August2019

The lazy, hazy days of summer are rolling along.My prayer for all of you is that your summer time activities are refreshing and fun. That you are being rejuvenated by your time off work, and your time spent with family and friends.

For teachers, professors, and church staff August is a time for planning and preparation. Here at St. Stephen’s our “program year” coincides more or less with the school year.

That means we have a special opportunity to provide some grateful service to children attending Grant Wood Elementary School by donating backpacks and school supplies. Check the narthex for a basket and a complete list of needed supplies.

On Sunday, August 25 we will have our annual blessing of backpacks. We will bless the back-packs of our school age children (pre-school counts too) together with the school supplies we have gathered. Hailey Carr, director of Operation Backpack, HACAP’s Feeding America program for elementary school children has promised to be with us at the 10am service. She will receive a check from our children for $200, representing all the quarters they collected last year, and help us inaugurate another quarter drive. HACAP estimates that the supplementary food provided through Operation Backpack costs $200 per child per year.

On a totally different topic: your leaders have been busy learning about how congregational capi-tal appeals and building renovation projects work. Here’s a super brief summary of the process we are most likely to follow:

• undertake a guided capital appeal as a first step in building a budget for the project, and applying for a building loan/mortgage through the ELCA’s Mission Investment Fund (MIF). Council has already interviewed two consultants who can help us do this.

• undertake a design-build process where the architect and general contractor produce con-struction drawings that will modify the “concept drawings” we have so that the end result fits our budget. Architect Jorge Lopez has indicated he is willing to work with us through this process. The challenge will be to find the right contractor.

• undertake the renovation project as soon as funds become available.

There are, of course, a lot more details involved. Each step requires the approval of the ma-jority of our voting members; therefore, you can expect that your leaders will come to you some time this fall asking for a vote on whether we should have a guided capital appeal. The Council and Stewardship Committee are working out schedules not just for the vote itself but for a series of information sessions to ensure we make an informed decision. Exciting times ahead!

Blessings,

Pastor Ritva

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AmessagefromyourMinisterforFaithLife,MarileeTorres

WhenIwasapreschoolteacheritwasayearroundprogramwithjustoneweek,withoutkidsorclass-es,toprepareforanewschoolyearinautumn.Inthatweekwithoutkids,theteacherswouldtrytopreparetheroomandlearningspaces,planoutlessonsandneeds,reviewenrollmentinformaBon,es-tablishandenhancerelaBonshipswithcolleaguesonsiteandwithinthebroaderorganizaBon.ThoseprepweekswerepreciousBmepackedwithmuchtodo.StarBngasMinisterforFaithLifeatthebeginningofsummer,beforeSundaySchoolandConfirmaBonclassesresumeislikehavingaluxuriouslylengthyprepBme.Iembracethatjoyfully,assomeonenewtothisposiBonINEEDthatBmetogaininformaBonandknowledgeinsomanyareasofthisministry.IamspendingsomehourseachweekintheofficeatthechurchtohelpmegetabeQerawarenessofwho/how/whereSt.Stephen’sisministeringtochurchmembers,thegreatercommunity,andtheELCA.InmyofficeBme,Iamfamiliarizingmyselfwithcongregant’snames,congregaBoneventsandrouBnes,reviewingnotesfrompasteventsandprograms,andlookingaheadandbeginningtoplanforevents,suchasRallyDay,thatwillbegininweekstocome.IhavealsoappreciatedtheBmetogoouttomakecontactsinourcommunity.IhavemademeetandgreetinformaBonvisitsatMaQhew25,theEcumenicalCommunityCenter,andSleepinHeavenlyPeacewhichareorganizaBonswemightworkwithinmissioninourcommunity.ItwaswonderfultobepartofthegrouprepresenBngSt.Stephen’satCedarRapidsPrideFest,geXngtoknowsomechurchmembersandfriendsbeQer,learningmoreaboutotherchurchesandgroupsthatwererepresentedatthefesBval,and,yes,reachingoutandpersonallysharingwithvisitorsandseek-ers.InJune,IestablishedaFacebookpagespecificallyfortheMinisterforFaithLife,providingaplaceinsocialmediawhereIcanreachandbereached.Thispagerelates,supports,andcanleadtotheSt.Stephen’s‘group’pageandtotheofficialSt.Stephen’sLutheranELCApage.IhavebeenposBngtheELCA’s“60DayJourneyTowardJusBceInACultureOfGunViolence.”PersonallyIhavebeenveryexcit-edtoseeandsharemanygreatarBclesfromELCAsources,e.g.Synodofficesto‘LivingLutheran.’Itispleasurabletojustbepresentamongthecommunity.Iamlearninglotsof‘whodoeswhat’tocoordinateandfacilitatedaytodayandhappeningsatthechurch.SomuchatStephen’sismulB-faceteddrawinguponpeopleinhospitality,music,finance,property,youth,ministersofthetable,etc.IhavebeenontheperipheryformostofmyBmehere.IknowSt.Stephen’sdidmanywonderfulthingsverywell.NowIamlearningthebehindthescenes–who/how/whatittakestopulloffaSundaymorningworshipserviceoraWednesdaynightcookoutandworshiparoundthetable.

