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ST. STEPHEN SCROLL St. Stephen Lutheran Church is a community of believers, saved by the grace of God, who are called to: • share his love through words and actions; • welcome others into the family of Christ.

ST. STEPHEN LUTHERAN CHURCH NEWSLETTERST. STEPHEN LUTHERAN CHURCH NEWSLETTERST. STEPHEN LUTHERAN CHURCH NEWSLETTERST. STEPHEN LUTHERAN CHURCH NEWSLETTER

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ –

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

William, Jack, Jason and I thank you for thinking of us this Christmas with such generosity and kindness. Thank you for your cards and Christmas letters. We delighted in receiving your warm Christmas greetings. Thank you for your kind words of appreciation, and for the delightful Christmas surprises and treats. Thank you for showering us with so much kindness and love. You truly blessed us, and we thank our Lord for you.

A truly wise Lutheran sage (Buddy Zimmerman) advised me a several months ago to enjoy this messy, chaotic, noisy, crazy time in my life, because it would be over before I knew it. Soon – Buddy said – it would just be Jason and me in a quiet, perfectly neat, clean house. (Stop taunting me – I declared in despair – missing his point entirely!)

Buddy was so very right. This time is flying by so quickly. Thanksgiving and Christmas came this year in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Enjoy the blessings of this time in your life. . .

Buddy’s truly wise words came back to me this week as I was re-reading Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin. I enjoy Rubin’s writing because she lives in the “real world” of messy messes and juggling work, family, exercise, and hobbies. She writes from the perspective of a mother who sometimes has yogurt on her jeans, a messy bun, and a living room that is decorated with toys. Her perspective is realistic, practical, and absolutely refreshing.

In her book Rubin lists Eight Splendid Truths and her 8th is – “Now is now. Here is my treasure.” This Splendid Truth sounds incredibly simple until you really dig in and start to think about it deeply.

“Now is now. Here is my treasure.” How often do we give God thanks for this moment? Sure we give God thanks on Thanksgiving and Christmas and on those “big” days, but what about the regular old, mundane days. Do we give thanks for those days too? We live a lot more of those regular days than we do Christmases.

“Now is now. Here is my treasure.” When was the last time I gave God thanks for a plain old Tuesday? Do we stop to see the blessings in the busy, messy, chaos of a regular Tuesday in January with work and school and laundry and dirty dishes? Do we even see the blessing in the work and the school and the laundry and the dirty dishes?

“Now is now. Here is my treasure.” Do we always think that we will be happier or more blessed tomorrow or next week or next year or do we seek God’s blessings in this moment?

Some days it can still be pretty hard to appreciate all of the noise, chaos, clutter, and mess that come with this time in my life, but that is what I encourage you to join me in doing in these post-holiday days. After all – “now is now. Here is my treasure.”

What is your treasure? What do you treasure about this unique time in your life? Remember that “Now is now and this is your treasure.” And remember to give God thanks for the treasures that you discover along the way.

In Christ – Pastor Kerri

St. Stephen Lutheran Church

5903 Bardstown Rd. Fern Creek, KY 40291

502-239-7778 Email:

pastorkerri @gmail.com

Pastor Kerri M. McFarland

Pastor Emeritus, Thomas D. Swasko

St. Stephen Lutheran Church

is a member of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church

in America.

2018 Council Members

Rod Firquin, President

Paul Kiser, Vice President

Elaine Peterson, Council Secretary Glenn Eisenbrey

Larry Faue Sean Morris

Marcia Peterson Duane Steines

Buddy Zimmerman Jack McFarland,

(youth rep, non-voting)

Bill Wise, Financial Secretary

Buddy Zimmerman, Treasurer

Open, Musician

Kim Thonen, Custodian

Cheryl Markley, Office Secretary

secretary.ststephen @gmail.com

Check out the website!

ststephen-louisville.com

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Golden Sneakers’ To Go To Mark’s Feed Store

On Wednesday, January 16th at 11:30 am, the Golden Sneakers will meet at Mark’s Feed Store at 6501 Bardstown Road in Fern Creek. James and Darlene Clark, 502-239-8850, are hosting this event. All are welcome! If you plan to attend, please sign up in the narthex so that we know you are coming.

