Good day,

Happening this week and every week:

Tuesdays, 12:10pm at the Cathedral is a worship service of Holy Eucharist.

Wednesdays, 9:30am at Holy Trinity is a worship service (1st and 3rd Wednesdays are Holy Eucharist). Bible study at 10am

Fridays at noon at the Cathedral is the Litany of Reconciliation.

Happening This Week:

Thursday, 4-5pm at Holy Trinity, SSM, is a Prayer Study. This will be the last session for now but, when I get back from Canterbury, we will make this a regular, monthly occurrence – the first Thursday of each month, beginning on March 6.

Saturday, January 25 is our Deanery Council meeting at Emmaus. The meeting will begin at 10:30am but please come a little early to enjoy coffee, tea, and fellowship.

Down the Road:

The Celebration of New Ministry for The Rev. Brad Mittleholz will be Sunday, February 2 at 2:30pm at Christ Church Anglican on Allen’s Side Road in Sault Ste. Marie.  Any clergy who plan to attend will be invited to vest with the colour being white.  It is also the tradition of Algoma for licensed lay readers to robe on that occasion. Please let your incumbent know if you plan to attend so that numbers can be passed along to Pastor Brad for seating arrangement.

Friday, February 14, Holy Trinity, SSM: Pork loin dinner with all the trimmings plus dessert, coffee, tea…for just $12!!  Tickets are available by emailing me or by calling the office at 705-254-1692. Please leave a message if no one answers and we’ll get back to you. 

A Liturgical Note For You:

We are in the midst of The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It began Saturday, January 18 (the Confession of Peter) and goes until this coming Saturday, January 25 (the Conversion of Paul). Why have the week of prayer for Christian unity run from Peter’s Holy Day to Paul’s Holy Day? Perhaps it is because these two apostles are associated with welcoming the gentiles into the Christian faith. Both realized that, although different, other people were embraced by God and invited into God’s kingdom. God’s purpose is that all creation will be reconciled to God and to each other. Although we always strive with God toward the fulfillment of this purpose, we spend a week each year particularly focused on this to draw attention and to renew the vigour of our striving.  Jesus prays, in the Gospel According to John, that we may be one as he and the Father are one. Let us pray the same. 

If you would like to have a weekday worship service – or other event – based on Christian unity, you’ll find some helpful resources here: https://www.weekofprayer.ca/2025-wpcu-resources/

For Your Devotions:

Tuesday, January 21st is the commemoration of Agnes, Martyr at Rome who died about 304. The details of Agnes’ death are not concretely known but we do know that she died a virgin at the tender age of 12 or 13 for publicly proclaiming her Christian faith during a time of persecution of Christians. There are many legends that have sprung up surrounding her death – her would-be rapists were struck blind; the wood meant to burn her alive refused to burn and so she was beheaded, etc. Agnes is the Patron Saint of young maidens and thus there is the belief that young girls who go to sleep without supper on the eve of St. Agnes’ Day will dream of their future husband that night. To read more:  https://www.thoughtco.com/saint-agnes-of-rome-542518

Wednesday, January 22nd is the commemoration of Vincent, Deacon of Saragossa, who was also martyred in 304. (304 was a bad year for Christians!) Vincent is the first known Spanish martyr. He was brought to trial, along with his bishop Valerius, and spoke for both of them (apparently Valerius had a speech impediment). Vincent’s confident and fearless manner so angered the governor that, although Valerius was simply banished, Vincent was cruelly tortured to death. When Vincent at last succumbed to the tortures, his body was thrown out for the vultures and, legend says, was defended by a raven. To read more:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15434b.htm  

Friday, January 24th is the commemoration of Francis de Sales, the Bishop of Geneva who died in 1622.  Francis had a passion for God and a desire to be ordained that he kept secret from his disapproving family. (Dad wanted his boy to be a lawyer and politician). The story goes that, one day while riding his horse, Francis fell off three times. No, he wasn’t a poor rider. Francis believed God was speaking to him – each time he fell from his horse, his sword and scabbard came to rest in the shape of a Christian cross. Francis gained the courage to defy his father’s wishes and became a priest. For more about his devotional classic Introduction to a Devout Life and other accomplishments, check this out: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Francis-of-Sales

Saturday, January 25th is the Holy Day of The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle.  Full disclosure – Paul is my biblical hero  (This is, of course, aside from the Holy Trinity).  Upon experiencing Jesus on the road to Damascus and being converted, Paul tirelessly and selflessly pursued the single goal of bringing everyone to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour. Paul’s faith in what God had accomplished in Christ and zeal for proclaiming the Good News is truly inspirational as are Paul’s various teachings. For more:  https://www.franciscanmedia.org/conversion-of-saint-paul/

In the joy of Christ,

Susan