St. Stephen’s News
Letter May – June 2004 June some
news items that are happening in our parish in the coming
weeks. Congratulations
to David Freed after he was elected Churchwarden. Congratulations
to Miss Iris Duke on being elected Deputy Churchwarden.
Also congratulations to Mr. Jeff Farley on becoming a
member of the PCC. Here are
some dates for your diary: Prayer
Ministry Course reminder Wednesday
26th May Wednesday
9th June Wednesday
16th June Meetings
will be held at St. Philip’s Church coffee lounge at
Tuesday
25th May : John Fowler is coming to talk to
the Mothers’ Sunday 30th
May : parish prayer and praise at St. Philip’s
Church at During
half-Term a children’s activity morning is being
planned. A provisional date of Tuesday 1st
June has been set aside. This will be held at St. Stephen’s
in the hall. Details to follow from Pricilla. Next
service at St. Stephen’s is on Sunday 6th
June, families from the half-term activity day are
welcome. Sunday 20th
June; Preacher C Morgan-Jones, Children to be involved in
the service. Sunday 27th
June Joint service in All Saints Church for parish
schools day. Service to be held at For
future reference St. Stephen’s day trip to
Ashburnham on Sunday 18th July. This will
include family Eucharist. Picnic lunch is required. More
details to follow from Marion Brooks. John
Penfold would like to thank you all for your kind
messages and support at the confirmation service at St.
Mary’s Ashford. Many thanks it was much appreciated. It has
been suggested that we set up a Sunday School at St.
Stephen’s. we will spend this time looking into
items relevant to the service. But in a way that is
suitable to the children and their level of
understanding. Anyone who thinks this is a good idea
please see Nikki Penfold after the service. I will be
quite happy to set this up and run it each service. Ideas
or help would be great. I hope you will support me in
this new idea. It will be a good way of teaching the
children more about the Bible and what the readings are
all about in their own language. A
letter from our new Deputy Churchwarden Thank you
for electing me as your Deputy Churchwarden. This with
the election of a member of the PCC (Jeff Farley) is
another step forward (long overdue in my opinion) to
making t. Stephen’s congregation an integral part in
the formal; structure of the parish. I am uncertain at
the moment just what this will mean in practice. But I
promise you that I will listen to and value any
suggestions you have to make. I do ask that you pray for
me and for guidance for me in this new situation. I have,
for a long time, had a dream for St. Stephen’s, and
more recently a fear for t. Stephen’s. A dream of us
growing into a lively, joyous congregation that becomes
known in the surrounding area for the sincerity and depth
of our worship, and for our service and care for each
other and those in the community around us. A
congregation that will draw others to come and join us,
so that together we can do our part in creating God’s
Kingdom here on earth, and particularly on Tovil. For
this to happen we have to be prepared for change,
possibly for a new way of doing things, that may be
difficult for some of us. The
Archdeacon in his address on Tuesday 11th May
said that change is inevitable: that it should take place
in an atmosphere of peace and courage, confident that God
is with us if we listen, and act according to the leading
of the Holy Spirit. My fear
for St. Stephen’s is a more recent one. It’s
that if we do not try to follow this way we will continue
to decrease in numbers and become non-viable as a
separate part of the parish. Our congregation is not
growing, we need new members. Yours Iris Duke
|