2700 McPherson Ave • Fort Worth, Texas 76109 • 817-927-8411 VOLUME 30 NUMBER 02 www.ststephen-pcusa.com TABLE OF CONTENTS January 20, 2014 Special Music Series: Page 2 “Gah Gah” for Mutations of Life by Beth Fultz Page 3 Military Vets need our help! Room in the Inn Samaritan House Page 4 Welcome our New Members!! Preparation for Worship Page 5 Adult Education and Family News Page 6 Children, Youth, & Family Activities Page 7 Weekly Calendar of Events Prayer Requests The University of Texas at Arlington: A Cappella Choir Choral Choir Sunday, January 26, 7:00 p.m., Sanctuary The A Cappella Choir is the premiere choral ensemble of the university. Under the direction of UTA Director of Choral Activities, Karen Kenaston-French, the A Cappella Choir performs a diverse array of challenging choral literature from the Renaissance to the present, with special emphasis on compositions from the 20th-21st centuries. Day School Parents & Supporters! Chili’s Fund Raiser Wednesday, January 22, All Day Chili’s on University 1540 South University Drive Fort Worth, Texas 76107 817.850.0064 St. Stephen Presbyterian Church Day School will receive 15% of the Proceeds on those who arrive And have flier for the Day School! A Paper Flier or an Phone App Flier Available. Contact Church Office for One! 2014 Flower Chart Posted The 2014 flower chart has now been posted on the bulletin board outside of the church office, directly across from the Chapel. Honor your loved ones by dedicating the chancel flowers one Sunday. Sign up now to save the dates in memory of a loved one lost or in remembrance of a special birthday or anniversary. All dates are available for the months of February and March. Page 2 January 20, 2014 “Gah Gah” for Mutations of Life Beth Fultz, Director of Christian Education mu-ta-tion - noun http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutation According to the online dictionary resource, Merriam-Webster, the second definition of mu-ta-tion is “a new form of something that has changed”. So perfect a definition for use in my life now as a new mother -in-law, a new grandmother - I am too young (okay, not really!) - and well into my years here at St. Stephen. You have allowed me to gum up the works at St. Stephen now for eight and one/half years and I’m ready for the mutations at work; and I don’t mean something amuk with Mark, Eddie, Fritz, or any volunteers. My grandchild, Miss Kennedi, aged 8 months, is babbling like a flooded brook. I fully expect her to start singing the hymns with me in church as she warms up her vocal chords quite perceptively each time we praise in song. I’m ready for these mutations in her life and in mine. What a joy, grandchildren! Son-in-law, Steven, is delightfully in love with my eldest daughter, Emily, and I am assured that their life together is solid and needing NOT my intervention and guidance and interference. What a mutation from the normal me! As for St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, I am ready to mix it up and rattle the cages! The youth chose their location choices for a mission trip! I’m following a rabbit down a hole in Nashville per their choice of towns; and letters are being sent to Atlanta looking for another clue as to where we’re headed this summer. The Youth are now helping with suggestions for Activities on Sunday nights including the Burrito Project and a Ping Pong Tournament. Cathy Corder is anchoring the theme for a new Vacation Bible School curriculum. And with a little help from me, we’ll add some developmentally appropriate activities for all the ages served this summer. Oh, the theme? Jesus healing the handicapped: the blind, the deaf, the lame. We will extend it into the real world and include lots of handicappable activities for all children so that we understand limitations and infinite possibilities when life hands one a mutation. Saints Alive, what a crew of organizing fiends! Dramatic changes are coming due to the daring board of individuals who met and want MORE opportunities for Fellowship! (see article within the Sentinel) Saints Alive is now planned every month in 2014 including the summer and 2 weeks earlier in November and December; there are also 5 