A Word from the Priest in Charge:
Happy Epiphany greetings to you all. This has been a very challenging Christmas season for us all, I know, and not having in-person worship has not helped! I hope that you and your loved ones have been safe and healthy and thankful that your Christmas was joyful and peace-filled! Many had travel plans thwarted yet again and many could not be with family members as they had planned. Despite all of this, we need to ‘count our blessings’, as the song says, and remember how fortunate we are in this country and in our church! We are so blessed,
We continue to urge everyone to follow the government mandated protocols; please remember that we are keeping the church closed as much as possible, with user groups and activities (save and except for Community Dinner, which is now only take-away) all in temporary abeyance.
I know how difficult this all is - a deep dose of cabin fever is affecting us all and the uncertainty of what ‘not feeling well’ could mean, how and when to be tested (in what form), and then what to do about it all leaves us all perplexed and concerned. It is even more important, as Bob M. said at yesterday’s worship service, to reach out and stay connected.
I announced yesterday that Sunday worship would not include spiritual communion for a while - I do this because I think that, until we all can receive the bread and wine together, none of us should. Sunday worship will continue to be eucharistic in shape - prayers, readings, thanksgiving, reconciliation, but without an actual consecration of bread and wine. I know that this is a change, but I firmly believe that this is the way to go, for the time being. If you wish to speak to me about this, please reach out - either by email or by phone.
In order to stay in touch, I am offering a Tuesday morning service of Morning Prayer and Bible Study at 10:00 beginning tomorrow, January 11. The the Order of Service, is attached as well as the zoom coordinates are below. Please join me, if you can and wish.
Thank you all for your faithfulness to our parish and to the church. Epiphany blessings to all.
Peter+
Peter Wall is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: St. James Morning Prayer Time: Jan 11, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82441882288 Meeting ID: 824 4188 2288
SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY – COMPLINE - Compline is a short service of night prayer, part of the Daily Office or Liturgy of the Hours that has structured the prayer life of the church for many centuries. The heart of Compline is the recitation of several psalms. There is a short reading from scripture (usually one or two sentences in length), intercession, and time for reflection. It is a beautiful way to close out an active day. Technology has provided us with the means to share this ancient office. Compline is offered by St. James’ through Facebook as a way to bring the community together. If you cannot join live, the service is available afterwards on St. James’ Facebook channel.
THURSDAY - Our coffee hour occurs on Zoom at 10am. Join us to chat and enjoy one another’s company for an hour. Bring your own coffee!
Meeting ID: 693 269 0932
Use either the link while on your browser or go directly to ZOOM and insert the “meeting ID”.
SUNDAY - Until we hear differently, the Sunday service will continue to be on-line at 10.00 a.m. To view the January 16, 2022 Service you'll need to follow the link below:
For the service sheet check Facebook or the homepage of our website.
Links for both the service and Order of Service will be posted every week on Facebook and our website - stjamesdundas.ca.
PARISH COUNCIL- reminder that the next Parish council meeting is Tuesday January 18
RAMBLING
January … named after the Roman God with two faces – one looking into the past, and the other looking to the future … is proving to be a difficult one for all of us in 2022. We are fatigued!
However, looking to the future is what we do!
In these times, it is important for us to keep contact with one another … through vocational contacts, relatives … and our parish family. Our small group meetings in November reinforced for us what we, as a parish family, are missing – in person worship, fellowship, opportunities to share our feelings with one another, and community meals.
Within mandated guidelines, we are working to provide opportunities for you to be involved as much as possible. We have this regular Sunday Service, our telephone calling tree, and our informal connectors. We hope you will see these next few weeks as an opportunity to connect – in whatever way is comfortable – with friends. Peter has told us about a new service on Tuesday mornings - and you can join in Compline on Wednesday evenings, the coffee hour on Thursday mornings … and even the SHED group with a variety of Anglican beverages on Wednesday afternoons!
And, we try to keep connected with you through regular Monday e-blasts which lists activities and little tidbits of information … with an emphasis on both information and “keeping it light” in tone.
And … we are here to help; please let the church office know if there are situations where we can be of assistance – or where you can be directed for assistance 905-627-1424 Keep in touch! Keep safe!
INCOME TAX RECEIPTS … AND MORE
Early in this new year, you will receive your income tax receipt for your donations to the church in 2021.
