NOVEMBER

2016

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 Sisters and Brothers in Christ – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We will celebrate All Saints’ Day on Sunday, November 6th during worship. We will pause in the midst of our busy lives to remember all of the people who have died and to reflect upon the blessing of their lives. We will thank our Lord for our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who now live with God in heaven. We will give thanks for the people who led the way, and for the folks who touched our lives and our hearts. We will thank God for the people who blessed us deeply, and for the people who taught us how to be God’s people in this world. Most of us are Christians because someone took the time to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with us. We are Christians, because someone told us about God’s amazing grace, love, and mercy. Who first told you about Jesus? Who read those first Bible stories to you? Who told you that you were, are, and will always be a beloved child of God? Who helped light the spark that grew into the flame that became your Christian faith? Who nurtured and guided you? Who encouraged and inspired you? Who taught you about being a child of God in this world? Whoever these blessed saints of God were, give God thanks for them. Thank God for the love they gave you. Thank our Lord for the time they spent with you, and for their patience. Thank God for their example. Thank God for the incredibly important things they taught you, because these people taught you how to be a Christian. Thank your Lord for the blessing of each of their lives. With each new year we find ourselves adding new names to the list of the saints we miss and for whom we give God thanks. During worship we will read our parish necrology for the past year and pause to remember prayerfully these beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. As a part of our worship on All Saints’ Sunday, you are invited to light a candle in memory of your loved ones. You are also encouraged to bring pictures of your loved ones to place on the back altar in the sanctuary. Remember the saints, take strength from them, and give God thanks for each saint you have known. Each one of them is a special blessing to you from your loving Lord. May our loving Lord bless you and keep you today and all of the days of your eternal lives. 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.

2016 Council Members

Rod Firquin, President

Buddy Zimmerman, Vice President Cheryl Markley, Council Secretary

Julia Davis Larry Faue Paul Kiser

Connie Miller Michelle Sarson Duane Steines Reagan Morris,

(youth rep, non-voting)

Bill Wise, Financial Secretary Buddy Zimmerman,

Treasurer Ibosh Chertmanov,

Musician Kim Thonen, Custodian

Cheryl Markley, Office Secretary

secretary.ststephen

Check out

the website!

ststephen-louisville.com

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Golden Sneakers Will Visit The Parklands of Floyd’s Fork

The Golden Sneakers will go to the Parklands of Floyd’s Fork on Wednesday, November 9th. We will carpool from the church at 9:30 am, and head to the Bardstown Road entrance to the park toward Mt. Washington. We will stop at the Cliffside Center in the park for coffee and doughnuts and then see a couple more sites in the park before having lunch at 12:30pm in Mt. Washington at the New China Buffet, 205 Oakbrooke Drive. If you plan to attend, please sign up in the narthex so that we will know who is coming. Questions? Please call Phyllis or Charlie Boston, 239-3637.

St. Stephen’s Annual Thanksgiving Dinner

Please mark your calendars and plan on joining us for Saint Stephen’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday, November 20th at 5:00 pm. We will gather together for a brief worship service in the sanctuary at 5:00 pm followed by a delicious meal together in the fellowship hall. Everyone is welcome to drop off their tableware in the fellowship hall before our time of worship and thanksgiving. Our fine hosts and their dedicated crew will provide the mashed potatoes, gravy and veggies, but we are asking for volunteers to bring desserts, sweet potatoes, and stuffing/ dressing. We also need a few volunteers to roast turkeys. There are sign-up sheets on the table in the narthex.

Toiletries for FCHUM

The food pantry at the Fern Creek Highview United Ministries, (FCHUM), is always in need of toiletry items like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, conditioner, tissues, and deodorant, because government assistance does not help with these items. We at St. Stephen have been helping to gather these items in the narthex in preparation for Rev. Ron Loughry’s visit on Sunday, November 6th. He will take the items for the FCHUM food shelf. You may place your items on the display table in the narthex or in the basket under the table with all of the sign-up sheets in the narthex. Thank you to all who have donated.

