St. Stephen’s Weekly News: Week of August 7, 2022

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 introducing yourself to a Pastor and filling out a Connect Card and hand it to an usher, pastor, or place in the offering box. Thank you!
• 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.

Radio Service: 9:30am on WBEV 95.3 FM
PLEASE NOTE: WBEV is changing from 1430 AM to 95.3 FM!
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Sermon: God Adopts Us As His Sons
Hymns: CW93 (Red)  221, 352, 351, 321
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Sermon: God Leads Us Into Battle
Hymns: CW93 (Red) 457, 413, 474, 596

Israel Presentation:  Pastor Stratman will give a slideshow/presentation of his trip to Israel during Coffee Fellowship time today.

School Supplies Donated school supplies are in the church fellowship area for any and all children of our congregation.  Supplies will be out the entire month of August or until gone.

Door Offering For Fair Booth   $ was gathered last week to help with the expenses associated with operating our booth at the County Fair.  Thank you to all who donated.

Bible Study

Sunday Bible Class  Please join us in our continuous study of, “The Life of Abraham”.  Abraham’s life was filled with highs and lows. At times Abraham wondered how God would fulfill his promises. God did not disappoint Abraham. God constantly repeated those promises to Abraham to strengthen his faith. Even though Abraham did not see fulfillment of all those promises during his life, his faith held to God’s Word. Come and join us for this opportunity to grow in our faith together. Families are welcome to attend!

WELS Informational Booth will again be operated at the Dodge County Fair, August 17-21.   WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Volunteers are needed to staff the booth and to visit with “stoppers-by”.  All it takes is a smile and a willingness to be friendly!  A sign-up chart is on the entryway table or call the church office 920-885-3309 or new this year, register on signup genius!

WELS Seniors Area seniors are invited to Friedens Lutheran Church in Randolph on Tuesday, August 9th.  We will host a potluck meal at noon.  After the meal we will head upstairs for a devotion by Pastor Ben Zuberbier of Zion, Columbus.  Our guest speaker is State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt.  He will speak about “A Christian in Government.”  Friedens is handicapped accessible.  All those 55 and older are welcome.

A Taste of Hand Bell Choir On Wednesday, August 17 and August 24 at 7:00pm, we will be having a “Taste of Hand Bells.”  Anyone who might like to see what Hand Bells are about or are interested in joining, we would love to have you come on either or both of these dates.  The Hand Bell Choir will be starting practices later in September and we are in need of new members.  Experience is not needed as we would enjoy teaching you how to play the bells.  Our practices are Wednesday evenings at 7:15pm until about 8:30pm in the church balcony.  Please call Ranee Welch (920) 887-1624 by August 15 and leave a message if you are interested in knowing more or would like to join.

St. Stephen’s School Registration is today, Sunday, August 7, 9:00am-12:00pm or Monday, August 8, 4:00pm-7:00pm.  If you are unable to register at these times, please contact Mr. Schulz.

Summer Financial Stewardship / Ministry Support Update God has done so much for us. He continues to give us our daily bread. In thanksgiving and love we give of our firstfruits in loving response for all God does for us.  We rejoice over such love and faithful support of St. Stephen’s! Summer always proves to be a lean time financially for our church, mostly due to vacations resulting in inconsistent attendance and offerings.  At the end of June, our expenses have exceeded our income so that we have a negative balance  in our General Fund.  What does this mean for the Lords’ work we want to do here?  It means that at some point, the Council may determine that the church will need to take a loan to cover general fund expenses. In these days ahead, please consider how greatly God has blessed you – forgiveness, eternal life, family, material blessings, and more – and in faith in his promises increase our gifts for support of our ministry.

Senior Choir 2022-2023  St. Stephen’s Senior Choir is about to begin another year of praising the Lord in song! Senior Choir is an opportunity for all confirmed members of our church who enjoy music to enjoy fellowship, sing beautiful choral music, and glorify our God. Senior Choir rehearses every Thursday during the school year from 7:30-8:45pm. We primarily sing at church festivals, such as Reformation, Christmas, Holy Week, and Ascension. If you cannot make every rehearsal, or if you only want to participate during a certain part of the year (only Christmastime, only Lent, etc.), you are still welcome and encouraged to join us.   Our first rehearsal is Thursday, August 25, at 7:30pm in the school Choir Room. If you want to participate in Senior Choir at any point this year but cannot make the first rehearsal, please contact Mr. Barnett (see below) so that a music folder can be prepared for you. There is no commitment, and latecomers are welcome at any point in the year. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact the director, Mr. Barnett, at jbarnett@saintstephen.org or 262-234-2981. See you on August 25th!

Our Response to God’s Grace in Christ:

Bible Study Participation:   Sunday – 14
Worship Participation

Thursday, July 28 –51          Friday, July 29 – 48

Sunday, July 31 –   124 + 127= 251              Total: 350

Thank Offerings Received:

We offer our gifts to our Savior God purely out of thanks for his grace.  Our gifts support the Gospel ministry we have planned. Here is some information on that support:

Calendar: 

Sunday, August 7

8:00 & 10:00am –Worship

9:00am – Noon – School Registration

9:10am – Coffee Fellowship with Pastor Stratman-
Israel Presentation

9:30am – Radio Service, WBEV 95.3 FM
Monday, August 8

4:00-7:00pm School Registration

Tuesday, August 9

6:00pm- Board of Education

Thursday, August 11

6:30pm –Communion Worship

Friday, August 12

1:30pm – Communion Worship

Sunday, August 14

8:00 & 10:00am – Communion Worship

9:10am – Family Bible Study

9:30am – Radio Service, WBEV 95.3 FM