The Evangel St. Stephen Lutheran Church Life can only be under- stood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. —Soren Kierkegaard Inside this issue: From the Pastor (cont’d.); Adult Sunday Class; Sunday School Update; Scripture Readings 2 Mitten Tree; Birthdays & Anniversaries 3 Budget Update 4 Food Bank News 5 The Faith 5 6 Lay Minister Schedule 7 Annual Meeting 8 Volume 54, Issue 1 January 2013 As I’m writing this, my mind is swirling with lots of different things….. the beginning of a new year (since this is the January newsletter article); the tragic and horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that claimed the lives of 20 first grade children, six teachers and the shooter himself; the state of our country where assault weapons are legal, and where our Senate passed Senate Bill 59 that would have permitted persons to carry con- cealed weapons into current gun-free zones such as schools, child care centers, churches and sports arenas had the Governor not vetoed it; the state of mental health care in our country where many do not have access to care because they either cannot afford insurance, are underinsured, or their plan doesn’t cover mental health care; and finally Christ- mas and preparing to preach on Christmas Eve and wondering what the birth of Jesus, God With Us, has to do with all of this. Collectively as a church and as a nation, our hearts are heavy with grief for the community and fami- lies who have had their lives turned upside down, and for the children and educators whose lives have been cut short in such a dramatic way. In the days since the shootings happened, I’ve heard so many people trying to make sense of what’s hap- pened and to understand where God is in the tragic events. I’ve heard a few good things and lots of really bad theology. For me, the bottom line is that this doesn’t make sense, and never will make sense, no matter what we say or how we try to understand it. The reality is that we live in a world that is broken by sin and not what God intended it to be. As a result of that brokenness, senseless and tragic events like New- town happen, and we have a world where assault weapons are legal, and people don’t have access to needed mental health care, and countless children die of starvation, and….. I think you get the pic- ture. A depressing way to celebrate Christmas and begin a new year! Except for this….. in Christmas, in Jesus, God chose to become human and be with us in a profound and different way!.... to experience life as we do, including all the brokenness, pain and tragedy. Jesus is Emmanuel – God With Us. This means that even in the midst of the tragic and diffi- cult stuff of life we are not alone! Paul says it elo- quently in Romans 8: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or per- secution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?.....No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus! Not tragic school shootings, not the problems of our world and society, not the un- certainty of our economy or a new year, not any- thing. God is with us and somehow at work despite all of this to bring new and wholeness and healing. Nothing will separate us from the love of God. As we enter a new year with all the excitement, anticipation and uncertainty a new year brings, hold fast to the promise that nothing will separate us from the love of God. Nothing. (Continued on back page) From the Pastor... Justified by grace, we are a Community of Servants who follow Jesus’ example by living lives of service to others.
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The Evangel St . S tep hen Lut h eran Ch ur c h
Life can only be under-
stood backwards;
but it must be lived
forwards.
—Soren Kierkegaard
Inside this issue:
From the Pastor
(cont’d.); Adult Sunday
Class; Sunday School
Update; Scripture
Readings
2
Mitten Tree; Birthdays
& Anniversaries
3
Budget Update 4
Food Bank News 5
The Faith 5 6
Lay Minister Schedule 7
Annual Meeting 8
Volume 54, Issue 1 January 2013
As I’m writing this, my mind is swirling with lots of
different things….. the beginning of a new year
(since this is the January newsletter article); the
tragic and horrific school shooting in Newtown,
Connecticut that claimed the lives of 20 first grade
children, six teachers and the shooter himself; the
state of our country where assault weapons are
legal, and where our Senate passed Senate Bill 59
that would have permitted persons to carry con-
cealed weapons into current gun-free zones such as
schools, child care centers, churches and sports
arenas had the Governor not vetoed it; the state of
mental health care in our country where many do
not have access to care because they either cannot
afford insurance, are underinsured, or their plan
doesn’t cover mental health care; and finally Christ-
mas and preparing to preach on Christmas Eve and
wondering what the birth of Jesus, God With Us,
has to do with all of this.
