Sad news regarding the passing of Stephen Barbor
Dear friends and treasured supporters of our Diocesan Partnership with Mpwapwa Diocese, This message carries the sad news that he took his last breath early on Maundy Thursday, at home with Sylvie at his side. Please remember her in your prayers, along with her son Alex, and her daughter Lizzie and her partner, and their son James, who is 3-4 months old. I have seen a very special photo of him with Stephen.
His funeral has been arranged to take place at 12pm, April 30th, in St Stephen’s, Tonbridge. For purposes of car-parking, I think we are best advised to use the car park opposite the railway station. Stephen said to me that he wanted the occasion to be a ‘party’! He asked if I could say something about the work that he and Sylvie have done in Africa, which I shall prepare. There will also be family tributes, of course. Refreshments will be served in church, following the service, which will be led by the vicar Mark Barker.
Mark and his wife Miriam are leaving today for Mpwapwa with a group of teachers from Bishop Chevasse school, on a trip planned months ago that Stephen and Sylvie were going to lead. Please pray for this trip, coming ‘at such a time as this’.
They plan to record messages from Bishop Luzineth, from Canon Agripa, other friends there, and perhaps some music from the cathedral where they will be remembering Stephen and praying for his family, along with thanksgiving.
Thank you for all the generous support you have given to Stephen and Sylvie and the Mpwapwa link.
Also for your prayers;
Each week in church we pray for those who are sick or in any kind of need. If you would like your full name or just your first name added to our prayer list, please email
shorehamchurch7@gmail.com. Please pray...
for members of your church family and their friends:
for Dave and Diane Mullins - for healing and wisdom
for Kath's friend Alex, who is facing a terminal illness
for Ellie B's health and wellbeing
for our local parish school:
for the Food Bank:
for wisdom in running the Food Bank and that they would be a place of light and help for those in need; we pray for their clients who are seeking jobs, have experienced trauma and those struggling with mental health issues/addictions/debt/homelessness, and those that feel lonely and isolated at the moment.
for wider issues in the community around us and in the world:
for all victims of war, natural disasters and climate change
for all who are ill, awaiting treatment or recovering from illness.
for all those who are receiving pallatative care and the bereaved
for God to guard and guide each of us in all we do and say
