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One of the books for my summer reading was Adrian House’s Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life. As a young man, Francis had a profound religious experience. From the cross in the neglected field chapel of San Damiano, Christ told him, “Francis, go out and build my church, for it is nearly falling down.” Francis went around town begging for stones and rebuilt the San Damiano church with his own hands, but he soon came to realize that it was the Church with a capital C that needed to be repaired. The church is always a work in progress with renewal a never-ending process. Here at St. James we are renewing our parish for a hopeful and joyous future. Three areas, in particular, deserve to be singled out. Music and Worship Admittedly, I am biased, but I think our music program is second to none for its versatility among all our Anglican churches. Our Music Director, Stephen Holowitz, our Choir and guest musicians will again Build My Church INSIDE THIS ISSUE A Parent’s Prayer 4 25 Books to Read 5 Your Legacy 6 Rector’s Forum 7 A Surprise Sabbatical 8 Renew Workshop 9 Christmas Shoeboxes 10 Wednesday Classes 11 Special Dates Announcements 12 Westminster Chimes August 2014 St. James Westminster Church 115 Askin Street London, ON N6C 1E7 [email protected] 519-432-1915

Westminster Chimes August 2014 · Adrian House’s Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life. As a young man, Francis had a profound religious experience. From the cross in the neglected

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Page 1: Westminster Chimes August 2014 · Adrian House’s Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life. As a young man, Francis had a profound religious experience. From the cross in the neglected

One of the books for my summer reading was Adrian House’s Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life. As a young man, Francis had a profound religious experience. From the cross in the neglected field chapel of San Damiano, Christ told him, “Francis, go out and build my church, for it is nearly falling down.” Francis went around town begging for stones and rebuilt the San Damiano church with his own hands, but he soon came to realize that it was the Church – with a capital C – that needed to be repaired.

The church is always a work in progress with renewal a never-ending process. Here at St. James we are renewing our parish for a hopeful

and joyous future. Three areas, in particular, deserve to be singled out.

Music and Worship

Admittedly, I am biased, but I think our music program is second to none for its versatility among all our Anglican churches. Our Music Director, Stephen Holowitz, our Choir and guest musicians will again

Build My Church INSIDE THIS

ISSUE

A Parent’s Prayer 4

25 Books to Read 5

Your Legacy 6

Rector’s Forum 7

A Surprise Sabbatical 8

Renew Workshop 9

Christmas Shoeboxes 10

Wednesday Classes 11

Special Dates

Announcements 12

Westminster Chimes August 2014

St. James Westminster Church 115 Askin Street London, ON N6C 1E7

[email protected] 519-432-1915

Page 2: Westminster Chimes August 2014 · Adrian House’s Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life. As a young man, Francis had a profound religious experience. From the cross in the neglected

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lead us in several inspiring worship services this term from Harvest and National Thanksgiving Sundays, through All Saints and Remembrance Sundays, to Advent Lessons and Carols right to the glory and majesty of Christmas Eve. Along with a number of performances by outside groups, and a special Christmas concert, St. James is a recognized centre for music and the arts.

Our worship continues to offer both the Book of Common Prayer and the Book of Alternative Services. We are inclusive and seeker-friendly in our liturgy, and relevant and biblical in our preaching. We are one of the very few Anglican churches in Canada that distributes the sermon weekly by e-mail, with the written and audio versions on our web site. And as far as I know, we are the only large Anglican church in our diocese that keeps the main worship service to about an hour.

Children, Youth and Adult Ministry

The children’s ministry is undergoing a total transformation as we move toward hiring our new Children, Youth and Parish Life Coordinator. We have an outstanding search committee charged with selecting the right person for the job, and I am confident they will do so.

In the meantime, we have a strong team preparing for our Taize pilgrimage next summer. As you may well be aware, it takes enormous effort to get ready for a pilgrimage, but both in preparation and fund raising, we are well on the way forward. Thanks to Lisa and Duncan Archibald, Ann and Norman De Bono and Elaine Chick-Jones for their superb work. And thank you, Judy Jones for leading the fund script and doing such a fine job with our Sunday school this past year.

Speaking of Sunday school, with the retirement of Laura Manias, I am pleased to announce that McKayla Connery will be assuming the position as Family Ministry Assistant. McKayla brings a wealth of experience and management skills to the job along with a deep love of children and strong Christian faith. She will be an outstanding addition to our ministry team.

