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(kenkathynathan@gmail.comor393-5615).

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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,atdeborah.whipord@LSIowa.org.

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,orcontactMelOstmoatmelanieostmo@mac.com.

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 (mhowland1983@gmail.comor515-988-5183).

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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 pastorritva@gmail.comYouth&YoungAdultMinister MarkHowland mhowland1983@gmail.comPastoralIntern KrisCGrieder kvh.grieder@gmail.comOfficeManager SusanHallock office@ssluth.comMusicDirector DavidHaas music@ssluth.comPianoAccompanist LeslieHyland lesliehyland@gmail.comPremisesKeeper DebbiePolk (319)329-7655CouncilPresident JeanneTowell thetowells@msn.comeNewsEditor MarilynLoan marilyn.loan@me.com

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