​Challenged to collect 500 items for their local food pantry during the month of October, the people of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Marlborough met and exceeded the goal, amassing 663 cans and packages donated to the Hudson Community Food Pantry.
            Their efforts had an additional benefit: as one of the first 100 participants to meet the “Feed the Northeast” goal of the Thrivent Northeast Member Network, St. Stephen was rewarded with a $500 donation from Thrivent to the food pantry. Frank Dutt of Hudson was the team leader who spearheaded the church project.
            Thrivent is a not-for-profit financial services organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Appleton, Wisconsin, and founded by Lutherans. Thrivent clients are part of regional member networks that sponsor generosity programs, financial workshops and social events. HCFP is a non-profit organization serving residents of Hudson, Berlin, and Bolton who struggle with food insecurity. 
            For more information about St. Stephen Lutheran Church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com  or the church’s Facebook page. Saint Stephen is a member of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org) . The church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, inviting people of every gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, marital status, or class. Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Stow, and Bolton.

​There could be an increase of new local voters at the polls, thanks to an initiative of the Marlborough-based Micah Center for Social Justice. To encourage more people to cast a ballot, the Center sponsored a campaign to send hand-written letters to area people eligible to vote. Penning their notes at home or at a recent gathering at the home of Jan and Beth Conlin, volunteers generated an impressive 205 missives. 
       Each letter had a personalized note from the writer indicating why they believed it was important to vote. The reasons were as varied as the baker’s dozen of volunteers.  Deb Roberts, Micah Center chair, recalls these statements: “Voting is powerful;” “Everyone is important and we must vote to share our vision of the country;” “My vote is a way to create a better future for all of us, with good jobs, good healthcare, and safe communities;” and “I feel that it's extra important to speak up, particularly when our country is faced with challenges.”
       In addition to Deb Roberts, Jan and Beth Conlin, letter writers included Bev Broz, Marlea Dutt, Beth Garner, Peg Harbert, Judy Kellogg, Pam Narahara, Anita Phelan, Jim and Joni Schalkhauser, and Melanie Whapham. 

On Sunday, November 13, there will be music and more at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 537 Bolton Street, Marlboro as the inaugural “Performance at St. Stephen” takes place with a concert by Pastor Ed and Ruth Voosen.  The presenters predict a “casual and relaxing” afternoon for the whole family, offering mostly familiar folk songs, show tunes, country favorites, and possibly a sing-along to engage the audience.
     Some of the audience will undoubtedly be engaged by the pre concert activity — the afternoon program begins at 3 pm with an Ice Cream Buffet.
    The Voosens bring not only their voices — he is a baritone and she is a soprano — but also a variety of instruments, from flute to banjo to traditional guitar to a 12-string guitar, as well as interesting history. 
    There is no fee for the concert, but donations are welcome.  A free will offering will be taken to help fund St. Stephen teens who will attend the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans.
    This versatile couple has been making beautiful music together for decades. Ed and Ruth  met at Wagner College, each coming in with a love of music, and married two years later. 
— As a member of the band, The Capitals, as a teen, Ed appeared twice on TV on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour.
— Ruth played the flute in bands and orchestras including All State Band, and sang first soprano in the Wagner College Choir.
— Ed founded and directed the Pinecrest Folk Choir, which recorded two albums and toured the eastern US.  Ruth sang in the choir.
— Together, they have gone on more than 100 cruises, with Pastor Ed as the Protestant chaplain. During those trips, Ruth enjoys playing hymns on flute with Ed on guitar. In addition to cruises, the Voosens have organized and led trips to Israel, Scandinavia, and Germany.
    Ed Voosen was educated at Princeton University and the New York Theological Seminary. Ordained by the Lutheran Church, he served congregations in Brooklyn, NY and Auburn, MA, and retired in 2010. Ruth earned a BS in nursing at Wagner College and is a registered nurse. She has worked in a psychiatric unit in Brooklyn, has been a college health nurse at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and served as a nursery school teacher. The Voosens have three children and seven grandchildren.
    For more information about St. Stephen Lutheran Church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com  or the church’s Facebook page. Saint Stephen is a member of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org) . The church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, inviting people of every gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, marital status, or class. Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Stow, and Bolton
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Sunday School for all ages – from pre-school through adult – will begin this Sunday, October 9 at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 537 Bolton St., Marlborough, MA. While the youngest disciples, pre-school through grade 1, will meet during the 10 am church service, other ages will begin their programs at 9 am.
    Using the “Echo the Story” curriculum from Sparkhouse, students in grades 2 and up will go on a Biblical narrative journey using a collection of learning styles, with a six part sequence that includes videos, listening skills, hearing a story read, using sketch journals to capture interesting aspects of the story, retelling the story, and sharing observations with the group. Arts and crafts will also be incorporated, with the creation of a banner, environmental photography, painting and sculpture all on the program. Melanie Whapham will lead the group.
    Adults will meet with Pastor Greg Mileski, also in the 9-9:45 time slot, for a discussion of the week’s lectionary readings, with a comparative study of religions and a book study also on the agenda.
    The youngest students, pre-school through grade 1, will come to the 10 am church service, then leave before the sermon to hear Bible stories, engage in a related craft and play, and return in time for communion. Heidi Richard, Dianne Bruno, and Stephanie and Lily Ruggiere will interact with this group.
    There is no registration requirement, and all are welcome to engage in this Christian Education program.
    For more information about St. Stephen Lutheran Church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com  or the church’s Facebook page. Saint Stephen is a member of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (www.elca.org) . The church is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, inviting people of every gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, marital status, or class. Parishioners come from Marlborough, Hudson, Berlin, Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Stow, and Bolton