This term our Sunday school will be using the Group Children’s Church curriculum, which is one of the most popular in North America. The curriculum is for multi-age groups, from pre-school to sixth grade. It is designed to create a fun, high-energy, learning atmosphere where children learn Bible stories that they will live out every day. Music, prayer and praise, activities and skits make children’s church fun – and never boring! The curriculum is user-friendly for the leaders, so I hope we will draw volunteers to assist in the program. And if you know of parents looking for a solid Sunday school curriculum that’s fun for children, bring them to St. James. Children will love our new curriculum – and they will never be bored!

St. James is one of just a handful of Anglican churches that take adult education very seriously. I have been impressed at how many parishioners attended the classes on the history of the Book of Common Prayer and how many now attend the course on the Articles of Religion – not exactly trendy stuff! And Heather Nicolosi’s classes continue to draw a responsive audience eager to explore how God works in our lives. Along with our prayer ministries, all this tells me that there is a deep spiritual hunger to know God personally and become better acquainted with our Anglican heritage.

Pastoral Care

In addition to music and family life ministry, pastoral care is expanding with more pastoral visitors, more nursing and retirement home worship leaders and musicians, more people interested in prayer ministries, more readers, lay administers and lay assistants. Instead of clergy doing all the ministry (an impossible task), we are becoming a church where members minister to members with every member a minister.

One new venture this term will be inviting parishioners to be part of home groups – where ten or twelve people gather together in homes on a regular basis for sharing, topical discussions, Bible study, support and fellowship. These gatherings will vary with each group, and may

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St. James Westminster Church

“Experiencing God, Nurturing Faith and Empowering People”

include desert and refreshments, or even potluck meals. The aim is to promote greater connection, conversation and community – to get our people linked together to know, love and support one another. I hope that many in the parish will sign up for one of these home groups when we initiate the program this fall.

I need to thank several people for helping to make St. James such a loving, caring community. The Rev. Brian McKay, our resident priest and pastor, has brought wisdom, compassion and maturity to the pastoral ministry in our parish. He has ministered to people in pain and been a healing presence to all of us, including me. Thank you, Brian, for serving in our church.

Thanks also to Margaret Cox and Barbara Robinson for becoming lay assistants at our Sunday worship services. Thanks to McKayla Connery for her worship assistance as she discerns her vocation in the church.

I also want to thank Rebekah Reid for becoming our pastoral assistant while maintaining her position as parish administrator. I don’t know of a more patient and cheerful person than Rebekah. She genuinely reflects the joy of Jesus.

Thanks also to Sarah Mills and her ACW volunteers who provide lovely funeral receptions and Esther Robinson and her crew for the delicious parish luncheons we enjoy throughout the year.

Although we don’t think of his job as pastoral, we owe our gratitude to Harold Ford for his faithful service as sexton. Our facilities are clean and well-maintained because of Harold’s conscientious efforts.

With our assistant sexton Peter Cunningham retiring, we are rethinking how that position can be properly filled. It is hard to replace Peter because he was so superb in his work. Thank you, Peter, for a job well done.

One last note… pastoral care includes the people beyond our parish – the weak, the

vulnerable, the unemployed, the mentally ill, children, and those who, for whatever reason, are unable to provide for themselves. Our community breakfast program and our school breakfast program are hallmarks of our caring and concern for others. Along with our distribution of food vouchers and our financial assistance to parishioners, we try to share God’s love with everyone.

There you have it – my grounds for being both hopeful and thankful for our great parish. Our music program and worship services, our children, youth and adult ministries, and our pastoral care are the three-legged stool that binds us together as a church.

Like St. Francis, God is calling us to build up his church – not by bricks and mortar – but by love, dedication and selfless service. Therefore:

Go out into the world in peace; have courage;

hold on to what is good; return no one evil for evil;

strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak,

and help the suffering; honor all people;

love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Your Friend and Rector, Gary Nicolosi

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As our children and grandchildren resume school this fall, it is a good time for all of us in the parish to remember them in prayer. Here is a suggested prayer we encourage all families to use daily.

Loving God, You are the giver of all we possess, the source of all of our blessings.

We thank you and praise you. Thank you for the gift of our children.

Help us to set boundaries for them, and yet encourage them to explore.

Give us the strength and courage to treat each day as a fresh start.

May our children come to know you,

the one true God, and Jesus Christ,

whom you have sent.

