyn Day

Sept. 29

Tyler Frantz & Erin Frantz

Counting Teams:

Sept. 1 Team #2 Brian Weidman

Sept. 8 Team #3 Janet Light

Sept. 15 Team #4 Cindy Klingler

Sept. 22 Team #5 Johan Berger

Sept. 29 Team #1 June Barry

Communion Usher Schedule: DATE: USHER 1: USHER 2:

September 1 Melody Gipe Stephanie Bossler

October 6 Erin Frantz Tyler Frantz

November 3 Bruce Barry June Barry

December 1 Johan Berger Devin Gill

January 5 Richard Rights Helen Crawford

9/02 Ken Shank

9/05 Richard Rights

9/08 Bruce Barry Jr.

9/10 Dorothy Ditzler

9/11 Shirley Patches-

Miller

9/20 Melody Gipe

9/24 Jere Snavely

9/26 Tyler Frantz

9/28 Pat Stormfeltz

9/02 Brian & Cindy

Klingler

9/07 George & Linda

Miller

9/16 Steve & Brandi Gipe

9/20 Paul & Joy

Weidman

9/28 Jason & Donna

Schies

CENTRAL PA FOOD BANK

Please consider supporting the food bank’s efforts by providing the most needed items:

Tuna Canned Soup

Cereal Canned Fruits

Peanut Butter Canned Vegetables

Pasta Canned or Dried Beans

Rice Pure Fruit & Vegetable Juices

Macaroni & Cheese Baby food, Cereal, & Formula

Sept. 8th Cindy Klingler & Joy Weidman

Sept. 15th Jill Barr & Kim Weidman

Sept. 22nd Kaitlyn Day & Steph Bossler

Sept. 29th Joanne Krall & Erin Frantz

Oct. 6th Janet Light & Amy Cannistraci

Oct. 13th Bruce & June Barry

Oct. 20th Brian & Kim Weidman

Oct. 27th Cindy Klingler & Joy Weidman

Nov. 3rd Jill Barr & Steph Bossler

Nov. 10th Kaitlyn Day & Steph Bossler

Nov. 17th Joanne Krall & Erin Frantz

Nov. 24th Janet Light & Amy Cannistraci

Dec. 1st Bruce & June Barry

Dec. 8th Brian & Kim Weidman

Dec. 15th Cindy Klingler & Joy Weidman

Dec. 22nd Bruce & June Barry

Dec. 29th Jill Barr & Kim Weidman

REMINDER!!!

Normal worship schedule will resume on

September 8th; with Christian Education starting

at 9:00 am and worship beginning at 10:30 am.

Don’t Forget!

Our Facebook:

Haven’t liked us on

Facebook yet?

It’s not too late,

check us out at…

St. Stephen’s

Christian Fellowship

Church

Our Website:

Check us out online for

updates on news around

the church and church

information.

Check us out at:

http://saintstephenscfc.org

Also, if you have any

information for the website

or monthly Steeple see that

our secretary receives it as

early as possible!

Looking for Fall Sunday School Teacher(s) for

Pre-K-Kindergarten Class

Please contact Erin Frantz if interested in

volunteering (ecmf001@gmail.com or 717-376-9460)

QUILT INDEX PROJECT

The Lebanon Quilters Guild is undertaking a quilt documentation project

to capture and preserve the histories of Lebanon County quilts and their

makers. Anyone with a quilt made prior to 1970 is invited to bring it in to

be documented.

Documentation Days:

*All days are scheduled for 9am—3pm*

Saturday, October 19th: Lebanon Area Evangelical Free Church

Saturday, November 23: Palm Lutheran Church

Saturday, April 25, 2020: Church of the Good Shepherd

Saturday, June 6, 2020: Friedens Lutheran Church

For more information, visit www.lebanonquiltersguild.com or

call Susan Vachino (717-866-9124).

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 29th — Barry Ward

6:30 pm

Autumn Glory Bazaar

October 18th 4pm—8pm &

October 19th 9am—12pm

**Craft Meeting on Sept. 5th at 6:30;

come out and join us in making crafts

for the Bazaar!**

RALLY DAY!!!

September 8th

10:30 am Worship Service

Covered Dish meal to follow

September 2019

Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Camera Club

(SH)

6:00 pm

8

]

\

9 10

11

12 13 14

RALLY DAY

Worship

10:30 am

Church

Council

7:00 pm

15 16 17

18

19 20 21

Christian

Education

9:00 am

Worship

10:30 am

22 23 24 25

26 27 28

Christian

Education

9:00 am

Worship

10:30 am

29 30

Christian Education

9:00 am

Worship

10:30 am

BARRY WARD

6:30 pm

SH-Social Hall

CR-

Conference

Room

ST. STEPHEN’S CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

1100 Hunters Chase Lane

Lebanon PA 17046

717-273-3912

Email: ststephcfc@comcast.net

Website:

www.saintstephenscfc.org

September 2019

Congratulations to Colin

Leonard for graduating

from Northern Lebanon

High School in June! He is

currently attending Kings

University in Bristol, TN.

Everyone at St. Stephen’s

wishes him the best in his

future endeavors!