Category: Announcements

THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
February 7, 2021

GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY BE TO HIM FOREVER!

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S

10.30  A.M. MORNING PRAYER WITH HYMNS AND SERMON. Henry is preaching.

GODLY PLAY (for children 3-6 years via zoom.) Today’s story the Parable of ‘The Good Samaritan’ Luke 10:25-37. 

FAITHQUEST via zoom (for children 7-13 via zoom). Today we continue with the story of Jacob and Esau with a Pray  per View lesson – led by Clara.

PARISH LIFE NOTES

ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual Meeting of the Whole Congregation will be held on Sunday, February 14  at 3:00 p.m. via video conference. The purpose of this meeting is to receive ministry reports from 2020, review 2020 financial statements, receive proposed budget, and elect parish officers for 2021. Members of the congregation who have been baptized and attained the age of 18 years and regularly attend services at St. Mary’s are encouraged to attend and entitled to a vote on motions. Annual Reports, Financial Statements, Agenda, and instructions for joining the meeting will be emailed out next week. 

RETIREMENT OF BISHOP. Please see the attached letter from Bishop Rob regarding his upcoming retirement from ministry as our Bishop.

LENT 2021. Plans are coming together to enable us to keep a Holy Lent. These include prayer and study materials as well as  “Fasting for Feeding” initiative in the home, Zoom study groups, and scheduled prayer walk.   Materials and further details will be included in a package  to the parish next week. 

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY. The prayer shawl ministry began in the early 1990’s in the USA and is now practiced beyond North America.  This ministry began in 2008 in the parish family of St. Mary’s Anglican in Regina.  Prayer shawls, knitted or crocheted, throw-size or scarf-size, are made by a group of knitters on a regular basis, as a way to provide tangible evidence of the loving, prayerful support of the congregation for someone in need.  Someone may be blessed with a prayer shawl when they are college-bound and leaving St. Mary’s, are in a crisis, facing surgery, critically ill or dying. They may also receive one when they are expecting a baby, recently bereaved or in a seniors’ residence.  The repetitive nature of knitting allows the knitter to meditate and pray with every stitch – every inch of the yarn passes through their fingers, knowing that it will eventually embrace another. Crafters choose soft yarn in order to provide comfort to the recipient and their work is blessed at a worship service before it is presented. If you would like to be one of our knitters or wish to gift a prayer shawl, please contact Norma or Kate. 

ST. CUTHBERT’S REGIONAL PRAYER MEETING – next month’s gathering is Monday, February 8 at 6:30 pm by Zoom. Newcomers are welcome. For the Zoom link, please contact Kate.

THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, JANUARY 31, 2021

GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY BE TO HIM FOREVER!

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S

10.30  A.M. MORNING PRAYER WITH HYMNS AND SERMON. Claude Schroeder preaching.

Godly Play  for children 3-6 years via zoom. Today’s story is ‘Jesus in the Wilderness’ Mark 1:12-13. 

Children’s Lenten Alms. For our Children’s Lenten Alms Family Ministries has chosen City Kidz. We will be collecting alms for City Kidz, an organization that exists to help children living in low-income communities by providing inspirational experiences and personal relationships.

FAITHQUEST (for children 7-13 via zoom). Today we continue with the story of Jacob and Esau 

PARISH LIFE NOTES

ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual Meeting of the Whole Congregation will be held on Sunday, February 14 (St. Valentine’s Day!) at 3:00 p.m. By direction of Bishop Rob this will take place via video conference. The purpose of this meeting is to receive ministry reports from 2020, review 2020 financial statements, receive proposed budget, and elect parish officers for 2021. Members of the congregation who have been baptized and attained the age of 18 years and regularly attend services at St. Mary’s are encouraged to attend and entitled to a vote on motions. Instructions on how to participate will be sent to everyone well before the meeting.

