Hello Everyone:
Please find below the link to today's service. https://youtu.be/JV19aBHYaWY Our Annual Vestry meeting will be held today at 2pm, via Zoom. Today's sermon is also my Vestry Report. Thanks to all for their participation in the ministry of St. Thomas in 2020 and to those participating in today's meeting. A copy of the Minutes of Vestry will be available shortly and will be sent out to the congregation. Have a blessed day. Claire+ |
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RE: SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Last night at our weekly Zoom Evening Prayer service, most of the 15 of us present knew of someone – family or friend -- infected with Covid19 and we prayed for them. (We also prayed about the troubling political situation developing in the USA.) As you are aware, the numbers in infection, hospitalization and death in Durham, in Ontario, are increasing! Our schools, workplaces, churches - every aspect of our everyday lives continue to be somehow affected. Our church is in the Province’s Grey Stage or lockdown and in the Diocese’s Red Stage! That means that only 10 or less people can enter the church building, once weekly, to record a worship service so that we can continue to “worship together from afar” as our website says.
Now that COVID-19 appears to be with us for much of the year ahead, a new way of understanding the old sacrament of Communion has come to light. The ancient practice of “Spiritual Communion” can unite both those present in person at the Lord’s Table with those in our virtual congregation watching the service on their e-devices, from wherever they are; whenever they are able to.
“Spiritual Communion' has a long tradition in the Anglican Church, and indeed in the larger Christian tradition. In the Middle Ages, Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote that 'Some eat this sacrament spiritually ere they receive it sacramentally . . . from desire of receiving the sacrament itself'. The practice of spiritual communion is found in the office of the Communion of the Sick in our 1962 Book of Common Prayer (p. 584), a rubric retained from the Archbishop Cranmer's first Prayer Book (1549) and subsequent revisions. We believe that this current Covid-19 global pandemic, and the governmental and health restrictions that we are currently experiencing, would certainly constitute a "just impediment" to receiving the sacrament "by mouth". (Diocese of Toronto Q&A)
Spiritual Communion and Coronavirus
- The term ‘Spiritual Communion’ has been used historically to describe the means of grace by which a person, prevented for some serious reason from sharing in a celebration of the Eucharist, nonetheless shares in the communion of Jesus Christ.
- The form of prayer offers Christians an opportunity to give thanks for their communion with Christ, particularly at times when they would ordinarily be present at the Eucharist.
- The Church of which we are members is not defined by the walls of a building but by the Body of Christ of which we are members.
- In making our communion spiritually, we are joining with Christians everywhere to be nourished by the one who tells us, ‘I am the Bread of Life’. Adapted from the Church of England, Guidance on Spiritual Communion and Coronavirus.
An Act of Spiritual Communion
Our services are being pre-recorded. We alternate weekly between BCP and BAS liturgies. The services are uploaded to Youtube and the link sent out to the congregation early on Sunday mornings and available from then on.
The virtual congregation may wish to gather with family around a quiet space with a cross or lighted candle, in preparation to participate in the service.
Our bulletin with the full liturgy will be posted on our website as well as Emailed with the video link.
Please say aloud the parts in the liturgy said by the congregation.
At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, while those gathered in-person are receiving Communion, please join with the presider in saying the Prayer for Spiritual Communion as posted in the bulletin.
You may also wish to do the following whenever you make your Spiritual Communion:
- Reflect on the day and on your relationships.
- What good things have come from God today?
- Where have I fallen short?
- What might I do tomorrow?
- Pray for the needs of the world, for your local community, and for those close to you.
We’ll start here; I will write again. God bless us all.
Claire+
Dear Friends in Christ:
You may watch the service in the comfort and safety of your homes at a time that is convenient for you and your families. You may want to share the link with others. It is a Family Communion service. The “sermon” on this holy night, is a retelling of the Christmas story by the children of St. Thomas’, compiled and narrated by Miss Jennifer, Sunday School teacher. It is a wonderful presentation; thank you to all who participated, especially the children.
