Welcome to St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish Blog for Sunday, 27 September, 2015.   It’s official, our ‘Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness’ has begun.  Enjoy the magnificence of the Fall.  

There is lots of information to impart this week – enjoy!

 

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WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY

27 September, 2015

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

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

     9:00 am       St. George’s, East River       -  Prayer & Praise

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

                  7:00 pm        All Saints’, Canaan               -  Holy Communion          

                    

   Readings: Esther 7 : 1-6, 9-10, 9: 20-22; Psalm 124;

James 5:13 - 20;  Mark 9: 38-50

 

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REFUGEE FAMILY SUPPORT:  UPDATE

 

Where are we so far?

• A committee of church and area group/organizations representatives has been formed to lead the way in supporting up to two refugee families moving to our area.
• There is no guarantee where the families will come from.
• Cost of supporting a family for the first year is cost shared with the federal government.
• Our area share of the cost will vary depending on the size of the family/families but the average required is between $16,000.00 and $20,000.00 for the first year. Some of the cost can be “in kind”.
• Much more support is required in volunteer assistance once the family arrives.
• The Committee has set Easter 2016 as a goal to have a family or families here and funds raised.
• The fund raising goal (including “In kind”) is $40,000.00

What is Next?

There will be a meeting following each of the services in the Parish on Sunday, 11 October,  2015 to determine:

• Will our Parish support the initiative?
• What will our support commitment goal be? (financial commitment)
•  
• Please contact Robert at rcmkam@eastlink.ca or 902-220-7140 with specific questions before 10 October.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

BENEFIT FOR MUSICAL FRIENDS - CONGRATULATIONS!  Rave reviews were flowing around social media for the benefit held at St. Stephen’s Church on Monday, 21 Sept.  Hopefully we will all have another chance to attend one of these amazing spectacles once the good folk who set it up have recovered from all the work.  Thanks for a job well done - stars, starlets and facilitators!

 

HEALING SERVICE – to take place on Wednesday, 14 October, 7:00 pm at St. Stephen’s Church, Chester.  More information to follow in next bulletin, blog and E-News

 

PARENTS SUPPORTING PARENTS - The Canadian  Mothers’ Union is helping to promote a parenting program called ‘Parents Supporting Parents’ (http://canadianmothersunion.ca/parenting_program.html). Anyone  interested in seeing this program running in this area may want to consider taking the facilitators course to be held in October in the St. Margaret’s Bay area.  The 4-day course will take place the weekend of 16-19 Oct.  The cost of the course is $50.  Snacks, lunches, and dinners will be provided for the 4 days and the organisation will try to supply billeting if required. 

 

DINNER THEATRE - “On The Air” - Saturday, 24 October at the Little Red School in Canaan.  Doors open at 5:00 pm, show starts at 6:00 pm.  Dinner served will be salad, roast beef and dessert.  Tickets $25.00.  To book tickets, please contact Maxine at 902-275-3496 or 902-275-3777.  Proceeds to three local churches.  Book soon - tickets go quickly!

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 THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

 

BIBLE TALK - Wed, 30 Sept, 10:30 am, in Tyler Grant Room.  All welcome!

CHOIR PRACTICE - Thurs, 1 Oct, 7:00 pm in Tuck Hall.

                                   

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WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY

4 October, 2015

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

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

               11:00 am        St. Stephen’s, Chester         -   Parish Family Worship

                   4:00 pm        St. Stephen’s, Chester          -   Blessing of the Animals

                    

    Readings: Job 1:1, 2:1-10; Psalm 26; Hebrews 1: 1-4, 2:5-12;

Mark 10: 2-16

 

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STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS

     

    What a heavy burden for a faithful steward to bear! It frightens me to think of how easily I might cause someone to sin.

 (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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