First Sunday of Advent – November 30, 2025

We gather on the First Sunday of Advent
November 30 –  10 am worship

“About that day and hour no one knows”  Matthew 24:36

The new church year begins with a wake-up call:  Christ is coming soon!  In today’s readings both Paul and Jesus challenge us to wake from sleep, for we know neither the day nor hour of the Lord’s coming.  Isaiah proclaims the day when God will gather all people on the holy mountain and there will be no more war or suffering.  Though we vigilantly watch for the promised day of salvation, we wait for what we already have:  Christ comes among us this day as the word and meal that strengthens our faith in the promises of God.

You can also participate in worship through the livestream and recording at www.ststephenslutheran.org. 

There is usually a Children’s Church / Sunday School program planned during worship. Please contact Leslie Lapp 476-4700 for more info. The Family Room is always available adjacent to the sanctuary for little one’s activities if you need it. We love having children in church and all that brings as part of worship!

Coffee Fellowship:  Please contact our Church Administrator Leslie if you are willing to host. We need you!

 Upcoming Events: 

Tis the season for Sharing Christmas Joy.  See sign ups: 

• St. Nicks for Seniors   surprises in their shoes. (To learn of the tradition see www.stnicholascenter.org)   Ideas:  slipper sox, tea bags, chocolate coins, note pads, inspirational stuff. Due December 1^st. 
• Angel Tree    “Adopt a Family” Volunteer Center.  Return children’s gifts by December 7.
• ELCA Good Gifts & God’s Global Barnyard   creative meaningful ways to support better lives. www.goodgifts@elca.org    

Other events:

• Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm Fireside room
• Fridays –  A.A. 7:00 pm Fellowship Hall
• Nov. 24 – Dec. 3 – El Salvador delegation:  keep them in prayer
• Nov. 29 – AFC Shelter Dinners 5:45pm St. Johns Aptos.
  Sign up to provide (one of the following)  main course, salad, dessert & breakfast.  We need 2 people to be present & serve the meal.  St. Stephen’s is responsible for the 5^th Saturday of each month.  We are all worthy of dignity and connection.  Let’s assist them to a better life.
  2026:  Jan. 31, May 30, Aug. 29, and Oct. 31.
• Wed. Dec. 1 – Preschool Chapel 10:15 am
• Tues. Dec. 2 – Scouts 6:00 pm
• Tues. Dec. 2  – Trinity Tuesday 6:30 pm local pub (Discretion Brewing Co. 41^st Ave. )
  1 hour, 1 faith question, 1 drink    Info. Kathy Allen 430-6359
• Wed. Dec. 3 – Dec. 17^th at 7:30 pm ZOOM  – Matthew Bible Study “The Gospel of Promised Blessings” by Dr. Matthew Skinner  book available $12.50 on line, or with Christa for $14 christawynekengarcia@gmail.com
• Thurs. Dec. 4 & 18 – Women’s Café Group 6:00 pm Fellowship Hall
• Fri. Dec. 5 – St. Nick PM surprise deliveries
• Sun. Dec. 7 –  Christmas Pageant
• Thurs. Dec. 11 – MMRR Circle 10:30 am
• Sun. Dec. 14 – MMRR Holiday Bake Sale

Prayer Requests

• For Margaret Schraft – leg surgery
• For Laura and her twin babies
• For Marta – health
• For Don Frey – foot surgery complications.
• For Tayo Frey – Merchant Marine training
• For Chris Wyneken
• For Gary & Connie Stevenson
• For the family of Bobbie Ericson
• For Joan Wilson & family
• For Cheryl and David Craig – both in hospital
• For Charlotte – Galahad’s friend healing broken leg
• For Tom Williams – Kathy Berens father in hospice care.
• For Susan Oldfield
• For Levi in his struggles
• For Joan Wilson & family
• For Nancy
• For Tom recovering neck surgery
• For Jeanne Boudreau and her brother James who is in hospice care
• For James health 
• For Tim Oldfield (help find job)
• For Kevin (cancer diagnosis) and his mother Cindy
• For Dawn L. heal depression
• Support James Sheehan as he continues his battle with alcohol and depression
• For Chris
• For Chad Field as he continues cancer treatments
• For Cassidy, stroke recovery
• For John B. cancer treatments
• For Lisa Johnson & grandson health
• For Nancy’s son Jesse & grand son Grey
• For Sam’s sobriety, and his son Joshua
• Ana Cardenas being treated for a brain tumor
• For Keith in his continued recovery
• For Chris Powers continued healing
• For Galahad as he navigates new struggles and for the support he needs.
• For the Robe and Volpi families.
• For the Long-Range Planning Task Force: Mark Linder, Steven Hendrickson, Tina Gates, Jeanette Dawson and Doug Hahn.
• For Pastor Jim’s friend Eric as he lives with CLL.
• For Judi and Robert’s son and family and for a resolution to their housing needs.
• For Jody, Renny, Iris and Evelyn as they stay in  LaCrosse, WI for another year. 
• For Nancy and friends at St. Stephen’s Senior Housing: Jane, Annetta, Bentley and Jeannie. Also for James, John, and Elida 
• For Joel as his eyesight diminishes.
• For Beau and his family in his recurrence of brain cancer.
• For Dorothy as she struggles with chronic pain.
• For Jeannette’s brother Craig who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. 
• For Kyle as he continues to heal. 
• For Miller, Shelby, Ashley, April, Marty, Will and other young adults we know, as they struggle mightily with the world and all its ways that harm them. Bring them to healing and wholeness and grace and new life.

Church office hours are Mon-Fri. 12noon – 5pm.

Thank you for your continued faithfulness in your financial giving back to God through our church. Please remember to either give your offering through the mail, through our website donation option, signing up for monthly electronic giving, or bringing it by the church office during the week.

Flowers for Worship: Please sign up to provide flowers in honor of someone or a special occasion as another way to offer yourself in worship to God. The Flower Chart will be available at worship, or you can call the church office – 476-4700.

Other notes:

• Preschool “Inflation Donations” are being collected at church now. This is to help us not have to increase tuition on the families we serve through our Child Development Center ministry. There are lists on the basket in the back of the church and they will be inserted into the Sunday bulletins and the monthly newsletter. These are items that you can add to your Costco and grocery lists.
• Donations are being collected at church for Socks and Toiletries.  These will go towards our work with serving those who take part in our Association of Faith Communities programs for the unhoused, and for the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center respectively.
• A few copies of “White Fragility” are available to borrow.  Call the office to inquire. This is a congregation-wide perspective that we are trying to adopt as we seek better understanding about the roots of racism, its consequences, and how our lives can better reflect an anti-racism perspective.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jim