WELCOME AND RE-OPENING
We continue our re-opening following Diocesan guidelines for ‘in-person’ worship on Sunday, 19th at 10 a.m. We will be welcoming our Interim Priest, The Very Reverend Peter Wall, recently retired from his post as Dean at the Cathedral. Peter brings a wealth of experience to St. James; we are truly blessed to have him with us until a new rector is appointed.
Online booking is available to reserve space for that service. Please remember to reserve a space either via the website or by phoning the parish office – this makes the process much more efficient for the greeters. Before coming to church, please self-screen and stay home if you feel ill. Those coming to worship will need to wear a mask at all times and sit at least 3 seats away from anyone not in their ‘bubble’.
If you cannot attend in person you will also be able to “tune in” and watch, engage and enjoy the service, beginning at 10 a.m. on YouTube. The link is provided on the parish Facebook site and website. Many thanks to Frank Rinaldo for his dedicated commitment in assisting with the broadcast of the service. Until further notice from the Diocese, the church is closed except for our Sunday Service. Following the service, people are asked to leave the building as orderly and quickly as possible to allow for the cleaning to take place. Please note that during the rest of the week, while the staff are keeping office hours, others will still need an appointment to enter the building.
A REFERENCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
If you have not already done so, please read the excellent article by Sue Carson in the September version of The Niagara Anglican; Sue deals with the same topics that her namesake, Sue Nicolls dealt with in her sermon on the 5th of September. Well done … both Sues. And a repeat of thanks to Sue Nicolls for her contribution during our Transition Period.
SAVE THE DATE
November 6th …. November 6th …. November 6th – put this date in your “date-book”, electronic calendar or write it down on a piece of paper and attach to whatever is nearby (priests and churchwardens excluded). We will be hosting a marvelous “East Coast Kitchen Party” at the SHED in Dundas. Watch for upcoming information about this amazing evening of entertainment, food and … FUN!
A LETTER FROM ANGLICAN and LUTHERAN LEADERS - THE 2021 FEDERAL ELECTION
On September 20, Canadians will vote in a federal election, electing Members of Parliament who will help shape the life of our country for the next four years. We give thanks for each candidate and their willingness to offer their vision, gifts and service for consideration for leadership in public life. Over the last two years, many events have pushed for deeper reflection on the kind of Canada we desire.
Finding the remains of more than 1,300 Indigenous children who were buried in unmarked graves at the sites of several former residential schools is traumatic, heart-wrenching and profound. Many more sites have yet to be investigated. The call for healing, reconciliation and renewed relationships among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples is a fundamental element of work for social and ecological justice in the Canadian context today.
The murder of George Floyd in particular, along with many other incidents in Canada and beyond, have called attention to anti-Black racism and other expressions of systemic racism. In March 2020, the Anglican Church of Canada’s Council of General Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s National Church Council participated together in a session of anti-racism training. This was one step on a multi-faceted journey of working to dismantle racism and to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in all areas of life.
The recent report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights the need to address the climate crisis. This election takes place during the Season of Creation, when we are invited to reflect on our relationships with Creation and our impact on our shared home. Indigenous wisdom and relationships with the land need to inform individual, community and societal choices for healthy relationship with the Earth.
Human trafficking affects millions of people around the world. Children, women, and men are being trafficked across Canada. Certain groups are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Through a joint National Youth Project, Anglican and Lutheran youth have committed to being agents of change in their own lives and community.
Over the last two years, our churches have also spoken together for global access to vaccines, affordable housing, Guaranteed Basic Income, justice in Palestine and Israel, human rights in the Philippines, and the dignity of human beings of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. Several of our partners are publishing election resources and we commend them to you for prayer and reflection: The Canadian Council of Churches, KAIROS Canada, Citizens for Public Justice, Vote Housing, and Basic Income Now.
What kind of a Canada do you desire? How is that desire rooted in your spiritual convictions as a follower of the way of Jesus Christ? Let’s talk about that in our churches, discuss it with candidates in our ridings, pray about it in the deep longing of our hearts, bear witness to it in our public discourse, and seal it with a vote that thoughtfully considers what will make our country a good place for all, and therefore a good place for each of us.
The Most Rev. Mark MacDonald National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop, Anglican Church of Canada
The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls Archbishop and Primate, Anglican Church of Canada
The Rev. Susan Johnson National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
THE FEDERAL ELECTION – ALL CANDIDATES MEETING – TOMORROW!
As well as St. James being a polling station on the 20th of September, we encourage your participation in the voting process – in person on the 20th, by mail-in ballot or by advance poll voting. We will be dealing with both local and national issues in the VIRTUAL All-Candidates Meeting.
