Prayer Ministry
TONIGHT (Thursday) some of our Prayer Ministry team are joining with our friends at St John’s Church (Mattock Lane, Ealing) for a training evening.  If you are interested in prayer ministry you are welcome to come along – simply sign up here.
 
Christmas Fair
On Saturday 25th November (10.30am - 2pm)  we have our Christmas Fair in aid of the Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter - pass on the details to family, friends and neighbours. If you have been meaning to volunteer to help out but haven't got round to it please contact Caroline Jamieson or Jane Maffett (events@ststephens-esling.org) who will be delighted to hear from you.  We also need good quality items to sell - toys, books, jewellery, bric-a-brac (household goods), ‘good as new’ gifts and cakes.  You can bring your donations to church from Sunday (19th) but not before please but ideally on Thursday 23rd  7-8pm, or any time on Friday 24th from 9am to 7pm. Queries to events@ststephens-ealing.org or to the organisers, Caroline Jamieson, Jane Maffett, Ruth Robinson.
 
Winter Wonderland 2023 
The Grove Community is gearing up for their annual Winter Wonderland event on Saturday, 2nd December, on Gurnell Grove from 4:30 to 7:30pm. This festive celebration, featuring donkey rides, a Christmas market, crafts, games, and more, is a highlight for the community. 
 
The team are seeking volunteers to assist at different times: 
Set up: 9:00am - 12:00pm or 1:00pm - 4:00pm Running a stall: 4:00pm - 7:30pm 
Pack down: 7:30pm - 9:30pm 
 
Any assistance you can provide will significantly contribute to the success of this event, as the team look forward to welcoming hundreds from their local community to enjoy the festivities. If you'd like to contribute your time and energy, please contact Mark Tate at mark@gurnellgrove.com for additional information and to express your interest in volunteering. 
 
Books for Ealing HomeStart
Each year we collect brand new books for children aged (0-5 years) to donate to Ealing HomeStart. They help families of young children in Ealing who are struggling. At the HomeStart Christmas party parents/carers are able to choose a book for their child, so please don't wrap them. If you would like to donate books to this worthy cause please give them to Morgen Edwards (admin@ststephens-ealing.org) at church by Sunday 10th December.
 
Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter (ECWNS)
The Shelter opens next month. Living on the streets is not a 'lifestyle choice' and people become homeless for so many different reasons - the winter months are the most difficult if you have no home or money to pay for a bed. The aim of the ECWNS is to help people out of homelessness - supporting them with medical and/or addiction services, helping them gain certification for employment and affordable housing, or enabling them to re-connect with family where possible. In the meantime, Ealing Churches volunteer to welcome them into our buildings each night for a good meal, a warm safe bed and breakfast the next morning.

St Stephen’s will be hosting on Friday nights in February/ March 2024. We have had a request from the ECWNS Office to help a church in W5 for Sat/Sundays 2nd, 9th and 16th December for shifts those evenings, overnight and at breakfasts the following mornings. If you are interested in knowing more or to help, please contact Sue Charlton - sacharlton@btinternet.com or 0790 8840 954. Many thanks.
 
Thanks from Ealing Foodbank
We wanted to thank you very much for the £1326.20 that you sent on 1 November 2023 from your harvest donations. As I'm sure you're aware, it's been our busiest year ever at the foodbank and we are so grateful for the generosity of our local community. Your gifts are helping us to keep the foodbank going.  The money that you've given might go to buying more food when we run short, providing free high quality debt advice to people who come to the foodbank or generally keeping the foodbank running.  Again, a heartfelt thank you from us for all of your support.
 
Update from Ellie Maffett
Here is the latest Prayer Letter from our Mission Partner Ellie. 
 
Parish Prayer
This fortnight we are praying for those who live in the area to the west of our parish, where some church members live. Please do pray for all who live there and for people to come to know Jesus.
 
Prayer for the Week
Heavenly Lord,
you long for the world’s salvation:
stir us from apathy,
restrain us from excess
and revive in us new hope
that all creation will one day be healed
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.