From the Rector's Desk

Dear Friends in Christ,

It is hard to believe that Easter is here and in a few short days we will gather to celebrate the resurrection. One of the traditions that I really love here at St. Mary’s is that of the flower cross on Easter Morning.  Once again we will be inviting all of you to bring a few flowers from the garden to church on Sunday and together we will make the rough wooden beams beautiful with new life. That being said, how we do this will be a little different this year as, I ask you to keep your flower with you and instead of my processing in during the opening hymn this will be your chance to come forward and dress the cross with blooms!

We really are heading into a season of new life and change and while I am excited about the new opportunities ahead, I must admit that like many of you, I too am feeling a little anxious about how it will all work out. Change is never an easy thing, but at Easter we are reminded that through death comes life; through change come new and wonderous things – and if we had stayed at the cross lamenting the loss – we never would have been raised to new life with Christ.

I invite you into a season of grace and gentleness as we walk this way of new life together – as we all will be adjusting to the changes ahead. Know that even at times when I am in Parksville (such as Sunday April 7th, or when previously I had been in the office and might be out and about ministering to folks) – I am still with you all and only an email or phone call away.  This season of new life, of change and new opportunity is upon us and we will enter it together in faith!

 Peace and blessings,

Kirsten +

 

Easter Church Decorating – Saturday March 30th - 10am in the Church

This is usually lots of fun and a great way to socialize and make our church festive for Easter.

There will be a new addition to the Easter theme in front of the altar.

 

                                                    

Maundy Thursday Supper & Service – Thursday, March 28 @ 5:30pm (starting in the hall)

Good Friday Stations of the Cross – Friday, March 29th @ 11am  (in the church)  

Oceanside Easter Vigil – Saturday, March 30th @ 7pm (service at St. Mark’s Qualicum Beach involving folks from St. Mary’s, St. Edmunds, Trinity Port Alberni and St. Mark's)

Easter Sunday – Sunday, March 31st @10am

                                                                     

PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING THE LITTLE LENTEN GIVING BOXES TO THIS SUNDAY’S EASTER SERVICE

The CHURCH OFFICE will be CLOSED for the statutory Good Friday holiday and Tuesday April 2nd. It will reopen Wednesday April 3rd at 9am.

 

 

The time will soon be upon us when Archbishop Linda Nichols, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, will be here on the Island with us! Archbishop Linda will be leading the women’s retreat this year before heading to spend some time in Victoria with our siblings to the south. However, our Archdeacon Elizabeth Northcott has secured a special visit with the Primate for those of us in the north before she returns home to Ontario.

There will be a mid-day service at 11:30am on Wednesday April 24th led by Primate Linda and followed by a luncheon at St. Mark’s Qualicum Beach. This is a BIG deal, as a visit from the head of the Anglican Church of Canada does not happen every day so we anticipate good numbers for this event. With that in mind, there is a request that people sign up as there are limited number of spots. St. Mary’s has been granted 10 spots to begin with, but more may become available. So if you are interested, please email Kirsten at incumbent@stmarynb.ca to let her know ASAP so she can send the list of names off to St. Mark’s by the end of next week!

 

 APRIL BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

Birthdays

April 7        Larry T

April 9        Ann G W

April 17      Graham F, Michael Luis Q

April 22      Don N

April 27       Sherilene Q

Anniversaries

April 20      Pat & Don N

April 30      Graham F & Lynne D

 

     APRIL READINGS

April 7– 2nd Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:32-35                           Psalm 133 ( pg. 890)                              1 John 1:1-2:2                        John 20:19-31

 

April 14– 3rd Sunday of Easter

Acts 3:12-19                               Psalm 4 (pg. 707)                   1 John 3:1-7                                    Luke 24:36b-48

 

April 21– 4th Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:5-12                            Psalm 23 (pg. 731)                          1 John 3:16-24                      John 10:11-18

April 28– 5th Sunday of Easter

Acts 8:26-40                          Psalm 22:24-30 (pg. 730)               1 John 4:7-21                        John 15:1-8