• Vestry Members Needed:  In consultation with the Diocesan Administrator, The Venerable Charlene Taylor, this notice goes out to all members of the parish for your prayerful consideration. As of our scheduled AGM, October 24, we will not have any Warden positions filled, Secretary of Vestry will finish their term at the end of the year and only six people remain on Vestry. This is a dire situation and the parish cannot operate without Wardens or Vestry. Our meetings have been on-line and will continue to be so while the mask mandate is in place. We are looking for members to fill these positions. If the position cannot be filled, the Diocesan Administrator and Chancellor will mandate the outcome.
• Annual General Meeting: The AGM is scheduled for October 24 at 2 p.m. in the Auditorium. Masks are required and physical distancing will be observed. The Diocesan Administrator will be attending the AGM. Reports will be available a week prior to the meeting if you are interested in obtaining one.
• Updated Mask Mandate: The updated mask mandate states the following: An individual solo performer or speaker can remove their mask while speaking or singing provided that they are at least two meters from other individuals. All others must wear a mask while gathered indoors. This will apply to any and all gatherings that take place on church properties.
• National Indigenous Day of Prayer:  Every year on September 30, people across Canada wear orange and participate in Orange Shirt Day events to recognize and raise awareness about the history and legacies of the residential school system in Canada. Orange Shirt Day originates from the story of Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. In 1973, on her first day at St. Joseph’s Residential School in Williams Lake, BC, Phyllis’s shiny new orange shirt was stripped from her, never to be seen again. The Canadian government designated September 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, beginning in 2021. This responds to Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action 80, which states that the federal government will work with Indigenous people to establish a statutory day to “honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process”.
• Harvest Thanksgiving Decoration: Sunday, October 10, is Thanksgiving Sunday and we will be decorating our Church on Saturday, October 9, from 10:00 to 11:00 am to reflect our thankfulness for our many blessings. Please come along with items for decorating, such as: vegetables, preserves, berries, cut flowers and any other such items you deem suitable to display your thankfulness to God in this very visible way. You can drop off items on Friday, October 8 from 9 am to 12 noon or Saturday morning. Your help with this activity is most appreciated. All food items will be donated to a food bank following the Sunday service.
• Thanksgiving and Welcome Back Sunday:  Sunday, October 10, will be Thanksgiving and Welcome Back Sunday. More details to follow.
• Youth Group:  The combined Youth Group will meet on Friday October 25 at 7 p.m. in a location to be announced. Youth aged 11 and up are invited to attend.
• Memorial Service:  The Memorial service for Mr. Ralph Peddle will take place on Saturday, October 2 at 2 p.m. in our church. If you wish to attend, please call the office to register or you can view online at facebook.com/ParishoftheAscension/
• Church Statements:  Each year, we send parishioners interim statements at the end of September. These are not the yearly income tax receipts but rather statements of accounts. In an effort to reduce mailing costs, this year we have decided to issue only those statements that are requested. We will continue to issue official tax receipts in the New Year – you will not need to request the official tax receipts. If you are interested in receiving an interim receipt of your givings up to the end of September, please contact the church office.
• CLB Activities: Registration for membership will be on September 30, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The CLB is divided into five age groups: -
  • Little Training Corps (LTC) - Grades K and 1
  • Young Training Corps (YTC) - Grades 2 to 4
  • Junior Training Corps (JTC) - Grades 5 to 7
  • Senior Corps (SC) - Grades 8 to 12
  • Officers - age 19+

CLB will be selling Old Dutch Halloween Chips and Cheesies again this year at a cost of $6.50 per box. Deadline for ordering is October 14^th.  Orders will be delivered between October 17 to 23 and Covid protocols will be observed.

