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ST. STEPHEN’S CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

1100 Hunters Chase Lane

Lebanon PA 17046

717-273-3912 Email: ststephcfc@comcast.net

Website: www.saintstephenscfc.org

The list is located in the back hallway. Please sign up now for your date for alter flowers or bulletins. It is

always nice to see fresh flowers on our altar on a Sunday morning.

Alter Flowers are $36.00 a week.

Bulletins are $12.00 a week

If needed call Kathy in the office at 717-273-3912

Crazy for Daisies is our supplier

Alter Flowers and Bulletins

June 2013

Special Thanks

There are some special thanks

we need to give to those who

offer their help in so many

ways.

Thanks to all those people who

with the cooking, serving, set

up and clean up of the Mother

Daughter Dinner, and to Helen

Crawford for stepping in when

she was needed.

Thanks to Dana Kapp for the

placement of the new

Defibrillator.

June 2 begin our Summer Worship

Schedule

Worship Service at 9:30 a.m.

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June 2013

Our Worship Team List

Greeters: Ushers: Lectors:

Counting Teams:

June 2

Kaitlyn Day, Amy & Matt

Weidman

June 9

Kaitlyn Day, Amy & Matt

Weidman

June 16

Jim & Joanne Bomberger;

Cindy Klingler

June 23

Jim & Joanne Bomberger;

Cindy Klingler

June 23

Dan, Janet & Sarah Light

June 2

Tyler Frantz

June 9

Kim Weidman

June 16

Cindy Klingler

June 23

Paul Weidman

June 30

Janet Light

June 2

Kaitlyn Day & Kathryn

Weidman

June 9

Kaitlyn Day & Amy

Weidman

June 16

Jim & Joanne Bomberger

June 23

Jim & Joanne Bomberger

June 30

Dan & Sarah Light

June 2 Counting Team #2 Shirley Golembiewski June 16 #4 Janet Light

Ken & Pat Shank Dan Light

June 9 #3 Brian Weidman June 23 #5 Cindy Klingler

Kim Weidman & Jere Snavely Jim & Joanne Bomberger

June 30 #6 Johan Berger

Paul & Joy Weidman

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From your president’s computer It’s Summer Time!

It is all but Memorial Day. The holiday that pretty much marks the beginning of summer. It is also

quite hot as I write this. Don’t forget we move the starting time of our worship service to 9:30am

starting June 2. I realize summer is a time of vacations, weekend getaways, picnics and just relaxing

by the pool and it is very easy to get out of our routine of going to church whether it is on a Sunday

morning for worship or sometime during the week for other activities. Please keep in mind we

don’t lockup the church from June until September; we just change our time for worship. Of course

we can not forget one of the biggest event during summer is our fantastic Vacation Bible School

(VBS). I am sure Kaitlyn will have an article in this Steeple regarding VBS, so I will just refer you to

that for more information. Other than to say, that VBS is one of our outstanding activities here at St.

Stephens. Every year we get a great attendance of children coming here to learn about God and our

Savior Jesus Christ, through scripture, crafts, games and songs. Please feel free to invite a child and

come join in the fun. Also throughout the summer we get to hear special music provided by a

variety of musicians during our Sunday morning worship service. As I said, we don’t lockup the

church from June until September. So, please don’t forget your church family and our summer

activities here at St Stephen’s while you are enjoying your other summer time activities.

Stay cool and keep on praying!

Brian Weidman, Church Council President.

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List of Birthdays:

6/5 Grant and Grace

Hoke

6/6 Brayden Gipe

6/9 Sue Reis

6/11 Heather Leonard

6/12 Cindy Dubbs

Jill Reis

6/15 Robert T. Bates

6/16 Conor Leonard

6/20 Jose P. Class

6/21 Judy Cleghorn

6/23 Monica Class

6/25 Brian Weidman

6/27 Colin Minerick

6/28 Patricia Marks

Gary Morinchin

6/30 June Barry

June Anniversaries

List of Anniversaries:

6/5 Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Light

6/9 Mr. & Mrs. Justin Roberts

6/27 Mr. & Mrs. Donald Jones

Prayer Shawl Update:

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will not meet during the summer

months. Please continue to work on shawls and lap robes at

home and bring them to church at any time. As of now, we

are uncertain whether we will resume monthly meetings in

the fall due to low attendance. However, we can continue to

make shawls and lap robes at home even if we do not resume

monthly meetings. Contact Beth if you have questions about

the ministry or if you take a shawl for someone in need.

