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Outdoor ServiceWith Blessing of the Backpacks and Church BBQ - Sunday, September 11, 2022 Outdoor Service and BarbecueWe are having an Outdoor Service and Barbecue on September 11, 2022. During the service we will be doing a Blessing of the Backpacks! You are invited to bring a backpack of your own or one to donate to families from the Ukraine. For the barbecue, the church will provide hotdogs, and you are invited to bring a salad or dessert to share. For more infomation visit:
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Community Updates
Geoffrey and Thommy send their greetings with this lovely update: "We hope everyone at Gloria Dei is having a fun summer. Harper has been keeping busy going to different day camps here in the area, making some new friends and having lots of fun. We all go to the playground at the Community Park in Parksville as often as we can, especially since the summer weather has been so pleasant (when it's not too warm outside!).
This past weekend we went to the Coombs Fairgrounds--right near the "Goats on the Roof" market. It's a small fair, but we saw lots of farm animals, quilts, prize fruits and vegetables, and other fun stuff. Harper took a turn in the bounce house, too. Here's a photo of Harper as a cow. :) Click here for the linked for the photo
I'll plan to send another update after Harper starts school next month. Take care!
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Congratulations to Carolyn Rude who was sworn in as a Canadian citizen last week!
Tanya Benzon has enrolled in a Veterenary Assistant Course. We wish her every success - Go Tanya, Go!
Please send in your family news to Shelley - celebrations, milestones, new begiinings. We want to celebrate with you!
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The Burning BushSymbol of God's Presence The burning bush is the Symbol for the Season of Creation 2022. Today, the prevalence of unnatural fires are a sign of the devastating effects that climate change has on the most vulnerable of our planet. Creation cries out as forests crackle, animals flee, and people are forced to migrate due to the fires of injustice. On the contrary, the fire that called to Moses as he tended the flock on Mt. Horeb did not consume or destroy the bush. This flame of the Spirit revealed God’s presence. This holy fire affirmed that God heard the cries of all who suffered, and promised to be with us as we followed in faith to our deliverance from injustice. Our symbolic Burning Bush was created by Shelley M., and will remain in the sanctuary throughout the Season of Creation, reminding us to listen the Voice of Creation. |
Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)
The following words attesting to her personal faith were spoken by Queen Elizabeth to the Anglican Bishops gathered at the Lambeth Conference just a month ago: Throughout my life, the message and teachings of Christ have been my guide and in them I find hope. It is my heartfelt prayer that you will continue to be sustained by your faith in times of trial and encouraged by hope at times of despair. "From the onset of her reign, Queen Elizabeth II vowed to dedicate her life to the service of others. She fulfilled this promise without stint or reservation. . . She visited Canada 22 times. On each occasion, Canadians found in her an example of service, patriotism, respect for humanity, and devotion to God." ~ Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops "In the darkest days of the Coronavirus pandemic, The Late Queen spoke powerfully of the light that no darkness can overcome. As she had done before, she reminded us of a deep truth about ourselves – we are a people of hope who care for one another . . . In The Late Queen’s life, we saw what it means to receive the gift of life we have been given by God and – through patient, humble, selfless service – share it as a gift to others." ~ Archbishop of Canterbury Eternal God, before you all generations rise up and fall away, and in your grace, you provide leaders to serve and comfort us with wisdom and dedication. We give thanks for the life, Christian witness and service of Queen Elizabeth, whose earthly life is now ended and who has entered into the joy and peace you have prepared through Jesus Christ. We pray for her family and those who will take up her duties and responsibilities. Send your Holy Spirit to comfort and give peace to all who mourn her death and the death of any loved one. We pray for all who wrestle with the complexities of the monarchy and what the Crown represents,
for all those who continue to unpack the legacies of colonialism
as we work towards right relations and reconciliation.
We bring all this to you,
as we give thanks for the life of Queen Elizabeth,
and celebrate your sovereignty over our hearts.
Amen
Image: Eleanor Tomlinson
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Prayer for James Smith Cree Nation
In the wake of this past weekend's mass stabbing in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon in Saskatchewan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson shares a prayer for all those affected by this tragedy. The prayer was originally shared on the ELCIC Facebook page. As our church, various communities, and nation continue to mourn, ELCIC members are encouraged to continue lifting up in prayer the families and communities impacted by this tragedy. |
Vigil for Peace on "Peace Day"Wednesday, September 21, 2022 The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace. The BC Synod Leadership Team for the Vigil for Peace invites us to commemorate this day by participating in an online Vigil for Peace to pray for all in need-- the people involved in the tragic violence in Saskatchewan, the wars in Ukraine, Afgansitan, Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia, and so many other places around the world. Mark your calendars and email gloriadei5838@gmail.com for the Zoom link which will be sent out on Sept. 20. For more infomation visit: http://gloriadei.ca/events/vigil-for-peace-on-peace-day/2022-09-21
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Caught between What Was and What will beBishop Kathy's Article from July/Aug Canada Lutheran . . . and the people of Israel also wept again, and said, “O that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” Numbers 11:4b-6 We have heard God’s people crying out before this. However, it was most often when they were in dire straits. Like arriving at the Red Sea with the Pharaoh’s army hot on their heels and being afraid they would die in a watery grave. Or not having water to drink. Or enough food to eat. That’s how they got the manna they are complaining about now. But this situation is very different from what happened when they escaped Egypt. They are not starving or dying of thirst. Their lives are not in danger. They are simply longing for what used to be. They want normalcy to return. They want to plant and see crops grow. They want to be with their families and have wonderful dinners with all their favorite dishes and flavours. I think we can all identify with that. Except it’s not cucs and leeks, onions and garlic. The pandemic is ebbing, some normalcy has returned. Our church buildings have reopened, and worshipping together is possible. But still we arrive at church to find many empty pews when we wanted them to be filled with all our church family members we have missed so much or those new people we met online. Some experts say it might be as much as another year or two before people feel comfortable returning to church or other activities. When emptiness is the reality Sunday after Sunday, we fear for the future of our church. What will happen if people don’t return, or new people don’t show up? What will happen if offering dries up? What will happen if we don’t have enough volunteers to help do the work required to be God’s church? Thankfully, I am writing this during Pentecost and so am reminded that the loving and life-giving presence of God is in all things through the Spirit, and it is freely accessible to everyone. As the Holy Spirit breathes new life into us all, indiscriminately, without any conditions, and essentially without constraint, we are set free from worrying about the outcomes, and instead can simply trust in God and God’s gifts to us. That means we are free to join in God’s work in our communities, love our neighbours, explore new ministries, tend the earth, work for justice and continue to share those bold and faithful words of God’s love for us and for everyone. And trust that God will see to the rest. “The One who calls us is faithful...”. 1 Thessalonians 5:24a. For more infomation visit: http://gloriadei.ca/news/caught-between-what-was-and-what-will-be
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