SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK
SUNDAY – Next Sunday is Palm Sunday – 10.00 a.m. Blessing and Distribution of Palm Crosses, Dramatic Reading of the Passion, and Eucharist.
TUESDAY – Bible Study - Please join Peter Wall for a Tuesday morning service of Morning Prayer and Bible Study at 10:00. Contact the office before Tuesday if you need the link 905-627-1424
TUESDAY – Body and Soul
We are BACK! Body and soul will start with some walkaround-type exercises at 10.00 a.m. in the Dundas Room, followed by an informative session at 10.30 for one hour. This week there will be a film crew on site so please park on the street and enter through the front door.
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 the link 905-627-1424
LITURGICAL, MINISTRY AND PASTORAL CARE GUIDELINES - updated by the Diocese.
Some of the highlights from the latest release from the Diocese include:
Food can now be served indoors. Note that there are restrictions related to masking, social distancing and vaccination status; hall rentals to parishioners or community groups ae permitted, provided food and beverages are NOT served;
Activities for children and youth may resume … again, with restrictions related to ventilation, screening for symptoms of COVID-19, masking and distancing;
Singing by masked parishioners is permitted;
Well-fitted masks must be worn except when preaching, reading and leading the prayers;
At communion, communicants are to sanitize their hands, receive the host while continuing to wear a mask and maintaining physical distance with all others except the communion minister. Once physical distance has been re-established, communicants are to briefly lower or remove their mask,consume the host, and replace their mask.
Although contact tracing is not mandatory, we will continue to “sign-in” people as they arrive for the safety of our parishioners. Hopefully, we will be able to discontinue this soon. Both the front door and the door to the parking lot will be open.
This is a brief summary. Details can be obtained from the Diocesan web-site – www.niagaraanglican.ca … and proceed to the COVID-19 Resource Hub which is on the home page.
HOLY WEEK
From Fr. Peter Wall
I suspect that many of you, like me, find Holy Week to be both a wonderful week 'out of time'; and, 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
Every blessing on the remainder of Lent and on Holy Week!!
CAN YOU HELP????
There are two relatively easy volunteer opportunities available. The first is an individual who can coordinate our efforts related to the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund. This is primarily a “keep the parish aware, improve understanding, and advocate for this national church initiative. Please see Dean Peter Wall for more information. The second is an individual who can coordinate [note that this is the same verb as the previous one – more emphasis on helping to put together rather than a whole lot of “doing”] the flowers for the church in conjunction with our Parish Administrator, Nyle Armstrong. Please speak with Nyle if you would like to assist in the important role. 905-627-1424
EASTER NOVELTIES
YOUR SPECIAL LENTEN CALENDAR … WEEK SIX
DAY
DATE
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
Tuesday
April 5
Check for old batteries or broken electronics and dispose of them cleanly at a Community Recycling Centre.
Wednesday
April 6
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Consider a bamboo toothbrush
Thursday
April 7
Movie day – watch a nature-focused documentary with family and/or friends
Friday
April 8
Green gifts – buy some native plants/succulents and grow them to give as gifts later in the season … or just start them and give to someone to brighten their day
Saturday
April 9
Gather old magazines for contribution to free libraries (or schools, groups)
Sunday
April 10
Palm Sunday – Encourage the use of responsibly sourced palms
Monday
April 11
Meatless Monday. Explore mushrooms … so many different local varieties from which to choose
Tuesday
April 12
Just say NO … to the single use plastic bottle; at St. James, this is our policy for the building … let’s make it universal!
WALKING TOURS OF DUNDAS … THE FIRST INSTALMENT
Enjoy as you learn about some of the history of this Valley Town on a Historic 3 km walking tour of Downtown Dundas the Soul of the Community. Saturday, April 23 at 1 pm. Recommended for ages 12 years and older. Limited space. Tickets $25 adult. Youth 12 to 16 years of age $12.50.
Order from Anne W. via the office 905-627-1424. Payment by e transfer, cash or cheque.
