The Week of Pentecost
Dear St. Stephen’s church family,
Greetings in Christ!
Some parish news for the week:
1. Our prayer chain
has been working to refresh its links and ensure that we have a way to share prayer requests. If you feel called to be a part of this ministry, please talk with Amy. We are working on having 3 parish point people, who will then text the group using WhatsAp. Signing up is easy and it’s a great way to receive a message in a confidential group. If you are not a texting person, you can be on the phone prayer chain, receiving a call and making a call. In this way, the prayer chain members communicate the prayer request to one another and together we lift up the prayer concern to our loving heavenly Father, who hears our prayers. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people..” -I Timothy 2:1. More information about the prayer chain will be available this Sunday.
2. Refresh!
We are planning to paint the exterior of the church building on Friday, June 21st and Saturday, June 22nd. We need volunteers! Sign up for one or more time slots: 9:30-noon, 1-3:30 Friday and Saturday. We also need a person or 2 to paint the trim around the windows ahead of time—by Wednesday, June 19th. This can be done on your own schedule. We are pressure washing beforehand, starting this week. Together, let’s continue to care for our church building so that it can continue to be a visible sign of God’s love in our neighbourhood, drawing people into closer relationship with Jesus.
3. Thank you
to all who donated towards the gift of stoles for the Rev. John Chuol, ordained deacon in the Diocese of Calgary last weekend. We received the exact amount to pay for the stoles. John will be doing his student placement in our parish in September and a group of parishioners are on his lay support team. We will present John with his gift on Sunday, June 16th.
4. Celebrations!
Sunday, June 16th is Trinity Sunday! And Father’s Day! And Paul’s birthday!
5. Annual Church School Picnic
Sunday, June 23rd on the front lawn (weather permitting!). Plan to stay, bring a friend! Celebrate the gift of children and youth in our parish and the end of a school year.
Parish Cycle of Prayer
We pray this month for all those who will take part in the meeting of General Synod in July. We pray for their wisdom and discernment as they work together as the church. We pray for our Delegates: Bishop Chris Harper, Archdeacon Ken Watts, Dean Scott Pittendrigh, Ruth Skinner, Chris Wood and Alexa Wallace.
Prayer: Lord, you have called us by name and given us gifts to love and serve in your Name. We ask you to be present with all delegates to General Synod. Direct, govern and guide them by your Holy Spirit as they seek to fulfill your holy will in all things. Give them the mind of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.
We also pray for Audrey and Eunice and their families.