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Sermon – Trinity 18, 2020

St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, Trinity 18, Oct. 10, 2020 Canon Claude Schroeder

Lectionary Readings: Isiah 25. 1-9, Philippians 3. 4-14, Matthew 22. 1-14.

Even under these present ‘unhappy circumstances’, I want to wish you all “Happy Thanksgiving.” Thank you all so much for coming today.

Our tradition of  having Thanksgiving Long Week End goes back to 1957, when the Governor General of Canada Vincent Massey, issued a proclamation stating: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the second Monday in October.” 

Well, a lot has changed in this country in the last 63 years.  For one thing, our connection with the land is not what it used to be.  We can come to church at Thanksgiving and sing, “We Plough the Fields and Scatter”, but how many of us plough the fields and scatter? But as it happened, back in May I got to go out with Henry Friesen and Nat Ross and ‘ploughed the fields’ in the community gardens to raise money for our refugee family. We had great harvest of potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini and strawberries in the garden at home. (May have wrecked a few friendships forcing zucchini onto people). And although there is a renewed interest in our culture in things local and organic, overall our relationship with the land is rather tenuous.

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Trinity 17 2020 Sermon on Matthew 21. 33-46

St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, Trinity 17, Oct 4, 2020 Canon Claude Schroeder

Sermon on Matthew 21. 33-46.

In today’s gospel lesson today from St. Matthew, Jesus is in the Temple in Jerusalem addressing the crowds who had come to celebrate the Passover. We are here on the day after Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, on what we call Palm Sunday, where and the crowds hailed Jesus as their King. 

But no sooner does Jesus enter the city, than he makes a bee line for the Temple where he proceeds to turn over the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons, declaring, “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers” thus provoking a confrontation with the religious leaders as the ones responsible for the corruption at the centre of the Israel’s spiritual life. 

The issue here was one of authority. They asked Jesus, “By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you this authority?” 

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Trinity 17 Parish Life Notes

THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY – OCTOBER 4, 2020


8.30 a.m. Holy Communion
10.30 a.m. Morning Prayer with Hymns and Sermon

Godly Play in the Children’s Worship Centre (ages 3 – 6 years.)
Today’s story is ‘The Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep’ Psalm 23:1-4, Luke 15:3-6. Leaders: Ginny L, Nicte R-L.


Faith Quest (ages 7-13)
Faith Quest kids (ages 7-13) continue the Armour of God rotation with a Divine Diversions workshop.
Leader: Len G
Shepherd: Heidi D
Memory verse: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

7.00 p.m. Evening Prayer and Rector’s Class: The Christian Understanding of Sin.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE


In the midst of intense transitions, we are seeking at St. Mary’s to find rhythms that will allow us to gather for worship that are full of grace, making adjustments as necessary.

In addition to week day Morning and Evening Prayer, with its emphasis on the contemplative praying of the Psalms and reading of Scripture, we have introduced week day celebrations of the Holy Communion on Holy Days, which are similarly quiet, but joyful. I look forward to being able to offer an additional Communion service during the week.

The main service this Sunday at 10.30 a.m. will be Morning Prayer with hymns and sermon, where the focus is on teaching, prayer, and praise, and which is shared with all parishioners via e mail.

For those earnestly desiring the Holy Communion, there will be a short said service at 8.30 a.m.

Claude +

WORSHIP GUIDELINES

  • When you enter the church please use the side aisles to go to your pew.
  • When you leave the church please go down the center aisle. We are asking those sitting in the pews on the north side of the church to exit first and go out the 15th Avenue door. Then those sitting in the pews on the south side of the church to exit and go out the Montague Street door.
  • If you would like to join in with singing you must wear a mask. The exception to this is for leaders of the service who are required to have an increased distance between themselves and the congregation.
  • Please go up the center aisle if you are going for communion. There is hand sanitizer at the front of the pews for you to use. Please return to your pew by the side aisles.

We realize there are many guidelines that have been put in place which we are required to follow in order to have an in person worship service. We pray it will not detract from your desire to be here and worship the Lord. We appreciate you helping us to follow these rules. May God bless you today and every day for His mercies are new every morning.

PARISH LIFE NOTES

THE RECTOR’S CLASS

Join us this Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. for Evening Prayer and the Rector’s Class where we will explore the Christian understanding of sin in our lives, and how we are to struggle against it.

FOREVER IN MOTION

Seniors Exercise Group has resumed on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s upper hall.

ST. CUTHBERT’S REGIONAL PRAYER GATHERING

This month’s gathering is Monday, October 5 at 6:30 pm at St. Mary’s, Regina. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, please contact Kate B.

VESTRY MEETING

will take place this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the Upper Hall.

HELP REQUESTED.