planned day excursions in and around North Texas! The Christian Education Committee wants to fully hot wire the Parish Hall and Youth Basement so that we can use the wi-fi in the entire Education Building. We also want to invite special guests during the Sunday School hour monthly to different Sunday School Classes on a variety of topics as Dr. Ariel Feldman, professor at Brite, bringing King David to life. Maybe we’ll bring in speakers on financial issues and medical insurance; over-scheduling our lives and how to stop it; theological ideas of import; maybe an author whose books are of great interest. We’ll see ...that is being investigated now. Who knows where this will end. Maybe I will take everything out of my office and just put back 1/10 of what is there. Don’t count on that action, but it is worth mentioning just in case my risk taking goes that far. Change, mutation. What’s there to be scared of? It’s time to experiment and I’m ready. I’m with Kennedi; help me grow with her changes as she succeeds or fails with glee and abandon. I’m Gah Gah for my grandchild and her entry into toddler hood. I’m also agog for St. Stephen Presbyterian Church and the possibilities to come! Join me in this abandon. One mutation with a little sugar, please! Page 3 January 20, 2014 Help SSPC Help Military Vets! Great Opportunity, we need you “now, now, now”! by Richard Parr We all know what a drag it is waiting for hours for medical and dental appointments. Want a nearby “easy” option to serve in a much needed hospitality ministry? The SSPC Mission Committee needs your help at the new, state-of-art, VA outpatient health center serving vets from Tarrant and 15 surrounding counties down the road from church, at 2201 SE Loop 820 (near the intersection of I-35, by the Tarrant County Community College campus). Provide coffee, breakfast pastries and cookies, a kind face and a good word, to vets in the waiting area at the Center weekly, on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday afternoons. You bring the baked goods and your charming self, the VA provides the coffee. We need volunteers to provide baked goods, and 2-3 folks to serve coffee and hospitality for morning and afternoon shifts. The VA and vets they serve need us "yesterday"! ROOM IN THE INN (RITI) The winter session of Room in the Inn (RITI), our outreach mission to the homeless, is underway, and we need volunteers! Through February, SSPC provides our guests a comfortable & warm place to sleep every Tuesday night, as well as a good dinner and breakfast the following morning. Volunteer opportunities with the greatest need are: Drivers Pick-up guests from downtown in church van (4:30pm- 5:30pm Tues) Return guests to downtown in church van (7:00am8:00am Wed) Dinner & Evening Hosts Share a meal with our guests and help facilitate conversation to make our guests feel at home (5:00 pm to 7: 00pm Tues). Visit with guests after dinner, play cards, dominoes, etc. (7pm to 9pm Tues). "Volunteers requested for upcoming national veterans' salute February 10-14, bake sale March 10 and Independence Day cookout July 8, as well!" Innkeeper Stay overnight in Parish Hall to attend to any problems or questions that may arise (9pm Tues to 6am Wed). Contact Charlotte Ray by phone 817-946-7798 or email [email protected] or Richard Parr 214-695-8443 [email protected]. Breakfast Hosts Prepare & serve breakfast (provided). Assist guests in stripping & storing beds. Cleanup after guests leave (5:30 am to 8:00 am Wed). Other volunteer opportunities include: Samaritan House is a residential facility which provides a home and services to people who are affected by HIV/AIDS and have been unable to find residence elsewhere. The residents we serve live in a single room occupancy facility and take their meals in a common dining room. St. Stephen has been a member of the Samaritan House Supper Club for more than a dozen years, preparing, serving, and cleaning up after the evening meal on the third Friday of each month. Volunteers are needed to plan, prepare, and/or serve one meal each month. Time commitment is flexible except for serving the meal which requires being at Samaritan House from 4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. any