Volunteers Needed

We will be removing Christmas decorations during the regular Worship and Music Committee meeting at 6:30 pm on Thursday, January 10th, 2018. Please join us and help, even if you are not a committee member. It will be very fast with many helpers. If you have questions, please see Brenda Firquin, 231-2901 or Pastor Kerri, 239-7778.

Annual Reports Due Soon

Committee Chairs,

I will start working on the 2018 St. Stephen Annual Report soon after this newsletter goes out. I would love to have a draft report for the January council meeting. Please complete your committee annual reports and get them to me no later than January 11th, 2019, if possible. Thanks for your help!

Regards, Cheryl Markley

Youth Quake Plans

Youth Quake in Cincinnati will be on January 11th through 13th. The Saint Stephen attending youth and chaperones, (Michelle Malone & Wendi Morris), will travel to and from Cincinnati in vans on those days with the youth groups and chaperones from Christ Lutheran and Ascension Lutheran churches. Bring money for 4 meals, and everyone from Saint Stephen will contribute food for the St. Stephen group’s breakfasts. Watch your e-mail and phone messages for more details on timing, meeting location, and what to bring.

Still Time to Share Christmas Cards With Fellow Members and Friends

Don’t forget to check your family’s file folder located in the narthex for members and frequent attendees of Saint Stephen to share Christmas cards with each other. In addition to checking your own folder, please check the folders of members who live close to you or relations of yours that haven't been in church for a while. Please consider taking their cards to them. The folders will be in the narthex through Sunday, January 6th.

Also, please consider sending New Year’s greetings to the Saint Stephen shut-ins. Their addresses can be found on flyers in the narthex or in the latest St. Stephen directory. The shut-in list includes Jim Brotzge, Liz Chapman, Nancy Davidson, Ray Grabianowski, Morgan Jimenez, Florence Loy, Norma Steiner, Tom Swasko, Catherine Thonen, and Rueben Zander.

Annual Meeting & Chili Cook-off

Mark your calendar and get your muffin pans ready to collect samples of Saint Stephen’s best chili recipes at the Annual Chili Cook-off. Enjoy the variety of recipes as we listen to the accomplishments of the past year and look forward to the challenges in the new year at the Annual All-congregational Meeting on Sunday, February 10th following the 10:00 am worship service. Help us pick a Chili Champion and plan a winning year at Saint Stephen!

Baskets & Dresses Made for FCHUM Christmas Holiday Cheer

At Saint Stephen at the end of November and beginning of December, we collected items to make food baskets for Fern Creek Highview United Ministries’ (FCHUM’s) Christmas Holiday Cheer program in which FCHUM provides baskets containing everything that families need to prepare their Christmas dinner. Our goal was to make at least 10 Holiday Cheer Christmas baskets for needy families in our community. We made a total of 15 baskets and beat our goal! Overall, FCHUM received 182 baskets from the community for their program. Thank you to all who contributed! In addition, the Creative Hands Sew Group at Saint Stephen made and wrapped 61 dresses that were also sent to FCHUM for the Christmas Holiday Cheer Program. Thank you so much for the generosity of your time and talent to make all of these blessings!

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Thank You for the Christmas Tea

I want to thank the Fellowship Committee members, (Karen Davis, Connie Miller, Dorothy Raso, Deb Steines, Ellen Ullom, and Pastor Kerri), who provided a wonderful Christmas luncheon on Saturday December 8th. We had 42 women and children enjoy food, a craft, and a special visit from Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and one of their elves! Thank you to the three of them for taking time out of their busy lives at this time of year !! We are truly blessed at our church for the wonderful members we have! Merry Christmas!

Marilyn Mills

Social Ministries Collection Thanks

Our 4th quarter social ministries collection was held in December, and we collected a total of $561.00 at Saint Stephen. Half of the money donated will go to the Fern Creek Highview United Ministries, and half will be used for other social ministry needs. Thank you to all who contributed!

