• Sunday Worship at the Ascension (Reminders):
  • Please remain in your vehicle until you see your pew number displayed by the Covid Team member.
  • Please refrain from congregating on the steps of the church prior to and after services.
• Pre-Authorized Givings:  If you would like to set up pre-authorized givings, please take a pamphlet from either entrance of the church or from church office. Simply fill one out, drop it into the office and we will set up your automated givings. Thank you!
• Pandemic Appeal:  To date we have raised $6,285. We encourage parishioners to continue to support our Parish in this effort by donating to the Pandemic Appeal. Thank you to all who have donated thus far.
• Clergy Contact During the COVID-19 Pandemic: If you would like to receive a physically distanced visit from Reverend David or Reverend Lynn, please call the office or contact the clergy via email.
• Live Streamed Services:  If you are interested in viewing Sunday service, you can do so by logging in to the new church website ascensionnl.ca, and go to the Social Media tab. Once there, click on the Facebook tab (please note you do not have to have a Facebook account to view the service). This will link you directly with the service once it has begun on Sunday.
• Services During the Week:
  • Sunday, Jan. 24 (Epiphany I): 11:00am, Service of the Word/Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
• Godly Play: If you are interested in some resources for Godly Play, please see the link below. We offer this as a way for you and your child(ren) to stay connected to God and to our church family until we are able to meet again face to face: sites.google.com/view/st-marys-sunday-school/home
• Church Calendars: If you would like to purchase a 2021 Church Calendar, we have a small number available for sale at the office. The cost is $5.00. Please contact the office at 368-5693 to purchase. Thanks.
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: As a result of Covid 19 restrictions, we are unable to hold a joint service this year. Our parish will observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on January 24 at the 11 a.m. service. The 2021 theme is Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit. (John 15:1-17). We invite you to bring along your own tea light or battery operated candle to participate in the service.
  Queens College is offering on-line Morning Prayer daily at 8:30 a.m. from January 18 – 25. If you are interested in participating, please use the following link global.gotomeeting.com/join/161659821.
• Cancellation of Service/Storm Notice: If Sunday services are cancelled due to inclement weather, there will be an announcement on VOCM and VOWR. You may also check the message on the church answering machine.
• Birthday/Anniversary Sundays: We are once again designating one Sunday of each month as family Sunday. The worship for that Sunday will include the celebration of birthdays or anniversaries for that given month. Please send us a picture of yourself to include during the Birthday Sunday celebration portion of the liturgy. You can send your photos to [email protected]. We request that you submit your photos by the end of the first week each month to ensure they are included.

Samuel, Samuel

Nathanael, Nathanael

How many times have you heard your name called? How many times a day does it occur? Is it with warmth and love, with urgency, with concern, with anger, with happiness or joy?

For me, there are generally three ways that I hear my name. I hear it when I am being asked to complete a task, I hear it when I am in trouble for something (in a different tone, and usually my full name), and I hear it spoken with love and care.

When I hear my name, at times, I often remember the meaning of my name – David means beloved. It further helps to identify to me, that even if I am in trouble, asked to complete a task, or being offered love and care, I am always beloved by the Holy One.

I note that in Hebrew, Samuel means ‘God hears,’ and Nathanael means “Gift of God.’ It gets me to surmising that at times both the individuals in the readings for this week may have pondered the meanings of their names when persons called them.

In the stories from Scripture this week, these two individuals hear their names as they are being invited to participate in a larger narrative – the changing of life and of society so that the Holy One can bring hope and healing. It is a big task for both Samuel and Nathanael. It is not without challenge, and not without the presence of the Holy One in completing the tasks.

In these readings for this Sunday, as we move further into the season of Epiphany, Christian communities are reminded of the reality of our belief, that Jesus calls us each day, by our names, through the voices of others, and through the challenges and joys of society, community and family. The call is for us to assist with the revealing of the Holy One in the world. This revealing is about sharing the light of the things that are about love, about justice, about peace, and about care that we witness all around us. We are called to be lights in the world, like stars shining, revealing the way for persons to travel as we live lives in this world.

The next time you hear your name, be mindful of the meaning of your name. Do not listen only to the intention of the call. Consider how you can live into the meaning of your name, and how you might live into the reality of that which the Holy One is beckoning you.

Peace,

Called together as a family of faith from every time and place, we are bidden by God to pray. That we might share our mutual concerns and offer the secrets of our hearts, let us pray, saying: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the world; for the leaders of nations that wisdom and integrity might prevail, for regions torn by conflict, that peace and harmony might be restored: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the church; for the unity of the body of Christ, that needless division might cease; for Sam our Bishop; for the parishes of Bay d’Espoir, Bay de Verde, for our family in the church of Australia, for our parish clergy, and for all who nurture our life together, that the body may be strengthened and our common life enriched: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for this parish; for our presence in this community, that persons may find here the means to a deeper relationship with God; and for our ministry of reconciliation, that all may find here the forgiveness of God and acceptance of each other. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those in need; for the hungry and homeless, that food and shelter might be theirs; for the oppressed and downtrodden, that freedom and dignity might be theirs; for the sick and the infirm especially those on our Ascension Prayer Cycle, that health and wholeness might be theirs: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those who have died, especially William Baldwin and Dallas Hewitt, for others known and unknown to us, we pray for their family and friends as they grieve and mourn their loss: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

By your power, dear God, you raised Christ Jesus and in him we too will be raised. Receive our prayers and those of all your saints, that trusting in you all the days of our lives, we may know the fullness of your love and the power of the resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ascension Prayer Cycle:  Aden, Ann, Aubrey, Audrey, Barbara, Baxter, Bob, Brenda, Brian, Brittany, Brandon, Carl, Cathy, Christina, Cindy, Claire, Clarence, David, Debra, Delilah, Dennis, Don, Donna, Doreen, Dot, Doug, Dulcie, Edgar, Elaine, Erin, Finnley, Frederick, Fred, Frank, Flo, Garrett, George, Gerry,  Gilbert, Glenda, Gordon, Harry, Hilda, Ike, Ina, Ingrid, Ira, Jack, Jason, Jenny, Jim, John, Josephine, Judy, Junior, Kent, Kevin, Kim, Laura, Leo, Leonie,  Lindsay, Lori, Louise, Madeline, Marie, Marsha, Mark, Marion,  Maurice, Maxine, Maxwell, Melissa, Melvin, Michelle, Moana, Nancy, Pam, Phyllis, Rachel, Randell, Rodney, Roland, Ruby, Ruth, Rita, Sean, Shirley, Stephen, Susan, Tina, Todd, Tom, Valerie, Vera, Victoria and Wayne.

Be Thou My Vision, O Lord Of My Heart 505 Vs. 1, 2, 4

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
Thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.

High King of heaven, when victory is won,
May I reach heaven's joys, bright heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.