E-MAIL USReverend Kyle Carnes

Tina L. Scott-Bus. Manager

Kelly Krembs-Admin. Asst.

Jason Chandler-Facilities Mgr

Mary Pat Campbell-Interim Pastoral Associate

The Interpreter

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Chime Choir 2

New Member Gatherings 2

Sunday School 2

Fundraiser 2

New Refrigerator 2

Change Things Up 3

New Baby 3

Memorials 4

Empty Bowls Check 5

7th & 8th Graders 5

Special Music 5

Hurricane Harvey 5

Choir 6

Women’s Retreat 7

Upcoming Events 8

Weekly Calendar 10

LINK UPUCC

WI Conference

NW Association

September 5, 2017

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 8-4:30 | Fri 8-4 Rev. Kyle Carnes, Senior Minister

The Interpreter Saint Stephens United Church of Christ

903 E 2nd St Merrill WI 54452

Office: 715-536-7322

Pastoral Care Needs:715.575.3191

THE PROGRAM YEAR BEGINS

It seems the leaves are right on time this year. We just finished Labor Day weekend, the weather was perfect on Sunday, and now it seems fall is here and the leaves are turning to tell us a new season is upon us.

This Sunday is the beginning of our new program year. Our choir returns from their summer hiatus under the direction of Jim Bjorklund. Choir rehearsal begins on Wednesday at 7:00 PM following worship; go give it a shot. (If you have children and would like to sing in the choir, there’s been some talk about getting some childcare during rehearsal, so give the office a call to let let us know you’re interested. Chime choir also begins this week on Thursday at 6:30 PM. No experience necessary either!

Sunday School also kicks off this week. We will again be using the SparkHouse curriculum that we began last year, with a few modifications. The younger grades will also be working on a project each month that will give them something to carry with them or give away beyond Sunday mornings. These age groups will meet every week except around Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter. This year’s Sunday School teachers are: PreK-K - Melissa Butler, Leesa Roth, and Sarah Rajek; Grades 1 & 2 - Kari Wieland and Liz Krueger; Grades 3 & 4 - Kristine Bowe and Kendra Osness; Grades 5 & 6 - Pam Iwen and Mary Walsh. Be sure to show them your appreciation for their time and energy when you see them!

There is also a Grade 7 & 8 Faith Formation class that will meet again on Sunday mornings. This group will meet twice a month for class, and is encouraged to attend worship on the Sundays that they do not meet. Look for a precise schedule inside this Interpreter. The curriculum being used for this age group is the curriculum that former associate minister Missy (Holdorf) Miller wrote for us before she moved to Wisconsin Rapids. We are grateful for this resource that she left the church. Teachers for this group will be Paula McIntyre and Leanne Schnabl. They will be having a parent’s meeting in the near future, so if you have a youth in 7th or 8th grade, keep your eyes open for information about this meeting and do your best to be present for it.

Our regular nursery care continues into the fall for humans aged 0-3. There will be one change to the nursery, however, beginning this week. The nursery will now be located on the 3rd floor. Last spring it became clear that we have so many young children in our church that we now need a larger space for our nursery. After much conversation with nursery volunteers, staff, council, and the Medical Equipment Ministry, the nursery will now be located on the 3rd floor, directly above the old nursery. There will be signs pointing the way. Our gratitude to our Three Stooges painting crew and to Jerry Geiss for wrangling the Medical Equipment ministry and prepping the 3rd floor room for this switch. We promise that it will be new and improved … and bigger!

Also beginning this month will be an Awareness and Education campaign that is intended to educate the congregation about the upcoming capital campaign, while at the same time evaluating it’s feasibility. It’s my understanding that most of the congregation is aware of at least some of the needs our building is facing, but we want to make sure that everyone who is connected to Saint Stephens UCC knows about the campaign, what we hope to accomplish, and that they will decide to participate and contribute to this exciting project. Capital campaigns are no small thing. But we know that there comes a time for every organization to decide, what do we want our future to look like, how are we going to get there, and what will it take? I pray that you will avail yourself of the educational and conversational opportunities that will be provided as they are announced.

Friends, the Spirit is not done with us yet. In fact, the Spirit might just be getting started with us. Our question is always, how far will we follow? It’s my privilege to be your pastor, and I’m convinced that the Spirit has brought us together for this time and place. Make a point to be in church this Sunday as we kick off our new program year. It’s not the same without you!

