Author: Stephen Barker

From the Deanery: Exploring Together in Lent: Living in Love and Faith

For Lent 2022 we are planning Deanery wide groups to enable us to come together and explore the resources provided by the national church.

Living in Love and Faith sets out to inspire people to think more deeply both about what it means to be human, and to live in love and faith with one another.

It tackles the tough questions and the divisions among Christians about what it means to be holy in a society in which understandings and practices of gender, sexuality and marriage continue to change.

The material includes encounters with real, contemporary disciples of Christ whose stories raise questions which ask us to discern where God is active in human lives. 

There will be five weekly sessions in the weeks beginning March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, April 4th . 
Please book to join a group, even if you have had some discussion in your own parish, so that we can share together across our Christian families in thinking through the response of faith to these important issues.
email or phone Rosemary Walters who is co-ordinating and organising the groups
ra.walters@btinternet.com  or 01227 768891 and include
·       Your name and parish
·       Your preferred option, live or Zoom
·       Your preferred day of the week (Mon-Fri) and am or pm
emails need to be sent by Friday Feb 18th

Acorn Cafe would welcome volunteers to join their team.  It would involve setting up and serving coffee to people who come.  It could be a duty once a month or even once every six weeks. It is a very relaxed happy time when friends are able to meet up and chat. Do have a word with Libby if you are able to help.

Would like to contribute to the services week by week by becoming an intercessor?

We are very short of intercessors at the present time and consequently people are being asked to do them rather often; it would be good to have some new blood.  It is not difficult, you are given the scriptures for the week and the names of those sick to pray for and those whose deaths fall on the particular Sunday.  You can make up your own prayers or you can use prayers from the large variety of books available.  We can take you through the procedure and give you an opportunity to have a practice to get the feel of doing them.  There is always someone available to help you whenever you feel you need support.  If you are interested please speak to either Margaret Horwood or the Rector.  Thank you.

Churchyard Working Party

The Churchyard Working Party will meet regularly on the first Monday in each month, beginning on Monday 6th December.  

We shall begin at 9.30am to avoid the school run and finish about lunchtime.  Please don’t feel that you must come for the entire morning.  We shall be delighted to see you at any stage during the morning.  Please wear stout shoes and gloves, and if you could bring some tools, it would be much appreciated.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.

Traidcraft Christmas Stall

Next Sunday, 21st November, Traidcraft will be back again in the church Hall with their usual beautiful cards and gifts for us to buy as we enjoy our coffee after church. Do come and support them!

Evensong during Winter

During November and December, Evensong will be at 4pm on Sunday afternoon to make it easier for people to come out during the darker inclement evenings. We will review this at Christmas and make a decision for the rest of winter at that point. Do let us know if you have strong feelings one way or the other.

This means that our Advent Carol Service on Sunday 28th November and our Christmas Carol Service on Sunday 19th December will also be at 4pm this year.

We look forward to welcoming you at our services.

Harvest Festival

Posted on by Stephen Barker

Next Sunday, 3rd October, is our Harvest Festival.  It is our tradition at St Stephen’s to support the work of Catching Lives and the Canterbury Food Bank with the generous donations of members of our congregation.  If you are thinking about donating something next weekend, you might find the following suggestions useful:

Catching lives are particularly looking for Bottles or cartons of water, juice or squash; Hand sanitiser, treat items – chocolate, crisps, etc; packs of tissues, baby wipes, cotton buds; totes and batteries, waterproof ponchos, foil blankets; underwear; dog treats; fruit cereal bars; lip balm; hand cream

Canterbury Food Bank is currently very low on the following items, but would also appreciate any non-perishable goods: laundry detergents; cleaning sprays; cereal; long-life milk; fruit juice; instant mash; large nappies (size 5/6); baby wipes

Donations can be made at any of our services next Sunday, and don’t forget that we have yellow bins for the Canterbury Food Bank in the church porch and church hall all year round.

The Acorn Café Charity Coffee Morning

Posted on by Stephen Barker

Wednesday September 22nd
from 10.30
In St Stephen’s Church Hall
In aid of MacMillan Nurses
Cakes and paperbacks
Do join us

Dear All  – it would be great if you were able to join us for the charity Coffee Morning on Wednesday of next week – even if you were able to pop in briefly!

There will be a stall for sweet and savoury items and also paperbacks.  We will not be having other stalls so the hall will not be so crowded.  

Items for the bakery stall will be most welcome!

It would be lovely to have your support!

Jenny and Libby

Supporting refugee families from Afghanistan

Posted on by Stephen Barker

Svenja Powell writes:
Canterbury Welcomes Refugees is working with Canterbury City Council and other organisations to welcome and support newly arriving refugee families from Afghanistan. It has just been publicised that over 100 refugees will initially be housed in a hotel in Canterbury before being found more permanent accommodation across the country. There will be children of all ages.

We are looking for children’s toys, new or in good condition for children of all ages. These should for obvious reasons not include soldiers, toy guns or any other war related items. As the families do not have much space, please only relatively small toys, including toy cars, Lego, dolls, washed of new cuddly toys etc. Picture books or books with few words/language learning books are also welcome as are writing and arts and crafts materials. Some outdoor toys that can be taken to a park would also be welcome. 

Please drop toy donations off from Monday, 23rd August at: 
St Mary Bredin Church
59 Nunnery Fields
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 3JN
01227 453777
https://www.smb.org.uk/

Due to other events taking place at SMB, please drop toy donations between 2pm and 4pm at the church office if at all possible. If you have any queries, please contact Svenja via canterburywelcomesrefugees@outlook.com

I would like to thank you all and will keep you posted on other needs as we become aware of them.

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