Parish Combined Service & Annual Meeting

St. Luke's O'Leary

     We had a great service yesterday at St. Luke's Church at O'Leary Corner.  The Eucharist service began at 10:30am.  Instead of a sermon this morning we had a slide show presentation created by Christine Batten and Janet Mortimer - we saw ourselves through this past year at services, carrying-out parish work, fundraisers, children in a variety of activities, etc.  Maybe I can figure out how to post such a slide show on this blog.

St. Luke's Hall following renos

     Following the service we had a potluck lunch in the newly renovated Hall - it was great!!  Then the meeting began at 12:30pm with Rev. Andrew Mortimer presiding (sorry for fuzzy photo)

To you our Thanks and Blessings

To all who have worked in and for the church community this past year a thank you for your faithful service in God's name and for His glory! Please know that your efforts are much appreciated by all members of the congregations. To those who are taking on roles this year of 2012 we thank you in advance for your time and thought and care. Know that the congregations will pray for you and bless you as you work on their behalf!  Thanks be to God!

cf. Parish Bulletin

Below: Parishioners getting ready for the annual meeting - note the St. Luke's Hall newly renovated interior.

Below from the Parish Bulletin - Jan. 29th, 2012

A Prayer for our Parish in 2012

     With our trust in you, O Lord, we look forward to the days and weeks and months that lie ahead, knowing that they will never fail to reveal signs of your providence.

     Rejoicing in you, O Lord, we reach out to embrace all the  moments and occasions of the coming year, knowing that they will ever surprise us with opportunities for celebrating your salvation.

     May times of happiness teach us the depths of your love.  May times of adversity teach us the reach of your care.  In all times may we bless you, Father, Son and Spirit, in whom it is our destiny to live, forever and ever.  Amen (cf. Prayer for Parish Groups)

Everything I need to know about life...

...I learned from Noah's Ark.

One:  Don't miss the boat.
Two:  Remember that we are all in the same boat.
Three:  Plan ahead.  It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark
Four:  Stay fit.  When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
Five:  Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
Six:  Build your future on high ground.
Seven:  For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
Eight:  Speed isn't always an advantage.  The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
Nine:  When you're stressed, float a while.
Ten:  Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
Eleven:  No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

( The other day I found this on the back of a church bulletin from November 21st, not sure which year, but it was when Rev. Simon Davies was in our Parish as rector, probably around 2006 )

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Day 8



 cf. Google Images

     DAY 8 Theme: United in the Reign of Christ. Readings: 1 CHronicles 29: 10-13 It is your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Psalm 21: 1-7 You set a crown of fine gold on his head. Revelation 3: 19b-22 To the one who conquers I will give a place with Me on My throne. John 12: 23-26 Whoever serves me the Father will honour.

     Prayer: Almighty God, Ruler of All, teach us to contemplate the mystery of Your glory. Grant that we may accept Your gifts with humility and respect each person's dignity. May Your Holy Spirit strengthen us for the spiritual battles which lie ahead, so that united in Christ we may reign with Him in glory. Grant this through him who humbled himself and was exhalted, who lives with You and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

     Questions for reflection: 1. In what ways do false humility and a desire for earthly glory manifest themselves in our lives? 2. How do we express together our faith in the Reign of Christ? 3. How do we live out our hope in the coming Kingdom of God?

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Day 7

cf. Google Images.

     DAY 7 Theme: Changed by the Good Shepherd. Readings: 1 Samuel 2: 1-10 Not by might does one prevail. Psalm 23 You are there with your rod and staff. Ephesians 6: 10-20 Be strong in the Lord. John 21: 15-19 Feed my sheep. 

     Prayer: Father of all, You call us to be one flock on Your Son Jesus Christ. He is our Good Shpeherd who invites us to lie down in green pastures, leads us beside still waters, and restores our souls. In following him, may we so care for others that all see in us the love of the one true Shpherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

     Questions for reflection: 1. How does the Good Shepherd inspire us to comfort, revive, and restore the confidence of those who are lost? 2. In what ways can Christians of various traditions strengthen each other in confessing and bearing witness to Jesus Christ? 3. For us today, what can be the meaning of St. Paul's exhortation: "Be strong in the Lord...put on the whole armour of God"?

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Day 6

cf. Google Images



     DAY 6 Theme: Changed by God's steadfast Love. Readings: Habakkuk 3: 17-19 God, the Lord is my strength. Psalm 136: 1-4, 23-26 His steadfast love endures forever 1 John 5: 1-6 This is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. John 15: 9-17 No one has greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.

     Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, by Your Resurrection You have triumphed over death, and have become the Lord of life. Out of love for us You have chosen us to be Your friends. May the Holy Spirit unite us to You and to one another in the bonds of friendship, that we may faithfully serve You in this world as witnesses to Your steadfast love; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

     Questions for reflection: 1. How should we express Christian love in contexts of different relgions and philosophies? 2. What must we do to become more credible witnesses of God's steadfast love in a divided world? 3. How can Christ's followers more visibly support one another throughout the world?

