ST STEPHEN’S ANGLICAN PARISH

 

WORSHIP THIS COMING SUNDAY,  29 March, 2015   – Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday)

 

8:00 am St Stephen’s, Chester – Holy Communion (BCP)

9:00 am St George’s, East River – Holy Communion (BAS)

11:00 am St. Stephen’s, Chester – Holy Eucharist (BAS Family)

 

Readings:  Liturgy of the Palms: Mark 11: 1-11, Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29, Liturgy of the Passion, Isaiah 50: 4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2: 5-11’ Mark 15: 1-39 (short version)

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

LENTEN TIME OF REFLECTION  – To be held in Tuck Hall, St. Stephen’s Church, Chester from 9:00-12:00 noon, Wednesday, April 1.  Bible Talk will resume Wed, April 8.

SEDER  SUPPER– To be held at St. John’s Anglican Church Hall, 64 Townsend Street, Lunenburg on Tuesday, 31 March at 6:00pm (Chicken or Lamb Stew). In remembrance of the meal Jesus shared with his disciples and the story of our Salvation with our Jewish brothers and sisters.  If you plan to attend, please call 902-634-4994 or email stjohnslunenburg@bellaliant.com  to help with planning  for the supper. There is no charge for the meal - free offerings will be accepted at the door for PWRDF (Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund).

 

 

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

 

MUSICAL FRIENDS - Mon, March 30, 2:00-4:30 p.m., Tuck Hall

ST. STEPHEN’S CHOIR - Tues., March 31, 7:00 p.m., Tuck Hall

HOLY WEEK TIME OF REFLECTION- Wed, April 1, 9:00-12:00 noon, Tuck Hall

EUCHARIST AND STRIPPING OF THE ALTAR - Maundy Thursday, April 2, 7:30 pm, St. Stephen’s Church

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S PASSION - Good Friday - April 3, 11:00 am, St. Stephen’s Church

EASTER VIGIL - Holy Saturday/Easter Eve-April 4, 7:00 pm   All Saints’ Church, Canaan.

 

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY

Easter - 5 April , 2015

 

8:00 am, St.Stephen’s, Holy Communion (BCP)

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

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

 

Readings: Acts 10:34-43; Psalms 118:1-2, 14-24 ;

1 Corinthians 15:1-11;  Mark 16:1-8

 

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS

 

Today’s gospel gives us a good chunk of THE STORY, which we call our story. How much of THE STORY is familiar to you? A faithful steward has more than a passing knowledge of it.  Mark 11:1-11 (Michael Polessel)

 

 

Diocesan Lenten Challenge 2015

Palm & Passion Sunday

 

 

From the Gospel …. “In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. “

 

It’s about the World = Holy Week.  This week is what it’s all about ... what’s your it’s? what’s your world? Is your life defined by the spirit of sacrifice and salvation for others?

 

       

Reflection Questions -  The truth is Jesus wasn’t out to save himself. He was doing this to save others – to save us, to save all of us. In this is our salvation. How would we act, and be if we lived out of this ‘same mind as Jesus’? If we stopped trying to ‘save ourselves and our church buildings’ – what would this look like?

ST. STEPHEN’S PARISH

Please note there is no 8:00 am service at St Stephen’s Church this Sunday

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY,  22 MARCH 2015

8:30 a.m.  St George’s, East River  - BCP Holy Communion

11:00 a.m.  St. Stephen’s, Chester – BAS (Contemporary) Holy Eucharist

4:30 p.m. All Saints’, Canaan – BAS (Contemporary) Holy Eucharist

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

LENTEN STUDY – A six-week Lenten Study titled “Journey to the Cross & Beyond” will be held each Wednesday in Lent at 10:30 - 11:45a.m., in the Tyler-Grant Room. The study was prepared by Bishop Terry Dance, Bishop of Norfolk, Diocese of Huron, and endorsed by the Joint Anglican–Lutheran Commission. It is designed for Canadian context, dealing with the kind of issues that we face today. Please bring your bible. Some bibles are available. Everyone welcome.

 

LENTEN LUNCHEONS – St. Stephen’s Parish will host Wednesday Lenten Luncheons in the Parish Centre 12:00 noon to 1:00p.m. Cost of lunch is $10. Proceeds to designated charities. The next one is Wednesday, March 25, weather  permitting.

 

PRAYER BREAKFAST – To be held on Saturday, 28 March from 9:00 – 10:00 am in St Stephen’s Parish Community Centre.  Light breakfast – free will offering.  All welcome.

 

SEDER  SUPPER– To be held at St. John's Anglican Church Hall, 64 Townsend Street, Lunenburg on Tuesday, 31 March at 6:00pm (Chicken or Lamb Stew). In remembrance of the meal Jesus shared with his disciples and the story of our Salvation with our Jewish brothers and sisters.  If you plan to attend, please call 902-634-4994 or email stjohnslunenburg@bellaliant.com  to help with planning  for the supper. There is no charge for the meal - free offerings will be accepted at the door for PWRDF (Primate's World Relief and Development Fund).

 

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING TIME: Members are asked to note that we will  be switching our regular meeting time to the 4th Monday of each month at the usual time of 7:00 pm.

 

 

 

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

 

MUSICAL FRIENDS -Mon., March 23, 2:00 p.m., Tuck Hall

ST. STEPHEN’S CHOIR - Tues.,  Mon. March 23, 7:00 p.m., Tuck Hall

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY –Wed., March 25, 10:30 a.m. Tyler-Grant Rm.