Beth Kapp

Women’s Guild Information:

We had a very enjoyable Mother/Daughter Dinner on May 2.

After a tasty ham loaf with all the trimmings prepared by the

Men’s Brotherhood, prizes were awarded. The mother with

postage stamps in her purse went to Joy Weidman. The mother

with no cell phone in her purse went to Shirley Golembiewski.

The youngest mother prize went to Dana Clentimack and the

mother with the oldest car went to Jean Dechert. The

Grandmother who came the furthest went to Elaine Eichfeld.

We were entertained by Dean-O. Plants were awarded and

angel pin given to each adult. Dorothy E. Ditzler, Secretary

LCCM

Is still in need of the following:

Bath Towels Canned Chicken 5oz.

Hand Towels Canned Luncheon Meat

Wash Cloths Jelly 18 oz. & 32 oz.

Boy’s Shirts Complete Pancake Mix

Shampoo/soap Mac & Cheese

Please remember the 4th Sunday of each month is Food Bank Sunday and bring in those bags of food for

LCCM.

Lebanon County Christian Ministries

Is still in need of the following:

Bath Towels Canned Chicken 5 oz.

Hand Towels Canned Luncheon Meat

Wash Cloths Jelly 18 oz. & 32 oz.

Sheet Sets/Blankets Complete Pancake Mix

Shampoo/soap Hamburger Helper

Please remember, the 4th Sunday each month is Food Bank Sunday!

LCCM 19th Annual Golf Tournament Friday, June 7, Lebanon Valley

Golf Couse.

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From your Pastor

“And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and

I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go

to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”

Luke 14:18-20

Summer is an easy time to slack off and make excuses for missed church attendance.

Tired of excuses from people who didn’t want to attend church, a church once created a special “Excuse Free”

Sunday. They sent out the following announcement to their members: “To make it possible for everyone to attend

church next Sunday, we are going to have a special ‘No Excuse Sunday.’ Cots will be placed in the foyer for those

who say, ‘Sunday is my only day to sleep.’ We will have steel helmets for those who say, ‘the roof will cave in if I

ever come to church.’ Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold and fans for those who

think the church is too hot. We will have hearing aids for those who think the preacher speaks too softly and cotton

for those who think he preaches too loudly. Scorecards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites

present. Some relatives will be in attendance for those who like to go visiting on Sunday. There will be T.V. dinners

for those who can’t go to church and cook dinner also. One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who

like to see God in nature. Finally, the sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies

for those who have never seen the church without them.”

If you’ve ever been a part of inviting people to church, you know that sometimes people have some strange excuses

for not being able to attend. But while we almost expect unsaved people to make excuses for not attending,

sometimes Christians can make excuses for skipping church. Let’s look at three excuses some Christians give for

not being faithful to church.

BUSINESS: The first excuse that an invited guest in Luke 14 gave was that he “bought a piece of ground, and I

must needs go and see it.” He allowed his business to have priority, and couldn’t attend the feast. Sometimes even

well-meaning Christians can allow business and work to come before church. We all understand the economic times

in which we live, but a slow economy doesn’t mean you must give up Sundays for more work. God will honor those

who keep church faithfulness as a priority.

POSSESSIONS: The second guest who made an excuse blamed his inability to attend on the care of the world, “I

have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.” He focused on his

possessions, and made something that could have been done another day, a priority. Owning possessions and

enjoying them isn’t wrong. But allowing them to take the place of God’s priorities is dangerous for Christians. I’ve

seen Christians buy a new possession then slowly but surely start missing services and eventually drop out of

church altogether. Make sure you keep God ahead of your possessions.

FAMILY: The third guest’s excuse for not attending was his wife, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot

come.” This man had already celebrated his marriage, finished the festivities, and started his new life with his wife,

yet he made her his excuse for not attending the feast. Spending time with family is a must, and is always

encouraged, but some Christians use their families as an excuse for not attending church. As important as family is,

God should always take priority over family.

