Sleeves Up Saturday
This Saturday 23rd November do you have any time to come along between 9:30am-12:30pm and help us spruce up the building? Tasks for all ages available. If you have any questions please email Jack Cahill our Premises Manager bookings@ststephens-ealing.org.
Christmas Fair
The Christmas Fair is coming up fast NEXT Saturday 30th November 10:30am - 2:00pm and we will be raising money for Ealing CAP (Christians Against Poverty).
And we do need help please!
1 - We need goods to sell – toys, books, jewellery, bric-a-brac (household goods), ‘good as new’ gifts and home-made cakes and sweets. This is your opportunity to de-clutter and encourage re-use of loved but no longer needed items. (But this is not a jumble sale – so please no damaged goods or torn books and we cannot accept clothes, shoes, bags or electrical goods either) Remember from Sunday 24th you can bring in your contributions for the stalls.
2 – Publicity - we also want as many as possible to come to enjoy browsing stalls, meeting Father Christmas (free gift for 0-7 yrs old), sharing refreshments and socialising. So please take a few fliers from our stall to give to friends, family members and neighbours and invite as many as you can to share the day. Please take an A3 or A4 poster to advertise the event too, if you have a window or door in which to display it.
3 - Come and chat / sign up at our Sunday Stall if you would like to help for an hour or two or want to know what to donate!
More details here or email jane@ststephens-ealing.org. Organisers Jane Maffett and Carmela Amodio-Johnson
Ealing Homestart
Each year we collect brand new books for children aged (0-5 years) to donate to Ealing HomeStart. They help families of young children in Ealing who are struggling. At the HomeStart Christmas party parents/carers are able to choose a book for their child, so please don't wrap them. If you would like to donate books to please give them to Morgen Edwards (admin@ststephens-ealing.org) at church by Tuesday 3rd December.
CAP Hampers
Each year our Children's, Youth and Connect Groups prepare hampers for clients of Christians Against Poverty (CAP). CAP offers help to anyone struggling financially and supports them to become debt free. This year the hampers will be presented at church for prayer and blessing on Sunday 8th December. If you are not a member of the aforementioned groups but would like to contribute please feel free to bring in items to be added to any of the hampers. Please give these items to Morgen Edwards who will distribute them between hampers as needed.
Suggested items include:
It would be good to put in a mixture of treats and basic food items. For example: biscuits (sweet or savoury), pasta, rice, sauces, soups, sugar, sweets, tea, coffee, chocolates, cakes, fruit juice, sparkling drinks, honey, jam, mince pies, crisps, nuts. You could also include household items like washing detergent, soap and bubble bath, and/or festive items like baubles and Christmas crackers.
David's Institution and Induction
Finally, an exciting date for your diaries. We will be instituting and inducting our new vicar David Baylor on 14th January 2025. It is sure to be a wonderful celebration and it will be great to welcome David and his family to St Stephen's.
Parking Around St Stephen's
Some of you may have seen Ealing Council's plans to change the CPZ parking times from two one-hour slots to 8am-8pm Monday to Saturday. This would greatly affect our bookings in the building, including weddings, funerals, parties and any regular activities we have throughout the week. The council are seeking feedback on this so we'd be grateful if you could please fill in their survey which can be found on the link below. The consultation survey closes on 11th December. More information is available via this link.
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.
Gordon Road
Langham Gardens
Carlton Road
Oak Tree Close (off Carlton Rd)
Pinewood Grove (off Carlton Rd)
Prayer for the Week
God the Father,
help us to hear the call of Christ the King
and to follow in his service,
whose kingdom has no end;
for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, one glory. Amen.