SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK
SUNDAY July 24 – The Very Reverend Peter Wall will be the presider and preacher this Sunday. Regular Sunday Service at 10.00 a.m. 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.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
We are basically through half of our calendar year and the wardens would like to update you on some of the activities and events that you have helped to support over this time; we sincerely appreciate the support that you have provided through the early part of 2022. We know how fortunate we are and we have tried, always, as a parish, to live generously in the world - in our outreach, in our care for each other, and in our relationship with the community. It is because of your generosity, in response to a generous God, that we are able to do so. We appreciate on your generosity.
We have noted a general trend downward in terms of givings through the traditional envelopes, but our Pre-Authorized Payments and e-transfers have remained relatively the same. Rentals (film companies, mostly) have helped to offset our overall decline in givings. At the same time, we have some “issues” that need repair quickly – a problem with the effluent from the washrooms caused by non-matching pipes and shifting sediment. Initial estimate is in the $5000 range! GULP! The first six months involved a tremendous amount of work in the church building itself. We would not have been able to undertake this “maintenance for stewardship” without your support for the church. The parking lot looks great! The hydro bills are lower because of our lighting changes, the front of the church looks lovely at night, we have a new “look” out back and lots of new signage. And there are several other projects underway!
Our summer services are all set with presiding and preaching by Dean Peter Wall, Canon Peter Davison, the Reverend Carol Overing … and one by Barry S. who has been extremely active in our Missional Initiative. The weekly e-blasts provide details about the services and other upcoming events. And, wait until you see the outline for the fall! Wow!
The Parochial Committee also worked diligently and recommended a full-time incumbent to Bishop Susan Bell; our new priest is Canon Leslie Gerlofs, who was recently at St. John’s in Burlington on a 75% time-frame and 25% at the Diocese working on a specific project. Leslie will be leaving that position at the Diocese and will be “full-time” at St. James, starting on September 1st. This would not have been possible without the continued support of the parish family.
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! Your generosity over the past six months has helped our staffing, our building and … our programs. We hope … and pray … for your continued financial support and for your encouragement and assistance in making St. James a church for the community.
COMING EVENTS
As mentioned last week, we will have a film crew in the building from Tuesday to Friday this week. This usually means a quiet week around the church, but should you have to come into the building, please be prepared for a different scenario.
MUM’s THE WORD …
We are having a mum sale with a pick-up date (did I just say that? … I’m not allowed to have pick-up dates any more) … with a date of delivery of SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th. Orders will be taken from Sunday August 21st (come and hear Barry S. preach that day) for 10 days … orders therefore must be in by August 31. Watch for the flyer in coming blogs!
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
Heads up for the next TEA AND TREASURES. This is NOT a garage sale but an opportunity for you to contribute some of those items you consider to be “treasures” but which you are not really using that much any more! At the same time, you can also purchase some of these treasures and enjoy the company of others … HOLD THE DATE – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1st …. More information as we approach the date. For more a more informed view of what is needed or to talk with someone who knows what she is talking about, please call Lynne M. via the church office 905-627-1424 or stjamesdundas@outlook.com.
HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR – LESS THAN SIX MONTHS FROM NOW … and, the countdown is on!
Saturday, December 3rd, St. James will host our 46th Annual Holiday House Tour. The date is set and an energetic team is in place to deliver a wonderful holiday event for our community. What we don't have are enough fabulous houses for the tour. We are looking for Dundas homeowners who are willing to open their houses to over 600 guests for a good cause - the ministries of St. James. House Tour guests enjoy homes that may be historical in nature, unique in design or decor, and decorated for Christmas. Are you thinking of having your house on the tour? Do you have a friend or neighbour who may be interested in opening their home? If so, please contact Gillian H. via the church office 905-627-1424 or stjamesdundas@outlook.com. We will be in touch and follow up with any leads that you may provide.
The Holiday House Tour is the major fundraiser for St James and everyone's participation is needed to make sure that it is successful. It is also a great opportunity to welcome people into our church and experience St. James' hospitality. Please be in touch with Gillian if you are interested in helping out with the many tasks leading up to the big day. We would love your help.
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. Up to July 17th the Government of Canada is matching $ for $ donations to the Humanitarian Coalition, you can donate directly through their website, partners are Canadian Foodgrains Bank of which PWRDF is a member. You can donate at donation.mcccanada.ca/hunger or by calling 1-888-622-6337.
STAMPS FOR CURING LEPROSY (EFFECT HOPE)
Diana S., our used stamp coordinator for the Leprosy Mission has reminded us that the stamps are to have No Less than a 1/4" Border. Diana is quite happy to do the trimming of stamps to tidy them up as needed, thus people can just bring in the stamped envelopes etc. and she’ll look after them from there.
PRETTY UGLY
I’m very ugly
So don’t try to convince me that
I am a very beautiful person
Because at the end of the day
I hate myself in every single way
And, I’m not going to lie to myself by saying
There is beauty inside of me that matters
So rest assured I will remind myself
That I am a worthless, terrible person
And nothing you say will make me believe
I still deserve love
Because no matter what
I am not good enough to be loved
And I am in no position to believe that
Beauty does exist within me
Because whenever I look in the mirror I always think
Am I as ugly as people say?
By Abdullah Shoaib
Now…let’s read it from the bottom up … same words, different orientation … this might even have some interesting application to our Missional Initiative as we develop what Tom A. would NOT call a Strategic Plan for churchland.
Am I as ugly as people say?
Because whenever I look in the mirror I always think
Beauty does exist within me
And I am in no position to believe that
I am not good enough to be loved
Because no matter what
I still deserve love
And nothing you say will make me believe
That I am a worthless terrible person
So rest assured I will remind myself
There is beautify inside of me that matters
And, I’m not going to lie to myself by saying
I have myself in every single way
Because at the end of the day
I am a very beautiful person
So don’t try to convince me that
I’m very ugly.
Now, that’s a better perspective.