|
|
St.
Stephen Lutheran Church - Northglenn, CO
We call our church St. Stephen because we are
a Christian family
that holds Jesus in our hearts. We love Jesus so much
we can't stop talking about him. |
Who is St. Stephen? |
| St. Stephen is considered the
first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death after being accused of blasphemy.
Stephen died in Jerusalem but the date of death is uncertain. All that we know of
the life, trial, and death of St. Stephen, is found in the Book of Acts, Chapters 6 & 7.
The church acknowledges the martyrdom of St. Stephen on December 26.
As he was dying, Stephen had a vision of Christ at the
right hand of God, and, like Christ, Stephen prayed for his executioners. |
|
Stephen died for his faith in Jesus |
| Many scholars
speculate that Stephen was a Jew. Stephen, along with six others were chosen to
serve as deacons in the early Church.
They helped the apostles and was appointed as a deacon. The word "deacon"
is derived from the Greek verb meaning "to minister." One of their tasks was
to distribute food to the widows (see Acts 6:1-6).
Stephen began to speak in public. His message grew
more vigorous. In the Bible he is described as "full of grace and power, was working
great wonders and signs among the people."
Stephen was stoned to death. Saul (who was
renamed Paul) was present at the stoning and guarded the clothes of those who stoned
Stephen (see Acts 22:20). Paul was also martyred in Jerusalem in about the year 67
A.D.
As Stephen was dying, he forgave the people who were
stoning him, and asked God not to punish the people. Then he said, "Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit" and died. He is the first Christian martyr, the first person to die because he
loved Jesus so much that he wouldn't stop talking about Him.
Stephen, one who had been called to tasks of loving
service to the widows and to the poor. He is the for one whom the modern Stephen Ministry
is named. St. Stephen's Lutheran Church has a team of trained
Stephen Ministers. |
|
Why is our church named St. Stephen? |
| Our church was
named after St. Stephen because he set an example of "walking the walk." He reached
out to others in the name of Jesus. One of his early jobs as a deacon was to care
for the poor by distributing food. The Bible tells us that God worked many miracles
through Stephen. When he told the story of Jesus, many who heard him speak became
Christians.
Stephen preached that God was everywhere, not just in the
Temple, or in Jerusalem, or even in Palestine. This reminds us that we learn
about Jesus within the walls of the church, but our work is in the world. He tells
us that God was with our Old Testament ancestors, like Abraham, Moses, and King David and
that God is with us today.
Stephen's faith did not waver, even in the face of death.
Today, in Colorado, there is little chance of martyrdom.
But the example of Stephen gives us encouragement to care for others and share our faith
in the world. |
|
Stephen mentioned in popular Christmas carol |
The church
calendar lists the martyrdom of St. Stephen on December 26. The Feast of St. Stephen
is mentioned in the English Christmas carol, "Good King Wenceslas" (circa 1850):
"Good King Wenceslas went out
On the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even."
|
|
| What is the
Lutheran view on saints? |
| Lutherans don't
have the same view of saints as Catholics. Lutherans acknowledge all believers in
Christ (both alive & departed) as saints. We believe that when you have
accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you are saint. Saints aspire to follow
the example of Jesus. |
 |
|
|
|
“I rejoiced with those who said to me,
'Let us go to the house of the Lord.' ” (Psalm l22:l) |
|
|
