Author: Stephen Barker

Ride and Stride is the sponsored bike ride or walk in which people all over England walk or cycle between churches, exploring and enjoying the countryside from Cornwall to Northumberland. The money they raise helps to save historic churches, chapels and meeting houses for future generations by helping to fund urgent repairs and the installation of modern facilities.

The next Ride and Stride will take place on 8 September 2018, from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, and you can be part of it! Participants plan their own routes, and seek sponsorship for riding, cycling, walking, or manning the church. After the event the money is collected and divided between churches in need of repair, by your own choice and by the Friends of Kent Churches, the area organiser.

Would you like to ride or stride, contact the local organiser: Eduard Heyning, {This email is obscured. Your must have javascript enabled to see it} or 07748 787373.

Other links:
http://friendsofkentchurches.co.uk/ride-and-stride/

This year Lent starts on 14th February (also St Valentine’s Day!) and as part of our observance of Lent a Week of Accompanied Prayer (also known as Week of Guided Prayer) is being held at St Stephens from 11th – 17th March 2018

This is a marvellous way to make an individually guided retreat in the midst of ordinary life and is for EVERYONE – no previous experience necessary! Unlike traditional retreats which are the same for everyone, because you will be allocated your own prayer companion for the week, it starts where you are and goes where the Spirit wants to take you.

The week will start at our evening service on Sunday March 11 and end with a special service on the morning of Saturday 17th. Between these times your commitment for the week is to set aside 30 minutes each day for prayer and to meet with your trained prayer companion for about 30 minutes at St Stephen’s Church, at a previously agreed time.

The week is a journey in the love of God and you will be encouraged in your own unique pathway of prayer. A key factor of the whole experience is that there is no pressure and it is based on the principle that Jesus meets us “where we are”.

The role of the prayer companion is not to tell you what to do or even to teach you, but to help and support you as you reflect on your prayer life. All conversations with prayer guides are seen as confidential.

Places are limited so if you want to get your name down now please email {This email is obscured. Your must have javascript enabled to see it}, heading your email WAP, or collect one of the forms from the back of the church and return it to the Rectory.

Click to download WAP intro letter & application