† STUDY the Scripture every day. In light of what I have read, what is God calling me to be or to do today?

† PRAY at least three times a day [Please add to your prayers]

St. Stephen’s Rule of Life

Readings for Next Sunday - September 9, 2018 (16h Sunday after Pentecost)

Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Psalm 125; James 2: 1-10, 14-17; Mark 7: 24-37

† GIVE regularly to support the Church’s ministry [envelopes, gifts, talents and time] † LIVE for God, our Church and others [be just, loving, peaceful and caring]

Birthday Blessings

Merceline Keen (4th), Jeanette Baker (8th), Roe-Anne Roberts (8th)

Birthday Prayer: Watch over these, Your children, O Lord, as their days increase. Bless and guide them wherever they may be; strengthen them when they stand, comfort them when they are discouraged and sorrowful, raise them up if they fail, and in their hearts may your peace which surpasses all understanding abide with them all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sick &

Recovering

Alton Ballantyne, George Barnett, Courtney Bolden, Dophne Bolden, Coralee Campbell, Thelma Edwards, Kathleen Ellis, Rueben Grant, Nellie Greenidge, Lily Griggs, Andrew Gunraj, Carmen Hibbert, Ena Hordatt, Rita John, Torrette Knight, Felicia McCalla, Paul Patterson, Kathleen Reid, Rema Yellery, Joan Singh, Hyacinth Nwosu, Dorine Russell, Fitzgerald Grant.

Sick Friends

Abigail Barran, Rosette Bartley, Jacqueline Brady, Mohani Budhwa, Joyce Burpee, Angie Chung, Aubrey, Diane and Veroni-ca Eastman Norma Elcock, Joyce Griffiths, Donna Henriques, Evelyn Hordatt, Margaret Hudson, Enric Johnson, Audrey Laidlaw, Tania Leon, Kyle McIntosh, Robert Sinclair, Nolan Tel-fer, Charles Warrington, Joyce Williams, Junior Williams, Mi-chael Allder, Ken Bahadhur, Jaleel Burton, Neville Tennant, Randy Peters, Kushal Umashankar, James Mungra, Taticia Lin-ton, Susan Budnic, Roland Coy, Ian Nero,Benedicta Emilia Hadad, The Venerable Gbenga Oniye, Roland Otto.

This Week’s Readings for Daily Devotion

Mon. –Ps. 25 Job 12: 1-6, 13-25 Jn. 8: 21-30

Tue. –Ps. 26, 28 Job 12: 1; 13: 3-17, 21-27 Jn. 8: 31-47

Wed. –Ps. 38 Job 12: 1; 14: 1-22 Jn. 8: 47-59

Thu. –Ps. 37: 1-18 Job 16: 16-22, 17: 1, 13-16 Jn. 9: 1-17

Fri. –Ps. 31 Job 19: 1-7, 14-27 Jn. 9: 18-41

Sat. –Ps. 30, 32 Job. 22: 1-4; 21-23: 7 Jn. 10: 1-18

2259 Jane Street, TORONTO, ON. M3M 1A6

Tel: Office - (416) 241-4639 Fax: Office - (416) 248-5415

Fr. Theadore Hunt

rector@saintstephensdownsview.com

Parish Administrator-- -- office@saintstephensdownsview.com

Website www.saintstephensdownsview.com

MISSION

To worship God, creating a caring, Christian community,

through growth and celebration, using our gifts and talents to reach out in love to others.

OUR MOTTO

Bearing witness by faith and works.

OUR PRIORITIES

Christian Education, Youth & Outreach.

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

September 2nd, 2018

SUNG EUCHARIST: 10:00AM

WELCOME

A special welcome to all parishioners, visitors & friends.

We invite visitors to sign our Visitors Book.

If you do not have a Church home we invite you to make the

Church of St. Stephen your spiritual haven.

BE THOUGHTFUL & REVERENT

Before Service:

Talk with God

During Service:

Let God talk to you

After Service:

Talk with each other

The Father brought us forth by the word of truth

that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

James 1:18

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.' You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition." Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile." For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

LETS REFLECT Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Ministries Fair 2018: Join us on Sunday September 9th immediately following the 10:30am service to learn more about the opportunities available for offering your-self in support of the mission and ministry of St. Stephen, Downsview. "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who acti-vates all of them in everyone." (1 Cor. 12:4-6 NRSV)

Invited: Exploring Genuine Christian Invitation - Come and join us on Saturday September 15th and 22nd from 9am - 3:30pm as we consider important questions such as: Why invite?, Whose invitation is it anyway?, So who is invited?, What gets in the way of us inviting? What does inviting look like today? and What are the risks & rewards of inviting? Our prayer is that these sessions will inspire and equip us as Christians to share our faith, and to invite our family, friends, colleagues and neigh-bors to explore a relationship with God for themselves."

Back to Church Sunday: Inviting our friends and neighbors to church is one of the simplest and perhaps underutilized steps in evangelism. Did you know that 82% of the un-churched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited?Sunday September 23rd will be observed as Back to Church Sunday, and we encourage you to extend an invitation to your friends, siblings, cousins, neighbor, classmate, or co-worker who might either have been to church in the past or never before. We all know of someone we might invite, and whose relationship with God we might pray for."

