Welcome to St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish Blog
for Sunday, 22 Sunday, 2017
‘Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice’
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
(Let’s be brave!)
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WORSHIP
NEXT WEEK
Sunday,
22 January, 2017
8:00
am St. Stephen’s, Chester Holy Communion
9:15
am
St. George’s, East River Holy
Eucharist
11:00 am St. Stephen’s, Chester Holy Eucharist
Readings: Isaiah 9: 14; Psalm 27:1,
5-13;
Corinthians 1: 10-18;
Matthew 4: 12-23
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THIS WEEK IN THE
PARISH
MUSICAL FRIENDS
Mon, 23 Jan 2017
Vintage Voices
1:00 pm
Choir 2:00 pm
Band 3:00 pm
(Program Full)
Tuneful Tots 4:00
pm
BIBLE TALK
Wed, 25 Jan
from 1:00 - 2:00 pm
in the Tyler Grant Room.
All Welcome!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOUND
A ring was found in St. Stephen’s Church.
If you
have lost a ring recently, please contact the Parish
Office.
BLOOD
DONOR CLINIC
next clinic being held at the Royal Canadian
Legion Chester
Mon, 23 Jan 4:30-8:30 pm.
Call 1-888-2-DONATE
COMMITTEE REPORTS
All committee reports must be delivered for
inclusion
in the Annual Report by Wednesday, 25
January.
If you are unable to send the report via email,
the reports can be dropped off at the Parish
Office.
SHOREHAM STORE
Looking for
volunteers to help run
a little Tuck
shop at Shoreham Village .
Hours not set
but possibly 2-4 pm
Please contact Linda Bell
092-275-5631
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WORSHIP
NEXT WEEK
Sunday,
29 January, 2017
8:00 am St. Stephen’s, Chester Holy Communion
9:15
am
St. George’s, East River Parish
Family Service
Readings: Micah 6: 1-8; Psalm 15; Corinthians 1: 18-31;
Matthew 5: 1-
12
********************
Notes from
Epiphany Parish Day
St. Stephen's
Parish Centre
14 January 2017
On Saturday
afternoon, we gathered as members of St. Stephen's to undertake some discernment
about possible ministries we could undertake in the near future, given the
assets that we have as a parish community. Those present were asked the
following questions, and their responses are recorded below.
1. WHAT DO WE DO
WELL?
- We greet people as friends
- We are intentional about participating in
inter-congregational worship in the parish.
- We recognize the different needs of different
congregations.
- We have excellent outreach (Musical Friends,
PWRDF), and individual members are generous in giving to particular
outreach projects
(Mission to Seafarers shoe boxes, etc.).
- Our administrative support provided by Cindy
Bradette is outstanding, and is very helpful in welcoming and
orienting people in
the parish
- Supportive and capable Lay
Readers.
- The provision of the Parish Centre to the
community is a valuable form of outreach. Functions that we hold in it
are done well and
are well regarded in the larger community.
- Readiness of
volunteers to help.
- Visitation to
sick is done well by the clergy.
- Our Altar
Guild is very attentive and diligent.
- Parish members
support and keep track of one another.
- Very good
upkeep of the properties.
- There is
immense ambition and desire to continue and grow the traditions, culture, and ministries of
the church.
2. WHAT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THE
PAST?
- Dinners
- Dinner
Theatre
- Lenten
Lunches
- Fish &
Chips Dinner
- ALPHA
- Funeral
Receptions
- Plum
Puddings
- Quiet Days
& Workshops
- Bringing the
community in and making them feel at home at St.
Stephen's.
- Ecumenical
vents
- Birthday
observances
- Post-worship
coffee
- Summer
BBQ
- Rotating the
Parish Service
- Rotating venue
for Parish Councils
- “Messy
Church”
3. WHAT HAS BEEN
THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE OF ST. STEPHEN’S PARISH?
- Being a Warden
& a Parish Administrator
- Participating
in spiritual development, formation, and educational ministries
- Being included
in ministry with respect
- Witnessing and
facilitating responsiveness of parishioners to needs within the
parish
- Choir
- Getting to
know and work with the people
- Being welcomed
and having family welcomed
- Having the
opportunity to go to other communities within the parish
- Acceptance of
the ministry of Lay Readers in all three churches in the parish
- Having had family in parish Sunday School and
other Christian formation
- Seeing the
responsiveness of “inactive” or “marginal” members
of the parish
to expressed need in the parish (donating items to the Christmas Bazaar,
etc.)
4. WHAT DO PEOPLE
REALLY TURN OUT FOR AND WHY?
- Food, because
of fellowship. As well, the preparation of food provides the opportunity for
fellowship. Also,
food and the fellowship it provides are inclusive.
- Kids – People
like to see them. The Creche Service on Christmas Eve is accessible and easy to
understand.
- The Parish
Centre brings people together.
- Events held
regularly in the parish become tradition, which people come out for and
support.
- Prayer
services, non-Eucharistic with entire text of services in bulletin.
- Music – easily
understandable and uplifting. It is a major cultural tradition in the broader
community.
- Worship – It
is a constant that brings comfort and counsel in adversity. Ordained ministry and
sacramental worship are of particular importance. Worship helps us search out
holiness, mystery,
learning, and provides acknowledgement of belief.
5. WHAT ARE
THREE THINGS WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IN THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE?
A) Make
ourselves more visible in the wider community by providing support and help to broader
comunity events (such as the “bonspiel”, “Cut and Run”, “Run for the Cure”,
etc.)
B) Pot-luck
suppers with prayer and fellowship & Coffee
either before or after worship/offer breakfast between
worship services.
C) Small
Groups/Book Club
D) First
Communion Classes for young people in our community. Sunday School for
Canaan?
E) Provide space
in Parish Centre for young people to accomplish homework with provision of
wi-fi.
(Okay – so it ended up being five
things!)
We hope that this accounting of the day is encouraging
and inspiring to you! Watch for further developments. Also, please feel free to
speak with the Rector and Wardens if you have further thoughts on anything you
have read here, and things you feel we can accomplish!
Parishioners
wishing to speak to Fr. Ian are invited to call him on his cell phone
(902.275.8627) to ensure direct contact and a timely response.
