An Update on COVID 19: Returning to "In Person" Worship

 From Rev. Robert re: the latest from the Archbishop's COVID-19 Taskforce:

Parish Council decided we will work towards in-person services [at St. Cyprian's, Lacombe] starting November 14. The active case rate is still as high in Lacombe and county, as high as it was when we suspended services in September. Here's hoping it will be at a less risky active case rate by mid-November.

On October 27 the Archbishop has instructed us to follow the standard COVID protocols, including mandatory masks, social distancing, hand sanitizing, limited numbers, priestly intinction, etc. Singing will be allowed with masks on, but social gatherings are not yet allowed. Please see the Archbishop's letter for details.

In order to make in-person services work we will be starting up the rotas. So, if you were a regular on the sides persons, counters, readers, or intercessors lists, then you will be called. We need to have more people helping out in order to make in-person services work for everyone involved.


The Rev. Robert Sears
Incumbent

Service for Sunday, October 31, 2021: Worshipping "In Place" (for now)

 

Today's Service is prepared for you by 

Rev. Dr. Robert Sears 

and 

members of the Parish of 

St. Cyprian's Anglican Church, 

Lacombe, Alberta.

Readings for Sunday, October 31, 2021

Ruth 1: 1-18

Psalm 146

Hebrews 9: 11-14

The Gospel of Mark 12: 28-34

Notes on the Sermon from Rev. Robert:

"In the sermon I discuss Hebrews 9:11-14. There the writer of the sermon to the Hebrews compares Jesus' work as the Messiah with the purification rites of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. He argues that Jesus's death is the climax of the ages, because Jesus effects a final atonement of God and mankind. This is because his sacrifice was from the transcendental side of the Holiest of Holies.

"I talk briefly about the Axial Age as a way of appreciating a pivotal time in history. The Axial Age was a cross-cultural change in thought, culture, and motivation. There was than a spiritual and ethical-moral awakening that spawned, reformed, or benefited from. This includes Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, and Judaism. Some well-known figures of this period (800-300 BC) are Pythagoras, Archimedes, Zoroaster, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Buddha, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Sun Tzu, Isaiah, and Ezekiel."

Thanks to Rev. Robert and volunteers for this week's service.

May it bless your day. 😊

NOTE: In-person services may return soon -- perhaps November 14 -- please keep the parishes of St. Cyprian's, Lacombe and St. John's, Olds in your prayers as we look toward worshipping together again.

Service for Sunday, October 24, 2021: Worshipping "In Place" (for now)

Today's service is provided by Rev. Robert Sears and members of the Anglican Parish of St. John's, Olds, Alberta. We're continuing our reflections on Hebrews.  Hymns will have scrolling text so you can sing along. 

The video montage is from a hike Rev. Robert and his son took in September west of Sundre, to a place called Warden Rock (Ya Ha Tinda, or "mountain prairie" in Stoney/Nakoda).  

Readings for Sunday, October 24, 2021:

  Job 42: 1-6, 10-17

 Psalm 34: 1-8, 19-22 

Psalm 110 - additional - for our study of Hebrews today

 Hebrews 7:23-28

The Gospel of Mark 10: 46-52

Thanks to Rev. Robert and volunteers for this service.

May it bless your day. 😊

Reflection in (Extra)Ordinary Time: For the Feast of St. Luke

Picture of St. Luke the Evangelist
from the preface to his Gospel
in a Bible brought to Canterbury
by St. Augustine in the 5th Century

 

For your study and reflection -- a service of Morning Prayer with Dean Robert Willis, of Canterbury Cathedral -- for this Feast Day of St. Luke the Evangelist. 

An Update re: COVID-19 and Worshipping 'In Person'

 

From Rev. Robert re: the Archbishop's COVID-19 Taskforce...

The Archbishop's COVID-19 Taskforce has informed us (on October 14) that we will be "extending the current suspension by one Sunday until, and including, October 24." The reasons remain an abiding concern for community health and the continued functioning of our healthcare system. Who hasn't heard of a needed operation being postponed because of hospital over capacity?

Assuming there isn't a major spike following Thanksgiving, the Taskforce has said that parishes can consider opening again for in-person services with COVID restrictions on October 31. No parish is compelled to open on the 31st.

We will continue to be mindful of our local COVID case rate. We can look to worshipping in person when the local municipal and county rates dip below 300 and are trending down. And we can look forward to worshipping together without mandatory restrictions when the local case rate falls below 100 (assuming provincial regulations are appropriately adjusted).

