PARISH NEWS - 15 October 2025
- stjamesdundas
- Oct 15
- 6 min read
SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK
SUNDAY, Oct 19th – 10:00am – 19th Sunday after Pentecost
If you are unable to attend worship in person, the service is live streamed. For links to the service and the order of service please visit St. James at: stjamesdundas.ca or the St. James Facebook page.
The church office is open
Tuesday through Friday 10am – 2pm.
Holiday Hope
St. James has a tradition of sending Holiday Hope gifts in large cloth bags. To make this happen, material is required for making the bags. The material can be Christmas themed or fun and kid friendly. If you have material to donate please give bring it to St. James for Jackie or Carleon. If you can help sew the bags, that’s even better! Detailed instructions are provided. Contact Jackie. Thank you!
Saturday Service Instruments
There is a need for rhythm instruments at both the Saturday service and the Sunday Service! If you have any to donate to the church please drop them off. Hand drums, tambourines, maracas would be greatly appreciated!
Gardening and Yard Clean Up
If you can spare half an hour or more, please consider helping with the gardens (the scatter garden especially needs some attention in the next few weeks). Any help is greatly appreciated. If you are interested, please contact Barry or the church office at stjamesdundas@outlook.com.
A Note from the Counters: A gentle reminder to print your name and address on your offertory envelope in order to receive a tax receipt. Thank you!
Canon Leslie will be away on vacation beginning Oct 19th, followed by a few days of study.
She will enjoy a time of rest and trail walking where the shores of Lake Huron & Georgian Bay meet in Tobermory followed by some Advent Study in Kingston. Leslie will return just in time for Halloween and Diocesan Synod. For pastoral emergencies please contact the Church office or one of the Church Wardens. Canon Peter will cover pastoral emergencies.
St James' 49th Holiday House Tour December 6, 2025
This year will be St. James' 49th Holiday House Tour! There are St. James' parishioners who have played a role in the event since its beginning (or close to). It is highly anticipated event not only for St. James' but for Dundas and surrounding communities. Please think about how you can be a part of this great tradition.
Beginning November 1st, House Tour tickets will be sold online via the St. James's website or at local ticket outlets. Please share the attached poster with your family , friends and social networks and remind them that it's not only a great day but for a good cause.
Please like and share House Tour Instagram and Facebook posts when you see them online. It is truly an effective marketing tool.
On Sunday October 26th, volunteer signup sheets will be available in the Narthex. Please consider signing up to volunteer, in a big or small way to support St. James' major fundraiser. Besides, it is a lot of fun to be a part of such a major and enjoyable community event! House Tour Committee members will be there to answer any questions you have about how you can help.
We are still accepting jams, jellies and preserves for sale at the event. Just drop them off at the church office. Any questions? Speak with Lynne or Frank, our House Tour Co-Chairs.
BELONGINGS NEWSLETTER!
Please submit articles and pictures for the newsletter to Dana. The cut-off date for the Advent edition of ‘Belonging’ is October 31st. Late articles will be included in the first edition of 2026.
St. James will again dole out treats in front of the church on Halloween night. Melville St. is a popular area for trick-or-treaters and a great opportunity to engage with them.
Donations of Halloween Candy can be dropped off during office hours or given to the Wardens on Sunday.
Forest Church Workshop
Looking for a way to expand the concept of church beyond the walls of the parish? Join us on Saturday, October 18 at Canterbury Hills for an interactive workshop on starting a Forest Church as a missional response to spiritual seekers, ecological crisis, and the call of creation. This workshop is led by the Reverend Rachel Summers, who will explore how Forest Church can serve as a powerful missional approach - especially for those who feel disconnected from traditional forms of church. Rachel is a practitioner engaged in starting and nurturing Forest Church communities and will explore how to begin, the theological grounding for worship in nature, and the practicalities of gathering people who are curious, spiritual, and concerned about the planet. The workshop begins promptly at 9:30 am in Lions Hall and will move outside, weather permitting. The cost for this workshop is $10; however, for those for whom cost is a barrier, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Reverend Canon Dr. Ian Mobsby, community missioner, for assistance. Register today.
Canterbury Hills Alumni Reunion
All former staff and campers are warmly invited to attend, along with their significant others and families. This special gathering is a chance for Canterbury Hills alumni to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate the memories and friendships that make our camp so meaningful. It is not designed for current campers and their families- however, alumni whose children are current campers are more than welcome to bring them along! Feel free to share with anyone you think would enjoy attending. RSVP required so that we can have an accurate idea of how many we are expecting and plan accordingly. Please do not hesitate to respond to this email with any questions. RSVP and questions at camp@canterburyhills.ca
Anglican Diocese of Niagara 150th Online Retreat: Meditations on A Christian Life
October 21, 2025 - 2:00pm to 4:30pm
October 22, 2025 - 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Meditations on the Christian Life: Faithful Living in a Time of Crisis is an online spiritual retreat led by Bishop Susan Bell in celebration of our 150th Anniversary. Bishop Susan will explore classic Christian sources of inspiration for living in our polarized and difficult world. No preparation is required; all sources will be provided for our time together. This retreat will be virtual, so you can explore from the comfort of your own space, or together in your parish. A Zoom link will be sent to all participants.
151 Synod of Diocese of Niagara
"Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee" is the theme for the 151st Synod of the Diocese of Niagara, as chosen by Bishop Susan Bell. Its theme is inspired by a classic hymn highlighting the important diocesan priorities regarding vocations, leadership, and faith formation. All of which are articulated in our renewed diocesan Mission Action Plan, which continues to focus us on the many opportunities God is calling us to life and compelling us to love. It’s also an especially fitting theme for a Synod that will take place on the Feast of All Saints, November 1. The Synod this year will be virtual, with members gathering via Zoom to consider essential matters during a half-day session. Throughout the Synod, as reports and presentations are considered, members will pray and reflect on this theme alongside a refreshed diocesan Mission Action Plan. The Synod of the Diocese of Niagara is the legal governance body (established by statute of the Legislature in the Province of Ontario) with responsibility for the ministry of the Anglican Church of Canada within its diocesan boundaries. Ignited by the irresistible love of Jesus, and guided by the Holy Spirit, at Synod, we seek to discern God's mission as we pray, listen, discuss, and work at being the Church, under the leadership of our bishop.
MONDAY AFTERNOON GAMES
First and third Monday of the month from 1.30-4pm, in the Parlour. Everyone is invited to participate, ladies or gentlemen. Any questions, please speak with Jill.
Tuesday Evening Prayer
The Tuesday evening prayer group has evolved. We are now meeting in a hybrid format. You are welcome to join on Tuesday evening at 6:15 in the parlour at St. James, or through Zoom at the same time. If you would like to join via Zoom, please email Dana on Tuesdays by 4:00pm to receive the Zoom meeting link. The meeting is a combination of prayer and discussion of either a devotional or a passage from scripture. We look forward to welcoming you.
WEDNESDAY – COMPLINE – 9:15 p.m.
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.
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
Oct 18 Trivia Night
Oct 26 Afterthoughts
Oct 27 Community Dinner
Nov 1 Diocesan Synod
Nov 15 Saturday Service & Supper
Nov 16 Messy Church
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