Posts

Posted on

Trinity 2, 2021 – Sermon

(Modified 2021-06-13: Added recorded sermon)

Recorded sermon

Such as are planted in the house of the LORD / shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age, / and shall be full of sap and flourishing.

I was standing in a socially-distanced line outside a LifeLabs clinic last week, and struck up a conversation with the lady in front of me.  We covered the usual chit-chat basics: the weather (thank goodness it’s a nice day for standing outside in this line!), Covid (thank goodness pretty soon we won’t have to stand outside in lines like this!), and work (how come you’ve got time to stand outside in a line like this on a Monday morning?  Don’t you work?)  But then she asked me if I had my garden planted yet.  I already had the feeling this lady thought I wasn’t pulling my weight as a human being, so I cringed a little inside when I had to tell her I live in an apartment and therefore do not have a garden to plant.  But, I was happy to report, everyone I know who has a garden has indeed got their plants in.  I know this because it’s come up in every conversation I’ve had in the last couple of weeks! At least I know people who are pulling their weight as humans.

I appreciate it when Jesus uses gardens and fields as metaphors for the Kingdom of God in his parables.  I like the idea of growing plants as images for the Kingdom, because while there is work for the people in the metaphor to do – the sower sows, the harvester reaps – so much of what happens is out of the control of the people involved.  Plants grow as they will, and there is little you can do beyond set the conditions to encourage them to grow well.  Similarly, it is as well for us to think of the seeds of the Kingdom of God, once sown into the world and into our hearts, growing as they will.  Our role is to set the conditions to encourage them to grow well.

Continue reading “Trinity 2, 2021 – Sermon”
Posted on

Trinity 1, 2021 – Bulletin

THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
JUNE 6, 2021

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S

10.30 A.M. HOLY COMMUNION. Claude Schroeder preaching.

GODLY PLAY for children 3-6 years via zoom. Today’s story is  ‘Feeding the Five Thousand’ Luke 9: 10-17.

PARISH LIFE NOTES

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. During announcements this morning we will celebrate and bless David and Janice on the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary. “Hugs and Kisses” all around!

“TOHU VA-VOHU” are the Hebrew words for “formless” and “void” in the English translation of Genesis 1.2 which describes the problem God faced in the beginning of creation: “The earth was without form and void”  Tohu va-vohu.  This also describes the problem we are facing in the garden at St. Mary’s… (See photo below). 

So how did God go about solving the problem? As we read on in Genesis 1, on the first three days of creation God created order, and then, on the next three days, God filled the emptiness. On the sixth day, God made man in his own image, male and female He created them, God blessed them, and commanded them to continue His good work by creating order out of the chaos, and to fill the emptiness. This is what we hope to see happen this week. Watch this space as the St. Mary’s garden takes new shape and is filled!

CONDOLENCES. Former St. Mary’s parishioner Sherri passed away on Sunday, May 30. Please remember the family, especially Brittany and Noah in your prayers. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

SUNDAY ATTENDANCE RESTRICTIONS. IN conformity to the Public Health Order of the Provincial Government, the maximum attendance at public worship has been lifted from 30 person to 30% of capacity, which allows up to 60 people to attend. We continue to observe public health protocols, and there is no need to register in advance.

WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT! ON June 19th, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s, Derek and Li will be joined together as husband and wife in the service of Holy Matrimony. All members of St. Mary’s Parish family are warmly invited. Please let the Rector or the office know if you plan to attend.

LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.

JOB POSTING.  The newly formed Immanuel Anglican Church in the St. Cuthbert Archdeaconry is looking for a dynamic and collaborative individual for the permanent, part-time position of Office Manager. The hours of work will be six hours Monday through Friday, mornings and afternoons, for a total of 30 hours each week. The hours required will be reviewed after six months. The job will be performed on-site at the Immanuel Massey Road interim primary worship site. Interested individuals should send an email outlining their experience, skills, abilities, and interest, including references, as they relate to the Office Manager Role Description below to the wardens at wardens@immanuelanglicanregina.ca.  Inquiries about the position can be sent to the same address.Salary will be commensurate with experience. Benefits will be in accordance with Diocesan of Qu’Appelle benefits.  Deadline for receipt of  expressions of interest is June 15, 2021.

Posted on

Trinity 1, 2021 – Sermon

(Modified 2021-06-06: Added recording of sermon)

St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Trinity 1, June 6, 2021 Canon Claude Schroeder

Audio recording of sermon

Today marks the beginning of a long spiritual journey for us. It’s the journey through the season of Trinity, which is the longest season of the church year. 

As I mentioned last Sunday, the calendar that governs our worship is divided into two halves. In the first half of the year we rehearse the mighty acts of God whereby He has saved us in the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ and sending of the Holy Spirit. In Advent, we prepare to celebrate the Birth of Christ at Christmas, which is followed by the celebration of the manifestation of His glory in the season of Epiphany. Then comes Lent, where we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ’s suffering, death, and Resurrection at Easter, which is followed by the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to send us the Holy Spirit which we celebrate at Pentecost. Do you see the pattern? Preparation, Celebration, Fulfillment centered around the Birth and the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And so we arrive at Trinity Sunday, which was last week, and the celebration of the revelation of the name of the One True God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Then in the second half of the year, we have the long season of Trinity, marked out by the color green, which is the color of growth. During Trinity season we are seeking to grow in the knowledge and love of God. Having run through the Creed in the first half of the year, now the Creed runs through us, and that is the spiritual journey that we are beginning again today.