May your Holy Spirit help them to grow

in faith, hope and love, so they may know

peace, truth and goodness.

May their ears hear your voice. May their eyes see your presence in all things.

May their lips proclaim your word. May your hearts be their dwelling place.

May their hands do works of charity. May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ,

your Son and our Lord.

Amen.

A Parent’s Prayer

One of the hallmarks of St. James Westminster Church is the dedicated number of pastoral visitors, home communion ministers and worship leaders for our retirement residences and nursing homes.

On Wednesday, September 24th we will have two identical meetings for all our pastoral visitors, home communion ministers and worship leaders (and those interested in becoming one) to discuss our pastoral care program and plan for the rest of the 2014-year. The morning meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. and the evening meeting will be at 7:30 pm. Both meetings will be in the Westminster Lounge.

There is nothing more satisfying than visiting parishioners who can no longer attend church. I encourage anyone interested in becoming a pastoral visitor, home communion minister or worship leader to attend a meeting and find out more about this important ministry. Or speak with me at any time.

Gary Nicolosi

Pastoral Visitors and

Worship Leaders

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Christians, and not just clergy, need to be reading theology, philosophy, and good Christian novels in order to grow spiritually. Said simply, good Christian reading prepares a person to be controlled by God rather than seeking to control the world. So which books should every Christian read, apart from the Holy Bible, which I presume we already read?

Here is my list of the top 25 books that every Christian should read, at least as recommended by your Rector.

1. On the Incarnation (St. Athanasius)

2. Confessions (St. Augustine)

3. The Rule of St. Benedict (Benedict of Nursia)

4. Sayings of the Desert Fathers (various authors)

5. Proslogium and Monologium (St. Anselm)

6. Sermons on the Song of Songs

(St. Bernard of Clairveau)

7. The Divine Comedy (Dante Alighieri)

8. The Imitation of Christ (Thomas a Kempis)

9. Interior Castle (Teresa of Avila)

10. Dark Night of the Soul (St. John of the Cross)

11. Institutes of the Christian Religion (John Calvin)

12. Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions Together

with Death’s Duel (John Donne)

13. The Temple (George Herbert)

14. Pensees (Blaise Pascal)

15. The Pilgrim’s Progress (John Bunyan)

16. Training in Christianity (Soren Kiekegaard)

17. Apologia Pro Vita Sua (John Henry Newman)

18. Orthodoxy (G.K. Chesterton)

25 Books Every Christian

Should Read

A Prayer for Church School Teachers and Youth Leader Volunteers

Loving God, Creator of all things, you call us to be in relationship with you and others.

Thank you for our church school and youth leaders who share with others the

gift of faith you have given them.

May our children and youth discover how you are present in all things.

May they come to know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

May the grace of the Holy Spirit guide the heart and lips of all church school teachers and

youth leaders, so that they may remain constant in praising and loving you.

May they be witnesses to the Gospel and ministers of your faith.

May all their words and actions reflect your love. Amen.

19. Murder in the Cathedral & Selected Poetry

(T.S. Elliott)

20. The Brothers Karamazov

(Fyodor Dostoevsky)

21. The Cost of Discipleship

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

22. The Seven Storey Mountain

(Thomas Merton)

23. Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis)

24. Markings (Dag Hammarskjold)

25. The Cross of Christ (John Stott)

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“I am only one person. I cannot do everything but I can do something.” We may have heard those words before, but we may wonder. “What can I do to make a difference in the world?” Here’s a simple formula to follow that may give your life greater significance and purpose.

1. ASK… Begin by asking yourself these

questions:

What do I cherish most?

What passions and causes do I support?

What is my vision for the future?

What are my personal values and priorities?

How do I want to be remembered?

What if…?

With that information you can begin to create the future you dream about.

2. IMAGINE… Having determined what is

important to you, consider the possibilities:

Nurturing children and teens

Helping people to grow spiritually

Feeding the hungry

Maintaining and renewing our church

Sponsoring music and the arts

Providing pastoral care for our elders

Insuring a vibrant Anglican presence in London

Turning dreams into reality

3. DISCUSS… Talk about what matters most

to you at St. James Westminster Church:

How can we keep it going?

How do we expand and revitalize what we are doing?

Your Passion, Your Dreams, Your Legacy

How can we begin to do the things we are not yet doing?

How can we ensure the future of our church after we are gone?