Iamsogratefulforthesomewhatsimpler,slowersummerschedulethatallowsmetowadeinbeforedivingintothedeep-endwhenthingsgearupwithbacktoschoolseason.IsBllhaveyettomeetallthestudentswhowillbeinconfirmaBonthisfallbuthavehadthepleasureofmeeBngseveral.IhavesentoutaleQerofgreeBngandintroducBontotheyoungadults.EachSundayandWednesdayIammeeBngmoreparentsandchildrenwhowillpartofSundaySchool.

TherehasnotbeenadayyetwhenIhavenotbeenamazedatthetalentsandcommitmentsofthepeopleofSt.Stephen’s,andexcitedtobeabletoworkandserve,bothwithandforsuchpeople.

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MemberandfriendofthechurchHarrie;HemphillrecentlymovedtoSparks,Neva-dafromIowa.ShewroteintoSt.Stephen'sthankingmembersforthekindwordssenttoher.

July 09, 2019

Hello, Thisphotoisfromacoloringbook(thankyouBarbGriggs)thatIcolorineachmorningwithacupofcoffeeandadough-nut(powderedsugar,myfavorite).ItisbeauFfulherewithlotsofdifferenttrees. Iamenjoyingmygrandchildren,daughter,andson-in-law. Imissyouallverymuch,thankyouforwriFngtome.MaybeIcancomebackhomethissummerandseemyfriendsandfamilyinIowa.IwishIfeltbeIerbecausethenIwouldtravelwithTessandherfamilyinthetraveltrailerandgotoCaliforniaandArkansas,too.

Love,HarrieI

If you are interested in writing to Harriett, her address is…

6939 Bannister RD Sparks, NV 89436-8192

AmessagefromyourCouncilPresidentHelloFriends!YourCouncilmetinmidJulyforitsquarterlymeeBng.WhatafullandproducBveevening!ThefollowingarethehighlightsfromthemeeBng.

WehadadiscussionwitharepresentaBvefromtheELCA'sMissionInvestmentFund(MIF).ThisincludedtheprocessofusingthemforsecuringaloanforrenovaBons.AiermeeBngwithandinterviewingtwoconsult-inggroups,wehavechosenonewewillgowithiftheCongregaBonvotestomoveforwardwithaCapitalCampaignandrenovaBons.WewillbesetwithanexcellentguidewhowillbevaluableingivingusdirecBon,aBmeline,resourcesandspiri-tualguidanceaswekeepourchurch'smissionattheforefrontofourplans.

WewillbeginmakingourCouncilminutesavail-abletotheCongregaBonwithinashortBmeaierthemeeBng-ideallyabouttwoweeksaier.TheCouncilmustapprovethembeforetheyarepub-lic.

OurMinisterforFaithLifeisjumpingintohernewrolewithbothfeet!SheisanexcellentresourceandadvocateforallagesinourcongregaBon.Pleasegettoknowherandencourageyourchil-drentotakepartinthemanyopportuniBesshewillbefacilitaBng.

PleasetakealookattheStewardshipleQeralongwiththesixmonthFinancialReportthatwillbemailedsoon.

Weareobtainingquotestocleanthesootinthesanctuary.

REALMisournewcommunicaBonsystem.Itwillstreamlinesomuchofourorganizingandplan-ning.It'seasytosignup!Youcanuseanapponyourcellphoneorconnectthroughe-mail.Con-tactaCouncilmemberorCommunicaBonsCoor-dinatorDavidZornforassistance.

TherearemanyinourcongregaBonwhoaregrievingforlovedoneswithadeclineintheirhealthorfromdeath.PleaseconBnuetosupportthemandliithemupinprayer.

Peacetoyouall--

YourPresident,DeeAnnHebrink

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YOUR GENEROSITY BLESSES OUR CHURCH

& OUR NEIGHBORS!

CASHSUMMARYJanuary1-June30,2019

NOTES

January1,2019 $11,576.04 CheckingAccountBalance

ContribuSons&Income $120,243.88 Received4families’annualpledgecontribuBonsthattotaled$23,200.ComparedtobudgetprojecSons,contribuSonsarebehindby$6,000.

