THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
commonly called
ROGATION SUNDAY
May 14th, 2023
CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY: PREVIEW OF THE READINGS
THE LESSON: James 1:22-27
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing. If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 16:23-38
On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. ‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’ His disciples said, ‘Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’
PARISH LIFE NOTES
BIG THANK YOU to Shirley, Hilary, Rem, Lyndon, Katherine, Terry and Debbie who came out yesterday to rake and seed the grounds of St. Mary’s.
FAREWELL AND BLESSINGS to Ben and Oleksandra and their children, Jane and Sophie, who are moving to Calgary. May the Lord bless you and keep you on this next chapter of your journey with Him!
WORSHIP CENTRE is still in need of a few volunteers who can assist in the ministry to our 3- to 6-year-olds one Sunday a month. Please speak to Claude after the service.
ST. MARY’S OUTREACH AT THE CATHEDRAL VILLAGE ARTS FESTIVAL
- May 23-26:
- 7:00 p.m. Public Lecture Series with Symeon van Donkelaar: ART AS VISION: IN LIFE, WORSHIP, AND THE STUDIO followed at 8.30 p.m. with candle-lit Compline.
- May 27
- 10.00 – 5:00 p.m. ST. MARY’S BOOTH AT THE STREET FAIR.
- 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. SIGNS AND WONDERS CHURCH TOURS
- 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. BEESWAX CANDLE – DIPPING
LETTER OF THANKS FROM REVD. NATHANIEL DENG MAYEN
Dear Rector, Wardens and the Congregation:
I take this opportunity to thank the rector, wardens and the congregation of St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, and the Diocese of Qu’Appelle for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow in the Lord’s service. A lot can be said about this tremendous journey together in the Lord.
First, I announce with heartfelt gratitude that my academic journey has come to an end. I am graduating on Monday May 8, 2023 at 4:45 p.m. (Ontario Time) or 2:45 p.m. (Saskatchewan Time) with a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) through Wycliffe College, University of Toronto. My Master of Theological Studies (MTS) was fully paid through the Hipperson Scholarship Fund to which St. Mary’s Rector and the Wardens, both past and present, have been the most gracious and understanding trustees with the authority from the Bishop and the Diocese of Qu’Appelle.
Second, my priesthood journey back to the altar to celebrate the Holy Communion has been terrific and memorable. Thanks to the selfless mentorship from Abuna (Father) Claude and the gracious licensure from the Qu’Appelle diocesan bishops Rob and Helen. I look forward to continuing personal growth throughout this priesthood journey to the altar because my intention since after migrating to Canada from the refugee camp in Kenya has always been to resume my clergy responsibilities in the Anglican Church of Canada and continue to share Christian faith with the Anglican counterparts in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan among whom I was first called to priesthood in their witness in the refugee camp in Kenya. This dream is closer to achievement through the Hipperson Scholarship Fund’s generous financial support that has enabled me complete my theological studies; the mentorship from Abuna (Father) Claude who has not only guided me through The Book of Common Prayer to which I was ordained into a deacon (January 5, 2005) and priest (August 18, 2005), but also cultivated great friendship in the Lord through shared Nicene Christian readings; and the involvement of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle through the financial support for and partnership in the construction of the Bishop Nathaniel Garang Seminary and Training Centre in Juba, South Sudan, for the South Sudanese clergy and church and community leaders. This gift of education is dear to my heart because most of the South Sudanese clergy are ordained without formal theological training.
Third, the Diocese of Qu’Appelle and St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church have also developed great friendship and connection with the South Sudanese community in Regina. It warms my heart that this relationship is growing stronger through both private refugee sponsorship of South Sudanese families and pastoral care and sharing of Christian faith through leadership of Abuna Claude and myself from St. Mary. Thank you for giving me the greatest privilege that has culminated into a successful refugee sponsorship of and welcoming for the first South Sudanese refugee family of mapiou Deng Arok to St. Mary with your generous support.
We share our Christian faith in different ways. Sharing faith and service in the church of Christ is the greatest privilege because Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4: 11-13).
Thanks for your fellowship and sharing of faith. May the Triune God continue to bless our fellowship in the glorious Name of Christ, whose mission to humanity is the precious gift of love that has brought his disciples from all the nations and cultures into one family, the church.
With sincere and contrite heart,
The Rev. Nathaniel Athian Deng Mayen, BSW, MPA, MTS, RSW (SK)
Honorary Assistant and Chair of Refugee and Newcomer Support Committee
St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church. Regina
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
ROGATIONTIDE SERVICES
Morning Prayer: Tues at 8.30 a.m. and Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Evening Prayer: Tuesday and Wednesday at 5.30 p.m.
Holy Communion: Wednesday 12.10 p.m.
FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
Morning Prayer Thursday at 8.30 a.m.
Evening Prayer (shortened) and Holy Communion at 5.30 p.m.