Readings for Sunday 21stMarch, Fifth Sunday of Lent; First reading: Jeremiah 31.31-34; Psalm 51.1-12;Second reading: Hebrews 5.5-10; Gospel: John 12.20-33
In-person services resume this Sunday, 21st March.💒 There will only be one in-person liturgy, 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 able to return to in-person worship. Registration emails have been sent to the parish.
Prayer and Pastoral Care ✝
Please pray this week for: Paul and Judy; Mary and Larry; Jan and Bob; Phyllis; Thampi and Babu; Dave and Marylynn; Pat; Victoria; Karen; Victoria; Margaret and Anita; Fran and Bill; Nelson; Ray; Karen; Lauren and Nancy; Darlene and Jane; 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; Sandra; Fay and Willy as well as Kim and Rick; Mark; Jack; Julie; Sharon and John. AND for those who are in need of prayer but have no one today to remember them by name; and those known to each of you alone.
Rest in peace: Gwen Williston. May the soul of Gwen find rest eternal and rise in glory as she is called to the Lord. Pray for spouse Harland (LTC – dementia and unaware of her passing), the family and friends at this challenging time.
Pray for Todd our Bishop, Bill our Priest, and for all clergy as they work to bring spiritual comfort and guidance using technology, so the people of God may be supported and connected during this fourth week of a Lent during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Pray – that patience, kindness and purposeful behavior prevail as pandemic numbers fluctuate and we sit on the cusp of a third wave. We ask that Public Health Advisories are followed as a way to love neighbour as self.
Pray for all the exhausted pandemic heroes who put their health and lives at risk offering essential services to support others.
Pray for all pandemic “victims”, especially those infected, those considered “long haulers”, those living in fear and isolation, those who are hungry, those who are homeless, and those whose livelihood is in peril.
Pray for the global health of the world, spiritually, physically, emotionally, economically so that there will be fair sharing of resources for the benefit of the whole human race.
Pray with thanksgiving for patience and understanding as COVID19 vaccines are rolled out. May those vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and those waiting for vaccination, all show respect, and flexibility as the role out continually changes to meet needs, evolving science, and vaccine availability and supply.
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.
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 p.m. on Thursdays during Lent, continuing tomorrow night, March 18th. 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”, every 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 a.m., continues each Thursday in Lent. This is a Zoom meeting series, to register email [email protected]
Outreach
Community Breakfast Program. Items needed this month include belts for men and women, deodorant, shampoo, shaving cream, and reusable shopping bags. With the increasing numbers of guests and the rising cost of groceries, donations of cash will be greatly appreciated. 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 recipe for that delicious pancake breakfast dish served at the last Breakfast has been emailed separately – response to many requests! The next take out breakfast is this Saturday, 20th March.
Outreach Committee – Please see the special notice from this hard working group, emailed separately to the parish. 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.
“Thank you” cards – In recognition of the contribution of essential workers during the pandemic the Outreach Committee has developed small “thank you” cards that can be handed to essential workers as you encounter them. Cards are available at the church (in a basket in the Narthex), or can be delivered to your home by contacting the church office at 519-660-6198, or [email protected] .
Coffee Hour ☕
Join Allie McDougall in a Zoom coffee hour every Wednesday morning at 10.00 a.m. 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!
Easter Flowers 🌷
If you would like to contribute to Easter flowers for the sanctuary in Thanksgiving or in Memory of a loved one, you are asked to put your gift, with your dedication or the name of the loved one(s) you would like remembered, in the mailbox outside the Church Office door. You may remember that Christmas services were not possible and so any money that was contributed at that time will be used for Easter flowers, and loved ones remembered.
Family Newsletter
Cate Ferguson is working hard on the next St. Jude’s Family newsletter, but there is still time for you to send your submission to her – 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] , but do it quickly! Thanks!
Let’s Celebrate! 🎂
Happy birthdaythis week to Robin Gray and Donna McAnallen (15th March), Barry Ball (17th), Derek Shadlock (18th), and Dick Donaldson (20th). Hope you all had/have a happy day, stay safe!
Special Thank You 🙏
We owe a big debt of gratitude to Cyndi Lockhart for a long and arduous effort trying to get a new St. Jude’s photo directory accomplished. She went through quite a frustrating time, these things always take too long, but now we have them. Thanks also to Wally, who delivered them to the parish!
Robins! 🐦 First past the post was Jo Anne Carpenter, who reported seeing them on 26th February, closely followed by Martha Cosan, who reported a sighting on 12th March. I haven’t seen any yet, but the finches are beginning to yellow up!