PARISH NEWS - SEPTEMBER 27

9 hours ago

5 min read

E-blast for September 24th, 2026

SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK

SUNDAY, September 27th – 10:00am – Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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”

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.

St. James' 50th Holiday House Tour is on Saturday December 5th!

We're excited about our 50th Holiday House Tour on Saturday, December 5th! Thank you to Jan Southall, who has arranged five beautiful homes for the tour. All vendor spots for the Artisan Art and Craft Sale are booked, too!

Attention all bakers! Do you have a special Christmas cookie recipe to share? Norma Coe, our chief cookie baker, would love to add some new recipes to the Christmas cookie boxes that are always a best seller. Cookie-baking times in the church kitchen to follow. Stay tuned for apple pie baking days in the near future too.

We're looking for musicians to perform at some of the houses on the tour. Guests enjoy the ambiance of live music in a home decorated for Christmas. Speak with Lynne Morrow if you are inspired to share your talents.

Spaghetti Dinner and Comedy Night

A Spaghetti Dinner and Comedy Night is coming your way on Saturday, October 24th at 7:00 pm at St. James. Enjoy a night of laughter and a delicious Italian dinner. All proceeds support church accessibility projects. Watch this space for more information.

The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration to pray and respond together to the cry of Creation. The ecumenical family around the world unites to contemplate and care for our common home, the Oikos of God. The Season’s “Celebration” begins on September 1, the day that several Christian denominations celebrate as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. It ends on October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is beloved by many Christian denominations. This year, we will unite around the theme “Living Water”, with the symbol “Immersion in Living Water”, inspired by Ezekiel 47: 9 and 12.

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.

A Note from our Music Director

The Choir met on Tuesday evening last week, and I am very excited to begin working on new music together! We warmly welcome anyone who would like to join us.

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.

Orange Shirt Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) is a time to remember and honour Indigenous children who were taken from their communities and families to residential institutions.

National IRS Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419 / MMIWG Crisis Line 1-844-413-6649

A Prayer As We Wear Orange

Creator,

You made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them. You made us as people, as communities, and as families. You intend for us to grow and flourish together. You command us to do good works, to be generous, and to build a good life for all.

Some of us wear orange today to say that we did not always experience what you want for us, because we were taken away from our families and communities against our will.

Some of us wear orange today to acknowledge that we are not yet who you intend us to be, and that we have not lived up to your commandments.

All of us are wearing orange today to say that Every Child Matters, and that we want to help create a future that values all Indigenous peoples.

Our prayers today are not simple expressions of hope for justice, they are our commitment to create your justice on earth.

We pray … to acknowledge the harm caused by residential institutions and to honour all who were taken … for the end of racial discrimination against Indigenous children … for the end of racist colonial systems that continue to harm all Indigenous peoples … for the humility to open ourselves to the task before us, and the courage to work together.

You tell us to build up a good foundation for the future, so that we might “take hold of the life that is really life.”

We wear orange today, and we commit to the life that you intend us to live together.

Amen.

Scriptural references: Psalm 146; 1 Timothy 6:6–19

By Sara Stratton, Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator, UCC

Garden Project Update

Work on the Garden Project continues, with the irrigation system being installed by RainTree Irrigation Systems last week. Sprinkle heads and water lines were installed in the lawn, near the Co-op playground, along the wooden fence area, in front of the parlour window and in the scatter garden – all areas that will have restored or new gardens in Spring 2027. It will be exciting to see sketches of the planned gardens as we move into the next phase of the project. Next activities include the creation of a terrace wall in the scatter garden formed by armour stone followed by some education and conversation about columbariums! Stay tuned for more exciting details in the coming weeks.

100th Anniversary of the Church Building

Over the years, we have been blessed by our clergy and leaders at St. James. We all have memories and stories to share about the various ministries that have taken place here.

This week, I discovered several pictures of the clown ministry that St. James had in the 1970s or 1980s. I have not discovered any other information about the ministry, but I would love to know something more about it. Were you one of the clowns in these pictures? Who was the leader? Why clowns? Let us know, so I can add your memories to the archives.

We have confirmed the date and time for our 100th Anniversary Dinner Celebration. Keep the evening of Friday November 20th free! More details to follow soon.