Accompanying your receipt will be a short form asking you to update your contact information – telephone number(s), especially cell phone number(s), and e-mail address. Of course, this information will be kept for office use only and your participation is voluntary. We had a number of situations in 2021 in which we felt the need to contact people (or their families) quickly … and realized that we did not have the proper information available. If you are comfortable with this, you may also include contact information just in case we have an emergency and need to contact a relative or friend.
NIAGARA MISSION ACTION PLAN FOR PARISHES
The Niagara Diocese has some excellent resources for Parishes. One that Bishop Susan alluded to when she visited with the Parochial Committee was a direction towards being a “Missional” Church. Indeed, the Diocesan website has a section on Missional Learning Opportunities and Resources and the “School” (see below) has its own website. The school was featured in the January, 2022 issue of the Niagara Anglican.
The Corporation would like to establish a small (5 – 6 people) committee to look at Missional approaches and make recommendations to the Corporation (and the Parish) about involvement in this area. Note that the Corporation has not made a commitment to being involved ….during an interimship is probably not the right time to make that decision. However, we will be asking for recommendations regarding involvement after the committee has had an opportunity to review the resources.
If you want to look at the Facilitator’s Guide for the process, it can be found at
The Niagara School for Missional Leadership is offering courses this winter (basically, February and March) on a number of topics, if anyone is interested in getting a “feel” for this initiative. Most run for 5 – 6 weeks, once per week, at various times. SEE BELOW.
Note that taking a course is NOT required for involvement on the committee, but individuals MUST review materials available in order to provide guidance for the Corporation and the Parish.
If this should pique your interest in potential involvement as indicated above – or if you have questions, please contact the office 905-627-1424
Registration Open for Winter Courses
The Niagara School for Missional Leadership will offer eight courses for its winter 2022 term this February and March. Laypeople, clergy, and groups from parishes across Niagara (and beyond!) who are excited about joining in God’s mission in the world are encouraged to enroll.
The courses cover a range of subjects that contribute to our mission of training effective missional leaders who are sensitive in responding to the needs of God’s world. These include the following:
Bishop Susan Bell - Missional Preaching
Archbishop Colin Johnson - Adaptive Leadership in Anxious Times
Gillian Doucet Campbell - Stewardship: A Faithful Response to God’s Mission
Archdeacon Val Kerr & Janice Whiteley - Connecting with Indigenous Knowledge
Patrick Paulsen - Christian Foundations: From Abraham to Jesus
Canon Christyn Perkons - So You Want to Facilitate the Mission Action Plan Process…
Canon Ian Mobsby - Introduction to a Missional New Monasticism
Each course will cost $250, and bursaries are available to support participation where cost might be a barrier to registering. Contact NSML coordinator Charles Meeks for more information.
As always, we encourage parishes to share course offerings through bulletins, newsletters, and other channels. Be sure to follow and like the NSML on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help us share the good news of what God is up to through the school!
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS
Although neither of these are church-related, both are “programs” that have a sound record of success. The first, associated with a group In Etobicoke, is a great way to learn about a specific topic … without the drive, and with a reasonable cost.
Learning Unlimited is the name of the organization – the sessions begin TOMORROW, January 11 and run for ten weeks. There are three “series” … one on each day – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday … and the cost is $35 for the ten lectures. You can sign up for one, two or three.
Tuesday is Creativity in a Time of Crisis: The Story of Russian Literature
Wednesday – The Roaring Twenties in New York, Paris and Berlin
Thursday - Nordic Europe: From Vikings to Modernity
The link for the series is www.learningunlimitedetobicoke.com
The Second is the Hamilton Third Age Learning – a series of 5 Lectures on different topics (cost is $50 for the 5 lectures) and the topics can be seen at htal.ca. That series is on Wednesdays at 1.00 p.m
A REFLECTION FOR THE WEEK
Do you remember older generations drinking from their saucer? I came across this poem that made me feel there was more symbolism to that coffee ritual than I had perceived.
Drinking from My Saucer
by John Paul Moore
I’ve never made a fortune and it’s probably too late now.
But I don’t worry about that much, I’m happy anyhow.
And as I go along life’s way, I’m reaping better than I sowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer, ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
I don’t have a lot of riches, and sometimes the going’s tough.
But I’ve got loved ones around me, and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings, and the mercies He’s bestowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer, ’Cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong, my faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again.
So God, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I’ve hoed.
I’m drinking from my saucer, ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
If God gives me strength and courage, when the way grows steep and rough.
I’ll not ask for other blessings, I’m already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads.
Then I’ll keep drinking from my saucer, ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
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