Welcome to St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish Blog for Sunday, 29 November, 2015.   

Hope you can make it to the Prayer Breakfast this Saturday, 28 November at 9:00 am. 

 Afterwards, you could stop in to pick up some

Christmas goodies at the Lordly House Heritage Christmas Sale.

 

+ + +    + + +    + + + + +    + + +    + + +

 

WORSHIP THIS WEEK

Sunday, 29 November

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 

Jeremiah 33: 14-16; Psalm 25: 1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13;

Luke 21: 25-36

 

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

St. George’s, East River      9:00 am            Morning Prayers 

           St. Stephen’s, Chester        11:00 am           Advent Lessons & Carols

All Saints’, Canaan             4:30 pm             Holy Communion

 

+ + +    + + +    + + + + +    + + +    + + +

 

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer

Please pray this week for the Parish of Amherst and the Parish of Parrsboro with Port Grenville

 

Prayer for Refugees

It was decided at Regional Council that every Tuesday between 12:00 and 12:05 pm,

a moment will be taken to pray for the refugees of the world. 

We hope you will join us in prayer at that time

 

+ + +    + + +    + + + + +    + + +    + + + 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

FOOD BANK - We are requesting the following types of food donations for the upcoming weeks before Christmas: Nov 29 - Gluten Free and Diabetic items.  Dec 6 - Canned goods.  Dec 13 - Crackers, Cookies and Candy.

There will be an orange bin in the Church entryway for dropping off Personal Care bags for the Food Bank.

CHRISTMAS 2015 PLUM PUDDING SALE - Available now at the Parish Centre!   Small - $9 Large - $18

RALLY FOR A NOT SO HOT WORLD - Sunday, 29 Nov, 1:00 pm in Chester Parade Square gathering to protest for climate change.

BLOOD DONOR CLINIC - Monday, 30 Nov 1:00-3:00 and 5:00-8:00 pm at Chester Royal Canadian Legion. 1-888-236-6283 for appointments.

MISSION TO SEAFARERS ANNUAL SHOEBOX CAMPAIGN - Last chance to bring a shoebox!  Please do not wrap the boxes as they must all be checked prior to delivery.  Please bring filled boxes to the Parish Office by 3 December.

ST. GEORGE’S LOBSTER SUPPER OR TURKEY SALAD PLATE & BOTTLE DRIVE - at 4:00 - 6:30 pm, Sunday, 13 Dec at the East River Union Hall.  (Lobster $15 – Turkey $8)Dine in, take out, deliveries (within 10km).  Supper tickets to be PRE-ORDERED by 12 Dec.  For tickets or information call: Sheila Hirtle at 902-275-5720, Vicky Young 902-275-4219, Eugene/Grace Cooke 902-857-3585 or at Double Take Hair Salon (6 Pig Loop Road), Chester 902-275-5966

 

+ + +    + + +    + + + + +    + + +    + + +

THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

 

MUSICAL FRIENDS - (Vintage Voices, Band, Tuneful Tots, etc) on Mon, 30 Nov, from 1:00 - 4:30 pm

BIBLE TALK -  on Wed, 2 Dec, from 10:30 - 12:00 pm in the Tyler Grant Room.  All Welcome!

CHOIR PRACTICE - Thurs, 3 Dec, 7:00 pm in Tuck Hall 

                            

                            

+ + +    + + +    + + + + +    + + +    + + +    

 

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY

6 December, 2015

The Second Sunday of Advent

 

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

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

4:00 pm          St. George’s, Union Hall         -   Messy Church -       

                                                                               The Real Saint Nick 

                                   

Readings: Baruch 5: 1-9; Luke 1 :68-79 (Canticle 19); Philippians 1: 3-11;

Luke 3: 1-6

 

+ + +    + + +    + + + + +    + + +    + + +

 

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.

 

+ + +    + + +    + + + + +    + + +    + + +

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In solidarity with the world gathering to address climate change, please pray for God’s world and the awakening of all of God’s

 people to the need to find ways to halt the destruction of this fragile island home we live in.

 

“I brought you into a fertile land to enjoy its fruits and every good thing in it.  But when you entered my land you defiled it and made loathsome the home I gave you/”

 

“When the last tree has been felled and when the last river has been seized, only then will we realise that we cannot eat money.”  (Attributed to Chief Seattle.)

 

+ + +    + + +    + + + + +    + + +    + + +