Kyle

September 5 , 2017Page 2THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

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NEW TO SAINT STEPHENS? THINKING OF JOINING OUR CONGREGATION?

We will host three gatherings for anyone interested in becoming a member of Saint Stephens. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our church and get to know staff and church members and is a great prerequisite to becoming a member.

New member gatherings will be held in the evenings on Monday, September 25; Tuesday, October 10; and Wednesday, October 25, in anticipation of our New Member Sunday on October 29.

We will be mailing a letter to anyone who has directly expressed interest and to others we believe may have an interest. If you do not receive a letter and you are interested in attending and becoming a member, or if you want to be sure we don’t miss you (we may recognize your face at one of the services, but not know your name or your mailing address!), please talk to the pastor after the service or call the office at 715.536.7322, and we will send you an invitation letter!

If you know of a new member or frequent visitor, strike up a conversation with them and ask them if they would like more information. If the answer is yes, contact us, invite them to call the office for more information about these gatherings!

NEW FOOD FOR KIDS FUNDRAISERLeanne Schnabl will be selling hand-knit and crocheted washcloths and hot pads, hand-made note cards, and other items before and after services. All

proceeds will go to the Food for Kids project Saint Stephens recently adopted.

Stop and take a peek at the table near the Scrip table on the weekends, support a worthy cause, and pick up some handmade items you can use!

SUNDAY SCHOOLNEWS

SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS THIS WEEKEND!Sunday School begins this Sunday, September 10. Please take your child directly to their Sunday School classroom (signs will be placed throughout the building) prior to the beginning of worship. Students will then come to worship along with their class and attend worship until they are dismissed to go back to their classrooms following the Children’s Time.

Office HoursRegular office hours resume Tuesday, September 5.

Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

CHIME CHOIR PRACTICE BEGINSChime choir practice starts Thursday, September 7, at 6:00 PM. Please join us in the Choir Room to learn more and begin playing!

NEW COMMERCIALREFRIGERATORThanks to the generosity of a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous, we now have a new commercial refrigerator in the church kitchen downstairs. Exciting progress!

FUNERAL SERVICES for SCOTT BERNDT will be held here at the church Friday, September 8, with burial to follow.

September 5, 2017Page 3THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

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CHANGE THINGS UP ... There’s a change in the air. Can you feel it?

Maybe it’s just the change of seasons, as the days get shorter and the air is a bit cooler. Perhaps it is the change of schedules ... getting back into the swing of fall, the kids going to school and activities, the start of our program year here at church. Who knows? Maybe it’s just that we are personally ready for a change ...

Whether that change is a change of decor in your home ... a new set of bedding or new living room furniture to give your space a fresh new look ... or you’re changing your eating habits and going healthy ... or you’ve embarked on a new hobby and are gathering all the

supplies you need - perhaps new running shoes or taking up painting - it might be a time for another change in your life.

It might be time to change up how you pay for those things. We’re not talking about taking out a new credit card to make your purchases. This change is much simpler. It’s about trying out the Scrip program if you’ve never tried it before, or using Scrip more regularly if you are already familiar with it but just don’t make it a practice to use it for most of your purchases.

When church members use Scrip to pay for their purchases, Saint Stephens benefits. In a nutshell, we get a percentage of those purchases ... which varies by the participating merchant ... at no additional cost to you. Essentially Scrip is gift cards. We’re able to purchase these Scrip cards at a discount from the merchants. Then you purchase these gift cards from Saint Stephens at face value. It’s simple, and easy, and profitable for our church.

Some merchants ... like Miller Furniture, Hargrave Appliances, and VIP Office ... are even easier when it comes to Scrip. You don’t even have to plan to get Scrip in advance. Just go there, pay cash for your purchases and tell them you participate in the Scrip program at Saint Stephens, and those merchants will send us a check for a percentage of what you spent.

So you can easily go to Miller Furniture to buy that new living room set and mention Scrip. Or purchase Scrip here from church for Wal Mart to get those new running shoes or painting supplies. Or for Dave’s County Market before you go restock your fridge with healthier food choices.

And you can purchase Scrip for the gas station where you fill up every week ... we carry Scrip here in-stock for almost all of the gas stations in Merrill ... or the place where you grab your morning coffee (we carry Dunkin’ Donuts, First Street Coffee Station, and Kwik Trip Scrip) ... or for the stores where you most often shop ... like Wal Mart or Target or Mill’s Fleet Farm. The more you use Scrip for your purchases, the more Saint Stephens benefits.

