Yearly Archives: 2020

Nature & Nurture

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Each day we will be posting a new photo on our Facebook page and asking you to suggest a scripture verse or inspirational quote that speaks to you when you view the image. We will choose one of the inspirations and post the picture and inspiration on our Webpage. The quotes have all been great so far and the choice has been tough. We look forward to more people joining in and making the choice even harder. We love to see different pictures from people!  Please send along any picture you have taken that you would love to have posted.  Also, if you can’t think of a scripture or inspirational quote, even a word about how it makes you feel!  We love participation! Use these as a daily prayer, a thought for the day, or a blessing in the moment.

The Hate U Give

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Join us on January 16, 2021 for a movie and discussion afternoon 1pm. We will be watching “The Hate U Give” and will be following with a discussion on the movie and how it relates to the racism we are seeing not only today but building up from the past. We will also discuss how we can make a difference in our community. Due to Covid-19, there will be a limit of 20 people, please contact the office (902-462-1818) to reserve your spot.

Christmas Poinsettia Update

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In gratitude for your generosity over the years and in recognition of our “interesting” times, the Altar Guild will not be collecting donations towards flowers for this Christmas. Instead we invite you to consider forwarding your generosity to the PWRDF Campaign for a donkey and to the Christmas Outreach program.

The Altar Guild is always grateful for your support of our ministry over the years and we choose this year to support your remembrances by purchasing poinsettias on your behalf from the flower fund. As many of your remembrances have remained the same over the years, we will use last year’s bulletin. If you wish to make a change/ addition or to be reminded of what was there please email Carole Aylard and she will make those changes for you. caylard@accesscable.net

PWRDF

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Our PWRDF project this year will be to raise money to buy donkeys! In Kenya they are used for carrying water …….precious water from a well, like the one we bought last year!

Some families still have to travel a distance to get to the wells. A donkey can carry four times the weight that a person can, so they are often given to older people to make the journey easier. Your gift will go towards providing a strong-backed donkey to shoulder cans of fresh, clean water from the well to home.

Perhaps you’d like to “pin a tail on a donkey” by making a donation! You can donate by cash or a cheque in an envelope to be mailed to the church or dropped off at the church. Donations can also be made online http://www.churchofsaintandrew.ca/donations/ where you just click on FUND and scroll to PWRDF.  Look for more information as to how donkeys enrich many lives next week!

Rachel Maclean Concert

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Are you are looking for some joy and uplifting music to cheer and warm your heart? Then please accept a warm and welcomed invitation to the second annual Rachel Maclean Concert:

At the Church of Saint Andrew
Friday, December 4th, 2020 at 7pm
Tickets are $10.00

Please note: A registration/sign up will be sent out shortly. As there will be no physical ticket sales this year, once you’ve registered for the concert, payment for the concert tickets should be either mailed into the church office, or by placing your payment on the offering plate at one of the November church services. All concert monies should be placed in a separate envelope, marked “Rachel MacLean concert”, along with your full name and phone number. Please consider purchasing a ticket, and to help bring about some much needed cheer, enjoyment, and peace during these trying times.

Welcome Back!

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Our first in-person service is Sunday, July 19. Please contact the office (902) 462-1818 for information on seating and availability.

We would like you to keep I mind we are returning as safe as possible with the following guidelines in place:

  • If you feel unwell, please stay home.
  • We will require the use of a mask
  • Physical distancing must take place in the parking lot, upon entering the building and within the church walls. Exiting the building will also take place with physical distancing.
  • You will be checked off on our list upon arrival and guided by a greeter to your seat.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available for use and encouraged.
  • We ask that you stay seated unless using the restroom.
  • Children will always need to stay with their family bubble.
  • There will be no prayer books, hymn books or bulletins available in the church. The bulletin will be online as usual, and you are encouraged to print it at home and bring it along with you. (It must leave with you.) If you own a prayer book, you are more than welcome to bring it with you.

Lesson Two

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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

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Good morning!

I woke up this morning thinking about our Vision as a Parish.  Our Vision statement is: To

strive to be a church whose doors are open and welcoming to all. Our belief in God as Creator and Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour compels us to turn our faith into action such that we are a beacon of light in the community where the Holy Spirit is alive and at work in all of our lives.

As I read this I am inspired to continue leading us in this time.  This statement compels us to dig deeper into the meaning of having open and welcoming doors.  It encourages us to seek where the Spirit is alive in our communities and to come alongside and complement the good work God is accomplishing.  This statement calls us to be a beacon of light to ourselves, our parish and our community.  This Vision is alive and so are we!  At this time in our Parish life we have a lot to learn and a lot to try.  I am willing to do both.  I am so honoured to be with all of you at this time.

I will use this Vision in the “Prayer Time with Katherine” today.  I will be praying for us all to be inspired to live into this Vision to its fullest.  We have so much to celebrate and we have so much more to learn and live!  

Calling Any Yarn!

If anyone has acrylic or polyester yarn they are not using, we could use it! There are people continuing to make squares for the blankets for the homeless.  Supplies of yarn can be dropped off at the church.  Please check with the office for available times for drop off.

Let’s tell our story!

We have the website to guide us. We have information and images on Facebook.

