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?