SUNDAY SOUP & STUDIES FOR LENT at St. Stephen's UMC
February 19 - April 1, 2012
Consider participating in a workshop or study for Lent in 2012! This Lenten season, Sunday evenings at St. Stephen's are the place to be! There are several opportunities for all ages to journey together during Lent. Enjoy fellowship, examine and reflect on the gift of our salvation through Christ's sacrifice, and embrace your faith journey. Receive Christ as the key to life, awake and alive, growing in knowledge and love of God. More information about each of the studies and workshops listed below are included inside this newsletter.
5:30 - 6:15 p.m.: Dinner (Soups and salad provided by the Fellowship Committee) in Rm M18/20
6:15 - 9 p.m: Classes/workshops as follows, for youth and adults:
February 19: Kickoff Gathering and Movie (Wesley: A Heart Transformed Can Change the World). Movie for Children in the Fireside Room (C52).
February 26 - April 1: (6 sessions) Love Wins, a study of the book by Rob Bell, led by Ed Baird, in Room C40.
February 26, March 4, March 11: "Caring For Those Who Hurt", led by Nancy Dubiell in Room C41.
March 11, 18 & 25: "March into Spring Arts & Crafts", led by Allyn Hammel, in Room C59
March 18 & 25: "How to Make Our Guests Feel Warm and Welcomed", led by Becky Rock, in Room M8.
Recent Sermons
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Current Sermon Series: Sonshine in the Long Winter
- Jan. 1 "Dawn in the Darkness" (Isaiah 60:1-6)
- Jan. 8 "Radiance in the River" (Isaiah 43:1-7), Reaffirmation of Baptism
- Jan. 15 "Candle in the Chaos" (Isaiah 61:1-11), lighting candles with prayer
- Jan. 22 "Spark in the Sadness" (Isaiah 55:1-13), repentance and forgiveness liturgy
- Jan. 29 "Igniting the Inertia" (Isaiah 40:27-31), anointing with oil
Recent Sermon Series: "Destination: Christmas!"
- Nov 27 - 1st Sunday of Advent, "The Plan," Luke 1:26-38
- Dec 4 - 2nd Sunday of Advent, "The Crossroads," Matthew 1:18-25
- Dec 11 - 3rd Sunday of Advent, "The Companions," Luke 1:39-56
- Dec 18 - 4th Sunday of Advent, "The Journey," Luke 2:1-7
- Dec 25th - Christmas Day, "The Christ Child"
Other Recent Services
All services are recorded* and may be viewed online in a variety of ways, including on most cell phones. Click a link above to view or listen to the service of your choice! If you need a service not listed above, click here.
*Some services, and some portions of services, are not available online due to copyright restrictions. St. Stephen's respects the copyrights of others.
You can also subscribe to our podcast of weekly worship services by clicking here.
Hypothermia Sheltering 2012
January 29th to Feb. 12th. Your help is needed! Please sign up in the Gathering Place. St. Stephen's will be serving as a shelter for 25 to 40 homeless men and women. Whether you have an hour or several hours to donate, your help is needed and greatly appreciated: Late afternoons and evenings - opening up, hosting, cooking dinner, preparing bag lunches, talking with guests. Overnight - serving as a host, fixing coffee, talking. Mornings - setting out breakfast, hosting, fixing coffee, cleaning. Your donations are also needed: travel size toiletries; adult socks, underwear, gloves, and hats; $5 McDonalds gift cards. Please contact Cathy Liverman, Bill Wynn, Dick Collier, or Sonja Tussing with any questions.
Play Lent Jeopardy!!
Parents, when your preteen hears the word Lent do they automatically think of the stuff collecting in their belly button? Well, here's their chance to learn what Lent is really all about in an adventurous, fun way. Bring your 3rd-6th grader to our family fun event on February 21st at 7:00 pm in the Chapel/Welcome Center (following the youth pancake supper that evening). We will go on a Lent learning adventure and then we'll test our knowledge with some Lent Jeopardy. Don't miss out on the fun! For more information contact Bridget Ballenger at 703-978-1860.
Single Adult Ministry
Are you single or single again, and interested in fellowship with other single adults at St. Stephen's UMC? If so, contact Lisa Day at 703-978-8724 x 106. An interest meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 12, at 12:15 p.m. in Room M8.
We're a Green Church!
Hooray, & thanks! Through our initiatives over the past year, in worship/discipleship/stewardship/evangelism/mission, St. Stephen's has taken the steps to qualify as a first-level Green United Methodist congregation. We hope you've seen the evidence (of course, we're not perfect yet). If you have any questions, please ask Lorac Lawton or Gary Klinger.
Sermon Series
SERMONS IN FEBRUARY
For February, we have a special three-part sermon series for the first three weeks of the month. Then, when the season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22, we will move to a Lenten series for the last Sunday of February through the first week of April. The first February series is called "Jesus: Three Simple Questions." It is based on a book by N.T. Wright called Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters (Harper One, 2011). Each week, we will focus on a different question about Jesus. We will include video segments of St. Stephen's people giving their response to these same questions. We think this will be an interesting series, both for newcomers as well as for seasoned disciples. Particularly it will offer us some possible ways to explain why Jesus matters, for people with whom we may have the opportunity to discuss it.
"JESUS: THREE SIMPLE QUESTIONS"
February 5 "Who Was He?" (Mark 1:9-15)
February 12 "What Did He Do?" (Mark 11:1-11)
February 19 "Why Does He Matter?" (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
"THE COURAGE TO GO DEEPER"
February 26 "Taking the First Step" (John 5:2-15)
March 4 "Diving In" (John 3:1-18)
Pancake Tuesday!
On February 21, the Youth will be hosting the annual Pancake Tuesday! Join us anytime from 5-8PM and enjoy some pancakes as we celebrate Shrove Tuesday in a traditional manner! But this isn't just an opportunity to come eat pancakes, this is a wonderful chance to come support our youth mission trips. This summer, we will be taking a group of Jr. High students to work with the Jeremiah Project, and a group of Sr. High students to work with the Appalachian Service Project. You can support these youth by attending this "last supper" before Lent, and donating to the youth mission fund. If you have any questions, please contact Corey Self at
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Attention Parents of Youth!
You are invited to the next parents' meeting hosted by your very own Youth Director, Corey Self! This event will be very dialogue based, discussing some of the road blocks you face as parents of preteens and teens. Raising middle and high-schoolers isn't easy, but together we can find a common bond, and learn to work together! This meeting will be on February 26, at the regular time of youth, 5:30-7:30PM. We will begin with dinner with the youth, then split away to have our conversations! Any questions? Contact Corey Self at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
SNOW POLICY
In case of snow, ice, or inclement weather, check the website at www.ststephensfairfax.org or call the church office at 703-978-8724 for information about church closings. Our normal policy is to remain open for Sunday worship. However, in extreme weather situations, please check the website. For weekly activities, check with committee chairs or the website.
Thinking of You!
Please stop by the Welcome Center each Sunday morning before or after worship to sign cards for church members who may be moving, having a baby, suffering a loss or illness, or are in need of prayer.
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