Magic Lantern show at TeaTimers
Friday 12th January 2.20 to 4.30 including tea and cake. Subject: the History of Tea (with the Aucklands).
 
Board Games afternoon
This Sunday 14 January 2pm – 5pm at church. A range of board games for all ages from 5 upwards, long and short ones, familiar and new ones, drop in or stay the whole time. Tea and cake as well (small donation appreciated).
 
Christians Together in Central Ealing
Christians Together in Central Ealing is to cease to meet, and a final service will take place during the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at 4pm on Sunday 21st January at Ealing Green Church. All are welcome.
 
RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, 26 - 28 January
Please join in this UK wide event to count the birds in your garden, your balcony or in you local park for one hour that week-end. Or join me in our Church garden on Saturday 27th at 10 am to see what may visit us at St. Stephen's. I'll have Tally Charts, binoculars, Guide Books etc - bring any you may have and wear warm clothes! Families with children especially welcome! Go to #BigGardenBirdwatch or www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch for more detail. Sue Charlton 0790 8840 954.
 
People & Planet, Sunday 4th February
We meet next for a bring and shared meal at 12.30pm, followed by 'Question Time, St. Stephen's Style'. We have invited both our MPs and some local Councillors to discuss issues we are concerned about at P&P - Creation Care (environment), Peace and Justice. All are invited. Please let us know if you are coming, and what you might contribute to the meal. We invite questions too - so that we can offer a range of topics. Sue Charlton: 0790 8840 954: sacharlton@btinternet.com. 
 
St Stephen's Book Club
At our next meeting on Wednesday 7th February at 8pm we will be discussing Finding Jack by Sophia Due. The author, who lives locally, will be coming to our meeting to talk about her book, answer questions and sign your copies. All are welcome to come along. It would be good to have an idea of number so if you are planning to come along please do let Morgen Edwards know admin@ststephens-ealing.org.
 
Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter
There are currently 14 men in the Winter Night Shelter. They have been at St. Christopher's Church Hanwell over Christmas and New Year and have enjoyed a lovely 'family' time over the festivities. Many thanks to those who have helped in a number of ways to make this time so special for our guests.  During January to mid February they're staying in other Ealing Churches each night. Marie (Shelter Worker) supports them in finding solutions to long term housing, training for work or jobs.

It will be our turn to host guests on Friday nights from 16th February to 22nd March, and there are many ways we can all help!

I need volunteers each Friday for the Evening Shift from 6 to 10pm to help make up beds and lay tables; and to welcome guests, serve and share supper with them. Overnight Shift volunteers are needed from 10pm to 7am, making sure there is 'waking' cover in case of emergency. We also need volunteers for the Morning Shift from 6.45 to 9am on Saturdays to prepare and serve breakfasts, and clear beds and bedding ready to transport to St. Matthews Church, Ealing Common where our guests will be on Saturday nights. Once guests have left by 8.30 am, the team makes sure our kitchen and Centre is clean and ready for other hall users and Church. We also need volunteers to cook meals on Friday nights and breakfast on Saturday mornings, drivers with largish cars to take beds/bedding to St. Matthew's on Saturday mornings, and people to wash sets of bed linen ready for re-use the following Friday.

Please consider helping in any of these ways on one or more Friday nights/Saturday mornings or talk to me if you want more information at Café time on Sundays. It's a great way to offer hospitality in our Church, to work together and meet lovely people down on their luck.

Sue Charlton, 07908 840 954 , sacharlton@btinternet.com
 
Important date for your diary
On Sunday 10th March we will be saying farewell to Steve and Caroline Newbold. After 10:30am service we will be holding a celebratory lunch in the church centre. More details to come. 
 
Gym Membership?
Thinking of a gym membership in 2024? When the Newbolds leave Caroline will have 6 months left on a Prime Time (over 50s) membership for Eden Fitness which she would be happy to transfer to a new member at a discount!  It’s a very nice gym with a pool & spa and lots of classes included in the membership fee.  Caroline has some guest passes if you’d like to try it out - speak to her if you want to know more.
 
Christmas Appeal
Our Christmas appeal this year was for Tearfund and Ealing Churches winter Night Shelter. We raised £2,486 (including gift aid), to be split equally between both charities. Thank you to all who donated.
 
Ealing Foodbank
Please click here for the latest shopping list.
 
Update from one of our Mission Partners
Please click here for an update from Ellie Maffett.
 
Parish Prayer
These are the streets in our parish we are praying for this fortnight – please do pray for all who live there and for people to come to know Jesus:
Castlebar Court
Castlebar Mews
Castlebar Road
Castlebar Park
 
Prayer for the Week
Eternal Lord,
our beginning and our end:
bring us with the whole creation
to your glory, hidden through past ages
and made known
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.