given third Friday. For more information and to sign up to help, contact Laurie Sandefur at [email protected] or by phone 817-4753161 Prepare & Deliver Food Prepare specified menu items for delivery to church by 2pm on Tuesday. Dinner Preparation & Cleanup Cook items prepared for dinner, serve and cleanup after the meal (4:30pm- 7:00pm Tues). Laundry Pick up a tub of laundry to wash (anytime Wed or after) & return to church (by Tues a.m.) If you would like additional information, please contact Wendy Larmour ([email protected]). Or, please drop by next Tuesday around 7pm to visit with some of the volunteers and see RITI in action. We welcome SSPC members and non-members alike to participate in this important mission! To sign-up for specific volunteer slots, please visit: http:// www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0B44A9AE28A57-room3 Page 4 January 20, 2014 PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday, January 26, 2014 Children’s Sabbath Today’s services will be led by the children of St. Stephen. Hebrew Testament - Exodus 23: 1 - 9 Welcome to our new members: Mike and Mary Witt!! Fort Worth natives Mike & Mary Witt joined St. Stephen in December 2013, after being regular visitors for several months. While attending another Presbyterian church in the area, they observed, and were impressed with our congregation's focus on Missions and Community service. When a decision was made to seek a new church home, St. Stephen was one of the first services they attended. According to Mary, "we were made to feel as if we had been members for years." Both Mike and Mary are graduates of Texas Wesleyan University. Their sons Payton and Benton are enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and Tarleton State, respectively. Being somewhat empty nesters, the Witts have noticed that their two golden retrievers have not been reluctant about occupying all available space in their Richland Hills home. Epistle Lesson - Ephesians 4: 1- 6, 14 - 16 Gospel Lesson - Matthew 4: 18 - 25 Opening Hymn - 767 “Together We Serve” Gradual - “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore” Sung by Ashley McGown, 11: a.m. worship Middle Hymn - 170 “You Walk Along the Shoreline” Recessional Hymn - 69 “Here am I, Lord,”11:a.m. worship Communion Music—”Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”, Sung by Ashley McGown, 8:30 a.m. worship Clued in by his email name "Angler", it's understandable that Mike likes to take several trips a year to his favorite fishing spot, the San Juan River. Both love traveling, both stateside and abroad. Mary remarks that she is passionate about interior design. Our projects await her magic touch. In the community, they have both served on the board of Cornerstone Assistance Network which serves the homeless and families in Tarrant County who are struggling with poverty. Mike is a long-time employee of Fiserv, a global banking software and financial service provider based in Milwaukee. Mary works for LivingStone University Partners, a non-profit fundraising entity for LivingStone International University in Uganda. Prior to that, she worked at Fort Worth Christian School as Director of Communications and Special Events. Regulars at the 11:00 a.m. service, please welcome the Witts with your introductions! Mike & Mary Witt 7200 Hovenkamp Richland Hills, TX 76118 H: 817-590-8760 Mike's email: [email protected] Mary's email: [email protected] Presbyterian Women (PW) ...(or PW) is a national organization of the PC(USA) that provides excellent Bible and spirituality resources and mission opportunities targeted to women. St. Stephen’s PW offers meetings (‘circles’) at a variety of times to accommodate women in all walks of life. (PW) FEBRUARY SCHEDULE PW Council meets on Tuesday, February 4, 9:30 a.m. in the Session Room. The Daytime Circle follows in the Eastminster Room at 10:30 a.m. for light snacks, hosted by Melissa Phillips and Shirley Potter with Bible Study led by Dian McCall. PW L.O.T.E. meets on Monday, February 10, 6:30 p.m. for a covered dish meal and Bible Study. The location, to be determined. Interested in joining a PW Circle? Call the church office at 817927-8411. January 20, 2014 Adult Education & Fellowship News 817-927-8411 office [email protected] Saints Alive Musical Team Debra and Paul Nyul Serenade Us Thursday, January 23! 11:30 Lunch; 12 - 1 p.m. Program Saints Alive is back in full swing on Thursday, January 23, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Invited and the most popular program - Debra and Paul Nyul are returning to put on a wonderful musical program for us. We invite them annually per your request! Bobbi and Roland Vogel have agreed to provide our luncheon menu for us! $3 a “pop” for such delicious food. Invite Friends! Saints Alive Organizational Meeting Netted Surprising Results Pat Engel, Donald Jones, Barbara Rinker, Mary Lou Wright, Bee Ingalls, Bobbi and Roland Vogel and Beth Fultz met to discuss programs, dates, and day trips for 2014. One major change: the Saints Alive luncheon will occur EVERY MONTH on the 4th Thursday; in November and December the group will move the dates to the 2nd Thursday of the month. It will be a 12 month program in 2014. We also voted to do 5 trips this year including: Kimball tour of Picasso and Matisse in February; Bluebonnet Festival in Ennis in April; Chandor Gardens & Parker County Courthouse Tour, Weatherford, in Late May; C.R. Smith Airplane Museum in August; Texas Ranger Museum and Dinosaur Dig in Waco for and October day long trip! Thanks to all who are making a New Saint Come Alive ! Saints Alive Trip to Kimball THE AGE OF PICASSO AND MATISSE: MODERN MASTERS … Thursday, February 6 Barbara Sims will give us the Docent Tour!! Meet at 11:30 a.m. at Church; Lunch at Kimball then Tour at 2 p.m. Cost $14 for non Kimball Members $10 for Buffet Lunch! RSVP to Beth Fultz. Page 5 817-875-9704 cell College and Military Valentine Boxes Stuffed On Sunday, February 9 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. During Sunday School In Godly Play Room. (All Children & Youth Classes Stuff & Decorate Boxes Together) Need Homemade Cookies, Chips, Gum, Snacks. Need School Supplies Pencils, Pens, Erasers.. NEED ADDRESSES! Send Addresses to Beth Fultz We want to make sure that every collegian and beloved military personnel feels loved by SSPC! Sunday School For Adults Every Sunday, 9:45 - 10:30 a.m. Come January the Faith & Family Class will be facilitated by Dr. Carol A. Stalcup using the book, Children’s Spirituality, What it is and Why it Matters! By Rebecca Nye. Books will be ordered for the class. Carol has begun and will continue through February 23, 2014. Star Bucks Adult Class has started a new study, A Guide Through the Old Testament by Cecilia Brewer Marshall. Mike Windsor and Mitch Murphy are teaching. There are more books available for those wishing to join the Old Testament study. Northminster Adult Class is meeting in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity with Mark Scott, Minister of Music, will be leading the class in January on the many facets of the New Presbyterian Hymn Book! Dr. Ariel Feldman returns for 2 weeks in February discussing King David! The Fisher Adult Class welcomes everyone to their Bible Study using “The Present Word” curriculum in the Eastminster Room. Teacher Marvin Champlin invites you in for a visit. Faith Journeys are not completed; they are traveled! January 20, 2014 Children & Youth & Family Activities 817-927-8411 office [email protected] Children’s Sabbath January 26th, Sunday, Both Services Rehearsals the week January 21 - 23. Committed Children Participating (so far): Elizabeth Walters Katherine Walters Sara Walters Ashley McGown Caroline Huseman Jack Murphy Trinity Hinckley Emory Hinckley Addison Hinckley Saffi Windsor Easton Sapp Everett Sapp Claudia Klein Sofia Klein Arthur Clayton ...more to come. Confirmation Class in Action Helped with Samaritan House During Retreat and now... Helping with Room in the Inn Tuesday, February 18, 4 - 7 p.m. Cooking Burgers for the Guys and Volunteers! Note: New Date! St. Stephen Spring & Summer Major Dates SPRING Ash Wednesday Children & Family Service - March 5 Sneak Peak Youth Mission Trip - March 17 - 19 Confirmation Ceremonies, March 30 Palm Sunday Spring Festival & Egg Hunt - April 13 Maundy Thursday Children & Family Service - April 17 Easter Day Sunrise Service - April 20 Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Day April 20 SUMMER Vacation Bible School June 16 - 20 Youth Garage Sale set up & sale June 30 - July 4 & 5 Youth Mission Trip - July 19 - 27 Music Day Camp - August 4 - 8 page 6 817-875-9704 cell Souper Bowl of Caring Super Bowl Sunday, February 2nd, Both Services Teens all over America are raising funds to fill Food Banks via the tradition called “Souper Bowl of Caring” in each town and city. St. Stephen has a long tradition of doing so on Super Bowl Sunday. Our sales pitch always asks you to choose between the Super Bowl teams and voting in dollars for the team of your choice. Last year we succeeded in giving over $600 to the Food Bank. Will you consider donating some food funds or cans of food in honor two vying teams? Who will it be? Seattle? Denver? San Francisco? New England? Letters of Appreciation “Dear Becky Evans, PCHAS, and All the Families Who Contributed to Our Special Christmas, I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful gifts that my children received this year. Without your generosity I cannot imagine how we could have made everything so special. May God bless you all for all you do.” Thank You! A Very Grateful Grandmother “Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, I'm sending a heartfelt "Thank you" for all the beautiful gifts you sent to my family for Christmas. We were all very touched by your thoughtfulness & generosity. Every year as the holiday season approaches, I say to myself, "it's just going to be about You this year, Lord. It's Your Birthday". And every year, the Lord insists on blessing me & my family. Throughout the whole year, He always lets me know that He's watching, & He cares. The blessings always come through His people; people like you, who love Our Lord Jesus. So many times over the years, the Lord has proven to me that no matter how many trials we may face in this life, His blessings never cease, & they far outweigh the times of trouble. Lamentations 3:21-23 describes this so beautifully: " But in my mind I keep returning to something, something that gives me hope--that the grace of the Lord is never exhausted, and His compassion never ends. They are renewed each and every morning, so great is His faithfulness!" May the Lord's abundant blessings be with you all throughout the coming new year. Sincerely, Charla Marbut “ “Thank you for all the wonderful gifts that u so kindly sent me. Im ten years old and I loved everything. Im very glad that I have all those things. The dress the game and skipbo but I cant forget the bracelets. I played skipbo with my mom already and it was very fun. I wear the bracelets all the time. You should have seen my reaction when I saw the gifts in the bag. Was so happy. Charla’s granddaughter Isabella” [sic] January 20, 2014 Page 7 PRAYER REQUESTS Schedule of Events | January 20-26, 2014 Monday, January 20 Visitation Committee SSPC Day School Staff Meeting Trustees Meeting Fellowship Meeting Recent Requests: ` 9:00 am Meet in Sacristy 9:30 am-2:30 pm Ed. Building 1:30 pm Pastor’s Study 5:30 pm Eastminster 7:00 pm Charlotte Ray’s Tuesday, January 21 Knitting Guild Room in the Inn 1:30 pm 5:00 pm Eastminster Parish Hall Wednesday, January 22 SSPC Day School Bible Study Class Session Meeting 9:30 am-2:30 pm Noon 7:00 pm Ed. Building Eastminster Eastminster Morning Prayer Service/Breakfast 7:00 am Saints Alive Luncheon/Program 11:30 am Cherub/Bethlehem/Junior Choir Rehearsal 4:15 pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal 6:30 pm Chapel/PH Eastminster Room 223 Choir Room/PH Thursday, January 23 Friday, January 24 Fourth Friday Book Group Noon Eastminster Saturday, January 25 The Way of Life AA Group 10:00 am -11:00 am Eastminster Sunday, January 26 Children’s Sabbath & New Member Sunday Worship Service/Lord’s Supper 8:30 am After Worship Fellowship 9:30 am Receiving New Members/Inquirers 9:30 am Sunday School Breakfast 9:30 am Sunday School Classes 9:45 am Bethlehem/Junior Choir Rehearsal 9:45 am-10:00 am Worship Service 11:00 am After Worship Fellowship Noon Receiving New Members/Inquirers Noon St. Gregory Handbell Guild 4:15 pm-5:00 pm