Good day,

We had a fabulous breakfast information session at St. George’s today. I’m glad so many were able to come out. Next month, we’ll be hearing about Long Term Care from Barbara Harten, the Director at Mapleview. Hope some of you can make the drive to 159 Church Street in Echo Bay for Monday, March 4, 9:30am.

Happening Soon:

The Guild of St. Joseph is having their next breakfast this Saturday, Feb.10, at the Trinity Centre, beginning at 8:30am. 

Deanery Council is also that Saturday (the 10th) for those of you involved. It’s at Emmaus beginning at 10am.

Lenten Scripture Studies, Mondays through Lent: beginning Monday, February 12 on Zoom at 7pm. See you then. (Please send an email requesting the Zoom link…susan.montague2@gmail.com)

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 4-6:30pm at St. George in Echo Bay.

A Liturgical Note for You:

Transfiguration Sunday: Last Sunday after the Epiphany. Although the long name sounds like this must be a very important day (and it is – all Sundays are important), the colour of this Sunday remains green – it is a part of the Ordinary Time (numbered time) we are currently marking until Lent begins. 

Why do we have a Transfiguration Sunday when we already have a day for the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 6? The two days serve different purposes. Transfiguration Sunday is a part of our journey through the drama of our Salvation Story that unfolds in the liturgy across the Sundays of our Christian calendar. Our liturgy is always forward looking. For example, we celebrate Christ as our king – risen and ascended and reigning – on the Sunday before Advent begins, before Christ’s birth is celebrated. This aims our gaze forward not only to his birth but also to his reign in glory at the end of time. Likewise, Transfiguration Sunday reminds us of Christ’s coming glory – and of our glory through him – as Christ’s baptismal journey culminates in his death, resurrection, and ascension.  In Christ’s transfiguration, we are provided with a glimpse of what is in store for us and this hope of our salvation is the foundation for all that we do in preparation for the coming glory of Easter. Our penitence, disciplines, and devotions throughout Lent are all meant to bring us closer to our intended perfection that we see in Christ’s transfiguration. 

Since the focus of the two days (Transfiguration Sunday and The Transfiguration of the Lord) differs, they share the story of Jesus’ transfiguration on the mount but they do not share scripture readings (other than part of 1 Peter). On August 6, we concentrate on Jesus’ transfiguration – what this means in terms of the nature of Christ (he is God: Jesus is not only the messenger of our salvation but also the saving message itself).

Here is the Collect from the Church of England to assist in your worship:

Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.   

By the way, this would be the Sunday when parishioners returned last year’s palms (if they had taken them home to keep for the year) in order to burn them to make ashes for Ash Wednesday.

For Your Devotions:

Monday, February 5^th is the memorial of The Martyrs of Japan in 1597. First Jesuits and then Franciscans made their way to Japan and baptized about 300 000 people. Unfortunately, rivalries between the missionaries (really) and political intrigue (go figure) led to the persecution of these new Christians. Here is what happened: “The first victims were six Franciscan friars and twenty of their converts, who were executed at Nagasaki on 5 February 1597. (They were tied to crosses, the crosses were raised to an upright position, and they were then quickly stabbed to death by a soldier with a javelin.)” The power of the gospel led to something amazing…250 years later, when Japan was reopened to the West, it was discovered that Christianity had gone underground and had survived. To read more:  http://satucket.com/lectionary/Japan_martyrs.htm

Friday, February 9th is the commemoration of Hannah Grier Coome, Founder of the Sisterhood of Saint John the Divine, died in 1921. When her husband died, Hannah thought of returning to England to join an already established sisterhood but some people who knew her had other plans…They thought Canada could use a sisterhood of its own and convinced Hannah to stay. The new sisterhood started off in a former stable in Toronto and the rest is history, as they say. Here’s a sample of their work: “Shortly after, they acquired the house next door, on the corner of Euclid Avenue and Robinson Street, where they opened the first surgical hospital for women in Toronto. Since that time, our community has pioneered in training nurses, in convalescent care, and in rehabilitation; we have administered schools and an orphanage; worked with the mentally handicapped; ministered to the elderly; and worked with the poor in large cities and depressed rural areas.” Check out the website for more: https://ssjd.ca/history.html

In the hope of Christ,

Susan