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Day 5

cf. Google Images

DAY 5 Theme: Changed by the peace of the Risen Lord. Readings: Malachi 4: 5-6 He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents. Psalm 133 How good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! Ephesians 2: 14-20 To reconcile both groups to God in one body, putting to death hostility. John 20: 19-23 Jesus stood among them and said: Peace be with you!

Prayer: Loving and merciful God, teach us the joy of sharing in Your peace. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we may tear down the walls of hostility separating us. May the risen Christ, who is our peace, help us to overcomeall division and unite us as members of His household. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, to whom with You and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Questions for reflection: 1. What forms of violence in our community can we as Christians confront together? 2. How do we experience hidden hostilities that affect our relationship to each other as Christian communities? 3. How can we learn to welcome each other as Christ welcomes us?

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Day 4



Photo cf. Google Images

     DAY 4 Theme: Changed by the Lord's victory over evil. Readings: Exodus 23: 1-9 Do not follow the majority in wrong doing. Psalm 1 Happy are those who delight in the law of the Lord. Romans 12: 17-2 Overcome evil with good. Matthew 4: 1-11 Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.

     Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for Your victory over evil and division. We praise You for Your sacrifice and Your resurrection that conquer death. Help us in our everyday struggle against all adversity. May the Holy Spirit give us strength and wisdom so that, following You, we may overcome evil with good, and division with reconciliation. Amen.

     Questions for reflection: 1. Where do we see evil on our own lives? 2. In what way can our faith in Christ help us to overcome evil and the Evil One? 3. What can we learn from situations in our community where division has given way to reconciliation?

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Day 3

cf. Google Images

     DAY 3 Theme: Changed by the Suffering Servant. Readings: Isaiah 53: 3-11 The man of sorrows accustomed to suffering. Psalm 22:12-24 He did not despise the affliction of the afflicted. 1 Peter 2: 21-25 Christ suffered for us. Luke 24: 25-27 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things?

     Prayer: God of consolation, you have transformed the shame of the cross into a sign of victory. Grant that we may be united around the Cross of your Son to worship Him for the mercy offered through his suffering. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes and our hearts, so that we may help those who suffer to experience your closeness: You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

     Questions for reflection:   1. How can our faith help us in our response to long-lasting suffering? 2. What areas of human suffering are unoticed and belittled today?  3. How can Christians bear witness together to the power of the cross?

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Day 2

cf. Google Images

     DAY 2 Theme: Changed through patient waiting for the Lord. Readings: 1 Samuel 1: 1-20 Hannah's trust and patient waiting. Psalm 40 Patient waiting for the Lord. Hebrews 11: 32-34 Through faith they conquered kingdoms , administered justice. Matthew 3: 13-17 Let it be so now, for it is proper to fulfil all righteous. Prayer: Faithful
     God, you are true to your word in every age. May we, like Jesus, have patience and trust in your steadfast love. Enlighten us by your Holy Spirit that we may not obstruct the fullness of your justice by our own hasty judgements, but rather discern your wisdom and love in all things; You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
     Questions for reflection: 1. In what situations in our life should we have a greater trust in God's promises? 2. What areas of church life are particularly at risk from the temptation to act hastily? 3. In what situations should Christians wait, and when should they act together?

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan.18-25)

     Today begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan18-25).  There is a service to celebrate this event at St. Luke's O'Leary on Sunday Jan 22 at 3 pm and another at Gordon Memorial United Church Alberton on Sunday Jan 29 at 3 pm.  
     If you didn't get a copy of the Biblical reflections and prayers for the eight days of the Week of Prayer here are the readings, prayers and questions for reflection. I hope you will have time to enjoy reflecting on the readings and questions or if time is short just pray the prayer for each day. (Daily commentaries not included due to length).  - cf. an email from Janet

cf. Google Images

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:

     DAY 1 Theme: Changed by the servant Christ.  Readings: Zechariah 9: 9-10 A king righteous and victorious-and humble. Psalm 131 My heart is not proud. Romans 12: 3-8 We have different gifts with which to serve. Mark 10: 42-45 The Son of Man came to serve. Prayer: Almighty and eternal God, by travelling the road of service your Son leads us from the arrogance of our disobedience to humility of heart. Unite us to one another by your Holy Spirit so that through service to our sisres and brothers, Your true countenance may be revealed; You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.     
     Questions for reflection: 1. What opportunities for service are most threatened by pride and arrogance? 2. What should be done to ensure that all Christian ministries are better experienced as service? 3. In our community, what can Christians of different traditions do better together than in isolation to reveal the Servant Christ?

