November 8th
Dear St. Stephen’s church family,
Greetings on this snowy day!
I took a photo of the green grass at the front of the church yesterday. I knew that we would have to file it away in our memory bank until Spring! As the snow continues, please stay safe and cozy! We will hold in person worship tomorrow, but if you don’t feel safe attending (and have already signed up), please don’t worry. To everything there is a season!
Wednesday is Remembrance Day. I hope that we all will find time and space to remember those who have died in war, and to pray for peace. A prayer from the BCP:
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray Thee, in the hearts of all people, the true love of peace, and guide with thy pure and peaceable wisdom all those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility thy kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We also pray for our neighbours to the south, as they adjust to the new political landscape and new leadership. And we pray for ourselves, in the city of Saskatoon, as we go through a municipal election this week. Our office will be closed on Wednesday. Thank you to Sandra, for being in the office this coming week.
We have decided to postpone/cancel our planned Vestry meeting. We hope to meet in early December instead, by zoom and in person, but will wait and see.
The Plan C Committee (chaos, covid, creativity, church!) is meeting this week, however. There are plans in the works to hold a St. Stephen’s CHRISTMAS-ks and COOKIES event. The hope is to ask parish members and friends to sew and donate masks out of Christmas fabrics, which we will sell for $10 each, and/or to bake cookies! Cookies will be assembled in assorted baker’s dozens (also $10 each). These 2 items will be available by pre-order only, by November 27th, for pick up at the church at a specific time on December 5th. We need your help sewing and baking…and of course, spreading the word! This is not our usual Christmas offering—the Poinsettia Tea is not possible this year…so on to PLAN C! Please be in touch if you have any questions. If you would like to sew, but don’t have Christmas fabric, or need a mask pattern, please be in touch, for example.
I went to St. John’s Cathedral this week, for a walk through of their worship space as we prepare for Confirmation on November 27th at 7 pm. It will be such a joy filled celebration, and there is room if you would like to attend. The Cathedral has much more space to socially distance, and is meant to provide a setting for parish events just like this. Street parking is free at that time of evening, and there is a pay parking lot at the cathedral. Please pray for Jessie, Lo, Jillian, Kaynan and Wesley, as they prepare for this affirmation of their faith.
Our church calendars sold out, so we decided to buy more! There are currently 25 calendars available for purchase ($5 each), so be in touch if you would like one set aside.
Parish Cycle of Prayer
Monday: Paul and Deidre with Kaiden, Micah and Briony and family
Tuesday: Matthew and Kerrie with Jillian and Benjamin and family
Wednesday: the Rev. John and Julia and family
Thursday: Bill and Karen and family
Friday: Linda D and family
Choose this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. -Joshua 24:15