For those of you who missed the 2011 Annual report, I would like to share with you my goals for the coming year along with an explanation of each:

In 2012 I intend to:

• Increase average Sunday worship attendance by 15% from 64 to 74.

One of the things the Synod told me is that on average a congregation’s worship attendance goes down 15% during the time when it is without a pastor. I looked at the ELCA’s Congregational Trend report (by the way you can look at the trend report of any ELCA church by going to the ELCA website and clicking the “Find a Congregation” button) and that was indeed the case. In the time between Pastors Kiesling and Olson-Smith attendance fell from 91-74. Likewise, in the time between Pastor Olson-Smith and me it fell from 74-64. I don’t intend to let this change be the new normal. I hope that even naming this trend will put “a bee in people’s bonnets” and encourage more regular worship attendance. (Suggestions for increasing worship attendance are also very welcome!)

• Take on the discipline of Evangelism as my Lenten devotion and encourage the congregation to do the same.

Typically we think of Lent as a time to give something up, a time of mourning, a time of preparation for Easter, perhaps even a time of purgation. Well, this year I am personally taking a different approach. I’m assuming the world is already giving up, mourning, yearning for Easter, and fulfillment. What better way to raise up, bring joy, proclaim Easter, and fill people with good things than to be in a 40 day habit of bring the good news about Jesus to others?!? I will encourage you all in a habit of Evangelism as well. One way I will do this is by including invitational post-cards in the bulletins during Lent.

• Familiarize myself with the ebb and flow of a whole church year as the ordained leader of St. Stephen.

I’m still new at this pastor thing and new to this community of faith. I need to keep asking myself “and what did I learn from that?”

• Work with the Social Ministry Committee to set up several new fellowship opportunities (eg Tuesday Pub Theology and Faith in Film)

The tentative date for the first Pub Theology is Tuesday the 7^th of February. The Subject will be “What is Church?”

• Move forward with the Building Committee in discerning the structural needs of the congregation and implement them.

We’ve covered a lot of ground and the ELCA’s regional building and finance guy will be coming to talk with the Church Council in February.

• Explore with the Evangelism Committee new ways to witness to the communities in which we live.

We have mainly been focusing on inactive members, but I think we can expand our efforts.

• Work with Christian Ed and Worship and Music committees to increase youth participation in worship

During my interviews to be pastor here one of the things St. Stephen said was important to us was attracting and keeping young people in church. At my internship church we did a program called Youth Involved in Worship. Here we are finding our own way of doing this.

• Examine alternative sources of revenue (eg $2,000 tax credit, $9,000 escrip, etc).

I have been dabbling at finding ways to save or make money for St. Stephen and if they were to all pan out I think we could save/make $14,000. Now, I hasten to add if we were to get this money it wouldn’t be for squirreling away in a bank, but for use toward ministry and furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Peace,

Pastor Chris

Thank you.  Your servant-leadership sets the table for worship and helps invite us into the living presence of God.

If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please find someone to cover you.  Drop us a line in the office (908/757-4474 or ststephen.elca@verizon.net) no later than Wednesday morning, so that the correct information may be printed in the Sunday bulletin.  Thanks again.

Click for Pastor’s article
Click for St. Stephen’s Calendar
Click for Serving Schedules

“Pub Theology”, A Thank You Note, Cemetery Plots, Ash Wednesday, Lenten Soup Suppers

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Introducing

“Pub Theology” with Pastor Chris

Where:  Flanagans, 2501 Plainfield Ave., So. Plainfield

When:  Feb. 7, 2012 – 8:00 – 9:00 PM

Topic:  What is Church?

This is an informal gathering for fellowship,

refreshments and discussion.  It’s open to the public,

so bring your friends and neighbors.

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A Thank You Note                                                                                              January 17, 2012

Thank you so much for your kindness to the least fortunate of our community.  Your continued support of our food pantry through your many donations throughout the year is so appreciated.  Today we were in receipt of your donation from your Octoberfest dinner and we cannot tell you how much we appreciate the generosity of your Church.

It is through the generosity of our community and organizations such as yours that we are able to assist those in need.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2012.

Margaret Ackerman

Director of Social Services

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Cemetery Plots Available

The church has deeds for several cemetery plots at Graceland Memorial Park in Kennelworth.

They are available to any member for just a transfer fee.  See Orvie Hoffman if interested.

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Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

7:30 PM   Worship

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Wednesday Lenten Soup Suppers

Observe Lent this year be attending our Wednesday Soup Suppers

followed by Vespers.

