ST. STEPHENLUTHERAN CHURCH –

ELCASt. John/St. Stephen Lutheran Parish ELCA

PASTOR GAIL SOWELLJoint Mission Statement: Saints united to be the body of

Christ in the world, freed by grace to live faithfully, witness boldly, and serve joyfully.

424 N. 3rd Avenue, PO Box 95Edgar, WI 54426-0095

Telephone: 715-352-2491 (St. Stephen Office) 715-352-2492 (Pastor Gail Home/Cell/Emergency)

Church Web Site: www.ststephenedgar.com

NOVEMBER Birthdays

02 Ringle Pat06 Heiden Gregory06 Mroczenski Mason11 Roddy Wendell11 Zietlow Sue

ST. STEPHEN – ELCAHonoring the Past – Welcoming the Future

2018 COUNCIL OFFICERSPresident Kathy Schreier 715-352-2392 schreiermk@frontier.com

Vice-President Vicki Maurer 715-574-0527 MMaurer222@charter.netSecretary Sherry Gayken 715-355-9039 sarshe2@frontier.comTreasurer Rod Zietlow 715-370-7681 rzietlow@diversifiedinc.net

Financial Secretary Julie Haanstad 715-581-0308 juliehaanstad@gmail.comDeacons Clarence Werner

Mark SchreierDale Pilgrim

715-432-0997715-352-2392715-352-2968

schreiermk@frontier.com

Trustees David HarmDennis LangOpen Position

715-370-5463715-573-2974

hhddrc4431@aol.com

Youth Liaison Volunteer Needed

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Parish Staff/Council Officers....................................1Contact Information..................................................1November Birthdays and Anniversaries....................2Puerto Rico Raffle/Council Meeting/Tower Project. 2Thanksgiving Eve Worship/Stencil Baptism.............2Bible Study/Photo Directories...................................2Pastor’s Ponderings...................................................3Sunday School/Senior Day/Nominations..................4Adventures of Church Mice......................................4Women’s Bible Study/Quilting.................................5Thankoffering............................................................6All Saints Day/Music Notes/Musical Ministries.......7Community Dinners/Events......................................7Northwest Synod Events...........................................7November Calendar..................................................8

Sunday Worship time: Communion Worship @ 10:30 AMSunday School: Children excused for Sunday School

following Children’s Time (approx. 10:45 AM)November 4: All Saints SundayNovember 18: BaptismNovember 18: Thankoffering ServiceNovember 21: Thanksgiving Eve Service @ 7:00 PMBible Study: 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month @ 6:00 PM

Ladies: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 1:00 PM

PARISH STAFFPastor

Gail SowellHome/Cell/Emergency

St. Stephen Office715-352-2492715-352-2491

Secretary Sherry Gaykensarshe2@frontier.com

715-355-9039

Outside Custodian Steve Doran 715-393-5080Inside Custodian Rachel Doran 715-393-5076

Organist Charlotte Otto 715-443-2007Handbell Director Marla Berg 715-302-4768

Altar Guild Millie BorchardtMarge Copeland

Deb Pilgrim

715-352-2451715-352-2977715-352-2621

Media Team

Dale Pilgrim, Mark Schreier, Vern Spaulding, Rod Zietlow, Kristin Zietlow, Mike Maurer, Sherry Gayken

14 Doran Jordon15 Heiden Jacob17 Riehle Ronald18 Twerberg Sue19 Hein Jaxon21 Pilgrim Denice22 Heiden Kaitlyn23 Zietlow Rod24 Hein Camden

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

11/07 – Roy & Lori Guralski 11/14 – Larry Sr. & Marge Copeland

JOINT PUERTO RICO MISSION PROJECT – with St. John has begun. Pick up your pack of tickets in the back. This fundraiser (to raise $10,000) for Puerto Rico is because

of the enormous need there following last year’s hurricane. Only 500 tickets have been printed (250 for St. Stephen and 250 for St. John) – to be sold for $20.00 each. The winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday, December 16th, at 11:30 AM at St. Stephen. Prizes: 1st prize - $1,000; 2nd prize - $500; 3rd – 5th prize - $100; and 6th – 9th prize - $50.00. You need not be present to win. All net proceeds go to Lutheran Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico.

