Dear St. Stephen’s church family,

The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! May his grace and peace be with us. May he fill our hearts with joy!

Thank you to all those who have reached out in various ways to help a parishioner who is moving into a new housing situation. Thank you for dishes, bedding, beds, a dresser and for movers! 3 young adults spent their Saturday morning moving furniture, in response to a request I put out to the young adult group. This coming Friday, May 8th, at 10 am, we will be assembling gift baskets for shelters. It usually takes about an hour and a half, and we have coffee afterwards! Thank you to so many people who have dropped off items and to all who support others in so many ways, reaching out in the ways you can with what you have.  Last week our Sunday school kids made the poster below–reminding us of the love and charity at work in the early church.

This Thursday, May 7th, at 1:30 will be our final book study discussion for the book, Becoming a Person of Hospitality. One of our parishioners will join us to share his experience as a teacher and mentor in the hospitality and service industry in Saskatoon. Stay tuned for a new book in the coming weeks. 

Please see the poster below for news of a production of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, at Cornerstone Church on Lenore Drive. Parishioner Dr. Michael Siebert teaches at the Academy of our Lady, which is presenting the play, along with performances by student choirs. Our book group read, “Once upon a Wardrobe,” in Advent, and so we are planning to attend the matinee on Tuesday, May 19th, at 1 pm. You are welcome to join us! Tickets are $15 at the door. Talk with me if you are thinking of coming and need a ride.

Youth group is invited to come and see the same play on Friday, May 22nd! It starts at 6:30. Please RSVP if you would like to come. Bring a friend! This story is so wonderful, children and youth of all ages should attend! If you have younger children and wish to join us, please do!

Thank you to Susan for taking boxes of church shredding to the Big Shred, a fundraiser put on by McLure United Church. And thank you Susan for coordinating the Tuesday Chat Cafes, which are now on hiatus until the Fall. 

Here is the Rev Sunil in his element as Director of Spiritual Care and Mission at Samaritan Place. He is leading a Celebration of Life for residents who passed away in the past months. It is very wonderful to see him at work, serving the community and doing such a great job! Mark your calendars for our joint Malayalam/English Pentecost Celebration on Sunday, May 24th during the 10:30 am service. Plan to wear red!

Vestry Meeting: Tuesday, May 5th at 7 pm.

Peace in Christ, 
Rev Amy

Parish Cycle of Prayer
Monday: for all those who are looking for work. For the unemployed and underemployed. For a sense of hope and purpose.
Tuesday: for all who are expecting babies-we pray for God’s blessing and protection, and timing!
Wednesday: in gratitude for the 65th anniversary of J and J! May God continue to bless them in their life together.
Thursday: for Sunil and Sabitha 
Friday: for Sandra

The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death–we give our lives over to death. Thus it begins–the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in the Cost of Discipleship