Collectively as a church and as a nation, our hearts
are heavy with grief for the community and fami-
lies who have had their lives turned upside down,
and for the children and educators whose lives
have been cut short in such a dramatic way. In the
days since the shootings happened, I’ve heard so
many people trying to make sense of what’s hap-
pened and to understand where God is in the tragic
events. I’ve heard a few good things and lots of
really bad theology.
For me, the bottom line is that this doesn’t make
sense, and never will make sense, no matter what
we say or how we try to understand it. The reality
is that we live in a world that is broken by sin and
not what God intended it to be. As a result of that
brokenness, senseless and tragic events like New-
town happen, and we have a world where assault
weapons are legal, and people don’t have access to
needed mental health care, and countless children
die of starvation, and….. I think you get the pic-
ture.
A depressing way to celebrate Christmas and begin
a new year! Except for this….. in Christmas, in
Jesus, God chose to become human and be with us
in a profound and different way!.... to experience
life as we do, including all the brokenness, pain and
tragedy. Jesus is Emmanuel – God With Us. This
means that even in the midst of the tragic and diffi-
cult stuff of life we are not alone! Paul says it elo-
quently in Romans 8:
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or per-secution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?.....No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of
God in Christ Jesus! Not tragic school shootings, not
the problems of our world and society, not the un-
certainty of our economy or a new year, not any-
thing. God is with us and somehow at work despite
all of this to bring new and wholeness and healing.
Nothing will separate us from the love of God.
As we enter a new year with all the excitement,
anticipation and uncertainty a new year brings,
hold fast to the promise that nothing will separate
us from the love of God. Nothing.
(Continued on back page)
From the Pastor...
Justified by grace, we are a
Community of Servants who
follow Jesus’ example by living
lives of service to others.
Page 2 Volume 54, Issue 1
January 6: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
January 13: Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
January 20: Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11
January 27: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21
January Scripture Readings
On Sunday, January 20 Pastor Gary will begin teaching a new class during the regular Sunday School time of 9:45 - 10:45. The class is called: Enough.
Money has great power in our lives and, when used wisely, helps us meet our goals, provide for our needs, and fulfill our life purpose. But in recent
years, many of us ignored this when managing and spending our money. We found ourselves spending tomorrow's money today. The result of all of
this was not greater happiness but greater stress and anxiety. Enough is an invitation to rediscover the Bible's wis-
dom on prudent financial practices. Find the keys to experiencing contentment, overcoming fear, and discovering joy
through simplicity and generosity. Topics include: Faith in the Midst of Financial Crisis; When dreams become night-
mares; Wisdom and finance; Cultivating contentment; Defined by generosity; and To be a blessing. The class runs
through Sunday March 3.
Adult Sunday Class
Sunday School- Continues on Jan. 6 at 9:45am. Ms. Kathy and Ms. Heath's classes will start in the Fellowship Hall from 9:45am-
10am for their Opening and Mr. Brian's class will begin in the Lounge on the Middle Level at 9:45am.
Sunday School Update
I offer this prayer from our hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship: O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils un-known. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love sup-porting us; through Jesus Chris our Lord. Amen
May God’s unfailing love support and strengthen you in the coming year.
Pastor
From the Pastor (cont’d.)
The Evangel Page 3
2 Larry Ozanich
4 Angela Bennett
8 Don Jubb
9 Adam Gaudard
11 DeAnn McPherson Butts
15 Madison Telder
17 Robert Schelter
18 Joe Piirainen
Lorri Wells
Jay Bennett
19 Connie Rohrer
Nate Sturdevant
20 Dave Lyons
21 Joe Sturdevant
22 Jim Dartt
25 Jeff Seifert
26 Lloyd Kleinhenz
Suzie Kriser
28 Ben Cox
29 Kayla Yusten
30 Jeff Lewis
17 Jerry Armstrong & Jackie
Williams-Armstrong
22 Don & Margaret Sheffer
JANUARY Birthdays! JANUARY
Anniversaries!
