December PlainsSpeak Newsletter

ADVENT

     Advent is a time of intentional anticipation, of preparing ourselves for the coming of the Christ child. It is not a few weeks of wrapping and baking for a one-day event on the 25th, but a preparation for the coming of the Christ Child into our lives. 

     Advent is a difficult time, when we as   Christians try to ignore the societal pull toward the glitzy, shiny promises of advertising’s ideas of the season. 

     We are challenged to become comfortable in the waiting, in the discipline of spiritual preparations.  Jesus will not enter our lives through our decorated doors, but through our calm, receptive hearts.  Dec. 25 will come and go, no matter how prepared we are, but true Christmas will only come when are hearts have made Christ’s path clear and level. 

     This Advent, may we find the patience and strength to remain focused on the time of preparation, celebrating the anticipation and rejoicing in the promise we have been given.

WORSHIP TIMES

SUNDAY

Russell 9.30am

Binscarth 11.30am

Birtle 2.00pm

MONDAY

Roblin 7.00pm

CHRISTMAS EVE

Based on conversation with the Wider Parish Council, the Christmas Eve services will be held at the following times on 24 Dec.:

4.00pm Roblin

7.00pm Birtle

9.00pm Binscarth

11.00pm Russell

  

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

01 Dec: Advent Begins

10 Dec: Community Choral Festival (Russell)

15 December (Advent 3): Lessons and Carols Festival

24 Dec: Christmas Eve services

No bible studies between Christmas Eve and Epiphany

29 Dec: All-Points Worship: Roblin, 11.00am. Potluck lunch to follow

05 Jan: Epiphany

05 Mar: Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins)

  

SCRIPTURE FOR WORSHIP

01 Dec    Isa 2.1-5             Ps 122                      Rom 13.11-14                 Mt 24.36-44

08 Dec    Isa 11.1-10         Ps 72.1-7,18-19        Rom 15.4-13                  Mt 3.1-12

15 Dec                    Lessons and Carols

22 Dec  Isa 7.10-16         Ps 80.1-7,16-18       Rom 1.1-7          Mt 1.18-25

24 Dec  Isa 52.7-10         Ps 98           Heb 1.1-12           Jn 1.1-14

29 Dec  Isa 63.7-9         Ps 148         Heb 2.10-18         Mt 2.13-23

05 Jan  Isa 60.1-6         Ps 72.1-7,10-14          Eph 3.1-12         Mt 2.1-12

12 Jan  Isa 49.1-7         Ps 40.1-12         1Cor 1.1-9           Jn 1.29-42

19 Jan  Isa 9.1-4         Ps 27.1,5-13       1Cor 1.10-18         Mt 4.12-23

26 Jan  Mic 6.1-8         Ps 15           1Cor 1.18-31         Mt 5.1-12

02 Feb  Isa 58.1-12         Ps 112.1-10       1Cor 2.1-16         Mt 5.13-20

09 Feb  Deut 30.15-20       Ps 119.1-8         1Cor 3.1-9           Mt 5.21-37

16 Feb  Lev 19.1-2,9-18       Ps 119.33-40       1Cor 3.10-11,16-23       Mt 5.38-48

23 Feb  Isa 49.8-16a          Ps 131         1Cor 4.1-5           Mt 6.24-34

02 Mar   Ex 24.12-18       Ps 2           2Pet 1.16-21         Mt 17.1-9

05 Mar  Joel 2.1-2,12-17       Ps 103.8-18       2Cor 5.20b-6.10       Mt 6.1-6,16-21

09 Mar  Gen 2.15-17, 3.1-7     Ps 32         Rom 5.12-19         Mt 4.1-11

 

PLAINSspeak, Fall 2013

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

May your blessings be as abundant as your garden vegetables!

May you choose to share those blessings as freely as you have been sharing your garden vegetables!

 SERMON SNIPPETS

Preaching Points ‘Ppreciated and Pondered by Parishioners…

“Every day, we can celebrate the forgiveness God has given us.”

