Posted on by The Rector

Advent One December 3, 2023 – Bulletin

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

December 3, 2023

THE FATHER IS MY HOPE; THE SON IS MY REFUGE; 
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY PROTECTIOR.
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:  Romans 13:8-14

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

THE HOLY GOSPEL:   Matthew 21:1-13

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately. This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’ Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you are making it a den of robbers.’

PARISH LIFE NOTES

LOWER HALL KITCHEN. A work bee to clean cutlery and crockery and organize the lower hall kitchen will take place Monday at 1:00 p.m. Please speak to Janice or Roberta if you are able to help. 

CELEBRATING ST. NICHOLAS takes place this Saturday from 1.30 to 5.00 p.m. How can you help? The following is needed:

  1. The loan of some Christmas trees and Christmas lights to decorate the hall.  
  2. Setting up the hall on Friday December 8 in the afternoon (1 to 5 p.m.) and evening from 7 to 9 p.m. and items loaned can be taken back on Sunday December 10 when we will take down the hall after the service. 
  3. There will be a table in the Christmas market for slightly used items like toys etc. for sale at $5 or less. If you have items for this table, please drop them at the church on Friday night December 8.

Thanks to all who are participating in the St. Nicholas Day event and let’s invite as many people as possible this week to come and experience St. Mary’s.

2024 ENVELOPES. Boxes of weekly and monthly donation envelopes will be available soon. If you would like to change how you give, please send Blair a note and he will make the appropriate arrangements. Weekly and Monthly envelopes are available as well as electronic donations through e-transfer and Pre-Authorized Debit Agreements. 

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.  

LIVING WITH THE CALENDAR: ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. As we enter into the season of Advent, and the beginning of a new liturgical year, we rejoice in the gift of time that is ours through the Church calendar, which sets out for us a way of inhabiting time, such that becomes for us a way of encountering Christ. 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.

ADVENT LETTER FROM BISHOP HELEN

PARISH FAMILY NEWS

CONDOLENCES to Louise whose husband, Derek, passed away last Sunday night. Graveside memorial service will be held on Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery, and come and go tea  on Saturday from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the home of David and Trisha. All are warmly invited. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

BIRTHDAY PARTY INVITATION. Katherine and Lyndon would like to extend an invitation to St Mary’s parish family for a joint birthday gathering at Malty National (a brewery on 1130 15th Ave, Regina, SK) on December 16th between 1:00-5:00. It’s a come-as-you-can-at-any-time event that’s friendly to all ages. 

Please come for a visit with one another, stay for a spell, maybe play a game or grab a drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available) and have a snack. We also would like to  request no gift-giving, as we would like our gift to be able to spend some quality time with y’all.

Attached below are a link to the location and an image of the restaurant front for reference.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Lyndon and Katherine

Malty National Brewing Corp. · 1130 15th Ave, Regina, SK S4P 0Y5

THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S

  • Morning Prayer  
    • Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:30 a.m.  
    • Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. 
  • Holy Communion
    • Wednesday at 10.00 a.m. followed by Bible study on lessons for Advent II.
  • Evening Prayer
    • Wednesday at 5.30 p.m.
  • Interment Service for Derek Brown
    • Friday 2:00 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery.
  • Next Sunday: Advent 2
    • 10.00 a.m. Morning Prayer 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion