On Sunday 28th February, St Stephen’s Church celebrated its first Family Service at 9.30am.
Given that the day was also the Feast of the Presentation of Christ at the Temple (Candlemass), the service focused on Christ as being the one who brings us light, love and truth.
At the end of the service, the children processed out of church holding candles!
From 22nd – 28th January, Fr John Moore was asked to provide daily reflections for the Guidelines programme aired by BBC Radio Guernsey.
The reflections were designed to help listeners mark, and participate in, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
In 2018, the theme for this week was ‘Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power’.
On Wednesday 17th January, Fr John Moore addressed members of the States of Guernsey at their Prayer Breakfast, on the topic ‘Gaining Wisdom’.
On 13th January, Fr John Moore led a Quiet Day at Holy Trinity Church, located in St Peter Port.
The theme of the Day was ‘Called to Freedom’ and included a study of the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15. 11-32), using the method of lectio divina.
On Friday 17th November, a Taizé service was organised at St Stephen’s Church to launch the Guernsey 72-hour Weekend of Prayer.
The theme of the service was ‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing’; and a number of people attended from various parishes on the Island.
On Saturday 18th November, like other parishes in Guernsey, St Stephen’s held an ‘Hour of Prayer’ at 11.30am, during which those present prayed for the Diocese of Canterbury, the work of all Christian churches on the Island, and for other important needs of the world-at-large.
We believe that our prayers were heard and are impatient to see what God will do!
During the week of 30th October – 5th November, Fr John Moore was invited to provide meditations on BBC Radio Guernsey, during a week that is very significant in the Christian tradition.
This week, churches across the world celebrate All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day; and Fr John provided reflections about the importance of these feasts today, in spite of more recent secular influences.
From 2nd-6th October 2017, St Stephen’s Church organised its second island-wide Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.
Pilgrims included members of four Church of England parishes in Guernsey, as well as other ‘Guernsey friends’ now based in the UK.
The Pilgrimage offered a wonderful opportunity to spend time with God and with each other.
If you are interested in attending the Pilgrimage next year, please contact Fr John Moore.
The Dean of Guernsey, the Very Revd Tim Barker announced on 8th May that Fr John Moore and the Revd John Honour had been appointed Vice-Deans of Guernsey. The Dean and Vice-Deans share a portfolio of responsibilities including safeguarding, church buildings, finance, the Ecclesiastical Court, vacancies, pastoral care of clergy and readers, arrangements for chapter meetings, mission strategy, stewardship and building relationships for mission with other churches in Guernsey.
The Vice-Deans will be admitted to office on 6th June.
On Easter Day, St Stephen’s joyfully celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ at two Masses (said and sung) in the morning.
At the beginning of the Sung Mass at 11.00am, a procession was organised and the (empty) Easter Tomb was blessed.
People of all ages were delighted as they were given chocolate eggs to help them share the joy!
On Holy Saturday at 8.00pm, St Stephen’s held an Easter Vigil, followed by the celebration of the First Mass of Easter.
The service was attended by representatives of three parishes in Guernsey: St Michel du Valle (Vale), St Philippe (Torteval) and St Stephen’s.
Clergy from the three parishes brought Paschal candles, blessed them, and lit them from the New Fire.
All joined in the following prayer as the Service of Light began:
‘Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your one true light:
set us aflame with the fire of your love,
and bring us to the radiance of your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.’
