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Giving
Easter Lilies

I Miss Billy Graham

When I became a Christian as a teen in the ’70s, Billy Graham was the guy I looked to. I read Decision Magazine avidly every month. I like to tell people that “I was a teenage Evangelical.”

But when I went to college, I began to fall away from my early evangelical roots. Then, too, I discovered a soulmate and guide in Billy Graham, whose post-Nixon soul-searching led him to question some of the assumptions that had driven his early ministry–assumptions about God’s anointment of leaders, the unblemished blessedness of the American Way, and the necessity of nuclear weapons. He was a harbinger of a new, broader-minded evangelicalism, and you see his spiritual children in the likes of Rob Bell. And, I hope, in me. Graham’s humble, honest search for a broader way to represent Biblical truth in a political setting helped me return to my own evangelical roots.I Miss Billy Graham

Southern Summer St. Stephen Hospitality

Hospitality defined: (first definition) friendly and generous behavior towards visitors and guests, intended to make them feel welcome. (www.macmillandictionary.com)

This summer is so crucial to the relationship St. Stephen shares with the surrounding community. We are on display for families through Vacation Bible School and Afternoon Camp in June, at the newly created opportunity- Camp Gilmont at St. Stephen Day Camp in July, and at Augusts’ Music Day Camp. Also in July, the Youth prepare for their trip to Chicago’s Southside, as we represent a Texas hospitality as we work among varied denominations and ethnicities in our proclamation to the world.Southern Summer St. Stephen Hospitality

Pentecost Promise

by Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch

Yesterday–Pentecost–started out  appropriately enough with some surprises. The sanctuary air conditioning didn’t work. This is Texas in the summer–you want the A/C to work! While a crackerjack team of retired General Dynamics engineers worked to solve the problem, folks at the 8:30 service sat faithfully through a very, very warm service. I kidded that the heat reminded us of the Tongues of Fire and the breeze blowing through the open doors reminded us of the Wind of the Spirit, both of which came upon the city of Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost 2000 years ago. I don’t know if anybody thought I was funny….!Pentecost Promise

VBS & Afternoon Camp, June 20 – 24

Children are invited to St. Stephen Presbyterian Church’s Vacation Bible School and Afternoon Camp, Monday – Friday, June 20 – 24, 2011.   You have two options for your child’s activities:
#1.    VBS morning only, 9 a.m. – 12 noon ;
#2.   VBS and Afternoon Camp, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Multi-child discounts are available for families.   VBS costs $5 per child.  VBS and Afternoon Camp costs $70 which benefits the Youth Mission Trip to Chicago in July.
We offer Bible Story, Crafts, Recreation, Music, Cooking, Cross Creations & Mission, and Science in the morning;  In the Afternoon, we add Wet Recreation (slip and slide and water sprinkler fun), movies, naps (for the youngest), crafts and more music.    Bring a sack lunch and swim suit for all day.

Plenty of room for everyone.  Sign up now!  For more information, contact Beth Fultz, Director of Christian Education, 817-927-8411 or beth.fultz@ststephen-pcusa.com.

VBS & Afternoon Camp, June 20 – 24

Fourth Friday Book Group

Friday, June 24, Eastminster Room Book: Being Dead Is No Excuse by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays Discussion Leader: Carole Kelly Being Dead Is No Excuse is a “joyful” book which Carole says will bring… Fourth Friday Book Group

The Prayer Shawl

There is a marvelous group of ladies at my church, St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas, who meet each week to knit prayer shawls for people in and related to our congregation.  They take them to those who are bereaved, ill, or just basically in need of love and concern.    I always thought that what they were doing was sweet, but maybe just a bit silly.

Last August, my partner passed away suddenly of a massive stroke.  Both of us were very active in our church and St. Stephen was a great part of our lives.  The day after Vern died, the Director of Christian Education delivered a prayer shawl to my home.  I looked at it and then put it back into the bag, wondering what I was going to do with this somewhat small shawl.  After all, I am a man, and a fairly big guy at that.  The shawl stayed in the bag in a corner of our bedroom throughout the remainder of the summer and the fall.The Prayer Shawl

Least Sheep, Prisoner

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’… ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ “…Matthew 25:31-40

 

Several months ago, a handwritten letter arrived addressed to St. Stephen asking for a pen pal for a Texas State Prisoner in Gatesville.  Most questionable mail goes in the trash, but for some unknown reason, I decided to write this prisoner and see what would happen.Least Sheep, Prisoner