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Welcome to |
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St. Stephen Lutheran Church |
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WORSHIP AND MUSIC MINISTRY
TEAM
Worship Planning
Special Services
Meet with the Pastor once a quarter to help plan the regular
worship services such as Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost.
Acolytes
Young people in the fourth grade or older
who have had first communion are trained to serve as acolytes
for our worship services. Acolytes provide a very important service
to our worship experience. They light the candles calling us
to worship. They assist with the offering and with communion.
They extinguish the candles to prepare us for dismissal from
worship.
Worship Assistants
Worship Assistants aid the pastor during
the service. They read the Scripture lessons, they assist with
communion, and they give the departure bid.
 Adult Choirs
Adult choir and worship song leaders are
under the direction of the Minister of Music. Please see the
bulletin for choir and song leader rehearsal schedules. Anyone
who enjoys singing God's praises is welcome to participate.
Children's Choir
Our children sing at different times of
the year during worship services. The children's singing takes
place on Sunday morning at the beginning of Sunday School at
9:35 a.m.
Altar Preparation
Women and men are welcome to participate
as members of the Altar Preparation Team under the direction
of Pat Hoehing. The Altar Prep Team sets the table for communion
before worship services and cleans up after the service is over.
Other responsibilities include providing baptismal candles, baptismal
napkins, roses for newborn babies. They maintain all altar linens,
candles, and change the paraments according to the church calendar.
Greeters and Ushers
Men, women, couples, families are all welcome
to participate as greeters for our worship services. Greeters
welcome visitors and give them information about our service
and building. Greeters hand out bulletins and any other important
literature pertinent to ministry as necessary. Training is provided
once a year for all greeters and ushers.
Celebration of Marriage
Because the focus in our society is on
the failure of marriage, we believe it is important to hold up
before our families those couples celebrating significant anniversaries
(5, 10, 15, etc.). On a Sunday in July, those couples are given
the opportunity to reaffirm their marriage vows during the worship
service. Each "bride and groom" is given flowers and
a special bulletin. A reception follows the worship service. |
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YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY TEAM
Community and Fellowship
There are many opportunities for fellowship
at St. Stephen. Church picnics, cookout and potlucks are lively
times of food and fellowship. We have a monthly euchre group
which meets the second Friday of the month, September through
May. There is also a bridge group which originated with St. Stephen
and now is more community orientated that meets the first Friday
of the month. We also have, from time to time, Family Game Night.
Members and friends bring games, snacks, and beverages and have
an evening of family fun. Recently we initiated an "Eight
for Ate" dinner group. Eight people, singles and couples
sign up and then 8 are assigned a group. The group decides when
to meet and how to arrange their plans.
Fantasy Baseball
Men and boys who are baseball fans participate
in a Fantasy Baseball League. They conduct a "draft"
in the early spring to choose players for their "teams".
Using a point system they follow their teams players and at the
end of the season the "owner" with the most points
wins. Anyone interested in participating in the Fantasy Baseball
League contact David Haddix for more details.
Youth Group
Our youth group meets twice a month on
Sunday evenings. The youth plan their activities under the direction
of the leaders. They offer service to the congregation and the
community. They have fun activities and parties. They have participated
in Synod youth retreats.
Women of St. Stephen
The Women of St. Stephen meet the second
Saturday of the month at 9:30 a.m. They have a varied program
of education and service both to the congregation and the community.
They are the willing hands behind many of the outreach and fellowship
activities at St. Stephen. All women are encouraged and welcome
and participate whenever their schedule allows. Contact the church
office for information. |
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MINISTRY
TEAM
Christian education statement:
Christian education builds a foundation
of faith through continual study of God's Word. The goal of each
learning opportunity is individual spiritual growth that will
equip us to share the message of salvation in Christ with the
community.
Sunday School
We have Sunday School classes for children
ages pre-school through grade 6 from September to May. We continue
with a Summer Sunday School program. Because of family vacation
schedules, this is an active time of fun for our young people
with independent weekly lessons. Children of all ages are welcome
to all Sunday School classes. Teachers are always prepared and
eager to welcome new children.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is planned for various
times during the summer months. Please check with the church
office for details of this year's vacation Bible school
Confirmation
Confirmation class is for students in grades
7 and 8. Pr. Wicker is teaching our confirmation during the Sunday
School hour.