ST. STEPHEN COUNCIL MEETING:Sunday, November 18th @ 9:00 AM

UPDATE ON BELL TOWER PROJECT – renovations to the bell tower, window wraps, facia and soffits, and tower speakers and sound system as approved at the April Quarterly Meeting have begun this past week by AA Seamless.

Thanksgiving Eve WorshipWednesday, November 21st at

7:00 PMat St. Stephen

(The Mill Church will be joining us and assisting with worship)

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOD’S BLESSINGS to Steven and Stephanie Stencil on the birth and baptism of their new son, Shawn Richard Stencil. Shawn was born July 31, 2018, and baptized at St. Stephen on Sunday, October 14, 2018, by Pastor Gail Sowell.

Pictured below, along with Pastor Gail are parents, Steven and Stephanie, Baby Shawn, and Shawn’s sponsors, Stacey Stencil and Jennalee Fiess.

We welcome Shawn into the

St. Stephen family, and into the body of Christ and into the mission we share. Together we give thanks and praise to God.

2 ND AND 4 TH THURSDAY EVENINGS of each month at 6:00 PM at St. Stephen:

ALL ARE WELCOME !!

PHOTO DIRECTORIES have arrived and will be handed out in the next week or two.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Students are excused for Sunday School following the Children’s Time. Volunteers are needed to teach on Sundays (materials available). A coordinator remains needed to oversee the Sunday School Program and, also, a coordinator is needed to direct the Children’s Christmas Program in December (an idea is available).

SENIOR DAY – sponsored the 3rd Wednesday of each month at St. Stephen from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. Next date: November 21st.

Champion for the month of October was: Jane Ross

Join the group for some old-fashioned fun !! All area seniors are welcome !!!

SOCKS AND MITTENS will again be collected in November and first half of December (as last year) for donating to the Circle of Joy. Watch for more information in future bulletins.

Members of the congregation are needed for positions of leadership on the Church Council for the next term.

Vice-President – automatically becoming the president at the end of the 2-year term of vice-president.

Treasurer, Deacon, and Trustee.

ADVENTURES OF THE CHURCH MICEDo you know how hard it is for 8 little feet to travel 6 miles?? We (this is Twink and Tully at St. John) communicate with Miri and Frederick often, but when we want to go from one congregation to the other, it’s a BIG DEAL! (Don’t tell Pastor Gail, but sometimes we ride with her from St. John when she goes to St. Stephen on Sundays.)

M and F were really lucky a couple of weeks ago when Pastor Gail came back to St. John after worship for the Potato Pancake Breakfast. They wanted to help us clean up the crumbs, but truth be told, Twink and I hadn’t left many. THAT was a FUN day! There were so many people eating, and SO MANY CHILDREN helping! We had to watch where we were going, because some of the little ones weren’t too steady on their feet when they reached up to help set the table. They were ADORABLE! And the food was, like always, really good, in fact we heard a lot of people say it was the best ever. I know you people celebrate Thanksgiving in November, so you know what it means to thank God for good food, and for LOTS of food!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM YOUR CHURCH MICE!

INFORMATION ON THE “GIVING TREE” will be available within the next few weeks.

PASTOR’S PONDERINGS – November, 2018

Thanksgiving. THANKSGIVING! How can we not shout it from the rooftops (like the Verizon commercial—or is it Sprint?). What are you thankful for as we approach Thanksgiving?

I give thanks to God for this call I have to serve two God-blessed, God-given congregations! This yoked parish of St. John/St. Stephen Lutheran Parish ELCA is such a joy to me, I wonder every day what I’ve done to deserve this call. (Well, okay, there may be a day or two when I “have” to go to work; but most days I “get” to go to work!) A HUGE thank you to both congregations for the gift of your appreciation (during Pastor’s Appreciation Month) on October 21st. I was completely overwhelmed at St. John, surrounded by so many who came early to honor me; and I was again overwhelmed at St. Stephen to see the names of every member present in your card. I give thanks to God daily for both groups of faithful friends in Christ.

I give thanks to God for the gift of family, and of friends who have become like family! Though I’ve had some close relationships outside the Church (which is the body of Christ, the fellowship of believers, the communion of saints), my most significant friendships have been with fellow believers. I give thanks for the many ways my faith has been enlarged and enriched by friends in Christ!

