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Patient Hope

Mark's Midweek Musings ... March 4, 2021
The days are getting longer ... the sun is shining brighter ... the temperatures are often getting warmer. We heard the birds the other day and thought it's beginning to feel like Spring is on its way. Sure there will likely be more of winter in the coming weeks. But it's March ... and one step closer to the joys of Spring. 
Durham Region has posted
that those over 80 can register on line
for the Covid 19 vaccine starting next Monday.

Other regions have experienced
long lineups waiting to register.

Here is a link to the website
if you qualify and are looking to be vaccinated ...

https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/covid-19-vaccines.aspx#Municipal-vaccine-locations

The location of the vaccination center in Uxbridge
is at the arena.

If you require assistance,
please send me an email or
leave a phone message at the church.

We will do our best to assist you.
OUTREACH AT ST. PAULS
DURING COVID 19 ...

If you have any ideas for
raising funds for our Outrceach ministries,
contact Joy Freemantle
chair of outreach
"Warmth"
by knitting (crocheting) for North House.

We are inviting all who hand craft with yarn to join us in making any or all of the following items. 
  • Baby blankets
  • Baby sweaters
  • Baby booties
  • Afghans (full size adult)
  • Hats (adult and child)
  • Scarfs (adult and child)
Also if you have yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks you no longer want please contact Joy Freemantle or Sharon Houston. Our numbers are in the poster.
 
So let's knit for North House!
Cozying up with a book has been one of the benefits over the past year.  A blanket can define your reading  place, making it warm and inviting, like a friend to share a good story with.   With that in mind and thinking about ways to support St. Paul’s Outreach programs, we designed Rainbow Reading Blankets with a Great Story.  Given as a gift to a favourite child, you will foster the love of literature and support St. Paul’s.  Each blanket is handmade by Sharon Houston and each book is curated for specific age groups by Sally Kotsopoulos.  When you order we will send you several photos of blankets for you to choose and several titles based on the child you are purchasing for.  We are focusing on children from 0-8.  Books for older children can be arranged.  If you would like to purchase just the blanket that is fine and you can give a book of your own choice.  

Sets of a blanket and book are $25.00 

Blanket alone $20.00.  

We hope you will purchase your Rainbow Reading Blanket and Great Story for someone special in your life.  
This week ...
  • Tues Connections email
  • Zoom Compline ... Tues at 7:30 pm
  • Online Lent Reflection Video ... "invitation to observe a holy lent"
  • Zoom Lent Series ... "Ted Talks & Faith"
  • Mark's Midweek Musings ... Thurs
  • Conference Call Bible Study ... Thurs at 11 am 
  • Online Hymn Sing ... Thurs 
  • On line worship links will be emailed on Saturday for Sunday 

Each Wednesday in Lent I will be offering an invitation
to observe a holy journey
from the Ashes to the Cross to the empty tomb.
 
Last week's reflection was on prayer.

If you missed it, here's the link

https://youtu.be/inxLGdF6Lms
 
Over the coming weeks
I will offer reflections on ...

            Mar 10 ... fasting
            Mar 17 ... almsgiving,
            Mar 24 ... reading and meditating on the word of God
 
I hope that as you engage with me
in these reflections
that you will make this sacred pilgrimage
throughout this season of lent.

Zoom Lent Reflection Series
in partnership with
Trinity United & St. Andrew's Chalmers Presbyterian

It's not too late to join in!!
Each session stands on its own.

Wednesday Mar 10, 17 & 24
at 7:30 pm

What does God want from us?

Topics of reflection and discussion will include
 
... bullying
... defining ourselves
... never give up

Please contact me if you are interested
and I will send you the zoom link
This past Sunday in our parish cycle of prayer
we remembered and gave thanks for ...

Chris, Siobhan and Aria, Robert and Lori,
Julie, Mae and Gretel and their families
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 50:7-15; Mt 23:1-12 
  • Wednesday ... Ps 31:1-5, 13-16; Mt 20:17-28 
  • Thursday ... Ps 1; Lk 16:19-31
  • Friday ...  Ps 17:1-8, Mt 21:33-46
  • Saturday ... Ps 103:1-12; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
  • Sunday ... Lent 3 ... Ps 19; Jn 2:13-22
  • Monday ... Ps 42:1-2,11-15; Lk 4:24-30