FEDERAL ALL CANDIDATES MEETING
for
HAMILTON WEST-ANCASTER-DUNDAS
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14 - 7 PM TO 9 PM
CHANGED TO YOUTUBE LIVE
· To participate, simply click on the following link: https://youtu.be/sIE39x7g4aM
· The meeting will be premiered from 7:00 pm until 9 pm on September 14 and will also be available on YOUTUBE LIVE for viewing after the premier
Please note:
The Community Dinner will also be held on the 20th of September – but will be using the front entrance due to the Elections Canada use of the Dundas Room.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
Food Sale … October 15. Since this has proved to be a popular event, we are doing a repeat. Please let Auntie Jill know whether you are able to contribute in any way. Further ideas are always welcome. Soups, biscuits, squares, muffins, pasta salads, cabbage rolls, meatballs, macaroni and cheese, bread, casseroles have always been well received. Call or email Jill R. or contact the office 905-627-1424
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
The following people were the winners in our recent BUY A BULB raffle. Many thanks to all those who donated items for the baskets, those who bought and sold tickets and to Jan Southall who orchestrated the whole process. These efforts and accomplishments will help us to make great progress towards paying for all the needed lighting changes in the building. ALMOST $3000 was raised with this raffle. We just learned that the Diocese has given approval of our plan … Congratulations Gillian and thank you for your work on this project.
Cheese Basket Val S. British Basket Paul J.
Dundas Basket Vanessa S. Tea Basket Mac A.
Picone Basket Angela R. Bob’s Boozy Basket Edwina T.
AND … SPEAKING OF “THANK-YOUs”
The walking tour of Grove Cemetery raised $400…thanks to the expertise of Stan Nowak and the organizational efforts of Anne W.
Isabella G., Lynn D., Donna C., Christine A. and Jackie D. worked with The Grandmothers of Steel to sell almost $300 in artwork – see below for an explanation, bringing the total raised so far to almost $600.
ART
Do you have a Picasso in your collection? A Cézanne? A Les Reid? Hmm….you may be in for a treat! Watch … and listen for an exciting new venture coming in the next few weeks related to St. James and Art. As most of you know, the parish has had many art displays over the years, initiated by Rob Roi and now coordinated by Christine Aiken. More information to come…..stand by.
And, speaking of painting, we have our own Picasso and Cézanne – in a different context. Many thanks to Martin P. and Mark M. for their contributions to the painting of the church. In recent weeks, Martin has been diligently working to get the final touches on a number of areas … including the rector’s office. A big job … and much appreciated. Thanks also to Shawn C. for his “manipulation” of the furniture involved.
COMPLINE (Night prayer) is recited every Wednesday at 8:30 pm live on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/StJamesDundas
ZOOM COFFEE HOUR
Our coffee hour this Thursday will take place on Zoom at 10am. Join us to chat and enjoy one another’s company for an hour. Bring your own coffee! Coffee Hour will be hosted by Peter D.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6932690932
Meeting ID: 693 269 0932
Use either the link or Zoom ID but you don't need to do both, and no password is needed – the host will let you in.
WE CONTINUE WITH OUR “COLLECTIONS”
MILK BAGS - outer plastic Milk Bags (clean) which are then up-cycled. Please contact the office 905-627-1424 for more information.
POSTAGE STAMPS and EYEGLASSES - used postage stamps for the leprosy mission and used eyeglasses for medical mission. Please contact the office 905-627-1424 for more information.
BATTERIES - We have a box in the narthex to collect used batteries for recycling.
FOOD BANK DONATIONS - We have a new collection point in the narthex with labelled drawers for donations to local food banks. We regularly need pasta, baby food and other baby care essentials, toiletries and hygiene products, jam and peanut butter, canned meats, canned fruit and canned vegetables. Please contact the office 905-627-1424 for more information.
The office will be closed Friday September 17th.
MUM SALE Once again thank you for supporting our ministries at St James, we received orders for 128 plants!
PICKUP INFORMATION We would like to remind you that the plants will be ready for pickup this coming Saturday, September 18th between 11 am and 1 pm in the Church Parking lot (137 Melville St, Dundas). As we don’t have space to store the plants, if you are not able to pick them up on that date please make arrangements to have someone else pick them up on your behalf. Thank you,
Frank on behalf of the Plant Sale Fundraising Committee
PRAYER OF THE WEEK
Slow me down, Lord!
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my harried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give, amidst the confusions of my day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations of slowing down …
…to look at a flower; to chat with an old friend - or make a new one;
… to pat a stray dog; to watch a spider build a web; to smile at a child;
… or to read a few lines from a good book.
Remind me each day that the race is not always to be swift; that there is more to life than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak .. and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.
Slow me down, Lord; inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values.
That I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
Wilfred A. Peterson
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