Sunday School meets in the Vestry
Sunday Youth meets in the Glebe Maisonette
Small Children are welcome to play in St Thomas's Chapel, near the porch
Baptised Communicants of other Churches are encouraged to receive communion
Children and other non-communicants are invited to come to the altar for a blessing
The Ministry of Healing is offered in the Chapel, after Communion is given

This Thursday (May 25th) at 7.30pm is the Confirmation Service for St Stephen and St Thomas and St Michael and St George. There are 25 people of all ages due to be confirmed and so the church will be packed – come in good time if you don’t want to be disappointed. Brenda and Frank are co-ordinating the refreshments afterwards. There will be a rehearsal in church for the candidates on Monday at 7.30pm.

Youth Work News
1 Deposit due in end May Walsingham Residental for  Agust 7-11. The trip costs £65. Deposit due in end May. Prices goes up in June, so hurry, places are filling up, contact Elaine, 020 87461823/07917166775.
 
2 Tuesday evenings 7:30-9:00pm, 13+ youth club @ St Stephens Church- Music, Singing, Dance and Acting.You will be welcomed.
 
3 Holiday club at St Michael Church Hall, White City May 30th -June 2nd, between 9am-1pm.Theme (The Parables)
 
Don’t forget to check www.stmg.org.uk/stephen_thomas for details of the sermon

Processional Hymn     260           Morning has broken

Collect of the Day
God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading                 Acts 10.44-48                                    (p. 561)
44While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Second Reading          1 John 5.1-6                                      (p.562)
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  6This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

Gradual Hymn               155           Paschal Feast! Upon the cross

Alleluia, alleluia. I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore
All         Alleluia.

GOSPEL                         John 15.9-17                                      (p.563)

Coffee in Church after the service

Post Communion (6th of Easter) ©  1985 Anglican Church of Canada: The Book of Alternative Services. Invitation to Confession (Easter Day until Eve of Ascension) ©  1988 Continuum (Mowbray) (Adapted). Some material included in this service is copyright: ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA. Some material included in this service is copyright: ©  The Archbishops' Council 2000)

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

NEXT SUNDAY:        28 May 2006   Sunday after Ascension Day

10 am SUNG EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
Acts 1.15-17,21-26 (p 564) 1 John 5.9-13 (p 565) John 17.6-19 (p 566)

Home Communion – Available to any unable to come on a Sunday.  Talk to Father Bob (8743 3166) if you or anyone else might be interested.

Any enquiries about pastoral concerns, baptisms, weddings or funerals please get in touch with either Bob Mayo, the vicar, or Sarah Archer, the Associate-Vicar at St Michaels. The only time that Bob will be unavailable is between Friday pm and Sunday am.

Bookings for the Parish Hall are dealt with by the Parish Secretary, Jill Wigney.  To make a booking please telephone Jill on 020 8740 9879 or email ststephensw12@london.anglican.org The Parish Secretary is away this week.

Visit the church web site at www.stmg.org.uk/stephen_thomas.