Hello,

This coming Saturday, March 1, is our Lenten Retreat at the Trinity Centre, 9:30am – noon. We’ll reflect on the meaning of Lent, spend some time in scripture study, personal reflection, and we’ll do some goal-setting for Lent and beyond.

Monday evenings in Lent: Zoom Bible Studies, 7pm – 8:15pm. We’ll explore the baptismal affirmations, renunciations, and promises that we made (and regularly reaffirm through the Christian year) and use them as a lens to dive into the Gospel readings for Lent.

Thursdays through Lent at noon: online meditations/psalm study. Here is the poster for more detail plus how to register:

Guild of St. Joseph breakfast, Saturday, March 8, 9:30am at the Trinity Centre. 

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. 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). On Transfiguration Sunday, the focus is on the amazing reality that we, and our world, are being brought through this transformation into the glory of Christ through the glory of Christ.

For Your Devotions:

Monday, February 24th is the commemoration of Philip Lindel Tsen, Bishop of Honan, died 1954 and Paul Shinji Sasaki, Bishop of Mid-Japan and Tokyo, died 1946. Lindel Tsen was born into poverty and homeless by the age of 14. He overcame his circumstances to become educated, ordained, and the first Chinese bishop to attend a Lambeth Conference. Both men remembered today travelled to Canada to attest to the unity between their two churches (China and Japan) in spite of the war. After the war, Tsen was placed under house arrest by the communist government. Meanwhile in Japan, the government tried to force all protestant churches to join together as one. As leader of the Anglican church, Sasaki refused for several reasons but, most importantly, because the new united church did not accept the Apostles’ Creed. For his resistance, Sasaki was harassed, imprisoned, and tortured. To read more…  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindel_Tsen  and  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Shinji_Sasaki  

Wednesday, February 26th is the memorial of Florence Li Tim-Oi, Priest, died 1992. Florence was a deacon for several years when, for reasons due to the war a priest could no longer travel to provide her flock with the Holy Eucharist, in January of 1944 the Bishop of Hong Kong ordained her as a priest…The first female priest in the Anglican Communion! This, of course, was controversial but her quiet grace and profound faith and dedication opened many eyes to the work of God through women in our church. Florence had offered up her priest’s licence, after the war, to quiet the controversy. This was reinstated, with much rejoicing, in Canada in 1984. To read more about this extraordinary lady, go here:  https://www.anglican.ca/faith/worship/resources/li-tim-oi/  

Thursday, February 27th is the commemoration of George Herbert, Priest and Poet, died 1633.  George was Welsh but spent most of his life in England. He was born into a wealthy family and was sent off to be educated at Cambridge with the intention of becoming a priest. He was side-tracked for a number of years by a position as the university’s orator and then life at court. When King James I died, George turned his attention back to the priesthood and, after his ordination, was beloved by his parishioners for his dedication to holding daily Morning and Evening Prayer in the church, his kindness, and his generosity. He died of consumption, just seven years into his priesthood, before his 40th birthday. He wrote the words to one of my favourite hymns…King of Glory, King of Peace. For more info:  http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/110.html

Saturday, March 1st is the memorial of David, Bishop of Menevia, Wales, died about 544.  David is the patron saint of Wales, often depicted with a white dove on his shoulder because of a popular legend…Apparently, as he was preaching one day, the land beneath him grew into a hill so that he could more easily be seen and heard – and a white dove landed on his shoulder and stayed there as he was preaching. David had been determined to lead a quiet life in a monastery he’d founded but the people (and God) had other plans for him and he was reluctantly made a bishop. So much for a quiet, secluded life. To read more…  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-David

In the joy of Christ,

Susan