Sunday 17th December, Advent 3. Remember, one service only at 9.30 am.
Link for Sunday’s live stream of the Nine Lessons and Carols service:
Advent and Christmas Services:
17th December, Advent 3, 9.30 am, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. After the service,
a reception to honour Fr. Bill’s ministry to St. Jude’s, with coffee and cake!
24th December, Advent 4, Holy Eucharist at 9.30 am (with music). Note, this is not a
Christmas service.
Carol singing at 6.40 pm, followed by the Candle-lit Christ Mass at 7.00 pm. This will be
Fr. Bill’s last service as St. Jude’s incumbent.
31st December, Christmas 1, Morning Prayer with music at 9.30 am.
Interim priest: the bishop has appointed the Rev’d. Canon June Hough as our interim priest
while we search for a new incumbent. Canon Hough, recently retired from the Church of the
Ascension, will celebrate her first service with us on Sunday 7th January 2024.
Outreach
Outreach for December is St. Jude’s Christmas Share. Gift cards and financial donations are
collected and distributed to families in need in the community.
Rector’s Discretionary Fund Gift cards and financial donations given on Christmas Eve are
distributed throughout the year for those in our congregation and in the community who need
help with groceries, bus tickets, and more.
Breakfast Program
Our special Christmas breakfast will be this Saturday, December 16th, with the favourite
breakfast casserole and Christmassy treats from our bakers in the breakfast buffet.
We can all help with cash donations to help purchase some gift cards for our Breakfast Friends
at this annual event.
Reminder: The Breakfast Program has received a donation of a Goodlife gym bag and one
month’s free membership, valued at $176.99, as a fund raiser.
The membership must be activated by January 31st, 2024 at Goodlife Masonville, but can be
used at any Goodlife location. This prize would make a great head start on anyone’s New Year’s
Resolutions!!! Last day for silent bids, today, December 13th. Please send your bids to
[email protected]. The starting bid is $90.00 Sheila will keep the bidders informed during the auction period.
St. Paul’s Food Bank
Our next Food Bank Sunday is Sunday, 14th January 2024. As usual, they would appreciate
Cereals, Canned Meat, Mac & Cheese, Pasta Sauce & Pasta Noodles, Side Dishes, Canned
Soup, Toilet Paper.
Learning Together
The Weekly Bible Study concludes Thursday at 7.00 pm.
We will hear a passage of scripture read a number of times. Each time the passage is read
participants will be asked to reflect on a different question. Following each reading of the
passage participants will be invited to share their thoughts and reflections on the question they
were asked to think about.
This is a very informal approach to reading and talking about scripture and again everyone is
welcome.
Here is the link for the study: Join Zoom Meeting, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81338897948
Our Advent Journey. A thought provoking and challenging series conducted by The Rt. Rev’d.
Terry Dance, can be found at diohuron.org/podcasts/media/series. The sessions for Advent 1
and 2 are available already, and others will follow.
And, something different, an on-line Advent calendar idea from England:
The “Visual Commentary on Scripture” – a website dedicated to Christian art and interpretation,
is offering a daily email which will link you into the Advent season with a variety of works of
art. It runs from December 1st – and you can catch up on those you haven’t seen on the website
when you connect. A fascinating (and sometimes challenging) exploration – recommended!
In your browser (Google, etc.) type in Light: Advent Calendar 2023 to subscribe – it’s free!
Let’s Celebrate
Happy birthday this week to Doug W., 16th December. Hope you will have a happy day!
Covid Update, advice from Joanne:
The Middlesex London Health Unit is closing its clinics this Saturday, December 16th.
Many other Health Units are doing the same. Until then, the days and hours remain the same:
Tuesday– Saturday, 11 am – 6pm.
No appointments are necessary, walk-ins are definitely accepted, and you can come for just a
‘flu shot if that is all you need. The Health Unit has run out of the High Dose ‘flu vaccine, as
have other Health Units, and it is my understanding that the supply of high dose ‘flu vaccine is
low throughout the province. However, the Health Unit, as well as the Ministry of Health, is
advising those who would otherwise be getting the high dose vaccine to get the standard dose,
since according to those important health sources, any ‘flu shot is better than none.
Pfizer XBB is the Covid vaccine being used by the Health Unit as Moderna supplies are
extremely low, but the Ministry of Health has always stated that the Moderna XBB and the
Pfizer XBB are definitely interchangeable. Even if all you have had is Moderna, please feel
comfortable receiving the Pfizer XBB.
Covid is still out there. If you don’t feel well, STAY HOME, even if you haven’t tested
yourselves, or have and are negative. It is ‘flu season!