SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK
SUNDAY – (Sunday, August 7th) - Regular Sunday Service at 10.00 a.m. The Reverend Canon Peter Davison will be presiding and preaching at this service. If you are unable to attend, the service is live streamed. Links to the service and order of service are on our website stjamesdundas.ca and our Facebook page.
WEDNESDAY – COMPLINE - Compline is a short service of night prayer. The heart of Compline is the recitation of several psalms. There is a short reading from scripture, intercession, and time for reflection. It is a beautiful way to close out an active day. Compline is offered by St. James’ through Facebook to bring the community together. If you cannot join live, the service is available afterwards on St. James’ Facebook channel.
St. James 46th Holiday House Tour
First, we would like to thank those of you who have provided us with leads for homes for this year's Holiday House Tour. Finding homes for the tour is the most challenging aspect of this important fundraising event. We have a fabulous and energetic team in place but first, we need homes to feature! If you have any friends, family, or acquaintances in Dundas who have a unique and marvelous home, please provide us with their contact information. We have found that people like to give back to Dundas and enjoy featuring their special home. It is not necessary to assess the home or negotiate with the homeowner, we just need a name, address, and phone number and we can take it from there. Please connect with Gillian or Jan via the office 905-627-1424 or stjamesdundas@outlook.com.
FOOD SECURITY is a growing problem not just here but on a global scale. Did you know that Russia and Ukraine supply 80% of East Africa’s wheat flour. By May more than 20 million tonnes of grain were stuck in Ukrainian ports. Conflicts in Ethiopia and Syria have forced people to relocate and the subsequent refugee crises have disrupted food systems globally. Food is more expensive than families can afford and distribution of emergency food is much harder. Add on drought and the pandemic- many are starving. You can donate directly through the website of Canadian Foodgrains Bank of which PWRDF is a member. You can donate at donation.mcccanada.ca/hunger or by calling 1-888-622-6337.
COMING EVENTS
EfM – Now is the time to register for the 2022-2023 Education for Ministry (EfM) program year. Please speak to Peter D. or Carleon H., so you can be registered, and materials ordered for the September 12th start. The program is open to adults from other Christian denominations as well as Anglicans. It encourages us to apply our faith to all areas of life, and, is described by many as transformative."
TURKEY DINNER
St James Women are having a Fundraising Turkey Dinner on September 23rd and You’re Invited! The profits from this fundraiser will go to the Jeannie Mather Bursary Fund, which provides full and partial payment for Women attending our weekends.
The sit-down dinner will include: starters of cheese ball & crackers and veggies and dip; a turkey dinner with all the fixings and 2 desserts. There will be a limited number of tickets but take away or delivery are also available with reservations.
The cost of the dinner is $30 and tickets/reservations will be available mid-July at the office and after service on Sundays.
It’s been some time since we’ve been able to have a Turkey Dinner and including everyone is a First! And what a great opportunity to help increase our Bursary Fund!
This fundraiser will require lots of help! If you can provide some, we’d be grateful to have you (or your family/friends)! A sign up will be available mid-July.
TEA AND TREASURES
Next week, the committee will be assessing the treasures that are currently available and will be starting the process of cataloguing and preparing for this wonderful event. Saturday, October 1 is the date …
If you have any “treasures” that have finished their usefulness with you…but are still considered to be treasures in the areas of jewelry, silver, fine china, evening wear … please get in touch with Lynne M., Audrey N., or Judith M. via the office 905-627-1424 or stjamesdundas@outlook.com.
PLANNING FOR THE FALL
One of the things we have come to realize happens at St. James is a “flurry” of activity starting in early September. This “feels” a little like the airlines all of a sudden getting into high gear … and we don’t want the same level of problems associated with the airlines facing us as a parish as we move into high gear.
Here are some of the key activities that are taking place in the next few months.
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER INCLUDE
Note that most of these events will have additional information in the weekly e-blasts OR at the church office. And, of course, this list is very “fluid” in nature and will be updated as we get “into” a routine again (COVID permitting). For example, there are several groups that will be opening up again (e.g. Body and Soul) … and this information will be updated for you.
Sunday, August 14th – last Sunday for Dean Peter Wall as our interim.
Sunday, August 21st – Barry Shimmons will preach at the service this morning, doing an introduction to the Missional Initiative taking place in September and October.
Sunday August 21st to Wednesday August 31 – order your chrysanthemums for delivery on September 10th
Sunday August 28th – again, we thank The Reverend Canon Peter Davison for his dedication to our parish and for his assistance with the Sunday services this summer. The Reverend Carol Overing, who presided and preached on several occasions in July and August should also be thanked for her contribution. If you get a chance, please say “thanks” to these great honorary assistants of St. James.
Saturday, September 3 – Garden Work in the morning … the regular first Saturday in the month. Come out and enjoy some “sweat equity” and fellowship. Can’t help physically?? … drop by and cheer them on! Wednesday, September 7 – Evening Missional Initiative Meeting with Canon Christyn Perkons, Director of Congregational Support and Development, Diocese of Niagara (7.00 – 8.00 p.m.) ZOOM.
Saturday, September 10 – Mum Pick up. ****Saturday, September 17 – Trivia Night - Dundas Room date changed to Sat. Oct. 15th from 6-10 pm.
Get ready … here are some that won’t be on the list of questions that night.
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order:
"abstemious" and "facetious." (Yes, admit it, you are going to say, a e i o u)
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon. Leo
is the only person in the parish who can personally attest to this.
A snail can sleep for three years. (I know some people that could do this too.!)
Sunday, September 18 – 1st Missional Action Plan Meeting, after the regular service on Sunday - Faith Formation and Discipleship (one hour) Friday, September 23 – St. James Women’s Fundraising Turkey Dinner Sunday, September 25 – 2nd Missional Action Plan Meeting, after the regular service on Sunday – Reshaping Parish Culture to Enable Ministry (one hour)
Saturday, October 1st – Tea and Treasures all day (Parlour and Dundas Room) Sunday, October 2nd – 3rd Missional Action Plan Meeting, after the regular service on Sunday – Fullness of Life in our neighbourhood (one hour)
Sunday, October 2nd – A special event to which you are invited – the collation and installation of our new priest as CANON Leslie Gerlofs (long awaited due to COVID restriction). 4.00 p.m. at the Cathedral. Sunday, October 16 – 4th Missional Action Plan Meeting after the regular service on Sunday – Prioritizing our Mission Action Plan (one hour)
AND… A REFLECTION …. FOR THE WEEK
These reflections are meant to be just that! Not a statement about the tenets of our religion or, heaven forbid, a social justice or political stance of any kind … just a little tidbit to generate some thought … and perhaps some conversation with others within the parish family of St. James, and beyond.
𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks, bankers, and politicians at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
If you don't take the time to do it right, you'll find the time to do it twice.
Don't corner something that is meaner than you.
It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
Don't be banging your shin on a stool that's not in the way.
Borrowing trouble from the future doesn't deplete the supply.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
Silence is sometimes the best answer.
Don‘t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin' you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you’ll ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and most of that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Most times, it just gets down to common sense.