St. Stephen Lutheran Church
Announcements
New Bible Study to Begin Monday, April 20th
Pastor Hoffman will be offering a new Bible Study that will meet on the 3rd Monday of the month,
6:30-7:30pm, beginning on April 20th.
Small Group Bible Study: Pew Sisters
This 12-session study for women features 12 different women sharing stories of God’s faithfulness.
Each session includes a Scripture reading, a real-life narrative, and eight study questions
designed to help participants apply these lessons to their lives in Christ.
Schedule: Fridays: February 20th-May 15th
Time: 9:30am-10:30am
Location: St. Stephen Lutheran Church
The Season of Lent
As we enter the season of Lent, you will notice some changes to our Divine Service liturgy.
Key Changes to the Liturgy:
· Confession: A more self-reflective sentence added at the end of our corporate confession.
“Forgive me all my sins and grant me the power of your Holy Spirit that I may amend my sinful life”.
· Omitting the “Alleluia” and “the Hymn of Praise”: During Lent, we “bury the Alleluia” and omit the Hymn of Praise. We set them aside to reflect our focus on repentance and our need for God’s mercy.
· The Liturgical Color Purple: The altar and Pastor will be vested in purple, the color of penitence and royal sorrow.
· Midweek Services: In addition to Sunday worship, we invite you to join us for our Midweek Lenten Services every Wednesday at 7pm. These services will follow the Service of Evening Prayer (LSB p. 243). You can find a link to audio files on the homepage of our website so you may familiarize yourself with the liturgy, www.ststephenwaterford.org
Our Midweek Lenten Theme will be based on the “Seven Deadly Sins”-pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.
Open Door North @ St. Stephen Update!
Last Tuesday we were happy to serve 8 families!
We are open one day a week on Tuesdays, 10am-4pm.
Volunteers work a three hour shift, either morning or afternoon.
Those who are unable to volunteer on Tuesdays will have other opportunities to get involved.
If you signed up to volunteer you will be contacted
to be trained and put on a schedule to help in your area of interest.
What can you do to help?
· Volunteer– Contact Kerry Cottone 248-709-7607 or Marilyn Dean 810-499-0187
· Spread the Word– Encourage those in need of help to call 248-360-2960 to set up an appointment with Client Services.
· Donate– We are collecting hygiene & household items for distribution at the food pantry.
· Pray- Please continue to pray for our partnership with Open Door, for the volunteers and staff,
and for those we will be helping to serve in our community!
Wednesday Lenten Soup Suppers
5:30pm-6:15pm
This Wednesday– Chicken Noodle Soup and Bean & Ham Soup
Sign up on the poster in the church lobby for food donations & kitchen help
Easter Egg Hunt-Saturday, March 21st @ 10:30am
We will be hosting our Easter Egg Hunt once again on Saturday, March 21st @ 10:30am. We are looking for donations to fill the eggs with individually wrapped candy, small toys, and loose change. We are also in need of a crew prior to the event to fill the eggs and help with the event. Please sign up on the sheet on the Welcome Center. Thanks for your help!
We have some exciting news for those of you looking to dive deeper into our Lutheran Confessions!
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) recently launched a brand-new, fully digital version of the Book of Concord. It is now available to everyone at no cost. You can find the online edition directly at bookofconcord.cph.org or simply head over to our church website, www.ststephenwaterford.org, where we’ve added a link for easy access.
Worship When You Can’t Be Here: Worship Anew
Do you or a loved one find it difficult to join us in person for Sunday service? Whether it’s due to health, mobility, or travel, you can remain connected to God’s Word and our community of faith. Worship Anew is a weekly, 30-minute Lutheran worship service
designed specifically for aging adults and those who are homebound.
How to Watch or Listen:
· Television: Detroit - WKBD 50 (CW) - Sunday 8:00 AM
· Streaming: Watch anytime on YouTube, the Worship Anew App or directly at WorshipAnew.org
· By Phone: If you don’t have internet or cable, you can listen to the latest service 24/7 by calling (888) 286-8002 or (260) 440-8476
If you know someone who could benefit from this resource, please share this information with them.
Save the Date!
Kensington Circuit Churches Event
Barn Dance
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
Lazy J Ranch, Milford
More Information Coming Soon!