Tonight, as we grieve for our hurting world; more than ever, may our eyes and hearts be fixed on the lowly Manger of Bethlehem of long ago! May we and all the world, experience the hope, peace, love and joy that Christ’s presence brings us at this holy time and throughout 2021.
God bless you and your families; thank you for all that you do in Christ’s name.
Claire+
You may watch the service in the comfort and safety of your homes at a time that is convenient for you and your families. You may want to share the link with others. It is a Family Communion service. The “sermon” on this holy night, is a retelling of the Christmas story by the children of St. Thomas’, compiled and narrated by Miss Jennifer, Sunday School teacher. It is a wonderful presentation; thank you to all who participated, especially the children.
Tonight, as we grieve for our hurting world; more than ever, may our eyes and hearts be fixed on the lowly Manger of Bethlehem of long ago! May we and all the world, experience the hope, peace, love and joy that Christ’s presence brings us at this holy time and throughout 2021.
God bless you and your families; thank you for all that you do in Christ’s name.
Claire+
The New Advent Grapevine is available now under Information.
RE-OPENING OF ST. THOMAS CHURCH FOR SERVICES
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
FINAL GUIDELINES & PROTOCOLS
(AUGUST 31, 2020)
Please find below our Guidelines and Protocols re the opening of St. Thomas Church for worship on Sunday, September 13 at 10AM. The date is fast approaching. Since March, we were instructed by the bishops of the Diocese to cease all services of worship in our church buildings, due to COVID 19. We have not worshipped together, in church, for 6 months!
In response, together with a dedicated group of 5, that was allowed at that time, we switched to online worship. We would not want to disappoint the hundreds who have been following us on Youtube and/or those who, for health and other reasons, will find it difficult to worship in-person with us. Our services will be recorded and sent out to our faithful following!
May I remind you that our service on September 13 will not be what we have been accustomed to; we must await word from the bishop as to how long we will have to conduct worship in this way. We will begin and see how and where the Spirit leads us – we will see how things play out. At first, it may seem cumbersome and awkward - things are new and different but we will get into it and it will become, almost routine; it will become our new normal. We may even realize that it is not half as foreign as we feared!
We have compared our Draft Plans (1,2) for St. Thomas that you have received before, with the final Guidelines and Protocols sent out by the Diocese, August 19. We are in full compliance with the guidelines and protocols provided by the Diocese, put in our St. Thomas context. Come, let us gather together for worship in God’s house. We know that when we do, God by God’s Spirit is with and among us – as individuals and as a congregation -- to love us, to forgive us, to bless us and to send us out in power to do God’s work in the world.
Canon Claire+
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
FINAL GUIDELINES & PROTOCOLS
(AUGUST 31, 2020)
Please find below our Guidelines and Protocols re the opening of St. Thomas Church for worship on Sunday, September 13 at 10AM. The date is fast approaching. Since March, we were instructed by the bishops of the Diocese to cease all services of worship in our church buildings, due to COVID 19. We have not worshipped together, in church, for 6 months!
In response, together with a dedicated group of 5, that was allowed at that time, we switched to online worship. We would not want to disappoint the hundreds who have been following us on Youtube and/or those who, for health and other reasons, will find it difficult to worship in-person with us. Our services will be recorded and sent out to our faithful following!
May I remind you that our service on September 13 will not be what we have been accustomed to; we must await word from the bishop as to how long we will have to conduct worship in this way. We will begin and see how and where the Spirit leads us – we will see how things play out. At first, it may seem cumbersome and awkward - things are new and different but we will get into it and it will become, almost routine; it will become our new normal. We may even realize that it is not half as foreign as we feared!
We have compared our Draft Plans (1,2) for St. Thomas that you have received before, with the final Guidelines and Protocols sent out by the Diocese, August 19. We are in full compliance with the guidelines and protocols provided by the Diocese, put in our St. Thomas context. Come, let us gather together for worship in God’s house. We know that when we do, God by God’s Spirit is with and among us – as individuals and as a congregation -- to love us, to forgive us, to bless us and to send us out in power to do God’s work in the world.
Canon Claire+
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