PEOPLE'S PULPiT · ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH l r -"" I . ... ·.. ~ .... I ,' • .. I • . r, . -. \ .. ., I ' -•• ,. I ~ '• Rector SAINT THOMAS sets its heart toward being a The Reverend jane McCaig Christian home which welcomes, encourages and Youth Minister seeks to inspire all people. Kim Vidal Secretary Elizabeth Norris-Gervais Caretaker Stan Bajcar Organist Don Gillen Parish Council Members Rector's Warden Patrick Miller People's Warden Barbara Bottrie/1 Treasurer David Gray Deputy Wardens Alpha Gillian Mattock .. Don Gillen, Anne Piche Anglican Church Men Roger Stone Lay Members of Synod Anglican Church Women Enid Goodfellow Mary Attwel/, William Passmor (Chair), David Vesterdal Canadian Friends of Sudan Roger Stone Members at Large Card Secretary Nona Steadman Tania Gray, Gwelda O'Shaughnessy ·. Casserole Brigade Denise Torunski ACWLink Cemetery Committee Gwelda O'Shaughnessy Doreen Bell Choir Don Gillen Facilities Coffee Hour Coordinator Tanya Drew Bob McCaig Coordinator of Sidespersons Fellowship & Fundraising Barbara Swann (8:30), Gordon Marshall (10:30) Gillian Mattock Coordinator of Prayers, Readers and Chalice Outreach Link tan Swann (8:30), Elizabeth Norris-Gervais (10:30) Nash Smith Stewardship Coordinator Cornerstone Mary Passmore ·· julie Clark, Linda Schumacher Cursillo Tanya Drew Sunday School Link Envelope Secretary and Counters Anne Brown Shirley Chennette Evangelism Team William Passmore Recording Clerk Gardening Commitee Heather Sullivan ,' Elizabeth Norris-Gervais Grocery Certificates Susan Chapman, Sylvia Ferguson People's Pulpit Editor Memorial Fund Doreen Bell Pam Denesyk Newcomer's Visiting Team Sylvi Dawes Advertising Nursery Naomi Watson-Laird Pete Torunski Outreach Link Nash Smith Pastoral Care/Prayer Ministry Denise Torunski Church Office Hours PWRDF Barb Bottriell Tuesday 9:00-4:00 Refugee Working Group Nash Smith Wednesday 9:00-4:00 Stewardship Coordinator Linda Schumacher I ' Thursday 9:00-1:00 Sunday School Shirley Chennette P.O. Box 1064 Telephone Team Susan Chapman, Bev Coote 1619 Stittsville Main Street Webmaster julia Williams Stittsville, Ontario K2S 1B2 Phone 836-5741 Fax 836-5739 [email protected] The phone numbers and e-mail addresses for parish contacts and www.magma.ca/ rvstthoms/home.html council members can be found on the back cover. .· . ' From ~everend Jane'S rnesk ... A s I write this note the sun is beaming brightly, and I can almost hear the snow melt­ rl.ing into the earth. It is truly a glorious day that God has made. Spring has arrived! Not so long ago the skies were grey and snow covered the ground. I have always appreciated the changing seasons in this country. Each orie offers its own kind of beauty. The spring has its new growth, buds forming on the trees, the crocuses peaking through the ground. Summer with its warming sun allowing farmers to grow all sorts of food stuffs that will sustain our lives. Autumn is the time of harvest, and the time that the rest of nature prepares in all its beauty for winter. Then there's winter. There are mixed reviews on winter! Winter is a time of postcard beauty, with blankets of snow that fall to the ground. How privileged we are to experience the changing seasons of the year in this country. In our Church year, the liturgical year, we too have changing seasons. Each has its own beauty; each has its own message. Presently the Church is experiencing the season of Lent. Often people think of Lent as a somber time. I see it as a time of reflection.lt is a time to reflect on how we are doing in our faith journey as Christians. It is a time to intentionally reflect on the life we have been invited into as disciples of Christ, and a time to look inward and reflect on how we are truly doing. There are times when the life we live and the life we are called to live, needs a little rejigging. Lent affords us this introspective time each year. On Ash Wednesday we were invited "in the name of the Lord, to observe a holy Lent by self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and by reading and meditating on the word of God." This is part of our Lenten preparation for the Easter experience. Each Wednesday evening during Lent a Eucharist has been celebrated at St. Thomas. During the liturgy the Lenten disciplines have been contemplated in order that we can intentionally prepare ourselves for the joyful Eastertide. Soon we will walk to Jerusalem with Jesus. Christians all over the world will enter into the story of his passion, his death, and his resurrection. In this most holy of time of our Church year, as we go from the reflective season