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Lessons in a Minute – Major points from the sermon |
Pressing Forward – Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize . . .” |
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July 6 – Independence Day Weekend/Holy
Communion – Message – Finding Unity in
Christ Matthew 11:16 – 19, 25 – 30 July 13 – Blessings on Vacation Bible School,
Message – Perfection’s Curse, Failure’s
Grace Matthew 13: 1- 9, 18 – 23 July 20 – Message - The Law of Moses Exodus 18: 13 – 26 July 27 – Outdoor Worship on church lawn with
luncheon afterward. Message – the Glory
of Your Gift Romans 8:26 - 39 |
JULY – “DON’T JUST DO SOMETHING. SIT THERE!” But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31, NIV While the Frantz family vacationed in Virginia last month, we went to a site I’d wanted to visit – Yorktown, where, in 1781, Lord Cornwallis surrendered to Generals George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau. Yorktown was the last major conflict of the Revolutionary War and led to the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which affirmed the independence of the United States of America. I’d wondered that two years were spent between the Continental Army’s victory and the signing of the treaty. Much had to be done in that timeframe, and much had happened. In the end, a new nation was born. We live in a hurried and hurrying world. But we can’t rush everything, can we? Whether we’re waiting on the birth of a child, or for artistic inspiration, or just for another weekend to arrive, some things just take time. It’s also true in church life. Many churches are frightened that they will run out of time by running out of members and money. So they try for a quick fix to grow, but rarely does that work. How we complicate things when we try to outrun God! As another example, did you know that when a new pastor arrives at a church, real change and growth usually come only after 5 – 7 years? Important preparation, including relationship building and discernment, is under way during that time. Patience is the rule to healthy church growth. Admittedly there are times to act. More often, though, it seems our busy-ness overtakes our judgment. Can we wait on God? It’s hard, because our generation equates stillness with idleness. You and I know differently. The wait is worth it because in God’s power and wisdom do we find our own strength and direction. In the life of God is our renewal. So when the time to act comes, we act in accord with the Spirit of God. Praying for a safe and happy Fourth! Pastor Jeff Frantz JUNE – “DOING” FELLOWSHIP “This is the day you are to
commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival
to the LORD – a lasting ordinance.”
Exodus 12:14, NIV Remembering is an important
thing. On Memorial Day, we recalled with thanksgiving the sacrifice of our
military personnel who gave themselves for freedom. This month many of us
(Brenda and I included) will celebrate our wedding anniversary and remember
that special day with fondness. Memory was important to the
Hebrews. They kept their faith and community alive by telling stories, not
only by words but also by action. In the verse above, for example, Yahweh institutes
the Passover, a memorial feast that each household of Israel was to eat on a
specified date and time The night is a remembrance of when Yahweh “passed
over” the homes of Israel but killed each Egyptian firstborn in order to
persuade the Egyptian king to set Israel free. Notice for whom the Passover is
intended: “for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival
to the LORD, “ Yahweh says. There are three audiences. The
first generation of the Exodus ate the meal almost literally on the run and
established the memorial. They ate it, of course, also “to the LORD, “ in
gratitude and praise for God’s love and saving power. The primary audience seems to
be “the generations to com.” Each year Israel observes the Passover, one
generation tells the next about God’s mighty and liberating participation in
Israel’s life. Even after 3,450 years, Israel remembers. That’s worth thinking about on
several levels. What words and actions tell the story of the St. Stephen
community and of our life in Christ? Even beyond church celebrations, let’s
also ask, How do we perpetuate that faith in our homes “for the generations
to come”? What memories will you create
in the minds and hearts of your children that will enable them to tell their
children, and their children’s children, of the love, grace, and power of
Jesus Christ, who has personally changed your life and given you hope? As you enjoy the summer with
the kids and grandkids, have fun with them. It’s also a perfect opportunity
to retell a story of faith, or better yet create a ceremony or practice to
