“Behold...Be Held”!

“Behold...I bring you tidings of great Joy...!” (Luke 2:10)

...a Boy!
...a Baby Boy!
...in ancient scrolls foretold!
...a Virgin birth
   to Mary, full of grace,
   and Joseph, her betrothed!
Their chaste obedience to their Father’s will-
His promise of a Saviour to fulfill!

And, there, in lowly stable, manger bed,
Emmanuel-God with us-laid His head;
So tightly wrapped in swaddling clothes to keep
This precious gift: A Shepherd to all sheep!

He came as Love:
...to serve, not to be served!
...to save, not to be saved!
...to sanctify, not to be sanctified!

For soon His little feet would walk this soil-
A ministry of 3 short years of toil-
And soon His little eyes would see the Lost,
And soon His little ears would hear the Pain,
And soon His little hands would reach across
To touch...
...a leper’s repulsive skin!
...a mother-in-law’s fevered brow!
...inside the ears of a deaf mute!
...the spit placed on the eyes of a blind man!
...the trembling hand of an epileptic boy!
...the pallid hand of a girl already dead!
...the searching hand of Peter as he faltered on the waters!

And there was a sick woman who reached out to Him in a passing crowd, because she thought, “if I just touch His cloak, I will be healed!”
(Matt. 9:21)

Behold...THEIR Faith!

Behold...and Be Held!

Tom’s Poem for 2021:

“UNMASKING” a New Year...
“UNMASK” a new talent...
...artistic?
...linguistic?
...calisthenic?
...journalistic?
...gastronomic?
...aeronautic?
...mechatronic?
...symphonic?
...aquatic?
...floristic?

“UNMASK” a new attitude...
...philanthropic?
...domestic?
...diplomatic?
...patriotic?
...philosophic?
...romantic?
...pragmatic?
...altruistic?
...dynamic?
...charismatic?

“UNMASK” a new direction:
Wasteful-Thrifty!
Covetous-Generous!
Impulsive-Cautious!
Callous-Soft-hearted!
Narrow minded-Tolerant!
Clingy-Self-reliant!
Arrogant-Humble!
Inflexible-Accommodating!
Hedonistic-Ascetic!
Secular-Spiritual!

(“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Diocese of British Columbia and the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria are co-sponsoring an online lecture series exploring perspectives on the changing role of religion in contemporary society. 

The first lecture took place on December 3.  The next is January 7 and other dates are February 2 and 23 and March 4.  There is a final panel discussion on March 16.  The lectures are presented by religious experts, scholars and authors. Times of the lectures vary.

The lectures are free but preregistration is required at UVic.ca/csrs/events.   Following this link will also take you to a poster with information about the entire series. 

An article in the Times Colonist gives further background on the lecture series: https://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/big-thinkers-tackle-a-changing-world-in-uvic-lecture-series-1.24249400.

This is the second installment in a five-part online John Albert Hall lecture series titled Values for a New World, being presented in partnership with the University of Victoria's Centre for Studies in Religion and Society. 

ABOUT THE LECTURE

Humans have always longed to be at home in the world. Yet today, we seem further away than ever from realizing that dream, more alienated than ever from the “world of things” around us. Drawing on the resources of the Christian tradition, this lecture will sketch a vision of the world as a “home of homes” and attempt to reignite longing for it.

Miroslav Volf is Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale University and Founding Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. He is author of numerous books, including Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation and a global leader in interfaith engagement.

For more information:

website: uvic.ca/csrs
email: csrs@uvic.ca
phone: 250-721-6325

  Please save the date and plan to join us, via livestream right here on the diocesan website, for the consecration and installation of our 14th bishop, the Rev'd Anna Greenwood-Lee. More information to follow!

God’s church continues to need your monetary support.  Anyone wishing to drop off their offerings can do so at the church office Monday through Thursday from 9 to noon.  Just ring the doorbell and someone will receive your offering while maintaining social distancing. 

When the office is closed - Please drop off any Christmas offerings using the new office door mail slot.

YOUR BOX OF 2021 OFFERING ENVELOPES IS AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE DURING OFFICE HOURS.

