Friday 4 December 2015

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Welcome to St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish Blog for Sunday, 6 December 2015. 

We hope you will join us for Messy Church this Sunday at 4:00 pm in the East River Union Hall.
The theme is The Real Saint Nick – friends, fun and food what could be better!
 
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Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
Please pray this week for the Parish of Springhill with Joggins
and the Parish of Lantz
 
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WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
6 December, 2015
The Second Sunday of Advent
 
  8:00 am      St. Stephen’s, Chester      -   Holy Communion      
  11:00 am      St. Stephen’s, Chester       -  Holy Eucharist           
                              4:00 pm         St. George’s, Union Hall     -   Messy Church - The Real Saint Nick  
                                   
    Readings: Malachi 3: 1-4; Luke 1: 68-79 (Canticle 19); Philippians 1: 3-11;
Luke 3: 1-6
 
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
FOOD BANK - We are requesting the following types of food donations for the upcoming weeks before Christmas:
Dec 6 - Canned goods. 
Dec 13 - Crackers, Cookies and Candy.
We are still taking donations of Personal Care bags to pass on to the Food Bank.

CHRISTMAS 2015 PLUM PUDDING SALE – Please pick up all ordered plum puddings.  Some are still available for purchasing.   Small - $9 Large - $18

ST. GEORGE’S LOBSTER SUPPER OR TURKEY SALAD PLATE & BOTTLE DRIVE - at 4:00 - 6:30 pm, Sunday, 13 Dec at the East River Union Hall.
$15 (Lobster) $9 (Turkey)  Dine in, take out, deliveries (within 10km). 
Supper tickets to be PRE-ORDERED by 12 Dec. 
For tickets or information call: Sheila Hirtle at 902-275-5720, Vicky Young 902-275-4219,
Eugene/Grace Cooke 902-857-3585 or at Double Take Hair Salon (6 Pig Loop Road), Chester 902-275-5966.

SOUTH SHORE CHORALE: at 4:00 pm on Sunday, 20 December in St. Stephen’s Church.                
  
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THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH
 
MUSICAL FRIENDS - (Vintage Voices, Band, Tuneful Tots, etc) on Mon, 7 Dec, from 1:00 - 4:30 pm
BIBLE TALK -  on Wed, 9 Dec, from 10:30 - 12:00 pm in the Tyler Grant Room.  All Welcome!
CHOIR PRACTICE - Thurs, 10 Dec, 7:00 pm in Tuck Hall.
 
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WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY
13 December, 2015
The Third Sunday of Advent
 
           8:00 am      St. Stephen’s, Chester      -   Holy Communion      
  9:00 am      St. George’s, East River   -   Holy Eucharist
11:00 am      St. Stephen’s, Chester      -   Holy Eucharist
                                    
    Readings: Zephaniah 3: 14-20; Isaiah 12: 2-6 (Canticle 3);
Philippians 4: 4-7; Luke 3: 7-18
 
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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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PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT ON TUESDAYS
 
It was decided at Regional Council that every Tuesday between 12:00 and 12:05 pm, a moment will be taken to pray for the refugees of the world.  We hope you will join us in prayer at that time
 
A PRAYER FOR REFUGEES
 
Grant safe passage, Lord, to those fleeing conflict, warfare and persecution, and for whom the perils of an overcrowded boat in dangerous waters is a risk worth taking compared to the life they have left behind.  Bring peace, Lord, where there is conflict, sow love where there is hate, and begin within our hearts, that the love we display might make a difference in this increasingly fragile world.  Through Jesus Christ alone, the Prince of Peace, we pray.  Amen.
 
(John Birch, faithandworship.com)
 
 
 
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