Stop and see all we have to offer at the Scrip table on Sundays, and special order any cards we don’t carry in stock, or stop in the office during the week to pick up those in-stock Scrip cards you need.

Change the way you think about shopping. Consider what you will need and where you will shop in advance of heading to the stores, and include Scrip in your new shopping plan.

NEW BABY CONGRATULATIONS!Congratulations to Maria & Tyler Drake and big brother, Dawson, on the birth of a healthy baby boy! Sawyer Michael Drake was born August 31, 2017, weighing 11 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 22 3/4 inches long. What a blessing!

September 5 , 2017Page 4THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

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MEMORIALSMemorials will be printed with the dollar figures shown unless otherwise specified.

Memorial $20.00 in memory of Kathleen Karau from Lois Latzig $10.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Lyle Karau $10.00 in memory of Connie Swanson from Anna Krueger $10.00 in memory of Connie Swanson from Marjorie Williams $50.00 in memory of Constance Swanson from Mondi Jackson LLC $15.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Rodger & Donna Thompson $5.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Irma Stine $5.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Lorene Hass $5.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Dawn Schleif $20.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Phil & Carol Krause

Saint Paul’s Cemetery $25.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Dennis & Ione Koehler $10.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Dorothy Koehler $20.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Marcella Oestreich & Ron Oestreich

New Roof $20.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Jerry & Elmira Krause $10.00 in memory of Laverne Woller from Dave & Sue Pyan $10.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Betty Krause

Radio $190.00 in memory of Linda Perry on the fifth anniversary of her death, September 11, from Randy Perry & Family $30.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Mike, Mary, and Jacob Walsh $10.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from LuEllen Natzke

Organ $20.00 in memory of Connie Swanson from Mike & Glynis Schroeder $10.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Ruth Buck

Capital Improvement $25.00 in memory of Connie Swanson from Neal Christensen $15.00 in memory of Carlos Berndt from Robert & Esther Gruling 25.00 in memory of Connie Swanson from Rich & Nancy Dabbert

HOMELESS DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN HOPELESSA young woman, evicted, and with three small children; a single mom with an infant and no resources; a young man just out of prison and trying to get his life back together; an alcoholic struggling to get sober.

These are just a few of the many faces of homelessness that our local St. Vincent de Paul deals with on an almost daily basis. Faces that are stretching theirr financial resources to the limit.

Homelessness is not just a problem for St. Vincent de Paul but is indeed a community problem. When people have a decent place to live, they become better parents, workers, and citizens. Many families today have watched their incomes stagnate or fall while their housing costs have risen. Today, the majority of poor renting families in America spend over half their income on housing. Many are evicted because they cannot pay rent.

Housing is a fundamental human need affecting a child’s development, a parent’s physical wellbeing and, in turn, the entire community. Homelessness often leads to hopelessness. Your prayers & support can help provide hope.

September 5, 2017Page 5THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

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FOOD FOR KIDSSaint Stephens is now able to accept donations for the Food for Kids program we have adopted. Checks for Food for Kids should be made payable to: Food for Kids and may be dropped into the collection plate or delivered to the church office.

SPECIAL MUSIC NEEDEDAs most of you know, we have openings around the Choir singing schedule during the year where we would love to include special music. If you or someone you know would like to grace us with your talents, please contact Jim Bjorklund at 715.539.3442 to get scheduled! Currently, we have openings on the following dates:

October 1October 8October 29November 5November 26December 31

January 7January 28February 11February 25March 11

SENDING AID TO HURRICANE HARVEY VICTIMSThe United Church of Christ will be contributing to efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. If you would like to donate toward the UCC fund, you can contribute through Saint Stephens and receive credit on your annual contribution statement by making checks payable to Saint Stephens UCC and labeling your donation envelope “HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF.” Donations may be mailed to or dropped off in the church office or you may place your envelope in the collection plate during worship services.

Please pray for our neighbors to the South during this time of tragedy and devestation.

EMPTY BOWLS “PAY IT 4-WARD” FINAL TALLY Beth Houle accepts a check for $5,201.92 for the Food For Kids program from the Optimist Club. This was the final total raised from the August 22 First Annual Empty Bowls “Pay It 4Ward” Event. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible!

