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St. Stephen News

The Risk of Prayer

THE RISK OF PRAYER Luke 11.5-13

Rev. Dr. Warner M. Bailey

No one likes to get a telephone call in the middle of the night.  In the parable about the unexpected guest, you are jolted out of bed by a friend who arrives at your door, bleary eyed and starving from 16 hours on the road.  He needs a place to crash and something to eat.  But your cupboard is bare, so while you have him wash up, you dash across the yard to bang on your neighbor’s back door.

Now get the scene.  In the neighbor’s bedroom, the entire family is sleeping on one bed, side-by-side, like sardines, from the youngest to the oldest with mother and father on the two outside edges.  All of a sudden, a sharp knocking at the door would have shattered the stillness of the house and a rough whisper would have jolted you awake. “Friend, wake up.  My friend has just arrived from a journey.  I must feed him, but have no bread.  Lend me three loaves, and I will repay you by sunrise.”Read More »The Risk of Prayer

Godly Play in Worship for Children at 11 a.m. Service

The Worship Committee, in conjunction with the Christian Education Committee, is pleased to announce that children who attend the 11:00 AM worship service will have the option to participate in Godly Play while the sermon is being preached in the sanctuary. Godly Play, which has been offered during the Sunday School hour for many years at St. Stephen, teaches children the art of using Christian language – parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action – helping them become more fully aware of the mystery of God’s presence in their lives.Read More »Godly Play in Worship for Children at 11 a.m. Service

St. Stephen in the snow!

Simplify the Seasons

Last Sunday evening in October, the youth of St. Stephen went to a favorite mission site – Casa House, a low-income, Catholic Charities multi-ethnic senior citizens apartment complex.  Lynn Yeoman, Social Service Coordinator, and St. Stephen church member, announced our arrival so that 15 – 20 seniors came out of their apartments to play games, and get their fingernails painted led by the Youth of St. Stephen.

Typically, the seniors love Bingo and have the need, like every child, to win a prize or pout.   Prizes purchased and donated were holiday themed gadgets and decorations, books, pencils, and bags of candy.   John Bollman called the Bingo with loud measured pace and we made sure that everyone earned a prize twice over.  The youth were exuberant and so attentive to our senior partners in Bingo, you would have been proud.Read More »Simplify the Seasons