ChangeinTemporarilyRe-strictedFunds**

$6,178.27 Wereceivedmoredesignatedgiisthanwedis-bursed.Thereplacementfirealarmcontrolpanelex-penseswillbepaidoutoftheLentenAppealfunds.

Expenses -$111,293.41 Ourtotal6monthexpenseswere$1,000lessthanourbudgetesSmates.

June30,2019 $26,704.78 CheckingAccountBalance

2nd Quarter Financial Update (Treasurer Robin Kenney)

Love One Another Fund

Yourgi^smakepossibledirectassistanceformembersandneighborsinneed.Recentlywehavehelped:• adisabledpersonlivinginSecSon8housingpayuSliSes• amemberwitheducaSonexpenses

FriendlyReminder—thechurchisn’ttakingasummervaca7onandwouldappreciateyourgi;s,evenifyou’renothere(cough,cough…EFT)IfyouwouldliketosetupanEFT(ElectronicFundsTransfer)toensurethechurchgetsyourgiieverymonth,pleasecontactJennyWeberbyemailatjenny.a.weber@gmail.comorvoice/textat712-249-6645.Youcanalsogiveaone-Bmegiiorsetuparecurringmonthlygiionlineatwww.ssluth.com

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Words from theEndowment Committee:PreachingorFeeding?

InActs,chaptersix,itisclearthat,whilethechurchwasgrowingbyleapsandbounds,thechurchwasnotwithoutitsissues;forexample,whilethe12apostleswerepreachingandteach-ing,manyoftheirlistenersneededfoodandoth-ernecessiBes.So,the12appointedsevendea-consfromamongthefaithfultofeedthehungry,clothethenaked,andsoon.Totheircreditthe12realizedtheycouldn’tdoeverythinginthechurch.

Neithercananyoneofusdoeverythingthatneedstobedoneinthechurch.That’sonereasonanendowmentfundcanbehelpfultothosecom-ingaierus,thosewhowanttoconBnuetodoministryinthisplace.Anendowmentfundcanbeusedformanyministrypurposes,IFitislargeenoughtomakeadifferenceinfundingthoseministryprograms.

Werecognizethatanyoneofuscan’tdoevery-thinginthechurch,andneitherwillanyoneofoursuccessorsbeabletodoeverythingthatwillneedtobedoneinthefuturechurch.WeurgeyoutoconsiderleavingalegacygiiormakinganoutrightcontribuBontotheendowmentfundssothatStStephen’swillhavetheresourcestodotheministryitneedstodointheyearstocome.

LyleAKleman,ChairpersonEndowmentCommiQee

AshleyHart

NicholePlagge

DeeAnnHebrink,exofficio

PrRitvaWilliams,exofficio

Vocal Artists of Iowa Live @ St. Stephen's Saturday August 17

2 PM

Joinusforthis summer’slast twocookouts: WednesdayAugust7@6pm & WednesdayAugust21@6pm

Blessing of Backpacks Sunday, August 25, 8 & 10am We invite all students to bring their backpacks and schoolbags to church for a special prayer and blessing during the Children’s Message.

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Practice Discipleship

IntercessoryPrayer

MembersKenFeeMaryFlecksingHarrietHemphillMartyJohnsonAnnKleman

ToniLeeMelanieMunroJudyNyeArleneOrtgiesLarryOrtgies JoanPetersenDorothySchourekSteveThomas

Rela7vesTrentRosbergGertrudeLeePeterOlneyMarthaAdamson

FriendsKristianLeitzenTinaCarlton

TheGrievingFamily&Friendsof:MickButz(diedJune24),spouseofCaroleButzMarileeRosberg(diedJune28),spouseofBillRosbergCarolynShade(diedJuly10),daughterofMikeBarnotesJulieDennison(diedearlyJuly),formerpastorLesliePerez(diedearlyJuly),familyofMarileeTorresBarbaraG.Vincent(diedJuly19),grandmotherofAaronTankMyrnaBremner(diedJuly21),grandmotherofSeanHowardCarlaZumbach(diedJuly21),wifeofMarilynLoan’scousin.

Servinginthemilitaryand/oroverseasAlexGrat,ArmyNaBonalGuardJacobAune,MarinesJaysonClinton,Army

OurGlobalMissionPartnersTheRev.RoseMfukoandpeopleofKisiwaniParish, Tanzania(ourCompanionCongregaBon)andBishop.CharlesRabsonMjemaandstaff,PareDiocese,Tanzania.

