St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, Regina, Saskatchewan
Quinquagesima Sunday
February 19, 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.
PREVIEW OF SUNDAY’S READINGS.
Continue reading “Quinquagesima 2023 – Bulletin”Sexagesima Sunday
February 12, 2023
GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
Preview of Sunday’s Readings
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 11.19-31
In this passage St. Paul’s speaks about the perils that impede and distract us from our goal in Lent of following Jesus into newness of life: there are outward circumstances, legitimate cares and duties, and our own inner weaknesses. In a counterintuitive way, St. Paul would have us embrace these trials and infirmities as the very stuff of glory.
For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if a man makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!But whatever any one dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie.
Gospel: Luke 8. 4- 15.
In The Parable of the Sower Jesus sets the spiritual agenda for us in Lent: to make good the soil of our souls by cultivating the word of God within us, with understanding and devotion, and not just superficially, and to practice or faith with steadfastness purpose and patience.
4 When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5 ‘A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. 7 Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8 Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.’ As he said this, he called out, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’9 Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets[b] of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak[c] in parables, so that “looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.”11 ‘Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. 14 As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the whole congregation will be held on Sunday, February 19th following the morning service. The purpose of the meeting is to:
Baptized members of the congregation who regularly attend services and are over the age of 18 are encouraged to attend and vote at the meeting.
Annual reports and financial statements are still being assembled, and will be emailed out this week.
FINGER FOOD LUNCH. Please bring finger food to share for the Annual Meeting next Sunday.
ASH WEDNESDAY PENITENTIAL SERVICE WITH IMPOSITION OF ASHES AND HOLY COMMUNION for the beginning of Lent will take place on Wednesday, February 22 at 5.30 p.m.
Following His baptism by St. John in the River Jordan, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.( Matthew 4.1-11) Join us for a series of special services and addresses by our guest missioner, the Revd. Dell Bornowski, as he leads us in an exploration of the temptations of Christ and the victory that He won, and the relevance of this for us today.
Mission Schedule:
| Friday, February 24, 7:00 PM | “Man does not live by bread alone” |
| Saturday, February 25, 7:00 PM. | “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” |
| Sunday, February 26, 10:30 AM. | “You shall worship the Lord your God.” |
NOON DAY PRAYERS FOR MISSION. Starting this Wednesday, Feb. 8, and the following two Wednesdays there will be 20 minutes of prayer in preparation for our Lenten mission starting at 12 noon. Please join us at St. Mary’s or at home and at work. Suggested outline for these prayers may be found on pp. 16 and 17 of The Book of Common Prayer.
TAX RECEIPTS FOR 2022. Our envelope secretary – Blair – is working on them so keep an eye out for them in the mail. If you would like an email version of the receipt, please let Blair know. Thank you.
Morning Prayer
Noon Day Prayers for Mission.
Evening Prayer
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.
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.
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.
Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
Evening Prayer and Holy Communion for the Feast of the Presentation of Christ
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.
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.)
Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
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.
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.)
Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD – January 8, 2023
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
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.
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.)
Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS AND THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST – January 1, 2023
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
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.
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.)
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.
(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)
Opening: # 136 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Continue reading “Octave of Christmas and the Circumcision of Christ, 2023 – Holy Communion”(Modified 2022-12-28: Added audio recording of this sermon)
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”