Mitten Tree
Mitten Tree-Thank-you for your generous support of the Mitten Tree for Cumberland Elementary! The branches were heavy with mittens, gloves,
hats and scarves. They will be delivered to Cumberland in early January. Thanks again! The Sunday School
The Evangel Page 4
Rebecca Bossenbroek, President Ron Miller, Facilities Development Julie Shonts, Secretary
Gary Bunge, Pastor Jim Dixon, Welcome Ministry Diane Singletary, Leadership Development
Bob Cameron, Financial Development Holly Lefanty, Nourish Ministry Bonnie V’Soske, Serve Ministry
Brian Yusten, Treasurer
On December 9, 2012, the congregation approved the budget proposed by council for 2013. This budget includes an extension of the term of the
remaining mortgage balance of $9,800. This amount has been paid in full upon receipt of a loan from St. Stephen members who have asked that
their names be kept anonymous.
Instead of 11 payments of $916 to the bank, we now have 60 payments of $172 to members of our church family. This significantly eases our cash
flow requirements, and we are deeply grateful to these generous members for their faithful support of our ministries.
Council believes we have the resources to re-pay this balance to these generous members this year rather than extending it over five years, and
that doing so exercises sound stewardship. We invite you to participate in the 2013 Mortgage Payoff--a special fund drive that will culminate with a
mortgage burning ceremony sometime in 2013.
Please understand these gifts are in addition to, not instead of, your regular giving as reflected on the estimated giving cards you completed in
November. The giving indicated on the estimated giving cards was used to project general fund revenue used to cover general fund expenses. If
we give to the 2013 Mortgage Payoff instead of giving to the general fund, we will be unable to meet general fund expenses such as salaries, utili-
ties, office supplies, etc.
Here is a hypothetical example of annual giving for a household who gives above and beyond their pledge to special funds:
A household pledges to give $100 every two weeks for an annual total of $2,600. The amounts given toward the 2013 Mortgage Payoff are in excess of this. After meeting their pledge, at the end of the year their giving statement shows they have given $2,600
to the general fund and additional amounts to the 2013 Mortgage Payoff and additional amounts to second (aka noisy) offerings, etc.
Not every household is able to give above and beyond their pledge, while some are able to do so easily. Prayerfully consider how you can contrib-
ute to the 2013 Mortgage Payoff. Enclosed with this letter is a 2013 Mortgage Payoff pledge card. We ask that after prayerfully considering how
God would have you respond, you complete and return the card to the church office by January 27, 2013.
As the pledges and gifts are received, you will be updated on the progress. By working together, we can eliminate our mortgage balance this year,
pay less in interest charges, and show our gratitude to the lenders.
Thank you for your partnership in ministry. Justified by grace, we are a community of servants who follow Jesus’ example by living lives of service
to others.
St. Stephen Lutheran Church 2013 MORTGAGE PAYOFF
Name/s _____________________________________________________________________________________
I/we plan to contribute $___________________________ by ______________________________________
(total amount) (date you expect to complete your contributions)
Prayerfully consider how God would have you respond:
a one-time gift or several small gifts over the next few months.
Then complete and return this card to the church office by January 27, 2013.
(The date helps us manage cash flow and communicate our progress toward our goal.)
Thank you for your generosity and faithfulness!
Budget Update
Page 5 Volume 54, Issue 1
Our food bank at St. Stephen, the Northwest Lansing Lutheran Food Bank, has just received a $5000 grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
which will go a long way in supporting this important ministry. In addition, Thrivent will be matching all donations to the Food Bank at 50 cents to the
dollar beginning now through March 15, 2013. If you wish to contribute and be part of the matching fund program, please make your checks out to St.
Stephen Lutheran Church and designate on the memo line that the donation goes to the Food Bank. February's Second Offering will also be desig-
nated for the Food Bank and will be part of the matching grant. Thank you for supporting this important ministry.
Food Bank News
Photos from Grace Lutheran Church on December 16 for the Thrivent Grant presentation to the Northwest Lans-
ing Lutheran Food Bank.