Adult Christian Education
Our adult Sunday School class, the Gathering
Space, meets during the Sunday School hour. We offer a varied
program from Bible studies to book studies and use a variety
of media and many leaders to promote participation and discussion.
Bible Study
We offer Bible studies at different times
throughout the year. On Wednesday evenings at 6:45, we have a
devotional discussion, prayer and Holy Communion. It is our goal
to present the Bible as relevant to our lives today.
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts is a program offered to
anyone wished to discover how they are "uniquely gifted"
for service in the church. The Bible teaches that we are all
given different gifts and that we are called to share those gifts
in building up the life of the community of faith. It is in discovering
our gifts that we can learn how and when God want us to serve
Him. |
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EVANGELISM MINISTRY TEAM
Advertising and Publicity
We advertise weekly in the Toledo blade
and the Sylvania Herald newspapers. Task forces for advertising
special events are appointed on an as needed basis.
Bread Ministry
Several members of St. Stephen are available
to bake bread to take to visitors after their first visit to
St. Stephen for worship. Carol Haddix coordinates this ministry.
She would welcome anyone who enjoys baking and/or is willing
to drive and deliver bread to visitors.
Webmaster
We have a web site to promote and inform
the community about the ministry of St. Stephen and to offer
opportunity of service to the community. Our address is www.ststephen.netfirms.com.
Manor House Project
We have had the privilege for several years
to decorate a room at the Manor House at Wildwood Metropark at
Christmas time. We need men and women to help with the preparation,
decorating the room, and finally, removing the decoration and
storing them in the church attic. This project is being coordinated
this year by Cathy McVicker.
Sylvania Community Center
We have for several years collected and
coordinated food and gift baskets for families in conjunction
with the Sylvania Community Center. We provide food at Thanksgiving,
food and gifts at Christmas, food and Easter baskets at Easter. |
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STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY TEAM
Finance
The finance ministry team with Dick Lock,
Chair of Finance, manages the church finances. Our treasurer
is Rachel Abby and the Financial Secretary is Tom Pfau. Finance
ministry team meetings are scheduled quarterly. These meetings
are held at the church and all active members are invited to
attend. Meetings are announced in the church bulletin. Dick Lock
trains and schedules the counters for Sunday offerings.
The Financial Secretary, Tom Pfau, is responsible
for keeping a record of all income from contributing members.
Members are given a detailed year-to-date listing of thie envelope
giving and special giving at the end of each quarter of the calendar
year.
Special Stewardship Emphasis
We are all called to be good stewards of
our time, talent, and monies. We believe that all we have comes
from God and we are called to manage our resources according
to Biblical teachings.
FACILITY NEEDS …CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
"Led by the Spirit….Building
in Faith" was the theme chosen for our building campaign.
The capital campaign for our facility expansion
began in February, 2001 with members making gifts and pledges
beginning at that time and going forward for three years. In
September of 2003, the congregation was asked to continue their
pledges for an additional six months so that we could pay off
not only the short term loan on the expansion, but also the parking
lot.
Our goal in expanding was to have a facility
that was better equipped to reach the community with the gospel
of Jesus Christ. |
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PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM
Prayer Chain
All members of St. Stephen are included
in our emergency prayer chain. Marilyn Martin coordinates the
prayer chain. When she receives a call asking for prayer for
someone in a crisis situation, she calls a number of callers
who each proceed to call a list of members. Within a short time
all the members are supporting that person in need in prayer.
The prayer chain is also used on occasion
to provide good news or information to the congregation. The
pastor decides when the prayer chain is used in this manner.
Lighthouse of Prayer
Our members have joined with many of the
body of Christ across the nation to become Lighthouses of Prayer
in their neighborhoods. They pray for neighbors, friends, or
relatives who do not know Christ. They also seek opportunities
to do acts of kindness for those people in order to show Christ's
love.