Advent / Christmas Decorating Schedule

The complete and detailed 2016 Saint Stephen Advent / Christmas decorating schedule is posted in various places around the church, but here are the dates to remember:

November 21: Decorate for Advent, beginning at 6:00 pm December 18: Complete decorating for Christmas following the 10 am service Week of January 2 – 6, 2017: Take down all decorations except the large glass star during Worship & Music Committee

meeting on January 3rd. We welcome all help! (Decorated trees will remain in place until after the 5 pm service on January 1st, the 2nd Sunday of Christmas.)

January 8, 2017 (Baptism of our Lord) - (Celebration of Epiphany is Friday, January 6, 2017.) Week of February 20-25, 2017: Remove large glass star prior to the 10 am service on February 26, 2017. (Transfiguration of

Our Lord is February 26, 2017.)

If you have questions, please see Brenda Firquin, 231-2901, and again, ALL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE.

Bring Photos on All Saints Sunday

On All Saints’ Sunday, November 6th we will be remembering and giving thanks for the saints of God who have gone before us in the faith. We will read the parish necrology for the past year and pause to remember prayerfully these beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. As a part of our worship on All Saints’ Sunday, everyone will be invited to light a candle in memory of loved ones. You are also encouraged to bring pictures of loved ones to place on the back altar in the sanctuary.

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Sunday School Christmas Program

The annual Sunday school Christmas program will be held in place of the sermon during the morning worship service on Sunday, December 11th. Please make every effort to bring children to Sunday school during this month and December to practice for this joyous event.

Guest Worship Leader

Rev. Ron Loughry from FCHUM will be leading worship on Sunday, November 6th. We thank Rev. Loughry for his service.

FCHUM Christmas Holiday Cheer Program

In recent years, we have always helped at Thanksgiving with Fern Creek United Ministries’ (FCHUM’s) Thanksgiving Holiday Cheer program. However, this year St. Stephen has been collecting toys, filled shoeboxes, and toiletries for other programs, so we are going to participate in FCHUM’s Christmas Holiday Cheer program instead. We hope to make at least 8 Holiday Cheer Christmas baskets for needy families in our community. Holiday Cheer baskets contain everything a family needs to prepare their Christmas dinner. These baskets will be distributed by the Fern Creek/Highview United Ministries just before Christmas. Look for a display in the narthex later in the month that will aid you in buying food items for this project. We need to collect the food items no later than Sunday, December 11th.

For each basket we will need:

• stuffing mix • 1-5 lb. pound of potatoes (bring close to FCHUM delivery date) • 1-3 lb. bag of onions (bring close to FCHUM delivery date) • 2-cans of cranberry sauce • 3 to 5- cans of green vegetables (green beans, peas…) • 3 to 5 cans of mixed vegetables ( corn, yams…) • 1 to 2 cans of pie filling • 1 bag of flour and 1 bag of sugar • $15-$25 gift certificate to buy meat/perishable items

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Toy Drive for Fort Campbell Soldiers’ Kids

Sponsored by: Operation Support Peace & St. Stephen Anglican Church

1:00-4:00 PM, Saturday, November 5, 2016 St. Stephen Anglican Church at 8005 Vaughn Mill Road

Come out and meet soldiers from Fort Campbell Kentucky’s 2nd Battalion 32nd Field Artillery Regiment “Proud Americans” and

help with the annual toy drive for 400 soldiers’ children. Try on some of the gear they use on a daily basis!

Admission is a new, unwrapped toy for a soldier’s child, Ages 0-12. At least one toy per family. (No stuffed animals, please.)

Sign up for door prizes!

Soldiers need our help more than ever! What better way to say thank you to our soldiers who sacrifice so much to keep us safe and free.

Collection Sunday is Soon for Operation Christmas Child

Our Operation Christmas Child collection table is filling up! If you have not yet started a box, you can find in the narthex brochures with box labels, a completed example shoebox, and a list of suggested items to include and those that you should avoid. The Final Collection Sunday for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes at St. Stephen is November 20th, so there is still time to get your shoebox(es) together. Last year, we collected 75 boxes at St. Stephen for children in war zones, disaster areas, and areas of extreme poverty around the world. Let’s see if we can send them even more this year!

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2016 Sanctuary Flowers and Candle Donors

Sign-up sheets for 2017 sanctuary flower and candle donors are in the narthex in the Flower and Candle binder near the literature rack. We ask that the donation be $20.00 for flowers and $2.00 for the sanctuary candle. Please take this opportunity to honor or memorialize your loved ones in 2017. We need to have the flowers and candles donated as many weeks as possible so that we can continue to provide them. Thank you for your care and generosity.