In order to conform to COVID protocols, we need one extra person each Sunday to assist with set up and sanitizing and also take down in both our Faith Quest and Worship Centre areas. Please click on this link below to sign up: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/8050d4ca4af2ea02-covid19/79947221

WORSHIP THIS WEEK AT ST MARY’S

Monday to Friday
8.30 a.m. Morning Prayer
5.30 p.m. Evening Prayer

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Trinity 16 Parish Life Notes

(Modified 2020-09-27: Added “An Act of Spiritual Reception”)

THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY – SEPTEMBER 27, 2020

10.00 a.m.  Morning Prayer

10.30 a.m.  Holy Communion

Godly Play in the Children’s Worship Centre (ages 3 – 6 years.) Today’s story is ‘The Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep’ Psalm 23:1-4, Luke 15:3-6. Leaders: Ginny L, Nicte R-L.

Faith Quest (ages 7-13) Faith Quest kids (ages 7-13) continue the Armour of God rotation with a Divine Diversions workshop. Leader: Len G Shepherd: Heidi D  Memory verse: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  Ephesians 6:10-11

7.00 p.m. Evening Prayer and Rector’s Class: Understanding Myself – A Human Being.

WORSHIP GUIDELINES. As we gather together to worship at St. Mary’s, please note the following:

When you enter  the church please use the side aisles to go to your pew.

When you leave the church please go down the center aisle.  We are asking those sitting in the pews on the north side of the church to exit first and go out the 15th Avenue door.  Then those sitting in the pews on the south side of the church to exit and go out the Montague Street door.

If you would like to join in with singing you must wear a mask.  The exception to this is for leaders of the service who are required to have an increased distance between themselves and the congregation.

Please go up the center aisle if you are going for communion.  There is hand sanitizer at the front of the pews for you to use.  Please return to your pew by the side aisles.

We realize there are many guidelines that have been put in place which we are required to follow in order to have an in person worship service.  We pray it will not detract from your desire to be here and worship the Lord.  We appreciate you helping us to follow these rules.  May God bless you today and every day for His mercies are new every morning.

AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL RECEPTION for THOSE UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT

The Book of Common Prayer (BCP p.584) teaches us if we repent of our sins, and believe that Jesus Christ suffered death upon the Cross and rose again for us, and giving thanks to Him for the forgiveness of our sins and all the benefits we receive thereby, we may partake of His Body and Blood to our soul’s health, even though we do not receive the sacrament with our mouths. The prayer following may be used at the Holy Communion for those with health concerns who do not receive the sacrament.

Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people gathered around every altar of your Church, and I embrace you with all the affections of my heart, soul, and mind. Come Lord Jesus, and dwell in my heart in the fullness of your strength; be my wisdom and guide me in right pathways; conform my life and actions to the image of your holiness; never permit me to be separated from you, and, in the power of your gracious might, rule over every hostile power that threatens or disturbs the growth of your kingdom, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

THE RECTOR’S CLASS: Understanding myself: A Human Being. Self understanding is a fundamental human task. Understanding who we are depends in part  on understanding how God has made us. Join us this Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. for Evening Prayer and the Rector’s Class where we will explore how it is that God has put us together with body,  heart, soul, and mind, and how God intended each to function in a healthy way, and how and why we find ourselves in a state of “dis-ease.”

HOLY DAY. September 29th  is The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels.  This is the day  the Church invites to consider the essential spiritual nature of  the struggle and conflict in which find ourselves, a struggle in which we are not alone, but supported and defended through the ministry of angels. Angels are not figments of our imagination, but very real and powerful spiritual entities and powers that are part of the structure and order of creation established by God for our salvation. Join us this Tuesday at 5.30 p.m. for shortened Evening Prayer and celebration of the Holy Communion.  

PARISH BIBLE STUDY on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians begins this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.  via Zoom and will run  for 8 weeks. All are welcome! Please contact Henry F to find out how to join in. 

BABY SHOWER. All ladies of St. Mary’s are invited to Karen M’s baby shower on Saturday October-3-2020 at 2:30 PM @ St Mary’s! Steve and Karen are expecting their baby in November, and Karen’s sister Christina will host the shower. Anyone interested in attending can contact Christina.

FOREVER IN MOTION Seniors Exercise Group has resumed on Tuesday mornings  at  10:30 am at St. Mary’s upper hall.  

HELP REQUESTED. In order to conform to COVID protocols, we need one extra person each Sunday to assist with set up and sanitizing and also take down in both our Faith Quest and Worship Centre areas. Please click on this link below to sign up:  https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/8050d4ca4af2ea02-covid19/79947221

REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP UPDATE. To date St. Mary’s has raised $34,862.29 of the $40,000 needed for the sponsorship for a refugee family of six (6) applicants and dependents.  We continue fundraising efforts through collection of cans and bottles. You may go to SARCAN and enter an account name St. Mary’s Anglican and password Cans for Sudan. We also accept donations through e-transfer to giving@stmarysregina.ca  Please include ‘South Sudanese Refugee Family Sponsorship” in the message. No password is required. Those who prefer to donate through cheque may send their financial support to St. Mary Anglican Church, 3337 – 15th Ave. Regina SK S4T 1T3, with a memo line “South Sudanese Family Sponsorship.”

Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has our application and confirmed eligibility of our application. The refugee family will come to Regina after they pass the interviews, and medical screening, etc. which currently  has been suspended because of COVID.

Once the refugee family arrives in Regina, we will need volunteers to receive the family at the airport, search for rental apartments and arrange for moving in, donations of clothing, cooking utensils and furniture, and emotional and practical support as they settle in. Please contact Nathaniel if you are able to help.

Welcoming and loving strangers is a precious gift from the Lord, our God (Leviticus 19: 33-34). Your prayers, hospitality and generosity are highly appreciated.  

– Nathaniel

WORSHIP THIS WEEK AT ST MARY’S

Monday to Friday

  • 8.30 a.m. Morning Prayer
  • 5.30 p.m. Evening Prayer

Tuesday

  • 5.45 p.m. Holy Communion for St. Michael and All Angels.
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Trinity 16 Sermon

We are approaching the end of Ordinary Time.  We have been working our way through Matthew’s Gospel, and now we find ourselves near the end of the Gospel and the end of Jesus’ ministry.  Here in Matthew 21, Jesus has returned triumphantly to Jerusalem.  He has been to the Temple already, and driven out the money changers and the people selling animals for offerings.  In these last days of his ministry, he will be confronted multiple times by the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the chief priests and elders of the people.  They will try to trip him up, to make him say something they can arrest him for.  We read about the first in this set of challenges this morning.

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Trinity 15 – Parish Life Notes

THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY – SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

10.00 a.m.  Morning Prayer

10.30 a.m.  Holy Communion

Godly Play in the Children’s Worship Centre (ages  3 – 6 years.) 

Orientation to the Worship Centre “Getting Ready To Be With God, Talking to God, Listening to God. Listening to One of God’s Stories: “The Light” John 8:12.

Faith Quest (ages 7-13) Faith Quest kids (ages 7-13) start the year with a King’s Theatre workshop in The Armour of God rotation.  Leader: Kate B.  Shepherd: Heidi D.     

Memory verse:  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”  Ephesians 6:10-11.

7.00 p.m.       Evening Prayer and Rector’s Class 

WORSHIP GUIDELINES. If this is your first Sunday back, please review our guidelines. Please note that mask must be worn when singing!

 HELP REQUESTED. In order to conform to COVID protocols, we need one extra person each Sunday to assist with set up and sanitizing and also take down in both our Faith Quest and Worship Centre areas. Please click on this link below to sign up:  https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/8050d4ca4af2ea02-covid19/79947221

NOTE TO PARENTS: Children will not begin in the worship service in the nave, but are to proceed to their program area no earlier than 10.15 a.m. You will be required to answer questions and sign a declaration at  your child’s program area before they will be allowed to participate. Thank you for your cooperation.  There will be no FaithQuest lessons on Oct 4, November 1, Dec. 6 and 27.

THURSDAY MORNING WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY will not be meeting in person this fall in favor of telephone study pairings. Please speak to Judy P. if interested. 

RECTOR’S CLASS. Claude will be teaching a class after evening prayer on Sunday evenings for newcomers to St. Mary’s, adults preparing for baptism, and anyone interested in the topic! Tonight’s class: “Who is Jesus?”

PARISH BIBLE STUDY. Henry will be leading an eight week Bible study on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians starting the end of September. Times and places (Zoom?) to be determined. Please contact Henry if interested. 

BABY SHOWER. All ladies of St. Mary’s are invited to Karen M’s baby shower on Saturday October-3-2020 at 2:30 PM @ St Mary’s! Steve and Karen are expecting their baby in November, and Karen’s sister Christina will host the shower. Anyone interested in attending can contact Christina.

HOLY DAY. On Monday there will be a celebration of the Holy Communion following shorted Evening Prayer beginning at 5.30 p.m.  in honour of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. The Lord is Glorious in His Saints: O come let us worship!

WORSHIP THIS WEEK AT ST MARY’S

Monday

  • 5.45 p.m. Holy Communion for St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist (Holy Day)

Monday to Friday

  • 8.30 a.m. Morning Prayer
  • 5.30 p.m. Evening Prayer
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Sermon on Matthew 20.10-16 (Trinity 15, 2020)

St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, Trinity 15, Sept 20, 2020 Canon Claude Schroeder

As Christians, we believe that through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of His Son Jesus Christ, and sending of the Holy Spirit, God has established his heavenly kingdom, which is his reign and rule, on this earth and in our midst, thus fulfilling the words of the prophet Isaiah, “Unto us a child is born, into us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders.” (Isaiah 9.6)

That is something in these politically turbulent and indeed chaotic times, and in the upcoming election season, we do well to remember.  The government of this world rests upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ. God rules in the kingdoms of men, a kingdom which operates according to an alternative politics, known as “forgiveness” and “ humble service,” and an alternative economics called “gift” or “grace.”  Our Christian calling consists into bearing witness to this kingdom, into which we have been baptized as active participants.

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