Friday, 1 April 2016

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Welcome to St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish Blog for
Sunday, 3 April, 2016
HOLY HUMOUR SUNDAY
 
There’s a lot of fun planned for this Sunday – we hope
you will join us.
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WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Sunday, 3 April 2016
HOLY HUMOUR SUNDAY
The Second Sunday of Easter

 8:00 am            St. Stephen’s, Chester               Holy Communion       
 11:00 am          St. Stephen’s, Chester               Parish Family Worship
                                                           
Readings: Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 150; Revelations 1:4-8;
John  20: 19-31

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ANNOUNCEMENTS
PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS: Due to vacations and illness, we did not have a quorum
for the 21 March council meeting. There are several items that require decisions
that cannot wait unit the 18 April meeting. Council will therefore have a brief
council meeting in the Parish Centre following the 11:00 am service on 3 April 2016.

REGIONAL COUNCIL: is hosting a workshop focusing on Finances, Parish Governance
and Vital Church on Sat, 9 April 2016 at 9:30-3:00 pm
in St. John’s Church Hall, Lunenburg.  All council members and other interested
parishioners are encouraged to participate.  Lunch provided for $10 each.

SOUTH SHORE ULTREYA: 7:00 pm on Tues, 5 Apr at Holy Trinity Church, Bridgewater. 
If interested in car pooling, call 902-275-3143
.
FOOD BANK:  Fruit juices are always needed.

SHOREHAM VILLAGE – register for Volunteer Orientation by 25 April for
27 April class. Call 902-275-5631 ext 233 for more information.


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THIS WEEK IN THE PARISH

MUSICAL FRIENDS  -  (Vintage Voices, Band, Tuneful Tots) on Mon, 4 April, from 1:00 - 4:30 pm – (Drumming Circle)

BIBLE TALK - on Wed, 6 April, from 10:30 - 12:00 pm in the Tyler Grant Room.  All Welcome!

CHOIR PRACTICE - on Thurs, 7 April, 7:30 pm in Tuck Hall.

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WORSHIP NEXT WEEK
Sunday, 10 April 2016
The Third Sunday of Easter

  8:00 am        St. Stephen’s, Chester              Holy Communion   
           9:15 am        St. George’s, East River            Holy Eucharist   (BCP)  
  11:00 am         St. Stephen’s, Chester              Morning Prayer       
        
Readings: Acts 9: 1-6, (7-20); Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14;
John 21: 1-19

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“The assumption that a sense of humor and a Christian faith are incompatible is totally mistaken. 
In point of fact, the writers of the great classics of humor – Rabelais, Cervantes, Swift –
have all been deeply religious.  Even comedians, like Bob Hope, tend to
be believers rather than skeptics or cynics…  Laughter is, indeed, God’s therapy. 
Let us then be thankful that, when the Gates of Heaven swing open,
mixed with the celestial music there is the unmistakable sound of celestial laugher.”
Malcolm Muggeridge

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Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. 
Never forget that the devil fell by force of gravity. 
He who has the faith has the fun.”  - G.K. Chesterton
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Origin of Holy Humour Sunday
The tradition is that Holy Humour Sunday originated in the Eastern Orthodox custom of telling
jokes on Easter Monday to celebrate the great joke that God had played on the devil:  Jesus
died  on the cross, but was not dead.  He livesIn time the practice spread to Europe. 
The earliest known reference is in a hymn refrain by Peter Abelard (1079-1142):
           
            Grant us, Lord, so to suffer with you
            That we may become  sharers in your glory,
            To spend these three days in grief
            That you may allow us the laugh of Easter Grace
.
The custom was common, especially in Germany in the 15th century, and was
continued through the Protestant Reformation.   Pope Clement X banned the
celebration in the 17th century in Roman Catholic churches.  The custom has
become increasingly celebrated by many denominations on “low” Sunday,
the Sunday after Easter.
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