Welcoming, though, is more than having attractive grounds and an inviting building to come into. It is primarily about people and I am so thankful to those of you who go out of your way to meet with someone new in church. Those of you who invite others for coffee after a service, those who sit on the lawn and have cookies with transients, or simply say “Hi” and introduce yourselves before or after a service. It makes such a difference.

Worshipping is more than mere attendance at a service, it is an attitude we come with. It is not about what can I receive but what I can offer to God in thankfulness. Many of you worship, in this sense, in wonderful ways. The ministries of our janitor, the Axon family then Lana, our secretary Maureen, our treasurer Ernie and our magazine editors Jeanny and Jill, our church school teachers, the choir and musicians, those who administer the chalice, read God’s word, pray, or greet others as sidespeople. Those who like the Altar Guild prepare the church for worship, then there is the ACW and vestry, the sound and recording team, librarian, muppeteers and actors. Those who lead worship both here and at our seniors homes and those who provide refreshments after services or help with the maintenance. All these are ministries, as such, all ministries are worship when offered to God. The same is true of our financial giving this should never be a burden, a chore, something that is expected. We are increasingly seeing that our giving, financial and in service, is worship as we offer in thankfulness part of us for God to use in building His Kingdom here in the South West. Yes what a joy it is to see people in many ways offering themselves, and what a joy it is to worship together in spirit and in truth.

Caring is another vision aim and I am so thankful for all that is done in this area; The pastoral visitors team, ACW cards to the sick and their involvement in funeral lunches. The choir with their commitment to gather and sing at every funeral, what a message this caring service sends to bereaved families. As a vestry we decided this year to mark special anniversaries with flowers from the church 50th and 60th wedding, 80th, 90th 100th birthday etc. As a church we also deliver care parcels, hampers, flowers or gifts to shut-ins at Christmas. We also see our caring through our daily and weekly prayers for others, through the taking out of communion and our pastoral visits each month to shut-ins and those in hospital. Caring too, through our transient aid, food bank, soup labels, used stamps, used prescription glasses and tithe donations to worthy causes in Swift Current, the surrounding region and the world, thinking specifically here of monies raised for PWRDF and the Food Grains initiatives. Lorraine and I thank you especially, for the way you care for us through your card and gift giving, your prayers and your encouragements through the year.

Sharing the Gospel has happened through Sunday worship, conversations with family, friends and work colleagues but also through teaching events that we have hosted. Our intern Brian Woods led a great Bible Study on Ephesians during his time here and those who attended learned a great deal about the great city of Ephesus, its culture and prominence but also about faith and how to apply one’s faith in different cultural contexts. The Five Love Languages course enabled couples to appreciate one another and learn God’s language of love with each other. Some of us attended a superb regional workshop on Evangelism ‘How to share your faith without losing your friends’ led by Bishop Greg. Others attended or helped with the Alpha course. Still others are finding out more about their faith through their Certificate in Christian studies course led by Lorraine and myself. The church school is also a great place to share, and it is good to see them share in many ways through services, pageants and participation in events. The parish picnic this year became a place of learning as well as fun. Learning in the sense of getting to grips with the art and finesse of playing Cricket and the joy of the picnic and the barn dance which followed. We also hosted a regional workshop ‘Empowerment for Pastoral Care’ a lot to take in, but one ably led by the Revd. Dr Trish McCarthy from All Saints, Regina. We were also asked to share in Brian Woods internship and I thank you for your contribution in preparing Brian for service after seminary. He clearly learned much from you during his time here and it was good to see his confidence grow, his skill set increase and his faith nurtured. Thank you for sharing yourselves and your faith with him. Thanks especially to Val Vaughan for her hospitality and Walter Nisbet, Pam Speir, Maureen Parsons and Teresa Gibbens, Brian’s Lay Support Team.

Celebrating through the sacraments – without doubt sacramental worship and celebrations are very moving. Some of you know the power and release that can come through the ministry of reconciliation, and through counsel, prayer and anointing with oil (divine unction). There have been some wondrous answers to prayer this year through these sacramental ministries. God is very much moving among us and His Spirit releasing people from bondage and chains of the past bringing healing and renewed purpose to individuals and couples. Other sacraments lead us closer to God in other ways, it was a joy to lead yet another confirmation group. Four people were confirmed this year and what a great day that was. We also had weddings and baptisms with their respective showers, celebrating in this way warms the heart as we come together as a family in God in thankfulness and praise. Funerals too are a celebration though they may not always feel that way at the time. A celebration of a life lived and a life shared among us and a thanksgiving celebration that they are now with God the All Souls service is especially moving as we come together in shared grief but in thankfulness and praise.

