Sunday, December 29, 2024

Worship: December 29, 2024, 10:30 a.m.

Today is the First Sunday of Christmas. On this day we have the only recorded incident from Jesus' childhood, his encounter with the teachers of the Law in the Temple. Jesus was the son of observant Jewish parents and would have been taught the story of God's people and the Law by which they were to live. On the cusp of adulthood, he shows himself familiar with God's will and in a disguised way the Son of his heavenly Father.

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Click here for the order of service.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Worship on Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25, 2024, 10:30 am


Rejoice, rejoice, this happy morn! The Christmas Day gospel tells of the eternal Word of God who became flesh. The babe in the manger, born of Mary, is God-with-us, Emmanuel, who adopts our human destiny in order to deliver us from sin, death, and evil. 




Sunday, December 22, 2024

Worship on the Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 22, 2024, 10:30 am


On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we focus on the central figure of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is the exemplar of Advent, the one who is prepared and ready for God's coming and activity in her life. In her readiness to receive the Word of God, the Christ-child comes into the world to save us.


Thursday, December 19, 2024

A Child Is Born!

Celebrate Christmas at St Stephen Lutheran Church!

Services of Holy Communion
with Traditional Christmas Carols
and Special Choral and Instrumental Music

CHRISTMAS EVE
Tuesday, December 24, 7:30 pm
The angels announce the Good News of the Savior's birth

CHRISTMAS DAY
Wednesday, December 25, 10:30 am
The Word of God became flesh and lived among us.

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
Saturday, December 28, 6:30 pm
and Sunday, December 29, 10:30 am
 
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Tuesday, December 31, 7:00 pm

THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
Saturday, January 4, 6:30 pm
and Sunday, January 5, 10:30 am
The Son of God revealed to the nations




Sunday, December 15, 2024

Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent (Year C)

'We can be happy when our fortunes are favorable. But oftentimes even this doesn’t do enough to make us joyful. We might, even in good times, worry about the future and whether our lives will change for the better or the worse. Our joy cannot be tied to our momentary circumstances, or it will not be lasting. It must be based upon something solid, stable, sure.'

Sermon for Advent 3

Worship on the Third Sunday of Advent: December 15, 2024, 10:30 am

The theme of joy suffuses today's readings from Zephaniah, Isaiah, and Philippians. This is why the Third Sunday of Advent is often called Gaudete Sunday, celebrated with a pink candle amidst the purple or blue. In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist calls the people to true repentance while pointing attention away from himself to the One who is coming. 







Sunday, December 8, 2024

The Second Sunday of Advent: December 8, 2024, 10:30 a.m.

John the Baptist, from the Ghent altarpiece
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.