The licensing of the Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership’s new Anglican Minister and Team Rector and Leader, the Rev Chi Okpala, will be on Wednesday 4^th September at 7.30pm at St James Church New Bradwell.

St James Church, New Bradwell

Members of his congregation in Wolverton are also invited to come. Bishop Steven will be leading this service. There will be refreshments after the service.

There will be a Welcoming service for the Rev Phil Dunning, our new Baptist Minister and Vision Enabler Leader, on Saturday September 14 at 2pm. This will be held at Christ Church, Stantonbury.

Members of his current congregation in South Wales are also invited to come. Lisa Kerry, or her colleague will be leading this service. There will be refreshments after the service.

These news items are just two of those featured in the July SEP Newsletter which you can read in full here.

Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership breaks new ground from Monday July 1 when a centralised administration system begins for all six churches.

This volunteer admin support is to be based at Christ Church, Stantonbury, but volunteers to cover the hours from 10am to 12 noon do not need to use this office. Any calls to the centralised number, 01908 382458, for any of the six churches can be redirected to volunteers’ mobile or home numbers so they can remain at home.

The move has been spearheaded by chair of the Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership Council Sharron Marland who said the idea is relieve the pressure on the reduced number of full time ministers.

Sharron said: “I went to see Mason’s Funeral Directors and they removed about 12 numbers that they had for us. The manager said she was relieved to have just one number, as she does for all the other Local Ecumenical Partnerships.”

Volunteers are still needed to cover all the hours (10am-12noon Monday to Saturday). Contact Sharron at secchair22@gmail.com if you can help. Outside the designated hours it will be possible to leave a voicemail.