News for the week of May 20th
Dear St. Stephen’s church family,
1. Youth group
Meets Friday night. 7:00 at the church, walk to mini golf.
2. John will be ordained as a deacon in Calgary
On Saturday, June 8th. We would like to give John a set of stoles as an ordination gift. A member of the parish has made such a set, which is both beautiful and being offered to us very inexpensively. Please consider donating $5 towards this gift. Donations will be accepted up until Sunday, June 2nd. John will be doing his student placement at St. Stephen’s starting in the fall.
3. One of our parishioners is turning 100!!!
We are planning a celebration after church on Sunday, June 16th, which is also Father’s Day, with a potluck lunch, cake and a time to share memories. If you are able to bring sandwiches, fruit, veggies or cookies, please sign up on the bulletin board in the Mitchell Hall or give us a call and we’ll sign you up!
4. Camp Okema men’s retreat
June 7-9. Please see their website for more information about this opportunity to get some time away and grow in faith. https://www.campokema.com/
5. Our Bishop has asked us to continue to pray for General Synod
And for the delegates who will attend from our Diocese. He has also encouraged us to reflect on and share our thoughts and feelings about the upcoming proposed changes to the marriage canon. He has suggested Scripture passages and other articles for us to read, as individuals and as a church, and asked that if so moved, we each send responses to said materials by email to anglicansynod1@sasktel.net by Friday, June 14th. The responses will only be shared with Diocesan delegates to General Synod. In his latest letter to the wardens and clergy, he writes:
“In closing I do ask that you do your homework. Pray and read Scripture, search out the reports in the links provided and pray for God’s guidance together in our life in Christ. May we in the family of God, always seek to have an open heart, listening and speaking always with respect and humility.”
Please see the bulletin board in the Mitchell Hall for the proposed reading material and feel free to respond as you see fit.
6. The prayer chain
Is one way for our church family to share prayer needs and concerns with one another. It has been led by Thelma and Marj for many years, and we are so grateful for their care and support! Many people have called in an hour of need, and received the ministry of intercessory prayer, knowing that their burden has been shared and lifted up to God. It’s time for us to regroup and organize a new way of continuing this important ministry. Perhaps we need a voicemail box that is dedicated to prayer needs/concerns, that is checked regularly and then shared. Perhaps we need to use texting as a way to share concerns. Perhaps there is some other way that we haven’t thought of yet! If you are interested in being a part of the prayer chain ministry, or would simply like to learn more, we will have a meeting after church on Sunday, June 2nd. We will discuss what the prayer chain is and what it isn’t, and how to pray for others.
Parish Cycle of Prayer
We continue to pray for those who were confirmed, for their growth in faith and practice as they live out their Christian lives: for Nathan, Henry, Quinlyn, Garen, Josh, Kaiden and Rachel.
We pray for Mike and Crystal, with Kaynan, Elijah and Tosh, and for Becky and their families.