WELS Daily Devotions

St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School shared a link.

5 hours ago

Bible Gateway passage: Acts 20:24 - New International Version ...

Bible Gateway passage: Acts 20:24 - New International Version

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School

16 hours ago

From ssbdwels.com: All The Light We Need – May 26, 2019The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelation 21:23

All The Light We Need

Daily Devotion – May 26, 2019
Devotion based on Revelation 21:23

wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190526dev.mp3
See series: Devotions

If you ever want to experience darkness, get in your car some cloudy night and put an hour or two between yourself and the nearest town, pull off on some side road, stop your car and turn off your lights. Without street lights, traffic lights, billboard lights, or lights from apartments and homes, the darkness is truly dark.
That’s the nighttime darkness the Apostle John knew when the Lord allowed him to see a revelation of heaven. It was a beautiful city without sun or moon, and yet those who lived there had all the light they needed. The light came from the Lamb of God, Christ himself.
Thanks to Mr. Edison you and I have all kinds of ways to pierce the darkness of night. When it comes to the darkness of sin, however, well that’s another matter. Out of the darkness of our sin comes the darkness of fear, despair, bitterness, failure, guilt, grief, and death.
If we look within ourselves to pierce such darkness, more darkness is all we’ll find.
That’s why the only answer is Jesus, the one who conquered the darkness of our sin through the cross and the empty tomb.
Therefore, you and I don’t have to be afraid anymore. We have Jesus. And Jesus is all the light we need.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, in this world of darkness, you are my light. Empower me by your Gospel to bask in your light always. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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All The Light We Need – May 26, 2019 - St. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church and School | Beaver Dam, WI | 920.885.3309

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:23 All The Light We Need Daily Devotion – May 26, 2019 Devotion based on Revelation 21:23 wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20190526dev.mp3 See ...

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School

17 hours ago

From ssbdwels.com: Hold to the Hope We HaveA sermon on John 16:16-24 for the 6th Sunday after Easter, May 23/26, 2019.

The hearts of all the people watching the movie pound in anticipation of what will happen next. The hero hangs off a cliff, bridge, a tall building, or whatever else it might be. As time ticks by the hero’s grip slowly starts to give way. No longer do they have the strength to pull themselves up. Every effort and ounce of their mind focuses on not letting go. They are holding on for dear life. The only option left seems to be a fall to their death. As soon as their grip gives, another hand reaches down. Someone came to save the hero. The hero grasps the helping hand with all their might. Slowly, the new found hero pulls the struggling person to safety. Help came just in time.

So many times in our life we need a helping hand. We feebly struggle upon this earth, sometimes feeling like we are just spinning our wheels without going anywhere. Just as we are about to give up all hope, a helping hand reaches out. This hero scoops us up in his hands giving us confidence for whatever we might face. Jesus takes our hand to keep us safe. Jesus holds us in his hands to give us hope.

Hold to the Hope We Have

Amid the bleak days.
A hope that will never go away.

Confusion. This single word summed up the mindset of the disciples. They had no idea what Jesus was saying to them. They heard the words, but the meaning was lost. Jesus might as well of been speaking in riddles. Jesus said how he would soon go to the Father, soon the disciples would not see him, and then they would see Jesus again. What did all of this mean? How could they make sense of such nonsense?

The disciples talked amongst themselves. No one dared ask Jesus about these things. They did not want to risk the embarrassment. Ashamed of their lack of understanding they did not want to expose their weaknesses. Instead they just kept discussing the topic amongst themselves.

How could the disciples not know? Jesus had spoken about these things before. He prepared his close friends for the things they would soon see and feel. Despite all of these warnings, they still did not fully understand the gravity of the impending events.

Soon they would not see Jesus anymore. The disciples followed Jesus around for three years. They sat at his feet listening to all his teachings. They watched in awe as Jesus healed thousands and even raised people from the dead. Now, they received news that they would no longer see their good friend. How could this be? Jesus was right here. All the eyes of the disciples peered at Jesus with a questioning stare wondering what he meant.

With these words Jesus spoke about the events that would soon unfold. The time would soon be here for Jesus to accomplish what he came to this world to do. In a short time the disciples would leave Jesus all alone as he would be arrested and tried. Peter would deny even knowing Jesus. The only one to follow him to Calvary would be John. The pain of the cross awaited Jesus. He would die. The disciples would feel all alone and afraid of what would happen next. They would no longer have Jesus to look to.

“Amen, Amen, I tell you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice” (John 16:20). The coming events would leave the disciples speechless. They would feel lonely and afraid of what the future held. At the same time many of their fellow Jews would be rejoicing. They would be rid of this phony king. His teachings would cease. At least so they thought this would be the case.

When these things happened, the disciples should not lose hope. Even though bleak days circled around them, the disciples had to continue to trust. “You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy” (John 16:20). Their grief would not remain. They would see Jesus again. After the resurrection the disciples saw Jesus with their own eyes. For forty days after his resurrection Jesus continued to offer proof that he physically rose from the dead. Jesus had his followers in his hands. The disciples could rejoice that Jesus would break through the bleak days. Jesus would not leave them all alone.