help them to remember. For your joy, Pastor Jeff Frantz MAY – ‘DOING’ FELLOWSHIP Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 NIV In a recent message I’d mentioned a new word I’d heard: about-ism. “Aboutism” refers to talking about something more than experiencing it. I’d suggested that today’s church tends to talk about God more than to experience God. Consider, for example, how we talk about our faith each Sunday using the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, or the United Church of Christ Statement of Faith. They are beautiful words. At the same time, in that same worship, do we allow God to inspire our creativity, evoke the joy of salvation, or empower us to live righteously? Think likewise about our relationships. It’s easy to talk about relating to each other. Getting close to each other, heart to heart, is harder. People are hungering and thirsting for true emotional and spiritual intimacy. But how much do we interact with one another only on the surface of our lives? Are we finding new and creative ways to enter into and deepen our fellowship with each other? I’m excited to report that St. Stephen UCC this year will offer new means of fellowship among all ages, among them summer picnics, a monthly all-church “get-together”, and a network of Spirit Life groups. Meanwhile, small, personal steps can make a big difference in other’s lives – a phone call to someone homebound, a birthday card to a teenager, an invitation to lunch to a first-time guest in worship. This month we observe the Festival of the Christian Home (Mother’s Day), which invites us to relate more fully to those whom we love: our moms and dads, family and friends, and fellow church members. So take Mother to dinner, send flowers to a sister, sit with Grandpa and listen to his stories. Visit and pray with a hurting friend. You get the idea. Offering timely fellowship may require less than we expect. Still, either large or small, your gesture can change someone’s life. And isn’t that what we’re about? For your joy, Pastor Jeff Frantz APRIL – SIGNS OF LIFE BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 NIV When I was walking through one of our larger nearby stores a few days ago, I’d noticed that already the Easter candy was on sale at sharply discounted prices. The same was true of Easter Greeting cards, decorations, and the like. At first I just rolled my eyes. How typical that our consumer society would hasten to push off one money-making holiday to make way for the next one. What’s worse, we have learned to do the same. From a Christian perspective, Easter is with us until Pentecost, which is May 11 this year. It’s the season of Eastertide, when we rejoice in the raising of our Lord Jesus Christ, and remember how he “appeared to Pete, and then to the Twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred . . . Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,” including lastly Paul (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). Our challenge is to resist the world’s consumerist approach to Easter, among all the holy days. The Christian seeks to savor the full experience of Easter to receive strengthening of faith and the depth of wisdom that experience would bring. In his devotional book, Signs of Life, Dr. David Jeremiah points to five ways that you and I might show ourselves fully alive in Christ. I encourage you to reflect on them and consider how they might reveal the true life of our Lord Jesus in you. They are shoes covered with dust as we bring Christ to the world, the knees of our pants worn out from yielding to God’s will, sleeves rolled up for the hard work of service to others, our hands wide open to give generously, and our arms outstretched to embrace others with compassion. How about us? In a world that rushes on to get more for itself, Christ still remains the model for self-giving. Easter empowers you and me to share life and love to the fullest. It’s what marks us as an Easter people, glorifies God, and changes the world. For your joy, Pastor Jeff Frantz March – GATHERING FOR HOLY WEEK On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” John 20:12 NIV March 16 is Palm Sunday and marks our entrance into Holly Week. On Maundy Thursday we will meet at 7 PM and relive the Upper Room event with an observance of the Passover Meal in a Christian context. We will come together Good Friday at 7 PM for a Tenebrae service, after which our prayer vigil will begin. The Youth Fellowship is planning a sunrise service for Easter Day at 7 AM. We hope to hold most, if not all, of the service outdoors – lot depends on the weather! The service will speak of the joy of rebirth and highlight praise to God. A light breakfast of pastries, juice, and coffee will follow. The Resurrection celebration continues in both main services 8:5 and 10:30. We’ve added the Good Friday and sunrise services and the prayer vigil to help broaden our spiritual experience and to go deeper into the significance of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection. What were the disciples feeling at the Passover? Did they find any meaning – or just fear and grief – at the Cross? What hope did the empty tomb provide, and what went through the minds of Jesus’ followers when they saw him alive on that third day? What does it all mean to you and me now? Two things I ask you to do this month. First, pay attention to all the events of Holy Week: The Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Cross, Jesus rising