Continue reading “Trinity 1, 2021 – Sermon”
Posted on

Trinity 2021 – Bulletin

TRINITY SUNDAY
MAY 30, 2021

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S

10.30 A.M. HOLY COMMUNION. Henry preaching.

GODLY PLAY for children 3-6 years via zoom. Today’s story is  ‘Baptism’ Acts 2:38-39; Matthew 28:18-20.

FAITH QUEST (for children 7-13 via zoom) year end review challenge – leader is Kate. 

PARISH LIFE NOTES

TRINITY SUNDAY. Today marks the half way in our liturgical calendar. Having prepared for and celebrated the Birth of Jesus Christ ( Advent and Christmas) , and having celebrated the manifestation of His glory (Epiphany), and then having prepared for and celebrated His Passion,  Resurrection, and Ascension (Lent and Easter), and the sending of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), we now ask the question, “In light of all that has been revealed to us in the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension of Jesus Christ, and sending of the Holy Spirit, what does this tell us about who God is. There can be no more important question life. Trinity Sunday celebrates the revelation of the One True God, who is the Father, and who is never without His eternally-begotten Son, and never without His eternal, holy, and life-giving Spirit. In short, God is the Holy Trinity, who has saved us, and who we glorify, love, and adore. Now that we have “run through the Creed”, during the season of Trinity, which will take us to Advent, the Creed runs through us, where will seek to grow in our knowledge and love of God.

SUNDAY ATTENDANCE RESTRICTIONS. IN conformity to the Public Health Order of the Provincial Government, the maximum attendance at public worship has been lifted from 30 person to 30% of capacity, which allows up to 60 people to attend. We continue to observe public health protocols, and there is no need to register in advance.

WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT! ON June 19th, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s, Derek and Li will be joined together as husband and wife in the service of Holy Matrimony. All members of St. Mary’s Parish family are warmly invited. Please let the Rector or the office know if you plan to attend.

LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.

VESTRY meets this Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. via zoom.

FAMILY MINISTRIES meets this Thursday at St. Mary’s at 6.30 p.m.

JOB POSTING.  The newly formed Immanuel Anglican Church in the St. Cuthbert Archdeaconry is looking for a dynamic and collaborative individual for the permanent, part-time position of Office Manager. The hours of work will be six hours Monday through Friday, mornings and afternoons, for a total of 30 hours each week. The hours required will be reviewed after six months. The job will be performed on-site at the Immanuel Massey Road interim primary worship site. Interested individuals should send an email outlining their experience, skills, abilities, and interest, including references, as they relate to the Office Manager Role Description below to the wardens at wardens@immanuelanglicanregina.ca.  Inquiries about the position can be sent to the same address.Salary will be commensurate with experience. Benefits will be in accordance with Diocesan of Qu’Appelle benefits.  Deadline for receipt of  expressions of interest is June 15, 2021.

Posted on

Trinity 2021 – Sermon

Sermon for St. Mary’s Anglican – by Henry Friesen, May 30, 2021

Scriptures for Trinity Sunday:  Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8:12-17 and John 3:1-17

Pre-recorded sermon audio

Entering Into the Mystery

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts together, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

            When Claude asked me to preach this morning he suggested that this Sunday is Trinity Sunday and that it is therefore a preacher’s favourite Sunday. He was laughing when he said this knowing full well that preaching about or at least trying to explain the Trinity is filled with theological land mines; a preacher is sure to say something that many theologians and students of the Bible would take issue with.

            Claude assured me though that our liturgy and in particular our affirmation of faith via the Nicene Creed would make clear the correct doctrine in regard to the Trinity so that even if I wandered a little, we would be OK!

Continue reading “Trinity 2021 – Sermon”
Posted on

Pentecost 2021 – Bulletin

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST
MAY 23, 2021

ALLELUIA. CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED. ALLELUIA!

TODAY AT ST. MARY’S

10.30 A.M. HOLY COMMUNION WITH PRAYER FOR PERSONAL RENEWAL AND ANOINTING WITH OIL. Canon Claude Schroeder preaching.

GODLY PLAY (for children 3-6 years ) via zoom. Today’s story is ‘Pentecost’ Acts 2:1-4. 

 FAITHQUEST. There is no “zoom” lesson today.

PARISH LIFE NOTES

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST. “Let us with one mind be incited to pay reverence to Whitsuntide, rejoicing in honor of the Holy Spirit, by whom the whole catholic Church is sanctified, and every rational soul quickened. He is the inspirer of the faith, the teacher of knowledge, the fount of love, the seal of chastity, and the cause of all power. Let the minds of the faithful rejoice, that throughout the world one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is praised by the confession of all tongues, and that that sign of his presence, which appeared in the likeness of fire, is still perpetuated in his work and gift. For the Spirit of truth himself makes the house of his glory shine with the brightness of his light, and will have nothing dark nor lukewarm in his temple.” (St. Leo the Great A.D. 400-461)

“IN PERSON” SUNDAY WORSHIP continues today with a maximum attendance of 30. If you desire to attend the Sunday service at St. Mary’s, please observe public health protocols. There is no need to register in advance.

LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.

PRAYER RETREAT. This week the Rector will be away on study and prayer retreat, and so there will be no week day services of Morning and Evening Prayer.