On Remembrance Sunday, St Stephen’s Church celebrated a Requiem Mass to commemorate those heroes who risked all for their country in time of war.  Dorothy Harper very kindly donated beautiful, hand-crocheted red and purple poppies, which were then wound around the pillars of the church by daughters Anne Le Maître and Beth Bourgaize.

‘Give rest O Christ to thy servant with thy saints:  where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing but life everlasting.  All we go down to the dust; and weeping o’er the grave we make our song:  Alleluya, alleluya, alleluya.’

On 27th September, St Stephen’s Church celebrated its Harvest Festival with a Combined Mass at 10.30am, followed by a magnificent Harvest Lunch in the Community Centre.

The entrance of the church was festooned with a glorious Harvest Arch made by Anna Hamon:

Inside the church, there was a splendid Harvest Display contributed by the Jee Family, to which children and other parishioners brought their gifts of food for the Guernsey Welfare Service:

And elsewhere in the church, all of the windows were decorated with Harvest Arrangements, prepared by a team of parishioners and members of the Rainbows and Guides, all coordinated by Ann Goss and Kate McCall:

Many thanks to all for making our celebration so special!

On Sunday 21st June, St Stephen’s celebrated the arrival of Phase 5 of the easing of lock-down restrictions related to the Coronavirus.

After the 11.00am Sung Mass, the congregation enjoyed a delicious sponge cake made by Rosalyne Le Huray, along with wine.

It was a delight to be able to hear the Choir sing, to sing hymns, liturgical responses and propers, and to have a full team of Servers.

Thanks to all who made this day possible!

 

On Sunday 31st May, St Stephen’s Church re-opened for worship to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost.

Thanks to the generosity of Graham and Val Moullin, all who attended were given ‘notes of hope’ to keep or to send to someone in need of encouragement.

It was wonderful to be back together as a worshipping community; that too gave us hope for the future!

Due to the coronavirus restrictions, a Mass was not celebrated at St Stephen’s Church to commemorate the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord.

However, several parishioners wanted to mark the occasion and to celebrate the fact that the church is now open again for private prayer.

Jean and Rosalyne Le Huray kindly brought bouquets of flowers to greet people as they enter the church and pray in the Lady Chapel:

Christine Shaw (with the help of her son Daniel) decorated the Lady Chapel with floral arrangements that are meant to symbolise the apostles (azaleas) and the Ascension of our Lord (lilies):

And Kate McCall was keen to ensure that anyone who comes to pray at St Stephen’s is given a sign of welcome as they enter the porch:

Many thanks to Jean, Rosalyne, Christine and Kate for these wonderful decorations that make our church warm and welcoming!

On Monday 18th May, following decisions taken by the States of Guernsey, St Stephen’s Church was re-opened for private prayer.

All who wish to come to the church are invited to use the Lady Chapel.

We are thankful to God for this first step back towards being ‘a place of worship and prayer for all’!

 

9th May 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of Guernsey at the end of the Second World War.

St Stephen’s was proud to show its colours and support the celebration!

Despite the fact that the church building is closed until further notice due to the coronavirus, St Stephen’s has been lovingly adorned for Easter.

Nicky Jee, who normally makes the church porch beautiful at this time, sent us this photo, in which the Jee Family has ‘virtually’ decorated the church entrance:

And Kate McCall, who prepared two bouquets of flowers from her garden, has placed them in front of the church door and the Calvary:

Many thanks to Kate and the Jee Family!

Alleluia, Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

 

 

 

 

On Saturday 11th April, those who wish to follow the Great Vigil of Easter may do so using the Mass booklet given here:

Easter Vigil – Year A

and the sermon preached by Fr John Moore is available in the ‘Sermons’ section of the website.

 

On Friday 10th April, those who wish to do so may take part in ‘The Way of the Cross’, a visit of the fourteen Stations of the Cross located within St Stephen’s Church.

The service booklet is available here:

The Way of the Cross – Year A

and the meditations given by Fr John Moore are available in the ‘Sermons’ section of this website.