Parish News on Ascension Day
Dear St. Stephen’s church family,
What a beee-autiful day! Today is Ascension Day (learn more on Sunday)!
Today is also a good day for a poem about Spring, by Gerard Manley Hopkins (read it out loud, it’s so much better).:
Nothing is so beautiful as Spring –
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.
And now for busy-(bee)-ness
1. Prayer chain meeting
after church on Sunday, June 2nd. All interested in being a part of this or learning more are invited to attend. We will meet in the sanctuary as soon as possible after the service.
2. Youth Group BBQ
at Amy’s on Friday, June 7th. Details to come!
3. Camp Okema Men’s Retreat
June 7-9 at Emma Lake.
4. John’s ordination
John will be ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Calgary on Saturday, June 8th. We are giving him the gift of a set of stoles (handmade by a member of the parish and at a very good price). If you haven’t had a chance to donate towards this gift, please consider giving $5. We will present the stoles to John on June 16th.
5. English conversation circles
There are 2 left in this winter/spring session. All volunteers are invited to Amy’s house following our final class, on June 11th. It’s kind of late in the evening, but we thought we’d go for it! Meet at Amy’s at 8:45 pm…pop over for tea and watermelon and a celebration of this new ministry.
6. Paul is turning 100!
To mark this joyful occasion, we are having a lunch after church on Sunday, June 16th, which is also Father’s Day. Please sign up to bring potluck items if you are able. Cake and time of sharing.
7. Parish Picnic
Because the people of God are a people of celebration, we are having a parish picnic after church on Sunday, June 23rd. Lunch will be outside, on the grass, with church school games and a time of fellowship. Bring a sunhat! Bring a friend!