June Parish Update

Hello friends,

Here are some interesting things happening at the Cathedral in the lovely month of June:

Sunday June 1, 2014 Jerusalem Sunday

Join us as we pray for and focus our hearts on the community of Jerusalem.  Praying for peace and the mission and ministry of the church in this historic part of the world.

We can support the work of the Penman Clinic in Zababdeh on Sunday June 1 through a special gift from parish offerings or Gifts for Mission:

Jerusalem Sunday is a new annual church observance to celebrate companionship in God’s mission with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.  The Diocese is a historic and active member of the Christian, ecumenical and interfaith community of the Middle East.  It is home to several thousand Arab Anglicans in thirty parishes and situated in one of the world’s holiest destinations for Christian, Jewish and Muslim pilgrims. 

Regrettably, few religious tourists to the Holy Land today encounter Palestinian and other Arab Christians, or visit a parish church, school or hospital.  Jerusalem Sunday introduces us to the ‘living stones’ of the local Anglican church, to the ancestors of the first Christian communities indigenous to the region.  Jerusalem Sunday is an opportunity to meet Arab sisters and brothers in Christ in the Anglican Communion, and hear them talk about discipleship in the 21st century.

The ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem bring hope, skills, health; a peaceful future to those they serve.  Jerusalem Sunday is also an opportunity for Anglicans in Canada to send a measure of financial support to these ministries, especially the Penman Medical Clinic, Zababdeh, in the northern area of the West Bank.  The Penman Clinic, housed in the parish of St. Mathew, is a busy gathering place for townspeople, villagers and farmers seeking diagnostic tests, examinations and medical consultation.  It is the only clinic for many miles around, serving thousands of families per year.  Many who receive treatment in this and other diocesan institutions haven’t the money to pay for tests and prescriptions. The Directors of the Diocese’s medical ministries plan to relocate the Penman Clinic into its own building, refurbished with additional consultation rooms, diagnostic equipment and health care workers.  This will become a reality through the generous support of local, regional and international companions.

We can support the work of the Penman Clinic in Zababdeh through a special gift from parish offerings or by donating online at

http://giftsformission.anglican.ca/productDetail.asp?crypt=CDhgHnBjcGc0GjVaAFA

or by mail toJacqueline Beckford
Resources for Mission
Anglican Church of Canada
80 Hayden Street
Toronto, ON. M4Y 3G2

Please note on the cheque:  Jerusalem Sunday Penman Clinic.  A tax receipt will be issued

Sunday June 8, 2014:  Pentecost

The Feast of Pentecost

On this Sunday we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit which God has given to us, that the people of God might be inspired and equipped to do the ministry and work of Jesus Christ in the world.  The story of this sending in the book of Acts tells of the Spirit manifesting as a mighty wind, and then as flames of fire.  The effect of the gift was the power to speak in tongues (many languages), to heal and preach.  The Holy Spirit is also described as breath and as a dove. Through the history of the community we know that the Spirit has been given to all believers and that they in kind have spiritual gifts that are for the building up of God’s presence in the world. Pentecost is a joyous celebration of God’s continuing lively presence with us and within us.  It is the birthday of the church!

To assist us in our celebration of worship that morning we invite you to consider doing these things:

·        Wear the colours of fire:  red, orange or yellow – or all of them together!

·        If you have a small set of wind chimes, bring them to church that morning and we will use them in worship.  We will hang all the shared wind chimes in the cathedral and let them sound on their own with the wind’s energy, and also use them more intentionally during the time of prayer.  We will be hanging them on a coat rack, so that may help you in choosing the size of your shared set of chimes.

·        If you have a colourful kite, bring it along that morning.  We unfortunately can’t fly them that day, but they will add to the colourful decorating of the cathedral space.  We will set them at the front of the cathedral around the holy table and lectern.

We want to have the reading of Gospel that morning shared in several languages simultaneously. The passage is:  John 7:37-39.  If you speak another language in addition to English, and would like to share in the communal reading aloud of the text that morning, please contact the Dean and let her know you are going to read with us.  Email:  dlp@shawbiz.ca or phone:  250 372 3912 x202

Sunday June 15th Parish picnic - directly after church at Riverside Park near the covered BBQ area. There will be a light lunch, coffee, tea and lots of fun.

Strawberry Tea June 20 – 1:30 – 3:30 in the church hall – all are welcome to attend

Soup Ministry – We have had a very busy May for the distribution of soup to our neighbors and those in need. So far we have had 30 people in for soup which is double the normal amount. As a result our soup stock (ha! a pun!!!) is low. This is a call out to all soup makers – please refill our freezer with your amazing soups. Soup can be dropped off during office hours, Wednesday to Friday 10 – 1 and there are lots of containers in the church kitchen if you need them.

Our regular visitors always say how good our soups are – pat on the back soup makers of St. Paul’s!