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Q:Do
I have to be a: Lutheran to attend church services?
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| A: No,
anyone is welcome to worship with us from any tradition. |
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Q:
Is there a need to dress up if I come to church?
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| A: No,
even among our parishioners the attire varies. |
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| Q:
What is the difference between your Sunday services? |
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A:
A “Service of the Word” is a service that features
preaching of the Bible Text for the day accompanied by prayer and hymns.
A “Service of Holy Communion” includes the eating of the bread
and partaking of the cup that is our communion with the Lord, and each
other.
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Q:
You said communion? What do you believe about that? Do I have to
be a member or a Lutheran to take communion?
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A:
We Lutherans believe that the bread and the wine are truly the
body and blood of Jesus Christ. All baptized Christians are welcome
to receive communion. Young children if they have had proper instruction
or have gone through our preparation for children at age 8 may also
take communion. If you have younger children please bring them with
you anyway that they might receive a blessing.
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Q:
I am a recovering alcoholic. I take medication that does not go well
with alcohol, what do I do about the wine?
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| A: At every
public celebration of Holy Communion, we offer both white non-alcoholic
grape juice as well as red wine. It is your choice when you come to take
communion. |
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Q:
Do I take communion in my seat or do I come forward?
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| A: Sometimes
communion is received getting in line to the front of the church, and
sometimes you are escorted to the altar rail near the altar where you
may either kneel or stand to take the bread or the cup. |
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| Q:
How do I participate in the service? |
| A: Our
service has an order based on the historic order of the church throughout
the ages. Sometimes responses from the congregation are spoken, sometimes
sung. Our green Lutheran Book of Worship is our primary resource for worship.
To help you find your place, there is a printed order in the inside front
cover of the bulletin, and pages will be announced by the pastor or worship
leader. |
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| Q:
I’ve seen your church and have visited.
I have a child who needs to be baptized, how do find out about that? Do
I have to be a member to get my child baptized? |
| A:
You do not have to be a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church to inquire
about baptism. However the pastor feels strongly that one or both of the
parents should attend St Stephen on a regular basis. Baptism in the Lutheran
Tradition believes that a child by God’s gracious action in the act
of baptism becomes a Christian, part of God’s family. The faith that
both Sponsors and Parents speak on behalf of the child is one that is
to be nurtured in the life of the child so that at a later age the child
professes their faith on their own in an act that is called the “Affirmation
of Baptism" or what we know as “Confirmation.” The parents
must first meet with the pastor to discuss baptism, and pastor will make
the final decision as to whether the baptism will take place. |
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| Q:
Do you do private baptisms? |
| A:
Only on the rare exception. Almost all baptisms will take place during
the set times for worship, since the newly baptized will be part of that
Christian community, and in some way the congregation participates in
the Christian nurture of the child. |
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| Q:
Do you baptize adults? |
| A:
Yes. The pastor will gladly give instruction for baptism if you
have not been baptized. Please be aware that adult baptism also means
that you are “confirmed”as well so that you would be a full
commicant member of the church. |
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| Q:
I like the look of your church, and would
like to hold my wedding there. What about weddings? |
| A:
We will gladly assist you in information concerning weddings at St. Stephen.
Please call the church office or e-mail the church for updated guidelines
for marriage at St. Stephen. Two brief important comments, however. All
inquires must go through the pastor, and the pastor is the officiant at
all weddings here, and the Director of Music is the musician for all weddings
here. Use of the sanctuary without either person's involvement is not
possible. |
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| Q:
What about place for Children and Youth
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| A:
We have a crying room/nursery on the main floor of the building. If
you wish to go there with your child, the service can be heard in the
nursery. From September to May we have Christian Education for all ages.
We have specal classes for First Communion for children 8 and above. We
also have a special “Confirmation” program which is a two year
program. Please call the church office for more details. We also have
a Youth Group which can consist of a Sunday School class, fun activities,
and possible attendance at special youth events with the wider church. |
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| Q:
How about “get togethers,”
“social times,” or “fellowship"? |
| A:
We have occasional social hours after the second service on Sunday.
We have an “In Between Group” for those who are in their late
20s to 50s. From there we have a fellowship group called the “Friendship
Club.” They meet for various social events from September to May.
Please call the church office for details. We have a senior citizens ecumenical
group that meets the first Wednesday of the month from February –June,
and September – December. |
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| Q:
I need to contact the office. When can
I call? |
| A:
Generally there is someone in the office from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Monday-Friday, and the answering machine is always on. |
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| Q:
My group is interested in meeting at
St. Stephen. Who do I contact? |
| A:
You may call the church office and they will put you in touch with
the property committee for information regarding that possibility. |
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| Q:
What about adult learning opportunities? |
| A:
From the months of December-May we have two Bible Classes for Adults:
one during the Christian Education time Sundays at 9:15 am, and on Tuesday
mornings in the church Library at 11:00 am. |
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Q:
Do have any other worship opportunities
besides Sunday?
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A:
We have a very informal service of Holy Communion and Prayer on
Thursdays at 12:10 pm. The service is brief, those who come find it
very meaningful. Call ahead to the church office to inquire about it.
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