SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK
TUESDAY – BIBLE STUDY - 'Fr. Peter is away on retreat this week so the Book study session is cancelled - will resume on April 5.'
TUESDAY – We are BACK! Body and Soul will start with some walkaround-type exercises at “ten-ish” (10.00 a.m.) in the Dundas Room, followed by an informative session at 10.30 and finishing up at 11.30.
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 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!
Contact the office before Thursday for Zoom link
COMMUNITY DINNER – REQUEST
The groups that organize the Community Dinners need some reusable bags. If you can provide, please contact Terese H. via the office 905-627-1424
From Fr. Peter:
I suspect that many of you, like me, find Holy Week to be both a wonderful week 'out of time'; and also a challenging week to fit in with the world. During those 8 days, we enjoy the very best of the history and traditions of the church, the most powerful of biblical story, and the opportunity both to remember and to 'enact', in so many ways, those amazing things that took place so long ago. From the exultant shouts of 'Hosanna' as Jesus triumphantly enters Jerusalem to the horrific shouts of 'Crucify him', over and over again, on Good Friday, through to the 'Alleluias' which we joyously proclaim on Easter, it is a time of drama and emotion, calling us out of our usual rhythms and practices of a 'normal' week into a time which stretches us, confounds us at times, I hope discomfits us somewhat, and always deeply moves us. I urge you to make the whole sweep of the week an integral part of your lives.
It is a week of darkness and light, of silence and of jubilation, of sensual stimulation - sights, smells, sounds, tastes.
A quiet celebration of the Holy Eucharist will be offered on Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, and Holy Wednesday at 8:00 am.
On Maundy Thursday, we will gather at 6:00 for a pot-luck supper (done safely and within Diocesan protocols) - please bring something to share with others. That will be followed by the beautiful eucharist for Maundy Thursday, which will include foot washing, a remembrance of the institution of the Lord's Supper, and the symbolic removal of Christian symbols from the church.
That service does not 'end', but takes a long break, continuing on Good Friday morning at 11:00, as we come together to hear the Passion, The Way of the Cross, pray together, and receive Holy Communion from the consecrated elements of the night before.
Again, this service does not end, but 'breaks' until we gather for the Great Vigil of Easter and The First Eucharist of Easter on Saturday evening at 9:00. One of the great nights of the year, we light the New Fire, bring the Light of Christ back into the church, hear the ancient stories of deliverance and salvation, renew our own baptismal promises, and celebrate the glory of Easter together in the Eucharist. Then, we will have a party - I encourage you to bring 'cocktail' party food and drink to share.
It is a long and wonderful time - time to sleep not at our usual times, to be at the church not at our usual times, to experience things in new ways, perhaps for the first time. So, take a risk; interrupt the normal rhythm of your week - come and be with us!!!
Easter Day: Rather than divide ourselves, after so many, many months (and two Easters!) not together, we will have one wonderful and festive celebration on Easter morning at 10:00 am.
Every blessing on the remainder of Lent and on Holy Week!!
Fr. Peter
EASTER NOVELTIES
Items will be available for sale on Sunday after the service, on Thursdays between 9:30 to noon, from Strawberry Fields in Dundas, ordering as on the flyer.
CHURCH FLOWERS FOR EASTER – If you would like to contribute to flowers in memory of (or in thankfulness for) someone special, please let the office know so that we can ensure all names are placed on the list. Donations can be dropped off to the office, placed in the mail drop box outside at the front of the church, e-transferred (saintjamesgiving@gmail.com) or placed in the collection plate on Sunday.
DUNDAS WALKING TOURS
The first of the spring walking tours will take place on Saturday, April 23rd at 1 pm. Tickets are $25.00 and the first tour will deal with the Downtown Dundas. See and feel the history of the development of this thriving, commercial area of Dundas as Stan Nowak holds you captive with its many stories. Contact the office for ticket information 905-627-1424
YOUR SPECIAL LENTEN CALENDAR … WEEK FIVE
DAY
DATE
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
Tuesday
March 29
Check the refrigerator for leftovers and save wasting food. Consider making a donation to those in need of nourishment.
Wednesday
March 30
Time for a “take-out” (maybe try Dine and Donate in Dundas – last one today) … and/or find a restaurant that will let you bring your own containers
Thursday
March 31
Buy laundry strips rather than buying detergent in plastic bottles
Friday
April 1
Support your local vendor – source your vegetables and fruit locally – no fooling!
Saturday
April 2
Pick it up! Take a walk in the community and pick up litter (and discarded masks) to prevent waste from ending up in stormwater.
Sunday
April 3
Consider a contribution to Save the Streams, a local organization with a focus on clean water in Hamilton
Monday
April 4
Meatless Monday. Research indigenous plants in your area and finish the day with a meatless soup and fresh baked buns
Tuesday
April 5
Check for old batteries or broken electronics and dispose of them cleanly at a Community Recycling Centre.
COMING SOON – SAVE THE DATE, GATHER THE CASH, BUY THE FLOWERS
Spring is here (actually occurred last Sunday at 11.35 a.m. but someone forgot to tell the Canadian Meteorologists!)
Note the dates for ordering and pickup.
AND… A REFLECTION …. FOR THE WEEK
Adapted from a poem by Louise Haskins
God Knows
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“God give me light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And he led me towards the hills and the breaking of the day in the lone East.
So, heart be still:
What need our little life, Our human life to know, If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife of things both high and low, God hideth His intention.
God knows. His will is best.
The stretch of years which wind ahead, so dim to our imperfect vision, are clear to God.
Our fears are premature; In Him, all time hath full provision.
Then rest: until God moves to lift the veil from our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features of Life’s stern face we hail, Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around his creatures Our mind shall fill.