St. Stephen’s Weekly News: Week of December 8, 2019

St. Stephen’s Weekly News:
Week of December 8, 2019

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!

Holy Communion will be offered today in all services. You may register by card at any time or register in person in the sacristy. We ask all guests to please speak with a pastor before communing.

Funeral  Shirley Roberts was called home to heaven on November 27, 2019, age 86.  Her funeral was conducted December 3, 2019.

Radio Service: 9:30am on AM 1430 WBEV
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Sermon: Prepare to Meet Your Savior
Hymns: 61, 63, 64, 66
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Sermon: Mary: A Favored, Blessed, Believing Servant
Hymns: 73(2), 275, 74, 70

Christmas Invitations are on the table in back of church.  Please share with a friend or loved one.

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 will be recessed until January 5.
• Fall Bible Study “God’s Grace Learned Through Hard Lessons”. This study will be an overview of the book of Numbers. When hard times come, we can easily give up and feel like God is not with us. However, we will see the rich grace of God given to his people even during very difficult times. We will meet Mondays at 7:00pm and Wednesdays at 11:00am. All are welcome!

Quarterly Voters’ Meeting will be today Sunday, December 8^th, at 11:40 am.  At this meeting we will adopt the 2019 Ministry Spending Plan and call for a Principal.  All voting members are encouraged to attend.

WELS International Youth Rally  will be held in Knoxville, TN from June 23-25, 2020. This is for all teens who are confirmed. At this rally there are workshops, recreation, and entertainment. Come join with over 2,000 fellow teens to build your faith and friendships. If anyone is interested, please speak with Pastor Dorn. We need to know who will be going by January. Financial assistance is available for those wishing to attend.

Relax with a Christmas Concert!  Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 P.M. Maggie (former St. Stephen’s member, pianist) and husband Tim Rebers (tenor) will present a Christmas concert in our sanctuary, titled “Mystery & Celebration”.  There will be sacred and secular pieces, some arranged by Tim.  It’s free and open to the public.  Invite friends.  Donations are appreciated.

2020 Offering Envelopes are now available for pick-up in the church basement.  Please use the initial offering envelope in the front of your packet to cover the cost of the envelopes.  Envelopes may then be placed in the collection plate or in the box in the basement.

St. Stephen’s Radio Service Join us on WBEV 1430 for a special one hour Christmas radio service, Wednesday, Christmas Day, December 25 at 11am. This service is a composite recording of our School and Candlelight Christmas Eve Services from previous years.

St. Stephen’s Piano Students Recital will be held on Monday, December 16^th at 6 pm. The recital will be taking place in the church this year. We ask that the ramp entrance be the main entrance for this event.

St. Stephen’s Band Students Recital will be held on Tuesday, December 17^th at 6 pm in the school gym.

Luther Prep School Christmas Concerts will be Sunday December 15^th at 3pm and Thursday December 19th at 10am.  Both concerts will be in the Luther Prep gymnasium.  All are welcome.

Advent Song Service Our Advent Song Service featuring Junior and Senior Choirs will be Sunday, December 22 in the 9:00 and 10:30 services.

Christmas Services at St. Stephen’s

December 24^th, 6:00 P.M. – Day School Children’s Service

December 24^th, 10:00 P.M. – Christmas Eve Candlelight

December 25^th, 9:00 A.M. – Christmas Day Worship

“Mistaken” Jacket?  A few weeks ago, a jacket was taken from the front of church by mistake.  It looks a lot like the mauve jacket that still hangs there but the “mistaken” jacket has a hood attached.  If you own that color jacket, please check yours at home and see if you may have mistaken the one with the hood.  Thank you!

School Open House: On Sunday, December 22^nd, the school classrooms will be open after all services (8:30a-11a) to view the many different Christmas decorations and projects the children have been crafting.

Our Response to God’s Grace in Christ:

Participation:
Wednesday, November 27 & Thursday, November 28:  153 + 124= 277

Sunday, December 1:  88 + 138 + 130 = 356

Calendar: 

Sunday, December 8 – Ushers E

7:30, 9:00, 10:30am – Communion Worship

9:00am – Sunday School

9:30am – Radio Service, WBEV 1430

11:40am – Quarterly Voters’ Meeting

2:00pm – Advent by Candlelight

5:30pm – Men’s Basketball

Monday, December 9

7:00pm – Bible Class

Tuesday, December 10

6:00pm – Board of Education

6:30pm – Jesus Cares Worship @ GS

7:00pm – Radio Recording

Wednesday, December 11

11:00am – Bible Class

1:45pm – Hillside Manor Service

3:30pm – Public School Catechism

Thursday, December 12 – Ushers E

6:30pm – Worship

7:30pm – Senior Choir

Sunday, December 15 – Ushers A

7:30, 9:00, 10:30am – Worship

9:00am – Sunday School

9:30am – Radio Service, WBEV 1430

3:00pm – Rebers Concert

5:30pm – Men’s Basketball