This is a time to gather our stories and find a way to pass them along. What are we doing and feeling during these times of isolation and social distancing? An opportunity to record our wide and diverse stories as they are happening. Optimistic; sad; funny; fearful; rested; tired; similar or unique. Spiritual or Secular or both.

Perhaps a story from the start; one from midway and later one from the end. Your story or stories may be at a more focused on a certain time. What will the end result look like?  Individual stories or compilations?  Perhaps the stories themselves will lead the way.

Please send your stories to the Church of Saint Andrew Office office@churchofsaintandrew.ca

You may use your name or remain anonymous. The only person who will see your email addresses will be the office manager.

Pentecost Sunday

The Liturgy group is asking us to send pictures into the office of something that shows the meaning of Pentecost!  Maybe it is you or you and your family dressed in Pentecost colours!  Maybe it is a picture of a talent you are sharing at this time (Baking bread, making squares for the blankets for the homeless, painting, etc!)   We would like to have these images in by May 22nd.  The more the better!

Interest Session

Tonight’s session will be on Nail Care During Covid-19.  Many of us struggle to keep our nails (fingers and toes) healthy in regular circumstances.  Barbara Kent, a licensed esthetician, will help us learn some helpful tips to keeping our nails healthy.

List of Activities this week:  If you are interested in any of the Zoom calls, contact the office and a Zoom link will be emailed to you!

Daily Nature and Nurture: Inspiration in Isolation – Facebook/Website 

Wednesday 7pm – Interest Session (Nail care during Covid19) – Zoom

Thursday 11am Book Club (A Bruised Reed: A Christian Reflection on Suffering and Hope) – Zoom

Friday 11am – Beat the Blues with Bryan – Zoom

Sunday Morning – Morning Prayer Service – Website

Sunday 6:30pm – Family Zoom Ministry – Zoom

Monday 7pm – Liturgy Meeting – Zoom

Tuesday 11am – Coffee and Zoom – Zoom

Wednesday 11am – Prayer Time with Katherine – Zoom

Weekly – Resiliency Through Covid-19: Spiritual Health Awareness Program – Website

Let’s Tell our Story – Email in stories of life and faith during Covid 19 – Email

Outreach Activities

Masks – These are being made from fabric the Church has used and is repurposing.  The material has been washed and will be made into masks.  To order please contact the office.

PWRDF Donations – Please consider making a donation to PWRDF

Needy Fund Donations – Our needy fund continues to be used.  Any help is appreciated.

Cole Harbour Cares – Our refugee group continues to be working to secure funding to bring in a refugee family once we are able.

Blankets for the Homeless – Mother’s union continues to gather yarn to make squares and the squares themselves to be made into blankets.

Delivery – If you require food delivery or are able to deliver food please contact the office.  We are keeping a list of people available to help in this time of need.

Church of Saint Andrew Office – office@churchofsaintandrew.ca

Lots of prayers for everyone!

Archdeacon Katherine

Mental Health Awareness Welcome Letter

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Dear Friends,
Like many of you have had to do, we have been figuring out new and inventive ways to have discussions about mental health; ways to create awareness and to build on our resilience during these strange and often scary times of Covid-19 and the aftermath of a huge tragedy.
Since we cannot gather in person as was the plan for this series we have resorted to the use of our website to start us thinking so that when we can gather as a group we can have a rich and engaging discussion. It is important to keep in mind that we as individuals, as families and as communities have a lot of resiliency and many are tapping into that right now.
For those who stopped by on this page, welcome! Your mental health is important as your physical and spiritual health. As we go through these presentations and you have an awareness of your mental fitness I highly encourage you, if required to begin to have a conversation, to reach out and ask for what you need, or if you see someone that needs someone to reach out to them, do just that. For those who have sought in the past mental health care or for those who maybe currently engaged in care, please keep engaged.
For many of us we are experiencing some stress and anxiety; or hurt and sadness; for others loneliness and anger. Whatever it is you do not need to be alone. Many of us continue to have a sense of purpose and are doing well, tapping into social supports, good coping skills being resilient and mentally tough, and I say hurray! Keep doing what is working.
The first presentation has been a challenge to put together and give a voice to as I enjoy being interactive and engaging. I encourage you to listen, and to challenge yourself to being open, to try new skills to create new plans as we go through several presentations. We are all in uncharted territory so our response like the first disciples is going to be new and awkward. That is OK!

Mental Health

The first presentation is: Mental Health Awareness followed by Building Our Full Potential and later will be Creating a Resilient Community.
I will from time to time include additional resources and links to sites which allow for us to become more resilient people; to build resilient communities. In the interim however these presentations are only providing information. If you require additional assistance, professional intervention then please seek it immediately. This site cannot be the only tools at your disposal. I look forward to the time when our communities are open, and we can engage once again as a community, a newer community with a new mission. Warmest regards to you all!

In Service 

Mike Hobson

(Lay Minister Church of Saint Andrew)

Mike has been an inspiration for me to really delve into resiliency. He has opened my ears to hear the word “resiliency” in a new way. I have opened up my mind to see it as gaining tools and experience in how to approach unknown and difficult circumstances and thrive! I can see Jesus encouraging us to thrive as Spiritual beings. I am excited to engage the conversation with Mike and each of you who are willing to journey to learn and develop Spiritual Resiliency.

Archdeacon Katherine Bourbonniere
Rector Church of Saint Andrew