“In reading the   Bible, we see that over and over again, God encourages us to pray. We can talk directly to God  ourselves. God wants us to communicate with Him on a regular basis.”

“Imagine if the only amount of forgiveness you received this week was equal to the amount of forgiveness you gave this week.”

“You have to put down the earthly trappings in your hands in order to pick up the cross to follow Jesus. And when you’re holding that cross, your hands are too full to pick up again whatever you’ve already put down.”

“God loves you—completely, for all time. So what are you going to do with your life to  return that love?”

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

29 Sept:      All-Points Worship; 11.00am, Birtle Pot Luck to follow

06 Oct:         Harvest Festival Continues! Solsgirth, Russell, Binscarth, Roblin (07Oct.)

11-18 Oct:    Laura Marie on holidays; speaking at BC/Yukon Anglican Youth  Movement annual Conference (Abbottsford)

19 Oct:   Fall Sale, Birtle: 10 am -12 noon; Bag Sale 12:15 - 1:00 pm

03 Nov:   Fall Supper, Russell

05-22 Nov: Laura Marie away: PWRDF Board meetings, National Food Security campaign launch, holidays, Council of General Synod meetings

20 Nov:   Cookie Day, Birtle, 9.30-11.30

01 Dec:  Advent starts! Make sure to get your free PWRDF Advent prayer resource at the  church!

SCRIPTURE FOR WORSHIP

29 Sept.     Deut 26.1-11      Ps 100              Phil 4.4-9               Jn 6.25-35

06 Oct.         Joel 2.21-27       Ps 126              1Tim 2.1-7             Mt 6.25-33

13 Oct.         Jer 29.1,4-7        Ps 66.1-11        2Tim 2.8-15           Lk17.11-19

20 Oct.         Jer 31.27-34        Ps 119.97-104   2Tim 3.14-4.5       Lk 18.1-8

27 Oct.         Joel 2.23-32        Ps65                  2Tim 4.6-8,16-18   Lk 18.9-14

03 Nov.         Hab1.1-4,2.1-4   Ps 119.137-144  2Thess 1.1-4,11-12  Lk 12.22-31

10 Nov.        Hag 1.15b-2.9     Ps 98                  2Thess 2.1-5,13-17  Lk 20.27-38

17 Nov.         Is 65.17-25        Canticle 3           2 Thess 3.6-13       Lk 21.5-19

24 Nov.        Jer 23.1-6           Canticle 19         Col. 1.11-20          Lk 23.33-43

01 Dec.        Is 2.1-5               Ps 122                Rom 13.11-14        Mt 24.36-44

WORSHIP TIMES

October: 

Sunday 9.30 Birtle

Sunday 11.30 Russell

Sunday 7.30 Binscarth

Monday 7.00 Roblin

November:

Sunday 9.30 Russell

Sunday 11.30 Binscarth

Sunday 2.00 Birtle

Monday 7.00 Roblin

Centennial Services

This summer both Roblin and Russell are celebrating centennial anniversaries.
Please join us for ecumenical, community worship in Roblin on Sunday 21 July (at the High School) at 11.00; and in Russell (at the G.P.B. Centre) on Sunday 28 July at 10.30.

PLAINS speak Summer 2013

Fifth Sundays

     For the past three years, we have enjoyed gathering as one community whenever there’s a fifth Sunday in a month. Recently, we’ve seen a decline in attendance at these celebrations, and would like some feedback from you: should we continue these gatherings? Is there something else we can do to gather as a wider parish? Is there something preventing you from attending? Would carpooling make it easier for you to come?

     Please share your thoughts with either Laura Marie or one of your wardens—we want to continue to meet the spiritual needs of our parish in ways that are beneficial and practical for everyone.

     Please note: our next fifth Sunday takes place on 30 June, and we will be gathering at St. Matthew’s Binscarth for worship at 11 with pot luck to follow.