EVENING PRAYER AND LECTURE. Join us next Saturday, Feb 6 at 7:00 p.m. for a Service of Evening Prayer for The Missionary Work of the Church Overseas with a lecture by Revd. Nathaniel Deng Mayen from St. Mary’s. Nathaniel will share ideas on the development of Christian faith among the Jieeng (Dinka), including the Jieeng worldviews, the spiritual terminologies and practices, the relationship between the believers with Nhialic (God) and the traditional deities (jak), and the mass conversion of Jieeng believers to Christianity during the civil war in South Sudan. All are welcome! Please join us at :https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82261325551?pwd=bmpkY3JRb3Y2aHN0YXFzb3d2NENLQT09

CONDOLENCES to Dennis and Eileen. Dennis’ mother, Elsie, passed away on January 26^th in Regina. We remember Elsie and the family in our prayers. May she rest in peace and rise in glory!

THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
JANUARY 24, 2021

GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY BE TO HIM FOREVER!

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S

10.30  A.M. MORNING PRAYER WITH HYMNS AND SERMON. Beth preaching.

GODLY PLAY (for children 3-6 years via zoom.) Today’s story is ‘Jesus is Baptized’ Mark 1:9-11.

FAITHQUEST (for children 7-13 via zoom). Today we continue with the story of Jacob and Esau in The Daily Bread Bistro.

Parish Life Notes

HOUSEHOLD FINANCES. Tax receipts along with a financial update, letter from the Churchwardens and pledge forms for 20201 will be mailed out to all parishioners this coming week.

TAX RECEIPTS. Please be on the lookout for your 2020 tax receipts. Please review them and if you notice anything that is incorrect or if you have any questions please contact Blair.

IN MEMORIAM. At the end of our service this morning, we will take the opportunity to grieve the death of Allison in the hope of the Resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. We will give thanks for Allison’s  life and Christian witness, and commend her  soul to God’s gracious keeping. May she rest in peace and rise in glory! We pray for God to comfort her husband Rem, and extended family members. Private funeral service will be held at St. Mary’s on Tuesday at 1.30 p.m. Condolences may be sent to Rem at his home.

COVID UPDATE. Bishop Rob has directed that funeral services and food outreach programs may resume in churches throughout our Diocese, and anticipates that following further consultation with clergy and Diocesan Council at the end of January he will be able to provide further direction and a plan for 2021.

ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual Meeting of the Whole Congregation will be held on Sunday, February 14 (St. Valentine’s Day!) at 3:00 p.m. By direction of Bishop Rob this will take place via video conference. The purpose of this meeting is to receive ministry reports from 2020, review 2020 financial statements, receive proposed budget, and elect parish officers for 2021. Members of the congregation who have been baptized and attained the age of 18 years and regularly attend services at St. Mary’s are encouraged to attend and entitled to a vote on motions. Instructions on how to participate will be sent to everyone well before the meeting.

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

JANUARY 17, 2021

GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY BE TO HIM FOREVER!

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S

10.30  A.M. MORNING PRAYER WITH HYMNS AND SERMON. 
Claude Schroeder preaching.

GODLY PLAY for children 3-6 years via zoom. Today’s story is ‘The Boy Jesus in the Temple’ Luke 2:41-52.

FAITHQUEST: No lesson today. 

HOUSEHOLD FINANCES. Tax receipts along with a financial update, letter from the Churchwardens and pledge forms for 20201 will be mailed out to all parishioners this coming week.

TAX RECEIPTS. Please be on the lookout for your 2020 tax receipts. Please review them and if you notice anything that is incorrect or if you have any questions please contact Blair.

VESTRY MEETING to finalize budget for 2021 will be held via zoom, today at 7:00 p.m.

COVID UPDATE. Further direction to the Diocese from Bishop Rob is expected on January 18^th. 

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD.
JANUARY 10, 2020

GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY BE TO HIM FOREVER!

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S

10.30  A.M. MORNING PRAYER WITH HYMNS AND SERMON. 
Claude Schroeder preaching.

GODLY PLAY via Zoom. Today’s story is ‘Anna and Simeon’ Luke 2:25-38. 

