News Update and Service Sheet for Sunday, July 25th, Pentecost 9
Sunday, July 25th - News and Service Sheet
We hope you are able to join us this Sunday for our in person gathering to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. The service, will of course, be livestreamed as well beginning at 10am. A service sheet has been uploaded and can be found below.
Church Hall Update - The wardens would like to give a big thank you to those who have come along these past few days to do some work in the church hall. This included the painting of the washrooms, waxing the floor in the upper hall, cleaning the kitchens in the upper and lower hall, as well as clearing out many cupboards. You may know that the Creative Zone Child Care is not longer operating out of our lower hall. You have probably heard about the fire at St. George’s Coptic Orthodox Church. We are in conversations with the Day Care (Young Einstein’s) about the possibility of this group using our facilities on a temporary basis while they sort out a permanent home for the day care. The wardens are moving this forward.
Cameras for the Church Grounds - CCTV Surveillance – There have been several times that we have considered adding cameras to keep watch over the grounds here at St. Helen’s. It is thought the time is has come to put these considerations into action. A call went out from the wardens this past week with the request of donations to make the purchase of equipment and for the installation. A few donations have come in for which we are thankful. We need further contributions for this work to be done and ask that you send your donation to the church by cheque and earmark it for the CCTV system or make your contribution online using the Interac-etranfer. The email to contribute by etransfer is: giving2sthelen@gmail.com
Wildfires and Crops - It is a beautiful weekend for many of us here in the lower main land and in the Vancouver Metro area, but there are many people all over BC who are dealing with the ravages of wildfires bringing about the fear of the loss of homes, livelihood, and community. Please do remember to pray for them and as we do take actions by donating to their relief in the many ways that are made available to us to do so. One of these is the fund set up by PWRDF for the community of Lytton which was so devastated. There are also many farmers who are experiencing drought conditions for their crops throughout western Canada. Please keep the farmers and all others who are dependant on the bounty of the earth for their livelihood, for food (including ourselves) in your prayers. They, along with all those who are displaced by the wildfires will be going through emotional pains and struggles. Wherever it is that any of us can step up to help or to give for relief, may we all take the opportunity to do so. In the meantime you will see included just below the call info to give to PWRDF. I encourage you to visit the PWRDF website form more information about their work and in particular how we, as a whole church are helping in what is a very devastating situation for many people at this time.
PWRDF Call for Donations - The Primate's Fund has put out a call for donations regarding help to the community of Lytton, BC which was totally devastated by the wildfires a few weeks ago. Your donation can make a huge difference. You can go online to give or phone in a donation. The info from their website is below, including a prayer. PWRDF is now accepting donations to the Territory of the People as it supports recovery from the fire. Give online to Emergency Response and type “Lytton Fire Emergency Fund” in the comments field. You may also donate by phoning Donor Relations Officer Mike Ziemerink at 416-822-9083, or leave a voicemail toll-free at 1-866-308-7973 and we will return your call. You may also send a cheque to PWRDF at 80 Hayden St., Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 3G2 and mark “Lytton Fire Emergency Fund” in the memo field. You can always go to the PWRDF website to find out more about their work and projects here: Primate' Fund Website
Sunday Ministries and other Opportunities to Help – You will note, by looking at the service sheet each Sunday that we are gradually ramping up our Sunday ministries as more people become comfortable and make the decision to return to our in-person gatherings for Sunday worship. There are opportunities to be a reader, a greeter, to help with refreshment set-up for following the service, as well as helping with the altar guild and flower arranging. If you would like to help out in any of these ways, the people to contact are: John Palmer for reading, greeting, refreshments Heather Herd for altar guild and flower arranging If you do not have contact info for John or Heather, please send an email to the parish office or leave a phone message. Your name will be passed on to them. We do not give out phone numbers or email addresses of individuals in the parish. These can too easily be made public.
Other Ministries – If you think there is some other ministry you might be able to step into which you would like to undertake, handle, or help with, please speak with one of the wardens, Lynn Turner, Rector’s Warden or Roy Francis, People’s Warden.
Daily Prayer - Please join us weekdays Tuesday to Friday for Daily prayer livestreamed on our Facebook page. This begins at 9:30am and can be watched anytime during the day if you are unable to join us right at that time.
Baptisms Taking Place – Baptisms are taking place on Saturdays over the summer to accommodate the number of people who like to attend as family and friends. If you, your child, or a member of your family, would like to be baptized, please be in touch with me at your convenience. We can accommodate a different day if you wish, The time of day can be negotiated as well. Please contact the church office by email or phone. On Sunday, September 12th, we expect to welcome the newly baptized at our Welcome Back Sunday for a celebrational gathering of those who were baptized.
Welcome Back Sunday - will take place on Sunday, September 12th at our 10am service. We are hoping to gather with a potluck luncheon and corn roast. The parish will provide the corn for roasting. So please get this into your calendars.
Last Sunday of our Rector – The last Sunday for Steve, our rector, will be Sunday, September 26th. A potluck luncheon will follow the Sunday service that day with the opportunity to say goodbye.
Prayer Requests to the Prayer Circle – please be in touch with Judy Nicholson who will receive and forward your prayer requests to the prayer circle. If you do not have her contact details, please send an email to the office email address and it will be passed on to her for distribution.