Happy New Year!
 
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.  This 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 12.20pm, and going from St Stephen’s at 1.25pm to St Peter’s Ealing. 
     
Foodbank 
Thank you for all your help during 2022, it  is much appreciated. If you are able to continue to support the foodbank, please take a look at the January shopping list attached. 
 
Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter at St. Stephen's
For the first time in 3 years, we'll be hosting WNS again at St. Stephen's. Our dates are Fridays 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th February with the following Saturday mornings till 9am.

We need volunteers to help:

• to set up beds and lay tables from 6pm on Fridays
• serve and talk to guests from 7pm; cook a meal for 8pm
• waking volunteers through the night
• breakfast cooks
• others to help clear beds etc, and clean the Centre on Saturday mornings
• drivers to get beds and bedding to the next Church (St. Matthews, Ealing Common) by mid morning on Saturday.

Sets of bedlinen will be offered at Church on Sunday mornings, asking for anyone willing to launder and return to us by noon on Fridays, ready to make up the beds again.

It seems like a lot to do but if many of us can offer just one or two things, or time for a couple of hours, we can do it!. We do this to support people who would otherwise be sleeping rough on the streets, with a warm safe place, while accessing direct support to gain employment and live independently in the longer run.

Please do contact Sue Charlton on 8997 8236 or sacharlton@btinternet.com for more information, or to volunteer help.
 
Big Garden Birdwatch
Any time 27th - 29th January for one hour only. The largest citizen scientist wildlife survey in the UK which gives information on numbers of birds and points to those populations that are succeeding and others that are struggling. As an Eco Church, we are committed to care for God's world and all His creation. Easy instructions and ID charts to help count those beautiful visitors to our gardens and parks from rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.
 
Parish Prayer
This is the area 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
Area to the north of our parish, where some church members live
 
Prayer for the Week
Creator of the heavens,
who led the Magi by a star
to worship the Christ-child:
guide and sustain us,
that we may find our journey’s end
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen