Sunday 13th October
This Sunday we welcome Ruth Roff to preach at both services. We also welcome Ellie Maffett who is one of our Mission Partners based in Greece.
People & Planet Gathering are hosting a bring and share lunch at 12:30pm and a meeting with our MPs (Rupa Huq and James Murray) from 2pm. We shall be discussing their plans for creation care, loss and damage etc 100 days now since their election to Government. Please let Sue or Enid know if you plan to come to lunch (for seating set up) and if bringing food, please provide a label saying what ingredients are in your dish, in case of any allergies. If you have questions you'd like to put to our MPs, please let them have them by Thursday evening! Sue Charlton, 07908840954 or Enid Barron 07850261307
Ealing Foodbank
Foodbank was delighted with the car load of goods we took to the Warehouse after our Harvest appeal last Sunday. Many thanks to all who donated and for those who gave money. If you were not in church last Sunday, the appeal can be found on the Church website. There is also a box in Church, by the office door for small collections of food. We always need strong bags too! Unfortunately the need continues to rise as the cost of living bites harder. Please pray for the Foodbank and those who need to use it. Attached is the shopping list with their current most needed items.
Food Donation Platform - GIVE TODAY
As you might know, food donations are not covering the demand that Foodbank are facing and they're purchasing an increasing proportion of their stock, currently around 50%. They have signed up to a new FOOD donation platform called 'GIVE TODAY' on which you can purchase specific food items at the same or very similar prices that you would find at a supermarket. Give Today then delivers your purchases directly to them at the foodbank.
They've had their first few Give Today deliveries and it's been a big success. Please feel free to share the above link with any friends, family, neighbours etc who might struggle to get to a donation point, but who would like to add a few tins to the Foodbank shelves.
Dates for your diary
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Tearfund Quiz - 16th November - Join us for this very popular St. Stephen's event. Invite friends to make a team or come along and join one on the night.
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Christmas Fair - 30th November - The Christmas Fair is always really well attended by people from our local community and is a lot of fun as well as a great fundraiser for the Ealing CAP Centre.
Cakes and Flowers
Flowers - If you would like to provide flowers for church to celebrate or commemorate an event please do sign the rota on the noticeboard in the foyer. You don't have to provide a big display, a small vase is perfect.
Cakes - We also have a cake rota for cafe time between services. If you would like to provide a treat for cafe time please do sign up on the rota on the same noticeboard.
Fundraising for Winter Night Shelter (WNS)
As has been previously reported Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter is trying to raise £40,000 to replace the emergency reserves used in the pandemic years. A HUGE thank you to Lizzie Rainbow-Rogers for raising £1,300+ for her Ealing Half Marathon Run on 29th September. WNS is the only Night Shelter in the Borough of Ealing, and we have the third highest number of street sleepers in London. WNS works! Many of last year's guests are now in long-term homes. Others are in jobs, are training for work, learning English or engaging with other agencies to increase their chances of staying off the streets. WNS opens in a few weeks. Please pray for Marie as she begins to sort out guests for this year, and all the co-ordinators who meet next month in preparation for the season.
St Paul's Cathedral Advent Carol Service
If you would like to attend the Advent Carol Service at St Paul's Cathedral on Saturday 30th November at 5:30pm please email Morgen Edwards (admin@ststephens-ealing.org). Children aged 7-14 are also invited to be part of the procession of light which moves through the Cathedral as part of the processions. If your child(ren) would like to take part in this you would need to be available to take them for rehearsal at 3pm on the day of the event.
Tickets must be applied for as a church, but you may sit anywhere that is available, so if you would like to attend please email the names of those attending as soon as possible but no later than Monday 11th November. Please also specify if your child(ren) would like to take part in the procession.
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.
Cavendish Avenue
Grafton Close
Chelsea Gardens
Hathaway Gardens
Prayer for the Week
God, our light and our salvation:
illuminate our lives,
that we may see your goodness in the land of the living,
and looking on your beauty
may be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen