PARISH NEWS - NOVEMBER 5
E-blast for November 5th, 2026
SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK
SUNDAY, November 8th – 10:00am – Remembrance Sunday
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.
Church Office Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-2pm.
St. James Mission Statement
“To know Jesus and share Love through prayer, story, and service”
WEDNESDAY
COMPLINE – 9:15p.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.
St. James 50th Holiday House Tour
Tickets for the Holiday House Tour are now on sale and may be purchased on the St. James' website, at the church office, and at The Keeping Room in town.
With less than a month to go until Saturday, December 5, you can help make this a sell-out event in many ways.
Buy tickets for yourselves, family, and friends
Tell your friends about the House Tour. Most people learn about the House Tour from someone else.
Musicians are still needed to perform at the house on the tour
Please bring in your extra preserves, jams, and jellies to sell
Let us know if you want a printed poster for your building, workplace, or favourite hangout
Add your name to the volunteer sign-up sheets in the narthex
Prepare apple pies on November 18th and bake Christmas cookies on November 12th and 25th.
Questions? Speak with the House Tour Co-Chairs, Frank Rinaldo and Lynne Morrow, or any member of the House Tour Committee.
SERVER TRAINING
Sunday November 8th
Server training will take place this Sunday November 8th immediately following worship. Grab your coffee or tea and join us in the sanctuary. This session is for all current servers as well as anyone interested in learning to serve.
Jeanie Mather - Celebration of Life
Jeanie’s celebration of life will take place on Friday November 13th at 1pm with a reception to follow in the Dundas Room.
St. James' Parking Lot
New signs are in the St. James' parking lot! The City By-Law Division has approved Authorized Parking signs to deter illegal parking in our lot. The church can now ask a by-law officer to ticket cars not associated with St. James, freeing up spots for visitors. We can now charge a fee or rental cost for parking, which could generate revenue.
Parking lot safety is a major concern. People use the parking lot as a shortcut from Melville to Victoria Street, sometimes at high speed. The new signs are intended to deter people from using the parking lot as a thoroughfare, remind them that the parking lot is one-way, and encourage them to slow down because children may be playing.
Additionally, we installed new disabled parking signs and security camera notices. If you have any questions, speak with Gillian Hendry at gillian.hendry35@gmail.com.
Holiday Hope
Holiday Hope is a program that wishes to help families have a nicer Christmas. We will be fulfilling the wishes of about 30 kids this year and between all of your generous souls and those in the wider community, I am not worried that Santa will come through for toys and clothing. But, we need to offer them a great holiday meal as well with a bonus that we can get their grocery gift cards through Fundscrip so it ends up being a fundraiser for the church too! To add this fundraiser as well, we need your cash donations by Nov. 30th ideally. The goal is to collect $900. There are envelopes available in the Narthex and if you send an e-transfer, please put Holiday Hope in the memo line.
Jackie Donnelly is the contact for making the cloth bags for the project. If you have material to donate or can sew them up, please contact Jackie.
Thanks for all your help over the many years we have been involved in this community initiative!
A Note from our Music Director
Choir rehearsals are held every Tuesday evening from 7:30–9:00 p.m. and Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. Let’s work together to grow the music ministry at St. James and lift our voices to the Lord!
Please email Lina at lina.pianist@gmail.com if you are interested in joining the choir or have any questions.
Coat and Boot Drive Notice
This year, the coat and boot drive will have a shortened season, ending on November 1st. After prayerful thought, Corporation made the decision to pause this ministry. It was not taken lightly and several factors led to our decision. We are re-purposing the Dundas Room for possible longer-term tenants and there is no storage space for these items. Also, the volunteer base is dwindling, and it requires a significant amount of the parish administrator’s time to answer the door, and help to bring in donations and field phone calls.
We appreciate the support of our St. James family and the community of Dundas for their support of the coat and boot drive, especially Anne Washington and Betty Eagan.
We recognize that there are many in the community who need and benefit from this ministry and unfortunately this situation is not going to change in the foreseeable future. For those who are looking to donate coats, boots and sleeping bags after the end of October, a list of agencies will be available.
100th Anniversary Information
St. James Anglican Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Melville Street on November 20th with an anniversary dinner. A display of materials from the past 100 years will be exhibited at the Church during this time and an additional exhibit will be at the Dundas Museum.
You are an important part of our parish history, and we hope that you will be able to join us as we celebrate this significant milestone in our parish’s history. The evening includes a pre-dinner reception with time to reminisce with old and new friends and enjoy the displays. A catered, three-course plated dinner will be served in the Dundas Room with your choice of roast beef, breaded chicken breasts or vegetarian stir-fry with tofu. Entertainment will round out the evening.
The cost is $75 per ticket and the deadline is Friday, November 13th.
We look forward to seeing you on the 20th of November.
This coming Sunday, Emmanuel, a photographer and a member of our congregation, is producing a video titled St. James Church Dundas 100 Years on Melville Street. It will capture some of the history of the church. focussed on the years 1926 to 2026.
To show as many people as possible on that video, Emmanuel will be taking an overview photo of the congregation this coming Sunday Nov 8th after the service. We hope you will be in attendance and stay for it.
Also a reminder to go to the Dundas Room to imprint your hand on the cloth that will be made into an altar frontal by Barry Shimmons.
Please contact any member of the 100th Anniversary Planning Team if you need more details about the Celebrations:
Janet Cannon (Chair) Kendra Gregson, Isabella Guthrie-McNaughton, Barry Shimmons, Marline Sargeant, Anne Washington
Afterthoughts
Afterthoughts has resumed on a monthly basis. “Afterthoughts” is a gathering to share in conversation and reflect further on our experience of the Sunday’s liturgy.
This is a focused conversation sharing what impacted us during the service whether through music, readings, homily, prayers or eucharist.
The gathering will be held after church, in the Parlour, and is open to those attending Sunday’s service.
If you have questions, please connect with Ann Vander Berg at ann.stjamesdundas@outlook.com (note: new email address).
50th Anniversary of Ordination of Women to the Priesthood
November 29th @ 4pm - The 50th Anniversary Service at Christ's Church Cathedral.
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.
Upcoming Dates and Events
November
7 - Diocesan Synod
14 - Saturday Service & Supper, 5:30 supper, 7pm service
15 – Trail & Table – St. Nicholas Escape Room 4-6pm
20 – Anniversary Dinner
22 – Steve Bell Concert – tickets available now!
22 – Afterthoughts in Parlour 11:15 – 12:30pm
28 – Parish/Family Advent Activity in the Dundas Room 11am-1pm
29 – 50th Anniversary Service @ Cathedral 4pm
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