New Acolyte, Maddie Allen

On Sunday, October 9th Kenna Markley held a brief acolyte training session during Sunday school for anyone who wanted to become an acolyte. We welcome Maddie Allen as a new acolyte. We also appreciate the returning acolytes. If you want to become an acolyte, but you were not able to make it to the training session, please call the church office, 239-7778, or send a message to secretary.ststephen@gmail.com, and we will arrange a time for training.

Church Property Work Day a Success!

Church property work day was on October 16th after the morning worship service. The outside of the church property was cleaned up and prepared for winter. Pastor Kerri made a delicious lunch for all of our workers. Thank you to all who helped.

Thank You

On September 15th, all of Louisville had the opportunity to give to their favorite local charity in the 24-hour online giving day hosted by the Community Foundation of Louisville. FCHUM participated this year, and $1,005 was raised during this event for their program. Thank you to all who contributed!

Volunteer Opportunities for FCHUM

Fern Creek Highview United Ministries has several volunteer opportunities for both adults and youth:

• Adult volunteers are needed for the Adult Day Center on Monday mornings & afternoons, Thursday afternoons, and Friday mornings; (morning hours 9am-noon, after-noon hours 1pm-5pm).

• There is a great youth group opportunity to assist with decorating the Adult Day Center and ministries office as a whole for Christmas.

• Contact Rev. Ron Loughry regarding opportunities for youth service hours.

Mark Your Calendar for These Exciting Upcoming Events

• 3-Church (St. Stephen Lutheran, Saint Alban’s Episcopal, & Messiah-Trinity Lutheran Episcopal) Christmas Carol Sing at 5:00 pm December 18th, 2016

• St. Stephen Wine Tasting on the evening of January 21st, 2017

All are invited! Look for more information in upcoming newsletters!

Youth Poinsettia Fundraiser “Heads Up”

The Youth of St. Stephen are planning to hold a poinsettia fundraiser again this year. The money raised will help fund the Youth Quake trip and other youth activities. Watch upcoming bulletins, announcements, and e-mails for more details.

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October Sanctuary Flower and Candle Donors

October Sanctuary Flower Donors

2nd - Connie Clark in honor of Audrey Clark’s 3rd birthday 9th - McFarland family in honor of Pr. Kerri’s birthday

16th - Phyllis & Charlie Boston in honor of their 57th wedding anniversary

23rd - Connie Clark 30th - Connie Clark

*The cost to provide altar flowers is $20.00.

October Sanctuary Candle Donors

2nd - Connie Clark in honor of Audrey Clark’s 3rd birthday 9th - McFarland family in honor of Pr. Kerri’s birthday

16th - Elaine Peterson in honor of Brennan Summers’ birthday 23rd - Elaine Peterson in honor of

Steve & Jennifer Summers’ anniversary 30th - Elaine Peterson in honor of Meredyth Peterson’s birthday

*The cost to provide the sanctuary candle is $2.00.

We celebrate with these couples having November anniversaries:

Fred & Judy McBride (7th/1975)

Hank & Julie Zimmerman (13th/1999)

Brad & Erin Zimmerman (17th/2007)

Steven & Rita Sarson (25th/1978)

November 2016 Servants of the Church Sunday - 10 a.m. 11/06/16 11/13/16 11/20/16 11/27/16 12/04/16

Lector Julia Davis Susan Johnston Bob Meyer Cathy Meyer Reagan Morris

Ushers Glenn Eisenbrey Bill Wise Andy Morris Rod Firquin Teta Thompson

Carolyn Graham Vivian Wise Fred McBride Adolphus Kahn B. Zimmerman

Acolyte Brennan Summers Jack McFarland Ella Markley Lucy Zimmerman Kayleigh Kiser

Communion Table Marcia Peterson Cole Summers Sean Morris Kaitlyn Kiser Steven Sarson

Sarah Giles Jennifer Summers Reagan Morris Wendi Morris Rita Sarson

Commun. Deacon Rod Firquin Tammy Utley Steven Sarson Bob Meyer Cheryl Markley

Nursery Connie Miller Cheryl Markley Elaine Peterson Elizabeth Seifert Jessica Allen