It’s easy to make excuses for not attending church during the summer. We relax in our routines and become more

lax in our schedules. But even with a relaxed pace, remember to keep God a priority. Determine to stay faithful in

your church attendance this summer.

Your shepherd,

pastorron

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Music News and Views June 2013 by Steve Suk

Here are some interesting thoughts from a previous article. What do you think? Do the hymns and songs

we sing here at St. Stephen’s fall into these criteria?

How to Evaluate Songs for Congregational Worship

Scott Christensen* (Pastor, Summit Lake Community Church, Mancos, Colorado)

Objective Criteria (Lyrics – where principles must control preferences):

1) Are they Biblical and doctrinally sound? Do the lyrics distinctively and accurately reflect Biblical

language or ideas? Does it contain Scripture and/ or scripturally inspired thoughts? Do the lyrics reflect

sound theology and Christian practice? Is there continuity with the historic orthodox doctrines of the

faith?

2) Are they spiritual and God-centered? Do the lyrics stimulate spiritual reflection and contemplation of

truth? Does it induce genuine praise, thanksgiving, contrition and joy that is God-directed? Does it

leave one delighting in God’s character and deeds or upon ourselves and/ or worldly values? Worship

must glorify God.

3) Are they edifying and instructive? Do the lyrics enhance one’s understanding of truth? Does it bring

helpful words of encouragement, admonishment and exhortation to godly Christian living? Worship

must edify believers.

4) Are they profound and substantial? Do the lyrics elevate or trivialize the message? Does it honor or

dishonor God’s character and deeds? Is there a shallowness cast over truth and Christian experience or

a thoughtful engagement with it?

5) Are they clear and understandable? Do the lyrics clearly communicate the message in an

understandable way? Is the message obscured by outdated language or overly popular language that

will soon be outdated? Is there an enduring quality to the words chosen?

6) Are they addressed to the heart and mind? Do the lyrics address the heart as well as the mind (i.e. songs

that provoke proper affections of the heart as well as godly intellectual reflection)? Is there a balance

between songs that are weighty and thought provoking (i.e. songs that focus on deep truths) as well as

those that are simple (but not trivial), meditative, repetitive (e.g. note Psa. 136) and responsive in

nature?

7) Are they marked by variety? Do the lyrics reflect a balance in emphasis (cf. Eph. 5:19 & Col. 3:16 –

psalms, hymns and spiritual songs)? Do they reflect songs addressing God directly (first & second person)

as well as those which speak about God (third person)? Do they focus on God’s character as well as His

deeds? Do they reflect doctrine and theology (what we believe) as well as experience and practice (what

we do)? Do they emphasize a corporate dimension (the church) as well as a personal dimension? Do

they reflect the wide variety of responses of worship (i.e. contrition, thankfulness, joy, praise, peace,

celebration, reflection, exaltation, etc…)? Is the variety of songs primarily devoted to God as the subject

(rather than ourselves)?

God is the focus of our worship.

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Don’t Forget!

Our Facebook:

Haven’t liked us on

Facebook yet?

It’s not to late, check us

out at…

St. Stephen’s Christian

Fellowship Church

Our Website:

Check us out online for

updates on news around the

church and church

information. Check us out

at:

www.saintstephenscfc.org

Also if you have any

information for the website

see that Kaitlyn Day

receives it as early as

possible

It’s not to late to register children ages 3-10 for vacation bible

school!!!!

If you haven’t heard yet, it’s easy to register for VBS this year. Just

use the following link:

http://www.vacationbibleschool.com/ststephenscfc

Vacation Bible Schools is being held on Sunday July 14-

Thursday July 18 from 6:15-8:30pm.

VBS is for children ages 3-10

We hope to see you there

Any questions please email Kaitlyn Day at

ststephensvbs@yahoo.com

Reminder: Beginning June 2 our Summer

Schedule starts. Worship Service will be at

9:30 a.m.

We hope to see you all summer!

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St. Stephen’s Christian

Fellowship Church 1100 Hunters Chase Lane

Lebanon, PA 17046

[Recipient]

Don’t forget to join us on Sundays for our worship service at 10:30am

See you in the pew!

St. Stephen’s Christian Fellowship Church

June 2013 Steeple