Parish News

Dear Friends,

“To the Church of God which is at (North Bay and area), to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together…” (I Corinthians 1: 2a)

There are several things I wanted to share with you, and so I thought it would be a good idea to send you this brief newssheet…

Alpha Course

The Alpha Course is a light-hearted review of, or introduction to, the Christian faith. I encourage you to check it out, especially (1), if you have never taken it; (2), you took it a long time ago; (3), you took it recently, but you’d like to bring someone else with you to take it! This fall, the course is being offered on-line on Tuesday and Friday mornings, beginning at 10am. Each session will be 60-75 minutes. If you’d like to try it, please contact the parish office to get details how to join.

Confirmation

Although the Confirmation service itself will not likely take place for some time (due to the pandemic), I anticipate classes will begin in a couple of weeks. This is a great opportunity to brush up on the basics, and to learn more about the Anglican expression of Christianity. Gatherings for youth will begin November 17 after school. Gatherings for adults will begin about that time, at a mutually convenient time. Please get in touch through the parish office if you would like more information.

Recordings

If you are not attending Sunday services due to the pandemic or for other reasons, I encourage you to view the 11am services, which are posted on the St. Brice’s website

Sermons and other material are also regularly posted.

Holy Communion, Mid-Week

As the regular attenders of the mid-week Wednesday morning service are unable to attend at this time, I will be suspending offering this service until the seasons of Advent (before Christmas) and Lent (before Easter). If circumstances change and people ask for it, then I will re-instate it.

A.C.W. Mission

The ministry of the Anglican Church Women supports a wide variety of mission projects, both locally and around the world. Because of the pandemic, St. Brice’s has not been able to offer their customary Spring Tea and Fall Lunch. Instead, there are plans to offer an on-line silent auction.

I expect there will be links to view the items being auctioned, on the St. Brice’s website, the St. Brice’s Facebook page, etc. People can view the items, and bid on them, from mid-November to early December. Then people need to come to St. Brice’s, or otherwise make arrangements to pick up their items, about December 4-5. Stay tuned! – I think it will be a creative and exciting initiative.

Mary Sherwood

Mary Sherwood, and the orphanage she promotes in Madagascar, is one of the missions we regularly support. Mary had a stroke this past summer. I just received a message of her slow but steady convalescence, and her request for prayer.

Brief Financial Update

It is pleasant to report that St. Brice’s is financially “in the black.” This is the result of generous giving by many, modest savings during the pandemic, and the diocese receiving a wage subsidy in 2020. Year to Date: Revenue $128,066; expenses $127,590; surplus $476.

Justice of Jesus

If you would like to check out something a little bit different, Archbishop Greg Kerr (Diocese of Calgary) is offering an on-line webinar called “The Justice of Jesus.” This is being offered on November 28, beginning at 1pm local time. This is being facilitated through the Anglican Communion Alliance. Please contact the parish office for more information, or go to:

www.anglicancommunionalliance.ca

Time Change

Speaking of “local time,” please remember the time change tonight. Tomorrow, the first Sunday in November, we will have a joint service at 10am.

God bless you all.

Sincerely,

Peter Armstrong