Matthew 1: 18-25
St. Stephen Presbyterian Church
Fort Worth, TX
By Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch
We spend a lot of time celebrating and remembering Mary’s role at Christmas. What about Joseph?
Joseph’s role was simple but powerful. He was supposed to accept responsibility for one of God’s children who was not his own child.Read More »Being Joseph: Christmas Eve, 2011
For the fourth year in a row, St. Stephen celebrated Christmas on the Hill, this year with a Mexican theme. As always, there were food, crafts, people in First Century Palestinian costumes–and more. But what made it unusual was that for the first time, we were forced indoors, into the Parish Hall, because of the rain and cold.
But that didn’t spoil the fun. In fact, it made it more celebratory. There had to have been 300 people in that two hour span.
Who came? We had a lot who came for our first ever Las Posadas, a traditional Spanish and Mexican journey to celebrate Christmas. Read More »Rain Didn’t Spoil Christmas On The Hill!
By Rev. Fritz Ritsch
If you are, or have been, the parent of new baby, you’ve become intensely aware that in most social situations that baby in your arms is a ticking time bomb. Your little bundle of joy could go off at any moment: in the theater, in the supermarket, in the restaurant, even here in church—and people will turn and give you “that look”—the look that means, “What were you thinking, bringing that baby in here?”
When that happens, I’m often reminded of the words of the writer of Psalm 8: “Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.” To the psalmist apparently, this most mundane, even annoying sound is gifted by God with the spiritual power to stave off the danger of terrorists and assassins. The cry of a baby is the ultimate proof that life is more powerful than death. So cry away, babies, and thank you for the blessing you bestow upon us when you enter our doors!Read More »Miracle of the Mundane
Minute for Mission
November 2011
Written by Betty Arvin and Mark Thielman
I’ve been asked to talk to you about why you should consider pledging to St. Stephen. I don’t know why you should support this particular church. (Pause to see Fritz get a bit pale here.) What I mean by that is that church and faith are personal and individually centered. I can only tell you why I support St. Stephen.Read More »Why I Give To St. Stephen
Bring your favorite animals to the campus of St. Stephen on Monday, September 26, at 6:00 p.m. for our annual Blessing of the Animals! We… Read More »Blessing of the Animals September 26
Elementary Children from Kindergarten – post Sixth Grade are invited to our week long Music Day Camp. Camp costs $80 per person with a multi-family… Read More »Music Day Camp at St. Stephen, August 1 – 5, 2011
Please join us for an annual tradition at St. Stephen–“A Poppin’ Fourth on the Hill”! Our beautiful lawn is the perfect setting for a Fourth… Read More »A Poppin’ Fourth on July 3rd!