Faith Formation classes for 7th & 8th graders will be held on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of each month. Class meets during 9:00 AM worship service on Sundays. Students are encouraged to attend worship with their family on the 4th Sunday of each month. Students who choose to help out with the Preschool/Pre-K room can do so on the first Sunday of each month; otherwise, they should plan to attend worship. Students who will help in the classroom will be responsible for communicating their availability with Melissa Butler directly.

7th & 8th graders, please mark your calendars to attend Faith Formation class at 9:00 AM on the following dates: September 10, September 17, October 8, October 15, November 12, November 19, December 10, December 17, January 14; and January 21. More dates to follow for 2018.

Parent info meetings will be scheduled soon.

MOURNING MADYAs many of you are aware, young Mady Odegard passed away recently after a long struggle with cancer, and her family is mourning the loss of a big sister, young daughter, granddaughter, niece, and a child of God. If you would like to pick up a blank card in the office, we will be sending cards and notes to the family to share our sorrow and support during this most difficult time ... the loss of a child. You are invited to pick up a card, complete the card, and leave it here for mailing with the others from our congregation.

September 5 , 2017Page 6THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

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CAN YOU SPONSOR A COFFEE HOUR?We need Coffee Hour sponsors! Can you help? How do you host a Coffee Hour? It’s easy! Bring in some treats, purchase some juice for the kids, make coffee as soon as you arrive (instructions are on the side of the fridge), and arrange the treats on the head table with napkins, small plates, small cups of juice, and coffee cups, creamer, and sweetener. Coffee Hour is held between the conclusion of the 9:00 AM worship service and the beginning of the 10:30 AM worship. Visit with people and get to know them. Welcome visitors! It’s fun! Clean up the area the way you found it. That’s all there is to it!

Call the office or sign up on the chart now hanging on the kiosk in the Kuck Lounge.

RADIO SPONSORS NEEDEDWould you like to sponsor a radio broadcast? The cost is $190, the same as last year. Call the office to schedule your broadcast. You can sponsor a radio broadcast in honor of or in memory of someone or a particular occasion.

CHOIR PRACTICETime to warm up your vocal cords and sing.Choir practice will be starting again on Wednesday, September 6 at 7:00 PM after worship service.If you are interested in joining the choir, please feel free to come to any Wednesday night practice and take part. We will be happy to have you join us!

HOMELESSNESS IS HERE ... IN OUR COMMUNITYDid you know that the majority of poor renting families in America spend over half their income on housing? Many are evicted because they cannot pay rent.

St. Vincent de Paul works every day with people who have been evicted, cannot pay their rent, or are on the verge of losing their housing, and they are working hard to partner with other community agencies in Lincoln County to make a much-needed local shelter a reality.

In the last 10 months alone, St. Vincent’s has helped 136 homeless individuals (including 38 children). The problem is real. And it is right here in our Merrill community.

COME TO A PAINTING PARTY!Heidi Stevenson is hosting a Painting Party at church, and you’re invited, along with a friend or guest if you’d

like! Join us:

Sunday, September 17, 1:00 PM - 3:00(ish)

Everyone we will be painting their own rendition of the painting pictured. (If you would like to do different colors, please contact Heidi so she can request those colors of paint be brought along to the party.)

Cost: $26.00 per painting

Please RSVP to Heidi before September 15 at:715.921.0137 or heidigolisch@gmail.com

September 5, 2017Page 7THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

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WOMEN’S RETREAT AT MOON BEACH

Looking for some peace and quiet? Need to rekindle your relationship with former hobbies? Want some “girl time”? Drawn to nature? Need a refresher course on finding yourself? Hoping to get to know other women with similar interests?

Registration for the second annual women’s retreat at Moon Beach in St. Germain, Wisconsin, is now open! The retreat will begin Friday, November 3, at 7:30 PM and go through Sunday, November 5, at 11:30 AM. Open to women of all ages ... invite a friend, sister, daughter, mother ... hosted by Saint Stephens.

Cost is $150 and includes all but two activities (Yoga and Bless This Mess are an additional fee) plus breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, brunch on Sunday, and the Inspirational Chocolates project. Cabins are heated and include modern bathroom facilities. Just bring your own sheets (or sleeping bag), pillow, and towels. (Each bed is fitted with a handmade quilt.) Map/directions, schedule, and reminders will be sent after registration.

You deserve this! So register and come and refresh, renew, regroup, re-energize, and/or relax! Customize your retreat to meet your needs.

