News & Events

Samaritan House Third Friday Supper Club

Samaritan House Third Friday Supper Club: May SpringFest!

Our next Samaritan House 3rd Friday Dinner will be Friday, May 18 and we are having a  May SpringFest!  Our menu is full of comfort food!

Main Dish: Fried Chicken Tenders (Maybe Cane’s? other suggestions?) We need chicken tenders to serve 35 – 40 people.

 Main Side Dish: Macaroni and Cheese — We need 4-5 Macaroni and Cheese dishes (8-10 servings each; bring your favorite recipe! or Stouffers makes a great one in the frozen food section

Side Dish: Cooked Broccoli — We need 6-8 frozen 16-oz packages of broccoli.

 Dessert: Cake and Ice Cream — We need 3 cakes and 4 half-gallons of vanilla ice cream.

 Volunteers: Please contact the church office at 817/927-8411 for more informmation. Financial donations are welcomed.

Children’s Music Day Camp, July 30 – August 3

St. Stephen Presbyterian Church’s Annual Music Day Camp is set for Monday –  Friday, July 29 – August 3, 2012.  Children ages Kindergarten – post 6th Grade will learn an entire religious musical in ONE WEEK with a PERFORMANCE on Friday, August 3,  6 p.m. including supper.

This year’s musical is “Camel Lot”, a play by Cyndi Nine, Rob Howard & David Guthrie.  It’s about a young girl and her father; the father owns a car lot and can’t attend his daughter’s Christmas pageant.   After one  rehearsal, the daughter takes a nap and a dream takes her to Bethlehem to encounter camel shoppers, shepherds and a family celebrating a birth.

Christmas in August!

Forms online: www.ststephen-pcusa.com

(under Church Life; Children’s Ministry)

“Taco Domingo” Venga aqui !!!

Sunday, May 20, Parish Hall

May 20, “Taco Domingo”  Venga aqui !!!  Come enjoy street tacos and ice cream in the Parish Hall immediately after the 11:00 service.  This is a great opportunity to meet new members and your representatives on the session!  Good Mexican food for all ages, compliments of the Fellowship Committee.

A big thank you to those who prepared the lunch for everyone on Good Friday, specifically  The Presbyterian Women’s Council, our wonderful Eddie Shaw, Jane and John Hawkins, Becky and Jerry Moody and Booty Jones. Your time and talents on that beautiful day were really appreciated!

Vacation Bible School & Afternoon Camp, June 18 – 22

Come one, come all to the Annual Vacation Bible School and Afternoon Camp, Monday – Friday, June 18 – 22.  Children ages 3 years old – post 5th grades (as of June 2012) are invited to join us!

Parents have two options for participation:  a.  morning,  9 a.m. – 12 noon; or b. all day, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.   Costs are $10 for morning; $75.

Registration forms are located under “Church Life”, then “Children”.

Children will be given a VBS shirt and enjoy a Puppet Show Opening, Music and fun with Mr. Scott, Bible Stories with water themes, Recreation inside and out,
Crafts, Science projects, Mission and Cooking.  That’s just in the morning.

Those staying all day get to bring swim suits for afternoon play in the sprinklers, movie time, nap time (for our younger classes), more crafts and more music!  These kids need to bring lunches and swim suits and towels daily.  Bring a white shirt to tie dye on Thursday.

Special Days: Tuesday – Petting Zoo, Wednesday and Fridays – Snow Cones, Thursday Afternoon – Tie Dye Shirts, and a Friday program at 5 p.m. with Hot Dog dinner following on the Plaza!

For More Information, contact Beth Fultz, Director of Christian Education, 817-927-8411 office, 817-875-9704 cell.

Missionary Sharon Curry to Speak About South Sudanese Experience

One of our own frequent visitors, Sharon Curry, has returned for a six week hiatus from the newly formed country South Sudan.  She has agreed to come and talk with our church family and any visitors on Sunday evening, May 20th, 6 – 7 p.m. in the Eastminster Room of the Education Building.

Sharon will show slides, share great stories and tell us about her move within , the South Sudan.

A dinner of local cuisine will be offered to all who participate.   Fava Bean creations and bread, tomatoes and onions will be on the menu.

If you need more information on the event, contact Beth Fultz, 817-927-8411 office or 817-875-9704 cell.

Youth Sunday, May 20, Both Services

The Youth of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church are leading the worship services at both the 8:30 a.m. and the 11 a.m. times.   Scott Campbell, senior, will provide the sermon.  All other youth will participate as liturgists, ushers, musicians, and vocalists during worship.

Glory to God!

FULFILLING OUR PLEDGES… TO THE GLORY OF GOD

The responsiveness and generosity that characterize our community of believers is fully evident in the current capital campaign “To the Glory of God.”  Financial gifts large and small are making possible the realization of long-overdue and necessary replacement and repairs.  The generosity of individual members, families, friends, and our children and youth is significant.  In a remarkably brief period of time, our congregation has committed to the work ahead.

Two challenges remain:  the first is assuring that the entire membership of our congregation demonstrates commitment to this campaign; the second is honoring the commitments that have been made.

It is now time to begin to translate that commitment into the giving of gifts, To the Glory of God.  Several payment options were provided, one-time and at intervals throughout the duration of the campaign.  These can be delivered to the church office, mailed to the church, or placed in the offering plates.  Simply note “campaign pledge” on the check.  Payments via PayPal are welcomed—but note that the fees associated with such payments are deducted from the amount the church will receive.  Contact Dolores  Morgan in the church business office if you have any question about pledge payments.

