Monday 4th December 2023

Yesterday we marked the start of Advent at our services.  We thought about what it is to be ready, not just for Christmas but for the day when Jesus returns. My prayer is that as well as preparing for Christmas, we might all use Advent to connect more deeply with God.
 
This year Advent is short because Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday.  Our Carol Service is just a fortnight away on Sunday 17th December at 6pm.  This is a great opportunity to invite family and friends who didn’t usually come to Church to come with you.  After the Carol Service we serve refreshments and would love offers of either homemade or (ideally mini) shop bought mince pies.  If you can help out please sign the list in Church or contact Ann Toley (ann@ststephens-ealing.org).

Details of all of the Christmas services are on the Church website -  do check them out.  Thank you to those who have taken invitations to deliver – there are just a few roads left if anyone can take them, as well as some extra ones which can be given to friends, family and neighbours.  At all of our Christmas services there will be an opportunity to give towards the Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter (helping the homeless in Ealing) and the Tearfund Middle East Emergency Appeal (helping those affected by the war in Israel/Gaza). 
 
The Welcome team is stretched over Christmas with so many extra services, could you help with greeting visitors to the Carols and Nativity service on Christmas Eve at 4.30pm?  This is our biggest service of the year and it's important that we help families, especially those who haven't been before, to feel welcome.  Volunteers please to caroline@ststephens-ealing.org. 
 
Looking ahead, it has now been agreed that I will be licensed to my new post in Berkshire on Wednesday 10th April at 7pm – all are welcome to attend, and I will give more details nearer the time.  Our last Sunday at St Stephen’s will be 10th March 2024 – Mothering Sunday.  We will be sad to go but given that I was licensed to the post 15 years ago on 9th March 2009 that seems like a neat ending to my time here.
 
Next Sunday we have our usual services at 9am and 10.30am.  Both will have Communion and there will be children's and youth work at the 10.30am service.

Hope you have a good week.  

Steve