Five Wednesdays,

February 29, March 7, March 14,

March 21 and March 28, at 6:00 PM

followed by a short Vesper service at 7:15 PM

If you can provide soup, salad, bread,

beverage or dessert for any of the suppers,

 a sign-up sheet will be available

in the lobby at church soon.

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]]> http://saintstephenlutheranchurch.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/february-newsletter-2012/feed/ 0 Kathy Cortese http://saintstephenlutheranchurch.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/sun-22-january-2012-third-sunday-after-epiphany/ http://saintstephenlutheranchurch.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/sun-22-january-2012-third-sunday-after-epiphany/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:00:31 +0000 Kathy Cortese http://saintstephenlutheranchurch.wordpress.com/?p=1970 ]]> A digital version of this week’s worship bulletin and sermon.

Gathering

PRELUDE                                               “Agnus Dei”                                                  G. Bizet

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS 

GATHERING SONG                    “Children of the Heavenly Father”                 red book # 781

GREETING                     

CANTICLE OF PRAISE                                                                red book page 169 (set 6)

PRAYER of the DAY

Word

JONAH 3:1–5, 10                                           

PSALM 62:5–12

1 CORINTHIANS 7:29–31                            

SERMON                                                                                                       Pastor Chris Halverson

On this, the third Sunday of Epiphany.

This Sunday in which we as a Church will be meeting after service to report on the past and prepare for the future.

This Sunday in which we renew the leadership of the church council through the rite of installation.

Today, as we Baptize young Alyssa into Christ.

Today, I would like us to reflect for a moment on the meaning of Epiphany.

As I taught the children two Sundays ago both Archimedes and Isaac Newton were said to have Epiphany moments—Ahah! Moments. Eureka! Moments.

Moments in which everything became clear—a whole new way of looking at the world became, for them, the only way to look at the world.

And as we read from Paul’s advice to Corinth on how to live in the world in light of Christ and as we read of Simon and Andrew, James and John having their whole lives changed the moment they encounter Jesus. It becomes plain that they too were having Epiphany moments.

And so today, I want you to know that there will be Epiphany Moments. There will be Epiphany Moments.

Let us Pray.

I’m always astonished at the brevity and the quickness of Mark’s gospel. One minute Jesus is proclaiming the rule of God and requiring repentance and trust. The next minute he has a pack of four new disciples following him.

He shows up at their place of work. He makes a pithy comment about fishermen becoming fishers-of-men and tells them to follow him. And they immediately leave everything behind—immediately leave nets, boats, fish, and father.

Something between the moment Jesus’ words left his mouth and the moment they heard them was transformational.

Something in this encounter was powerful, was life changing.

Something shifted the way they saw everything.

All of a sudden everything they had was of minor importance compared to following after Jesus. Compared to the Kingdom of God///being a fisher-prince was nothing.

When the Kingdom of God knocked on their door/ that door no longer seemed all that important.

They had had an Epiphany moment, an Ahah moment. A Eureka moment. Because there will be Epiphany Moments.

Likewise, the Apostle Paul is himself a prime example of someone who has gone through an Epiphany moment. After his encounter with the risen Jesus Christ everything he knew about faith was turned upside down.

Up became down

night became day

the Christians he had been persecuting became beloved brothers and sisters.

And it is out of that Ahah moment—that Eureka moment—that Epiphany moment,

that Paul advises the Corinthians that they ought to disentangle themselves from the concerns of the world in order to be concerned with Christ.

He says if you are married be as if you are not married.

If you are mourning be as if you do not mourn.

If you are rejoicing be as if you are not rejoicing.

If you buy stuff stop buying stuff.

Just as the disciples left everything when Jesus said, “let’s go fish for people,” Paul is calling on the Corinthians to leave everything in order to follow Christ. He does this because he knows after an epiphany moment everything looks different.

After an epiphany moment everything makes sense in a different way—therefore the Corinthians should not be attached to the world as it was—because that world was passing away.

To use some modern examples: it would be like Paul writing to Mitt Romney’s campaign and saying, “Don’t get too attached to that win in Iowa—it will pass away. Don’t get too attached to that double digit lead in South Carolina—it too will pass away.”

Or it is like the Apostle Paul writing to a student who wanted to use Wikipedia during the Wikipedia blackout—he would say, “Don’t even try it—it won’t be there—it will have passed away.”

There will be Epiphany moments.

And these Epiphany moments aren’t things relegated to the past or to scripture—they are living moments in our lives.

I think of my friend Samantha and her Epiphany moment.

