Thanks to the hard work of a number of people at St Stephen’s, the interior of the church was more attractive than ever this Christmas.

Particular thanks are due to Nic Jee, Anne Le Maitre, Beth Bourgaize, Tony and Marg Kaines, Ann and Tony Goss, Judith Keen, Freddie Humphreys, Kate McCall, Avril Bazille-Corbin, Nikki Attwooll, Christine Shaw and Jean Le Huray.

Their efforts have made St Stephen’s a place where we can find not only beauty and peace; here we can sense, in a very special way, the presence of God.

‘Glory to God in the highest’.  To us this day a Saviour is born.

 

 

 

Thanks to the creativity of Nicky Jee, when people arrived at St Stephen’s Church for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the entrance of the church had been transformed into a lovely, snow-covered German village, replete with its own church (with stained glass windows, to boot).

We are so grateful for this imaginative contribution to our Christmas worship.

 

 

On Sunday 15th December, St Stephen’s Church organised its second ‘Christmas Stocking’ afternoon.

Various members of the St Stephen’s community were on hand to provide entertainment:  the Church Choir, the Guides and Brownies, the St Stephen’s Sunday Club and the Scouts.

At the end, a Nativity Play was performed by various members of the St Stephen’s congregation, joined by the Little Treasures Toddlers’ Group and all of the other children.

The afternoon finished with a reception at the back of the church.  A good time was had by all!

Monies collected on the day were given to contribute to the work of Home Start Guernsey, which offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday 24th November, St Stephen’s Church celebrated the Feast of Christ the King.

At the Family Service at 9.30am, parents and children donned crowns that had been made by the Sunday Club and marched in a procession at the end of the Mass, singing ‘Make Way’.

We were reminded not only of our Lord’s place as King of Kings and King of our lives, but also of the fact that ‘if we endure, we shall also reign with him’ (2 Timothy 2. 12).

Many thanks to Andrea Bateman and her team for making such beautiful crowns!

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 Saturday 19th October, the Rt Revd Trevor Willmott presided at a service of re-dedication of the famous William Morris stained glass windows at St Stephen’s Church.

As the Bishop sprinkled holy water on the renovated windows, he was accompanied by various members of the St Stephen’s community (Sunday Club, uniformed organisations, St Stephen’s Players, Guernsey College of Further Education).

Over one hundred people attended the service.  Bishop Trevor said, ‘This is a significant moment, not just for St Stephen’s, but for the Church on the island.’

 

On Sunday 29th September, St Stephen’s celebrated its Harvest Festival.

At the 9.30am Mass, members of the Sunday Club performed in a funny and creative sketch about the ‘Parable of the Sower’.  At the end of the service, two members of the Sunday Club were baptised and congratulated by all of the church family.

At the 11.00am Mass, we considered what it means to offer our ‘first-fruits’ to God; and as we did so, we were surrounded by beautiful Harvest decorations provided by Kate McCall and members of her team.  It is obvious that Kate has a real gift for interior design!

 

On Sunday 26th May (Rogation Sunday), a group of children and adults visited the Meadow Court Farm in St Andrew’s, where they were given a fabulous tour.

The group saw the cows returning back to the farm from the fields, the milking of the cows using special machines and young calves (one was only 3 days old) in a separate barn.

Following the tour, the group tasted a selection of delicious cheeses (made from the milk produced at the farm) and biscuits. Many thanks to Ray Watts for a wonderful visit and to Tony and Ann Goss for organising it!

 

On Wednesday 22nd May, Fr John was invited to address the Monthly Prayer Breakfast of the States of Deliberation of Guernsey, presided by Jonathan Le Tocq, Secretary of State and Minister for External Affairs.

Using Acts 15 as his text, Fr John suggested that the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem was instructive both for the States of Guernsey and for the modern-day Christian Church.

 

On Saturday 27th April, St Stephen’s organised a posh Spring Tea Party which was held in the Community Centre.  Ladies were invited to wear hats and men were asked to don buttonholes.  Guests were then royally spoilt by a magnificent collection of sandwiches, quiches, cakes and tarts.

Many thanks to Jean Le Huray and her team for all of their hard work, and to everyone for looking so elegant!