St Stephen's and Church of the Redeemer

08/31/2026

Amen…

08/23/2026

Dear Lynn, Deb, Pam, Amy, Sandy, Diane, Ron, Ruth, Marion, Louise, Jacqui, and Kelly
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to you for attending the Stewardship Workshop yesterday at St. Matthew’s.
I truly appreciate your presence, your support, and the time and effort you made to be there. Your participation and willingness to engage in this important conversation are a wonderful sign of your commitment to the life, ministry, and present and the future of our churches.
Stewardship is not only about finances; it is about recognizing the gifts God has entrusted to us and discerning together how we can use those gifts to serve God and our community.
Thank you for making the effort to be there and for being part of this important journey.
May God bless each one of you and our two congregations abundantly.
With gratitude and blessings,
Fr. Hilton Gomes

08/22/2026

The 13th Sunday after a Pentecost
1st Reading: Exodus 1:8-2:10
Psalm: 124, BAS pg. 884
2nd Reading: Romans 12:1-8
Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-20

08/22/2026

I would like to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful stewardship workshop we had today at St. Matthew’s Church. It was a meaningful and thoughtful gathering, and I believe it gave all of us an opportunity to reflect honestly and prayerfully on the life, ministry, and future of our congregations.
A special word of thanks to The Rev. Kevin Dixon and Bishop Todd for having the courage and pastoral wisdom to bring this important conversation forward. Stewardship is not always an easy subject to discuss in the Church. At times, clergy and lay people alike can feel uncomfortable when conversations about stewardship, finances, resources, and the sustainability of our ministries are brought to the table. Yet these are conversations we cannot avoid if we are serious about being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Today’s discussion reminded us that stewardship is about much more than money. It is about our faith, our commitment, our time, our gifts, our buildings, our resources, and, ultimately, our willingness to participate in God’s mission through the Church. In one word: Discipleship.
I am also very grateful to St. Matthew’s Church, and especially to The Rev. Gilles, for graciously hosting us and providing such a welcoming space for this important conversation. And to the members of St. Stephen’s and Church of the Redeemer, thank you for making today a priority. Your presence and participation demonstrate that you care deeply about the present and future of our congregations and are willing to engage in the difficult but necessary conversations that will help us move forward together. My hope and prayer is that today will not simply remain a good workshop or an interesting conversation. May it be the beginning of deeper conversations within our own congregations, conversations that lead to prayer, reflection, discernment, and concrete action.
We now have an important task ahead of us: to continue this work within our parish communities and develop a meaningful stewardship plan that we can present to Bishop Todd by October. This will require honesty, prayer, openness, and a willingness to listen to one another.
Thank you to everyone who participated today and contributed to the conversation. May God continue to guide us, give us courage when difficult conversations are necessary, and help us to be faithful stewards of all that has been entrusted to us. May this be not simply a conversation about sustaining our churches, but a conversation about how God is calling us to faithfully serve His mission and His people in the years ahead. Thank you!

08/21/2026

Yesterday, I was blessed to participate in the funeral service for my friend, the Reverend Bev Diet. Bev was a woman of small stature, but she was a giant in faith, love, and devotion to God. She carried a gentle presence. She did not need many words; her presence spoke clearly about the One she loved and served, Jesus Christ. I first came to know Bev in 2011, when I was appointed part-time priest at St. Luke’s in the Fields, following her ministry there. It was a blessing hearing people speak of her gentleness, kindness, and the presence she brought to that congregation. Around 2014 or 2015, when I was appointed chaplain at Canterbury College in Windsor, Bev came to visit me during my first week. With her gentle smile , she said, “Hilton, I guess you will follow in my footsteps.” Bev served also as Canterbury Chaplain. I told her that would be a blessing. She continued to visit, asking how I was doing and reminding me, “Count on my prayers.” Her prayers and encouragement meant much to me, and the ministry became fruitful. For that, I am grateful.
I often called her husband Fred “Frank,” and Bev would gently poke me on the back with one finger and say, “Hilton, it is Fred,” correcting me with that gentle voice. She did that a few times.
Yesterday, as we interred her ashes, the words echoed with profound meaning: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Vita brevis. Life is brief, and everything can change in a heartbeat. Bev fought bravely through her illness until the end. To Fred and family, our prayers and support. And to Bev: thank you for your friendship, your ministry, your wisdom, and your love. We treasure the conversations we shared about priesthood and ministry. Rest, dear Bev, in God’s eternal embrace. By God’s grace, we will meet again.

08/15/2026

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08/14/2026

08/09/2026

A Blessed Day of Worship, Fellowship & Fun!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who, in one way or another, participated in our Annual BBQ Service today! What a wonderful and blessed day it was!
We were blessed to have 81 people gathered together to celebrate God’s Word and share in the Sacrament. Following worship, we continued our celebration around the tables with wonderful food, laughter, games, and fellowship.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the day possible, those who prepared the food, set up and cleaned up, organized the games, brought dishes, welcomed others, and contributed in so many ways. Your generosity and willingness to serve made this gathering truly special.
Today was a beautiful reminder that church is not only a place where we worship together, but also a community where we share life, friendship, laughter, and love. We are so blessed that 81 people, one family in Christ, one joyful celebration! ❤️
May God bless everyone who made today such a memorable occasion. We give thanks for the gift of faith, fellowship, food, and fun!
To God be the glory! 🙏🏽
Yours in Christ,
Hilton+