“Tell Us About the Philippines…”

     Since my return from the PWRDF trip to the Philippines in February, I’ve been asked to tell about my experiences there. Which I am happy to do! I will be making a presentation on the trip: where we went, who we met, what we learned. This will take place during our pot luck following our fifth Sunday worship on 30 June at Binscarth.   

 

How’s Your Vision?

     Please remember the challenge to engage in visioning conversation for our Wider Parish. Who are we, who do we want to be, and how do we get there? Use the 8 focal points identified:    leadership, ministry, spirituality, structures, worship, small groups, evangelism, and relationships.

 

Worship Times (July-31 Oct)

Birtle          Sunday 9.30am

Russell     Sunday 11.30am

Binscarth  Sunday 7.30pm

Roblin      Monday 7.00pm

Solsgirth Dates

On the following dates,  St. George’s Birtle will NOT have worship as we will gather at Sts. Stephen and James, Solsgirth:

16 June

28 July

06 October (Harvest)

Calendar of Events

30 June: Fifth Sunday worship at Binscarth, 11.00am

03-07 July: Joint Assembly (Ottawa). Please hold our national church in prayer as they meet with our Lutheran counterparts.

06 July: Roblin Worship at the Cabin

08-10 July: Laura Marie leading Adventure Camp (ages 13-18)

15-20 July: Laura Marie serving as Chaplain to Intermediate Camp (ages 10-12)

28 July: Birtle worship at Solsgirth

20 Aug: Wider Parish Council Meeting, 7.30pm at Russell

02 Sept: Roblin Worship at the Cabin

18 Sept: Roblin Spaghetti Supper

26-28 Sept: Diocesan Clergy Conference

29 Sept: Fifth Sunday (location to be announced)

06 Oct: Harvest Thanksgiving Festival

10-17 Oct: Laura Marie on vacation (speaking at BC&Yukon Anglican Youth Ministry conference)

Scripture for Worship

23 June      1Kgs 19.1-15a      Pss42,43       Gal 3.23-29       Lk 8.26-39

30 June      2Kgs 2.1-2,6-14      Ps 77.1-2,11-20       Gal 5.1,13-25       Lk 9.51-62

07 July      2Kgs 5.1-14      Ps 30      Gal 6.1-16         Lk 10.1-11,16-20

14 July      Amos 7.7-17      Ps 82      Col 1.1-14             Lk 10.25-37

21 July      Amos 8.1-12       Ps 52       Col 1.15-28      Lk 10.38-42

28 July      Hos 1.2-10      Ps 85      Col 2.6-19      Lk 11.1-13

04 Aug      Hos 11.1-11      Ps 107.1-9,43      Col 3.1-11              Lk 12.13-21

11 Aug      Isa 1.1-10-20       Ps 50.1-8,23-24      Heb 11.1-3,8-16          Lk 12.32-40

18 Aug      Isa 5.1-7      Ps 80.1-2,8-18      Heb 11.29-12.2           Lk 12.49-56

25 Aug      Jer 1.4-10      Ps 71.1-6      Heb 12.18-29              Lk 13.10-17

01 Sept      Jer 2.4-13      Ps 81.1,10-16      Heb 13.1-8            Lk 14.1, 7-14

08 Sept      Jer 18.1-11       Ps 139.1-5,12-17      Phile 1-21              Lk 14.25-33

15 Sept      Jer 4.11-28      Ps 14       1Tim 1.12-17       Lk 15.1-10

22 Sept      Jer 8.18-9.1      Ps 79.1-9      1Tim 2.1-7      Lk 16.1-13

29 Sept      Gen 28.10-17      Ps 103.19-22      Rev 12.7-12       Jn 1.47-51

06 Oct      Deut 26.1-11      Ps 100      Phil 4.4-9      Jn 6.25-35

13 Oct      Jer 29.1,4-7       Ps 66.1-11      2Tim 2.8-15      Lk17.11-19

20 Oct      Jer 31.27-34      Ps 119.97-104       2Tim 3.14-4.5      Lk 18.1-8

27 Oct      Joel 2.23-32       Ps 65       2Tim4.6-8      Lk 18.9-14