News & Events

NEW MEMBER CLASSES TO BEGIN THIS SUNDAY

Dear all:

Some of you have joined St. Stephen; some have expressed interest; and some of you are simply looking to see if this is a place where God speaks to you. One way or another, I hope you will join me and other members of the SSPC staff and leadership for our “Introduction to Presbyterian Christianity” class that begins this coming Sunday, September 4, during the Sunday School hour (9:30-10:30) and runs through Sunday, October 2. We will be meeting in the Chapel, located at the north end of the education building next to the main church office.

We’ll try to answer lots of questions:

  • What does it mean to be a Christian?
  • What do Presbyterians believe and how does it affect our lives?
  • History and structure of the PC(USA)
  • Unique and exciting aspects of SSPC membership
  • Baptism and Communion in the PC(USA)

Childcare for all ages (as well as Sunday school, of course) is available. And an important part of our process is to hear your feedback:

What do you need from SSPC?  What do you like about us?  What have you learned in your previous experience at churches that could be of help to us?  How would you like to be involved?

We look forward to hearing from you. Please confirm attendance by calling Judi @ (817) 927-8411.

Thanks! Grace and peace, Fritz

Saints Alive Resumes Thursday, September 22, 11:30 a.m

Rev. Tom Finley Brown, Guest Speaker, On Mission to Pakistan

The Rev. Tom Finley Brown called the church office months ago when we originally scheduled our Pakistani friend, Veeda Javid, to come speak to the Saints Alive group.   Tom and Veeda, it turns out, are old friends.  Tom’s church in Iowa helped aid some of the Presbyterian Education Board’s schools in Pakistan.  He is going to share that story with us. This piggy backs onto Veeda Javid, of Pakistan, finally, arriving in Fort Worth for our October Saints Alive session.  She will come talk to us about the Girls’ Schools that the Presbyterian Education Board are sponsoring  We recommend reservations for the Saints Alive programs though we’ll always plan to feed about 20 participants.  Any volunteers for cooking a meal?  The Church can cover the expenses of the ingredients.  For more information, contact Beth Fultz at the above numbers

Seeking Samaritan House Volunteers!

Although it doesn’t feel like the autumn season yet, we’re gearing up for a fall meal! The next 3rd Friday Dinner is scheduled for September 16 and we’re having a Fall Spaghetti Bake!  Contact Debra at dld2790@yahoo.com to volunteer.

The proposed menu includes:

Main Dish: Spaghetti Bake Casserole — we need 4 volunteers each to bring one casserole to serve 12. Looking for a recipe? See the attached recipe for Easy Spaghetti
Bake.

Side Dish: Buttered Corn — We need at least 4 volunteers each to supply 4 20 oz cans of corn each (whole kernel and not creamed style)

Additional Side Dish: Fruit Salad — We need 4 volunteers to supply either 4 16 oz cans of fruit cocktail or 2 16 oz bags of frozen fruit for a giant fruit salad.

Bread: we need 2 volunteers to 2 loaves of garlic bread

Dessert: We need at least 4 volunteers to bring a favorite dessert!
“Thy bounty shines in autumn unconfined
And spreads a common feast for all that live.”
~ James Thomson

Come join us! Blessings in your week!

Debra

Easy Meatless Spaghetti Bake
• 2 (16 ounce) packages spaghetti
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1-1/2 cups grated cheddar
• 1 cup grated cheese or your choice
• 6 eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon each of ground rosemary and oregano
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 (28 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Add 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cheddar, cheese of choice, eggs, oil, garlic powder, rosemary, oregano salt and pepper. Press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Top with spaghetti sauce. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella. Bake 10 minutes longer or until heated through and cheese is melted.
Serves 12

Back by Popular Demand: Dinners (or lunches) for Eight!

Join church friends for fun and fellowship at a “Dinner or Lunch for 8” in September!!  Groups will decide on their date for the get together and whether to meet in a home or at a restaurant.  Please let us know if you would be willing to volunteer to host a gathering at your home.

To sign up:

e-mail: Faith Mallory: fmall2400@aol.com

or  Anne Bourland:  apbourland@aol.com

or call Judi at the church office: 817-927-8411.

Music Day Camp at St. Stephen, August 1 – 5, 2011

Elementary Children from Kindergarten – post Sixth Grade are invited to our week long Music Day Camp.   Camp costs $80 per person with a multi-family discount available.  Children will learn many songs, simple choreography, be cast as Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Jesus or some other important role.   This is a great opportunity for your musically or dramatically inclined child, relative or young friend.

The Musical, “The Life of the Party, the story of Mary and Martha”, by Allen Pote and Tom S. Long, will be performed on Friday evening, August 5, starting with dinner at 6, and the musical at 7 p.m.   Cost of the dinner is a mere $3 per person!   We pack the place, so make sure that you have reservations!

Contact Beth Fultz, Director of Christian Education, 817-927-8411, beth.fultz@ststephen-pcusa.com for more information.

Click here for the registration form:  Music Camp App 11

Room in the Inn, Our Ministry with the Homeless

The Room in the Inn program, in support of the homeless,continues its fourth summer session at St.Stephen!

Beginning Tuesday, July 5, and continuing each Tuesday through July and August in the St. Stephen Parish Hall, SSPCers will host between 10 and 15 homeless men. We’ll serve them dinner and breakfast, play board games, talk, pray, and enjoy each other’s company.

Each Tuesday,during the hottest months and coldest months of the year, a dedicated group of volunteers sets up bedding in our Parish Hall for up to 15 homeless men. They are served a nice home-style dinner, along with breakfast on Wednesday morning,  before being transported back to the Day Resource Center.