FAITHQUEST via Zoom. Today’s Lesson: The Story of Jacob and Esau. 
From a human point of view, Jacob’s story is one of sin and redemption. This redemption happened because God chose to make himself known to Jacob (twice). From God’s point of view, it is the story of how God graciously works through his flawed children (like us) to fulfill his Covenant promise to raise up a kingdom of priests for the world.
Today’s Workshop: Let there be Magic!
Leader: Kate.

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HOUSEHOLD FINANCES. Tax receipts along with a financial update, letter from the Churchwardens and pledge forms for 20201 will be mailed out to all parishioners in the next 2 weeks.

VESTRY MEETING to finalize budget for 2021 will be held via Zoom, next Sunday at 7:00 p.m.

COVID UPDATE. Further direction to the Diocese from Bishop Rob is expected on January 18^th. 

THE SECOND SUNDAY after CHRISTMAS

PARISH LIFE NOTES

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S:  10.30 a.m.  Morning Prayer, with Carols of Christmas and Sermon.  Henry preaching.

AUDIO RECORDING of the full service and sermon is available on the parish  website.

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, that is the  ‘shining forth” of God in the person of Jesus Christ brings the celebration of Christmas to a climax and fulfillment. Join us next Wednesday, January 6^th, at 7:00 p.m.  on “Zoom” for an evening of theological reflection and a special evening service from St. Mary’s that will include a “Blessing of the Waters”  in anticipation of the Baptism of the Lord next Sunday. Zoom link will be sent out next Tuesday.

A FROM THE FATHERS: AS FIRE COMES TO BE IN IRON. (Part 2)

So then, one might ask, “ How was God the Word not filled with bodily weakness?” We reply: as the fire does not share in the distinguishing marks of the iron. Iron is black and cold, but nonetheless when turned into fire it takes on the outward form of fire. The iron glows, yet the fire is not blackened. The iron is set ablaze, yet it does not cool the flame. So too with the human flesh of the Lord: it shares in the divinity, yet it does not impart its own weakness to the divinity…Are you puzzled how the easily corruptible nature can have incorruptibility through its communion with God? Realize that it’s a mystery. God is in flesh that he may kill the death that lurks therein. For as the harm caused by poisonous drugs can be overcome by antidotes when they are assimilated by the body, and as the darkness residing in a house is dissolved by the introduction of light, so too the death that dominates in human nature is obliterated by the presence of divinity. And as ice in water, for as long as it is night and dark, is stronger than the liquid that contains it, but the warming sun melts the ice by its ray, so too death rules until the advent of Christ, but when the saving grace of God appears,, and the sun of righteousness arsis, death is swallowed up by victory, unable to bear the visitation of true life. 

O the depth of the goodness of God and his love for humanity! In response to his superabundant love for humanity we rebel against being his servants. We seek to know why God is among humans, though we should be adoring his goodness.

On the Holy Birth of Christ, St. Basil of Caesaria, (A.D.  329-379)

PARISH LIFE NOTES

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S:  10.30 a.m.  Morning Prayer, with Carols of Christmas and Sermon.  Beth preaching.

AUDIO RECORDING of the full service and sermon will be available on the parish website.

DONATIONS  for 2020 by cheque or e-transfer need to be received in the church office by December 31. Christmas thank offering to the Rector may be made either by e –transfer or using the yellow church envelope.

A WORD FROM THE FATHERS: AS FIRE COMES TO BE IN IRON. (Part 1)

How did the splendor come to us all by means of one? How can divinity come to be in flesh? As fire comes to be in iron: not by a change of place, but by a sharing of itself. For fire does not go out of itself and into the iron; rather, while remaining in its place, it shares its own power with the iron. It is in no way diminished when it shares itself, and the whole of it fills whatever shares in it. So it is in this way that God the Word did not move out of Himself when the Word became flesh. Heaven was not deprived of what it contained, and earth received the heavenly one within it’s own embraces. Do not suppose that the divinity fell. For it did not move from one place to another as bodies do. Do not imagine that the divinity was altered when it was transferred into flesh. For the immortal is immutable.

