From the Rector’s Desk

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!   

When I was the publisher of Island Parent Magazine, I wrote a monthly editorial at the front of the magazine called “Publisher’s Pen” (which probably has contributed to my confidence in writing weekly sermons!) One of my editorials was entitled “JOT” or “Just One Thing,” where I explored the idea of every person doing one thing that would contribute to the health and well-being of the community.

Instead of trying to do everything, or trying to be everything for everyone, the idea was to slow down, get intentional, and find the one thing that brought you joy and still made a contribution. So that with all those ‘one things’, the community would be enriched and made healthy.

I love the cartoon above because it speaks to this very thing – the one action you choose will help create the kind of world you want to live in. If you want to see flowers, plant the seeds! It’s as simple as that. What if everyone in the parish who wanted to chose one thing, just one thing, they were going to do to contribute to the well-being of the community (parish or local)? We would begin to see a difference.   

Do you want to participate? Pray about it. What ‘one thing’ are you going to take on? Will it be writing a card to someone every day? Will it be making a phone call? Will it be writing a letter for Amnesty International? Or starting a blog for your family about your values, your life story, your family tree? Will it be going through the Parish Directory and praying for a different person every day? Will it be taking a garbage bag on your daily walk and picking up trash or returnables? 

What will it be? Pick only ‘one thing’ and maybe put a date in your calendar for a review. At the time of review, you may want to change the 'one thing' you’ve been doing, or, maybe you may choose to add another ‘one thing’ to your routine.

In counsellor training, we were taught that it’s much more effective to create change one degree at a time. When you look at the angle one degree makes, it’s tiny at its origin. But if you follow the lines of the angle outward, it gets wider and wider, or bigger and bigger. And so it is with making change – starting small is the best chance for a change that is sustainable.  

When we imagine the kind of world we want to live in and think of one way to contribute to making that happen, or when we give to others what we ourselves would like to receive, magic happens. Just one thing at a time! Thanks be to God.

Happy New Year.
Bless you,
Selinde  

Mark your calendar for the Consecration of our Memorial Garden on Saturday, January 15 at 3pm.

Just before Christmas, we received legal status for our Memorial Garden. This was the goal of a long long process which involved the dividing of our property into 2 pieces and the application to have our Memorial Garden protected in perpetuity through certification by the province. Huge gratitude to Val for her work on that application. Bishop Anna will come to St. Mary’s on for a short ceremony to consecrate the Memorial Garden and then bless our Pet Memorial Garden. Please join us on this special occasion. Dress warmly!

                                                        

KAT is enjoying her time in England with her daughter and family. She will be gone until January 25th. Selinde and Shirley B are covering office duties as best they can in her absence.

Church during Omicron:  Some Anglican churches have closed down because of the spike in Covid cases on the island. Your wardens and rector have decided to continue with in person worship trusting that parishioners will take responsibility for their safety and health concerns.  We will be reducing the amount of singing for the time being; only singing or humming the musical parts of the service itself. We continue to limit numbers to allow for safe distancing, we require everyone to wear masks for the entire service, and we ask that no one who is not double-vaccinated come into the church.

Parish Council – the next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, February 9th at 1pm. A decision as to whether it will be held in person or on ZOOM will be made closer to the date.

Annual Reports are due by January 18th. Please be as brief as possible. A letter will be sent to the person in charge of each ministry so you know if a report is expected of you.

January Birthdays

January 7th    David R
January 10th  Margaret N
January 22nd  Dagney N
January 30th   Fred H
January 31st   Will L

Anniversaries
January 15th   Shirley and Alan B 

 

READINGS for January 2022

January 2, Feast of the Epiphany                    
Isaiah 60:1-6                      
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14                        
Ephesians 3:1-12                
Matthew 2:1-12    

January 9, Baptism of the Lord/1st Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 43:1-7                      
Psalm 29                      
Acts 8:14-17             
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22  

January 16, 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 62:1-5                      
Psalm 36:5-10           
1 Corinthians 12:1-11            
John 2:1-11                  

January 23, 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10        
Psalm 19                     
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a        
Luke 4:14-21    

January 30, 2022, 4th Sunday after the Epiphany
Jeremiah 1:4-10               
Psalm 71:1-6              
1 Corinthians 13:1-13            
Luke 4:21-30    

We need a new Envelope Secretary! Barb W is having to step down. She will orient anyone who is willing to step forward, and support them as needed. This is something you can do from your own home. Please discern if this is a way you can contribute to the life of St. Mary’s, and contact Selinde if you are interested and/or have questions. Thank you!