Bishop Lusa’s Pilgrimage
The Bishop is undertaking a pilgrimage across he Willesden Episcopal Area by walking from one church to another and praying in each church building.  On Saturday 7th January he will arrive at St Stephen’s at about 1pm.  You are invited to join him for tea/coffee and a time of informal prayer.  He would also welcome us to join in the walk (he will be coming to us from St Mary’s Hanwell leaving there at 1.20pm, and going from St Stephen’s at 1.25pm to St Peter’s Ealing. 
 
Holly and Ivy
Sally Lamond will soon be decorating the Church for Christmas. If you have any holly or long lengths of real ivy could you please bring them into Church for her early on Friday 9th December. 
 
Christmas Services
Sunday 11th December - 6:00pm Carol Service
Christmas Eve - 4:30pm Carols, Christingles and Nativity (Children are encouraged to come dressed as a Nativity character).
                            11:00pm Midnight Communion
Christmas Day - 10:30am Christmas Day Celebration

Please note that there are no mid-week services either in Church on on Zoom between Christmas and New Year.
 
Christmas Appeals
This year we will be collecting for Tearfund and Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter. You can make donations here or in person at Church.
 
Winter Wonderland
The Grove Community, have their annual Winter Wonderland event on Saturday 10th December, 4:30 - 7:30 pm. There will be a Christmas market, food and drink stalls, craft, a raffle and donkey rides! Hundreds of local residents from the community come out to enjoy the event. The team are still looking for volunteers to help set up, pack down, steward and run stalls. Might you be able to help? For more information contact Mark Tate mark@gurnellgrove.com 
 
Carols for ECWNS
We are invited to join others in singing carols to raise funds for Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter: 
 
Date:     Wednesday 14 December 
Time:     4.45pm for a 5pm start 
End:       6.30pm 
Where:   Waitrose, West Ealing 
 
Please confirm if you are coming, by contacting Yvonne Fletcher from ECWNS on 07930 378 263 or office@ecwns.org.uk 
 
Advent Books
Having an Advent Book – usually with a Bible reading and reflection for each day – is an excellent way of preparing for Christmas. It helps us, amid all the busyness of the season, to focus on the celebration of the coming of our Saviour Jesus into our world. There are a range of new publications out now with a wide range of subject and content. A book recommended for its simplicity and clarity is Sally Welch’s ‘Sharing the Christmas Story: From reading to living the Gospel’. We also have some Advent Books which you are welcome to borrow. You will find them on our Church Book Trolley. If you have any queries please have a word with Sally Horattides.
 
Foodbank
Click here for the latest Foodbank shopping list. I'm also attaching a 'reverse' advent calendar. The advent calendar has a daily suggested donation of a long life food item or other essential that will go straight into a family's food parcel after the Christmas holidays. Just grab a bag or a box from your house and start filling it up as you countdown to Christmas.
 
Winter Night Shelter
It's cold this week, and I think most of us are glad we have the safety of our homes, and despite the cost of living crisis, we can keep adequately warm? Imagine having to sleep on the streets this winter? For the first time in three years, Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter will be run again with churches hosting ten homeless people. St. Stephen's will be offering good meals and warm safe beds on Friday nights, with breakfast the following mornings in February. Other churches will be providing food and accommodation through January and for other nights of the week in February. I shall be appealing for help to run our nights after Christmas. Please let me know if you want to know more and perhaps consider ways you can help? Thanks. Sue Charlton (8997 8236 or sacharlton@btinternet.com)
 
Christmas Fair
A big ‘Thank you’ to everyone who helped in any way or shopped. We raised a magnificent £3,905 for The Grove Community.
 
Parish Prayer
These are the streets in our parish we are praying for this fortnight – please do pray for all who live there and for people to come to know Jesus
Pitshanger Lane and the Pitshanger Area
Clivedon Court (Scotch Common) 
 
Prayer for the Week
God for whom we watch and wait,
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth,
to hunger for justice,
and to suffer for the cause of right,
with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen