O HEAVENLY Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ did take our nature upon him, and was baptized for our sakes in the river Jordan: Mercifully grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may also be partakers of thy Holy Spirit; through him whom thou didst send to be our Saviour and Redeemer, even the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Mary’s Book Club
The theme chosen for the Book Club’s next gathering is “Sources of Delight.” Readers are encouraged to share a book that brings them joy and laughter. We will be meeting at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 15th in the lounge at the church. All are welcome!
December 8th, 2019 – Second Sunday in Advent
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
The Church’s preparation for the coming of Christ continues with readings that kindle hope for the fulfillment of the kingdom which God has established in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament reading is one of the classic prophecies of a future king in the line of David, one whom God will anoint with His Spirit, and whose reign and rule will bring both judgement and salvation, and will establish peace and harmony over the created order. Psalm 72, a petition to God that the king rule with righteousness and justice, continues the same themes. A major motif in the Epistle lection, which cites Isaiah 11.10, is hope, based on the confirmation of the Old Testament promises by the coming of Jesus. The “eschatological” ( ie., revealing the end or final destiny) character of the coming of Jesus Christ inot the world are dramatized in the Gospel, and the appearance of John the Baptist with his preaching of the kingdom and call to repentance.
December 1st, 2019 – First Sunday in Advent
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
A WORD FROM THE RECTOR
THE SEASON of Advent which begins today marks both the beginning of a new year in the Church calendar, but also a season of preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Advent collect describes how Jesus came to us in great humility. He was born of a woman and laid in a manger. God in the flesh! This is what we will celebrate at Christmas. Over the course of this coming year we will seek to grow in our response to the Incarnation by learning to love more deeply the world Jesus came to redeem.
But the coming of Christ is not simply to be understood as something in that occurred once in the past. He comes to us here and now in and through His Holy Spirit, who draws us into union with God and with each other, and so in Advent we renew our intention to live as members of the Body of Christ with peace and joy and all the gifts and fruits of the Spirit!
The coming of Christ also has a future aspect, as we declare in our Creed, “He will come again in glory to judge both the living and the dead.” Advent teaches us to look forward with hope and expectation to that day when “we shall rise to the life immortal” in the new heaven and the new earth where God will be all in all. As we look forward to the Advent of Gods kingdom, we seek to live now as worthy citizens of that kingdom.
The colour of Advent is purple, representing penitence, hope, and expectation, with which we prepare for Jesus ‘coming. As John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by calling people to repentance, so Advent is a natural time to renew our spiritual lives through the practice of prayer, stillness, meditation, and confession.
May God bless you all in this Holy season, and throughout the coming church year.
Yours faithfully,
Claude +
November 24th, 2019 – Sunday Next before Advent
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Jeremiah 23.1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23.33-43
November 10th, 2019 – Twenty First Sunday after Trinity
Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace; that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Haggai 1:15b-2:9; Psalm 145:1-5,18-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38
November 3rd, 2019 – The Feast of All Saints
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Daniel 7:1-3,15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11-23; Luke 6:20-31
Prayers by the Lake XCV Children and Saints by St. Nikolai Velimirovich
ALLSAINTSTIDE CELEBRATIONS in ARCHDEACONARY OF ST. CUTHBERT
Thursday, Oct 31.
7.30 P.M. Theological Forum “Life and Prayer in the Communion of Saints” at St. Mary’s
9.00 P.M. Candle-Lit Holy Communion with Witness of the Saints at St. Mary’s
Friday, Nov 1.
12.00 P.M. Noon Day Prayers at All Saints
Saturday, Nov. 2.
3:00 – 6.00 P.M. “All Saints Saturday” for children and youth, to include activities, “The Journey of Faith” – an interactive walk through the Bible, worship, and supper.
7:00 p.m. Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed at St. Luke’s Anglican Church.
Christ is Risen from the Dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
O Come, let us worship!
October 27th, 2019 – Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant, that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Matthew 14:13-21
Refugee Sponsorship
St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church plans to sponsor a South Sudanese refugee family of six, currently living in a Ugandan refugee camp. We have raised about $17,000, and we will continue to raise the remaining $18,000 to achieve the goal of raising $35,500 to support the refugee family once they arrive in Regina. You can support St. Mary’s Refugee Sponsorship Program by:
1. Sending your support through email transfer to (stmaryregina (at) gmail.com). Please include ‘South Sudanese Refugee Family Sponsorship” in the message. St. Mary already has automatic deposit set up for Interac electronic transfers. No password is required.
2. Contributing through Cheque for donations to St. Mary Anglican Church, 3337 – 15th Ave. Regina SK S4T 1T3, with a memo line “South Sudanese Family Sponsorship.”
3. Attending South Sudanese Fall Super (South Sudanese Food Fair) – a fundraiser to be held October 26 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in St. Mary’s upper hall. Meals will be prepared by South Sudanese people in Regina, in support of the family in the refugee camp. You can also place your order at the church office for pick on October 26, 2019.
4. Joining our campaign online through CanadaHelps:https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/119188134RR0001-st-marys-anglican-church/campaign/refugee-family-sponsorship-fundraiser/
5. Donating cans and bottles – St. Mary’s will collect cans and bottle to recycle. Regina residents may contact Amanda H, Elizabeth D or Nathaniel Deng M for a flyer about the recycling project, or more information on pick up of bottles and cans.
Welcoming and loving strangers is a precious gift from the Lord, our God (Leviticus 19: 33-34).
For more information about the sponsorship, contact Rev. Nathaniel Athian Deng M, chair of the Refugee Sponsorship Committee.
SPC members include Beverly K, Deng Mark A, Mary R, Janice K, Sandra D, Tom J, Amanda H and Nathaniel Deng M