Cantor Karen Eisenbrey Fred McBride Bill Wise Bob Meyer Paul Kiser

Worship Coord. Paul Kiser Pat Markley Rita Sarson Rod Firquin Brenda Firquin

Greeter(s) Darlene Clark Bill & Vivian Wise Teta Thompson Carolyn Graham Ellen & Chuck Ullom

Coffee Hr Host(s) Steines Needed Thanksgiving Instead No coffee hour Needed

Peace Kahn 2 Sean Morris 3 Morgan McCauley 6 Shawn Utecht 6 Jennifer Kiser 7 Meg Thompson 7 Karen Christopher 9 Ruby Zimmerman 11 Sarah Schultz 15

God’s Blessings to these November birthdays:

For this season: before 11/13 before 11/20 before 11/27

Grass Mowing Needed Needed Needed

Rachel Clark 17 Paula Morris 19 Cole Summers 19 Jessica Franks 21 Nancy Davidson 22 Rachael Williams 24 Andrea Eshenaur 26 Hayden Allen 27

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November 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 All Saints’ Day 6:30—Christian Education Committee

2 6:30—Choir Rehearsal

3 4 5 8:30—Weight Watchers

6 All Saints Sunday 9:00—Education Hr 10:00—Holy Communion 11:30—Fellowship Committee 11:30—Coffee Hr 5:00—Holy Communion Daylight Saving Time Ends

7 8 Election Day

9 9:30—Golden Sneakers Carpool to Parklands 6:30—Choir Rehearsal

10 7:00—SCC Council Meeting Martin Luther’s Birthday, 1483

11 12 8:30—Weight Watchers

13 9:00—Education Hr 10:00—Holy Communion 11:30—Council 11:30—Coffee Hr 5:00—Holy Communion

14 6:00—Creative Hands Sew Group

15 12:30—Prayer Shawl Group 6:00—Finance Committee 6:30—Worship & Music Committee

16 6:30—Choir Rehearsal

17 18 19 8:30—Weight Watchers

20 9:00—Education Hr 10:00—Holy Communion, Operation Christmas Child Final Collection 5:00—Worship & Thanksgiving Dinner

21 6:00—Advent decorating begins

22 4:30—Ronald McDonald House Visit

23

24 Thanksgiving

25 26 8:30—Weight Watchers

27 NO Education Hr 10:00—Holy Communion 5:00—Holy Communion

28 29 30 6:30—Choir Rehearsal

Upcoming Events: December 11th—Christmas Program December 18th—3-Church Christmas Carol Sing December 18th—Youth Caroling

JCPS Break

Church Office Closed.

November 2016

St. Stephen Scroll

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

St. Stephen Lutheran Church 5903 Bardstown Road

Fern Creek, Kentucky 40291

December 2016 Servants of the Church Sunday - 10 a.m. 12/04/16 12/11/16 12/18/16 12/25/16 1/1/17

Lector Reagan Morris Chuck Ullom Brenda Firquin No worship service Paul Kiser

Ushers Teta Thompson Tom Curtis Steven Sarson No worship service Jim Clark

B. Zimmerman Jacob Curtis Rita Sarson Glenn Eisenbrey

Acolyte Maddie Allen Kayleigh Kiser Ellerie Seifert No worship service Peace Kahn

Communion Table Steven Sarson Teta Thompson Adolphus Kahn No worship service Marilyn Mills

Rita Sarson Michelle Sarson Deb Steines Kayleigh Kiser

Commun. Deacon Cheryl Markley Rod Firquin Tammy Utley No worship service Steven Sarson

Nursery Jessica Allen Teta Thompson Julie Zimmerman No worship service Morgan McCauley

Cantor Paul Kiser Karen Eisenbrey Fred McBride No worship service Bill Wise

Worship Coord. Brenda Firquin Paul Kiser Pat Markley No worship service Rita Sarson

Greeter(s) Ellen & Chuck Ullom Marilyn Mills Bob & Cathy Meyer No worship service Phyllis Boston

Coffee Hr Host(s) Needed Needed McFarlands No worship service See you Jan. 8th!