INTRODUCING OUR NEW RECTOR
Our new rector – The Reverend Canon Leslie Gerlofs will be arriving on September 1st and her first Sunday with us will be over the Labour Day weekend, September 4th. We hope that you can join us on Sunday to welcome her into the parish family of St. James.
Canon Leslie is a graduate of Wycliffe College, Toronto, where she earned her Master of Divinity degree. Upon graduation she was ordained deacon … and then priest … in 2012. She has served as rector of two St. John’s – Winona, and more recently (for six years) in Burlington. Because of COVID, Canon Leslie’s induction as a Canon has not taken place, but it will be taking place on October 2nd at the Cathedral. In addition, she is a graduate of the EfM (Education for Ministry) and has served as Diocesan Revive Coordinator for the past two years. We know that she is looking forward to full-time ministry in our parish.
SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK
SUNDAY – The Reverend Canon Leslie Gerlofs will be celebrating and preaching on the first Sunday of this month - September 4th. We hope that you can join us on Sunday to welcome her into the parish family of St. James.
As this service is at the start of the “new year” (for schools, in particular), we will also have the BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS; so, bring along your children, grand-children … even GREAT grandchildren, with their backpacks for a blessing for the new school year.
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.
COMING EVENTS
September 7 - An evening ZOOM meeting (7 – 8 pm.) for those of you who would like more information about our Missional Initiative. This will be hosted by Canon Christyn Perkons. Christyn will present for 30 minutes, leading us through the process and then there will be 30 minutes for questions. Christyn does an incredible job in presenting the Missional Initiative in a friendly and meaningful manner; this will help anyone who is interested in understanding the process which we will follow from September 18 – October 16.
If you are interested , please contact the office for the Zoom coordinates 905-627-1424 or stjamesdundas@outlook.com
Saturday, September 17 – Historical Tour of Dundas Driving Park and the Cross/Melville Streets areas of Dundas with Stan Nowak. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 16 years old and younger.
Sunday, September 18 – 1st Missional Action Plan Meeting, after the regular service on Sunday - Faith Formation and Discipleship (one hour)
Friday, September 23 – St. James Women’s Fundraising Turkey Dinner – all are welcome – not just females, but all of us … and … what a nice opportunity to invite neighbours and friends. (see poster)
Sunday, September 25 – 2nd Missional Action Plan Meeting, after the regular service on Sunday – Reshaping Parish Culture to Enable Ministry (one hour)
Saturday, October 1st – Tea and Treasures
Sunday, October 2nd – the 3rd Missional Action Plan Meeting, after the regular service on Sunday – Fullness of Life in our neighbourhood (one hour)
This is also the day when our new rector will officially become a canon. Service will be at the cathedral – more information will be forthcoming.
Sunday, October 16 – 4th Missional Action Plan Meeting after the regular service on Sunday – Prioritizing our Mission Action Plan (one hour). Note that we have skipped over Thanksgiving Sunday and we will use this Sunday to Prioritize our Mission Action Plan, choosing which parts of the missional plan we will engage. This will not make much sense unless you have been involved in some or all of the previous three sessions.
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 and crackers and veggies and dip; a turkey dinner with all the fixings and a choice of 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 are available 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)!
JAZZ VESPERS
Venture into Westdale and enjoy JAZZ VESPERS at St. Paul’s … 4.00 p.m. on Sunday, September 11 - with Bill McBirnie, Tim Shia, Stacie McGregor and … of course … Jim Sandilands. NO PRE-REGISTRATION IS NECESSARY….back to normal!
We can reflect on William Wordsworth’s poem, DAFFODILS
I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills
When all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in a breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the Milky Way
They stretched in never-ending line along the margin of a bay;
Ten thousand saw I at a glance, tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them dance; but they out-did the sparkling waves in glee;
A poet could not but be gay in such a jocund company;
I gazed – and gazed – but little thought what wealth the show to me had brought.
For oft, when on my couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye which is the bliss of solitude
And then my heart with pleasure fills and dances with the daffodils.