Please register by October 13. Registration forms are available in the office and on the table near the Scrip table and the coat closet. Completed registration forms should be returned to the office with your payment.

Any questions? Contact Kelly Wallace at 715.218.2543 or ltkwallace1@yahoo.com

CONFIRMATION CLASSESWe are in the process of developing the new Confirmation Program here at Saint Stephens. The Program will begin this fall, so we are asking the parents of all students or adults, going into the 9th grade this academic year or older, who have not yet been confirmed and wish to be confirmed here at Saint Stephens, to complete a Confirmation Registration Form so that we can contact you with more information soon. Registration forms are available on the table near the coat closet or in the church office during the week, or we can send you a registration form by email. Please register ASAP.

SOWING, REAPING ... AND SHARINGDo you have a farm or garden? Are you beginning to see the fruits of your labors? You’ve sown the seeds and now it is time to reap the harvest. No matter what you’re harvesting from your garden, please keep Dinner @ Five in mind if you have an overabundance of produce. Dave Raddenbach invites you to bring in fresh fruits or vegetables to the church kitchen on MONDAYS at 1:00 PM. Your contribution will either be served with the Dinner @ Five Community Meal or will be shared with the community that evening. Don’t let your hard work go to waste! Let us help you share God’s bounty with others!

Remember: SCRIP costs you NOTHING to use in

place of cash!

PLANNING AHEAD FOR CHRISTMAS EVEThere will be a change to the times for Christmas Eve worship this year, and we hope this change will make it easier for families, especially those with small children, to come and worship together. The service times for Christmas Eve worship will be: 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM. We will also have Sunday morning worship service that day, on Sunday, December 24, at 9:00 AM. There will be no worship service on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25.

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Come one, Come allWednesday night worshipA simple, meditative, communion service.

Wednesday evening worship begins at 6:00 PM

Come as you are, to find a space of rest and reflection and peace, a moment away from the

hectic world we live in.

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.

2017 CONTRIBUTION ENVELOPES Boxes of contribution envelopes for 2017 are still available. Stop in the office if you would like a box.

OPEN SPONSORSHIP DATES

Flowers Sign up in Office

October 1, 15, 22, 29 November 5, 19, 26

Radio Ministry Call the Office

October 1, 8, 22, 29 November 5, 12

Coffee Hour September 10

October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

At 5 PM Monday

Bratwurst, Mac & Cheese Hot Veggie

Dessert (when available) and Beverages

THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10: FALL KICKOFF Worship at 9:00 AM with communion, with Nursery; 9:00 AM Sunday School; Worship at 10:30 AM with Communion

Coffee Hour after worship service. DINNER @ FIVE Every Monday at 5:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall

EVERY WEDNESDAY: Worship at 6:00 PMANNUAL MEETING: Sunday, October 15

NEW MEMBER SUNDAY: October 29

UPCOMING EVENTS

10:30 WORSHIP SERVICE ON TRIAL BASISOur 10:30 AM Sunday worship service is historically less consistent than Wednesday evening service and has a low attendance. We want to be mindful of our time and resources, but we also know that there are a few people who are truly enamored of our 10:30 AM service. On the other hand, most 10:30 AM worshippers only come occasionally to that particular service, and there are so many benefits to all worshipping together at one service, so we are considering eliminating the 10:30 AM Sunday worship.

With that being said, we will continue to have the 10:30 AM service on a trial basis for the fall, beginning this Sunday, September 10, and continuing through Sunday, December 17. (There will be no 10:30 AM worship on Christmas Eve Day, Sunday, December 24, or New Year’s Eve Day, Sunday, December 31.) After this trial period concludes, we will evaluate whether we will include a 10:30 AM worship as part of our 2018 schedule.

September 5, 2017Page 9THE INTERPRETER Saint STEPHENS

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ELECTRONIC GIVING OPTIONSHave you tried electronic giving yet? It’s fast, easy, and secure, and there are several different ways you can do it.

1. First, you can use your bank’s Bill Pay system to initiate checks being sent to the church according to whatever schedule you choose.

2. Second, you can pay electronically online from your home computer. It’s easy to do, and you can either

“set it and forget it” for regular weekly or monthly contributions, or you can go in and enter contributions, memorials, or special offerings whenever you choose.

For complete instructions on how to begin giving electronically, contact Tina in the church office. She will email you easy-to-follow instructions.