St Stephen’s is truly a place for all and certainly this is true in terms of being a uniting presence in our community, continuing to be a place of ecumenical activity and building, year by year, bonds between churches Why does all this happen? What is the motivation for what we do and why we do it? Behind all we do is a growing relationship with our Lord Jesus a relationship birthed in the sacraments, learned through Bible study, fostered in care and welcome and empowered in prayer. The Monday night prayer group has for me been a time of much refreshment and renewal. The group is open to all and often we have been called upon to pray confidentially for situations or individuals. On average four to five people gather for worship and prayer at church between 7 and 9pm. Soaking everything in prayer is important, Jesus said he only did what he saw his Father doing in heaven. Getting to the heart of God and what He desires is vitally important as a church. Building this relationship can save us from doing things in our own strength and, from not doing things because we consider them impossible. It would be good to see more folk gathering to pray on Monday nights but I do know that many of you pray at home for the church for which I am truly grateful.

Another source of great blessing and comfort is noting the commitment in so many of you. Your involvement in so many ways truly makes a difference as I have highlighted above. So many of you contribute in so many ways to the smooth running and mission of the church, too many to mention in this report. However, I would like to highlight the work of the executive and the vestry which I think has been outstanding this year. Their Christian professionalism and love for the church, under the chairing of Janet Neubauer has been exemplary and I am so proud and thankful for the contribution each member has made. I also take this opportunity to thank Doris Shaheen. Doris through the years has made a significant impact on the life of St Stephen’s, her commitment, resolve, willingness to step in the gap, coupled with her leadership and wise counsel has been an example to us all of Christian ministry,. This past year marked thirty years of service in the choir, the last few as interim leader of the choir. In addition up to 2003 she was Rector’s warden for 25 years. Doris is now taking a well deserved rest. Well done good and faithful servant. On behalf of the church ‘Thank you’.

For all the above, for your many gifts of kindness to one another, I thank you all. The unity we experience at St Stephen’s is noticed by many. Our Lord is very much present. His Spirit abides in us and has led us to greater achievements. Great socials, family atmosphere, honouring worship and inspiring ministries are words that come to mind.

However, in recognizing all the above, we must not sit back, this coming year will have its challenges. One challenge will be with regards outreach to our youth. Leadership for this ministry is a real need, we cannot afford to neglect this vital area of ministry. Our youth are important, as are our children, so we must not be complacent or close our eyes to this need. Home groups are needed to, indeed anything that enables us to grow in relationship with our Lord. Developing and training leaders for these two ministries will be important in 2008. Sharing in leadership will be needed in other areas as well. First, we all know that there has been a severe reduction in the number of seminary stipendiary clergy, 61 in 1960 to 14 at the time of writing this report, and yet we ask or expect the same of our clergy that was done back in 1960. The necessity of our situation dictates that we need a different model, that the ministry of the baptized should be released in ways not witnessed before. The clergy chaplaincy model we have had since 1066 AD though restrictive has served the church well, but its limitations surface when there are not enough chaplain priests. How do we do ministry in our region? How do we serve faithful members who are now without a church? How do we outreach and share the gospel in this glorious land? As a diocese, region, and a parish, we will need to look at other models that will enable and release all to minister, not just the ordained. The training of a Lay Ministry Team is a start to this process and so I ask for your prayerful consideration and support in seeking a mission model which God is calling us to engage in. Second, another call on us as a church will be in the area of integration and making welcome immigrants (like me), first nations (Anglicans working at the Casino) and people moving from other parts of Canada to this prosperous place with affordable housing. Welcoming new folk with love and acceptance will be an important ministry over the next few years.

Last but not least, finance underpins and enables resources to be found in order to provide for our mission and ministry needs. As I shared five years ago in 2003, the funding campaign strategy will be one that is repeated every five years. Therefore this year we will be having an appeal to the whole parish once again, the need is there. We have done remarkably well, we even exceeded my own predictions, but the deficit in 2007, albeit fairly small, coupled with the cutbacks in the proposed budget for 2008 indicate the need to attend to the finances once again.

Once again I thank you for the privilege of being your priest and pastor. I thank you for your love, your many acts of kindness, and for being the church you are. I end with words from Ephesians 4:1-3 & 10-13 which epitomize what we do ‘Each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

May God bless you all.

This report is respectfully submitted.