Meeting in St Stephen’s room on Saturday January 26th at 10.00am

… even if not on the Flower Rota, do come, we are always looking for willing helpers!!!

Look forward to seeing you then,

Rosemary and Tina

Lighthouse and Solid Rock youth groups are on this Wednesday at The Annexe, North Mundham Village hall.

Lighthouse 5.45 – 7pm for school years 3 – 5

Solid Rock 7 – 8.15pm for school years 6 – 8

All are welcome, £1 subs.

Contact Alistair for more info 07780 875837 or akghinn@gmail.com

Prayer meeting this Tuesday morning

9.15 – 10.15 at the Cabin, St Leodegars Church, Hunston.

All are welcome

If anybody would like to join James Russell and Joe Russell-Wells in forming a church team to compete in the Chichester Corporate Challenge on Feb 27th, March 13th and March 27th please do let us know. Men and Women welcome. James  (782003 or russell.j760@gmail.com) Joe (536088 or wellwellwells@hotmail.co.uk). Come on, we can do this thing!

If you are able to help on the refreshments team at St.Stephen’s serving tea and coffee after our morning service it would be hugely appreciated. Glen, Eileen, Heather, Doris and others have been doing a magnificent job for a number of years now but if others felt able to come on board too it would be much appreciated. Please do talk to one of the present team or to James if you are able to help.

James

If you are not already on the roll, please click here to download an application form.

To all our friends at St Stephen’s and St Leodegar’s.

It is with conflicting emotions that I have to announce that we will be leaving the Benefice later this year as I take up a new appointment near Basingstoke in North Hampshire in the Diocese of Winchester. I have been appointed Rector of Overton with Laverstoke and Freefolk and Priest-in-charge of North Waltham, Steventon, Ashe and Deane – nothing like as unwieldy as it sounds I might add!

Needless to say, a decision like this is never made lightly. We will, of course, be very sad to be saying our goodbyes to you all but, at the same time, we feel excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for us. We sense that God is leading us on this next stage of our journey and for ourselves and our wider family the timing feels right.

Pending further confirmation, we will expect to be leaving here in early June with my licensing taking place in St.Mary’s, Overton, in late June or very early July. My formal appointment is, of course, subject to all statutory checks and clearances being completed.

It just leaves me to say that for all of us as we move into 2019 we must continue to trust the future of our Benefice here into God’s hands and we pray for his leading and provision in the months and years ahead.

James

During March there is a Chichester Diocesan requirement to carry out a complete check of the Electoral Roll membership lists.  This is for Church business and is not connected in any way to civil elections.  It can be a lengthy process for those involved so you are requested to assist by playing your part at the earliest opportunity.

In late February all those shown on the existing lists will be e mailed or given a written explanation of what is required along with a new application form.  This form should then be fully completed and passed to the appropriate Electoral Roll Officer by no later than Sunday 24^th March 2019 (a box will be available in each of the Church Porches).  Only those on the new list after that date will be entitled to vote at the annual Parochial Meeting or hold any form of office or appointment in the churches.

Any new and regular attenders at the churches would be welcome to join with application forms available at the rear of the churches.

The Electoral Officers are Jo Williams at Hunston and David Coward at North Mundham.  If you would like to assist with the process, please contact the vicar the reverend James Russell.

Have you got a few hours one morning a month? We are looking to start a Friday club in St Stephen`s Room, St Stephen`s Church from January. We are hoping that you would be willing to do some odd jobs both inside and around the church grounds.  If you feel that you could be part of this group then please contact Colin or Lynn Mears on 01243537190 or 07796402169 or pop along.

The first meeting will be on Friday 11^th January 10am – 12 noon.

During 2018, the service on the 4th Sunday of the month at St Stephen’s has, by design, been a more reflective service without any set liturgy. As part of my continued training as a curate, I am currently doing an assignment which seeks to make recommendations about the future of this service. As well as doing some reading around the key elements of worship and examples of Reflective Services in other churches, I am keen to find out the views on, and wishes for, this service from those who have attended it and from those who have not yet done so. To help me with that, I would be really grateful if you could take 5 minutes to complete a short survey, forms for which are at the back of church. There is a small posting box, also at the back of church, for the forms.  There is no need to put your names on these forms, although I am also looking for volunteers to meet with me, as a one-off focus group, to talk more about the Reflective Services. If you are interested in joining me in this (date and time to be arranged) please speak to me.

Thank you.

Stephen Everard