Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Yesterday, our congregation celebrated All Saints’ Sunday together with the whole Christian church. As one congregation in Sutherland Springs, Texas gathered, a gunman entered their place of worship and murdered twenty-six people, including many children.
This was a tragedy in the proper sense of the word. A flaw in the psyche of one man, a troubled sense of self and the barbaric desire to kill, led to senseless death. A flaw in our common culture, the sin of violence, led to senseless death. While this attack touches our community particularly because it occurred within a house of worship, this shooting is hardly the first we have weathered together as a nation.
Let us pray together for those who mourn in Texas. Let us pray for the whole Christian church and all who gather for worship, that they may do so in safety.  Let us pray for our nation, that peace may reign within its borders. Let us pray, but also let us act.
The risen Christ greeted the disciples with words of peace. Worship is at the heart of what we do together, and more than ever it is an act of peaceful resistance to a violent society. Engagement in our civic life enables us to find peaceful solutions to disputes and problems. Tomorrow is an election day. For information on your representatives and how to vote, please follow this link. 
The Psalmist writes, “Behold the one who makes war to cease in all the world; who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.” Together, let us do God’s work of peacemaking as we pray ever more loudly, “Thy kingdom come.”
Join us this Wednesday at 6:30 PM for a service of healing and prayer in place of our Word-Up service.
Yours in Christ,
​Pastor Joseph Graumann

    Fall and winter holidays are just a few weeks away. For some area families, gift-giving occasions are stressful because they compete for the same dollars needed to buy clothing or food.  The people of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 537 Bolton St. (Route 85), Marlborough would like to help by offering a Clothing Giveaway on Saturday, November 18 from 10 am to 1:00 pm. All items are FREE.

    There will be a selection of gently used clothing for men, women, babies, and children, as well as accessories such as hats, gloves, scarves, shoes, boots, and belts – all at no cost. Those who come can bring their own bag, or take a bag provided and fill it with whatever they can use. 
    This is the fourth year St. Stephen parishioners have hosted spring and fall giveaways, and decided they and their friends still have more to give, with this the 9th Giveaway. With the Bible verse from Luke in mind, in which John urges those with two coats to give one away, parishioners are looking through their closets for extra coats to share. Last year, they gave away 50 coats.
     Shoppers also can expect to find seasonal sweaters, tops, pants, pajamas, skirts, dresses, and tee-shirts in all adult sizes, as well as children’s clothing. Most items will be gently used, but some will be almost new and could be gifts for others.
    Tight budgets often don’t leave anything for fun purchases, so the planning committee is making sure there will be costume jewelry, purses, and scarves, so shoppers can pick up a treat for themselves as well.
    For more information about Saint Stephen Lutheran Church, visit www.saintstephenlutheran.com or the church’s Facebook page. 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, Stow, Sudbury, and Bolton. Worship takes place on Sunday at 9:30 am, and Wednesday at 6:30 pm.