On the Holy Birth of Christ, St. Basil of Caesaria, (A.D.  329-379)

THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

DECEMBER 20, 2020

PARISH LIFE NOTES

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete. ( 1 John 1. 1-4)  

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S:  10.30 a.m.  Morning Prayer with Hymns and Sermon.  

Godly Play  for children 3-6 years via zoom. Today’s story is ‘The Magi Show the Way to Bethlehem’ Matthew 2: 1-12. 

AUDIO RECORDING of the full service and sermon will be available on the parish website.

ST. MARY’S FAMILY CHRISTMAS SERVICE! Join us “live” from St. Mary’s  on Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m. for Christmas Eve Vigil and Service of Lesson and Carol  with the Blessing of the Creche. Our goal on this Holy Night of the celebration of our Savior’s Birth is to hold a “virtual gathering” and to “liturgize” together, that is to en-act the Word of God in Scripture, song, and prayer. The service will be conducted from the sanctuary at St. Mary’s, and will include readings by parishioners from their homes, musical accompaniment on the organ for the singing of the carols at home. Please join us at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81587105842?pwd=clUvb1lVYjNiblZKemZvcGZ0bngwUT09. 

Passcode, if needed, is 801954.

Please be on time, and ready yourself by hitting the “mute” button on your computer, turning off the lights in your home, and ready to light candles!  Printed order of service will be delivered to your homes, and available on the website as well.

CHRISTMAS CARE PACKAGE  will be delivered to parishioners homes next week, and will include church envelopes ( for those who have ordered them), a booklet of spiritual testimonies under COVID from St. Mary’s parishioners and  the Christmas Eve order of service.

GOD OF THE ADVENT PROMISE FROM BISHOP ROB AND LETTER TO THE DIOCESE are available here:

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THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
DECEMBER 13, 2020

Continue reading “Advent 3 – Bulletin”

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

DECEMBER 6, 2020

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S

10.30 a.m.  Morning Prayer, Great Litany with Hymns and Sermon.  Beth  preaching.

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PARISH LIFE NOTES

AUDIO RECORDING of the full service and sermon will be available on the parish website.

ADVENT OUTREACH: Men’s socks, toques, large felt mitts and/or monetary donations. Items can be brought to St. Mary’s on or before Dec. 20 or dropped off at the home of Sandra and Ken.

HOLY BAPTISM. Please continue to support Cailen and Derek in prayer  as they  wait upon the Lord during the suspension of services at St. Mary’s.  

A BIG THANK YOU to all those who helped put together and deliver the Advent Care Packages last week end: to Emma, Myka, Luci and Eli for making the Christmas cards and putting packages together, and to Clara for helping wrap and deliver the packages; to Kate, Beth, Sandra, Sharon, and Nat for making deliveries; to Yvonne for making the beeswax candles, and Valerie for sending along the “Antiphons for Advent”

BEESWAX CANDLES.  For those parish households that did not receive any candles in their “Advent Spiritual Care Packages” that were delivered last week end (we ran out!), and would like to receive a pair of candles, please call Yvonne in the parish office and let her know. Additional pairs of candles may also be purchased at a cost of $5.00 in support of the St. Mary’s Refugee Fund. Please contact the office if interested.

ST. MARY’S CHRISTMAS CARDS. Additional sets of the Christmas cards that were delivered last week end may also be purchased  from the office at cost of $5.00 in support of the St. Mary’s Refugee Fund.

ADVENT PARISH “ZOOM MEETINGS.” Join us next Sunday, December 13, at:

6:45 pm – Family Time hosted by Dave and Janice. Join us for a time to visit and play games.  All ages are welcome.  

8:30 pm – Fireside Chat and Compline hosted by Claude and Hilary. Join us for a chance to visit together and end your day with praying the Compline service.  All ages are welcome.

Please email Dave and Janice and we will send you the Zoom link.  People are welcome to join both events if they would like.

BLESSSED FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS!  Today we join our prayers to those of Blessed Nicholas, Bishop and Confessor of the Faith. Grant, Almighty God, that your church may be so inspired by the example of your servant Nicholas of Myra, that it may never cease to work for the welfare of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.