It is not always easy to hold out hope during difficult days. Our spirits come crumbling down during the troubles this world puts on our plate. We see so many people rejoicing at what is contrary to God’s commands. Jesus tells us the harvest is plentiful, but all we see are closed doors to gospel ministry. Addiction ensnares us in its traps. Loneliness overtakes us. The struggles of dialysis or chemotherapy leave us grieving at the results of sin.

So often we fail to see Jesus in all of these troubles. Unlike the disciples, we do not have the advantage of ever walking with him. Jesus ascended to heaven. We can’t see him. Our grief feels like all we know.

However, Jesus’ promise to the disciples remains the same for us. Our grief will turn to joy. Let me rephrase that, our joy is right now. Since Jesus died and rose again for us, we have reason to live confidently. Jesus’ death has overcome all our griefs. We experience some of the pain here on earth, but we know it is only temporary.

We hold to this hope all our days because Jesus holds onto us all of our days. The sicknesses and diseases, the death and despair, the loneliness and lovelessness will be gone. Even in the midst of the bleak days, we hold to the hope we have, because it is a hope that will never go away.

All of this must have been so hard for the disciples to hear. They had so much to process. Jesus also, would not leave them without hope. “So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (John 16:22). In order to help his disciples understand he used the illustration of a woman giving birth. She experiences pain, intense pain. No woman loves the labor pains that come with childbirth. However, once they hold that child in their arms, it was all worth it.

The disciples would have their time of pain and sorrow. However they would see a much brighter day. After Jesus rose from the dead, they would have a hope that could never be taken away. They would see Jesus again. Even after he ascended to heaven, the disciples would still see Jesus one day. Jesus would bring them home to heaven to live with him for eternity.

Even though they did not fully understand all these things, the time would come when it would be made clear. At Pentecost Jesus would send the Holy Spirit upon these men. They would be able to see fully the hope that was theirs.

Can we even begin to imagine a joy that will not be taken away? To many, and maybe even to us, joy is such a fleeting emotion. We experience so much joy one moment, but the next heartache and pain takes its place.

As Christians we possess a joy that will never go away. No one can take away the joy in our heart. The devil will try. The world flashes temptations to get us off track. Our own sinful nature battles against the good we desire to do. Try as they might, they cannot take our joy away.

Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus’ victory assures us of our victory. Our joy remains complete at all times in our life. We also look forward to a time when we will know nothing but joy. Jesus promises to take us to be with him in heaven where our joy will never cease.

God holds our hand all through our life. We do not have to worry about losing our grip only to fall into oblivion. Jesus has all the power in the world, and then some, to keep us safe. This is our joy that will never fade away. Even in the bleak days we hold to our hope. We hold to this hope for it will last forever. Hold to the Hope We Have. Amen.https://www.ssbdwels.com/th_sermon/hold-to-the-hope-we-have/ ...

Hold to the Hope We Have - St. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church and School | Beaver Dam, WI | 920.885.3309

A sermon on John 16:16-24 for the 6th Sunday after Easter, May 23/26, 2019. The hearts of all the people watching the movie pound in anticipation of what will happen next. The hero hangs off a cliff, bridge, a tall building, or whatever else it might be. As time ticks by the hero’s grip slowly...

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School

22 hours ago

From ssbdwels.com: RADIO SERVICE: Your Confirmation Examination Is Life-Long! Sermon on 1 John 4:1-11 ~ Pastor Heyerhttps://www.ssbdwels.com/th_sermon/radio-service-your-confirmation-examination-is-life-long-... ...

RADIO SERVICE: Your Confirmation Examination Is Life-Long! Sermon on 1 John 4:1-11 ~ Pastor Heyer - St. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church and School | Beaver Dam, WI | 920.885.3309

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and School

22 hours ago

From ssbdwels.com: St. Stephen’s Weekly News: Week of May 26, 2019
Welcome Visitors If you are
visiting today, we welcome you in our Risen and Living Savior, Jesus!

Please let us know you worshiped with us by
signing our guest book in the entryway or a Care Card in your pew and drop it
in the offering basket.If visiting, please don’t feel obligated to give
an offering. St. Stephen’s members express thankfulness to God through their
voluntary offerings which then support the congregation’s work.Introduce yourself to a Pastor, and worship with
us again!

Holy
Communion will be offered today in all services. You may register by
card at any time or register in person in the sacristy. We ask all guests to
please speak with a pastor before communing.

Radio Service:
9:30am on AM 1430 WBEV
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Sermon: Your Confirmation Examination Is Life-Long!
Hymns:
206:1-4, 477, 449, 447
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Sermon: Jesus Prays for the Faith of His People
Hymns: 213,
394, 222, 219

Ascension Service is here at St. Stephen’s on Thursday, May 30, 2019 at
6:30pm. Jr. and Sr. choirs will be
beautifying the service. Make plans to
join us. This is a joint service with our
brothers and sisters from Good Shepherd.

