It's hard to believe that we're over half way through February, that this Sunday is Vestry and before we know it Lent will be upon us.
My how time flies!! I guess that's in part because we're enjoying what we're doing and having fun together too. That's a good thing and the very essence of what Christian community is all about!!
Remember our annual meeting
for finances and elections
is this Sunday following the 10:30 am service.
Almighty and everliving God,
source of all wisdom and understanding,
be present with those who take counsel
in the upcoming Financial Vestry at St. Paul's
for the renewal and mission of your Church.
Teach us in all things to seek first your honour and glory.
Guide us to perceive what is right,
and grant us both the courage to pursue it
and the grace to accomplish it;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wed Feb 20 ... 7 pm ... "Anxious for Nothing" series
Thurs Feb 21 ... 10 am ... Communion followed by "Anxious for Nothing" series at Mae's
Thurs Feb 21 ... 1:30 pm ... TAB & ACW
Fri Feb 22 ... 7 to 9 pm ... Gaymes Night
Sun Feb 24 ... 8:30 & 1030 am ... Communion
Sun Feb 24 ... Foodbank Sunday ... please bring donations to fill the grocery cart
Sun Feb 24 ... following the 10:30 am service ... Annual Financial Vestry meeting
Sun Feb 24 ... 2 pm (note time change) ... Communion at Douglas Crossing
Mon Feb 25 ... 7 pm ... "holy spirits" at Wixan's
Wed Feb 27 ... 7 pm ... "Anxious for Nothing" series
Thurs Feb 28 ... 10 am ... Communion followed by "Anxious for Nothing" series at Mae's
World Day of Prayer Service will be held
on Friday, March 1, 2019
at St. Andrew's-Chalmers
Presbyterian Church at 7:00 p.m.
Refreshments will be served
following the service.
All are welcome.
Mark your calendars ...
On Sunday March 10, 10:30 am
we will welcome our new Diocesan bishop
The Right Rev. Andrew Asbil
to St. Paul's.
Bakers wanted!
The Outreach Committee will be selling
“Muffins for Pikangikum” during Lent,
and we hope some of the ladies (or men) of the congregation
will help by baking a dozen of your favourite recipe.
We will need 3 dozen muffins each week,
March 10, 17, 24, and April 7, 14.
If you can help, please call Gail Browne at 905-852-6853.
"Celebrating Family!"
This past Monday was "Family Day" and we were blessed that Nathaniel was home to celebrate with us. Like so many others, we treasure the gift of our family in our children, mothers, brothers, nieces and nephews. It is wonderful to have that support that comes from life long relationships that form an integral part of our lives.
In addition, though, we feel very blessed to have a wide network of friends that we have made over the year. We consider them to be part of our family too. I remember hearing about the idea of establishing relationships that become known as our "chosen family". These individuals also play a significant role in our lives and are particularly close even though not biologically related.
However, there is another level of family that we experience ... our church family, the family of our faith.
We are a family here at St. Paul's who cares very deeply and compassionately for and about one another. We enjoy spending time together, celebrating with one another and sharing in each other's griefs and sorrows. That's what family is all about and we need to always be mindful of the abundance of love we share here as family to one another.
But, there is another level to our faith family that we are privileged to be part of, our diocese, the Anglican Church of Canada and on of a much larger scale, we are part of a family that includes other Anglicans around the communion and those of other denominations as the body of Christ. Our faith unites us to each other and to people on the other side of the world that we consider brothers and sisters.
That union we share through our beliefs is something to treasure and celebrate with gratitude and thanksgiving. It builds up a familiarity that warms the heart when we may be thousands of miles from home and yet walk into a church and feel right at home because we are among family.
As we celebrate this day now known as "family day", let's remember the many ways we experience family and give thanks that we have a relationship with people, some whom we know and others we don't but who are family none the less. Let's pray for our family in all its many forms in which it is manifested for us.
I offer us this prayer as we honor our families and those who may not be related to us but that we consider family ...
Lord, we feel blessed to have been given
the wonderful gift of family.
We ask that our roots would be deep in your love.
Fill our hearts, friendships and homes
with your truth and forgiveness.
We thank you for each person who has a place ein our lives,
for their unique qualities and special characters.
Watch over each one and keep them safe,
Fill their lives with your goodness,
Inspire their hearts to follow you,
Bless the work of their hands,
And weave us all closer together. Amen.
Remember, if you have a question, I encourage you to send it to me in an email and I will do my best to answer it either in a weekly update or in a sermon.
As always, my inbox is open, and so is my office door if you'd like to chat. I'm usually in my office most mornings Monday through Thursday unless otherwise announced due to a meeting. Stop by or make an appointment!
