Septuagesima Sunday
February 5, 2023
GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
Epiphany 4, 2023 – Bulletin
THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY – January 29, 2023
GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
Parish Life Notes
NOTE OF CONDOLENCE to the family of Jean Mountain who passed away this week. A family memorial service for Jean will be held at St. Mary’s on Wednesday afternoon. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
ST. MARY’S VESTRY will meet today in the lounge following the service. Lunch will be provided.
MINISTRY REPORTS for inclusion in the annual reports should be submitted to the office by January 31.
HOLY DAY CELEBRATION. This Thursday, February 2, there will be a shortened evening prayer at 5.30 p.m. followed by a service of Holy Communion for the celebration of The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, which serves as a liturgical hinge which connects the Christmas and Easter Cycle in our church calendar. On this the 40th day after our celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, we recall the day on which Jesus was presented in the Temple, when he was offered to the Father and shown to His people. As a sign of his coming among us, His mother was purified, as we now come to him for cleansing. In their old age Simeon and Anna recognized him as their Lord, as we today sing of his glory. In this eucharist, we celebrate both the joy of his coming and his searching judgement, looking back to the day of his birth and forward to the coming days of his passion.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Morning Prayer
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8:30 a.m.
- Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Evening Prayer
- Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. followed by potluck supper in the Upper Hall.
Evening Prayer and Holy Communion for the Feast of the Presentation of Christ
- Thursday at 5.30 p.m.
Epiphany 3, 2023 – Bulletin
THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
January 22, 2023
GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
Parish Life Notes
OUR RECTOR is in B.C. this week visiting family, and will return on Friday. Our officiant today is Nathaniel, and our preacher is Henry.
ST. MARY’S VESTRY will meet next Sunday in the lounge following the service. Lunch will be provided.
MINISTRY REPORTS for inclusion in the annual reports should be submitted to the office by January 31
ST. MARY’S PRAYER CHAIN has for many years served our parish, whereby prayers for sickness or other life events are passed on through a chain asking God for healing. No matter how small our faith seems to be, God will meet the needs and solve problems that appear almost impossible in our lives. To send a prayer request contact Ann either by email or phone.
REFUGEE FAMILY UPDATE.The refugee family have safely arrived in Regina Wednesday January 18, 2023. St. Mary member Elizabeth met her brother Mapiou and sister-in-law Ahol and hugged them with great tears of joy because they have not met for almost eleven years. It was a wonderful family reunion. The children of Elizabeth, who were born in Canada, came to the airport to meet their uncle for the first time with great joy and excitement. The family dream to live together was fulfilled.
Thanks to all the members who have contributed their time and money to make this family reunion dream come true for Elizabeth and Mapiou and their families. Special gratitude to the members who furnished and set up the house, provided transportation from the airport to home, put up of the curtains, and provided assistance with food preparation for the first day: Dave and Janice, John, Kate, John and Roberta, Elizabeth, and Rev. Nathaniel.
The refugee family will come to church on Sunday January 22, 2023. There will be a brief introduction of the new family during the announcement and a brief greet-and-meet time after service on Sunday.
2023 Pledge forms have been mailed out. To assist the Vestry in budgeting for the next year, you are asked to please fill out the form and return it to the church office or by placing it in the collection plate. Alternatively, you may submit your pledge immediately on our website.
2023 Envelopes. Boxes of weekly and monthly donation envelopes are now available for pick up on the table on the landing. If you don’t see your name on a box and would like to become a receive church envelopes, please tell Blair and he will make the appropriate arrangements. Giving via direct debit is also available. (See instructions here.)
Worship This Week
Morning Prayer
- Tuesday at 8:30 am
- Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Evening Prayer
- Wednesday at 5:30 pm. followed by potluck supper in the Upper Hall.
Epiphany 2, 2023 – Bulletin
THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
January 15, 2023
GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY BE TO HIM FOREVER!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
Parish Life Notes
Flowers on the Altar today are given to the Glory of God and thanksgiving for the birth of Margot Gudrun, daughter of Nicholas and Taleah, and grand-daughter of Claude and Hilary.
Refugee Family Update.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has comfirmed the arrival of the refugee family in Regina on January 18, 2023 at 13:47 (1:47 pm). We thank God for the protection throughout this journey and pray for the safe journey from Uganda to Regina of the refugee family: Mapiou Deng Arok, Ahou Bol Thon, Arok Mapiou, Ayak Mapiou, and Arok Deng. Please let Nathaniel know if you are planning on going to the Regina International Airport to welcome the refugee family. We will meet at their new apartment at 12:00 for a short prayer, finalize transportation arrangements, and write up some welcoming signs before we head to the airport to welcome the refugee family.
2023 Pledge forms have been mailed out. To assist the Vestry in budgeting for the next year, you are asked to please fill out the form and return it to the church office or by placing it in the collection plate. Alternatively, you may submit your pledge immediately on our website.
