17th Sunday after Pentecost
September 20 – 10 am worship
“Are you envious because I am generous?” Matthew 20:15
Matthew narrates one of Jesus’ controversial parables in which Jesus says that the reign of God is like that of a landowner who pays his workers the same wage no matter what time of day they began to work. When God changes God’s mind about punishing Nineveh for their evil ways, Jonah is angry. Yet God is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love. In baptism we receive the grace of God that is freely given to all. As Martin Luthera wrote, in the presence of God’s mercy we are all beggars.
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:
- Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm Fireside room
- Fridays – A.A. 7:00 pm Fellowship Hall
- Sept. 22 – Scouts 6:00 pm
- Sept. 22 – Newsletter Deadline Noon. Please consider submitting YOUR “God Story”
- Sept. 23 – Bible Study 7:30 pm Zoom
- Sept. 27 – “Next Stage” musical guest in 10 am worship
- Sept. 29 – Newsletter Collating 2:00 pm (helpers needed)
- Oct. 1 & 15 – Bold Women’s Café (dinner & devotions) 6:00 pm
- Oct. 4 – Blessing of the Animals 10 am
- Oct. 6 – Trinity Tuesday 6:30 pm local pub (Discretion Brewing Co. 41st Ave. )
1 hour, 1 faith question, 1 drink • Honest conversation & genuine community.
What do you wonder? Where do you see God? • Info. Kathy Allen 430-6359 - Oct. 8 – Circle of Promise 10:30 am
- October 25 – Reformation / Oktoberfeast
- October 31 – HOST AFC Shelter Dinners 5:45pm St. Johns Aptos. Sign up to provide (one of the following) main course, salad, dessert & breakfast. St. Stephen’s is responsible for the 5th Saturday of each month. We are all worthy of dignity and connection. Let’s assist them to a better life.
- November 1 – Celebrating All Saints’ Day & Día de los Muertos. Bring a photo of your departed loved ones, framed or unframed, to display on a remembrance table in the church narthex. Don’t have a physical photo or can’t come in-person to church right now? Email a digital photo by October 28 (or any other questions you may have) to Christa Garcia at christawynekengarcia@gmail.com and she will print and display them for you.
- Pr. Jim Office hours Wednesdays 10 am to 1:00 pm.
- FLOWER CHART has openings FOR YOUR DEDICATIONS *
Prayer Requests
- Andre,Lurline & Tyeleiga
- James trouble getting care for his TBI
- Thomas Viera, Felix Rodrigiez, Monique Jones, Julie Francis, and Kellie Dought who lost her sister unexpectedly
- Shelly’s Uncle Jim died peacefully.
- Debbie Greso
- James White, Ryan, Sharon, Stetson, Raleigh, Cheryl Crutch, Doris Crutch
- Charles Uncle Doug Yaryan just diagnosed with leukemia
- Lizeth Medina, Bryan Diaz, Carolyn Del Po, Calvin Perez
- Jeanette’s mother Barbara recovering in assisted living.
- Celeste, Mary Basnight, Tiffany, Amy Perez
- For Rebecca’s brother Fred
- For Tina’s sister Lisa knee replacement recovery
- For Tina’s son Rob – healing
- For Pam Hupner pancreatic cancer diagnosis
- For Camryn mental health guidance
- For Bentley’s cousin Marilyn dealing with cancer pain & poor spirit
- For Beth & Bryan Utto (difficult health process & caregiving)
- For Renee
- For Judith’s brother Paul – health
- For Chad Fields as he continues cancer treatments.
- For Gary & Connie Stevenson
- For Susan Oldfield
- For Levi in his struggles
- For Nancy
- For Tom
- For Jeanne Boudreau and her brother James who is in hospice care
- 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 Cassidy, stroke recovery
- For John B. cancer treatments
- For Lisa Johnson & grandson health
- For Nancy’s son Jesse, Amy, Hailey & 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: Steven Hendrickson, Tina Gates, Jeanette Dawson.
- For Pastor Jim’s friend Eric as he lives with CLL.
- 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:
- Donations are being collected at church for Socks, canned food & diapers. 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 & Children’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
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