I give thanks to God for the gift of his good creation! You know how I treasure the doglets God has given me (okay, I did play some part in acquiring them) to care for. They, and the six dogs before them, have been my “significant others” since Paul moved out at age 17 to live with his godparents on the other side of the country. My life, rich as it is in so many ways, would be bleak without the unconditional love and exuberant welcome of these beloved family members.

I give thanks to God for the gift of travel! Both my parents traveled as long as they were able, and I was blessed to travel almost all around the world with my mother (who, at 97-1/2, still enjoys vicariously every trip I take). The opportunity to see, and sometimes participate in, life styles so very different from what we enjoy in the United States has been life-changing for me. I wish every one of you could experience, in person, a way of living and thinking and perceiving that varies from ours to a lesser or greater extent. It deepens my faith in our amazing, awesome God of grace and glory to see how he touches people who are so different from us.

I give thanks for the gifts of music; and peanut butter ice cream and flavored coffee and the occasional rare filet mignon; and stretch-denim jeans; and board games (and people to play them with!); and the art work and photos from around the world that decorate my walls; and the means to support Lutheran Disaster Response, World Hunger, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah, Doctors without Borders, Catholic Charities; and heat and warm clothing in winter. And I thank God daily for what appeared at the time to be more of a curse than a blessing: depression, divorce (and healing of that relationship), breast cancer, and (failed) adoption of an adult son.

I give thanks for all past and present gifts and blessings in my life which I’ve taken for granted. Sometimes I haven’t realized that many people don’t enjoy the same privileges I do. Sometimes I haven’t perceived things as blessings at the time. I pray daily that God will open the eyes of my heart to recognize the constant state of blessedness I enjoy. And I pray for all of you, each of you, that you’ll see God’s blessings present in every aspect of your life. Thanks be to God!

Pastor Gail

JOINT WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY ST. STEPHEN AND ST. JOHN – is held the 2nd

Tuesday of each month starting at 1:00 PM. The next Study is: Tuesday, November 13th at St. Stephen. (Business Meeting at 12:45 PM).

All women who are members of St. Stephen and St. John are members of the women’s group. All are WELCOME and encouraged to participate (along with family and friends).

UPCOMING BIBLE STUDIES

Turn, turn, turn: A time for faithful repentanceMost merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves... (ELW, p. 95).

What does it mean to repent, and why do we do it? When many of us hear the word “repentance,” the first image that comes to mind is that of a self-appointed street prophet with a megaphone, proclaiming God’s judgment on passers-by. We picture fire-and-brimstone preachers warning of the end of the world or recall news stories of those who picket gatherings of different churches, parades and veterans’ funerals.

This fall’s Bible study from the Gather magazine, "Turn, turn, turn: A time for faithful repentance" by Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, focuses on the theme of "turning" in repentance. What does it mean to repent, and why is repentance important in the life of Christian faith? Repentance is one of the most powerful acts of a person or a church, making possible not only forgiveness but also reconciliation. This Bible study will explore how we as Lutheran Christians understand the role of repentance in our faith, especially as we understand God’s grace to be unearned and freely given.

November: Session three – Turning points: Turning as the church to the world. The word repentance often refers to an invitation that brings people into the church. But what happens when the church turns outward to the world? When the church has been complicit in abuse, racism, anti-Semitism and other attitudes and practices that lead away from God’s reign, what happens when the church repents?

BLANKET SUNDAY -- a long-standing tradition at St. Stephen was held Sunday, September 30th. The quilts over the pews were quilts which St. Stephen quilters made throughout the year.

Collection totals were: 109 quilts, 12 blankets … a total of 447 pounds. To date, cash and check donations of $185.00 have also been received. AWESOME !! Two quilts were also presented to the two graduating seniors and one donated for a fund-raising raffle.

Thank you: Robert Rajek, Clarence Werner, Ruth Paul, Jane Ross, Marge Copeland, MaryAnn Aschbrenner, Jenny Schreier, Dale and Elaine Pilgrim (who also transported the boxes to Wausau), and all who donated materials and monetary donations, and all who helped in any way.

