Weekly Calendar & Events Sunday Mornings...    Worship Services        8, 9 & 10:30 am   Learning Circles (Pre - 6th)       9:00 am   Adult Education       9:05 am   Revolution (7th - 12th)       10:30 am   Second Sabbath 2nd Saturday - Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov   Worship Service       5:30 pm Directions & Map   Preschool	Someone who will listen There inevitably comes those times in life when we need someone to listen without judgment, to speak with grace, and just to be with us.    Contact Molly Hall Stephen Ministry Leader 760-753-1026 ext. 13               Christ Centered Caregiving Jesus has given us a commandment to "love one another as I have loved you" John 13:34 The apostle Paul urges Christians to "bear one another's burdens" Galatians 6:2 Stephen Ministry is designed to carry out these commands of our Lord. A Stephen Minister is called to be a caregiver bringing love and care in the name of Jesus to someone who is going through a change in his/her life.   Why the name Stephen?   The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was the first lay person commissioned by the apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need, as recorded in Acts 6. Can a Stephen Minister Help Me? When we face changes in our lives, having someone to care, to listen, to share God's love, to pray for and with us helps us get through the confusion, stress or loneliness. Stephen Ministers are available to those who are experiencing: separation / divorce parenting stress birth of a child terminal illness serious illness / hospitalization grief over the loss of a loved one any changes in health job crisis / unemployment / new job new to the area / community / church depression "empty nest" syndrome loneliness	Who is a Stephen Minister? Someone who is: a child of God a lay person called to be a caregiver a caring listener one who shares God's love with another one who prays for / with another committed to the caring relationship receives special training a volunteer A Stephen Minister is Not: a counselor or therapist an ordained minister a problem solver a casual visitor How do I become involved in this Ministry? volunteer call the Stephen Ministry at ext. 13 receive Stephen Series training; a training program which prepares interested men and women to become Stephen Ministers. The 50 hour training includes topics such as: the art of listening process vs. results confidentiality crisis theory / prevention distinctively Christian caring many others Following training, the Stephen Minister is commissioned by our congregation into active, caring ministry and will continue to receive on-going education and supervision.     February 2011 Members Attend "Life-Changing" Stephen Ministry Training Event   Pastor Laura and Rose Moldenhauer were among 350 pastors and church leaders at a Stephen Series Leader's Training Course (LTC) in Anaheim, CA. "It was a life-changing experience quite unlike anything I've ever been part of," said Rose. "We came from across the U.S. and dozens of denominations, yet we were united in mission: learning how to bring Jesus' love and care to hurting people."   The fast-paced, seven day course began on Sunday evening, February 6, and concluded the following Saturday at noon.  Someone likened it to getting a drink from a firehose. There's so much to absorb during the week. But everything is so well organized and presented that it makes it possible to keep up. And the 3000-page Leader's Manual each participant received at the conference steps one through the entire system.   The role of a Stephen Leader is to direct Stephen Ministry in the congregation. They are the ones who recruit, select, train, and supervise Stephen Ministers, and they locate people with needs for care and match them to a Stephen Minister. They also build awareness regarding Stephen Ministry in the congregation and community.   The training at an LTC differs from the 50 hours of Stephen Ministry training in the congregation because the LTC focuses on the administrative and supervisory aspects of Stephen Ministry. The Stephen Minister training we offer here at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (our next Training Series will begin March 18!) focuses on the actual caregiving skills Stephen Ministers will use in their caring relationships.        Pastor Laura and Rose join the existing Stephen Leader Team at BLC consisting of Pastor Daren and Molly Hall. These Stephen Leaders help poise us for the future as we look ahead to training another class of Stephen Ministers in March.      If you would like more information about Stephen Ministry, how to receive care from a Stephen Minister, or how to become a Stephen Minister, please contact any of the Stephen Leaders.