I remind you of the risk assessment chart we used to decided to suspend services in September. At the parish level we will continue to be guided by those standards, our local case rates, and any new information that arises.

For the document entitled "Covid Thresholds for Services", click HERE.  

 

Service for Sunday, October 17, 2021: Worshipping "In Place" (for now)

 

Today's Service is prepared for you by 

Rev. Dr. Robert Sears 

and 

members of the Parish of 

St. Cyprian's Anglican Church, 

Lacombe, Alberta.

Readings for Sunday, October 17, 2021

Job 38: 1-7 (34-41)

Psalm 104: 1-9, 24, 35c

Hebrews 5: 1-10

The Gospel of Mark 10: 35-45

Thanks to Rev. Robert and volunteers for this week's service.

May it bless your day.

A Prayer for an Election

Lord, please keep our municipalities and counties under your care. Bless the leaders of our communities, that we may be at peace among ourselves, able to bless our neighbours and visitors in our midst.  Help us elect trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and thus serve you faithfully in our generation to the honour of your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN.*

*Adapted from the Book of Alternative Services, Anglican Church of Canada, 1985.

Coming Online in November...

 

The ACW of the Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets, British Columbia, is presenting a ZOOM lecture by textile artist, Camino pilgrim, and local resident, Susan Purney Mark.  

DATE: Friday, November 19, 2021

TIME: 11:00 a.m. - noon, Pacific Time (noon - 1 p.m. Mountain Time)

For more information and to register, click HERE.

Service for Sunday, October 10, 2021: Celebrating Thanksgiving 'In Place'

 

Today's Service is presented by

Rev. Dr. Robert Sears

and members of St. John's Anglican Parish,

Olds, Alberta.

We welcome video and picture submissions from Burt, member of St. John's parish, currently in Spain, walking the French Way of the Santiago de Compostela.

Readings for Sunday, October 10, 2021

Job 23: 1-9, 16-17

Psalm 22: 1-15

Hebrews 4: 12-16*

*Additional re: study of Hebrews: Wisdom 7.15-30 and Psalm 95.

The Gospel of Mark 10: 17-31

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Almighty God, who gives to all life and breath and brings forth food from the earth by the hand of the farmer, keep us in the palm of your hand when this world in all its wonder and glory fades away. Grant that we may so use the fruits of the ground, along with all the other blessings by which you crown the year, prudently. May we either abuse nor undervalue them in all our busyness and worry. Good Lord, bless us with all your gifts that we receive from your bounteous liberality. May we learn from you generosity of heart and mind that we readily reach out to others like you reach out to us. We ask this in Jesus name. AMEN.

Happy Thanksgiving!  May your day be blessed! 😊

Coming Up Online

There is a trio of online study/reflection opportunities happening within the next several weeks, which might be of interest.

The first is a Diocesan ACW Book Study, facilitated by Rev. Betty Piwowar, beginning October 18 as a follow up to the ACW Fall Conference -- and running through November 29, Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time -- via Zoom.  

The book in question is entitled Women in the New Testament and is available through Amazon in both paperback and digital (Kindle) formats.  Click the link above for more information and registration.

The second is through the Wisdom Centre: two evening sessions with Diana Butler Bass on the topic, Freeing Jesus: Reimagining Faith.  Participants can register for either evening, or for both -- October 20 and 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Visit THIS LINK for more information and to register.

And a third -- also through the Wisdom Centre -- is an online retreat with Rev. Matthew Wright, considering the topic "Holy Wisdom, Mother of God: Exploring the Divine Feminine".  

The retreat takes place online in three sessions: Friday evening, November 5, at 6:00 p.m.; Saturday morning, November 6 from 10 a.m. till noon; and Saturday afternoon, November 6, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. -- all in the Mountain Time zone.  Click THIS LINK for more information and to register.

Reflection in (Extra)Ordinary Time: For the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

 

Statue of St. Francis with the birds
Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston, MA

The following video has been prepared by Rev. Robert Sears, with contributions from members of the Anglican parishes of St. John's, Olds, Alberta and St. Cyprian's, Lacombe, Alberta.  May it bless your day.

Service for Sunday, October 3, 2021: Worshipping "In Place"

 

Today's Service is prepared for you by 

Rev. Dr. Robert Sears 

and 

members of the Parish of 

St. Cyprian's Anglican Church, 

Lacombe, Alberta.

Readings for Sunday, October 3, 2021

Job 1: 1, 2: 1-10

Psalm 26

Hebrews 1: 1-4, 2: 5-12

The Gospel of Mark 10: 2-16

Thanks to Rev. Robert and volunteers for this week's service.

May it bless your day.