Monday 5th December 2022

I hope you are well.
 
Next Sunday (11th), as well as our usual morning services at 9am and 10.30am we have our annual Carol Service at 6pm.  This is a great opportunity to extend an invitation to family members, friends, neighbours and work colleagues who wouldn’t normally come to a church service.  As well as our choir and brass ensemble we will have a special solo and lots of familiar carols for us all to sing.  After two years of restrictions this will be our first ‘normal’ Carol Service since 2019 and will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies, so do come and invite others to join you.
 
Before then on Tuesday at 8pm we have our monthly Prayer Gathering.  Please join me for an hour to pray for the life of St Stephen’s, especially as we approach this important Christmas season.
 
On Saturday, The Grove Community have their Winter Wonderland event.  Mark & Laura Tate and their team would be glad of offers of help but even if you can just call in and attend your support would be appreciated - details (mark@gurnellgrove.com).
 
A number of people have asked about the church heating (or perhaps lack of it!).  It is now switched on and in fact was on all night in order to heat the church for Sunday.  Of course, the Church is a big space to heat up and we also battle with a lack of insulation both in the roof and the glazing.  It should, however, be a more effective than it seems to be at the moment so we have asked our heating engineer to come out in the coming days to check the system.
 
Last month a number of us made fresh financial commitments for 2023.  If like me you were one of those, now is the time for us to update our standing order to ensure that the correct amount goes to St Stephen’s in January.  Thank you.
 
Have a good week.

Steve