On Sunday 16th December, various groups from the St Stephen’s Community (Guides, Scouts, Brownies, ‘Little Treasures’ Toddlers, Choir and Church members young and old) came together to produce a ‘Christmas Stocking’ musical extravaganza.  Just as different gifts are extracted from a stocking on Christmas Day, so each group came with its own talent and gift which had been prepared:  a song, a carol, a skit or a play.

A great time was had by all (including by Fr John, who played the role of a gumpy innkeeper), and after carols were sung, everyone enjoyed mince pies and refreshments.

Monies collected at the event were donated to the Tumaini Fund and to Mission Aviation Fellowship.

Many thanks to Ann Goss for the organisation of this pleasant afternoon – the beginning of a new tradition at St Stephen’s?

 

During the months of December, January and February, St Stephen’s is privileged to welcome Joshua (‘Josh’) Paine to our parish.

Josh, a Guernsey native, works as Assistant Registrar at the Guernsey Harbour Authority and is married to José.

They have one daughter, Jemimah, who lives in London.

Josh and Jo worship at Holy Trinity Church in St Peter Port and have been involved in various activities and ministries of that church over the years.

Recently, Josh decided to gain a broader experience of the Anglican Church in Guernsey and asked if he could join us for a time.

We are obviously delighted!

Thanks to hours of patient, hard work put in by Anne Le Maitre, Beth Bourgaize and their mother Dorothy Harper, St Stephen’s Church was appropriately decorated for the Requiem Mass which was celebrated on Remembrance Sunday (11th November).

A beautiful tribute to those men and women who sacrificed themselves for us and our freedom.

From 6th-10th August, Fr John Moore provided short talks on Guidelines, the daily programme aired by BBC Radio Guernsey.

Given the brilliant summer weather that we have had recently, Fr John chose various scenes from the Bible that take place in the sea as a basis for his reflections.

Scriptures used for the talks included:

• Exodus 14 (the parting of the Red Sea)
• Jonah 1 and 2 (the swallowing of Jonah by a giant fish)
• Luke 5. 1-3 (Jesus preaches from Simon’s boat on the Sea of Galilee)
• Mark 4. 35-41 (Christ calms the wind and the waves in the Sea of Galilee)
• Matthew 14. 22-33 (Our Lord walks on the water of the Sea of Galilee and encourages Peter to do the same).

 

From 7th-16th June, St Stephen’s organised a Tree of Jesse Festival in honour of its world-renowned William Morris stained glass windows.

The Festival featured a floral carpet, showcasing roundels decorated by various members of the St Stephen’s Community and depicting eight of the biblical characters in the church’s Tree of Jesse window.

The Festival also enabled Higher National Diploma students from the College of Further Education to display work of their own, inspired by the designs of William Morris and his Arts and Crafts movement.

 

On Tuesday 1st May St Stephen’s celebrated a Mass inaugurating the Month of Mary, to be celebrated throughout May.

Cantores Coutances, an ensemble of vocalists specialising in Medieval music, was invited to sing at the Mass and performed pieces by Josquin des Prés.

At the end of the Mass, the statue of Our Lady was given a a crown of flowers, which will remain until the end of the Month.

On 16th April, The Art Fund of Guernsey invited Steve Clare to come to the island to speak about the Conservation and Renewal of Stained Glass.

In his lecture, Mr Clare spoke extensively of the proposed restoration of the William Morris stained glass windows at St Stephen’s Church.

Mr Clare, who is a Fellow of the British Society of Master Glass Painters, a Conservator accredited by the Institute of Conservation, and National Adviser for Stained Glass for the National Trust, is the founder of Holy Well Glass Ltd.

This year, thanks to the able help of Nic and Nicky Jee, Anne Le Maitre and Beth Bourgaize, the Easter Garden of St Stephen’s has been renovated.

The tomb and its stone have been re-covered with materials that are intended to make the tomb look more realistic.

The renovation, as evidenced in the photos shown here, is a complete success.

He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

 

 

Just prior to the Great Vigil of Easter, Nic and Nicky Jee decorated the entrance to St Stephen’s Church.

This year, the theme chosen is ‘What would God plant in his garden?’

Various flowers, all of them beautiful, express what the divine garden would look like:

Daffodils – representing New Beginnings

Arum Lilies – representing Faith

Daisies – representing Hope

Forget-me-nots – representing Love

Ox-eye Daisies – representing Patience

Asters – representing Trust

Sweet Peas – representing Gratitude

Pink Roses – representing Grace

Purple Hyacinths – representing Forgiveness

Primroses – representing Eternal Love.

 

Many thanks to Nic and Nicky for their wonderful, creative contribution!

 

On Friday 23rd March, the William Morris Exhibit produced by The Ladies’ College opened at St Stephen’s Church.

The exhibit showcases creative and original stained glass designs produced by students in Year 7 (‘Remove’).

The project, which was overseen by Art and Design Teacher Mr Julian Bolt, enabled students to study William Morris and his remarkable artistic contributions to the pre-Raphaelite Movement during the 19th century.

The exhibit will remain on display at St Stephen’s Church until the beginning of June.