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"More Than Consumers"

Mark's Midweek Musings ... June 24, 2021
This week the floodlights were installed
to illuminate the church at night.

It looks beautiful
and attracts people's attention
and enhances our presence in the community.

Thank you in advance for your support
of the 2021 St. Paul's Outreach campaign.

To date we have received $1500.

Our goal is $5,000

Truly I tell you,
just as you did it to one of the least of these
who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Matt 25: 40
I've had a few people
express interest in this possible outreach ministry
especially being involved when it's up and running.

I will be arranging a time
to gather those interested in
helping with the initial planning.

This is exciting
and a much needed ministry
God is leading us into!!

God is up to something!!!
Let's join in as the Holy Spirit moves us!!
St. Paul's Census 2021

So far we have received 6 completed census forms!!

A good question ... who will be using 
the information I provide??

This information is strictly for our records at St. Paul's 
and will not be shared.

Thank you for your help
in keeping our data base and records up to date
 

On Friday, June 25 at 10 a.m., Bishop Andrew Asbil will issue an apology to the Diocese’s LGBTQ2S+ community. This comes after months of prayerful reflection, intentional consultation and conversation with various members of our Diocese, and for Bishop Andrew personally, decades of walking alongside this community. He has invited those who have helped to shape the apology to be present with him and the College of Bishops at St. James Cathedral. Only those who have been invited will be admitted.

We hope you will watch the live stream on the diocesan YouTube channel and join Bishop Andrew in this significant moment in our life together as a Diocese.
This week ...
  • Tues Connections email'
  • Zoom Prayer Group ... Tues at 7:30 pm
  • Wed "Covid 19 ... Reflections on life and faith email"
  • Zoom Coffee & chat ... Wed at 11: 15
  • Mark's Midweek Musings ... Thurs
  • Conference Call Bible Study ... Thurs at 11 am
  • Celebrating the Saints ... St. John the Baptist ... Thurs
  • On line worship links will be emailed on Saturday for Sunday Worship Video
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 15; Mt 7:6, 12-14
  • Wednesday ... Ps 105:1-9; Mt 7:15-20
  • Thursday ... St. John the Baptist ... Ps 85:7-13; Lk 1:57-80
  • Friday ... Ps 128; Mt 8:1-4
  • Saturday ... Ps 123; Mt 8:5-17
  • Sunday ... 5th Sunday of Pentecost ...  Ps 130; Mk 5:21-43
  • Monday ... Ps 103:1-10; Mt 8:18-22

This past Sunday in our prayers for the people
we remembered and gave thanks for ...

Jean, Michael, Peggy, Peter and Delfina and their families.
Summer vacation plans ...

I will be taking time off from July 19 to 25
and August 12 to 25
keeping a week for the fall.

There will be no online worship video
from St. Paul's.

An email will be sent out
with a link to worship from 
St. James Cathedral.

Thurs June 24 ... Celebrating the Saints ... email reflection on St. John the Baptist
Thurs June 24 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs June 24 ... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Sun June 27 ... Pentecost 5 ... an email will be sent with a link to the worship video
Tues June 29 ... Tuesday Connections
Tues June 29 ... Celebrating the Saints ... St. Peter & St. Paul
Wed June 30... "Covid 19 ... Reflections on Life and Faith"
Thurs July 1 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs July 1 ... NO CONFERENCE CALL BIBLE STUDY ... CANADA DAY
Sat July 3 ... Celebrating the Saints ... St. Thomas
Sun July 4 ... Celebrating Canada Day ... an email will be sent with a link to the Online worship Video
Tues July 6 ... Tuesday Connections
Tues July 6 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Compline
Wed July 7 ... "Covid 19 ... Reflections on Life and Faith"
Thurs July 8 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs July 8... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Sun July 11 ... Pentecost 7 ... an email will be sent with a link to the worship video
Tues July 13 ... Tuesday Connections
Tues July 13 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Prayer Group
Wed June 14 ... "Covid 19 ... Reflections on Life and Faith"
Wed June 14 ... 11: 15 am; Zoom Coffee & Chat
Thurs July 15 ... Mark's Midweek Musings
Thurs July 15 ... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study
Sun July 18 ... Pentecost 8 ... an email will be sent with a link to the worship video
Mon July 19 to Mon July 26 ... Mark will be on vacation ... NO TUESDAY CONNECTIONS; TUES ZOOM COMPLINE; "COVID 19 REFLECTION"; MARK'S MIDWEEK MUSINGS; CONFERENCE CALL BIBLE STUDY AND NO ONLINE WORSHIP VIDEO FROM ST. PAULS ... A LINK WILL BE SENT OUT TO THE ONLINE WORSHIP FROM ST. JAMES CATHEDRAL
Thurs July 22 ... Celebrating the Saints ... St. Mary Magdalene
Mon July 26 ... Celebrating the Saints ... St. James the Apostle
Tues July 27 ... Tuesday Connections
Tues July 27 ... 7:30 pm; Zoom Prayer Group
Wed June 28... "Covid 19 ... Reflections on Life and Faith"
Wed July 28 ... 11:15 am; Zoom Coffee & Chat
Thurs July 29 ... "Mark's Midweek Musings"
Thurs July 29 ... 11 am; Conference Call Bible Study

