THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE ADVENT
November 26, 2023
THE FATHER IS MY HOPE; THE SON IS MY REFUGE;
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY PROTECTOR.
ALL HOLY TRINITY, GLORY TO THEE!
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: Jeremiah 23:5-8
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when men shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”
THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 1:35-45
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’. He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter). The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’
PARISH LIFE NOTES
SERVICE OF ORDINATION at which Deacon Christine will be ordained to the priesthood will take place at St. Paul’s Cathedral this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome! This brings to a conclusion Deacon Christine’s six month internship at St. Mary’s. She will now be moving to the Cathedral to take up duties there.
LIVING WITH THE CALENDAR: ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. As we enter into the season of Advent, and the beginning of a new year in our liturgical calendar, we have opportunity to rejoice in the “gift of time” that is the church calendar.
As the children’s hymn puts it,
Advent tells us Christ is near.
Christmas tells us Christ is here.
In Epiphany we trace
All the glory of His grace.
The celebrations of the church year are best understood not as recollection of events long past, but invitations to present tense moments where time and eternity intersect, into which I may enter and encounter the living Christ, right here and right now.
“There is no time like the present for only in the present does time open its riches to us and bestow its gifts. Only at the present moment do the doors to eternity offer us union with what would otherwise seem lost.” (Stephen Freeman)
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
The 2024 Book of Common Prayer church calendar is available for order at a cost of $10.00. Please contact Yvonne in the church office at 522-6052 or stmarysanglican@sasktel.net to order your copy.
THE GRAPEVINE. Do you remember a time when you experienced the presence of God and His blessings? Sharing our faith experiences blesses others and gives God the Glory. Would you share your experience /story with us at St. Mary’s?
The Grapevine is being printed in December; please think about submitting your story. We will need your stories by December 4th, please send them to Lorna. For more information call Lorna..
STEWARDSHIP AND PLEDGE CAMPAIGN. ON December 16th we hope to gather in our pledges for 2024 and present them before the Lord.
“It will be given to him who already has and he shall abound, for everyone who has the gift of charity receives other gifts besides. But he who has not the gift of charity will lose even those gifts which he seemed to have. So it is necessary, brethren, that charity should be the motive of all your actions …No idler is completely deprived of talent …One receives the gift of intelligence …Another receives worldly wealth …another …the craft with which he learns his livelihood …a fourth friendship of a rich man.
St Gregory the Great: Parables of the Gospel
GETTING READY FOR ST. NICHOLAS! Team leaders for our Nicholas Christmas Outreach are looking for volunteers to join the effort! Help is needed in the follow areas:
- Christmas Crafts/ Decorations for Christmas Market: Andrew
- Baked Goods for Christmas Market: Brenda
- Serving Drinks and Baking at Christmas Café: Clara
- Prepare and organize children’s activities: Heidi
- Prepare and serve at Outdoor Bonfire and Food Grill: Lyndon
Help spread the word by inviting friends and neighbours!
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Morning Prayer
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:30;
- Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Evening Prayer
- Wednesday at 5.30 p.m.
NEXT SUNDAY: FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT.
- 10.00 A.M. Morning Prayer.
- 10.30 A.M. Family Service of Holy Communion and Children’s Sermon.