The news from our Bishop that our Church buildings will remain closed through Holy Week and Easter has surfaced many emotions within me and, I am sure, within you.
March - A Time for Reflection and Hope
As March arrives, we look forward to spring and all of the hope it offers. The Parish of the St. Lawrence is working to make sure you are included, and aware of what is happening within our communities. Although we will not be gathering for in-person worship until the end of March at the earliest, there are many ways for you to stay connected virtually.
Fr. Peter has created a new blog called “Psalm-light”. It is posted on the website every Tuesday and offers the reader a chance to reflect on the psalm of the week - to share the light of God. Comments are welcomed and encouraged.
Days in the Wildwood
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
You are invited to join us for our next Zoom edition of Days in the Wildwood. Together, we'll enjoy conversation, reflect on scripture, and worship as we continue our Lenten journey.
To participate please follow the invitation link below:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83122937087?pwd=MjQxT1RsY3VGcFQ5dUhXTFFwSEFVdz09
Meeting ID: 831 2293 7087
Passcode: 215452
On-line Lenten Bible Study Continues
A Journey with Mark
Wednesdays, 7pm-8pm
February 24 – April 7th, 2021
Description: A Journey with Mark explores the Gospel of Mark through reflections, meditations, and prayers written by dynamic spiritual leaders from around the world, including The Rt Rev Fred Hiltz. All sessions are via Zoom.
Please register with Cynthia MacLachlan (Ministry Intern) at maclachlan.cynthia@gmail.com or by phone 613.551.2670. Once registered, you will receive the meeting link and dial-in information.
2021 Vestry
Two of our parishes have successfully held their annual vestry meetings! Congratulations to all who made this work.
A reminder for the Trinity folk: If you would like to participate, please fill out the link below. Please note, while anyone can attend our annual vestry meetings , there are certain things required in order to participate and vote. They are described in the 'Google Form' following the link https://forms.gle/8eAFCGsJZDWbMVRn8
For anyone unfamiliar with Zoom click on the link for assistance. https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:54c0aabd-55a0-46d6-aa74-cdb87a1128b8
If anyone would like a hard copy of the Vestry report, arrangements will have to be made to pick it up.
You may contact Stephen Barkway at trinityanglicancornwall@outlook.com .
Vestry Date: trinity- monday, March 8th at 7pm
Hello and welcome to COVID Communiqué 41. Recent days have brought rapid changes in the status of many regions as COVID-19 variants emerge; medical experts continue to stress the need for extreme caution. We’re convinced keeping up the measures for staying safe while waiting to see how the variants behave — and how vaccine delivery plans shape up — is the most responsible way to proceed.
Therefore, the plan for reopening our churches to in-person worship, which we promised two weeks ago, must remain tentative because it’s conditional on how government restrictions and public health advice evolve. However, we hope on March 17 to confirm a plan to allow our diocese to move into Amber stage on Palm Sunday, March 28. This would allow clergy and lay leaders 10 days to prepare for in-person Amber worship, if they feel that is the best choice for their parish.
Bishop Shane wants to avoid the stressful and demoralizing situation where we reopen prematurely, only to have to go back into lockdown again soon after. As he put it: “It is wise to remain in Red stage during the entire season of Lent, in the hopeful expectation that we can safely reopen on Palm Sunday, and then take the Holy Week journey to Easter with a sense that this is the beginning of the way out of this pandemic.”
However, although our churches must remain closed to in-person worship until at least March 27, there is some good news on the financial front. On the recommendation of our Property & Finance Committee, Diocesan Council has approved financial relief for all parishes for the month of March. You can read a letter from our Director of Financial Ministries here: https://bit.ly/3uusNA3.
Virtual Lenten Bible Study: A Journey with Mark
Lenten Bible Study: A Journey with Mark
Parish Bible Study via Zoom
Wednesdays, 7pm-8pm
February 24 – April 7th, 2021
Description:
A Journey with Mark explores the Gospel of Mark through reflections, meditations, and prayers written by dynamic spiritual leaders from around the world, including The Rt Rev Fred Hiltz.
All sessions are via Zoom.
Please register with Cynthia MacLachlan (Ministry Intern) at maclachlan.cynthia@gmail.com or by phone 613.551.2670. Once registered, you will receive the meeting link and dial-in information.
A copy of the book is NOT essential. But if you do wish to purchase a hard copy, a limited number will be available through the Parish for $15.
Or you can purchase a Kindle version (approx. $10)
Register for Your 2021 Vestry
St. Lawrence Parish, now is the time to register for your Annual Vestry meeting. The dates are as follows:
St. John the Evangelist - Monday, February 22, 2021 at 7:00pm
Christ Church Seaway - Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 7:00pm
Trinity Church - NEW DATE & TIME - Monday, March 8, 2021 at 7:00pm
All vestries will be held via Zoom.