The Evangel Page 6
The Faith 5
Every Night in Every Home
With the beginning of a new year, why not make the commitment to spend a bit of time each day nurturing
your faith and most important relationships. When the first person in the family is ready for bed, turn off the
TV, shut down the computer, set aside your phone, drop what you’re doing, and invest 5 minutes with your
family using these simple steps:
SHARE your Highs and Lows of the day
READ a verse of Scripture in your Bible
TALK about how the Bible verse relates to your Highs and Lows
PRAY for your Highs and Lows, for your family, and for the world
BLESS one another
Faith 5 Readings for January
Week of January 6, 2013 Sunday: Matthew 2:1-5 Monday: Ephesians 4:17-24 Tuesday: Ephesians 5:15-20 Wednesday: Luke 1:67, 76-79 Thursday: Psalm 29:1-4 Friday: 1 Corinthians 2:7-10 Saturday: Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 Week of January 13, 2013 Sunday: Luke 3L15-17, 21-22 Monday: Psalm 106:1-3 Tuesday: 1 John 5:18-20 Wednesday: Numbers 27:6-11 Thursday: Psalm 36:5-9 Friday: Matthew 16:15-19 Saturday: Jeremiah 4:1-4
Week of January 20, 2013 Sunday: John 2:9-11 Monday: Psalm 145:1-5 Tuesday: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Wednesday: Song of Solomon 4:9-11 Thursday: Psalm 19:7-10 Friday: Galatians 1:13-17 Saturday: Luke 2:46-49 Week of January 27, 2013 Sunday: Luke 4: 16-19 Monday: Psalm 119:89-93 Tuesday: Jeremiah 36:21-25 Wednesday: Jeremiah 36:27-31 Thursday: Psalm 71:1-5 Friday: 2 Chronicles 35:23-27 Saturday: Luke 2:28-32
The daily readings will also be listed in each Sunday’s announcements, posted on the St. Stephen website, and
found in the online version of The Evangel.
Page 7 Volume 54, Issue 1
LAY MINISTER SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY
Staff Members
Gary A. Bunge, Pastor [email protected]
Renee Dixon, Office Manager [email protected]
Misun Moon, Contemporary Worship Leader [email protected]
Position Open, WELCOME Ministry Leader
Position Open, Children’s NOURISH Ministry Leader
Position Open, SERVE Ministry Leader
Council Members
Rebecca Bossenbroek, President [email protected]
Julie Shonts, Recording Secretary [email protected]
Brian Yusten, Treasurer [email protected]
Ron Miller, Facility Development Team Leader [email protected]
Bob Cameron, Financial Development [email protected]
Diane Singletary, Leadership Development Team Leader [email protected]
Jim Dixon, WELCOME Ministry Development [email protected]
Holly Lefanty, NOURISH Ministry Development [email protected]
Bonnie V’Soske, SERVE Ministry Development [email protected]
Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 8
7:00 pm
Staff Meeting
None
JAN 6 JAN 13 JAN 20 JAN 27
ALTAR FLOWERS Bob & Claudia Ruth Gaudard Sturdevant Paulette Piirainen
Cameron Family
ASSISTING MINISTERS 8:30 Stan Kotajarvi Cindy Jenks Mike Borta Diane Singletary
(Mike Borta, 669-2042)
11:00 Miriam Bunge Miriam Bunge Margaret Sheffer
SCRIPTURE READERS 8:30 Cindy Jenks Gloria Kandle Mike Borta Patti Floros
(Cindy Jenks, 371-2043)
USHERS 8:30 Sharon Trudeau Terry Greiner Ron Miller Terry Greiner
(Terry Greiner, 694-5358)
(Ken Bauer, 321-5066) 11:00
ALTAR CARE Robert & Naida Schelter for the entire month.
(Claudia Cameron, 323-8258)
COFFEE HOUR Sponsored by Praise Care Group (position open) for entire month.
St. Stephen Lutheran Church 2900 North Waverly Road, Lansing, MI 48906
Phone: 517-321-2244 Fax: 517-321-2632
Email: [email protected] | Website: StStephenOnline.org Traditional Worship: Sundays at 8:30 am
Sunday School Class: Sundays at 9:45 am (Sept – May)
Contemporary Worship: Sundays at 11:00 am
Church Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
2900 N. Waverly Rd.
Lansing, MI 48906
St . S tep hen Lut her an Chur ch
Phone: 517-321-2244
Fax: 517-321-2632
Email: [email protected]
Website: StStephenOnline.org
OR CURRENT OCCUPANT DATED MATERIAL
ANNUAL MEETING
January 27
12 pm Please mark your calendars!
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