2023 Envelopes. Boxes of weekly and monthly donation envelopes are now available for pick up on the table on the landing. If you don’t see your name on a box and would like to become a receive church envelopes, please tell Blair and he will make the appropriate arrangements. Giving via direct debit is also available. (See instructions here.)
Worship This Week
Morning Prayer
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8:30 am
- Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Evening Prayer
- Wednesday at 5:30 pm. followed by potluck supper in the Upper Hall.
Baptism of the Lord, 2023 – Bulletin
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD – January 8, 2023
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
TODAY AT ST. MARY’S
10:00 A.M. MORNING PRAYER (Prayer book pp. 6-15.) (Psalm 87,93, Isaiah 49:1-13, Luke 3:15-22)
10:30 A.M. HOLY COMMUNION (Prayer Book pp. 67- 85)
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
Parish Life Notes
St. Mary’s Epiphany Service and Party was held on Friday night, with Holy Communion, Pot Luck, and Arrival of the Wise-Men!
Refugee Family Update.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has comfirmed the arrival of the refugee family in Regina on January 18, 2023 at 13:47 (1:47 pm). Please note the change in time and date from the previous date and time communicated to the congregation. The IRCC has revised the flight schedule and sent this new update today Friday January 6, 2023 so I am writing to confirm the new information.
We thank God for the protection throughout this journey and pray for the safe journey from Uganda to Regina of the refugee family: Mapiou Deng Arok, Ahou Bol Thon, Arok Mapiou, Ayak Mapiou, and Arok Deng.
Please let Nathaniel know if you are planning on going to the Regina International Airport to welcome the refugee family. We will meet at their new apartment at 12:00 for a short prayer, finalize transportation arrangements, and write up some welcoming signs before we head to the airport to welcome the refugee family. The family are five so we need at least two cars to transport them home. My car will take the three children and one adult, but we need one other space from a different car for one adult.
Note from Clara.
Dear St Mary’s Church, Thank you for your continuous prayers for our journey as well as the online services reminding us of home. Myka, Eli, Lucy and I are currently spending Christmas and New Year’s in Costa Rica with friends while Emma has decided to return to Guatemala for a few months. we have been keeping healthy and plan on heading to Colombia in February. Thank you again for all your blessings and we look forward to attending church in person when we return this summer. Love, Clara and family.
2023 Pledge forms have been mailed out. In order to assist the Vestry in budgeting for the next year, you are asked to please fill out the form and return it to the church office or by placing it in the collection plate. Alternatively, you may submit your pledge immediately on our website.
2023 Envelopes. Boxes of weekly and monthly donation envelopes are now available for pick up on the table on the landing. If you don’t see your name on a box and would like to become a receive church envelopes, please tell Blair and he will make the appropriate arrangements. Giving via direct debit is also available. (See instructions here.)
Worship This Week
Morning Prayer
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8:30 am
- Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Evening Prayer
- Wednesday at 5:30 pm. followed by pot luck supper in the Upper Hall.
Octave of Christmas and the Circumcision of Christ, 2023 – Bulletin
THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS AND THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST – January 1, 2023
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
Today At St. Mary’s
10:00 A.M. MORNING PRAYER
10:30 A.M. HOLY COMMUNION AND CAROLS OF CHRISTMAS
GODLY PLAY in the Children’s Worship Centre for children 3 – 6 years.
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
Parish Life Notes
2023 Pledge forms have been mailed out. In order to assist the Vestry in budgeting for the next year, you are asked to please fill out the form and return it to the church office or by placing it in the collection plate. Alternatively, you may submit your pledge immediately on our website.
2023 Envelopes. Boxes of weekly and monthly donation envelopes are now available for pick up on the table on the landing. If you don’t see your name on a box and would like to become a receive church envelopes, please tell Blair, and he will make the appropriate arrangements. Giving via direct debit is also available. (See instructions here.)
Twelfth Night: Epiphany Celebration
Friday, January 6, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Holy Communion followed by pot-luck supper and all age party in the Parish Hall.
Kindly R.S.V.P. to the parish office to let us know you are coming.
Octave of Christmas and the Circumcision of Christ, 2023 – Holy Communion
(Modified 2023-01-08 (whoops I forgot to do this last week!) Added audio recordings.)
THE OCTAVE DAY OF CHRISTMAS AND THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST
January 1, 2023
10:00 A.M. MORNING PRAYER (Prayer book pp. 6-15.) (Psalm 85,113, Genesis 17:1-13, Romans 2:17-end)
10:30 A.M. HOLY COMMUNION AND CAROLS OF CHRISTMAS (Prayer Book pp. 67- 85)
GODLY PLAY in the Children’s Worship Centre for children 3 – 6 years.