LENTEN LUNCHEON –Wed., March 25, 12:00 noon, Tuck Hall

 

 

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY

Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) - March 29, 2015

 

8:00 a.m., St. Stephen’s, Holy Communion (BCP)

9:00 am, St. George’s, Holy Eucharist (BAS Traditional)

11:00 a.m., St. Stephen’s, Holy Eucharist (BAS Traditional)

 

Readings: Liturgy of the Palms: Mark 11:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50:4-9A; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11;

Mark  15:1-39 (40-47) (short version)

 

 

 

SPECIAL HOLY WEEK AND EASTER WORSHIP AND EVENTS SCHEDULE 

Sunday of The Passion / Palm Sunday (March 29) - Family Worship (St. Stephen’s, 11am)

Wednesday in Holy Week (April 1) – Holy Week Day of Reflection (Tuck Hall, 9 am)

Maundy Thursday (April 2) - Eucharist & Stripping of the Altar (St. Stephen’s, 7:30pm)

Good Friday (April 3) - Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (St. Stephen’s, 11:00am)

Holy Saturday / Easter Eve (April 4) – Easter Vigil (All Saints’, Canaan, 7:00pm)

Easter Day (April 5) 

- Holy Communion (St. Stephen’s, 8:00am)

- Holy Eucharist (St. George’s, East River - 9:00am)

- Choral Eucharist (St. Stephen’s, Chester - 11:00am)

 

 

 

 

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS

 

Want God to honour you? “No problem,” says Jesus. The faithful steward will be found wherever Jesus is. Care to join him?

 

Diocesan Lenten Challenge 2015

Fifth Sunday of Lent

 

From the Gospel …. "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour. Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say - 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come …"

               

Reflection Questions:

 

Church = Lived embodiment and outworking of mission, evangelism and spirituality. How does what you are doing and how you're living as the church meet this definition?

 

Are you troubled about where you're parish is heading? Troubled for its future?      If God is calling us to this difficult hour' as He led Jesus to this, His 'hour of trial', how are you embracing this hour? Are coming to see and  know Jesus and His mission differently?

 

What percentage of your time and energy as a congregation is spent being the living embodiment of Jesus mission, evangelism and spirituality?

Please note that our worship times in the last post were off by a week. The corrected information is as follows:

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY, 

Lent 3, 8 MARCH 2015

 

8:00 am, St. Stephen’s, Holy Communion (BCP)

9:00 am, St. George’s, Holy Eucharist (BAS Contemporary)

11:00 a.m., St. Stephen’s, Holy Eucharist (BAS Contemporary)

 

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY

Lent 4, March 15, 2015

  8:00 a.m., St. Stephen’s, Holy Communion (BCP)

9:00 a.m, St. George’s, Prayer & Praise, non-Eucharistic

11:00 a.m., St. Stephen’s, Holy Eucharist (BAS Traditional)

Please note that there will be no Musical Friends group on Monday, 16 March, 2014 due to March Break.

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY, 8 MARCH 2015

8:00 am, St. Stephen’s, Holy Communion (BCP)

9:00 am, St. George’s, Prayer & Praise, non-Eucharistic

11:00 a.m., St. Stephen’s, Holy Eucharist (BAS Contemporary)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

TICK TOCK - CHANGE THE CLOCK
The clocks will be moving forward at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, 8 March, 2015

LENTEN STUDY –A six-week Lenten Study titled “Journey to the Cross & Beyond” will be held each Wednesday in Lent at 10:30 - 11:45a.m., in the Tyler-Grant Room. The study was prepared by Bishop Terry Dance, Bishop of Norfolk, Diocese of Huron, and endorsed by the Joint Anglican–Lutheran Commission. It is designed for Canadian context, dealing with the kind of issues that we face today. Please bring your bible. Some bibles are available. Everyone welcome.

LENTEN LUNCHEONS –St. Stephen’s Parish will host Wednesday Lenten Luncheons in the Parish Centre 12:00 noon to 1:00p.m. Cost of lunch is $10. Proceeds to designated charities. Following is a list of dates, including topics and speakers:

• March 11 –Senior’s Help Line - 211 –Allison Currie
• March 18 –Alzheimers and The Brain Bank - Barbara Mulrooney
• March 25 –New Ross Interpretative Centre –Lisa Wolfe

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

MUSICAL FRIENDS - Mon., March 9, 2:00 p.m., Tuck Hall

ST. STEPHEN’S CHOIR - Tues., March 10, 7:00 p.m., Tuck Hall

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY – Wed., March 11, 10:30 a.m. Tyler-Grant Rm.

LENTEN LUNCHEON – Wed., March 11, 12:00 noon, Tuck Hall

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY

Lent 4 - March 15, 2015 

8:30 am, St. George’s, Holy Communion (BCP)

11:00 am, St. Stephen’s, Holy Eucharist (BAS Contemporary)

11:00 a.m., St. Stephen’s, Holy Eucharist (BAS Contemporary)

Numbers 21:4-9; Psalms 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10;

John 3:14-21

  

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS

Jesus displays anger at the way in which people have used his "Father's house" for their own selfish ends.  How do we, as faithful stewards, respond, when we perceive injustice in our world?

John 2: 13-22

Diocesan Lenten Challenge 2015

Third Sunday of Lent

From the Gospel …"Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking of the temple of his body."

Reflection Questions: Evangelism = The intentional processes whereby people become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Is your congregation seeking new members or making disciples?

What in our 'churches and parishes' do we need to destroy in order to let God's temple be raised up again?

What does the new temple look like?  How do we allow this new temple to be what God needs it to be?