Sam’s Story

Lobbying Firm  Loans Church  LoanShark   Shark/Fisher of men

         And just in case you think that example let’s you off the hook because it was about someone becoming a pastor—just in case you think Epiphany moments are only for so called professional Christians I want to tell you about  my friend Ward from Baltimore and his Epiphany moment.

Adopt  Jake  Fatherhood  Grocery store Hopscotch  Tiles

And today I want to say to the whole church—as we meet to look toward the future, there will be Epiphany moments in the life of this community and we can’t prepare for them, but we can look forward to them together. We can hope for them because God continues to work on us and change us and surprise us.

And on this Sunday as we install new council members I want to say to them, There will be Epiphany moments as we vision and plan for this congregation and ultimately are astonished by God’s plans for us.

And on this third Sunday of Epiphany, as we Baptize little Alyssa—I want to say to her, and to her family—Baptism—being named and claimed by Christ and brought into community with his people here and throughout the world—Baptism, is an Epiphany moment. A moment that flips and shifts everything about Alyssa’s life. And there will be more Epiphany moments in her life, and I hope and I pray and I promise that the church will be there to follow Jesus with her in whatever he calls her to.

There will be Epiphany Moments.

Amen and Alleluia

HYMN of the DAY                                    “Borning Cry”                                 red book # 732

BAPTISM

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION

PEACE                                      

Meal

OFFERING

OFFERTORY  ANTHEM                             “Come As A Child”

GREAT THANKSGIVING

LORD’S PRAYER    

COMMUNION SONG                                                                    red book pg.208

          “Let There Be Peace on Earth”  also red # 522, red # 661

INSTALLATION OF COUNCIL

Sending

BLESSING                                                           

SENDING SONG              “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound”              red book # 779

DISMISSAL                                                                          

POSTLUDE

Gathering

 PRELUDE                                   “Glorify Thy Name”                             Donna Adkins

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS 

GATHERING SONG                            “Thy Strong Word”                     red book #511

GREETING                    

KYRIE                                                                                red book page 184 (set eight)

PRAYER of the DAY

Word

1 SAMUEL 3:1–20                                      

PSALM 139: 1–6, 13–18

1 CORINTHIANS 6:12–20                         

JOHN 1:43–51

SERMON                                                                                                  Pastor Fred Schott                                         

HYMN of the DAY                              “Here I Am, Lord”                        red book # 574

APOSTLES CREED    

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION       

PEACE                                      

Meal

OFFERING

OFFERTORY  ANTHEM                               “Holy, Holy”                        Jimmy Owens

GREAT THANKSGING

LORD’S PRAYER      

COMMUNION SONG                                                                         red book pg.208

Let There Be Peace on Earth”  also red # 676, red # 674

Sending

BLESSING

SENDING SONG              “Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing”         red book # 545

DISMISSAL                                                          

POSTLUDE

Gathering

PRELUDE                                         “Holy Holy”                                      Jimmy Owens

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

GATHERING SONG                “This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now”            red book # 448

GREETING                    

KYRIE                                                                                     red book page 184 (set eight)

PRAYER of the DAY

Word

GENESIS 1:1–5                                 

PSALM 29

ACTS 19:1–7                                       

MARK 1:4–11        

SERMON                                                                                             Pastor Chris Halverson                                         

Learning God’s loving Word, we invite others to faith, share God’s blessings, and serve all.

1.     Jesus is Lord and Savior.

2.    The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything.

3.    Baptism is only the beginning of our shared life in the Risen Christ.

4.    Prayer opens us to God.

5.    God guides us through the Bible.

6.     Listening to God and one another takes us beyond our differences.

7.     Welcoming all and helping others center us on God.

That is the purpose statement and guiding principles of this church. If you stop and reflect upon this document, you quickly realize it is richly theological and that it boils down a great deal of what it means to be church into a very small statement.

Yet there are dangers to statements like this.

We can say, “Whew, we finally finished writing that thing… we’re glad to be done,” and put it away in a desk somewhere, never letting it shape our life together.

Or all the valleys of deep thinking and hills of good intentions that went into the document are flattened out into 71 abstract words. We have the words on our lips, but their meaning and objective are far from our hearts.

Maybe its my inner-Luther coming out, but I can’t help but prod these statement a little—I can’t help but ask the same question of these 7 statements that Luther asked of the 10 commandments. He asked, and I echo, “What does this mean?”

And so, on this Sunday in which we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. On this Sunday in which we have read from the beginning of Genesis–I would like to hold up this church’s third guiding principle, “Baptism is only the beginning of our shared life in the Risen Christ.”

