Good day,

Happening This Week! The Holy Trinity Spring Fling!! Saturday, June 21, 11am – 3pm in the Trinity Centre. There’ll be a BBQ, vendor tables, bake table, “new to you” and more… (parking off Northern Ave. in “Church Parking” spots plus visitor parking spots off Old Garden River Rd.).  

Happening Next Week!  St. James, Goulais River Strawberry Festival!! Saturday, June 28, 11am – 1pm, Anglican Church Road in Goulais River.

Summer Hours at St. Luke’s Cathedral: Sundays, 8am and 10am (until Sept.7)

We’re now in Ordinary Time. What is that?  “Ordinary” doesn’t mean “usual” or “normal” in church use. Ordinary comes from the Latin word meaning orderly or numbered.  (The Latin word ordinalis, which refers to numbers in a series, stems from the Latin word ordo, from which we get the English word “order”.) So, the Sundays in “Ordinary Time” are numbered after an important Sunday that has just passed – Sundays after the Epiphany and Sundays after Pentecost. It is the use of the word “after” that tells you they aren’t a part of the other seasons of the church (i.e. Christmas and Easter; and their times of preparation – Advent and Lent). Ordinary time is when we hear the teachings of Jesus as he lived his mission among us and, with this as our guide, it is our time to renew our focus on the mission of the Church under his Lordship.

Thoughts and a Prayer for You: Below you’ll see that this Saturday is the National Indigenous Day of Prayer in the Church. As followers of Christ, we are ministers of reconciliation, continuing the work, with Christ, that Christ began in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension (2 Cor.5:17-20).  Reconciliation is our purpose as Christians, the reason we exist as the Church. We share in God’s purpose: to reconcile all things, in earth and heaven, to Godself in Christ (Col.1:19-20). We strive, with God, towards the certainty that God’s will and God’s kingdom will be on earth as in heaven.  Does your life – individually and corporately as Church – show forth the ministry of reconciliation? We can all use a little work on this, can’t we? Here is a prayer that may guide you:

Loving God, from whom comes everything good, touch our eyes that we may see you in all persons and in creation. Touch our ears that we may hear the words of others not filtered through our own prejudices and biases. Touch our hands that we may use them only for healing the brokenness of people and planet.  Touch our lips that we may speak your goodness, always building up, never tearing down. Touch our hearts that we may know your love and be your love in all that we think, say, and do. Touch our minds that we may live and proclaim the good news that your kingdom is at hand. Draw us together, O God, into one holy people, the body of Christ, serving with him – at all times and in all places – toward the full reconciliation of all things to you in him. This we pray to the honour of his name who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

For Your Devotions:

Monday, June 16th is the commemoration of Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham, 1752. If you’ve ever studied Anglicanism, you will recognize this great thinker.  In his position as the Bishop of Durham he is well-known and respected for his defense of orthodox Christianity against Deism ( they put forward the clockmaker image of God, among other things) which was prevalent in his time. To read more…  https://forallsaints.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/joseph-butler-bishop-of-durham-1752/

Wednesday, June 18th is the memorial of Bernard Mizeki, Catechist in Zimbabwe, died 1896.  Bernard was born in Mozambique named Mamiyeri Mitseka Gwambe.  He attended an Anglican school in Cape Town and converted to Christianity.  Although he knew his life was in danger, he chose to stay during a rebellion against Europeans and Christians. He was dragged from his home and stabbed to death. There is some mystery surrounding his death. If you’d like to find out, this is a great article… https://www.herald.co.zw/bernard-mizeki-story-of-an-african-martyr/ 

Saturday, June 21st is the National Indigenous Day of Prayer. This is a day for us to celebrate the culture, the customs, and the many gifts of our Indigenous brothers and sisters. We can take the time to think and learn about the ways in which we are connected and discover even more ways to connect.  There are many resources at this link to use in our worship services  https://www.anglican.ca/im/nidp/

In the hope of the risen and ascended Christ,

Susan