4. MAKE IT REAL… This is very rewarding and easy

to do. The St. James Foundation has experience working with people to design, establish and manage their legacy plans. Create your plan in complete confidence. Change it at any time. Fund it with a percentage of your estate.

Make the Promise Decide you want to leave a legacy to support the future of your church.

Focus on Your Values Think about what matters most to you.

Talk with the Foundation Identify the causes you want to support and speak with one of the Foundation members, the Rector or one of the Wardens.

Formalize Your Plan Together with your financial adviser and attorney, Foundation members can advise you on how to prepare the documents for you to sign.

Fund Your Legacy Relax. The plan is in place to fund your legacy when you are gone.

What will be your legacy?

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The Rector’s Forum will resume on Sunday, September 14th from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 in the Westminster Lounge, and continue every Sunday through December 7. We will continue our study of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion and finish the course with three sessions on why it is now so difficult for Anglicans to connect with our North American culture and possible ways we might do so.

Materials will be handed out at each class and the entire course will be on our church web site in January 2015. If any parishioners would like Sessions 1-15, please let the Rector know and a copy will be sent to you electronically. Everyone is welcome even if you missed last term’s sessions.

Here are the sessions for the fall term:

September 14

How Are We to Understand Baptism?

September 21

How Are to Understand the Eucharist?

September 28

How Are We to Understand Who Receives the Body of Christ?

How Are We to Understand Communion in Both Kinds?

How Are We to Understand Eucharistic Sacrifice?

October 5

How Are We to Understand Clerical Marriage?

How Are We to Understand Excommunication?

How Are We to Understand Church Traditions?

October 12

How Are We to Understand Homilies? How Are We to Understand the

Consecration of Bishops and Ministers?

October 19

How Are We to Understand the Relationship Between Church and State?

October 26

How Are We to Understand Christians Sharing Their Goods?

How Are We to Understand Swearing Under Oath?

How Are to Understand the Articles for Today?

November 2

The Articles of Religion and the Roman Catholic Church

November 9

The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral

November 16

Why Is It So Hard for the Church to Reach People with the Gospel Today?

November 23

Church Models to Reach People Today

November 30

Glimpses of the New Apostolic Movement for Anglicans

Note: On Sundays, December 7, 14 and 21, Heather Nicolosi will lead three classes on the New Apostolic Movement and the allure of the supernatural for people today.

Heather also will lead four classes on Wednesday mornings in November after the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist.

The Articles of Religion

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I am an Anglican, born and raised in the tradition of church, following the path of drifting in and out of ‘going to church’ depending on my life circumstances. Confirmation was graduation to leave church as a teenager. In university, away from home, I yearned to find a church community but was too afraid to step out and explore. I was impressed by dorm roommates who continued their faith practice. Getting married in the church was important. Having my children baptized was non-negotiable. Finding a church with a church school program was essential. Taking my turn at teaching Sunday school classes was a real eye opener. As I prepared for the day’s lesson plan and read the curriculum, I learned so much about the Bible and soon realized how much I didn’t know or understand even though I grew up in the church. I think I was learning more than the children and enjoying it.

But life’s challenges grew and overshadowed me and soon I was once again drifting away. Christmas and Easter still loomed large and gave me comfort. The draw was always there and instinctively I drew close again as I unwittingly headed for a life changing crisis. My minister shared with me that some describe it as a ‘crisis of spirit’. It remains the single most important event in my life even above the birth of my children. My church life remained the anchor through this storm and I experienced a renewal of faith and excitement for exploring faith as I had never known it before.

As the years progressed, my faith did not waiver. I loved to read a variety of Christian books, and enjoyed meeting and talking with fellow Christians of different denominations. I took courses and experienced some interesting conferences. I volunteered on committees and church positions, always learning more about church life and getting to know others.

So I was surprised when I started to feel troubled about ‘going to church’. It started to

A Surprise Sabbatical and an Unexpected Gift

become an effort. What was wrong? I had been active as a communion assistant but had decided to step down. My last Sunday was an Easter Sunday. I spoke to the minister after church asking to be removed from the roster. As I walked home that day, it was with a heavy heart and puzzled mind. My conversation went like this; “God, I don’t understand, you know what is in my heart, now that I have stepped down from communion assist duties, it was the last thing that was keeping me going to church. I’m going to end up stopping ‘going to church’. I love You. I’m not giving up on You. But I don’t understand why I am feeling this way toward Your church.”

