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We aplogize that there was a glitch with the live stream
for Sunday's Thanksgiving worship.
If you missed it, here's the link
to the service on YouTube
https://youtu.be/cch3SRkrL0Q
If there are times in the future
when we have a similar situation
we will post the recording of the video\
as soon as we can upload it.
Thank you for your patience.
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This week in our parish cycle of prayer
we remembered and gave thanks for ...
Donna and David Ankrett, PeterBond, Richard Bradley, Jim Brazier, Siobhan Browne, Chris Kapitan and Aria, and Gail and Peter Browne.
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A message from the Outreach Committee.
During our Outreach Committee meeting via conference call, we agreed St. Paul's has a great deal to be thankful for. Unfortunately our local Food Bank is not so lucky and for the past six months we haven't, as a Church, given our usual monthly donations of food.
Starting this past Sunday, and especially as we celebrate Thanksgiving, we put our shopping cart out the front of the Church for any food donations you are able to make. Canon Mark will ensure these are delivered to the Food Bank in a timely fashion, each week.
If you wish to make a financial donation, cheques should be made out to the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank or St. Paul's (designated for Loaves and Fishes) and put on the collection plate.
In these uncertain times, we need to remember those who are less fortunate than we are.
Keep safe and well.
Blessings,
Joy Freemantle, Outreach Chair
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Following updated protocols from the Diocese
in response to the Covid 19 Pandemic
whenever you are coming into the church
other than for Sunday or Wednesday worship
please read the screening protocol
before signing in the tracing log register
located just inside the side entrance.
If you reply yes to any of the questions,
please do not enter the building.
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October 14, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
When I began my episcopal ministry almost exactly two years ago, I imagined that the first few months might be a time of relative stability, an opportunity for me to ease into the work – you know, get my feet wet and find my bearings. And then came the pandemic and with it the swift need to change. As Bob Dylan would say, “For the times, they are a-changin.” And in a time of change, the Church is called to discern, watch, and listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit.
This past Sunday, it was announced that after a long and comprehensive search process, the Right Reverend Jenny Andison has been selected to be the next Rector of St. Paul, Bloor Street, starting February 28, 2021. As you know, Bishop Jenny is a Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Toronto and the Area Bishop of York-Credit Valley. With this new appointment, she lays down episcopal jurisdictional authority in the Diocese of Toronto and commences a new ministry, living out her ordination vows as a bishop in a parish setting.
As you also know, Bishop Peter Fenty, Area Bishop of York-Simcoe, has announced his retirement, effective St. Andrew’s Day, November 30, 2020. He takes a well-earned rest from his episcopal duties after a long, multi-faceted ministry as priest, archdeacon, and bishop.
Anticipating some of this, around the time of Bishop Peter’s retirement announcement last spring, I created an Episcopal Leadership Working Group (ELWG). The College of Bishops system of episcopal leadership in the Diocese of Toronto has been in place for forty years, and I felt it was time to review whether it makes sense to continue to have four Suffragan Bishops, deployed to regions of the Diocese as Area Bishops, in addition to a Diocesan Bishop. Our system is unique in the Anglican Communion. How do other dioceses, of similar size and complexity, organize themselves? What can we learn from them?
The ELWG, under the able leadership of its chairs, Ms. Susan Graham Walker, ODT, and Vice-Chancellor Canon Brian Armstrong, ODT, has been meeting regularly, working hard at researching other models and considering possible adaptations to our own system. I had given the group a deadline of Ash Wednesday 2021 to make their report, and – despite these recent developments – I do not want to curtail or rush their work. I look forward to hearing from them in February 2021 as planned, at which time I will consider their recommendations and share with the Diocese a way forward.
In the meantime, I want to assure the Diocese, and in particular the Areas of York-Simcoe and York-Credit Valley, that the College of Bishops is committed to caring for every parish. Over the coming weeks, we will develop a plan for adequate episcopal coverage in every Area, ready to implement as transitions occur. We are grateful for the wonderful support of our Area Administrative Assistants, Diocesan staff, Regional Deans, and those retired bishops in the Diocese who have expressed a willingness to help. Your prayers for all of us are very welcome and greatly appreciated!
In an already anxious time, when the Church and society at large are already grappling with the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by so much change and upheaval. But our God is a God of renewal and re-creation, always “doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19). We can rest secure in God’s enduring love and care for us as we continue to pull together, rowing our boat in faith and hope, into uncharted waters.
Yours in Christ, |
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The Rt. Rev. Andrew Asbil
Bishop of Toronto |
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This week ...
- Tues Connections email
- Communion at St. Paul's ... Wed 10 am
- Zoom "Coffee & Chat" cancelled due to a funeral
- Zoom "God and the Pandemic" Series ... Wed 7:30 pm
- Please register in advance if you are planning on attending worship on Sunday (see note below)
- Mark's Midweek Musings ... Thurs
- Conference Call Bible Study ... Thurs 11 am
- On line worship links will be emailed on Saturday
- Communion at St. Paul's ... Sun 10 am ... or viewed live or using the video posted later in the morning on our YouTube channel
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I have been asked to share
some scripture passages
that people can read over the week
and reflect in their own personal times
of prayer and bible reading.