from the dead. How easily we leap from the carnival of the Palm Sunday streets to the Easter shouts of “he’s alive!” When we do, we miss the power of Easter, its signal that everything has suddenly changed, and that life, not death, reigns in our lives. Second, let’s walk through this week together. Experience the clamor of the Palm Sunday story in worship; sit at the table with Jesus and his followers in the Upper Room, and witness together the shadows falling on Calvary. Let’s unite our prayers as we wait for the sun to rise again at the dawn of Resurrection. The news of Eternal Life is good news for all the world. When two or more gather in his name, that is when Jesus walks into our midst with a pronouncement of peace. I look forward to sharing that experience with you. For your joy, Pastor Jeff Frantz February – FOCUSING ON OUR FAMILY “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12 NIV That great manager of the New York Mets, Casey Stengel, once said, “it’s easy to get the players. Getting’ ‘em to play together, that’s the hard part.” Maybe Jesus was thinking likewise when he stressed the importance of loving one another. You and I share in five main purposes as a church, among them worship, discipleship, service, and
mission. The fifth will receive our special attention this year: fellowship. When churches talk about fellowship, most folks think of picnics and parties, or the coffee hour that follows the worship service. Certainly that’s a small part of it. One dictionary ,however, defines “fellowship” as companionship. That’s a good word, because the root of “companionship” speaks of a sharing together. True fellowship involves an intimacy shared among family or the closest of friends. Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, reminds us that fellowship is our belonging to God’s family. As sisters and brothers, God calls you and me to show special love and attention to one another. To love God and to love each other, Jesus tells us, is to fulfill the greatest of commandments. Only by our love for one another, he says, can the world really see that we are his disciples. So fellowship is also about praying for each other, providing for one another in our needs, being there for each other especially in the tough times. It’s laughing and crying together. It’s sharing the journey in our walk with Christ. To nurture our fellowship in 2008, I’ve set six major goals: 1. Gathering a pre-teen “youth fellowship” group 2. Running an all-church retreat on “welcome” 3. Arranging for groups of six to get together monthly for fun 4. Creating a “coffee hour” after our worship 5. Establishing a network of small groups through our church Notice how the goals together spell “GRACE”? Our big goal is that folks looking for God’s grace in a spiritual family may find it at St. Stephen. These are ambitious goals, but well worth our attention because they will instill in our church’s life much of the vitality we’re looking for. I ask for your prayers for and your participation in the fellowship of the St. Stephen family. For your joy, Pastor Jeff Frantz January – FAITHFUL PROMISES For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in
Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2
Corinthians 1:20 NIV A few weeks ago the Youth Fellowship began planning their Youth Sunday worship service. I had suggested they find a theme on which to base the service. The subject they chose was Making Promises, related to our New Year vows. They impressed me by their mature way of thinking. Their idea reminded me how, when we committed ourselves to the family of St. Stephen, you and I made some promises to God and to each other, among them: to walk in the Way of Jesus and to learn from him, to show love toward one another, to be a faithful member of Christ’s church, to worship regularly with our church family, to attend to the daily ministry of St. Stephen. How are we doing at fulfilling those vows? Do you see any at which you may have been falling short lately? It is so good to be in relationship with God, who understands that everyday life can sneak up on us and, in spite of our best intentions, cause us to forget our commitments. Even so, God is quick to forgive and to help us get back on track. Have you been gone for a time? Have you not seen your St. Stephen brothers and sisters in God’s house in a while? Has your support of the work of your church been lacking somewhat recently? Has your faith simply fallen into a rut? January 1 marks not only for a new year, but a new beginning. Look again at those promises above. Join me in doing our best together, whatever it takes, to be someone whose word is dependable, whose promises are trustworthy. By our faithfulness we build up our own character, boost one another’s spirit, and strengthen the life of our church to the glory of God. Our example is none other than God, who promised us his love and power by which to live, love, and serve. Let us daily say “Amen” even as God says “Yes” to you and me. For a Prosperous New Year Pastor Jeff Frantz |
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June 15 – Message: “A Dream/ A Vision” .