If you would like to participate, please click on the link below and fill out the registration form.
Please note, while anyone can attend our annual vestry meetings, there are certain things required in order to participate and vote. The requirements are described in the Google Form following the link: https://forms.gle/8eAFCGsJZDWbMVRn8
Once you are registered, you will receive your vestry package containing reports for your church. Stephen Barkway will be co-hosting all St. Lawrence Parish vestry meetings. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stephen at trinityanglicancornwall@outlook.com
For anyone unfamiliar with Zoom click on the link for assistance. https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:54c0aabd-55a0-46d6-aa74-cdb87a1128b8
Getting Ready...
As February marches on, we begin to get ready for the Lenten season. Though the Diocese is still in red stage restrictions, there are opportunities to gather as a community via the internet. Join members of St. Lawrence Parish - friends far and near - for a meal, for a service, for a study, or for a coffee. See the events listed below or check out the updated Parish Calendar.
a virtual event: shrove Tuesday pancake supper
St. Lawrence Parish invites you
Tuesday, February 16th, 2021
from 6:00-7:30pm
Join us for some fun and fellowship as you eat your Shrove Tuesday dinner. Drop in any time and listen to some music, hear the history of Shrove Tuesday, and chat with friends old and new.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83378453724?pwd=UmlabUZTYjVQbjdJUkkyWUljUjJuQT09
Meeting ID: 833 7845 3724
Passcode: 070602
Ash Wednesday Virtual Service
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 11:00am
Join us live on the Parish Facebook page.
A Journey with Mark
Parish Bible Study via ZOOM
Wednesdays, 7pm-8pm
February 24 – April 7th, 2021
Description:
A Journey with Mark explores the Gospel of Mark through reflections, meditations, and prayers written by dynamic spiritual leaders from around the world, including The Rt Rev Fred Hiltz.
All sessions are via Zoom.
Please register with Cynthia MacLachlan (Ministry Intern) at maclachlan.cynthia [at] gmail.com or by phone 613 551 2670. Once registered, you will receive the meeting link and dial-in information.
A copy of the book is NOT essential. But if you do wish to purchase a hard copy, a limited number will be available through the Parish for $15.
Or you can purchase a Kindle version (approx. $10)
Wednesday zoom Coffee Hour
You will find the Zoom link on our
St. Lawrence Parish Facebook page.
2021 - God of Fresh Starts
We have entered 2021 in a state of lockdown, but that has not stopped some changes from happening within our parish. Our parish ministry team is changing and renewing and moving forward. See below for our “who’s who”.
Cynthia MacLachlan
In January we welcomed Cynthia MacLachlan as a part time ministry intern, placed in our Area Parish by the Diocese, as an important part of her formation and training for Ordination (God willing).
She will be serving in our parish under the supervision of Archdeacon Peter Crosby. While she will be ministering in all three of our congregations, the focus of her time will be at Trinity and Centre 105, in accordance with her learning goals, COVID-19 restrictions permitting.
We are delighted to have Cynthia with us until sometime in the late spring/early summer.
Rev. Colin McFarland
On Sunday, January 24th, the Area Parish of the St. Lawrence said farewell to the Rev. Colin McFarland. We expressed our thanks for his sharing of time and talents with us over the last two years and wished him well as he begins his new appointment as Incumbent at St Margaret’s Church in Vanier. Colin will be missed.
Fr. Peter Crosby
On February 2, Fr. Peter will be undergoing hernia repair surgery at the Ottawa General Hospital. He will likely be off for at least 4 weeks in recovery at home. Please keep Fr. Peter, his family and his medical team in your prayers. We are grateful to retired Archdeacon, Frank Kirby, who will be Priest in Charge until Fr. Peter returns. You can contact Fr. Frank by leaving a message at the Church Office.
Kacper Waclawski
Sunday, February 7th, will be Kacper Waclawski’s first Sunday at Trinity Cornwall as their new Music Director. Kacper (pronounced “Kasper”) is excited about this new ministry. He is a natural collaborator and he is looking forward to working with musicians (vocal and instrumental) at Trinity and across the Parish!
Rev. Adam Brown
We look forward to welcoming the Reverend Adam Brown as our Assistant Curate beginning on February 15, 2021. We will share more about Fr. Adam as he arrives and gets settled in the parish.
We share this prayer from the Corrymeela Community:
God of fresh starts,
God of enduring truths:
As we push out into this near year
with a clinging caution and lingering trepidation
give us the nudge to roll up our sleeves
to meet our challenges with hope and courage;
and with a renewed desire to see in each other
the truth and joy of our inescapable interdependence.
Amen.
The world needs community like never before. In that spirit, we offer these prayers for community in a time of pandemic. The entire series, beginning on 13 March 2020, can be found at www.corrymeela.org.