QUILTING is done the 1st and 3rd

Thursdays of each month through May at 1:00 PM in the St. Stephen basement. November dates are 2nd and 16th. More willing hands are needed. Sewing may also be done at home. Material for

quilts may be dropped off downstairs at any time.

Monetary donations will be accepted for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) through the end of October. For only a $5.00 donation, you can help another human being in great need. Place in an envelope marked with a bold notation “BLANKETS.”

The beautiful quilt – hand-made by Marla Berg and Marsha Otto – was auctioned via “silent auction” – the winning bidder was Jill Riehle (whose bid was $110.00). This amount will be donated to the Quilting Group for additional supplies for additional quilts during the year for LWR.

THE WOMEN OF ST. STEPHEN (WELCA) THANKOFFERING SERVICE will be held Sunday, November 18th. Women volunteers are needed to participate in the service. Thankofferings will be collected that Sunday.

ALL ABOUT THANKOFFERINGS

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in

everything she had, all she had to live on.” The Widow’s Mite, Mark 12:41-44

Women’s Offerings: a brief historyThe idea of collecting donations in small offering boxes goes back to the very early 1800s, when women formed “mite” or “cent” societies to raise money. Mite boxes were given out as fundraising tools to collect pennies for the support of church projects and foreign missionaries. These women-led cent societies, platforms for social activism as well as evangelism in the 19th century, published their own literature, Bible studies and other materials advocating around issues such as child labor, literacy and prison reform. In time, larger missionary and ladies aid societies developed out of this work because there was such an overwhelming demand not only for foreign missionary support but for support at home. These women’s groups funded needs in their local churches as well as local community projects. Their capacity for fundraising was acknowledged and generally welcomed by their congregations. The earliest American Lutheran women’s missionary society was founded in New York in 1837 to financially support the education and ordination of foreign missionaries from their synod. In 1879, the first national American Lutheran women’s missionary society, the General Synod’s Women’s Home and Foreign Missionary Society, was founded. The original reason behind the creation? Funds were needed to financially support two young women who wanted to be foreign missionaries but were denied funding by the Board of Missions. A national women’s structure was born! For this new organization, supporting missionary work both abroad as well as in the United States was seen as essential, and so missionaries were assigned to both foreign and domestic locations. For example, because of the support of the General Synod’s Women’s Home and Foreign Missionary Society, a young pastor named Rev. C.W. Heisler was sent as a missionary to Los Angeles, California. He helped establish First Lutheran in 1887, which is now the oldest ELCA congregation in Los Angeles. Less than a decade after the national missionary society was established, the wide-reaching impact of women’s giving to the mission and ministries of the Lutheran church was evident.

Thankofferings: our history Beginning in the late 19th century, Lutheran women were given small Thankoffering boxes to place in a special location in their homes as a visible reminder of blessings received. Women would add coins to those boxes almost daily as particular blessings were noted. From their use came the idea of an annual church service to celebrate their collection, and so the women of the congregation would come together for a Thankoffering service. The concept of Thankoffering celebrations dates back more than 100 years and beyond Lutherans. The Episcopal Church Women held their first recorded Thankoffering service in 1889, and the World Thank Offering service of the United Methodist Women has been a tradition for over 100 years. In the Lutheran tradition, the General Synod’s Women’s Home and Foreign Missionary Society created their first Thankoffering service in 1889 to celebrate the 10th

anniversary of the organization. At that first Thankoffering, $6,100 was collected. Today, Women of the ELCA collects more than $1 million in Thankofferings annually for the ministries and mission of our women’s organization.

Thankofferings: continuing the traditionThankofferings show gratitude for God’s blessings and give us an important and tangible way to express that gratitude. It is a tradition grounded in our celebration of community, of meeting together to

joyfully give thanks for what God has given us. Thankofferings have always been, and still are, our opportunity to say thank you to God in both significant and ordinary moments. Giving Thankofferings is grounded in scripture and in our constitution. “All income, whether received by the unit, cluster or conference, synodical or churchwide organizations, shall be viewed as being given to the total program of Women of the ELCA. … Thankofferings shall be gifts from individuals in gratitude for blessings. These offerings shall be received by the unit and transmitted in full to the churchwide organization for the support of the ministries of this organization and the church” (Article X, Churchwide Women’s Organization Constitution, Section 4, Item 1). The living words of our purpose statement further encourage our stewardship. And stewardship is not just about providing assistance to others. It is also about provoking others to recognize their power to implement change through their offerings. It was this hope of change that motivated the women’s cent societies 200 years ago, and it is the same today. Inspired by our spiritual foremothers, we continue to see our witness to the gospel, our capacity to serve and our community of women grow through our offerings.

