Visit the church web site at www.ststephensw12.org. You can read all the latest news about the parish. You can also read the sermons which are posted each week

Christmas Programme at St Stephens
         Saturday December 8th - Christmas Party at the vicarage
         Tuesday December 11th (6.30pm) - BBC Carol Service
         Sunday  December 16th (10am) - Sung Mass
         Monday December 17th (9.00am) - St Stephens School Carol Service
         Friday    December 21st (6pm) - QPR Carol Service (Ticket only)
         Sunday  December 23rd (10am) - Crib Service
         Monday December 24th (11.30pm) - Midnight Mass

Thank you to everyone who contributed money to help Felix in Ghana whose village has been flooded. We were able to send him £125. He sent me the following text ‘I have come to the city for the money and I am now going back to the village. We have to work hard in the farm for a good harvest next season. Styay blerssed father and remember me to everyone at St Stephens. I read all the emails you send and it touches my heart’ Felix was a member of our congregation before being forced to return.

If anyone has any more money they can give talk to me. Any money you give will go straight into the hands of a hard working, honourable family struggling to make ends meet.

Processional Hymn           
        
Collect of the Day
Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading                 Colossians 1.11-20                        (p.1057)
Brothers and sisters: 11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, 12while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers – all things have been created through him and for him. 17He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Gradual Hymn                             

GOSPEL                         Luke 23.33-43                                  (p.1058)
33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ 38There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ 39One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ 40But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

Amazing love, oh what sacrifice
The Son of God, given for me
My debt He paid, and my death He died
That I might live, that I might live

INTERCESSIONS
Please pray for
- The sick and suffering: especially Felix Okike, Lucilda Bernard, Joan Andrew, Elizabeth Dorsett, Ivy Smith, Susie Leach, Norbert Edwards, Brother Paul Anthony, Sylvia Steed, Caroline Nevill, Tracey Davies, Esmay Young, Roger Cox.

Offertory Hymn       
                    
Communion Hymn        
            
Post Communion Prayer
Stir up, O Lord,  the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recessional Hymn

Coffee in church after the service

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. Post Communion (Christ the King) © The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

NEXT SUNDAY:            2 December 2007         First Sunday of Advent

10 am CHRISTINGLE SERVICE WITH ALL AGE WORSHIP
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
Romans 13.11-14 (p 2), Matthew 24.36-44 (p 3)

Sunday School meets in St Stephen’s school
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

What about today’s Reading?
1. What does the power of Jesus Christ do for us?
2. What does Paul ask us to do?
3. Of what is Jesus the head?
4. What was the purpose of Jesus' death on the cross?

St Stephen’s Christmas Party - Saturday 8th December at 4 pm in the Vicarage - maximum numbers of 35. If you are interested see Barry or Liz Clarke.

Christmas Services – see church web site for details

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 Father Bob. The only time that Bob will be unavailable is between Friday pm and Sunday am.