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!!
"More Than Consumers"

We live in a what's often referred to as a consumer driven society. That's often reflected in how we live out our lives and even the relationships we have with others around us. A question that may not be stated, but can be prevalent is "what's in it for me?" or "how will my needs be met"?

When it comes to our faith and our discipleship, it is about more than being consumers. Sure there is something that benefits us from being attentive to our spiritual lives; our needs are met. But those are not the most important aspects of why we engage in this life long journey as followers of Jesus. 

As consumers, we usually pay for what we receive and in turn have our expectations met; there can be a natural feeling of entitlement. That can certainly make sense when ordering dinner at a restaurant or buying a new car or taking a vacation. However, it's not the same when we speak of discipleship, faith and our relationships with God and His Son Jesus Christ.

When we venture through life on our spiritual journey, from the time we are born to the moment we die, we are invited by God to always go deeper. As such, we appreciate all the more who God is in our lives and the many blessings God showers upon us simply because He loves us and wants the best for us. Going deeper means we end up knowing intimately the sacrifice Jesus made for us so that we would have life in all of it's fullness, both in this world and the next. 

A question to keep in front of us us is "how can we be enlivened by the gospel message so that we live it because the good news of Jesus is so much part of who we are"? For the story of our faith to come alive in us we need to know the story. What can we be doing individually and collectively to make sure we don't only hear the story, but truly know it deep in our hearts and souls.

When we know the good news God has revealed to us in Christ, we will be transformed in ways that we can't ever imagine. This will happen not simply because of what we know, but more so by what we experience of the living God who touches our lives and breathes His Spirit within us. That can't help but make a difference that has the potential to be life changing. And beyond changing our lives, it furthermore has the potential to impact the world we live in and our own neighborhood and community too. 

With a faith that is alive, God will work through us and our ministries. We have a role to play and it starts with saying to God, "I want a deeper relationship with you; I want my faith to really mean something; I want you to make a difference in how I look at life and the world around me". God will hear that prayer, and most importantly God will respond to that prayer and the good news of Jesus will become more alive within us. 

When it comes to our faith, our spirituality and our relationship with God, let's remember it's different from standing in Zhers wondering whether we'd prefer Kraft or Smuckers; or discussing with the salesperson at Williams whether we'd like a two door model or four door; or looking at the flavors of ice cream at Kawartha Dairy trying to decide between Death by Chocolate or Moosetracks. Our spiritual lives and our discipleship have little to do with what we'd like or prefer and more about discerning where God is our lives and how God can possibly work through us to impact the world around us.

Good questions to ponder ... what does your faith mean to you; what ways are you developing for God to bring the gospel alive in your life; what might God be up to in your life right now?
 
A prayer for faithfulnes ...

Heavenly Father,
please strengthen our hearts,
and remind us to encourage one another
when the troubles of life start to overwhelm us.
Give us the strength to rise up each day
and face the struggles which seek to weigh us down. 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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