It's Annual Meeting Season

     We've been having a variety of church and committee Annual Meetings this past week, getting all our reports and accounting all in order for our upcoming Parish Annual Meeting to be held following 10:30am morning service at St. Luke's O'Leary on Sunday, January29th. 



    I was reading through Rev. Dyer's Journals (1859-1886) the other day and read about his first Parish Council Meeting - 150 years ago they called it Vestry Meeting and it was held on Easter Monday.  Here's the excerpt.

April 1, 1861

            Easter Monday.  According to the law of P.E.I., this is the day appointed for the Church of England to form vestries and appoint Church Wardens.  Accordingly I set off with Mr. Buckerfield to the Kildare Capes to attend a meeting of the people, for the purpose of choosing a vestry and appoint Church Wardens.  Present were Messrs. Ruggles, Caie, Billins, Travers, Bearisto and Gillian, whom, with 2 others were all duly and legally selected to form a vestry, out of whom Messrs.  Ruggles and Caie were chosen to be the Church Wardens for the church at Kildare for the ensuing year.  After auditing the accounts, the meeting separated and we returned home the same evening.

Here's a photo of Rev. Dyer in his winter attire.

Rev. Robert Wm. Dyer, pioneer missionary, came to our Parish in August 1859 and served the people of the people of western Prince Edward Island for 26 years. 

The Baptism of the Lord

Collect of the Day:  The Baptism of the Lord

     Eternal God, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit, keep your children born of water and the Spirit, faithful to their calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Google Images

( cf. Parish Bulletin January 8, 2012 )

What Happens When You Pray - CBC Radio DNTO

I went for a walk this afternoon and listened to CBC Radio's DNTO, it's 90 minutes long and today's topic was very interesting: "What Happens When You Pray"...There are many different ways to pray... and many different reasons to. So what is "the power of prayer" to you?  That's what we're finding out this week....
The host, Sook-Yin Lee, had many different people talking about their thoughts on prayer. 

 Photo by Kalandrakas

To link to the site go to:

http://www.cbc.ca/dnto/news-promo/2011/12/29/what-happens-when-you-pray-jan-717/

and to listen to the show go to: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Radio/DNTO/Full_Episodes/1934303548/ID=2184268638

The Naming of Jesus 1 January

According to Saint Luke Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, as the Law of Moses required.  Christian tradition observes the Gospel's emphasis that the Virgin Mary would bear a son and his name would be Jesus which means "Yahweh saves".  The meaning of this name has great significance for the Church and so instead of commemorating the circumcision of Christ, it celebrates the eighth day after Christmas as the Naming of Christ.  (c.f. Parish Bulletin - Jan. 1st, 2012)



Naming of Jesus ( http://www.dst-corp.com/james/PaintingsOfJesus/ )

Christmas Message from Rev. Andrew & Janet

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people."  Luke 2: 9-10

Above: Google Images

     Christmas is supposed to be a joyful and happy time of year.  But to some it can be a difficult and sad time.  To the shepherds, before that first Christmas Eve, the night was just like any other.  They had to tend the sheep and keep watch for wild animals and thieves.  This is what they did the previous night and it is what they expected would take place once more.  But their routine was shattered.

     Most of us prefer routine.  We might have a number of routines to cover different situations - work/school day and rest day; but that is how we live our lives.  Then something happens and our routine is shattered.  John Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you're making your plans."
     For the shepherds, it was the arrival of the Messiah.  Imagine the roller coaster ride of emotions as fear gave way to excitement to hear that the Messiah had come.  But after the excitement dies down, life happens.
     We prepare ourselves for Christmas and get together with family and friends.  Gifts and Blessings are exchanged.  Through it all, life happens. Sometimes it brings us joy, and sometimes it brings us tears.  We are meant to share it all; with each other, and most importantly, with Jesus Christ our Messiah, who understands us and loves us.  On this day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us set aside a moment of our day for Him.
     Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you to defend you, within you to keep you, before you to lead you, beside you to guard you, and above you to bless you.

Merry Christmas to all

Janet and Andrew

Christmas Eve

Our Parish holds two services on Christmas Eve and each year alternate between early and late service between St. Luke's O'Leary (below) and St. Peter's Alberton. This year the early service was at St. Luke's at 7pm.

The second Christmas Eve service was at St. Peter's at 9pm and was an extra special this year as we had a baptism.

Above:  The Holy Baptism of one-month old "Leo Leonard Williams" son of Derek and Kelly (O'Meara) Williams of Alberton.  Joyfully we welcome you into our congregation and the Family of God.  May God's blessings be always with them.

Interior of St. Peter's festively decorated for Christmas.  The Choir sang beautifully.

Above: Rev. Andrew addresses the congregation.

Below:  The photo below was taken of St. Peter's Alberton on Christmas morning following our 9:30am service.

The other two churches in our Parish are open seasonally and closed in winter.  Below is Holy Trinity Alma and Christ Church Kildare Capes.

Christ Church Kildare Capes above - photo submitted.