Funeral of Huiru Gao
Will take place at 12pm this Friday (18th) at St Mary's Church, Broadwater Road, Worthing. Further information and a link to access a livestream of the service can be found here https://www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/funeral-notices/29-01-2023-huiru-gao/.
 
Children's Party
On Saturday 25th February we will be holding a party for children aged 5-11 years. Games, fun and a magician! We ask that each family brings a savoury food contribution to the party. This does not need to feed all the children attending but is meant for sharing. If your child has any food allergies please bring suitable food for them. Please do invite family and friends and sign up here.
 
Fairtrade Fortnight 27th Feb to 12th March
Coffee, chocolate and bananas will soon be difficult to find on shop shelves, due to climate change and unfair trading practices. Making a small switch to Fairtrade will support producers in protecting the future of our most loved foods, the farmers and the planet! On Sunday 5th March we'll run our Fairtrade Stall of goods during Café time. We also want to display many Fairtrade goods available in our local shops. Please help us by bringing any Fairtrade product that you buy where you shop. These will not be for sale but to help us all where to find them. Label each item with your name and which shop/supermarket you bought it and bring to church on the morning of 5th March. The Future is Fair!
 
Services this Lent
Ash Wednesday 22nd February
10am & 8pm Communion

Palm Sunday 2nd April
9am                Holy Communion
10:30am       Informal Service

Monday 3rd and Wednesday 5th April
8pm                Night Prayer with reflection

Tuesday 4th April
8pm                Monthly Prayer Gathering followed by Night Prayer

Maundy Thursday 6th April
7:30pm           Informal Meal and Communion

Good Friday 7th April
9:50am            Walk of Witness to Ealing Broadway (meet at church by 9:55am)
2pm                 An Hour at the Cross (Livestreamed)

Easter Day Sunday 9th April (No 9am Service)
7am                Lighting of the Easter Candle and First Communion of Easter
10:30am       Informal Celebration and Communion (Livestreamed)

Lent Appeals
We are making two appeals during Lent. We will again be sending boxed Easter Eggs to residents at the Marylebone Project for homeless women. Each egg comes with a booklet telling the story of the first Easter. Marylebone is very grateful for our love and support. Each egg costs £4.50. Please donate what you can at church on Sundays. 
Also for the Diocesan Appeal for the Mozambique, Angola Anglican Association to provide training for leaders who will give pastoral care and support for those who've suffered trauma through the years of violence since 2017. See more at www.london.anglican.org/lentappeal2023. Donate in church or the church website.

Lent Course 
Caroline Newbold is running a group on Wednesdays during Lent, starting Wednesday March 1st 8pm at the Vicarage. If you don't already belong to a Connect group it's an ideal opportunity to take on something new for Lent.  To opt in or to find out more please contact Caroline caroline@ststephens-ealing.org by Ash Wednesday 22nd Feb as resources need to be ordered.  
 
Books for Lent
The Big Church Read now has 6 books for you to choose from this Lent. Each book has exclusive FREE videos from the authors, with a reading plan and questions for discussion and reflection. Click here to see the collection.

We also have Lent Books you may borrow at coffee time on Sunday mornings. They will be displayed on a table near the Book Trolley. If you have any good Lent Books you have finished with and would like to share with others, we would be pleased if you could bring them along for Caroline Newbold or Sally Horattides who will add them to our collection.

Lent 2023
For Lent 2023, the Bishops of London Diocese are hosting five FREE online sessions exploring ancient ways of Christian prayer that are still relevant today and can help us spend time in the presence of God. Sessions take place on Tuesday evenings during Lent, from 7.30-8.30pm on the following dates:

• 28th February, The Examen
• 7th March, Lectio Divina
• 14th March, Centring Prayer
• 21st March, Imaginative Contemplation
• 28th March, Visio Divina (Praying with Pictures)

The evening will be opened and closed with a short liturgy by one of our Bishops. The prayer practice will be introduced and we will have a go at the practice together. A time of optional sharing will be offered at the end for those who wish to reflect on the practice with others. Everyone is welcome. You can attend some or all sessions. Click here to register.
 
Games afternoon
Sunday 19th February 2–5pm, come for all or some of it, get to know others better, and have fun. Different tables, different games with help and instruction. All sorts of games, board games, quick games, slow games, team games and children 5+ will enjoy some too. No need to book – just turn up. Tea and Cake. Queries to jane@ststephens-ealing.org.
 
People and Planet meetings
Dates for your diary: Sunday 12th March, bring and share lunch at Church. Guest Speaker Jasmine from Roots and Shoots.
Earth Hour, Saturday 25th March from 7 - 10pm at Church. Come for supper and reflections on our planet.
Details of both events to be shared nearer the time.
 
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
Drayton Avenue
Drayton Gardens
Drayton Grove
Drayton Road
 
Prayer for the Week
Holy God,
you know the disorder of our sinful lives:
set straight our crooked hearts,
and bend our wills to love your goodness
and your glory
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.