Thurs Mar 4... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs Mar 4... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Thurs Mar 4 ... Online Hymn Sing
Sun Mar 7 ... 3rd Sunday After Epiphany ... an email will be sent with a link to the worship video
Mon Mar 8 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Choir practice
Tues Mar 9 ... Tuesday Connections
Tues Mar 9 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Prayer Group
Wed Mar 10 ... 11:15 am; Zoom Coffee & Chat
Wed Mar 3 ... Online Video Lent Reflection ... "I invite you to observe a holy Lent"
Wed Mar 3 ... 7:00 pm; Zoom Lent Series ... "Ted Talks & Faith"
Thurs Mar 11 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs Mar 11 ... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Thurs Mar 11 ... Online Hymn Sing 
Sun Mar 14 ... 4th Sun of Lent... an email will be sent with a link to the worship video
Mon Mar 15 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Choir Practice
Tues Mar 16 ... Tuesday Connections
Tues Mar 16 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Compline
Wed Mar 17 ... Online Video Lent Reflection ... "I invite you to observe a holy Lent"
Wed Mar 17 ... 7:00 pm; Zoom Lent Series ... "Ted Talks & Faith"
Thurs Mar 18 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs Mar 18 ... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Thurs Mar 18 ... Online Hymn Sing
Sun Mar 21 ... 5th Sunday of Lent ... an email will be sent with a link to the worship video
Mon Mar 22 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Choir practice
Tues Mar 23 ... Tuesday Connections
Tues Mar 23 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Prayer Group
Wed Mar 24 ... 11:15 am; Zoom Coffee & Chat 
Wed Mar 24 ... Online Video Lent Reflection ... "I invite you to observe a holy Lent"
Wed Mar 24 ... 7:00 pm; Zoom Lent Series ... "Ted Talks & Faith"
Thurs Mar 25 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs Mar 25 ... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Thurs Mar ... Online Hymn Sing 
Sun Mar 28 ... Palm Sunday ... an email will be sent with a link to the worship video
Mon Mar 29 - Fri Apr 2 ... Holy Week ... services TBA
Mon Mar 29 ... 7:30 pm; zoom choir practice
Tues Mar 30 ... Tuesday Connections

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

Please use the security question
"What town is the church located in?"
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!!
Patient Hope

Aristotle said ... “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”

Henri J.M. Nouwen wrote ... “A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.”

Barbara Johnson said ... “Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.”

Leo Tolstoy wrote ... “everything comes in time to him who knows how to wait . . . there is nothing stronger than these two: patience and time, they will do it all.”

Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22) There are other scripture passages too that call for a patient faith and hope.

Romans 12:12 ... "Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer."

Romans 8:25 ... "But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."

Psalm 37:7 ... "Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him"

Psalm 40:1 ... "I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry."

I know that personally I struggle with the notion of being patient especially when I'm waiting for something that I'm looking forward to. But being impatient doesn't move time quicker and bring whatever it may be I'm anticipating any quicker. Maybe the same is true for you too.

We've been dealing with this Covid 19 pandemic for a year now. Talk about a test of patience and waiting. We wait for daily news reports telling us the latest count; we wait for government announcements of restrictions and protocols; we wait for test results; we wait to see and hug loved ones; we wait to go to the movies or out to a restaurant for dinner; we wait to be able to gather together safely for Sunday worship; we wait for a vacation we're looking forward to; we wait for a vaccine ... we wait ... and we wait ... and we wait.

Waiting is tedious and can be frustrating because there is so much that is out of our control. Sure there are things in these pandemic days we can do to protect ourselves and those we love and care about. But in the end this virus will take it's course in the time it takes to be controlled and no longer a threat.

These days there are glimmers of hope even as we anticipate what could be a third wave of new infections in the coming weeks. The vaccines are moving along despite the glitches and delays along the way. I've heard of a few people I know who have already had theirs and parents of friends who have their scheduled times in the next week. I know my mother and mother in law will soon have theirs. That is good news and it is a sign of hope. And I know too that there will be one for me ... maybe not until August, but I will have that same opportunity when my turn comes up.

These glimpses of hope enable us to embrace a patience because we see some light at the end of this dark tunnel. I may still feel anxious and frustrated and annoyed from time to time, but my prayer is that God may grant me a patient spirit within me to simply be in this time because in the end there is nothing I can do to change it. And to be other than patient isn't healthy either.

Patience is a spiritual practice that many of us likely need to cultivate. How can we simply "be" in this moment and throughout these days? How can we feel gratitude for the glimpses of hope all around us? As I said above, spring is coming and we can see the signs. Even on the cold and snowy days, I remind myself I need to be patient because spring will indeed come and the tulips and daffodils will bloom in the garden.

Our faith reminds us that God always hears our cries and reaches out to comfort us and offer us a peaceful heart in the midst of the turmoil and stress. We can receive that fruit of the Holy Spirit, patience, within us and working through us ... and especially these days as we hold on to our hope, faith and trust.

Two final scripture passages to hold on to ... Ecclesiastes 3:8, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven ..." At the moment, we are in the season of waiting. And the patient waiting will be worth it, there is no doubt.

And finally, Psalm 30: 5 ... "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning."

Even as we cry and lament, let's pray for patience and in that waiting may we know the gift of a hopeful spirit that will see us through such a time as this.
 
A prayer for patient hope ...

Dear God,
Thank you that You have never left us alone.
Thank you that even in the midst of all the uncertainty
of our lives, and the world right now,
and what the next weeks and months hold
around the Covid 19 pandemic
that you are still God.
Help us as we are dealing with
so many different situations in our lives;
help our hearts and minds stay focused on you.
Help us to not grow downcast,
but to remember that our hope is always in you.

Thank you that you are out God,
that you bring healing into our brokenness 
and that you are always present with us
with you hand upon us.

Help us to have patience
through the gift of your Holy Spirit
as we wait through these days
and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

May we always trust in you!
In Your Name we Pray, Amen.
Copyright © 2017 St. Paul's Anglican Church, Uxbridge, All rights reserved.

Our website is:
http://www.stpauls-uxbridge.ca/

Our location is:
59 Toronto Street South, Uxbridge Ontario L9P1H1 Canada

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St. Paul's Anglican Church, Uxbridge · 59 Toronto Street · Uxbridge, On L9P1H1 · Canada

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