In a special service attended by area clergy, parishioners, and guests, Joseph Graumann Jr., center, was installed on Sunday, September 18, as pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 537 Bolton St. (Route 85), Marlborough. Pictured with him, from left are Sarah Maston of Hudson, chair of the Call Committee; the Rev. Christine Kirchner, pastor of Mountain Grove Lutheran Church, Bloomsburg, PA, who attended seminary with Graumann, and who preached the sermon; the Rev. Susan Nachtigal, senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester, the presiding minister; and Ken LaPlante of Marlborough, president of the congregation council.
    The installation formalized the relationship between the new pastor and his congregation, and it celebrated their ministry together, not only with the church service, but with a dinner that followed, for the gathering of nearly 100 people, including 10 clergy, the pastor’s family and friends, and members of the congregation. 
    Saint Stephen Lutheran Church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation and welcomes people of all abilities, classes, races and ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, and marital statuses. Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, and Bolton. For more information, visit SaintStephenLutheran.com or the church’s Facebook page (St. Stephen Lutheran Church). The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the nation’s largest Lutheran church, with approximately four million members split into 65 synods, or territories, across the United States and the Caribbean.

Our youth had an awesome time at Hammonasset, this time held at Camp Calumet! After collecting lots of food for the "End 68 Hours of Hunger" program, we helped package it, and then got right down to the business of having fun. We heard stories of faith and sang songs of God's love, and it was a pleasure to be with such great people in a beautiful place, celebrating God's grace among us. 

"Hammonasset" is the New England Synod's annual youth gathering, typically held at Hammonasset State Park in Connecticut. This year, due to renovations, it was held at Calumet, the official camp of the New England Synod.

Saint Stephen Lutheran Church invites you to join us for worship at 9:30 AM on Sundays. Sunday School (Pre-K through grade 6) takes place during the worship service, and our youth programs serve children from Grade 6-12. Sunday School begins September 18. We are proud members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and we are a Reconciling in Christ congregation, meaning we welcome people of all genders, sexualities, races, abilities, and marital status.

Sunday, September 18 will be an event-filled day at St. Stephen.  It begins with the start of Sunday School for the 2016-17 school year, concurrent with the 9:30 a.m. service, and culminates with the installation of the new pastor, the Rev. Joseph Graumann Jr., at 5:30 pm, with a celebration reception to follow.
    Sunday School classes will be offered to children from pre-kindergarten through grade 6. Children will be present for the beginning of church, the “Gathering,” through a brief children’s sermon, leave for lessons during the “Word” portion and return for communion with their families.
    “Children are welcome to join our Pre-K class when they are three years old,” says Norma DeBois of Hudson, Sunday School coordinator. The curriculum is “lectionary based,” she notes, “to connect Sunday School with worship.” Students will experience one of the Bible lessons featured in that Sunday’s worship service. Saint Stephen uses Sparkhouse's Whirl curriculum that engages students in fun and innovative ways. It highlights participation in the wider church and provides a launching point for deep conversations in the family. 
Installation and Celebration
    The 5:30 pm installation formalizes the relationship between the new pastor, Joseph Graumann Jr. and his congregation, and it celebrates their ministry together. In an installation service, the pastor and the congregation promise to pray for each other and to care for each other, and the pastor’s service formally begins. A representative from the local conference of Lutheran churches, on behalf of the Bishop of the New England Synod of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), is there to acknowledge the beginning of Joseph’s call and to certify it.  The presider on September 18 will be The Rev. Susan Nachtigal, dean of the Worcester Conference, New England Synod of the ELCA.
    Preacher for the installation service will be the Rev. Christine Kirchner, pastor at Mountain Grove Lutheran Parish, Bloomsburg, PA. The service will also include special music, including offerings from both the handbell and voice choirs, led by music director Stanley Hanson of Hudson.
    In June, Saint Stephen Lutheran church voted to “call” Joseph Graumann to lead the congregation. Joseph was then ordained a minister to the Christian church and began work on August 1, the same day as the start of the church’s Vacation Bible Camp. 
    Saint Stephen Lutheran Church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation and welcomes people of all abilities, classes, races and ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, and marital statuses. Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, and Bolton. For more information, visit SaintStephenLutheran.com or the church’s Facebook page (St. Stephen Lutheran Church). The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the nation’s largest Lutheran church, with approximately four million members split into 65 synods, or territories, across the United States and the Caribbean.