of Lent to the joyful celebration of Easter, I pray that you will find time to join in our community worship. Walk with Jesus during Holy Week, to the cross and beyond. And, as a Christian community let us on Easter Sunday give thanks for God's saving love found in Jesus Christ our Lord. On that day, may our voices fill the air with the beauty of the words, "Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen indeed. Alleluia!" It is the season in which we are called to rejoice. In Christ's Service and Love, Jane+ 3 Sometimes The Holy Spirit A Children's Talk Sometimes The Holy Spirit comes in a rushing wind. The Holy Spirit comes in tongues offlames. The Holy Spirit comes bringing power and courage. The Holy Spirit is everywhere. The Holy Spirit comes from God. But Sometimes The Holy Spirit comes like a dove. The Holy Spirit comes in gentleness. The Holy Spirit comes bringing peace and comfort. LO YOUR KIN<i <O~ES TO VOU The Holy Spirit is in our hearts. Z e. C H A ft;. I The Holy Spirit comes from God. he Holy Spirit is my favourite super hero. Do you Thave a favourite super hero? What does he do to Holy Week and Easter win over evil? He fights to win. The Holy Spirit, how­ ever, LOVES to win. You can't fight fire with fire or the Schedule of Services fire will only spread more. You have to fight fire with water. You have to fight bad things with love. Love is .. Hosanna, Hosanna, like the water you put on a fire. Love someone who is Blessed is He who comes angry, mean, hateful and you will put out their fire and in the name of the Lord." teach them about love. The Holy Spirit will give you the courage and the power to love. He will give you the peace and the gen­ April 9 - Palm Saturday tleness to love. And we will win because God is with us Children's Activity Day in the Holy Spirit. 12:30 - 4:30pm followed by a potluck Merilee Clarke April 9 - Palm Sunday The Sunday of the Passion IN THIS ISSUE ••• 8:30 & 10:30 am Holy Eucharist Welcome Mat 6 Parish Register 7 AprilB- Maundy Thursday Are You Ready? 7 7:00pm Holy Eucharist Education for Ministry 8 A Visit to a New Church 9 April14 - Good Friday Reflections on a Trip to Kenya 10 & 10:00 am Service for Families Children ACWNews 11 1:00pm Good Friday Service ACM Cheese Alert 11 April16 - Easter Sunday Where Are They Now? 12 6:00 am Sunrise Service How do we know what we know? 14 8:30 am & 10:30 am Holy Eucharist In the Garden 14 (No Sunday School) Stewardship News 15 "Alleluia, Christ is risen; Jest For Fun 15 The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!" Recipe- Overnight French Toast 15 4 *What is it you Seek? iving the Questions could be described brief­ will be impossible to put our personal beliefs back Lly as a 12-week study designed to explore the together again. Asking questions can be uncomfort­ significance of Christianity in the 21st century, and able. We have experienced some anger, puzzlement, what a meaningful faith can look like in today's a few tears, relief, lots and lots of laughter and the ~orld. In a safe environment, participants are able question repeated most often, "Why haven't I heard to ask the faith questions that they have always this before?" I was deeply moved to discover that wanted to ask, but didn't for fear of being thought some with whom I had attended services for many un-Christian. I began hearing about this course in years had been struggling with their faith questions 2005 from Denise Torunski, who was instrumental as I had and we had never before spoken of this. in bringing St. Thomas' this wonderful resource. I have discovered with a deep sense of gratitude Acquaintances at St. Stephen's and Christ Church, that the centre can hold, helped in no small way by Bells Corners, who have also run the series, had the courage shown by those who have journeyed large groups in attendance and were very positive. together weekly. It is truly God's grace to find one­ A diverse group of 16 including our Rector, Jane, self in a group of people who carry one forward on began this programme in January and have faith­ the foundation of their openness and honesty - and fully assembled weekly. The evening typically in­ questions! cludes a time of fellowship, viewing of a DVD on Some comments from our participants are the evening's topic, followed by lively discussion, worth noting; "a thoughtful, personal experience"; both in small and large groups. Those of us who "... am finding LTQ to be a thoughtful, stimulating had to miss a session were able to view the material, course which has changed the way in which I in­ get caught up and move right back into the group.