ThechildrenandstaffattheEbenezerGlennOrphanageinHaiB.

Bible&BookStudies

Men’sCoffee&StudyGroup—Mondays8am,atMrBeansinMarion.……………………………………………………………………………LyricalBibleStudyisaFacebookgroup,focusingonpsalms,poems,andsongsintheBible.TojoincontactAlexLongatalong111361gmail.com……………………………………………………………………………LifeLongLearningforallages—Sundaysat9amisonsummervacaBon!Butlookforspecialcon-versaBonopportuniBes,e.g.Communica7onCo-ordinator,DavidZornwillbepresentonSundayAugust18and25tohelpusgetsigneduponREALMConnect,ournewdatabaseandchurchapp.……………………………………………………………………………

HonoringourLovedOnes

AltarFlowers—sponsoringflowersforthealtarisanicewaytohonoralovedone’sbirthday,an-niversary,orotherspecialdate.Signupiseasy!GothroughSignupGeniusorcheckthesignupontheWhatWhatJesusSignUpforbulleBnboard.Thecostis$25.Youcanplaceacheckintheoffer-ingwith“flowers”onthemomline,payatthekioskinthenarthex,orpayonlinethroughthewebsite.TakeyourflowershomesaierthesecondserviceorleavethemtobesharedwithamemberwhocannotaQend.……………………………………………………………………………SanctuaryOilLamp—Keeptheeternitylamplit!Signupiseasy!GothroughSignupGeniusorcheckthesignupontheWhatWhatJesusSignUpforbulleBnboard.Thecostis$10.Youcanplaceacheckintheoffer-ingwith“lampoil”onthememoline,payatthekioskinthenarthex,orpayonlinethroughthewebsite.

Sundays8am&10am(throughSeptember1,2019)

Wednesdays6:30pm

LIFECHANGINGSACREDPRACTICES

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WARM-HEARTEDHOSPITALITY

Women,Wine&Wisdom—Thursday,August8,6pm,ParadiseIndianGrill,5200FountainsDrNE,Suite100.RSVPand/ortoarrangeridesorchild-carecontactAmyKuhnatamykuhn2@aol.com……………………………………………………………………………FAMILYPROMISE-AUGUST18thto24thwewillbehosSngfamiliesinneed,andneedyourhelp!Signupsheetsforevening,dinner,overnight,andbreakfasthostsareavailableintheNarthexandonSignupGenius—checkyouremailforthelink!FormoreinformaBoncontactoneofourFPVolun-teerCoordinators:BarbCoates,DonnaGladish,NancyMeBer-Mohni.……………………………………………………………………………HospitalityHosts-Sundaysat9amintheNarthexandtheFellowshipHall.EachSundayyouhavetheopportunitytoproviderefreshmentsforguestsandmembers.TosignupseetheclipboardontheWhatWouldJesusSignUpForboardinthenarthexoratwww.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c4aa9aa2ba3f94-hospitality.QuesBons?ContactAmyKuhnatamykuhn2@aol.comor270-6365.

JOYFULWITNESS

ChoirandCantorRehearsals,Wednesdays,7:15pm.Joinusaswelearnliturgies,hymns,andanthemsforSundayworship.…………………………………………………………………………….WorshipAssistants—Wouldyouliketoserveasagreeter,usher,lector,orcommunionassistantatoneofourservices?Contact:PaXWilliamspaX.Williams@hibu.com(8am)EmmaIsraeleekisrael@gmail.com(10am)……………………………………………………………………………

GRATEFULSERVICE

QuilSngMinistry—BarbaraKuslarrecentlycompleted13quiltsthatwillbedeliveredtoLutheranServicesinIowa!IfyouwouldliketohelpcontactBarbaraat319-826-3794.……………………………………………………………………………

Aspecialopportunitytohelpchildreninneed,astheyreturntoschoolonAugust26:

• MakeaoneBmepurchaseordonaBonofback-packsandotherschoolsupplies(seelist…)

• MakeafinancialcontribuBontothisproject.Youcanplaceacheckwith“SchoolSupplies”onthememolineintheofferingplate,oramakesimilarlydesignatedgiiatthekioskinthenarthexorpayonlineatthewebsite.

