ST. STEPHEN’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Striving to speak God’s saving truth in love. Ephesians 4:15
FELLOWSHIP & SERVICE — YOUTH
Lutheran Explorers
WHO ARE WE?
For school age children of St. Stephen’s and Good Shepherd’s congregations.
The purpose of projects and activities of St. Stephen’s/Good Shepherd Lutheran Explorers will be:
- To promote Christian fellowship among the children of our congregation.
- To promote Christian citizenship as our children live as salt and light in the world.
- To learn useful skills to glorify God and serve our neighbor.
A new program begins each September for grade school age children.
WHEN DO WE MEET?
Meetings will be the second Tuesdays of each month from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., alternating between St. Stephen’s and Good Shepherd. Each meeting begins with a devotion and ends in prayer. Additional activities will also be scheduled.
Always watch the Sunday bulletin for announcements of meetings and activities.
MORE INFORMATION
The best way to find information about the St. Stephen’s/Good Shepherd Lutheran Explorers is through our Facebook page.
Lutheran Teens
WHO ARE WE?
Lutheran Teens’ purpose is to foster and grow teens in their relationship with Jesus through monthly meetings and activities.
MORE INFORMATION
Gatherings are announced on our Facebook page.
FELLOWSHIP & SERVICE — ADULT
Advent by Candlelight
OUR PURPOSE
Advent by Candlelight is an event to help women focus on Christ during the busy holiday season.
MORE INFORMATION
The event is held on the first or second week of Advent on a Sunday afternoon or evening. It shares the true meaning of Christmas, is an outreach program and an opportunity to grow in faith. Included in the program are narrations, readings, prayers and music. It is a beautiful afternoon of Christian fellowship and giving glory to God. Ladies from the congregation volunteer to host a table, bring their own table settings, decorations, candles and serve a dessert to the guests at their table. Women can invite individuals to sit at their table or guests that sign up will be assigned a table. Organization of the event is also by volunteers from our congregation.
“Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him.”
Psalm 147:1
Altar Guild
WHO ARE WE?
The Altar Guild is a group of people who keep the chancel area of our church pleasing to the Lord and fit for worship. The organization assists the pastors by preparing everything in the Chancel for the worship services, especially preparation for Holy Communion and clean-up after Communion services, changing of seasonal paraments, and arranging of flowers and chancel decorations.
WHEN DO WE MEET?
Coordinating/Organizational meetings are held in April and October.
DONATIONS
Donations and memorials to the Altar Guild are appreciated and used for special purchases and for flowers on special church holidays. Flower donations are always welcome.
Evangelism Committee
WHO ARE WE?
This committee leads our congregation in organized Gospel outreach.
Ladies’ Aid
WHO ARE WE?
The Ladies Aid serves at funerals, anniversaries, etc. The money donated to the Ladies’s Aid is used to purchase things for the church and school. They have a Spring Tea in May and a picnic in early August.
Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society
WHO ARE WE?
Lutheran Womens’ Missionary Society is an organization of women within the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod whose purpose is to provide additional support to the Synod’s missions programs and to our missionaries through prayer, encouragement by card/letter, and through financial offerings. The LWMS also, then, holds up the mission programs and needs of the Synod before our congregations.
At St. Stephen’s, all women of our congregation are considered members of LWMS. We are a member of the Beaver Dam Circuit of the LWMS. Circuit “rallies” are held in the Spring (4th Saturday of April) and Fall (3rd Saturday of October) at various churches of the circuit. A “rally” typically includes a Bible Study led by the Circuit’s Spiritual Growth Pastor, mission news, some business, lunch, and a special mission presentation often by one of our missionaries or by someone connected to the Synod’s mission program.
Regular reports are usually given at St. Stephen’s Ladies Aid meetings by one of the women who has willingly been chosen to serve as our LWMS contact person. Door offerings are received after worship services twice a year to contribute to the mission projects adopted by LWMS.
MORE INFORMATION
Visit the national Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society website.
Parent-Teacher Society
WHO ARE WE?
The purpose of the Parent Teacher Society is to praise God by promoting and fostering an active interest in St. Stephen’s Lutheran Elementary School. Guidance and assistance in encouraging the spiritual and academic success and welfare of the children (in home, church, and school) is conducted through classroom visitation, meetings with parents and teachers, and other cooperative projects. All parents of children attending St. Stephen’s Lutheran Elementary School are members of this organization.
Ushers
WHO ARE WE?
While the pastors and the organist lead the congregation in worship, the ushers also have a most important job. Ushers have the job of seeing to it that the worship takes place in a fitting and orderly way. It is the duty of the ushers to see that all the physical aspects of the building are comfortable and that all the physical duties that must be taken care of before, during and after the service are carried out properly.
WHEN DO WE MEET?
Our annual ushers’ meeting is the first Tuesday in September at 6:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION
Our Usher’s Handbook has some basic guidelines for those who serve as ushers.
OWLS
WHO ARE WE?
St. Stephen’s OWLS is for all members 55 years or older. The OWLS meet on the second Tuesday of every-other month at 1:30 p.m. in church basement. Programs and activities are diverse. Each meeting begins with a potluck. Seniors from other area WELS churches are also welcome!
MORE INFORMATION
Watch the bulletin and newsletter for announcements of coming events.
CHOIRS
Handbell Choir
WHO ARE WE?
The Handbell Choir, under the directorship of Ranee Welch, enhances our worship services on a monthly basis. In addition, the Handbells play for special occasions such as Advent by Candlelight. If you would like to join, please contact Ranee at 920.887.1624 and please leave a message.
WHEN DO WE REHEARSE?
Our Handbell Choir rehearses each Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. September through April.
EXCERPTS FROM OUR REPETOIRE
http://s3.amazonaws.com/fws2_saintstephen/Handbells_Lamb_of_God_Pure_and_Holy_Take2_ED.mp3
Radio Recording
WHO ARE WE?
Special half-hour worship services are recorded to air on WBEV 1430 AM, both to serve St. Stephen’s home-bound members, and to get the Word of God into our community. Services are led by our St. Stephen’s pastors and sermons are delivered by our pastors and by pastors from our sister WELS congregations in the Beaver Dam area. Services air at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday over WBEV 1430 AM.
Visit our Radio Worship Service page and listen to our broadcast through streaming audio.
WHEN DO WE MEET?
Singing is provided by volunteers who meet at 7:00 P.M. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, September through May.
Senior Choir
WHO ARE WE?
Members of the choir use their voices to give praise and worship to God through song and anthems in many of the Sunday services, especially Church holidays and also Wednesday Lenten services.
WHEN DO WE MEET?
The Senior Choir meets every Thursday evening during the school year from 7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.