Monday 29th January 2024

It was good to see so many in church again yesterday.  Caroline Newbold preached on the account in Luke’s gospel where Jesus is presented in the Temple.  She encouraged us to keep trusting in God through our waiting times, cultivate good spiritual practices that will help us stay faithful & regularly ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can be a witness in our families and communities.   
 
At the service we also thanked Naomi Rattrey for her many years of services in leading  the St Stephen’s Soup Kitchen team.  We are still in need of a new leader and so if you feel stirred to help out please let one of the clergy team know.  You can watch yesterday’s service here.

Yesterday was also a very special day as we celebrated with the Yarrall family the end of Owen’s treatment for cancer.  We are so thrilled to see healing in his life and it was lovely to mark the day together.  I am moved by the strength of faith of Jon and Tina who have rarely missed Sunday church services during this time and have continued to support church life in so many ways.  They have been an amazing example of what it is to live out your faith in testing times and I have been so encouraged by their witness - thank you and bless you lovely Yarralls.

Next Sunday (4th), as well as our 9am Communion Service and 10.30am All Age Worship,  there is a New Wine Celebration at St Paul’s Ealing at 6.30pm.  The speaker is Damilola Makinde who works at Kings Cross Church and at the Evangelical Alliance. She is passionate about being a witness to Jesus in public through thoughtful Christian engagement in the key cultural and political issues of our time.

Steve