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BacktoSchoolMonthSchoolisrightaroundthecorner!ThisBmeofyearisexciBngandstressfulformanyofus,butimaginewhatitwouldbeliketobeachildorteenwithanemoBonalorbehavioraldisorder.Youmightbeafraidofnotbeingabletoconcentrateorfitinatyourschool.YoumightworryaboutadjusBngtoanewclassroomrouBneormakingnewfriends.Youmightfeelalone,likenoonecanrelatetoyou.LutheranServicesinIowa(LSI)providesmentalhealthservicestochildrenandfamiliesacrossthestate.It’sourjobtorelatetochildrenwhomightfeelaloneormisunderstood.Ourtherapistsworkone-on-onewithchildrenwhileourBehavioralHealthIntervenBonServicesteamcollaborateswithfamiliesintheirownhomestohelpthemdevelopskillslikeangermanagementandhealthydecision-making.LSIalsopro-vides24-hourmentalhealthcareattheBremwoodandBeloitResidenBalTreatmentCentersinWaverlyandAmestoempowerIowa’smostvulnerablechildrenandteens.WethankyouforyoursupportofLSI’smissionaswerespondtogethertotheloveofJesusChristthroughcompassionateservice!WeknowtherearemoreIowachildreninneedofthiscriBcalcare.Ifyouwouldliketolearnmoreabouthowyoucangiveagiitosupportthesecrucialservices,pleasecontactDebWhi}ord,LSIdirectorofphilanthropyandchurchrelaBons,at563-676-2065orDeborah.Whi}ord@LSIowa.org.OurMission:LutheranServicesinIowarespondstotheloveofJesusChristthroughcompassionateservice.LSIisanaffiliatedsocialministrypartneroftheIowacongregaFonsoftheELCA(EvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica)andamemberofLSA(LutheranServicesinAmerica).Weproudlyservepeopleofallages,abiliFes,religions,sexes,genderidenFFes,naFonalorigins,ethniciFes,races,andsexualorientaFons.LearnmoreatLSIowa.organdFacebook.com/LSI.Iowa.

TheBestKindofBondSixteen-year-oldLokiwasstrugglinginschool.He’doncebeenambiBousandconscienBousaboutschool-work,butnow,hisgradeswereslipping.Hewasbecomingdetachedanddisconnectedfromhisfamilyandhisfriends.HeboQleduphisemoBonsandrefusedtoopenup.Hisdad,Troy,feltlikehissonwasslippingaway.Troythoughthe’dexhaustedallhisopBonsunBlhelearnedaboutLSI’sMentalHealthServices.

LokibeganmeeBngwithhisLSItherapist,Renae,regularly.ForthefirstBme,Lokihadaneutral,unbiasedpersontosharehisfeelingsandfrustraBonswith.ButRenaedidmorethanjustlisten.ShehelpedLokipracBcecopingskillsandlearnwaystofeelmorecomfortableopeningupandtrusBngotherpeoplewithhisfeelings.

lowlybutsurely,TroystartednoBcingLokibeingmoretalkaBveaierhissessionswithRenae.Lokitoldmorestoriesabouthisfriendsatschool,andTroysawhissonspendingmoreBmewithhisclassmatesattheendofthedayinsteadofbeingeagertogethome.WithRenaeinhiscornerandpracBcalskillstofallbackon,Lokifeelsmoreconfident.Heisthrivingatschoolagain.Hisgradesarebackup.Heismoreoutgo-ing,andhehasastrongerrelaBonshipathomewithTroy.

“I’malothappierandLokiisalothappier.EverythingisgoinginaposiBvedirecBon,”Troysays.“RenaeandLSIhavebeenexcellentworkingwithmyson,andhistherapyhasgonebeQerthanIimagined.”

Cedar Rapids Pride Parade!

St. Stephen’s at Pride Parade! (July 6)

Our congregation set-up a booth for the Cedar Rapids Pride Parade to show our love & support for our LGBTQ+ friends!

Members of the church met on July 14 to enjoy the weather

and have fun at the Bever Park Pool!

We had a Pool Party!

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St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch,ELCA61031stSt.SECedarRapids,IA52403-3021

ELECTRONICSERVICEREQUESTED

StaffDirectoryPastor Rev.Dr.RitvaWilliams pastorritva@gmail.comOfficeAdministrator SherryMercil office@ssluth.comMusicDirector DavidHaas music@ssluth.comPianoAccompanist LeslieHyland lesliehyland@gmail.comPremisesKeeper DebbiePolk (319)329-7655CouncilPresident DeeAnnHebrink dhebrink@yahoo.comCommunicaBonCoordinator DavidZorn sslcommcoord@gmail.com

SundayMorningSchedule8:00am FirstWorshipService9:00am Coffee&Fellowship9:15am LearningHour10:30am SecondWorshipService

WednesdayEveningSchedule6:30pm Worship

St.Stephen’sLutheranChurch(ELCA)isaReconcilinginChristcongregaBonthatwelcomesdiversi-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