Believe it or not, Spring is here and the clocks move forward an hour. Remember to set them before going to bed on Saturday!
Readings for Sunday 14th March, Fourth Sunday of Lent; First reading: Numbers 21.4-9; Psalm 107.1-3, 17-22; Second reading: Ephesians 2.1-10; Gospel: John 3.14-21
In-Person Worship Resuming
Beginning Sunday, March 21st there will be one in-person liturgy only, offered at 9:30 a.m. Registration will be required with a maximum capacity of 50. We will continue to record the Sunday liturgy and make it available for those not comfortable or unable to return to in-person worship.
Prayer and Pastoral Care
Please pray this week for: Jan and Bob; Phyllis; Lauren; Nancy; Thampi and Babu; Dave and Marylynn; Pat; Karen; Victoria; Len; Darlene; Jane; Margaret and Anita; Fran and Bill; Nelson; Ray; Ruth; Nancy June; Susan; Stephanie and Ron; Scott and Logan; Beth; Mary Anne; Izzy; Jen; Alison; Jamie and Cathie; Fred and Marlene; Davina and Sangeeta; Brian; Bob; Gwen and Harland; Sandra; Jack and Sharon; AND for those who are in need of prayer but have no one to remember them by name; and those known to each of you alone.
Rest in Peace Mrs. Norma Dixon, widow of the late Reverend Canon Lewis Dixon and the mother of Mary Lou Anderson (the Venerable Ken Anderson) and the Reverend Kevin Dixon (Jennifer Hill). Margaret, sister of David Cornelius – Pray for her spouse John, their children Simon, Andrew, Jakki, (Tim), grandsons Tom and George, and all her family and friends.
May light perpetual shine on them and their souls find peace and rise in glory.
Please hold in prayer our Bishop Todd and our priest Bill, who carry the burden in supporting the needs of the people of God during this time of Pandemic, especially as we are in Lent leading to Easter, the Holiest time in the Christian year. Their self-sacrifice is greatly appreciated.
Pray with thanksgiving as vaccine roll-outs ramp up. Let us be mindful that the scheduling does leave some imbalance in protections that requires time and patience.
Pray for all those who struggle with major life decisions associated with COVID-19; the continued decrease in provincial numbers in all communities; that all make safe choices regarding staying in or venturing out. The calming of angst and confusion in all, as each health unit oversees their “unique” goal and plan as vaccine distributions plans unfold.
Pray for the tired, exhausted, and exasperated front line and essential workers who continue to put the needs of others ahead of their own welfare.
Pray for the Congregation of the Church of St. Jude’s, who continue in faith during challenging times to follow the Christian way of life by loving God and loving neighbours as ourselves – we give thanks!
Cycle of Prayer for March – Teach – Discipling “To teach, baptize, and nurture new believers” and indeed all believers – by fostering Christian development in new participant, long time members and everyone in between. Prayer: Lord, fill us with your welcoming spirit that we may faithfully teach, baptize, and nurture those who come to believe in you. Let your glory fill this place. Let your glory fill this world! We honour ministries in support of DISCIPLING: the Second Mark of Mission- Music: Choirs, Music scholars, Musical directions. Knowledge: Christian Development – Bible and Book Studies, Education for Ministry. Children and Youth: Sunday school, Huron Church camp, Youth activities exploration. Prayer: Prayer and Pastoral Care Team, St Jude’s Prayer Book, Anglican Fellowship of Prayer (AFP), World Day of Prayer, Devotional Booklet Resources, Touching Base Phone group. Communicating: Communications Team, Photography, Call Networks. Leadership: Wardens, Parish Council, Synod Reps, Deanery groups, Office and Administration Staff. Hospitality and Fellowship: Welcome Team, Greeters, Coffee Hour Hosts, Set up Crew, Lunch Bunch, Social Committee, Name Tags, Men’s group, Women’s group. Fun and Funds: Coffee house, Trivia, Auctions, High Teas, Broadway Singers Partnership, Pig Roast team. Other: preserve St Alban’s memorabilia and artifacts, COVID Management team.
Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, Canada – AFP will be hosting a one-hour time of prayer on March 15th , April 19th , May 17th , and June 21st , all at 1:00 pm Eastern time. We are inviting people to join us for some or all of the hour. It will be a mixture of biblical readings, reflection, music, intercession, silence and other types and kinds of prayer. You are welcome to actively participate or simply listen and pray quietly. We will use the “Zoom” way of gathering people together. To join on computer, please use: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82001408803?pwd=WXRMWFJZSHRLcUYwdGpUU1YvMmlxZz09 (this is all one address, and will be used for all meetings)
Meeting ID: 820 0140 8803 Passcode: 359803 ~ You can also join us by telephone at one of these numbers (with the same meeting ID and passcode): (778)907-2071, (204)272-7920, (438)809-7799, (587)328-1099, (647)374-4685, (647)558-0588
Outreach
The Community Breakfast Program continues to grow. At our first take-out meal last March, we served 20 guests. This past Saturday, we served 56. Thanks to the generosity of our parish family and friends, we are still able to meet the need. The warm meal addition to the bags this week was a casserole made with hash browns, cheese, eggs, broccoli, red pepper and pancake mix. While the door does not opened until 9 a.m., guests are usually lining up earlier. One guest in particular arrives around 8:15 to help out – shoveling snow, or returning Home Depot carts across the street. We have been blessed with fair weather, making it possible to make the clothing, toiletries, books and other items available outside. The May Court Club has provided another generous donation of clothing, including pants for men and women. Items that are needed this month include belts for men and women, deodorant, shampoo, shaving cream, and reusable shopping bags. With the rising numbers of guests and the rising cost of groceries, donations of cash are greatly appreciated as well. Thank you for your support and please let us know if you have any comments or questions about the program. Contact Glenda, at [email protected] or 519-951-8154, for information about how to donate articles. The next take-out breakfast is Saturday, 20th March. Please see the special notice from this hard working group, emailed separately to the parish.
Outreach Committee – The agencies being supported in March are My Sister’s Place and Anova. My Sister’s Place can be reached at cmhamiddlesex.ca , or mail to 566 Dundas Street, London, ON, N6B 1W8. Anova is at anovafuture.org , or mail to 255 Horton Street, London, ON, N6B 1L1, or phone 519-642-3003 Ext. 2252 for donations.
Coffee Hour
Join Allie McDougall in a Zoom coffee hour every Wednesday morning at 10.00 am. The Zoom meeting ID will remain the same for each session. Follow this link: https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/j/3141546335 or call in at +1 647 558 0588 to join!
Bible Study
Lectio Divina Bible Study – Fr. Bill invites the parish to a series of studies via Zoom, “Wilderness Wanderings”: do the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites have anything to teach us about our search for meaning in the midst of a pandemic? This Zoom study will be at 7.00 pm on Thursdays during Lent, continuing on March 11th.
To join, click on this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82247879432?pwd=ZXY3ZEJlZkM3UlBReDRnL3d0UmtFZz09 Meeting ID: 822 4787 9432 Passcode: 593098
Deanery Lenten Study – The London Deanery invites us to join, via Zoom, a series called “Unbinding Heavy Burdens; a Lenten Journey”, each Wednesday in March. Each session will begin at 7.30 p.m., the featured speakers are Diana Butler Bass and Bishop Todd Townshend. You can register for this series by emailing [email protected] or call 519-471-1430.
“Encounters with Christ” a Lenten sermon series from the diocese, on Thursday mornings in Lent at 10.00 am, continues each Thursday in Lent. This is a Zoom meeting series, and to register email [email protected].
Newsletter
“Family” Newsletter – Cate Ferguson would like to remind parishioners that she is always looking for items for the St. Jude’s Family newsletter. Reflections, jokes, pictures – all are welcome and help us get to know one another better. There is no theme for the next month or two so no limits on the submissions. To submit your contribution, send it to [email protected] Thanks!
Let’s Celebrate!!
Happy birthday this week to Cathy Osborne Rice (9th March), Anna Hall (10th March), Sheila Dempster (11th March) and Pat Lynch (12h March). Hope you all had/have a happy day, and Stay Safe.
And, an annual question, anybody seen a Robin yet? No prizes, but you get the glory if you are the first one to tell us!
Things are beginning to look a little better, but still be cautious, and as directed, stay home and stay safe as much as possible.