• E-Transfer: What a great way to contribute to the parish for your weekly offering or special project! If you would like to use an alternate method of payment, please use the following email address: [email protected] and the password is church.
• COVID Teams: We are looking for new members to join our team. If you would like to join this ministry, please contact Kim Pike [email protected] or the church office.
• CLB Lunch Take-Out:  Each week the CLB offers take out lunch specials on Friday. If you are interested in purchasing for your home or office group, please call 722-1737 to pre-order. Orders must be received by Thursday at 11 a.m.  Free delivery for orders of five or more dinners.
• Rental Activities at the Church: We have had a number of rentals at the church in recent weeks that have helped increase our general revenue. These include:
  • Federal Election Advanced Polling Station & Election Day
  • A & L NL Production Company: With the approval of Vestry and the Diocese, a movie about female empowerment entitled Astrid and Lilly Save the World will be shot at this location. The company will be here 6 – 8 times until mid-December.
  • Max Athletics After School Rental: Max has rented the Parish Hall Monday to Friday from 2:30 to 6 p.m
• Services During the Week:
  • October 3, 2021, Pentecost 18: 11:00am - Holy Eucharist/BAS

Trusting, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the goodness of our heavenly Father, let us pray in Jesus’ name for the Church, the world, and one another.

Dear Father, thank you for being good to us even when we complain. Thank you for giving us little things we can do to show our love for you. Thank you for prayer, anointing, and loving exhortation that calls us away from sin and back to you. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for persecuted Christians throughout the world. Give them patience in suffering and hope in their darkest night. Help us, who have much, to refresh them with our prayers and with whatever gifts we can share. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant a spirit of charity and patience to this congregation. Remind us, even when it would be easy to complain, of Jesus’ words, “Whoever is not against Me is for Me!” Help us to work together kindly and willingly. Make us eager to share the gifts you have lavished upon us. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who struggle against any temptation to sin. Their battle may be long, hard, and hidden from others. Help us deal gently with everyone we meet. Only you know what burdens they bear and what demons they battle. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Remind all our leaders that they have been entrusted with a solemn obligation: to care for their people, especially the poor, hungry, and oppressed. Give them grace to think, speak, and act according to your will, for the common good. Help all of us to treat our neighbors with respect, kindness and justice, so that we may live peaceably with one another. We remember today the parishes of St. James the Apostle, St. John the Evangelist and those worshipping in The Episcopal Church.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Shield and strengthen all who go into harm’s way in defense of life and freedom. Give them wisdom, integrity, self-control, and sound judgment, even in chaotic situations. Bring them back to their loved ones safely and soon; and establish your peace among us all. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant this and more to all who are in distress – especially: those on the Ascension Prayer Cycle. Restore them to health and hope. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Thank you, Father, for your faithful servants whom you have gathered into your Kingdom. Today we remember Ann Rumbolt. Fill us all with your steadfast love and mercy. Fill us with the sure hope that through the merits of your dear Son, you will welcome us, with all the redeemed, into your Kingdom, where we will rejoice in your love forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Incline your ear to our prayers, dear Lord; and answer them according to your most gracious and holy will, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today we remember our Indigenous brothers and sisters and pray together:

Vibrant God Your creation explodes with the colours of the rainbow
Your peoples reveal the beauty of diversity. We remember today when the joy and dignity of a precious child was destroyed. We lament today for the childhoods lost through the residential school system. We mourn for the spirits crushed and the futures compromised. Celebrate the hope and joy of every child. Tell the stories of resistance that make us stronger. Build the bonds of solidarity to ensure “never again.” In the name of the one who was child among us. Amen

Ascension Prayer Cycle:  Aden, Amelia, Amy, Ann, Annie, Aubrey, Audrey, Barbara, Brenda, Brian, Brittany, Brandon, Callum, Carl, Cathy, Christina, Cindy, Claire, Clarence, Connie, David, Debra, Delilah, Dennis, Derrick, Don, Donna, Doreen, Dot, Doug, Dulcie, Ed, Edie, Edgar, Elaine, Emily, Erin, Evelyn, Finnley, Frederick, Fred, Frank, Flo, Garrett, Gary, George, Gerald, Glenda, Gordon, Harry, Ike, Ina, Ingrid, Ira, Jack, Janet, Jason, Jennifer, Jenny, John, Josephine, Joan, Judy, Junior, Kent, Kevin, Kim, Laura, Leo, Leonie,  Lindsay, Lori, Luke, Madeline, Marie, Marsha, Mark, Marion, Marylou, Maxine, Maxwell, Melvin, Michael, Michelle, Mike, Mona, Nancy, Pam, Rachel, Randell, Rochelle, Rodney, Roland, Ruby, Ruth, Rita, Sadie, Sam, Sean, Shirley, Stephen, Susan, Tina, Todd, Tom, Valerie, Wallace and Warwick.

• Evening Prayer