Bible Studies

Men’s Sunday Night meets Sunday nights
at 6:30pm in the meeting room above church office. Women’s Bible Study Group meets on Wednesday
nights at 6pm. Copies of the study are available in the church entry and at
study time.

Wednesday Bible Study
meets one or two more Wednesday mornings at 11am. This session is a study focused on 1 &
2 Peter.

Summer
Church Schedule
starts on June 2nd. Sunday
services will be at 7:30 am & 9:30 am.
Bible study will be held between services from 8:45-9:15am. Summer church office hours will be starting
June 7th. Summer hours are
Monday-Thursday, 7:30a-12, 12:30 to 4pm, Fridays 7:30-1pm.

A Special Coffee
Fellowship will be held June 2nd to express our gratitude to
two of our teachers, Miss Geiger and Miss Hensler, who are celebrating 40 years
of teaching. A gift/card box will be
placed in the back of church for any and all forms of gratitude the next 3
Sundays. A box for cards will also be
available for Miss Davis, who is leaving teaching at the end of the school
year. However, due to other commitments,
she won’t be able to be at the coffee fellowship.

WELS Night at Miller Park The sixth annual WELS
night at Miller Park will be taking place on July 12, 2019. Come cheer on the
Milwaukee Brewers as they host the San Francisco Giants. Tickets are offered at
50% off to WELS members in 3 different sections.
Sign-up sheets are available in the entry.
We will be putting in a group order, so you will not have to be a
convenience fee so please sign up by June 2, 2019.

Hospital
Reminder Your pastors love to bring God’s comforting Word to our
hospitalized members! All hospitals
however, cannot let the church office know unless you call us or ask them to
call us. Please do not hesitate to call the church office at 885-3309.

Seth Dorn
[email protected]
631-7028

Philip Heyer
[email protected]
887-1117

Paul Stratman
[email protected]
885-6960

St. Stephen’s 8th Grade Graduation will be
held on Friday, May 31th at 6:30pm.

Congratulations
and God’s Continued Blessings Graduates

St. Stephen’s 8th
grade

Gavin Bartholomew Nathan Henning Alexyss Mund Abigail Schoenberger Micah Vanderhoof Ayden Yerges
Cody Bartz
Jayden Larson
Stephenie Pierce
Amelia Storhoff
Alyssa Wellnitz
Molly Zellmer

Dalton Fakes
Jaden Love
Kaleb Schmuhl
David Taylor-Evert
Kylie Wittnebel

Lakeside Lutheran High
School

Mariah Mortenson - Dustin Schulz -
Jonathan Schuman - Anna Swenson

Good Shepherd Preschool Job Opportunity Good Shepherd is looking to hire part-time help in the
extended care program for the
2019-2020 school year. The position
would begin in September and the hours would be 8am til 12:30pm, Monday through
Friday. Prior experience a plus. If interested, please call Good Shepherd
office at
920-885-6482 or Pastor Vanderhoof @ [email protected]

Twice Is Nice in Jefferson will accept
donations of clothing, household items, toys, books, dishes, etc. All these
donations help to benefit Lakeside Lutheran High School. You may bring these
items to the church office. Volunteers take them to the store. If you would
like to shop or volunteer at Twice Is Nice the address is 907 W. Racine St.,
Jefferson, WI. They are open 9:00am– 5:00pm Monday through Saturday.
(920)674-6868

Know your synod Your Sunday offerings help support the work of WELS, but do you know how? Go to wels.net to discover the many WELS world and home mission fields; explore which ministries can support you and your congregation; enjoy daily devotions and Bible readings; and subscribe to stay up to date on the latest news from your synod. All of this and more is available on wels.net. Visit us online today and save us as a Favorite or a Bookmark!

Calendar:

Sunday, May 26 - Ushers B

7:30, 9:00, 10:30am – Communion Worship

9:30am - Radio Service, WBEV 1430

Monday, May 27 - Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 28

6:30pm - Jesus Cares-Worship at the Cross

Wednesday, May 29

1:45pm - Hillside Manor Service

6:00pm - Bible Study 4 Women

Thursday, May 30 - Ushers B

6:30pm – Ascension Worship Service

Friday, May 31

6:30pm - LES Graduation Service

Saturday, June 1

9:00am - Technology Committee

Sunday, June 2 - Ushers C

7:30 & 9:30 am - Worship

8:30am - Coffee Fellowship-Blood Pressure Clinic

9:30am - Radio Service, WBEV 1430

6:30pm - Men's Bible Study
www.ssbdwels.com/st-stephens-weekly-news-week-of-may-26-2019/ ...

St. Stephen’s Weekly News: Week of May 26, 2019 - St. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church and School | Beaver Dam, WI | 920.885.3309

Welcome Visitors If you are visiting today, we welcome you in our Risen and Living Savior, Jesus! Please let us know you worshiped with us by signing our guest book in the entryway or a Care Card in your pew and drop it in the offering basket. If visiting, please don’t feel obligated to give...

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Worship Service Schedule

Sunday: 7:30 a.m. • 9:00 a.m. • 10:30 a.m.
Thursday: 6:30 p.m.

WELS Daily Devotions

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