St Stephen's News Mailing

Sunday 1st September
This Sunday we welcome everyone back to church after the summer holidays and will once again have two services 9am & 10:30am.

At our 10:30am service we pray for our children and young people starting new schools or university. If your child is starting nursery, primary, secondary school or university they can bring an item of their uniform or a bag with them as we pray for this new season in their lives. 

Sunday 1st also marks the beginning of the Season of Creation till Friday 4th September. The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together.
seasonofcreation.org for many ways to celebrate, thoughts and prayers. We shall be including prayers for Creation in our monthly Prayer Meeting in Church on Tuesday 3rd September - do join us.
 
Vacancy
The advert has now closed and shortlisting will take place over the next couple of weeks with interviews at the end of September. Please pray for those involved in this, including our two PCC representatives, Emma Harniman and Jane Maffett.
 
Church picnic
Sunday 8th September at the top of Cleveland Park from about 12.15. Bring your own picnic and rugs / chairs and catch up! There will be some games, do bring your own too! (If weather not kind we may move to an indoor picnic at church).
 
Fairtrade Fortnight 9th to 22nd September
On Sunday 8th we will be holding a Stall selling Fairtrade chocolates, rice and honey. We hope to 'showcase' Fairtrade goods you find in your regular shop or supermarket. Please bring anything you find in your weekly shop or supermarket and label it to say where in Ealing you bought it. Wine, tea, coffee, bananas and maybe much more? With fairer prices for what they grow, farmers can take on the climate crisis better. Choose a fairer deal for farmers who will be more able to protect forests. Do spare time to look at the stall, and maybe pick up some chocolate for the Church Picnic in Cleveland Park!
 
Guest Speaker from A Rocha on Sunday 15th September
A Rocha UK is part of the international Christian charity caring for the environment. They created the Eco Church system which we joined in 2016. We are delighted that Helen Stephens from Eco Church is able to come to us as guest speaker at both our Sunday services that day. In 1996 the Church of England adopted the 5th Mark of Mission as: 'to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth'. Please see our Mission Team Notice Board in the Centre and come to hear Helen on 21st.
 
Entrance improvement project
As you can see the foundations work has now finished and a temporary ramp is in place at the front. There will be a pause before we begin the main construction work while we tender for it and work out contingency plans for operating the building without access to some key areas such as the office. We anticipate the project will take some time to complete so we have to make sure that these plans are robust and we can continue to operate effectively as a church.
 
Dates for your diary:
22nd September        Welcome Tea 3-5pm - for new members. Speak to a member of the leadership team
15th September         Pimms and Hymns 3:30pm - Bring along family and friends
29th September         Ealing Half Marathon - UFO Steel Band will be playing again to encourage runners and supporters alike.
6th October                Harvest Shared Lunch - at church
16th November          Tearfund Quiz night
30th November          Christmas Fair - 10:30-2:00pm
 
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.
Argyle Road
Courtfield Gardens
Drayton Green (inc Drayton Place & Dereham Place)
Manor Road
Sutherland Road
 
Prayer for the Week
Merciful God,
your Son came to save us
and bore our sins on the cross:
may we trust in your mercy
and know your love,
rejoicing in the righteousness
that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.