National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2024

On September 29th a 10am Truth and Reconciliation Service will be held here at St. Mary’s with the members of St. Anne’s & St. Edmund’s, Parksville joining us. Please remember to wear orange as a statement to support reconciliation and to commit to the truth that Every Child Matters. A special offering will be taken and all money collected will be given to the Orange Shirt Society.  These funds will be used by Indigenous peoples to raise awareness about the legacy of Indian Residential Schools, and their continuing impact on individuals, families and communities.

On September 30th take time to remember and honour the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Click here to check out events happing in your area and around Vancouver Island for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.  

Want more resources? The Diocese of British Columbia’sReconciliation and Beyond and the Anglican Church of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation webpages offer a variety of resources to support the work of reconciliation.

From the Rector’s Desk 

There is no message from Rev. Kirsten this week. Instead we ask you to please pray for Rev. Kirsten, Mary, and Jean, as they meet with other Anglicans in Kamloops for Congregational Development Sessions. May God grant good discussion, and safe travel home on Tuesday.

Intersections: A Dialogue Series

Intersections: A Dialogue Series is an opportunity to engage with Challenging Racist ‘British Columbia’: 150 Years and Counting (CRBC). Produced as part of the commemorations of 150 years since BC joined Canada, this open-access, multimedia resource documents how the recent cycle of anti-racist activism in this province is part of a broader history of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities challenging white supremacy for over 150 years. This seven-week series brings people together in intentional conversations to: 

  • encounter our collective past
  • locate ourselves as participants in the ongoing story of this place
  • explore how to respond faithfully to the truths we find together

... so we can participate with God in restoring creation and affirming the dignity of all people. 

I have been working with the team creating and delivering this program since its beginning in 2019 and am really looking forward to offering this program in person for all the Oceanside Anglicans. Each of the seven sessions are based on the information covered in the CRBC project. Together we will explore topics using video, song, prayer, self-refection exercises, readings and group discussions.  

This program is so much more than a lecture series, and because of this we need YOU to make it happen. This course simply does not work without a minimum number of participants so we do ask that you REGISTER for the series so that we can be sure we have enough people on board and have all the necessary handouts ready to go.  

We will be meeting Thursdays from 1-3pm beginning October 3rd through until November 14th in the hall at St. Edmunds.  To register please contact the St. Anne & St. Edmund office at admin@oneopencircle.org or call Holly at 250-248-3114. 

 

Mark Your Calendar

Please join us on October 13th for our 10am Harvest Thanksgiving Service.

 

Blessing of the Animals Service

Join us on Saturday October 5th at 1pm for our annual Blessing of the Animals here at St. Mary’s! This is a wonderful opportunity to invite all the friends, neighbours, and pet lovers in your life to come and bring their animals for a special blessing from the priest. This will be an outside event and will happen rain or shine so come prepared for the weather and we will gather to give thanks for our fury, scaly, hairy, feathery companions together. Hope to see you and your beloved animals there!


October Readings

October 6 – 20th Sunday After Pentecost

JOB 1:1, 2:1-10     PSALM 26     HEBREWS 1:1-4, 2:5-12     MARK 10:2-16

 

October 13 – Harvest Thanksgiving/21st Sunday After Pentecost

JOEL 2:21-27     PSALM 126     1 TIMOTHY 2:1-7     MATTHEW 6:25-33 (HARVEST THANKSGIVING READINGS)

JOB 23:1-9, 16-17     PSALM 22:1-15     HEBREWS 4:12-16     MARK 10:17-31 (21ST AFTER PENTECOST READINGS)

 

October 20 – 22nd Sunday After Pentecost

JOB 38:1-7, 34-41     PSALM 104:1-9, 25, 37B     HEBREWS 5:1-10     MARK 10:35-45

 

October 27 – 23rd Sunday After Pentecost

JOB 42:1-6, 10-17     PSALM 34:1-8, 19-22     HEBREWS 7:23-28     MARK 10:46-52    

 

October Celebrations

Birthdays

October 11                   Cheryle T

October 18                   Richard N

October 23                   Ethel V-L

 

Anniversaries

October 6               Val & Clair D

October 17             Sherilene & Michael Q

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Education Opportunities With Oceanside Anglicans

Intersections: A Dialogue Series @ St. Edmunds - October 3rd  – November 14th

~ A Course on racism in BC – more information to come

Let’s Sing… Our Favourite Funeral Hymns @ St. Marks - October 21st 1:00-3:00pm

~ Help loved ones by pre-planning details for your funeral