The Thankoffering Services is an opportunity for women to celebrate and continue their commitment to the ministries of the women’s organization. Women of the ELCA Thankofferings support the total outreach of the organization. The entire congregation is invited to participate and encouraged to give a gift so that we may continue the ministry efforts of women.

All about Thankofferings A resource from Women of the ELCA. Copyright © 2010 Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Written by Emily Hansen. All rights reserved.

ALL SAINTS’ DAY REMEMBRANCES – The congregation is again invited to submit names of loved ones they’ve lost and want remembered – any family member or friend who's ever died.

At the beginning of All Saints Day worship on November 4th, a candle will be lit for every name submitted. This is a beautiful and moving way to celebrate the light of lives now departed.

MUSIC NOTES: Do you have a favorite hymn? Write down the title and we’ll try to include it in a worship service in the next couple of months. Would you like to sing or play special music on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Let Pastor Gail or Charlotte know!

Also, St. John is still seeking a musician for worship to give Louann a break, or even an opportunity to step down. If you play keyboard or guitar, or if you know someone who might be interested, please let Pastor Gail know. Perfection is not required!

ST. STEPHEN’S MUSICAL MINISTRIES – led by Vern Spaulding – are again playing/singing at area nursing homes/rehab facilities, to share God’s word. On Thursday PM, November 29th, they will be traveling to Terrace Place, Wausau. Please join the group if you like to sing (don’t have to be great at it!) and enjoy visiting with the residents.

ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKE BREAKFAST – Sunday, November 4th, serving time 8:00 – 10:30 AM, St. John the Baptist Parish Dining Hall. Prices: Adults (12 & older $7.00; children (ages 5-11) $4.00; Preschool (under 5) Free; St. John’s students: Free. Pancakes, scrambled eggs with or without ham, sausage, fruit, and beverages. Pies at additional cost. Carryouts available: 715-352-3111. Proceeds go to Home and School to help fund school activities and cover field trip costs.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY – St. John the Baptist Parish, Edgar, is looking to hire a cook to prepare and serve lunch to about 55 children beginning January 2019 (approximately 25-30 hours weekly). If interested, call the Parish Office at 715-352-3011.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH:Annual Christmas Bazaar, fish and shrimp fry, bake sale, book fair, children’s only shop – Friday, November 16 th, 4:00-7:30 PM.

St. John School will hold its annual Vendor/Craft Sale on Saturday, November 17th, from 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM in the Church dining hall. Lunch available from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (chili, walking tacos, all the fixins, baked goods).

FREE COMMUNITY DINNER – at Hope Lutheran Church, F4356 STH 97, Edgar, the last Sundays of each month – serving from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. If you are seeking some assistance because the budget has run out before the month ends or are seeking fellowship with others, join in. Area veterans ae invited. Also added has been a small food pantry and a family friendly movie that will be shown at 7:00 PM. Everyone is welcome.

EDGAR HOLIDAY PARADE – Sunday, November 4th @ 1:00 PM. Contact Karen at Stark’s Floral for more information, costumes, volunteers always needed!!!!

NORTHWEST SYNOD CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Deck the Halls Holiday BazaarTrinity Lutheran - Rice Lake, WI November 3, 11:00-2:00Lefse & bake shop, craft & book shop, lunch and raffle

Ole & Lena Lutefisk DinnerOur Savior's - Rice Lake, WI November 3, 11:00-3:008:00-3:00 Lefse, bake sale, crafts, books & rummage

Election Day Ham DinnerChrist Lutheran - Somerset, WI November 6, 4:00-7:00

Chicken & Biscuit DinnerSt. John's Lutheran - Eau Claire, November 8, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Community Pre-Thanksgiving DinnerBethel Lutheran- New Auburn November 11, 10:30-1:00 p.m.

Chicken DinnerSalem Lutheran Church - Shell Lake, WI November 13