The week of February 16th
Dear St. Stephen’s church family,
Greetings on this beautiful sunny day!
We are getting close to the end of Epiphany! Enjoy the increasing light and longer days. Let them remind you of God’s unfailing love.
Some parish news:
1. AGM Sunday, March 8th after church.
Lunch will be served for all who attend the meeting! Please sign up so we know what to order. If you haven’t sent your AGM report in to Margaret, please do so asap.
2. Shrove Tuesday—Tuesday, February 25th, 5:30-7:30.
The feast before the fast! Pancakes and sausages, thanks to our Community Life group. Suggested donation $5. Bring a friend.
3. Ash Wednesday—Wednesday, February 26th.
Noon Eucharist and imposition of Ashes, also 7:00 pm eucharist and imposition of ashes. Come and begin to observe a Holy Lent.
4. Lenten Lunches: WOW!
All of the Sundays now have host groups who will prepare and serve lunch for us in support of various different ministries. Thank you to all who signed up, and I encourage everybody to consider staying for a Lenten lunch after church throughout the season of Lent. It gives us a chance to get to know one another better and to support those who are taking the time to prepare a meal. Meals are by donation. Our first Lenten Lunch is March 1st. Chili and rice! ($5 suggested donation). All are welcome!
5. The Scroll—deadline for submissions is March 5th.
Please send in any news or articles to Linda Bliss, preferably by email. Thank you!
6. World Day of Prayer for Christian Unity—Friday, March 6th at 2 pm.
St. Stephen’s is hosting this ecumenical service of prayer, with the focus on the country of Zimbabwe. Consider coming and being a part of this time of prayer and fellowship.
7. Looking ahead to Holy Week:
We will try something new this year! On Monday in Holy Week, Brody Albers (Sarah Albers), a postulant in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, and a parishioner, will guide us through creating Anglican prayer beads and teaching us how to use them in our devotions. Curious? Come and see! Sign up sheets will be out soon so we know how many people to expect. People of all ages are encouraged to come to this evening of creating and learning. Do you have wooden beads to donate to this project? We need beads of several sizes and colours. Talk to Brody or Sarah or Amy for more information.
Parish Cycle of Prayer:
Throughout February, we continue to pray for all people who are new to Saskatoon and new to our parish. We pray that God might guide and direct people who are seeking the light of Christ to various churches, our own church and other churches in our neighbourhood. We especially pray for all new families and individuals who have come to St. Stephen’s in the past year. May our fellowship be strengthened and deepened.
We pray for Ted and Laine and family, and for Eleanor W and family.
A thoughtful quote from Oscar Romero—look for the noble, good and just this week!:
We all must decide in our own consciences what side we will take. God our Lord is offering us marvelous fruits if we let him sow in us that sprout which will produce prolific branches, the fruits of eternal life. This is God’s plan, and that’s why the church is the vineyard where God’s kingdom will always be in crisis. Blessed are those who feel the crisis deeply and resolve it by committing themselves to our Lord. I am very glad that precisely in this hour of crisis many who were asleep have woken up and are at least asking where the truth is to be found. Look for it! Saint Paul shows us the way: it is found with prayer, reflection, and esteem for what is good. These are wonderful criteria. Wherever there is something noble, something good, something just, there we find God.