Good day,

This coming Saturday, July 1st is the Strawberry Social, 11am to 1pm at St. James’, Goulais River. There will be entertainment, food, and – of course – strawberries!

A Liturgical Note For You: The Transformational Power of Our Liturgies is something I’ve mentioned before. Here is more for you to “chew on”:

As God stands among us, God shows us what he has done – just as Jesus showed his hands and side to the disciples. Our entire liturgy is an act of remembering and celebrating but our Eucharistic Prayers, in particular, do this for us – they lead us to rejoice through remembering what God has done. Each of these prayers begins with an invitation for us to lift up our hearts and to give our thanks. We say, sure, it is right to give our thanks and praise but, we’re not really feeling it right now. And so the prayers rehearse for us what God has done, remind us that our history is God’s history of salvation and then we’re ready to rejoice, ready to sing our praise with all the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.

Christ stands among us and now we are ready to receive him. In joy we feast together at God’s table, remembering that through Christ’s death and resurrection we receive Christ’s body because we are Christ’s body, joined with him in baptism, carrying the Holy Spirit within us who brings us into the life of God, with God, in God’s kingdom. Our worship liturgy comes to a close on this triumphant note of joy. We praise God through the generations, in the Church, and in Christ Jesus. We rejoice in the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, and we are reminded that we are given the peace that passes all understanding as God places his name on us once more and sends us out into the world to strive, with God, toward the fulfillment of God’s purpose – total reconciliation of all creation with God and with each other, God’s kingdom and will ‘on earth as in heaven’. 

For Your Devotions:

Wednesday, June 28th is the memorial of Irenaeus, Bishop Lyons, Teacher of the Faith, died about 202. Irenaeus was one of the main opponents to Gnosticism (a heresy which threatened the early Church). Through his writings against Gnosticism, we have Irenaeus to thank in large part for our current creed, the canon of Scripture, and the authority of the episcopal office. He is thought to have been born around 120 A.D. and to have died about 202 or 203 A.D. The pope declared Irenaeus a “Doctor of the Universal Church” in 2022. Irenaeus knew Polycarp who, reportedly, knew John the Apostle…I think that’s cool! For more info: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Irenaeus
 
 Thursday, June 29th is the Holy Day of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. If your church is named after one of these saints, you can transfer this day to Sunday. Have you ever wondered why the two greatest apostles of the early Church share a Holy Day? This is because they are believed to have been martyred during the same persecution of Christians by Nero in 64 A.D. (They are celebrated separately, Peter for his Confession and Paul for his Conversion, on our calendar as well). To read about these biblical greats, have a look at p.208… https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/ForAlltheSaints.pdf 

Saturday, July 1st is Canada Day: This is not a feast of the church but, rather, a national holiday. It’s not likely that people will have a separate Canada Day worship service but that is an option. If there is a worship service today – and it is not specifically a Canada Day service – then this celebration could be noted in the Prayers of the People. Here is a prayer for Canada Day that you could use in your daily prayers (BAS p.678 – tweaked to be more inclusive): 

Almighty God, you have provided this good land as a shared heritage. May we prove ourselves a people mindful of your generosity and glad to do your will. Bless this land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honourable way of life.  Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance; and from every evil course of action. Make us who came from many nations with many different languages a united people. Defend human liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in the land.  When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful; and, in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the joy of Christ,

Susan