Sanctuary Candle Donors

Sign-up sheets for 2019 eternal candle donors are in the narthex in the back of the Candle binder near the literature rack. Saint Stephen’s weekly cost for the eternal sanctuary candle is $4. We hope to recover our costs. Please take this opportunity to honor or memorialize your loved ones in 2019, and please help us cover our costs for the candles. Help us fill the binder! Thank you for your care and generosity.

Note From Cathy Meyer

My dear Christian friends,

Thank you so much for your cards, phone calls and

messages while I have been adjusting to my new

medication. When I am having a low day it seems

I hear from one of you and the day isn’t so

bad! You are such a blessing.

Wishing you the best for 2019! I hope to see you

Successes at FCHUM!

The Loughry Legacy Soiree, held this past October to raise funds for the Fern Creek Highview United Ministries (FCHUM) to be able to secure and sustain the operations of their facility in perpetuity, brought the Legacy fund past the original goal of $250,000. The legacy fund currently stands at $272.000. Thank you to all who donated over the years. Also, FCHUM was able to hand out over 160 Thanksgiving baskets this year.

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Sunday School Christmas Program Thanks

Christmas was welcomed at Saint Stephen with the traditional nativity Sunday school Christmas program during the morning worship service on Sunday, December 16th. Special thanks to Sunday school teachers and helpers Glenn Eisenbrey, Peggy Zimmerman, Elaine Peterson, Sean Morris, Tammy Utley, Paul Kiser, Julia Davis, and Marilyn Mills. We also thank Brenda Firquin for providing the music. Enjoy these pictures from the program, and you can see even more of them on the collage in the narthex.

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January 2019 Servants of the Church Sunday - 10 a.m. 1/6/19 1/13/19 1/20/19 1/27/19 2/3/19

Lector Tammy Utley Marilyn Mills Nicole Legg Marcia Peterson Connie Miller

Ushers James Clark Glenn Eisenbrey Bill Wise Rod Firquin Tom Curtis

Darlene Clark Fred McBride Vivian Wise Ruth Kleitz Jacob Curtis

Acolyte Mallory Allen Lucy Zimmerman Jack McFarland, Genevieve Morris

Everett Seifert Ella Markley, Ruby Kate Zimmerman

Communion Table Buddy Zimmerman Peggy Zimmerman Grace Summers Emma Morris Brennan Summers

Maddie Allen Vivian Wise Jennifer Summers Sean Morris Adam Peterson

Commun. Deacon Fred McBride Tammy Utley Cheryl Markley Steven Sarson Jack McFarland

Nursery Cheryl Markley Elizabeth Seifert Connie Miller Carol Ochs Teta Kahn

Cantor Fred McBride Bill Wise Bob Meyer Susan Johnston Paul Kiser

Worship Coord. Pat Markley Steven Sarson Rod Firquin Jack McFarland Paul Kiser

Greeter(s) Marilyn Mills James & Darlene

Clark Bill & Vivian Wise Teta Kahn Marcia Peterson

Coffee Hour McFarlands Markleys Needed Needed J. Davis

December Sanctuary Flower Donors

2nd - James & Darlene Clark in memory of their parents 9th - Cheryl Markley in honor of Irma French

16th - McFarland family in honor of William McFarland’s birthday 23rd - Deb & Duane Steines in memory of our parents

& grandparents 30th - Karen & Glenn Eisenbrey in honor of their anniversary

*The cost to provide the sanctuary flowers is now $30.00.

December Sanctuary Candle Donors

2nd - Kim Thonen in honor of Megan Thonen’s birthday 9th - Elaine Peterson in in honor of Kaely Peterson’s birthday

16th - McFarland family in honor of William McFarland’s birthday

23rd - Connie Clark in memory of Pete Clark 30th - McFarland family for the glory of God

*The cost to provide the sanctuary candle is $4.00.

