Upcoming Congregational Activities
Sunday, July 24 – Aug 14: MAKE for children during the 10:30am service
Wednesday, August 10: 6:30pm Book Club at the home of Jerrie Cribb
Saturday, Sept. 3: OSU Football Parking for home games begins in the St Stephen’s lot
Pastoral Care Coverage
Deacon Pam Elwell has graciously agreed to be the coordinator for pastoral care calls. Several clergy will be available for pastoral care: The Rev. Bruce Smith, the Rev Deacon Sherm Everett, the Rev. Karl Stevens, and the Rev. Deacon Pam Elwell. Please call Pam first—she will know who is on call at any particular time.
Sunday, July 31
This Sunday, July 31, we welcome The Rev. Karl Stevens to preach and celebrate at both services.
Transition News
When I became co-Senior Warden several wise and experienced members of the congregation counseled me that the virtue I would need the most is patience. Having served on the last search committee I remembered that it can be lengthy and require those not directly involved to trust. I believe that our search committee has done some very heavy lifting on our behalf and deserves our thanks and continuing prayerful support. Please continue to trust the process.
What I failed to understand was how much patience would be needed with the bureaucracy both at OSU and at the State of Ohio as we sought an easement to bring electricity to our building to install air conditioning. Having worked thirty years at two very large public libraries, I thought I understood bureaucrats. Now I believe I only had experience with the junior varsity. But, as Bernie wrote last week, this process is drawing to a close.
As the parents out there are well aware the school year is breathing down our necks once again. Jeff is making plans to restart AWAKE and Aware in September. Read future announcements for details.
We also will be planning a community potluck after a September service. We are looking at ways to invite more OSU students to this event. As with the sign that we are putting up on the North side of the building facing the new dorms where thousands of students will reside, we want them to know that we are a part of their community and they can be a part of ours.
Finally, I am happy to announce that the Rev. Dr. Cheryl Peterson will be our celebrant and preacher on August 14. Dr. Peterson is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. She also has a number of years pastoring congregations and has published widely. Please welcome her to St. Stephen’s.
-Joe Fowler, Sr. Warden
NSI Donations for July
The items for July will be canned vegetables.
BACK TO SCHOOL AT NSI
NSI distributes school supplies for children in kindergarten through grade 12. You can help by donating backpacks and school supplies: crayons, glue sticks, #2 pencils, pens, boxes of tissues, rulers, pocket folders (both with and without prongs), pink erasers, wide-ruled and college-ruled notebook paper, scissors (blunt and pointed), colored pencils, regular and scientific calculators, 3-ring binders, spiral notebooks and dictionaries.
If you don’t want to shop, you can provide a cash donation that will be used to buy school supplies. Help is need at NSI on Friday, August 5, to fill backpacks and Monday – Thursday, August 8 – 11. to distribute them. All the information can be found in the brochures on the table as you enter the sanctuary. Have the backpacks and school supplies to church by Sunday July 31.
BREAD News
Soon after I became affiliated with BREAD, I participated in the Corporate Investment Drive. I was a support team member and a lead presenter. As we all know, nothing gets done without money and financial support for an organization such as ours does need “the haves” to know about us and be given the opportunity to lend their support with a financial investment. We are supported by many companies and organizations within the Columbus area.
It has become more and more obvious to me that I, as an active participant of this organization should be hesitant to ask others to support it financially and I not.
BREAD is asking all of its members to make a financial investment in our work of at least $200. I have, and am responding to that call with an investment of $200. I am asking each of you to give thought to joining me in ownership of our organization with your investment at whatever level comfortable for you.
With your help we will continue to be successful. Thanks for listening.
-Mignonne
Arps Passes
The current set of parking passes for the Arps garage expire after this Sunday, July 31. Beginning August 1st new passes will be available. If you have been stashing passes about your person and vehicle, don’t forget to dispose of them after July 31 and trade them for new ones!
Book Club News
Book Club News: Everyone is welcome at book club meetings. In August the book being discussed is The Little Paris Book Shop by Nina George. We will meet on Wednesday, August 10 starting at 6:30 PM at Jerrie Cribb’s home. Please let Jerrie know as far in advance as possible if you plan to attend. We’ll share a potluck super followed by the book discussion. Please bring something to share (main dish, side dish, dessert, beverage). Join us; it’s fun! For those who you wish to read, the book for the September discussion is Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson
OSU Football Parking
OH! IO! It’s that time again folks: its Buckeye Football season! St. Stephen’s parish will once again provide parking for the Saturday home games, and in the process raise money for our community. If you would like to help, please volunteer for one or more of the following dates: September 3rd and 10th, October 1st, 8th, and 29th, and November 5th and 26th. We are asking for two volunteers per date. Please contact Matthew Strauss to volunteer; he will let you know the parking details and provide you with the needed materials.
Thank you in advance for your participation and spirit, and may God bless and keep you.
Matthew Strauss
Reminder: If you’re mailing something to the church, especially time-sensitive materials, we recommend using the PO Box! St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 82263
Columbus, OH 43202
