Readings for next Sunday, 13th December, Advent 3; First reading: Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24; Gospel: John 1.6-8, 19-28
Prayer and Pastoral Care
Please pray this week for – Evan and Matt; Gord and Terri; Betty and Ruth; Margaret and Anita; Anne; Margaret and Jennifer; Sue; Brian; Fran and Bill; Loraine and Gord; Toby- Lindsey- Erin- Theresa and family; Victoria plus Karen and Debbie; Nelson; Ray; Margaret; Pat and Sean; Brenda; Laurel and Rob; Nancy June; Susan; Stephanie and Ron; Scott and Logan; Beth; Mary Anne; Don and Shirley; Cathy and Susan; Charles and Pauline; Irene and Yoli; Izzy; Phyllis; Jen; Alison; Donna; Wendy; Jamie and Cathie plus Keith and Cate, Diane; Fred and Marlene; Davina and Sangeeta; Brian; Matt; Jennifer; Baby Charlie and Margaret. AND those known to each of you alone, and all those who have no one to remember them.
Pray for – students at Western; affiliated University Colleges; Fanshawe Community College; all post-secondary educational undertakings and at secondary schools, that they experience success with their final papers and exams starting soon.
Pray for – all clergy, especially Bishop Todd and our priest Bill, as they work diligently to bring the message of “the Word made flesh” during this very strange year, and this Advent season of anticipation and patience.
Pray that – loving hearts and minds will prevail as Covid numbers soar out of control. May everyone be filled with love of God and neighbour and follow all the public health directions, since after all science is a gift from God.
Pray for – all the saints and heroes who put the welfare of others ahead of their own as they strive to provide for, care for, and serve others by their work, their isolation, their ministry, and using safe and appropriate ways to connect.
Cycle of Prayer for December – Transformation – Transforming Society “To seek to transform unjust structures of society”, to challenge violence of every kind, and to pursue peace and reconciliation, is a call to go beyond charitable giving and help change a world that creates human needs. To join in God’s work in building the Kingdom by transforming society. Prayer: Lord, let the fire of your goodness and justice burn into us and through us that we may seek to transform the unjust structures of society. Let your glory fill this place, Let your glory fill this world! We honour ministries in support of TRANSFORMING SOCIETY, the Fourth Mark of Mission. Support for: New Comers To Canada; LIRSA; North East Neighborhood Group; Marriage Canon Work- Marriage inclusivity; Pride walk; Crisis Response; PWRDF; London Food Coalition; IJM (International Justice Mission) Prayer Partner.
From your AFP executive in The Diocese of Huron – Anglican Fellowship of Prayer Reflection for the week of December 7th. This run-up to Christmas during Advent 2020 is not as busy outside our homes, but that does not mean it is not busy within our hearts. One of the books on my shelf called to me this year, “The Uncluttered Heart: Making Room for God During Advent and Christmas”, by Beth Richardson. On Sunday of the 2nd week of Advent, she refers to Isaiah 11: 1-2, 6, and speaks of hope and encouragement as we celebrate the past, assess the present and approach the future. She speaks of peace as the calm in the midst of chaos in our hearts and lives, encouraging us to hold peace as our vision. Her prayer: “God of Advent, walk ahead of me, helping me keep sight of your vision for peace. May I hold peace in my heart and pray for peace in our broken world. AMEN”. She encourages us to carry these words in our hearts; let peace begin with me.
Chancel Guild
A message from the Chancel Guild – With the coming of the festive season that celebrates the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we look to our parish family to make a donation towards the cost of Christmas flowers and greens that will decorate our sanctuary and church. This year especially, even as so many of us cannot be at the church celebrations, we are still going to celebrate through the beauty of floral decorations, and we invite you to be a part of that. Donations can be a gift of happiness, thanksgiving or as a memorial. Please provide your donation and dedication by Monday December 14th. Your gift will be recognized at the services, and with the Update before Christmas Eve, to be published on December 23rd.. Since we don’t have the usual special envelopes this year, please just use an ordinary envelope and mark it clearly for “Christmas flowers”.
Fundraising
The Wednesday Craft Group – has crafts and jams available for sale! For pictures of these, please go to the church website (look under Update for 4thNovember). See the crèche Dave Cornelius made. It’s beautiful! Most of you know what we have but these are some ideas : kitchen towels, dish clothes, scrubbies, aprons, hot pads, micro bowl cozy, long dusters, catnip mice, cloth books, quiet books, crib quilts, knitted kids toys, knitted hats, scarves and throws, pet beds from sweaters, pet blankets, soup mix, chocolate chip cookie mix and much more. We do have a Christmas hanging, advent calendar, tree skirt and wreaths as well. We have some jam for sale thanks mostly to Dave Cornelius ~ grape, strawberry, and plum, 1 cherry, 2 marmalade, and Governor’s sauce. Nancey and Cherie are willing to meet people one on one by appointment. Please call Nancey 519 453 2858 or Cherie 519 850 0582.
FundScrip – While we wait for our December cards to arrive, a little history. This fund-raising initiative was suggested to St. Jude’s many years ago by Rick and Carol Kelly, who had heard about how other churches were successfully helping their budgets in this way. It was agreed that we try it, not with FundScrip but another company, which we have since left. Though not being supported as fully as they would have liked, it has nonetheless raised many thousands of very helpful dollars for St. Jude’s. After the sad loss of Carol, Rick kindly agreed to carry on managing the fund for us, for which we should all be very grateful, as it helps boost our income, especially valuable in today’s climate. It might interest parish members to know that St. Paul’s Social Services also uses FundScrip for the many gift cards they give to their clients. A big vote of thanks to Rick for doing this, and a strong recommendation to parish members to support this valuable program.
Outreach
Christmas Share – St. Paul’s Social Services is busy preparing for extra demands during the Christmas season, and welcomes your help. They prefer donations by cheque, which they use to buy gift cards for their guests. If you were to buy and send gift cards from our FundScrip Program, this would be very helpful as well. Mail to 472 Richmond Street, N6A 3E6, or you can donate on-line at “St. Paul’s Social Services.” They also ask for our prayers as they continue this valuable, but exhausting work.
Community Breakfast Program – We are putting together Christmas gift bags for our Saturday Community Breakfast guests, and will give them out at the breakfast on December 19th. The bags will include gloves, socks, hats, toiletries, treats, etc. In our ongoing efforts to care for one another, we have a couple of shoppers who will purchase the items rather than have multiple parishioners out in the stores. Financial donations towards the bags, however, would be very much appreciated. Thank you!
PWRDF Christmas cards –are available, packages of 12 for which they ask a minimum $25.00 donation to the work of PWRDF. They have two styles to choose from. Just Google “PWRDF” and you will get a choice of links, choose “PWRDF Christmas Cards”. They come quickly, so there’s still time to order and send.
Newsletter
Family Newsletter – Cathy is working hard on the December edition, and welcomes your contributions – Christmas, of course! Memories, ideas, plans, suggestions, poems, etc. Email your ideas to the church, or directly to Cathy at [email protected].
Let’s Celebrate!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY –this week to: Marjorie Leitch and Bryan Smith (9th December), and Kristen Robak (11th). Hope you had/have a happy day!
Have a great day and stay positive! ✝