Hi there!

Bible Study on Zoom Tonight!  7pm. Those who have already let me know they are participating have the Zoom link (it’s the same link for each Monday). If you’d like the link, please email me: susan.montague2@gmail.com

Lenten Lunch This Wednesday! March 8, noon – 1pm, at Emmaus on Wellington St. There were about 50 people at the first lunch and lots of great food…hope to see you there.

Online Study of Paul: The first week was great and I’m looking forward to more. Contact The Rev. Katherine Walker at the Cathedral if you would like the link.

Book Study on Zoom with Archbishop Anne: Thursday, March 9.  This is one of two gatherings. Contact Liz Hamel at the Synod Office if you would like the link.

The following is an announcement for the next Christ Church Fundraising Dinner:

We at Christ Church are having another Fundraising Dinner, also known as Deficit Dinner (our seventh), on Friday, March 17th @ 5:30 PM.  As with our other dinners, a reservation is required.  Cost of a reservation/ticket is $25.00 and can be purchased from me–Bonnie or Laura.  We can be reached by email lyons.bonnie@gmail.com or phone 705-779-2858 or lau_ave88@hotmail.com or phone 705-254-2477. 

The menu for the dinner includes:

Appetizer–Celery with cheese & bacon wrapped water chestnuts

Salad–Caesar 

Entree—Linguine with Alfredo Sauce and Baked Chicken

Cheese Buns

Dessert—Chocolate Brownie & Ice cream drizzled with chocolate

Thank you in advance for your support.  Hope to see you at our dinner.  Please pass this information on to anyone else who might be interested in joining us.

An Interesting Note For You:

Yesterday (Sunday)’s readings included the pivotal “blessing” passage in Genesis (12:1-4a) when God tells Abram that he will be blessed and be a blessing to the nations of the world if Abram accepts the promise God is offering to him. What we – in general – no longer realize is that what we call “blessings” is actually the consequence of being blessed and not the blessing itself. What am I talking about? Well, the Hebrew word that we translate as “bless” is the word “to kneel”.  What does kneeling have to do with being blessed? We kneel in worship, in praise, in adoration, in need, in complete reliance on God. To bless means all of this rolled together – to bless is to worship and adore and to desire relationship. Isn’t it amazing and wonderful then, that God blesses us? What we often refer to as “blessings” are the gifts of love that God lavishes on us because God loves us: God’s love, forgiveness, the beauty of the earth, fellowship with each other…

For Your Devotions:

Tuesday, March 7th is the memorial of Perpetua and her Companions, Martyrs at Carthage, 202. In a time when Christians were persecuted for their beliefs, they stood firm in their faith. I’ve read accounts of their deaths on a number of occasions and, each time I do, I feel humbled and amazed by their bravery and dignity and trust in God as they faced horrific deaths. One such account (much of it in Perpetua’s own words) is here:   http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/117.html

Wednesday, March 8th is the commemoration of Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln, Educator and Pastor, died 1910. Edward is known for his commitment to pastoral care and the personal example he set for everyone around him, particularly his students. He believed that preaching was only effective if rooted in the personal care – through prayer and visitation – of every parishioner. Here is part of what he wrote: “If you are to preach, you must make up your minds that you are sent, and sent by God. Without the gift of love, you will never be a preacher.”  To read more:   http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/118.html

Thursday, March 9th is the memorial of Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop, Teacher of the Faith, died about 395. Gregory was one of the three Cappadocian Fathers which also included his brother, Basil the Great, and his friend, Gregory of Nazianzus. Gregory and the others were instrumental in arguing against the Arians (who believed Jesus was a creature subordinate to God and thus, not God). In so doing, they established the place of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity as well. Gregory is well-known for his mystical writings in which he emphasizes that the spiritual life is not one of static perfection but one of constant progress. For more:  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Gregory-of-Nyssa

Friday, March 10th is the commemoration of Robert Machray, First Primate of Canada, died 1904.  Machray was born in Scotland into a Presbyterian family but chose to become a member of the Church of England in his early adulthood. He gave up a comfortable, secure income and position in the church to become the new bishop of Rupert’s Land in Canada. (At 34 years of age, he was the youngest bishop).  At that time, Rupert’s Land was huge and it was Machray who arranged to have it divided into smaller dioceses…Moosonee, Athabasca, and Rupert’s Land. Machray was bishop throughout the tumultuous period of the Metis uprising and our confederation. Some feel that Machray’s strong opposition to the uprising was highly controversial. It was Machray who instituted the elected vestry and it was also Machray (and others) who introduced the notion of a general synod to Canada in order to coordinate church resources and speak with one voice. Appropriately, at the first general synod in 1893, he was chosen to be Canada’s first primate.  To read more:  http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/machray_robert_13E.html

In the hope of Christ,

Susan+