Offering Envelopes for 2019: Please contact the office and leave a message if you would like envelopes for 2018 or there are changes to your information for 2018. Alternately, you may print your name and address and place it in the collec-tion plate. Deadline: Sunday, September 23. Thank you

Early Christmas Gifts: are available for Talent 2018. 'One of a kind Hand Knitted' Hats - $10, Set of Hats & Scarves - $15, Ear Warmers - $5. Orders will be availa-ble for pick up on Sunday, September 30.

Regular Schedule of services: will resume on Sunday, September 9th."

Please let us know: If you are ill, or if you know of another member of the parish who is ill or in hospital, please contact the Parish Office to let us know at 416-241-4639.

Advisory Board Meeting: The next meeting of the Advisory Board will be on Saturday, September 8th at 10 am.

Next Service of Holy Baptism: Sunday, September 16th (Feast of Holy Cross). Application forms are available from the parish office.

Thursday Evening Small Group Bible Study - The Thursday evening Bible Study will resume on September 13th at 7pm. This term we will be studying the Gospel of John. Please come and join us as we delve into this theologically rich and rewarding gospel. Please speak with Fr. Theadore to secure your study materials.

LAST WEEK’S

STATISTICS

ATTENDANCE

107

OFFERINGS

$1, 771.25

YTD

$88, 076.25

BUDGET

$2,966

Let’s Communicate, Connect and Collaborate

Tuesday @7pm Prayer & Bible Study (Resumes Sept. 11)

Wednesdays @ 11am-12:30pm Saints Café

Wednesday @1pm-2pm Soul Food (Resumes Sept. 12)

Thursday @7pm Bible Study (Resumes Sept. 13)

Thursday @7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal (Resumes Sept.)

This Week At St. Stephen’s

10: 00 a.m. Service

Ushers Hilton, Margaret, Tellece, Leroy

Chalice: Ericka M., Margaret Q.

Readers: Orphtee Q., Chinery N.

Gospeller: Rev’ Theadore H.

Intercessor: Bev B.

Altar Guild: Jeanette B., Margaret H.

Counters: Pauline, Wendy, Tellece, Orphtee Servers: Chante, Briana, Ladainian, Christian, Bryan

To

da

y’s

Min

iste

rs

10: 00 a.m. Service

Ushers Lotoya, Pauline, Daisy, Roslyn

Chalice: Kwame M. (9 AM); Allan A., Nicole D.

Readers: Janet M., Samuel N.

Gospeller: Rev’ Theadore H.

Intercessor: Hyacinth N.

Altar Guild: Jeanette B., Margaret H.

Counters: Janet, Winsome, Hyacinth, Monica Servers: TBA

Next week’s Ministers

Job 7:19

When I was a young boy, I imagined God as an omnipotent version of my par-

ents, watching me every hour of the day. Every sin, even the smallest misstep,

was seen from on high and recorded in the great book of my blunders.

I now understand this was a distorted and wonky image of God, one that put

no emphasis on God’s mercy. So what image are we to use to imagine God?

The Bible supplies us with many possibilities. God is portrayed as a mighty

king, a great counselor, and a nursing mother. The images of a mother hen

protecting her chicks, dazzling light, and a consuming fire are also used to

describe God.

When you think of God, what picture forms in your mind? Do you see God as

a mother with a smile on her face or a father with a scowl? Do you imagine the

warmth of the sun or the cold of winter? Images form our theology.

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OUR COMMUNITY

THE GATHERING

Processional Hymn 45BB - Crown Him with Many Crowns

CALL TO WORSHIP Priest The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. People And also with you. Priest Almighty God,

To you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen

Priest Glory to God in the Highest, Page 186 The Collect: Page 377

Praise & Worship: 54BB - My Tribute

THE WORD

First Reading: Song of Solomon 2: 8–13

Psalm: 45:1–2, 7–10

Second Reading: James 1: 17–27

Gradual Hymn: 308BB - There Is a Redeemer

Chorus: Ancient Words

Gospel: Mark 7: 1–8, 14–15, 21–23

Chorus: Ancient Words

Sermon : Rev. Theadore Hunt

THE RESPONSE

The Apostle's Creed Page 189

Prayers of the People

The Response to each petition is:

Come to our aid.

Confession & Absolution

Priest Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in

mercy; he welcomes sinners and invites them to his table. Let us

confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.

Priest Most merciful God,

All: We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your son Jesus Christ , have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Priest Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen

THE SACRAMENT

Offertory Hymn 406BB - Wonderful Words of Life Prayer over The Gifts Page 378 Eucharistic Prayer #3 Page 198

The Lord’s Prayer (West Indian) Communion Hymns 393BB - Breathe on Me, Breath of God

692BB - God Will Take Care of You

638BB - I Need Thee Every Hour

Ablutions 478BB - Have You Any Room for Jesus Prayer after communion Page 378 Glory to God Page 214

THE BLESSING & DISMISSAL

Priest: The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and Love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be amongst you and remain with you always. All: Amen Welcome & Announcements

Recessional Hymn 416BB - We’re Marching to Zion

Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.