Welcome to St. Stephen’s blog for Sunday, 23 August 2015.  

Attached please find a link to an interesting article from the UK which I found on the Reverend Marian Lucas-Jeffries Weekly E-News this week.  I hope you enjoy it too.  Some of the fundraising ideas mentioned were quite adventurous, to say the least.  http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2015/14-august/features/features/the-salt-and-the-sweetness 

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY

23 August, 2015

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

                                      8:00 a.m.  St. Stephen’s, Chester     -  Holy Communion

                                      9:00 a.m.  St. George’s, East River   -  Holy Eucharist

                                    11:00 a.m.  St. Stephen’s, Chester      -  Holy Eucharist

                                      7:00 p.m.  All Saints’, Canaan             -  Holy Eucharist and Baptism      

                                      

                                              Readings: 1 Kings 8:(1-6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84:

                                                            Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6: 56-69

 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PARISH COUNCIL - Please note that Parish Council will not meet again until September.  Meetings will take place on the third Monday of each month.  The meeting in September will be held in East River.

 

SCANS FALL COURSES - An information and registration session will take place on Thursday, 10 Sept at 4:00p.m. in Tuck Hall.  The two courses being offered for the Fall session in Chester are Economists Debate Capitalism Through History (Daphna Levit - 7 weeks) and Development of the Atlantic Provinces (Alan Wilson - 10 weeks). Membership is $135 plus HST ($155.25) per year which entitles you to attend any number of courses in any SCANS Chapter, subject to class size, at no additional cost, during the Winter, Spring and Fall terms. More information can be found on the internet at www.theSCANS.ca

 

 LIGHTHOUSE FOOD BANK - Please know that every donation is very gratefully received.

 

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THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

 

BIBLE TALK - Wed, 26 August, 10:30 am, in Tyler Grant Room

PRAYER BREAKFAST - Sat, 29 August, 9:30am, in Tuck Hall.  All welcome.

RETIREMENT - Reverend Gordon will be holding his last official parish services on Sunday, 30 August. 

 

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WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY

30 August, 2015

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

(Reverend Gordon’s last services before retiring)

 

                                            8:00 a.m.   St. Stephen’s, Chester     -  Holy Communion

                                            9:00 a.m.   St. George’s, East River   -  Prayer & Praise

                                          11:00 a.m.   St. Stephen’s, Chester      - Holy Eucharist

                                                                                 

                                  Readings: Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Ps 45:1-2, 7-10; James 1:17-27;

                                                                    Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

 

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STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS

 

        “This teaching is too offensive” we  read in today’s gospel. A faithful steward knows that there will be times when things might seem offensive and still “hangs in there.”(Michael Pollesel)

 

 

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PARISH TRANSITION PRAYER

    O Faithful God, as your people, we cherish our memories and our history as a sacred gift. We ask you to guide us in our time of transition. Bless and direct the parochial committee as it carries out the work of finding a new rector, that through your Holy Spirit they may make wise decisions on behalf of the parish. Lead all parishioners in Your wisdom, that we might be receptive to change and growth. Give us Your grace to redirect our hearts that we may be willing to offer ourselves in joyful service. Do not allow fear, ignorance or pride to limit the work of your Spirit, nor allow tradition to prevent the creativity within us from bearing fruit. Open our hearts to the call of the Gospel. Give us courage and renewed hope, that we may meet the challenge of being the church of our time. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

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