We completed the Ministry Site Profile and submitted it to the Northeastern Ohio Synod. The Call Committee now must wait one month to receive Lead Pastor applications from the Northeastern Ohio Synod. We are continuing to meet every other week to prepare for the initial interviews. We have a mock interview scheduled in early June. We ask for your continued prayers as we begin the interview process. Please submit any questions or comments in the envelope on the call committee

A Reflection on the 250th Anniversary of American Independence “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” This part of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence, was, and remains, a powerful witness to the resolve, not only to its authors, but to all w

Dear Members and Friends of St. Stephen Martyr, Although I am unable to be with you during this memorable time in your history, my prayers are with you. I send congratulations and best wishes as you begin your next sixty years. I served as your pastor for over thirty years from August, 1968 through July, 1999. (Regarding the new sanctuary expansion) One day in the mid-eighties, we had outgrown our space. It was time to add some classrooms. However, someone had a larger vision

2026 Easter Sermon Series It’s fascinating how many stories there are about Jesus having meals with his disciples after the resurrection. Meals, especially in Jesus’ culture, carried significant meaning and weight. Those meals impacted the disciples in various ways. So too, sharing meals can have a big impact on our relationships. Sure, some meals can be uncomfortable depending on the hosts or the guests, but other meals can deepen friendships by building trust in a more inti

Our final Lenten mid-week service will be on March 25th. This will be an adaptation of the Jewish Passover Seder. Seder is the Hebrew word for “order”. This festival, year after year for thousands of years has followed a very specific order of 15 steps. The Seder is probably the longest-observed yearly ritual in the world. It brings to mind not just the Exodus story but perpetual struggle every person has between slavery and freedom. The story is told not as “they were slaves

We are excited to share that Church Council has appointed a Call Committee to begin the important work of calling our next lead pastor. This committee represents a wide range of voices within our congregation, with members from each of our three Sunday services and from various backgrounds and demographics. Their diversity is a gift and will help ensure that our search reflects the full life of St. Stephen Martyr. The major tool the Call Committee will complete is the Ministr

We have been invested in the psalms this past month as our sermon series on stewardship. I don’t know about you, but I’ve really appreciated delving deeper into the Psalms each week. Now, I’ve been invested in the psalm for quite some time. I find them to be so rich with emotion and words describing our relationship with the Lord God and so full of honest prayer. Someone once said that the Psalms are God’s words to us to pray back to God. Each week I spend some time with the

Confirmation seems so long ago. I don’t recall much from those days, except my teachers, Mrs. Dufendach or Ed Lang, saying, “Andrew, be...

Invested God’s investment plans may baffle financial advisors. It’s high risk. There’s no promised ROI. No business plan per se. And yet,...

Our baptism isn’t just a sacrament of God’s renewing grace, but it renews our calling in the world we live. Our next sermon series,...

Over five years ago, I had my first staff meeting here at St. Stephen Martyr. At that meeting, we did something that I had never done...

Beloved People of God, “I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.” – Ephesians 1:16 On June 11, 1995, I was...

Beloved People of God, I believe God is wonderfully at work in the life and ministry of St. Stephen. Sometimes that work doesn’t always...

Beloved People of God, This month, during the third week of April, our Lenten observance will come to an end. We will gather with...

A Lenten Journey of Faith: What Does Christianity Teach Us? As we enter the sacred season of Lent, we often embark on a journey of...

Beloved People of God, The feast of Epiphany (“manifestation”), which took place on January 6, 2025, concludes the Christmas season with...

Beloved People of God, As you read this, we are preparing to enter a new year and a new season of the church! Epiphany marks the end of...

The Advent of Advent With Advent, the church year begins. Advent Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, is the closest to St. Andrews Day,...

Beloved People of God, Thank you. Thank you for your demonstration of appreciation for Pastor Andrew, Pastor Herb, and for me. Thank you...

Beloved People of God, On October 27, 2024, we will celebrate Reformation Sunday. On this day we celebrate the heart of our faith: the...