HARVEST THANKSGIVING
October 12, 2025
THE FATHER IS MY HOPE; THE SON IS MY REFUGE;
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY PROTECTION.
ALL HOLY TRINITY, GLORY TO THEE!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY: PREVIEW OF THE READINGS.
The human person/soul has been created by God as a unity of body and spirit. Materialism, a philosophy which acknowledges the reality of our physical needs in the form of food, clothing, shelter, etc., and denies the spiritual dimension of our lives, and spiritualism, a philosophy which accepts spiritual reality, but denies the body as the bearer of the Spirit, are both destructive to thus unity. There is a physical labour and food which we need, as well as spiritual labour and food which we need. The lessons for this Harvest Thanksgiving service highlight for us that Christ, who is the Incarnate ( enfleshed) Word of God, as the source of life for both the body and the spirit, bestowing us with meaningful, purposeful, satisfying existence in this life , and in the world to come, life everlasting.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 55:1-12
“Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness.
Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call nations that you know not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. “For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
THE LESSON: Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
THE GOSPEL: John 6:27-34
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
PARISH LIFE NOTES
LOST & FOUND REMINDER Have you misplaced something? Our Lost & Found basket is located upstairs in front of the sanctuary, by the coat hanger. Please take a moment to look through it — items will be cleared out or donated at the end of each month. Thank you!
St. Mary’s Prayer Chain consists of a group of participants who are dedicated to prayer. The prayer chain is available to us who need prayer for things such “trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity”. Requests may be sent to Ann by text or email or phone call. The request will then be directed to the other participants for prayer. Confidentiality will be maintained.
HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF ST. MARY’S As we begin the important journey of calling a new priest, your voice matters. Our Search Committee is inviting input from the congregation to help answer the next question:
• What do we want to see in our new incumbent? (What will she/he bring to St. Marys)
Your responses will help shape our Parish Profile, which is essential in guiding potential candidates and helping them understand what they will need to bring—and where God is calling us as a church community. Please submit your answers confidentially to Yvonne at the church office. You may fold your completed form and place it in the box located on the table in front of the office. Alternatively, you can email your responses to: stmarysanglican@sasktel.net All responses will be treated with care, confidentiality, and respect. Thank you for being part of this important process.
Further here are our first two questions
1. Who are we at St. Mary’s? What are our ministry strengths and weaknesses?
2. What do you envision as St. Mary’s future? (Where do we want to go)
It is not too late to submit your answers to these first two questions. If you haven’t already done so, please have all your responses in by Sunday October 26th.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Morning Prayer: Tuesday at 8:30a.m.
Evening Prayer: Wednesday at 5.30 p.m.