Prayer Intercessors
We have a group of Prayer Intercessors
who pray for the pastor every day. They also pray for any needs
brought to them by members of the congregation everyday until
they are told an answer has been received.
Early prayer before worship
Every Sunday at 8 a.m. members of the congregation
join with the pastor in our prayer chapel to pray for the worship
services, for our congregation, for our visitors, for those leading
the worship service, and for our pastor. |
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PROPERTY MINISTRY TEAM
Property and Grounds Maintenance
Steve Ziegler and Herb Hoehing are on call
for maintenance of the church property. Many of our members work
with them in maintenance of our property. Lawn maintenance is
done by contract. Regular weekly cleaning is done by contract.
Any painting, cleaning, washing, and repairs necessary to the
continuing maintenance of God's property is done by members of
St. Stephen.
Adopt-a-bed
Members of St. Stephen may sign up in the
spring to adopt a flowerbed around the building. They prepare
the bed, plant flowers and/or shrubs, weed, water and maintain
the bed throughout the growing season. In the fall, after the
growing season is over, they clean out the bed and leave it ready
for next year.
Last year, in addition to our addition,
we also had to do some landscaping. Through the generosity of
our congregation and working with a landscaping company and the
coordination by Pat Hoehing, we planted the grounds to enhance
God's property. |
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SOCIAL OUTREACH MINISTRY
Missions
The members of St. Stephen in cooperation
with the Women of St. Stephen, have for several years provided
food and gift baskets at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter
to needy families through Sylvania Community Services. This year
Carol and Keith Taylor will organize this outreach ministry.
Operation Christmas Child is a ministry
of Samaritan's Purse. We have supported this ministry for several
years by filling shoeboxes with small gift items, wrap the box
and indicate if it for a girl or boy and the age. If possible,
those filling the boxes include $5 per box to help cover the
cost of shipping. They are then sent to Samaritan's Purse for
worldwide distribution.
Our congregation has also been involved
with Habitat for Humanity. We have contributed financial support
and many of our members have given their time and talent to help
in the construction and completion of homes. Several of our members
have served on the board of Habitat for Humanity.
We have also participated in collections
for Lutheran World Relief. We have collected soap, school supplies
and made school bags for children, and put together sewing kits.
Mabel Huffman and Lin McKelvey have coordinated these efforts.
Employment Resource Center
The Employment Resource Center is open
every Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. This is a free
service to the community offering critiquing of resumes, interviewing
skills, and aggressive networking skills. Three retired businessmen
staff the center. Dick Lock from St. Stephen, Roger Ritzert from
Sylvania United Church of Christ, and Chuck Camarote from St.
Joseph Catholic Church. |
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OTHER MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
Writer
Besides staff members and ministry leaders,
we have some members of the congregation with a gift of writing.
We are always blessed and encouraged by the witness and wisdom
of those who share with us by writing for the newsletter. Contact
Karen Taylor at the church office.
Secret Pal
We ask members of the congregation to become
a "Secret Pal" to one of our college students. As a
secret pal, the member sends notes, cards, and small gifts to
the student for special occasions (birthday, holidays, exam week)
and offers encouragement and support. We feel this is a way of
keeping our students aware of the congregations continuing love
an interest. Contact is Kathy Ziegler.
Church Historian
The Church Historian uses pictures and
newspaper articles to keep a record of the life of St. Stephen
Lutheran Church. This is accomplished by putting pictures, articles,
and comments into scrapbooks. Pictures are also placed on the
bulletin board from time to time to celebrate special events
or programs in the life of the congregation. We have several
members who are willing to take photographs and who clip newspaper
articles and turn them in for inclusion in a notebook.
Task Force
We often form a Task Force to serve for
short-term ministries. We had a task force to plan our 35th anniversary
celebration for the church on May 2, 2004. |
~Back to St.
Stephen's Main Page~
St. Stephen Lutheran
Church
7800 Erie Street
Sylvania, Ohio 43560
419-885-1551
A Congregation of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
© 2004-2006 St.
Stephen Lutheran Church |
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Pastor:
Reverend James W. Wicker 