And, for the sake of today’s sermon I would ask you to step out of your comfort zone for at least a few minutes. I would ask that when I say, “Baptism is only the beginning,” you respond “What Does This Mean?”

I’m not asking you to do this as a gimmick, but because I want you to internalize this question. I want it to become natural for members of this church to ask how our guiding principles are to be lived out.

So let’s try this. “Baptism is only the beginning…What does this mean?”

“Baptism is only the beginning…What does this mean?”

Let us pray

“Baptism is only the beginning…What does this mean?”

The totality of our scriptures begin with a poetic description of the world before creation—in the process of creation.

“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was Xformless and void and darkness covered the face of the Xdeep, while a X wind from God swept over the face of the waters.”

Did you hear that—at the very start of our scripture water and wind—water and spirit—were entangling together in creative ways that brought about the goodness of God. If you read on in Genesis each day of creation, each creative action of God’s Spirit, is called Good.

However, it isn’t quite that simple. While the creative interaction of God’s Spirit-and-water leads toward goodness—water itself is complex.

Water is like it’s opposite—fire—which can heat a home or burn it down. Water can quench thirst or drown someone. Anyone who has been on a ship in a storm knows of this double nature.

And this water in Genesis is the DEEP. This is dangerous water—the dark and deep waters of which you can’t see the bottom—water as unyielding and frightening as the formless and void earth.

And that’s important to remember—if we claim that the very start of scripture points to our baptismal vocation—

and I think it is clear that those who chose these readings for our celebration of Jesus’ Baptism insist upon this.

If we claim Genesis one as Baptismal—God’s breath—God’s wind—God’s Spirit swept over the face of the waters. Even in the lifeless desolation of the Deep God’s Spirit is there—transforming the waters—breathing life into the dead and creating a new beginning.

“Baptism is only the beginning… what does this mean?”

First, it means the very start of scripture foreshadows Baptism… If we want to think of our Baptism as starting our life of faith it is a good idea to look and see that this first image of baptism is followed by 100’s of pages written over thousands of years. It’s only the beginning… it is the start of a long and continued relationship.

Second, it means our baptismal life should be leading us toward the goodness of God. Just as water and Spirit created an ongoing world that God has deemed Good—our life together should be leading us toward the goodness of God.

Third, it tells us the good news that God’s Spirit, which we receive at Baptism, is tough. The Spirit can take the Deep, it can sweep over and stick with us even through the most disastrous and destructive of times.

Baptism is only the beginning…what does this mean?”

When we turn to the Baptism of Jesus, we find a similar story to that which we find in Genesis. We find both danger and connection, both love and temptation.

As I mentioned to the Monday Afternoon Bible Study we find Isaiah 2.0—that is chapters 40-55 of the book of Isaiah—describing the return of those captured in Babylon as on par with Moses bringing his people up out of Egypt.

Yet, by the time we get to Isaiah 2.1—that is chapters 56-66—we find the people who have returned are disappointed—the return hasn’t been a second Exodus.

Well—it is likely that is part of what John the Baptizer is responding to at the Jordon.

He is symbolically taking up the character of Moses—his Baptism is finishing the 2^nd Exodus, it is bringing the people out of the desert through the waters.

And in the midst of all this—comes Jesus.

And, as John brings Jesus through the waters the heavens part—In fact the heavens tear apart. A word that does not occur again until Jesus’ death—when the curtains of the temple are torn apart. In both of these instances an epiphany occurs—we realize the separation between God and humans has been ripped asunder, and there—like a dove—is the spirit. We recognize that God’s beloved son has bridged the gap between heaven and earth. Through water and the spirit we see Jesus connecting us to God’s love.

And at the same time, if we were to peek forward, beyond this glorious affirmation from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased,” we would find the same secondary aspect of water and the spirit. We would find the Deep yet again. For you see, immediately after this message Jesus is driven out in the wilderness to be tempted by Satan—driven out into a formless and void wasteland.

Baptism is only the beginning…what does this mean?”

First, it means that through Baptism God tears open the wall separating us from God. God bridges the gap between the Holy and the Human.

Second, it doesn’t give us false hope. It makes sure we know that the temptations and hardships of life are not at an end.

Baptism is only the beginning…what does this mean?”

Baptism changes our relationship with God, our lives are brought into Jesus’ life and Jesus’ death and in that God comes near.

Near to us on our long continuous life together, through thick and thin, temptations and wilderness.

A lifelong calling being part of the creative goodness of God.