Care to participate?  Many hearts and hands are needed for this outreach. Can you make beds? Prepare and/or serve meals? Assist with transportation? Enjoy conversation and games with our guests? Stay overnights? Donate toiletries, food, or money? If so, please contact the Church office at 817/927-8411.

Here’s a letter from a “Room In The Inn” guest dated August 17, 2010:

“May God bless you, St. Stephen. We have come as guests and left as friends — thanks for the warm brotherly and sisterly love you have all shown everyone who has come to St. Stephen during these extremely hot & humid summer days.

“We appreciate the time and effort you put into making our time at Room In The Inn a wonderful and joyous experience. I hope you continue to pray for us as we will for you all through both good and bad times. Tell your congregation and pastor we appreciate the church support of this program. May God receive all the praise, glory and honor for his mercy!”

Your friends, Calvin & Co. from Room in the Inn

A Poppin’ Fourth on July 3rd!

Please join us for an annual tradition at St. Stephen–”A Poppin’ Fourth on the Hill”! Our beautiful lawn is the perfect setting for a Fourth of July picnic–even if we’re celebrating the Fourth on July 3rd. Join us following 11:00  Sunday worship for a Hot Dog Luncheon (noonish)in the Parish Hall. That will be followed by a Patriotic Concert at 2:00 p.m. in our beautiful Sanctuary.

Organist Michael Britt will be performing as part of the St. Stephen “Special Music Series, ” as he has for every July 4 for ten years.  Michael is equally “at home” playing theater, broadway and pop music as well as the traditional classical repertoire composed for the organ.His warm personality is reflected in his comments between the pieces he plays. He will play a medley of songs from the American armed forces and those whohave been a part of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and the Coast Guard will be asked to stand when he plays their “song.” We are honored to have Michael back for his tenth performance at St. Stephen.

Although his home is in Baltimore,Maryland, he performs all over the states. In 2002, Michael was invited to perform a series of recitals on therecently restored Aeolian pipe organ installed at the MexicanCultural Institute in Washington D.C.

In 2005, he was invited to Princeton University to accompany the silent film classic “Phantom of the Opera” on the Mander organ in the university chapel. Last year, he played an organ recital in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Currently, Michael is the Director of Music for the Parish of St. Margaret (Roman Catholic) in Bel Air, Maryland. It’s a “tiny” parish of about 15,000 members!

 

VBS & Afternoon Camp, June 20 – 24

Children are invited to St. Stephen Presbyterian Church’s Vacation Bible School and Afternoon Camp, Monday – Friday, June 20 – 24, 2011.   You have two options for your child’s activities:
#1.    VBS morning only, 9 a.m. – 12 noon ;
#2.   VBS and Afternoon Camp, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Multi-child discounts are available for families.   VBS costs $5 per child.  VBS and Afternoon Camp costs $70 which benefits the Youth Mission Trip to Chicago in July.
We offer Bible Story, Crafts, Recreation, Music, Cooking, Cross Creations & Mission, and Science in the morning;  In the Afternoon, we add Wet Recreation (slip and slide and water sprinkler fun), movies, naps (for the youngest), crafts and more music.    Bring a sack lunch and swim suit for all day.

Plenty of room for everyone.  Sign up now!  For more information, contact Beth Fultz, Director of Christian Education, 817-927-8411 or beth.fultz@ststephen-pcusa.com.

Read more →

Faith and Family Class is seeking…

The Faith and Family Sunday School class is growing! While we thoroughly enjoy the fellowship, support, and wonderful parenting tips and ideas that evolve from our informal discussion format, we suspect that there’s a lot of expertise in our church family that would help us better nurture our own families. Are you a counselor, a minister, or an educator? Do you have expertise in childhood development? Are you an authority on relationships? Do you have experience to share with balancing the many trials and joys of parenting and marriage? Do you have a spiritual take on parenting? With the goal of having a guest speaker lead a discussion on a parenting, education, development, or relationship topic in their area of expertise about once a month, we invite you to contact our class and find a time when you can come lead a class. This is a lively group that enjoys contributing to the discussion; contact Beth Fultz at bfultz@ststephen-pcusa.com  and let us know what you’d like to come talk about, and when you’re available.

Samaritan House Volunteers Needed

Greetings!

Wow! the 3rd Friday “Picnic,”  June 17 is REALLY coming together!

Samaritan House – 3rd Friday Dinners Our Menu so far:

Main Dish: Fried Chicken – Rob Baker, Laurie Sandefur, Charlotte Ray, and Adelaide Leavens and Charlotte Ice have each volunteered money or purchase of 20 pieces of Fried Chicken (total =100 pieces). 

 Side Dish: Potato Salad – Wendy Larmour, Rob Baker, Myrtle Adams have volunteered to homemade or “home-buy” potato salad. 

 Additional Side: Green Beans –  Still need 40 servings of green beans

 Fruit Side: Watermelon – Robbie Fultz has volunteered to bring the ice cold watermelon!

 Dessert: Bring your favorite! (3 volunteers) – Gladys Dike, Arlene Small, and Peggy Wadley are each bringing their favorite dessert.

 Additional: Rob Baker and Rob Griffin have pitched in rolls for the occasion!

 Servers: We’ll take everyone! :-)

For more information, or to volunteer for the Samaritan House Supper Club, please email Debra Denson-Whitehead  at  dld2790@yahoo.com or contact the church office.

 Thanks for your help!        Debra Denson and the Mission Committee