These are the appointed lectionary readings
from the psalm and the gospel
for celebrations of the Eucharist
- Tuesday ... Ps 119:41-48; Lk 11:37-41
- Wednesday ... Ps 1; Lk 11:42-46
- Thursday ... P Ps 98; Lk 11:47-54
- Friday ... Ps 33:1-12; Lk 12:1-7
- Saturday ... Ps 8; Lk 12:8-12
- Sunday ... Ps 99; Mt 22:15-22
- Monday ... St. Luke the Evangelist ... Ps 147:1-7; Lk 4:14-21
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Thurs Oct 15 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs Oct 15 ... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Thurs Oct 15 ... Online Hymn Sing
Sun Oct 18 ... 10 am; Communion at St. Paul's ... safe and physically distanced ... live streamed and available later via video on our YouTube channel
Tues Oct 20 ... Tuesday Connections
Tues Oct 20 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Compline
Wed Oct 21 ... please register if you are planning to attend the in person worship on Sunday (see note below)
Wed Oct 21 ... 10 am; Communion ... safe and physically distanced
Thurs Oct 22 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs Oct 22 ... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Thurs Oct 22 ... Online Hymn Sing
Sun Oct 25 ... 10 am; Communion at St. Paul's ... safe and physically distanced ... live streamed and available later via video on our YouTube channel
Tues Oct 27 ... Tuesday Connections
Wed Oct 28 ... please register if you are planning to attend the in person worship on Sunday (see note below)
Wed Oct 28 ... 10 am; Communion ... safe and physically distanced
Wed Oct 28 ... 11:15 am; Zoom Coffee and Chat
Thurs Oct 29 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs Oct 29 ... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Thurs Oct 29 ... Online Hymn Sing
Thurs Oct 29 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom "holy spirits ..."
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To assist us in planning for our Sunday worship services
we are asking you to please register
if you are intending to attend.
This will help us know in advance
how many people to expect
and if we need to open the lower hall
to accommodate all who wish to attend.
We will be allowing some space for those
who haven't registered.
There are two ways to register ...
1. Using the internet, go to https://reopen.church/r/Wn8gJSqv and click on the Sunday you plan to attend, following the directions to type in your name and email address.
2. Phone the church office at 905-852-7016 and leave a message by Wednesday.
Thank you for your assistance in registering
for Sunday morning worship at St. Paul's.
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What to expect as we gather for worship ...
Things are different from our usual pattern of worship!!
- please ensure you are healthy with no symptoms of Covid 19 and that you haven't been in contact with anyone who has symptoms or has tested positive for Covid 19 or is in quarantine
- please self-screen by asking yourself the following questions … do you have a new cough, runny nose, or any new respiratory issues; do you have a fever; do you have any nausea, gastro issues, diarrhea; have you traveled outside Canada in the last 14 days; have you had contact with anyone who has been told to self-isolate in the last 14 days; have you been told to self-isolate in the last 14 days … If you answer yes to any of these questions, please stay home and consider getting tested.
- everyone attending worship is expected to wear a mask
- please arrive early for the service to allow an easy flow into the church
- there will be markers on the sidewalk leading to the church to ensure appropriate physical distancing as people arrive
- please use the main front doors to access the church … those who use the right front door will be sitting on the right side of the church and those who use the left front door will sit on the left side of the church … the entrance on the south side of the church will be reserved for those requiring the elevator
- a record will be kept of those who attend worship at the church for tracking purposes in case we should need to make contact
- there will be hand sanitizer available at each entrance
- please take your coats or umbrellas with you to your seat ... no coats are to be hung at the back of the church
- you will be ushered to where you will sit in the church … beginning with pews at the front, working to the back … please sit where you are assigned, appropriately and safely distanced from those around you
- children will stay in church with their families and are encouraged to bring soft toys or books for during the service
- there will be no hymn or prayer books in the pew ... everything for the liturgy will be projected at the front
- there will be a few printed service leaflets for those who find it difficult to see the projection ... please take these home with you if you use them
- there will be no congregational singing ... music will be instrumental and soloists
- you will be encouraged to remain seated throughout the worship service
- the priest, readers, intercessor, musicians, and soloists will be wearing masks
- there will be no congregational responses to the prayers
- offering plates will not be passed from person-to-person ... parishioners may deposit their offering into plates which will be prominently placed near the entrance/exit … offerings will be counted and deposited every two weeks
- communion will be administered as you leave the building ... please stop leaving appropriate physical spacing between yourself and those who are distributing communion ... come forward with your mask on to receive the bread ... move away before you remove your mask and consume your communion as you exit the building
- we discourage using cash in your envelopes preferring a check and encourage other options such as PAR, Canada Helps or E-transfers
- instructions will be given about leaving the church at the end of the worship service exiting from the back to the front using the same door you entered
- the washroom on the main level will be available for use with instructions for sanitizing after each use
- the church will be fully cleaned and sanitized after each service
What to expect when I come to church
for Wednesday Communion …
- All of the above instructions are to be followed except we will use only the front doors on the right with instructions to sit on the right side of the church safely and appropriately distanced
- Communion will be administered at the end of the liturgy as you leave the building
Everyone needs to feel safe and comfortable.
As we gather, we need to mitigate stress.
There will be people available to give direction.
We pray that this will be
an inspiring opportunity to gather in worship together.
We will do what we can
to try and meet everyone's spiritual needs
as we remain faithful and engaged
in our relationship with God
and with each other as the body of Christ.
Whether you join us in person or on-line,
we look forward to worshiping with you!
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An option to make your St. Paul's donations
which is easy and convenient
we have online banking available for e-transfers.
If this is helpful as you support the ministries of St. Paul's
the email address you need is
stpaulsuxbridge@yahoo.ca
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We have our "Canada Helps" account
up and running
and ready to receive donations.
For those who would find this
a helpful way to continue
supporting St. Paul's.
here is the link ...
Thank you in advance
for your support of our ministry at St. Paul's
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If you or someone you know
is in need of pastoral support
during this time
please leave a message
at the church office or email me.
Trust me when I say
it is no bother!!
This is what I'm here to do!!
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