Youth Activities 5:00 pm Special Music Series: Choral Concert by A-Cappella Choir 7:00 pm West Transept West Transept Session Room Parish Hall Ed. Building Room 223 Nave Narthex Session Room Sanctuary Meet at Church Sanctuary LOST & NOT FOUND Found: Set of Car and House Keys (3+ weeks ago) Description: One (snap) key ring w/two GM car keys and four miscellaneous keys, including house keys. Please claim them in the church office or call 817-927-8411. Keith Alward (friend of Dolores Morgan), Jane Cooper (friend of Marianne Davis). PCUSA Mission Workers in South Sudan Members with Long-Term Needs: Dan Bechtel, Jim and Betty Corbett, Holly Fawcett, Woody Graham, Henry and Margaret Hash (SSPC members), Dale Henderson, Jim House, Marilyn Ketterlin, Nancy Schmidt, Alan Strait, Rebecca Van Hooser, Marietta Watson Family and Friends: Micah Ahern (requested by Darlene Housewright) Joe Alengo (friend of Kathy Flores) Adelaide Andrews (cousin of Bobbie Marrow) Ann Louise Armstrong (cousin of Bobbie Marrow) Nadia, Nuri & Justice Atterbury (great-granddaughters of Kitty Mitchell) Mark Beal (uncle of Gina Galloway Wood) Richard Beckwith (father of Vicki Johnson) Linden Blackmon (Friend of Bobbie Marrow) Brynn, Aubrey and Sydney Carson (nieces of Melissa Phillips) Jane & Daniel Hugh Cooper (friends of Margaret & Henry Hash) Sharon Curry (PCUSA Missionary) Matt Ferrell (friend of Chris Flores) Jane and Roger Forsythe (parents of Melissa Forsythe) Greg Garrett (son of Dorothy Garrett) Earl Hamlin (husband of member Rosemary Hamlin) Sherry Hill (Friend of Bobbie and Warren Marrow) Martha Fultz Jeffrey (sister of Robert Fultz) The Kazda Family (friends of Laura Meyn) Madison and Tucker King (grandsons of Booty Jones) Jim Kniese (friend of John & Teke Walters) Simon Krov (nephew of Greg and Katie Hinckley) Anita and Royston Lanning (parents of Julia Mallin) Walker Madison (friend of SSPC) Jackie Mayes (brother-in-law of Peggy Bender) Jeri Mayes (sister of Peggy Bender) Cindy McQueen (sister-in-law of Peggy Bender) Kerry Morse (brother of Wendy Larmour) Cathy Ngeny (daughter of Kitty Mitchell) Rheygan Purnell (friend of Carol Kretchmar Keith Raines (friend of John E. Davis) Dwayne Reed (friend of Ted Lovato) Jessica Sandoval (friend of Megan Thornton) Patti Sellers (friend of Darlene Housewright) Philip Thompson (brother of Bobbie Marrow) William Wood (son of Barbara Pierce’s Godson) Antonnie Wylepski (son of Cindy Darby) Family and Friends in the Military: Chris Hall ( ), Scott Menking (son of Nancy and Wayne Menking), Brian Myers (nephew of Judi Greathouse), Gabriel Ngeny, ( ) St. Stephen Presbyterian Church “A welcoming community of believers" 2700 McPherson Avenue Fort Worth, Texas 76109-1405 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Attn: New Committee Chairs: When scheduling a meeting or event, please contact the church office to check availability and to have it placed on the church calendar. Thank you. Fourth Friday Book Group St. Stephen Presbyterian Church Staff Tele: 817-927-8411 Fax: 817-927-8221 Worship Services 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. [email protected] (email) www.ststephen-pcusa.com (website) The Rev. Dr. Frederick Field Ritsch, III, Pastor [email protected] Mark Scott, Minister of Music/Organist [email protected] Beth Fultz, Director of Christian Education [email protected] The Rev. Dr. Warner M. Bailey, Parish Associate [email protected] Sharon Curry, PCUSA Missionary (Republic of So. Sudan) [email protected] Dolores Morgan, Business Manager [email protected] Sharla Trice, Day School Director [email protected] Judi Greathouse, Office Administrator [email protected] Eddie Shaw, Sexton/Building Supervisor Friday, January 24, Noon Eastminster Room Book: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Author: Rachael Joyce Discussion Leader: Shirley Potter Description: Harold Fry is convinced that he must deliver a letter to an old love in order to save her, meeting various characters along the way and reminiscing about the events of his past and people he has known, as he tries to find peace and acceptance. Bring a sack lunch and join us! We welcome you!
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