Welcome to St. Stephen’s Parish E-News for Sunday, 26 July.   Should you no longer wish to receive this weekly message, please contact the the Parish Office by return e-mail.

Please note that our Parish Family Worship service will take place at All Saints’ church in Canaan next Sunday, 2 August.  It’s a beautiful drive to a service – we hope you will come out and join us there.

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 WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY

26 July, 2015 

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

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

9:00 am,    St George’s, Prayer and Praise

11:00 am,  St. Stephen’s, Holy Eucharist

7:00 pm,   All Saints’, Canaan, Holy Eucharist

 Readings: 2 Samuel 11:1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3 :14-21; 

John 6: 1-21

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

WELCOME FIRST RESPONDERS: We are so pleased to welcome our First Responders (police, firefighters and paramedics) who join us for worship at St. Stephen’s Church today.

 

CHESTER GARDEN CLUB ANNUAL FLOWER SHOW AND TEA: On Thursday, 30 July the annual flower show will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Chester.  Please encourage everyone - especially children - to participate.  Entries should be delivered by 10:30am.  Show and Tea at  2:00 pm

 

SHOREHAM VILLAGE - CAN YOU HELP ? With the nicer weather upon us Shoreham Village is seeking volunteers who would like to spend an hour a week with  residents in 1-1 raised gardening, walks or taking a little sunshine on the decks.  They are also seeking volunteers to go out with the recreation staff on bus drives and outings.  Anyone interested please contact Linda Bell at 902-275-5631 ext 235 or lbell@shorehamvillage.com, also Karen or Jamie at ext 233 or recreation@shorehamvillage.com.  This help is so needed and such a good way to not only  ‘fill your cup’ but someone else’s cup too. 

 

LIGHTHOUSE FOOD BANK - Breakfast items are always needed at the food bank should you wish to donate something specific.  Every donation is very gratefully received.

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THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

 

BIBLE TALK - Wed, July 29, 10:30 am, in Tyler Grant Room

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WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY

2 August, 2015

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

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

  11:00 am, All Saints’, Canaan - Parish Family Worship

   

Readings: 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a; Psalm 51:1-12; Ephesians 4 :1-16;

John 6: 24-35

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STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS

Jesus teaches his disciples an important stewardship lesson — perhaps THE most important of all: God’s abundant generosity will be found even when things seem extremely meager! (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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