Baptism is only the beginning…what does this mean?”

HYMN of the DAY                     “When Jesus Came to Jordan”                 red book # 305

APOSTLES CREED    

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION

PEACE                                       

Meal

OFFERING

OFFERTORY  ANTHEM                     “Lord, Here Am I”

GREAT THANKSGIVING

LORD’S PRAYER      

COMMUNION SONG                                                                   red book pg.208

“Let There Be Peace on Earth”  also red # 456, red # 800

Sending

BLESSING                                                                                                      

SENDING SONG           “Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized”        red book # 304

DISMISSAL                                                           

POSTLUDE

We are in the New Year.

Gone is a year filled with economic uncertainty here and throughout the nation, and uncertainty here at St. Stephen about obtaining a new pastor.

This year we remember, and rejoice in, the lives of those who have joined the saints triumphant in the last year, especially Frances Lutes, Gertrude Kmosko and Alma Smith.

Additionally, the year 2011 marked another step in the process of closing St. Peter’s Lutheran. While the congregation closed in 2009, the building was not sold until the very end of last year. For those members of St. Stephen who transferred here from St. Peter’s I expect this sale will bring a sense of loss and maybe finality. Know you are very much members of St. Stephen and that your pastor is praying for you in this time of transition and closure.

This year, St. Stephen looks forward to greater stability and leadership, as we now have a pastor.

This year we welcome four new people to Church Council Mary Flannary, Linda Hansen, Patricia Klatt, and Dale Morin.

Additionally, St. Peter’s financially strengthened us with a portion of the money from the sale of that property.

I hope and pray that, with a new pastor, a renewal of council leadership, and an influx of money, 2012 will be a year in which we engage in ministry with renewed vigor and find new opportunities for learning, inviting, sharing, and serving—all for the sake of the gospel.

Peace,

Pastor Chris

Click for Pastor’s article
Click for St. Stephen’s Calendar
Click for Serving Schedules

Lutheran News Blurbs, Quote Scramble, Annual Congregational Meeting, Annual Reports, Cemetery Plots Available

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Lutheran News Blurbs from the last year:

• Roberta Gbowee, the Lutheran peace activist who is responsible for organizing the non-violent women’s movement that brought an end to a 14-year civil war in Liberia, received the Nobel Peace Prize
• The ELCA elected its first female chair of the Conference of Bishops
• The National Council of Churches elected its first Lutheran as President
• Alive in Christ Lutheran Mission in Jackson, NJ became the newest worshipping community of the New Jersey Synod
• Secretary of State Clinton highlighted the ELCA as being on the forefront of work with immigrants and providing social services.

Quote Scramble

Match the following quotes with their author:

(Answers:  A 4, B 1, C2, D 3)

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Annual Congregational Meeting

Sunday, January 22, 2012

After the 10:30 a.m. worship service

Please plan on attending!

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Annual Reports

are due on Tuesday, January 10, 2012!

Reports can be emailed to the church at

ststephen.elca@verizon.net.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Cemetery Plots Available

The church has deeds for several cemetery plots at Graceland Memorial Park in Kennelworth.

They are available to any member for just a transfer fee.  See Orvie Hoffman if interested.

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Gathering

PRELUDE                                        “Noel Suisse”                           Lois-Claude Daquin

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS

GATHERING SONG                    “Once in Royal David’s City”              red book # 269

GREETING                     

KYRIE                                                                     red book page 184 (set eight)

PRAYER of the DAY

Word

ISAIAH  61:10—62:3                                

PSALM 148

GALATIANS 4:4–7                                   

ACTS 6:1–6; 7:54–60

HYMN SING                                                                       

HYMN of the DAY                             “Good King Wenceslas”                            

APOSTLES CREED   

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION

PEACE                                       

Meal

OFFERING

OFFERTORY  ANTHEM                     “The Birthday of a King”                   Neidlinger

GREAT THANKSGIVING

LORD’S PRAYER      

COMMUNION SONG         “Lamb of God” red pg. 154, “Let There Be Peace on Earth”

                                                     also red # 290, red # 294, red # 296

Sending

BLESSING

SENDING SONG                   “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”              red book # 272

DISMISSAL                                                           

POSTLUDE

Thank you.  Your servant-leadership sets the table for worship and helps invite us into the living presence of God.

If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please find someone to cover you.  Drop us a line in the office (908/757-4474 or ststephen.elca@verizon.net) no later than Wednesday morning, so that the correct information may be printed in the Sunday bulletin.  Thanks again.