. . Genesis 28: 10 – 16. Key Question: How can I tell the difference between
my own hopes and plans, and God’s vision for life? Soul Stance: Write down
your nightly dreams this week. Look for a common theme running through them.
Is there a message from God in them? June 8 – Message: “This Time” . . . Psalm 90: 1-
12. Key Question: What do I need to enjoy this moment God has given me? Soul
Stance: Practice being in the moment each day by spending just five minutes
in stillness and silence (ignoring all thoughts of regret or worry). June 1 – Message: “The Frolic of Wisdom” . . . Proverbs 8:22-31. Key Question: do I still find joy in learning? Soul Stance: choose a proverb from the Book of Proverbs and intentionally apply6 it to your life this week. At the end of the week, consider how it helped you to grow in character. |
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May 25 – Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time _ Seek
First the Realm of God . . . Matthew 6:24-34 Key Question: What kinds of things Challenge God’s
priority in my life? Soul Stance: Daily this week pray a “Good Morning”
prayer in order to put God first in your mind. Sing once a day the song,
“Seek Ye First”. May 18 – Trinity – Our Awesome Triune
God . . . Matthew 28:16 – 20 Key Question Am I still in awe of God?
Or is God boring to me? And why? Soul Stance: Read the Nicene or
Apostle’s Creed and rewrite it in your own words. May 11 – Pentecost/Festival of the Christian Home
– Holy Communion – Life-Giving Spirit. . . Acts 2:1- 21 Key Question: Where are the signs of Divine Life
in the church and its work? Soul Stance: Take a walk and identify five signs
of God around you. Bigger challenge: Go someplace unfamiliar to look! May 4 – Seventh Sunday of Easter –
Community of Prayer . . . John 17:1 – 11 Key Question: Does Jesus ask us to pray
solo, or with each other? Soul Stance: Pray the Lord’s Prayer
daily – and make it personal. For example, what is the daily bread you need
from God’s hand? April 27 – Famine Sunday/sixth Sunday of Easter.
Our youth will have participated in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine this
weekend. Come hear their stories of their experience, and learn how you can
partner with them to help bring relief to the world’s hungry. April 20 – Integrity of Creation
Sunday/Fifth Sunday of Easter Our Place
with God . . . John 14:1-14 we are with God – now, always, forever. April 13 – Good Shepherd Sunday/ Fourth Sunday of
Easter Hoy Communion Living Together
the Abundant Life . . .Acts 2:42-47 the community of God’s people reveals
Resurrection life. April 6 – third Sunday of Easter companions along the Way . . . Luke
24:13-35 We travel with one another the road of faith – which leads us to a
personal encounter with the Risen Christ! |
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Sept. 30 – Worship with Zeltenreich UCC – Message: Take Hold of Life, 1 Timothy 6:6-19,
In the spirit of Christian unity and of our 275th anniversary
celebration, we will join Zeltenreich UCC in their morning worship at 10:30
AM. (There will be no Sunday school classes or worship services at St.
Stephen.) Sept.
23 – A Celebration of Song – Psalm 98, One of the most beautiful gifts God
has given to St. Stephen UCC is music in all its variety. Join us (and bring
family and friends) to this special service filled with music, including
prayers, readings, and the message delivered in song. Sept. 16 – Message: Of
Highest Value, Luke 15:1-10, among the dearest of God’s treasures is your
life and mine. Likewise, our greatest obligation is the search and rescue of
the lost. Sept.
9 – Rally Day / Christian Education Sunday – Message: The Two Ways, Psalm 1, Life itself is a choice. What is most
important is what you choose. It’s so important that the church teaches the right way to go. Sept. 2 – Labor Day Weekend – Holy Communion- Message: The Pursuit of . . . “, Luke 14:2-14,
How we chase after “what is ours”! But Jesus reminds us that the pursuit of
happiness begins with the attitude of humility and sacrifice. |
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Pastor’s Page |