St. Stephen’s Weekly News: Week of March 15, 2020

Welcome Visitors If you are visiting today, we welcome you in our Risen and Living Savior, Jesus!

• Please let us know you worshiped with us by signing our guest book in the entryway or a Care Card in your pew and drop it in the offering basket.
• If visiting, please don’t feel obligated to give an offering. St. Stephen’s members express thankfulness to God through their voluntary offerings which then support the congregation’s work.
• Introduce yourself to a Pastor, and worship with us again!

Funeral Harvey Goetsch was called home to heaven on March 11, 2020, age 92.  Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, March 17^th.

Radio Service: 9:30am on AM 1430 WBEV
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Sermon: Only the Blind Can See Jesus
Hymns: 16, 512, 514, 352:1,4
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Sermon: Natural Disaster or Divine Judgment?
Hymns:  145, 523, 521, 348

Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society Spring door offering for special WELS mission projects will be gathered this Sunday and next Sunday, March 15 & 22.

Voters Meeting to call for open School positions will be Sunday, March 22^nd at 11:40am.  All members are encouraged to attend.

Bible Studies

• Women’s Bible Study Group meets on Wednesday nights at 6pm. Copies of the study are available in the church entry and at study time. All women of the congregation are welcome.
• Men’s Bible Study meets Sundays at 6:30pm in the room above the church office. All men of the congregation are welcome.
• Winter Bible Study “Our Journey through the Gospel of John”. This study will be an overview of the book of John. The beloved disciple’s goal in writing his gospel was to show us who Jesus truly is. We will meet Mondays at 7:00pm and Wednesdays at 11:00am.  All are welcome!

Decoratoring for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, & Easter

20 or more people are needed – please meet in front of church
(side door and ramp will be open)

Times are:

• Saturday, April 4th, 9:00am – Put Up Palms
• Sunday, April 5th, 11:30am – Take Palms down and put away
• Saturday, April 11th, 8:00am –Put Up Window & Lily Cross
• Sunday, April 19th, 11:30am –Put Away Decorations

Easter Lilies A sign-up sheet for donating Easter lilies has been placed on the back table.  Please have lilies here by 9am on April 11th.  Lilies are able to be picked up after the 10:30 service on April 19th.

Camp Wyalusing Registration is now open for Camp Wyalusing. Camp Wyalusing is a week-long Lutheran camp for students who have completed grades 2-8, and is staffed by dedicated WELS volunteers. Our camp seeks to offer a week of fun indoor and outdoor activities, Bible study, worship, and fellowship in a friendly Christian atmosphere. It is located at Wyalusing State Park near Prairie du Chien, WI, and will run July 12-17, 2020. Cost of the camp is $125 per camper. For more information or to register for camp, visit our brand new website at campwyalusing.com.

Lent is the time when Christians focus their attention on all that Jesus did to redeem us.  When we see his great sacrificial love for us sinners, we can’t help but respond.  Our Lenten messages for our midweek services this year focus on the theme:  “The Son of God Goes Forth to War”

Wednesday, March 18         Hidden Warrior

Pastor Dorn

Wednesday, March 25        The Warrior Faces Satan’s Ally – The World

Pastor Stratman

Wednesday, April 1           Reconnaissance Report:  Know Your Enemy

Pastor Brandt (St. John’s)

What a wonderful opportunity for all of us to focus on Jesus Christ in his atoning work on the cross.  What a wonderful way for all of us to appreciate more clearly the tremendous love Jesus has for us and all people.
Plan to be here each Wednesday at 1:30 or 6:30 P.M.  Why not also invite someone who is unchurched to join you for these special services.

Lenten Suppers!  Once again this year there will be a light supper in our church basement before our 6:30 services provided by some of our church organizations.  It will run from 5:15-6:00 P.M. each Wednesday during Lent.
This week our Council/Evangelism group will be hosting a chili meal. We hope that this will make it easier for our busy families to come for these special worship services as well as give many of us another opportunity to enjoy Christian fellowship with one another.

Good Shepherd will be recognizing Mrs. Tracy Rabata’s 20 years of service to the preschool. Refreshments and a reception will be held between services on Sunday, March 29. Anyone who would like to attend this special day of thanks for God’s blessings through Mrs. Rabata are invited to attend.

Easter Breakfast  Sign-up sheets to donate baked goods such as sweet rolls, coffee cake, doughnuts, etc. for Easter breakfast and to volunteer to help serve Easter breakfast have been placed on the table in the entryway.   Baked goods can be brought to the school gym on Saturday, April 11^th, from 10:00am -1:00pm.
Easter Breakfast will be served on April 12^th continuously from 7:00-10:30am.

Our Response to God’s Grace in Christ:

Participation:

Wednesday, March 4: 127 + 250= 377

Sunday, March 8:  80 + 143 + 209 = 432

Calendar:

 Sunday, March 15 – Ushers A

7:30, 9:00, 10:30am – Worship

9:30am – Radio Service, WBEV 1430

6:30pm – Men’s Bible Class

Monday, March 16 – Spring Break Week-No School

6:00pm – Church Council

7:00pm – Bible Class

Tuesday, March 17

6:00pm – Bible Study 4 Women

6:30pm – PTS Meeting

Wednesday, March 18

11:00am – Bible Class

1:30pm – Lenten Worship

1:45pm – Hillside Manor Service

3:30pm – Public School Catechism

5:15pm – Fellowship Meal

6:30pm – Lenten Worship

7:30pm – Senior Choir

Thursday, March 19

11:00am – Bible Information Class

7:00pm – Handbells

Friday, March 20

1:30pm – Prayer Service

Sunday, March 22 – Ushers B

7:30, 9:00, 10:30am – Worship

9:30am – Radio Service, WBEV 1430

11:45am – Voters’ Call Meeting

6:30pm – Men’s Bible Class