December Sanctuary Flower and Candle Donors

We celebrate with these couples having January anniversaries:

Glenn & Karen Eisenbrey (3rd/1981)

Michelle & Brian Malone (10th/1999)

Rod & Brenda Firquin (29th/1983)

God’s Blessings to these January birthdays:

Greg Allen 5 Ashley Thonen 6 Tom Swasko 10 Ray Christopher 11 Genevieve Morris 13 Phil Davidson 14 Pat Markley 17

Andy Morris 17 Sophia Samora 18 Paige Zimmerman 18 Pete Gall 23 Brenda Firquin 25 Tom Neukam 25

Winter Coffee Hour

The coffee hour sign-up sheet for coffee hour volunteers through the beginning of March is

available in the narthex. Please consider sharing a celebration or simply an opportunity to connect with other Lutherans by volunteering to provide treats at least one Sunday in the coming year. Thanks!

Bad Weather Communication

If the Saint Stephen worship services are being cancelled due to bad weather, an e-mail will be sent, and the website will be updated. We will also communicate through local TV stations.

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January 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 New Year’s Day

Church office closed.

2 3 4 6:00 - 8:00— Girl Scout Troop 8

5 9:00—Weight Watchers

6 Epiphany of Our Lord 9:00—Education Hr 10:00—Holy Communion

11:15—Coffee Hr 11:15—Fellowship Committee 11:15—Christian Education Committee 5:00—Holy Communion

7 6:00—Creative Hands Sew Group

8 12:30—Prayer Shawl Group

9 10 6:30—Worship & Music Committee

11 12 9:00—Weight Watchers

13 9:00—Education Hr 10:00—Holy Communion

11:15—Coffee Hr 11:30—Council 5:00—Holy Communion

14 15 6:00—Finance Committee

16 11:30—Golden Sneakers Meet at Mark’s Feed Store

17 18 6:00 - 8:00— Girl Scout Troop 8

19 9:00—Weight Watchers

20 Ronald McDonald House Collection No Education Hr 10:00—Holy Communion

5:00—Holy Communion

21 ML King Jr Day JCPS Break

22 4:30—Ronald McDonald House Visit

23 24 25 26 9:00—Weight Watchers

27 9:00—Education Hr 10:00—Holy Communion

11:15—Coffee Hr 5:00—Holy Communion

28 29 30 31

Upcoming Events: February 10th—Annual Meeting & Chili Cook-off March 6th—Ash Wednesday

JCPS Break

Youth Quake in Cincinnati

Return from Youth Quake

Due date for next month’s newsletter articles is always the 17th of the month before. Send to: secretary.ststephen@gmail.com

Worship Services: Education Hr (during school yr) 9:00 AM Sunday 10:00 AM, Sunday 5:00 PM

February 2019 Servants of the Church Sunday - 10 a.m. 2/3/19 2/10/19 2/17/19 2/24/19 3/3/19

Lector Connie Miller Cheryl Markley Pat Markley Steven Sarson Ellen Ullom

Ushers Tom Curtis Steven Sarson Barry Mills Marcus Utley Teta Kahn

Jacob Curtis Rita Sarson Marilyn Mills Pat Markley Elaine Peterson

Acolyte Ella Markley, Ruby Kate Zimmerman

Kayleigh Kiser Mara Legg Lilly Morris Mallory Allen

Communion Table Brennan Summers Adolphus Kahn Jack McFarland Steven Sarson Barry Mills

Adam Peterson Teta Kahn Deb Steines Rita Sarson Marilyn Mills

Commun. Deacon Jack McFarland Bob Meyer Karen Davis Rod Firquin Fred McBride

Nursery Teta Kahn Jessica Allen Jennifer Kiser Cheryl Markley Beth Lynch

Cantor Paul Kiser Karen Eisenbrey Fred McBride Bill Wise Bob Meyer

Worship Coord. Paul Kiser Pat Markley Steven Sarson Rod Firquin Jack McFarland

Greeter(s) Marcia Peterson Ellen & Chuck Ullom Steven Sarson Phyllis Boston Jack McFarland

Coffee Hour J. Davis Chili Cook-off! Needed Needed Needed

January 2019January 2019January 2019January 2019

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St. Stephen Lutheran Church 5903 Bardstown Road

Fern Creek, Kentucky 40291