News from St Stephen's
September 2007

10th Anniversary of Mini Market

On 8 September 2007 we celebrated 10 years of mini markets at St Stephens Church.  Originally started by Alison, as a means of raising funds for our 'building bridges in the community' project, the mini markets have proved so popular they are still happening 10 years on.  We may have started out fundraising but over the years the mini markets have built into an outreach for our community.

They are held on the second Saturday in each month, from 
9.30 am-11.30 am. We welcome about 200 people through our doors to browse at the stalls, which include books, toys, jigsaws, cakes, plants, gifts, bric-a-brac, music and clothes. Each month we also invite different charities to bring a stall to help with their fundraising. Our cafe is very popular with its wonderful cakes made by willing volunteers every month. The church sanctuary is always open for those looking for a quiet moment and our minister is usually available for a chat.

The mini markets require regular commitment from many people at St Stephens without whom it would not have been possible.  A big thank you to all who make the mini markets so successful, for turning up faithfully each month, for baking, sorting items, etc.  It takes a long time preparing, setting up stalls and putting away all the items and any extra help is always welcome on a Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.

Alison's stall	10th Anniversary cake
Bric-a-brac stall	Book stall
The ladies in the cafe	Important job - providing tea to the stall holders

Junior Mission for All (JMA)

                                             JMA box, certificate and badges
 

Last year 42,000 children collected £600,000 for JMA, an average of £14 per annum per child.  £4 out of every £5 is used to fund projects abroad and the other £1 is used in Britain:

Some of the money has been used for the following:

Lithuania - training for local preacher
Zimbabwe - improvements to schools
Ghana and Sierra Leone - doctors and nurses
India - helping children escape trafficking
India - helping children recover from tsunami
Brazil - working in a Street Children's Project

At St Stephen's we have 34 children and 8 adults who have collecting boxes, plus the Junior Guild. £566.94 has been collected since last September plus £120 that was raised at the March mini market for the JMA Bangladesh Appeal, which funds people so they can learn basic skills in carpentry, building, plumbing etc.

Our JMA collectors get a magazine every quarter and a badge and certificate at the end of each 12 month period.

The JMA prayer
I promise to learn, pray and serve with the
worldwide church of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday Church

We are holding informal gatherings fortnightly at St Stephens.  The evenings start at 7.15pm and it is an opportunity for us to get together over a cuppa and have a time of praise and prayer, after which we go into groups.  Groups  include Bible Study on a book of the New Testament and discussions.  Come along and give it a try on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month.

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