3. Third, you can text to give right from your phone, even while sitting in church if you want to. While everyone else is dropping an envelope into the collection plate, you could theoretically be making a donation via text at the same time. You could also do this before or after services or any time at all! Complete Text Giving instructions are printed in this edition of the Interpreter!

TEXT TO GIVE! It’s Fast, Quick, Easy & Convenient ... Wherever You Are

Have a “smart” cell phone? Then you can donate to Saint Stephens by sending a Text. It’s Simple. Here’s all you need to do:

1. Text SaintStephens (no spaces in between) to 732562. You will get a reply message with a link. Tap the link & it will take you to a screen that lets you input:

• The Dollar Amount you want to give (minimum of $3 per transaction for text giving).

• The Fund you want your money to go to (by default it will go in Weekly/Pledged Giving ... the General Fund ... but you can choose any fund listed).

• The Account Type you want to use to make your payment (Credit/Debit Card, Checking, Savings).

3. Beneath that, you will be prompted to enter the appropriate account numbers, expiration date, and/or security information for the account you selected. Be assured this is a secure system and we at Saint Stephens will never see your account information.4. Check the box that says “I’m Not a Robot” and follow the instructions to verify you are not a robot. It will be a simple “human” test such as selecting some photos that meet a certain criteria.5. Click the GIVE button.

You will get a Thank You message with a receipt immediately following your transaction to confirm that it went through. A receipt will simultaneously be texted to your phone number and sent to the email address you entered.

If you have any questions or concerns, call Tina in the office. She tried it and successfully processed a personal donation to create this set of instructions.

COUNCIL/FISCAL TRANSPARENCYIf you are ever curious about what is happening with your Church Council and church finances, you are always able to request a copy of the most recent Council Minutes and Treasurer’s Report at any time. While these two documents are too lengthy and cumbersome to include here in their entirety each month, they are always readily available to you. We want everyone to know what is happening in the life of the church.

Simply call Tina in the church office for a copy.

2017 CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS/OFFICERS

President Bill McIntyreVice President Kent ReinhardtTreasurer Sara ZastrowSecretary Terry Krueger Kristine Bowe Tyler Drake Kevin Golisch Jennifer Oestreich Cliff Williams Beth Houle Marge Johnson Christopher StammClergy: Rev. Kyle Carnes

Mark your calendar ...

Saint Stephens Annual MeetingSunday, October 15, 2017

after the 9:00 AM Worship(No 10:30 AM Worship that day)Annual reports, Council elections

More information to follow.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 ... Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost ... Fall Kickoff

- Rev. Kyle Carnes

Worship at 9:00 AM with Communion, Nursery Available Worship at 10:30 AM

Musicians are Marlene Krueger and the Choir.Flowers on the altar are in memory of granddaughter, Brynn Hilbert, from

Phil & Kelly Natzke. Radio Ministry is in memory of Laura Plautz for her birthday from

Bob & Jolene Plautz.Coffee Hour is unsponsored at the time of this printing.

Nursery will be staffed by Melanie Golisch, Jodi Golisch, and Families.

For subscriptions, removals or changes of address: 715-536-7322 or interpreter@ststephensucc.netE-MAIL PROVIDES THE BEST SERVICE.

WEEKLY CALENDARMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11: 9:30 Former PALS 5:00 Dinner @ Five 5:00 Aerobics 5:15 Executive Committee 6:00 Church Council

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 6:00 Zumba

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 9:30 Former PALS 6:00 Worship 6:30 Narcotics Anonymous (Open Meeting) 7:00 Choir

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 9:30 Former PALS 5:00 Aerobics 6:00 Chimes

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 12:00 Alcoholics Anonymous

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T ST STEPHENS UCC US POSTAGE PAID 903 E SECOND ST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION MERRILL WI 54452 PERMIT #10 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED MERRILL WI 54452-2576

Pastoral Care Telephone Number: 715.575.3191.

Please add this number to the contacts in your cell phone or keep with your other important or emergency telephone numbers.

NURSERYNursery care is available during our 9:00 AM worship service. If your little ones would like to play and socialize with other little people their age, feel free to bring them to the nursery where our adult volunteers will be happy to care for them during the service. (If you have not already done so, please complete an enrollment form for your child.)

SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS!Sunday School begins this Sunday, September 10. It’s our Fall Kickoff! Please register your child for the 2017-2018 Program Year if you have not done so already and get your forms turned in ASAP. Registration forms are available on the table near the coat closet or in the church office during the week, or we can send you a form via email.