Mailed offerings are also gratefully accepted - 9691 Fourth Street, Sidney, BC  V8L 2Y8

PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING - We would like to encourage parishioners to consider the PAR method of giving as it is easier to process and the steady flow helps the parish budget. 

PAR form - https://churchos-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/04/23/18/32/50/628f8bf0-9568-4226-8dda-ea041e528bb2/Pre-Authorized%20Offering%20form%20Amended.pdf

If you would like to register for PAR please send an email to admin@standrewssidney.ca  or call the office (250-656-5322).

There is now a mail slot in the church office door.  If you wish to drop off a card, a letter or an offering, at a time when the office is not open, please use this new mail slot.    Thanks.

Offering envelopes for 2021 are available for pick up at the St. Andrew's office (Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 12 noon).  If you would like your box safely delivered to you please call Lois at 250-891-6442.  

On-line recorded services https://www.standrewssidney.ca/blog

Sunday services Sunday service bulletins

We await Dr. Bonnie Henry's January 10th update to hear if we will be able to re-start in-person services.  At the least, until then there will be NO In-person services.

If you are able, it would be lovely if you would join us for our Sunday Zoom Coffee Hour, each Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

January 10 Zoom Coffee Hour link -

https://zoom.us/j/96416570348?pwd=YVdxMko1Qlg3SGRZMHFOdmprck9XZz09

Meeting ID: 964 1657 0348
Passcode: 455363

Please join us for an informal time of gathering and prayer for our personal concerns,

the concerns of our community, and national and world issues.

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74964407594?pwd=elFieGVjeHFyT0RjQTkwWmRkaEpvdz09

Meeting ID: 749 6440 7594
Passcode: SzwM1P

(Parishioners invited to this secure Zoom gathering).   Zoom info specific to this event will be sent out by newsletter and by office email.

For more information contact the office (250-656-5322).

Sunday    January 10, 2021  - The Baptism of the Lord

 ON-LINE SERVICE

www.standrewssidney.ca

11:00 a.m. Zoom Coffee Hour (link will be sent by email)

Monday - Tuesday     All Events CANCELLED until further notice

Wednesday NO Weekly Eucharist service

2:00 p.m. Weekly Zoom Prayer Gathering

(link will be sent by email)

Thursday - Saturday   All Events CANCELLED until further notice

Sunday January 17, 2021  - The 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

ON-LINE SERVICE

www.standrewssidney.ca

11:00 a.m. Zoom Coffee Hour (link sent by email)

January 30   Consecration  and Installation of Anna, the 14th Bishop of the Diocese of BC, 11 am - 12 noon (via live stream)

February 16     Shrove Tuesday

February 17    Ash Wednesday

February 21   1st Sunday in Lent

March 28   The Sunday of the Passion:  Palm Sunday

April 4       The Day of the Resurrection / Easter Sunday

1st Lesson: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Psalm:   139:1-6, 13-18

Epistle:  1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Gospel:  John 1:43-51

1st Lesson:  1 Samuel 3:1-10

Psalm:     139:1-6, 13-18

Epistle:      1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Gospel:      John 1:43-51

The St. Andrew's Abbeyfield Housing Society is again taking names for their resident wait list.  Please call Ruth Howland at 250-656-6555 to submit your name.

For more information about the St. Andrew's Housing in Sidney, please check their webpage - https://abbeyfield.ca/houses/st-andrews-abbeyfield-house/

'The Net' a St. Andrew's Newsletter publication has been out of print for a couple of years.  Typically there are 3 or 4 issues a year.   The Communications Committee of the Parish Council would like to re-launch 'The Net' with a fresh new flavour.   Do you have any experience in Journalism, Publishing or Editting?

We are looking for interested people to compile, edit and publish 'The Net'.

If this tweaks your interest, please phone Gary Davies (250-655-3369).

The flower calendar for 2021 is now ready for parishioners to sign up to donate Altar flowers, for particular date(s).  Please call the office (250-656-5322) or email admin@standrewssidney.ca to request a particular date(s).  

Flowers are not being donated at the moment while In-person services are suspended.

Parishioners are free to continue their practice of marking their envelope with the name of the mission they wish to have their donation sent.  If no mission is specified then the funds go to the default mission as selected by Parish Council. 

Missions for January - March 2021 - To be announced following the Jan. 11th Parish Council meeting