20th Sunday after Pentecost
October 11 – 10 am worship
“Everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet” Matthew 22:4
In Isaiah we are given a vision of the great feast to come, when God will wipe away death forever. In Jesus parable about a great banquet, those invited do not come, so the invitation is extended to others. In our liturgy God spreads a table before us. Even amid anxiety and hardship we rejoice in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. With great joy we feast at the table of the Lord and we go forth to share the wonderful invitation with others hungering and thirsting for the abundant life 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:
- Thursdays – Men’s A.A. 7:00 pm Fireside room
- Fridays – A.A. 7:00 pm Fellowship Hall
- Oct. 10 – Embroiders 10 to 4pm
- Oct. 11 – “Holy Conversations” 11:30 am Join a small group and explore where God might be calling us to next! What are our hopes for the future of our ministry? Sign up now
- Oct. 13 – Scouts 6:00 pm
- Oct. 13 – Church Council 6:30 pm
- Oct. 14 – Bible Study 7:30 pm Zoom
- Oct. 15 – Bold Women’s Café (dinner & devotions) 6:00 pm
- Oct. 15 – Lutheran Office of Public Policy “Vote Your Conscience” 7:00 pm ZOOM
Explore ballot propositions from a Lutheran Faith perspective. •. Email thelotts@gmail.com to register - Oct. 18 – “Next Stage” musical guest in 10 am worship
- Oct. 18 – Holy Conversation small groups 11:30 am sign up now
- Oct. 18 – “Faith matters / Who is my neighbor”? An interfaith dialogue on immigration at Santa Cruz Bible Church 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- October 25 – Reformation / Oktoberfeast Reader needed
- Oct. 29 – Newsletter Collating 2:00 pm (helpers needed)
- 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.
- Nov. 1 – Holy Conversations 11:30 am sign up now
- Nov. 3 – 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 - Nov. 12 – Circle of Promise 10:30 am
- Pr. Jim Office hours Wednesdays 10 am to 1:00 pm.
- FLOWER CHART has openings FOR YOUR DEDICATIONS *
Prayer Requests
- Brian Garcia & Family
- The Alfred family in nephews passing
- Janet, Shelton, Judy, Mary, Brandon, Josie
- Andre,Lurline & Tyeleiga
- James healthcare & housing. & Family
- Debbie Greso
- Charles Uncle Doug Yaryan just diagnosed with leukemia
- Lizeth Medina, Bryan Diaz, Carolyn Del Po, Calvin Perez
- Jeanette’s mother Barbara in hospice care
- 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 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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