The church’s capital campaign “To The Glory of God” has revealed the generous and supportive nature of our community of believers.  One would not have imagined such success! Thanks to all of you for your love of St. Stephen and support of it’s work in the community and the world!

HVAC Work Begins!

Please join us for Holy Week and Easter on the Hill. . .

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: Daytime Services and Luncheons

Daytime Holy Week Services, Monday (April 2), Tuesday (April 3) and Wednesday (April 4) will take place 12:00 noon-12:30 p.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. Each service will be followed by a luncheon, 12:30-1:15 p.m., in the Eastminster Room. There is no charge for the luncheon to which all are invited.

Maundy Thursday Services, 7:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Maundy Thursday worship (April 5, 2012) will includes three services:

7:00-7:30 a.m.: Thursday Morning Prayers, held in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and followed by breakfast

5:30 p.m.:  a Child-Friendly service in the Sanctuary Crossing

7:00-8:10 p.m.: Traditional service in the Sanctuary Nave, , with reception of the Lord’s Supper. The 7:00 p.m. service ends in silence with the removal of all adornments in the Chancel area in preparation for Good Friday.

Good Friday Service, 12:15 p.m.

The Good Friday Service begins at 12:15 p.m., Friday, April 6, 2012, followed by light lunch in the Parish Hall. The organ prelude, which will begin at 12:10 p.m., is a tone poem written by the French composer of the last century, Marcel Dupré (1886-1971). Entitled Crucifixion  it comes from Dupré’s Passion Symphony. The music is very descriptive of the nails being pounded into Jesus’ hands and feet, the walk to Golgotha, climaxing with huge, discordant chords played on the full organ signifying the tearing of the veil of the temple and Jesus’ death.

Easter Vigil, from 6:00 p.m. Friday – Midnight Saturday

Worship through the night on Friday, April 6, 2012, all day Saturday ending with a Paschal Feast at midnight Saturday night. A schedule of services and events can be found on the reverse side of this page. The Vigil services will be held at various locations on the church campus.

April 6, 2012 (Friday):

6:00 p.m. – Vigil Service, (West Transept/Sanctuary)

7:00 p.m. – Open Walk (Outdoor Labyrinth, East side of Sanctuary)

9:00 p.m. – Vigil Service (West Transept)

10:00 p.m. – Lenten Lesson (Eastminster Room, 1st floor, Education Building)

11:00 p.m. – Stations of the Cross (Eastminster Room, 1st floor, Education Building)

April 7, 2012 (Saturday):

Midnight – Vigil Service (Chapel of the Holy Trinity–Education Building)

3:00 a.m. – Vigil Service (Chapel of the Holy Trinity–Education Building)

6:00 a.m. – Vigil Service (Chapel of the Holy Trinity–Education Building)

9:00 a.m. – Vigil Service (Chapel of the Holy Trinity–Education Building)

11:00 a.m. – Stations of the Cross (Eastminster Room)

Noon – Vigil Service (Eastminster Room–Education Building)

3:00 p.m. – Vigil Service (Chapel of the Holy Trinity–Education Building)

4:00 p.m. – Lenten Lesson (Eastminster Room-Education Building)

6:00 p.m. – Vigil Service (Chapel of the Holy Trinity–Education Building)

9:00 p.m. – Vigil Service (Chapel of the Holy Trinity–Education Building)

11:30 p.m. – Vigil Service, Midnight Office (Chapel of the Holy Trinity)

Midnight – Paschal Feast (Parish Hall–Education Building)

Easter Day, 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

7:00-7:30 a.m.:  Sunrise Celebration on the Hill, informal service followed by breakfast

8:30-9:30 a.m.:  Easter Service with The Lord’s Supper in the West Transept in the Sanctuary with choir and brass quintet, organ and timpani

9:30-9:45 a.m.:  Breakfast in the Parish Hall

9:45-10:30 a.m.: Church School for all ages

11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Easter Worship with The Lord’s Supper in the Sanctuary with choir, brass quintet, organ and timpani.

20th Annual Service of Easter Lessons and Carols

On Sunday, April 15, 2012, we will offer the annual Service of Easter Lessons and Carols. At the 11:00 a.m. service, all of the lessons will be read by some of the St. Stephen children and youth. Musical responses to each lesson will be sung by the congregation. A time-honored form of worship, you are invited to continue our celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection and support the children and youth of our church. The 8:30 a.m. service will follow an abbreviated form of the Service of Easter Lessons and Carols and will include celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

WHAT IS A VIGIL, ANYWAY?

This year will be the fourth annual Vigil on Good Friday and Holy Saturday – April 6-7. The Vigil starts with a service in the West Transept at 6:00 p.m., on Friday, and is followed by services held every three hours thereafter through midnight on Saturday.

What does one DO at a Vigil?

One particpates in simple services of scripture, music, and prayer.

If I come at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, am I expected
to stay until Saturday midnight?

Certainly not! People often choose which hour or hours they wish to come, and are free to come and go as desired. Several of the venues of the church are used, including the sanctuary, the outdoor prayer garden and labyrinth, and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity.

Why have a vigil?

It is a devotional exercise, a time to heighten and enliven our Holy Week experience – a time to share our common remembrance of Jesus’ crucifixion
and resurrection, and a time of spiritual growth.

What happens at midnight on Saturday?

Those present joyfully participate in a Paschal meal of traditional food and celebrate the coming of Easter Day.

Isn’t a Vigil Roman Catholic?

The Easter Vigil, also called the Paschal Vigil or the Great Vigil of Easter, is a service held in many traditional Christian churches as the first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.

The Easter Vigil will add significantly to your Holy Week experience, and you are encouraged to take part in this meaningful experience.