ORGAN PRELUDE: Little Jesus, Sweetly Sleep (Czechoslovakian Carol) – Arranged by Andrew Gant (b. 1964)
HYMNS
Opening: # 136 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Continue reading “Octave of Christmas and the Circumcision of Christ, 2023 – Holy Communion”Christmas Eve, 2022 – Sermon
(Modified 2022-12-28: Added audio recording of this sermon)
St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, Christmas Eve, December 24,2022 Canon Claude Schroeder
I think that we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Charles Schulz, the author of the Peanuts comic strip, because if you ever you were looking for evidence in our time for the existence of a good and gracious God, I think you need look no further than “Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Continue reading “Christmas Eve, 2022 – Sermon”Christmas Eve, 2022 – Holy Communion
(Modified 2022-12-28: Added audio recordings)
Link to text and audio of the Christmas Eve sermon
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
DECEMBER 24, 2022
EIGHT O’CLOCK
THE HOLY COMMUNION
Organ Prelude
The Ringing of the Bell.
Entrance of the Ministers. Please stand.
The Christmas Anthems
BEHOLD a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, / and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7. 14.
Unto us a child is born, / unto us a son is given. Isaiah 9. 6.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, / because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 St John 4. 9.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, / who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1. 3.
GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, / world without end.
Hymn in Procession: O Come All ye Faithful
Continue reading “Christmas Eve, 2022 – Holy Communion”Advent 3, 2022 – Bulletin
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT – December 11, 2022
GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY BE TO HIM FOREVER!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
Parish Life Notes
Post St. Nicholas Celebration. Join us after worship today to view the photo album from the St. Nicholas celebration, and share your impressions, suggestions, and stories.
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
Luke 10. 17-20
St. Mary’s Hand-dipped Beeswax Wax Candles make an excellent Christmas gift or stocking-stuffer. Available after worship today at a cost of $6.00 pair.
Aboriginal/ Non-Aboriginal Intercultural Christmas Dinner and Potluck takes place at St. Mary’s on Wednesday December 14th starting at 5:00 p.m. in the Upper Hall. All are welcome!
A Service of Lessons and Carols for Christmas will be held on Saturday, December 17th at 7:00 p.m. This is a “guest service” to which you are encouraged to invite friends, neighbours, colleagues, and family. Invitations will be distributed in today’s service.
Christmas Concert featuring local musicians and performing classical repertoire will be held at St. Mary’s on Wednesday, December 21 at 7.30 p.m. All are welcome and invited!
Vestry Update
Vestry met on Sunday Nov. 27. Topics for discussion included reporting in on the regular life of the parish, an update from the Refugee Sponsorship Committee, and the state of parish finances. Here are some highlights:
• Giving thanks for ongoing preparations for the St. Nicholas Day Festival, the Lessons and Carols service on Saturday Dec. 17th, and our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Thanks so much to everyone who has helped with the planning and preparation for these events!
• Claude met with Bishop Helen in November to discuss parish life.
• The Mapiou Deng Arok family will arrive in Regina on January 17th! Since we were originally expecting them to arrive in October, we have had to continue paying rent on their home October through December. We are grateful to the Diocese for approving this expense, as the house is a very good situation for the family, and has already been furnished. We will arrange a greeting party for the family in the new year!
• Vestry passed a motion that any proceeds from the St. Nicholas Day Festival will be divided as follows: 50% to St. Mary’s general revenue fund, 25% to CityKidz, and 25% to the Marian Centre.
• Vestry also passed a motion that this year’s Christmas offering will be given to Claude and Hilary.
Update on Parish Finances.
As of November 30, we have a total income of $155,593.18 and year-to-date total expenses of $178,789.98, for a net operating loss of -$23,196.80. This is not good, but it is better than the $34,000.00 deficit we were projecting in the summer. This is largely due to the generous giving of parishioners, so thank you.
Vestry will be finalizing and voting on our 2023 budget in January. We appreciate your prayers as we seek God’s wisdom and his will for St. Mary’s. The budget will be presented at the Annual Parish Meeting in February.
As the Churchwardens, Beth and Mary will be organizing our annual request for pledges from the congregation in January. Gathering as much information as we can on your giving plans for the year helps the Vestry to create an honest and accurate budget for the church. Look for a letter in the mail from Beth and Mary in the coming days, and please consider carefully what you can give to St. Mary’s in 2023. Pledge forms will be available online through the church website and paper forms will also be available. We greatly appreciate your contribution to the planning process.
Giving Thanks
We give thanks to God for all the signs of life at St. Mary’s that point to the wonder of our life together as the Body of Christ. We are thankful for Anya as she prepares for her confirmation. We are thankful for the wonderful time we had welcoming friends and guests to St Mary’s for the St. Nicholas Day Festival, and for everyone who pitched in to make the day a success. We are thankful for the continued health and safety of the Mapiou Deng Arok family as they look forward to their new life with us starting in January. In a season that emphasizes preparation as we await the coming of our Saviour, we are grateful that we prepare and wait with you! Thank you for making our church family the blessing that it is.
Beth, on behalf of St. Mary’s Vestry
Christmas Services at St. Mary’s:
December 24th Christmas Eve: 8.00 p.m. Holy Communion with Carols of Christmas
December 25th Christmas Day: 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion with Carols of Christmas
Worship This Week
Morning Prayer
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8:30 am
- Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Evening Prayer
- Wednesday at 5:30 pm.