St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church Amazing grace, Joyful lives Parish Notes November 30, 2014 Vision Statement St. Stephen’s, an open and loving congregation, will provide a safe and welcoming spiritual home, so all have opportunities to worship God and serve others. Mission Statement St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church invites all people into a joyful and faithful relationship with God by following Jesus, teaching, baptizing, and celebrating the Lord’s presence. We are committed to share God’s love by caring for each other and for the world around us. St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church A member of the ELCA 1001 Olson Lane, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 Church Office: 916.933.1441 Email: st-steph@sslcedh.org Website: www.sslcedh.org Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 8:00AM–5:00PM Closed for lunch: 12:00-1:30 Friday Closed SERVICE & SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES Two services every Sunday: 8:30 AM - Traditional Service 10:30 AM - Celebration Service Children’s Sunday School Begins at 10:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall, then moves to the sanctuary at approx. 11:10 AM to join in Communion. Confirmation Class 9:40 - 10:20am Dec. 7: Next Sunday Single Service at 10am Oakridge Chorale Advent Season begins today (Nov 30)! The traditional color for advent is Blue. So if you have blue clothing, consider wearing it next Sunday, Dec. 7, and again the 14th, and 21st. Christmas Eve Service 7:00 pm Join us for a very special evening service. Christmas Party Beginning 12:00 noon Dec. 21st after 2nd service Terbijhe Potluck The Terbijhes are once again generously opening their home to the members and friends of St. Stephen’s for a potluck luncheon. Please bring a dish to share. Lutheran Social Services Christmas Baskets Make your donation today for the LSS Christmas Baskets. Envelopes are in the Narthex. Your support is vital to help LSS continue their work. Your gifts and prayers help to change lives every day. Brenna Mulligan was asked to perform with the Moscow ballet when they present their performance of the Nutcracker at The Harris Center in Folsom this Christmas season. Her performance dates and times are: December 9th @ 7:00pm December 10 @ 3:00pm December 11 @ 7:00pm December 12 @ 7:00pm Youth & Family Retreat at Zephyr Point It's that time! Reserve your spot for the Youth and Family Retreat, January 23-25, 2015. We will be at Zephyr Point, a lovely retreat center right on Lake Tahoe. Cost is $185 per family or $50 per person. As we have a deposit to pay, please make your reservation by paying a portion or the total amount, payable to St. Stephen's Lutheran Church. (Put Youth and Family Retreat in memo line). Lunch Bunch! Every Wednesday Bible Study We will be studying: May I have This Dance? It’s a generous invitation to pause, renew, and surrender to a God who has some wonderful new steps to teach us. Noon—2pm Bring an item for the salad bar Thank you everyone for your help at T.J.’s memorial service Celebrate the Wonders Cantare Chorale In Concert Under the direction of Mariia Pechenova Date & Time: December 13, 7:00 pm St. Stephen's Lutheran Church $12.00—see posters for more info December 13, 2014 1:00pm CK McClatchy High School Auditorium 3066 Freeport Blvd. Parking: Free at school and on street Call Pat Kriz 916.933.0850 to carpool to this wonderful Christmas event! St. Stephen’s members give from their hearts El Dorado County Food Bank: The food basket in the Narthex is delivered to the food bank weekly. You may bring non-perishable items when you come to worship or any time. Soup, cereal, peanut butter and baby food are highly desirable. Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others. ~ Augustine Save the dates for Mosaic Friday’s Dec 5, 19 And by special arrangement 12:00pm—3:00pm Veterans' Voices Tell Your Story A series of writing workshops designed to help traumatized El Dorado County veterans heal through writing. Offered at the El Dorado Arts Council, 772 Pacific St, Placerville, CA (The Historic Fausel House) Thursday evenings, 6:30-9:30 pm. Dec. 4, 11, 18 & Saturday December 6, 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Free to Veterans. For more information: 530-295-3496 Mariia Pechenova Will Insalaco Linda Mulligan Payton Wichert Seth McCracken 11/04 11/07 11/08 11/11 11/27 Darren Weinreich 12/04 Mary Kate Mulligan 12/06 Oystein & Carol Lee Solheim 11/20 Altar Flowers are provided by The McCracken family Happy “10th” Birthday Seth Poinsettias Sign up for Poinsettias in the narthex LESSONS Readings: Psalm: Gospel: Next Sunday, Dec. 7 Isaiah 40:1–11 2 Peter 3:8–15a 85:1–2, 8–13 Mark 1:1–8 Al Schmidt Recuperating—heart issues Lynne Klyse Breast Cancer Judy Jewell Recovering from heart surgery The Family of TJ Hanson-Smith Died 11/4/14 John Wilson For a quick & peaceful passing—Kim’s uncle Frank and Alice LaPinta Physical Healing Pastor Trudy Healing of Lyme Disease Jack Reilly Recuperation and Energy Jim and Judy Bergquam Physical healing Connie Badal Dialysis complications Ron Keil Prayers for continued healing Bob Mulligan By Pass Surgery Dec. 1st Our Values Statement We Value God’s Relationship to Us “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” 1 John 3:1 We Value the Activities of Spiritual Life Worship. Prayer. Stewardship. Education. Generosity. Witness. Mutual Care. “Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:11 We Value Each Other “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 We Value the World Around Us “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.” John 3:16 “…and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 We Value Forgiveness “So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23 2014 Council Officers Trudy Franzen - Pastor (916) 835-5092 Bert Terbijhe - President (530) 306-6858 Gary Nelson - Financial Director (916) 939-0845 Bob Dorr - Vice-President (916) 933-1788 Penny Knudsen - Secretary (916) 941-6433 Council Members Barbara Peterson (916) 984-8210 Jackie McCracken (916) 792-5723 Dan Stein (916) 941-7585 Chris Klyse (916) 933-1755 Seat 9 OPEN Council Meetings: Council Meetings are second Tuesday of every month. Members are welcome! Next meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 7:00pm. Church Staff Trudy Franzen - Pastor Arleen Gouine– Church Administrator / Bookkeeper Kim Stein - Church Administrator / Bookkeeper Mariia Pechenova—Church Organist / Pianist