I handed it over to God. I didn’t doubt that someday I would come back to His church. I let things unfold. I continued to read and explore. My direction moved towards prayer. Who, What, Where, When, Why and How! I knew not how to pray. All advice seemed to stress the value of ‘daily’ and commitment to first thing in the morning. Ughhh. I already found it hard to wake up and be ready for work in the morning.

December 31st, a New Year’s resolution – I was making a commitment to start morning devotions (prayer & scripture reading). Unlike other attempts at a resolution, I have never been surprised that this New Year’s resolution succeeded. Starting with a 2 minute commitment each day has grown to a delightful daily engagement which is so uplifting and comforting.

It was one full year later (Palm Sunday) that I again stepped through the doors of a church. In time, I made my way back to my parish church where I knew I was being called back to. The unexpected gift was that His church hadn’t changed but that I had been changed.

A gift of confidence – confidence in Jesus. Confidence in the church, which is the body of Christ

Do not cast away your confidence, which has

great reward – Hebrews 10:35

A fellow sojourner, Jennifer Camman

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Renew-All Workshop - The Spirit of Invitation

Come join us for a one day workshop of stories and strategies for sharing faith in word and deed led by The Rev'd Dr. Judy Paulsen. Dr. Paulsen is professor of Evangelism at Wycliffe College.

Dr. Paulsen is going to help us recapture a big, beautiful, boundless understanding of what it means to follow Christ as an invitational people. This isn’t a programme, it is just participating in what Jesus does in inviting all people to know him love, him, and serve him. Dr. Paulsen is going to help us be who we are in Christ and find a gentle, kind, natural way to share our faith and the overflowing grace of God with the world. Sharing our faith becomes an invitation in itself and that’s what Dr. Paulsen is going to help us do.

Come alone, or better yet, come with a team from your parish and you will experience renewal in God and be able to share that renewal with others.

When: Saturday September 27, 2014 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Where: St. Jude’s, London – 1537 Adelaide St. N., London

Cost: $20/person for individuals or $15/person for parish teams of 4 or more (includes lunch)

For further information please contact the Rev’d Rob Lemon [email protected] – make cheques payable to Diocese of Huron with the memo line “Renew-all Workshop”

Traditional Mail Registration: Send completed registration forms and payment to: The Rev. Rob Lemon; c/o St. Mark’s By the Lake; 150 St. Mark’s Road; Tecumseh, ON; N8N 2H4

Electronic Registration: Email [email protected]

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Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoe Boxes

Please begin buying sale items now for the packing of shoe boxes in the fall. Please look at including a well-balanced variety of items from the following categories:

School Supplies - Items such as pencils, pens, pencil crayons, note pads, and picture books

Toys & Other Gifts - Items such as stuffed animals, small musical instruments, hair clips, toy jewelry, t-shirts, socks, and candy (loose, individually wrapped hard candy in a sealable bag)

Hygiene Items - Please place soap in a sealable bag

Personal Note - Include a personal note and/or a photo in your shoebox (not inside the donation envelope)

Please Do not Include:

Toothpaste (due to customs regulations)

Food and any chewy, crumbly, or soft candy: Including gum (due to customs regulations)

Used items (due to customs regulations)

Playing cards (other card games such as UNO are allowed)

Liquids or items that could leak, melt, freeze, or break - Shampoo, creams, lip balm, bath gels, mirrors, or glass, etc. (these can damage other items in the shoe box).

Items that can scare or harm a child - War-related toys, knives, and toy guns, etc.

Using a backpack instead of a shoe box is problematic because it creates unfair circumstances at distribution events. Backpacks can also cause problems when cartons are being packed, and when shipments are going through Customs.

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Classes offered by Heather Nicolosi Wednesdays at 10:30am in the Westminster

Lounge - Hope to see you there!

October 2014 “Wisdom for the Walk”

This October we’ll discuss the following topics and how they affect our journey as Christians. Each session will include a brief presentation with time to talk.

Wednesday, October 8: What does it really mean to intentionally pursue Jesus? What does that look like?

Wednesday, October 15 How does the enemy work? It’s always good to know what the opposition is up to.

Wednesday, October 22 What does hyper grace mean and why does it have some people worried?

November 2014

The Calendar of God Did you know that God has his own calendar? In fact, God gave the ancient Hebrews a unique way of thinking that was foundational to walking according to his ways. Since each month has its own purpose and prophetic meanings more and more Christians desiring to return to their biblical roots are starting to take note. We will examine and compare the Biblical calendar with our own Gregorian calendar and see why some are now paying closer attention to the calendar of God.

