Good day, everyone!

CLAY is set to begin midweek. Please pray for all the youth and adult volunteers gathering in Thunder Bay…that this experience will be transformational and inspirational as they explore their faith and place in God’s Story.

St. Peter’s is having a basement sale! Friday, August 17 (4pm-8pm) and Saturday, August 18 (8am-12pm); 359 Douglas Street, SSM.

The Church Closet continues – every Saturday, 10am-2pm, until Sept.15; St. George’s, 159 Church Street, Echo Bay.

The Lay Readers’/Lay Leaders’ Conference, Thunder Bay is the last weekend in September.  http://dioceseofalgoma.com/UploadedFiles/files/Lay%20Readers/1-Poster-2018.pdf

If you’re going to the conference, please let me know (susan.montague2@gmail.com). I think it would be worthwhile to save $$$ by traveling as a group. A  seven passenger van would cost about $350 from Enterprise for the weekend. This would be a huge cost saving since individuals would pay about $200 in gas to get to Thunder Bay from Sault Ste Marie and back (it’d be more or less depending on where your starting point is).  Travel details can be finalized once I know who’s coming from where. 🙂

For Your Devotions:

Monday, Aug.13th is the memorial of Jeremy Taylor. He was born in the early 1600’s and became one of the religious scholars known as the “Caroline Divines.” In fact, he was often referred to as the “Shakespeare of Divines” because of his poetic mode of writing. Taylor was chaplain for King Charles I but was imprisoned when Cromwell overthrew the monarchy and banned worship services of the Church of England. For more info go to Monday’s Morning Prayer office here:  https://gregorians.org/office/

Tuesday, Aug.14th is the commemoration of the martyrs Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Maximilien Kolbe. Bonhoeffer was a  German theologian who first became widely known for his attack on “cheap grace” (the unlimited offer of forgiveness which he believed functioned for many as an excuse for unethical and immoral behaviour). He was killed in 1945 for his involvement in a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler. More info:  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dietrich-Bonhoeffer

Kolbe, as a young, Polish, Roman Catholic priest, established a printing house consisting of 800 friars dedicated to evangelizing Poland. Because this group was so large, it was called “The City of the Immaculate”. His massive printing operation led to his arrest by the Nazis – twice. When he was arrested the 2nd time, Kolbe ended up in the concentration camp at Auschwitz. It was here, in 1941, that Kolbe offered himself up to die in the place of another prisoner who was the father of 10. For more info:  https://saintmaximiliankolbe.com/biography/

Wed., Aug.15th is the Holy Day of St. Mary the Virgin. The Eastern Orthodox Church believes Mary was taken up to heaven after death. Most Roman Catholics believe Mary did not experience death. Where do we as Anglicans fall on this issue? Find out here (along with a beautiful legend surrounding Mary’s final days):  https://interruptingthesilence.com/2011/08/15/the-feast-of-st-mary-the-virgin-dormition-and-assumption/

Thurs., Aug.16th is the memorial of the Holy Women of the Old Testament. Our Story of Salvation was shaped by some pretty feisty and creative (i.e. tricky) women. Sometimes barren, sometimes of “ill repute” but always interesting…For a sample, check out the four Old Testament women Matthew lists in Jesus’ family tree: http://faithlifewomen.com/2012/12/4-unlikely-grandmothers-in-jesus-family-tree/

Friday, Aug.17th is the commemoration of John Stuart, Missionary among the Mohawks until his death in 1811. As a loyalist, Stuart’s life was made unpleasant (and sometimes dangerous) in New York and so he travelled first to Quebec and then to Ontario. He arrived in Cataraqui (Kingston) in 1785 and was, apparently, the first resident Anglican clergyman in Ontario. For more info:  http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques/Plaque_Frontenac13.html   (This site has a link to even more information if you’re interested.)