January 8th Announcements

FLOWERS AT THE ALTAR  are given this week to the Glory of God, given by Kathleen Fricker, in loving memory of husband Stan.

THE AUMBRY CANDLE  burns this week to the Glory of God, given by Mary Ponsford, in loving memory of Tim.

DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER: Church of the Epiphany, Surrey, The Venerable Stephen Rowe, The Reverend Len Dyer; St. Timothy, Burnaby, The Reverend Stephanie Shepard; and in our companion Diocese of Taiwan, St. Stephen’s Mission, Keelung, Mrs. Julia Lin, Lay Minister.

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus.  It is traditionally seen as the close of the Christmas Season.  Jesus is prepared to accept John’s baptism as a sign of repentance even though He had no need of forgiveness.  It is the logical extension of what we sang on Christmas Eve in the carol “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” -
“Pleased as one of us to dwell.”

Christmas Thanks to:

  • The Altar Guild and all those who decorated the church so beautifully
  • Those who donated flowers, gathered greenery and bought poinsettias
  • Ülo, Lynne Francis, and the Choir
  • Ferdinand Bredenholler, our trumpeter on Christmas Eve
  • The Trio who performed on Christmas Eve
  • All those involved in “No Room at the Inn”
  • Our readers, intercessors, chalice bearers, servers, crucifers, acolytes,  greeters and our coffee makers & clean-up crews
  • Those who counted  the collections, and those who gave so much to count!
  • Those who took Christmas communion to our sick and shut-ins.
  • Those who “undecorated” the church and delivered the flowers!
  • Jann, our Office Manage, for all those extra bulletins
  • Joan, our Caretaker, for keeping us so neat and tidy.

ANNUAL VESTRY MEETING
Sunday, February 26th, 2012
Immediately following the 9:30 a.m. eucharist
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this important meeting of the Parish.  Church Wardens and Synod representatives will be elected.  It is requested that all parish groups and committees have their annual reports in to the church office for typing no later than 9 o’clock on Monday, January 23rd, 2012.

Called to Service?
Our nominating committee would love to hear from anybody who is interested in standing for election as our people’s wardens, Synod (& alternate) delegates and membership of parish council. Have a word with Linda Ingham if you are interested.

CHRISTMAS COMMUNION
We try hard to ensure that Christmas communion is taken to everybody who cannot make it to church.  Our team of lay Eucharistic ministers have done a very impressive job with 22 Home Communions.  However, if you know of anybody you think may have been missed, have a word with the Rector.

Read MARK and learn!

Before we know it, Lent will be here and so we are giving you notice of the study course.  This year, the Rector will be looking in detail at Mark’s Gospel, which is the one set for the Sunday readings throughout 2012.  Mark’s Gospel is truly amazing:

  • It was the first of all four to be written down
  • Both Matthew and Luke knew it, and used it as the basis for their own versions of the Good News
  • It provides a wonderfully succinct, remarkably vivid and deeply concentrated account of Jesus’ victory.

The course will have the traditional Wednesday evening/Friday afternoon format.

A Rocha - Environmental Stewardship
We have a special guest preacher next week – David Anderson, who is the Executive Director of A Rocha, Canada.  This is the latest in our community partnerships and one which we are pleased to say has caught the imagination of many of our congregation.  If you have not visited their new environmental centre at Brookswood (19353 16th Avenue), do check it out – you will be sure of a warm welcome!