Weekly Notices - January 6th, 2021
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Today is the Epiphany! We celebrated on Sunday but today is the actual day – 12 days after Christmas. May we recognize the presence of Jesus in our lives more fully as we journey into 2021!
I’m writing you from my cozy office at St. Mary’s. I had a wonderful break – lots of reading, sleeping, walking and precious time with our two sons. Thank you to Val and Elaine and KAT for being available so I could rest. And thank you to everyone who send Christmas cards, goodies, calls and messages….. I enjoyed them all!
2020 was an interesting year, to say the least. Financially, we wondered how we would survive, yet the people of St. Mary’s came through. We are an amazing parish!! Please read the report 2020 Year in Review from your treasurer, Jennifer B-C, attached below.
Many people ask about my health. It seems I am one of those mysterious long-haulers who struggle with ongoing symptoms from having had the COVID virus (in March of last year). The medical profession has little advice for us; there is so much they don’t know about the virus and even less they can do to help. But rest assured that I am receiving good care and working with alternative therapies. I am in good spirits (have been throughout) and being able to serve is the best medicine for me. I just need to take it easy and am getting pretty good at doing that! I will be clear about what I am able, and not able to do, so please don’t hesitate to be in contact with me. I don’t want you to “protect” me. Please let me do my job! Thank you.
For the time being, I will be up in the office on Wednesdays and Thursdays with KAT. The other days I will work from home. Both of us check and respond to emails and phone messages during the week.
A big priority for the parish is to get everyone on ZOOM. I will be making various offerings via ZOOM (bible study, a book group, a coffee group, etc.) and our Annual Vestry Meeting (Sunday February 7th) will very likely have to be held via ZOOM. So we want everyone to be able to participate in any or all of these activities so PLEASE down ZOOM on your computer. It’s really quite simple (and if I say that, it really must be!). If you have trouble or get overwhelmed, please call us and we’ll find someone to help you. If you are a tech savvy person and can offer to help others, please let KAT know. Directions for downloading ZOOM are attached below.
Selinde is inviting anyone who participated in the Lenten Study Living Well through Advent with the focus on HOPE to a ZOOM discussion in order to wrap up the study on Thursday morning January 14th at 11am for an hour. We will discuss how our understanding and experience of HOPE has changed as a result and what we will be bringing forward to the new year in terms of HOPE. Please email Selinde if you would like an invitation.
Offertory Envelopes are here. Come by on a Wednesday or Thursday to pick yours up. Or…….Selinde is offering to deliver them as a way to say “Hi” and see you in person. If you would like a 15-minute visit with Selinde in your garage or outdoors, well distanced, please book a time for next week with her. Contact her by email or phone – incumbent@stmarynb.ca or 250 821-5600. If you are on Electronic Plate and want to make additional contributions, use an envelope from last year and just change the date.
CARE TEAM meeting – Monday, January 18th at 10am on ZOOM.
YOUR JANUARY 2021 READINGS
January 10 – 1st Sunday after the Epiphany
Gen 1:1-5; Ps 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11
January 17 – 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany
1 Sam 3:1-10; Ps 139:1-5, 12-17; 1 Cor 6:12-20; John 1:43-51
January 24 – 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany
John 3:1-5, 10; Ps 62:6-14; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20
January 31 – 4th Sunday after the Epiphany
Deut 18:15-20; Ps 111; 1 Cor 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28
JANUARY CELEBRATIONS
Birthdays
Jan 7 David R
Jan 8 Donis R-B
Jan 10 Margaret N
Jan 22 Dagny N
Jan 29 John S
Jan 30 Fred H
Jan 31 Will L
Anniversary
Jan 15 Shirley and Alan B
Jan 26 Sue F and Will L