Hello,
First, a reminder for this week: Saturday, November 15, 9:30am – 4:30pm at the Cathedral and online is the Pastoral Visitation Workshop. Lunch and snacks provided. This is the link to join on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83660137904
And now for the week of the 16th and beyond:
Sunday, November 16th at Holy Trinity, SSM: Grey Cup Watch Party! I’m making nachos 
6pm kick-off.
Wednesday, November 26th, 10am at Holy Trinity: The Annual ACW Corporate Eucharist followed by fellowship. Our church bakers will be making cinnamon buns so bring your toonies.
Thursday, November 27th, Holy Trinity, SSM, will be down at the Station Mall, 10am – 2pm selling all sorts of interesting things – edible and non-edible. If any other churches will be there, please let me know (susan.montague2@gmail.com) so that I can let others know.
Saturday, November 29, 11am-3pm at Holy Trinity, SSM: Snowflake Tea & Seasonal Market, just $12 and, yes, we’ll have those fancy sandwiches (among other food items). There will be a variety of vendors, baking, “new to you”, and…whoohoo…Holy Trinity merchandise!
Also Saturday November 29th. 11:30am to 1:30pm; Emmaus Anglican Church Annual Bake and Craft Sale – Soup and Sandwich lunch included! Tickets are 15$ per person and are available at the church. Call 705-759-2545 or call Nancy at 705-257-2024. Please leave a message, we will get back to you. Tickets are also available at the door but are limited with a first-come first get basis. (1643 Wellington St. East – in the church hall – rear parking lot level which is wheelchair accessible!)
Advent Spiritual Growth Opportunities:
Zoom Bible Studies: Dec.3, 10, & 17 “Rediscovering Hope” 7-8:30pm
In Person Bible Studies: Dec.4, 11, & 18, in the Trinity Centre. The first one (on the 4th) will be 4-6:30pm because we’ll also have some learning & self-reflection and supper in addition to a scripture study. The other 2 (on the 11 & 18) will be 4pm – 5pm.
A Liturgical Note For You:
The End of the Year – the Christian Year, That Is
The end of the Christian year is very quickly approaching. On Sunday, November 23rd, The Reign of Christ, we mark the end of Year C and will begin Year A the next Sunday – on the First Sunday of Advent. The Reign of Christ is always the final Sunday of the Season after Pentecost (Note that it is not the season of Pentecost – there is no such season). The Reign of Christ is the culmination of all that has come before and launches us into Advent with the passionate hope fuelled by the knowledge that Christ is, indeed, King of all things, reigning with Father and Holy Spirit, one God.
On Sunday the 23rd, we will be hearing the story of Jesus hanging on the cross between two others, experiencing the excruciating, shameful, and quite lengthy death of crucifixion. Why do we hear this story on the Sunday we mark as The Reign of Christ? Well, all of the things that we can say about this passage are rooted in the fact that Jesus’ death on the cross poignantly and powerfully establishes the huge difference between human ideas of kingdoms, rulers, their power, and the way in which life would be lived in a human kingdom as compared with God’s rule and God’skingdom. Victorious human kings aren’t murdered by hanging them on a tree. That’s not victory and power in the eyes of the world. But, in God and in God’s kingdom, there is abundant love, compassion, and the forgiveness for all who turn to God. There is forgiveness and love for even those who don’t ask for it and who have done the worst possible act imaginable to our God and King. There is, of course, more to be said, but I hope you’ll hear about this in a great sermon on that Sunday morning. My sermon for that day is available at Sermons & Reflections Year C
For Your Devotions:
Monday, November 17th is the commemoration of Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, who died in 1200. Hugh was born into a wealthy noble family but, when his mother died (when he was 8 years old) he and his father both entered a monastery in France. Hugh gained recognition for his piety and hard work and his fame spread to England. King Henry II – who had established a Carthusian monastery as part of his penance for murdering Thomas Beckett, recruited Hugh to be its prior. After being elected a bishop, Hugh got on the king’s bad side by not playing along with the king’s politics. Luckily, Hugh didn’t lose his head… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_of_Lincoln
Tuesday, November 18th is the commemoration of Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, died 680. Hilda was a Northumbrian princess raised, in exile, as a Roman Catholic. Although her family regained their throne, she chose to give up her wealth and status, adhering to “Celtic Christianity” and becoming the founder and abbess of the famous monastery at Whitby. The monastery became a centre of learning under Hilda’s guidance – her education and wisdom were legendary. The Celtic Christians observed Easter on a set date rather than always on Sunday like the Roman churches. Consistency was desired in order to quell accusations of inauthenticity arising from those outside of Christianity (and for other reasons too). The controversy was settled at a synod held at Hilda’s monastery. She accepted the decision to observe Easter always on the Sunday (the first day of the week when Jesus was resurrected from the dead) and she encouraged unity over the need to be right. That’s a quality we still need more of these days too! See p.350 for more info: https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/ForAlltheSaints.pdf
Wednesday, November 19th is the commemoration of Elizabeth, Princess of Hungary who died in 1231. Elizabeth was betrothed in infancy to Louis IV of Thuringia whom she married in 1221 when he acceded to the throne. He died of the plague 6 years later and Elizabeth took refuge from his brother by going to her uncle. She gave all of her wealth to a hospice she built for the sick and poor, dedicating the rest of her short life (she died when she was just 24) to those in need. For more info: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Elizabeth-of-Hungary
Thursday, November 20th is the commemoration of Edmund, King of East Anglia, martyred in 869 or 870. We don’t know much about Edmund but, the legend is, he was martyred by the Danes who had defeated him. He refused to renounce his faith or give his kingdom to the “heathens.” The details of his murder are rather gruesome…To learn more, go to p.354: https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/ForAlltheSaints.pdf
In the joy of Christ,
Susan
Deanery of Algoma 