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St
Stephen's Chapel
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Chapel Life
St.
Stephen's is a living Church and here are some of the ways you can be
involved in the life of the Chapel:
Music - St. Stephen's Choir gathers for Special occasions including the service of Lessons & Carols at Christmas and Broadcast Services. Enthusiatics singers are welcome! Contact Andy Nye via the Chapel Office. We have a small, beautiful pipe organ donated in 2003 by the Fung Family and built by a Dutch firm of organ builders.
St.Stephen's in the City - an informal monthly meeting on Thursday lunchtime at the Cathedral to discuss Questions of Faith. Recent topics include; "How does God speak, and can we hear?", "In the Desert; what when it all stops making sense?" and "Why did Jesus die?". See Upcoming Events for the next date.
Bible Study/Discussion Group - meets weekly during term time; For details Contact Revd Will Newman
Prison Visiting - just a 5 minute walk from St. Stephen's is Stanley Prison, Hong Kong's main high security prison. Prisoners tend to be out of sight and out of mind, but our Christian faith encourages us to visit prisoners and every Friday morning we take a communion service in the prison. Members of the congregation can volunteer to join these visits, by arrangement, and some have found this a deeply moving experience. Contact Revd Will Newman
"When I came in here everyone outside forgot about me. My friends never visit me. They never write to me. But you come and visit me. You care for me. Why do you care for me, but my own friends forget me? I know its because you are Christians" - A prisoner
Helping Out
Members of the congregation are welcomed and encouraged to help out and get involved in the life of the Chapel. Please contact the Chapel Office if you would like to help.
- Help - in Sunday School
- Welcomers – welcome people as they arrive, and tidy up at the end
- Readers – read the bible readings
- Intercessions - leading the prayers of the people.
- Offertory & Collection - carry the bread and wine up to the altar and hand around the collection bag.
- Servers - assists the priest in the Communion service. All servers are aged 10+.
- Chalice – assist the priest by distributing the wine at Communion
- Flowers - provide flowers for the service
- Refreshments - provide refreshments for consumption by the congregation after the Service
Making Donations
All donations made to St. Stephen's Chapel go to the Cathedral. This is because as a daughter church, we are entirely supported by the Cathedral. All donations are tax-deductible. It costs around HK$400 per adult per week to maintain the work and ministry of St. Stephen's.There are several ways you can make donations:
Collection - put your money in the bag when it comes around during the Church Service. Red notes are popular, brown notes are even more popular!
Stewardship - we depend largely on planned giving by our regular congregation . If you would like to participate in the Planned Giving scheme, please view and print the Stewardship Pledge Form and return it to your bank. Our Stewardship Secretary is happy to explain more or to answer any questions you may have. Contact him via the Chapel Office.One Time Gifts - If you would like to make a one time gift and you would like to receive a charitable donation receipt, please write your cheque made payable to St John's Cathedral - St. Stephen's Chapel, and send it to c/o Viola Ip, The Administrator, St. John's Cathedral, Garden Road, Central. Please include your return address so that we can send you your receipt. Please also state if your gift is for a specific purpose.
Charities we support
Bethune House is a Women's Refuge for Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong. It's a place for women who have been abused or ill-treated by their employers and need a safe place to stay. Some have been physically abused, others have been underpaid or forced to work illegally. Each year at Harvest Festival we collect food for Bethune House, and there is an opportunity to visit the House and see their work.
Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge.
Tel / fax: 2721-3119
E-mail: bhmwr@pacific.net.hkCrossroads International recycles Hong Kong's good quality unwanted goods, shipping furniture, clothes and equipment to developing countries around the world. Most recently they are sending urgently needed supplies to survivors of the Sichuan Earthquake. We organise occasional visits to Crossroads - see Upcoming Events for dates. www.crossroads.org.hk
Liangshan Leprosy Project provides healthcare, health education and development assistance to leprosy villages in the mountains of Liangshan Prefecture, in the south of Sichuan Province. St. Stephen's has been supporting the Project financially since it started in 2003. Each year, usually in May, there is an opportunity to visit the Project in Sichuan (2008 Visit Report). See also Liangshan Leprosy Project Leaflet and Liangshan Embroidery Project Leaflet
Rainbow Project provides classroom education for severely autistic children in Hong Kong. They operate two classrooms, one in a school on Stubbs Road, the other in Tung Chung. The location of the classrooms within a school allows the children to mix with others at break times, and take some classes such as music and art together, learning valuable social skills. There is an annual visit to the Rainbow Project in November. www.rainbowproject.org
Christmas Fete
Our primary fund raising activity held annualy on the first Saturday in December.