What on Earth is happening to the church? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to eye witness a major transformational event affecting the church. Well, believe it or not, one is taking place on earth right now. Called the New Apostolic Reformation by C. Peter Wagner, a leading authority in the field of church growth,

Wednesday Classes Coming this Fall

this movement is considered to be more radical in the way of doing church than even the Protestant Reformation. We will compare the characteristics found in traditional religion with those of this new movement and discuss whether or not it can make a difference in a world which appears to be spinning out of control.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Prov 23:7) A thought may seem harmless, but if it becomes toxic it can become physically, emotionally or spiritually dangerous. In fact, many illnesses we suffer with today are the result of our thought life. In her recent books, Communication Pathologist and Audiologist Dr. Caroline Leaf illustrates how the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience prove scripture and reveal how you can renew your mind, break cycles of toxic thinking and conquer unhealthy patterns of thought. For example, “science shows we are wired for love with a natural optimism bias.” In the same way 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” We will explore what science is discovering in the area of brain research and how it is lining up with biblical truth.

Seeing the Voice of God It’s a scientific fact that we all dream when we sleep. But have you ever wondered if God sleeps at night? Apparently he doesn’t; according to Psalm 121: 3 “He who watches over you will not slumber.” Yet even while we are sleeping God is still communicating to us through dreams and visions! We will revisit the topic of dreams and examine biblical teaching on how to hear God’s voice with our ears during the day and with our eyes at night and learn new insights from the author of Seeing the voice of God, Laura Harris Smith.

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October 26 – Founders’ Sunday with parish social, Ministry Fair and afternoon Festival Chamber Concert

November 2 – All Saints Sunday with Commemoration of the Faithful Departed and Lighting of Candles

November 5 – Heather Nicolosi begins a 4-part series on the spiritual life in the Westminster Lounge after the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist.

November 9 – Remembrance Sunday

November 15 – Taste of Taize

November 30 – Advent Sunday with Parish Luncheon; Advent Intergenerational Activities

September 7 – Round-Up Sunday with Parish Luncheon; Holy Baptism at the 10:30 Eucharist

September 10 – Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist resumes at the Murray Altar in the church

September 14 – Rector’s Forum continues the study of the Articles of Religion in the Westminster Lounge from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m.

October 5 – Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday

October 12 – National Thanksgiving Sunday

October 19 – Amabile Singers at the 10:30 Eucharist

October 25 – Brassroots Concert

Liturgical and Special Events at St. James

Round-Up Sunday Special Gift: Sunday, September 7 is Round-Up Sunday when we return from the summer holiday and gather together as a church family. As usual, there will be Sunday school registration that day along with a delicious luncheon in the parish hall after the 10:30 Eucharist. Coffee will be served after the 8:30 Eucharist as usual. This year we are distributing a number of booklets that may interest parishioners, including Finding Hope in a Suffering World, What to Do About a Broken Relationship, and The Joy of New Life (especially for new parents) and other helpful materials. Plan on picking your copy up that Sunday.

Update on Children, Youth and Parish Life Coordinator Search: The job description for the Children, Youth and Parish Life Coordinator is now finalized. The diocese has circulated the position on the Internet, and we are advertising on different job search sites. The search committee expects to interview candidates in September.

Announcements

Members of the search committee are Elaine Chick-Jones, Peter Ibbott, Julius Kei-Kato, Loretta Hillier, Natalie Tattersall, and Ann DeBono. Bill Hefferton and Wendy Thorpe are warden reps on the committee.

Thanks to Judy Jones and Lisa Archibald for drafting the initial job description, and the input by several members of the committee. Please pray for the search process and that the right person for our parish will be selected.

Deanery Confirmation: Mark your calendars! The next London Deanery Confirmation will be on Sunday, April 19, 2015 in the afternoon at a church still to be announced. During Lent St. James will offer Confirmation Classes for any youth or adults that desire to be confirmed or received into the Anglican Church of Canada.

Mark your Calendars: ACW BAKE SALE on Sunday September 21 after the 8:30 and 10:30 services. We need lots of donations and lots of buyers!! Jam, jelly, rhubarb, vegetables, cakes, squares, cookies, pies, etc. Pie Baking will be on Saturday September 13 at 1:00pm.