Monday 25th November 2024

Sunday
It was great to finish up our Challenging Lifestyles series looking at the sermon on the mount yesterday as Jonathan helped us think about 'How to Stop Worrying and Start Living'. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

This weekend we enter the season of Advent and the start of the new liturgical year. It is a time of waiting and preparation before the celebration of Christ's birth and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Many Christians use this time to be more intentional about their devotional time. We have a selection of books available to borrow from church. My spiritual director has put together this Advent Calendar (attached) with prompts for each day of Advent. If you would like to sign up for more content to help your prayer life, you can sign up to her newsletter here. This Sunday I am on annual leave and Revd. Jeremy Hyde (my Training Incumbent since Steve moved on) is coming to preside and preach at the 9am service and our own Stephen Turner is leading the All Age service at 10:30am. 

Christmas Fair
The excitement for this Saturday's Christmas Fair is mounting! The fair runs from 10:30am to 2pm (Father Christmas from 11am to 12noon) - don't forget to invite neighbours and friends. St. Stephen's is happy to receive contributions this week and particularly on Friday 29th from 9am to 7pm. If you have been meaning to sign up to help, it's not too late and Jane would love to find you a place to serve you can email jane@ststephens-ealing.org.

Carol Service
Our popular Carol Service is on 15th December at 6pm. Get in your diary so we can gather together to sing traditional carols with our wonderful choir and brass band and listen to readings that tell us the wonderful story of Jesus coming to earth as a baby. Carol services are the easiest service of the year to invite friends and family to, so look out for flyers coming soon!

Prayer Gathering
We meet for our monthly opportunity to pray for an hour next Tuesday 3 December at 8pm at St. Stephens. With all the Christmas celebrations coming up, there is plenty to pray for as we seek God's heart for our community here in West Ealing. 

God bless and have a great week! 

Ruth