Dear St. Stephen’s Church family and friends,

Greetings in Christ—Tomorrow is the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Happy Labour Day long weekend! Please note the office will be closed on Tuesday.

Fall Schedule

Tomorrow we return to our usual schedule of 8:30 and 10:30 am Holy Eucharist. If you come at 9:30, you’ll either be late…or early!  

Church school resumes tomorrow! It begins at the Children’s talk and ends at communion. Welcome back Julie and all church school volunteers and helpers!

This afternoon the Rev Sunil and the Malayalam congregation gathered for the South Indian harvest festival of Onam. We enjoyed a delicious array of foods, dance and celebration! Our Bishop and his wife (and son and mother in law) joined in the fun and fellowship. Please pray for the Rev Sunil and his ministry among us, along with his wife and children .

This time of year brings many changes and new beginnings. September is name tag month! Please sign up for a name tag if you don’t have one and wear yours throughout the month. Don’t be shy…names can be hard to pronounce, names can be hard to remember. Let’s extend grace to each other as we learn each others’ names and grow in love and friendship as a church community.

Mark your calendars for an end of summer Parish Picnic at St. Martin’s in the Field, Pike Lake. Gather as a parish family for games, potluck salads, singing and Evening Prayer. Saturday, September 19th, 4-7 pm. All welcome! Bring a friend.

Vestry (and any interested) will meet following the 10:30 am service tomorrow for a short Pike Lake planning meeting. Grab a coffee and we’ll find a space to meet.

Wednesday Book of Common Prayer Eucharist continues on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. Join the Rev Perry this week, and stay for coffee and conversation! Wednesday, September 9th at Noon.

Upcoming Vestry Meeting: this Thursday, September 10th at 7 pm. RSVP.

Mark your calendars for a Parish Thanksgiving Potluck:

Tuesday, October 6th at 5:30 pm. Sign up is helpful, so we have an idea of numbers.

Youth Group Schedule

Also! The 6th Annual Neighbourhood Treasure Hunt—Friday, October 2nd at 6:30 pm. All are welcome to join in this fun St. Stephen’s tradition. It’s an all ages event, with teams made up of families or friends. It’s also a fundraiser for Camp Okema, in loving memory of Quinlyn Smith.  

Our next Youth Group event is Mini Golf and Milkshakes! Friday, September 18th, 6:45. See poster below.

Under the Broom Tree is back! A monthly Monday evening service. September 28th, 7 pm. All welcome.

Sent faithfully, with hope and love in Christ,

Amy <><

Parish Weekly Cycle of Prayer

Monday: on this Labour Day weekend, for all who are struggling to find work. We pray for our country and province, for our businesses and industries at this challenging time.

Tuesday: for all children, youth and teachers who are returning to school this week. We pray for true learning and growth.

Wednesday: for Izu A

Thursday: for Phyllis and Eldon 

Friday: for Joan and Rick 

You mustn’t wish for another life. You mustn’t wish to be somebody else. What you must do is this:

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In everything give thanks.

I am not all the way capable of so much, but those are the right instructions.

-Wendell Berry, (in his novel, Hannah Coulter)

Wendell Berry died this past week. He was a conservationist, farmer, essayist, novelist, professor of English and a poet. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.