THE VAUDREUIL PARISH PULSE

DECEMBER 2008

 

From the Rector

 

Advent will be a busy time for us.  It is a time when all the church responds to the coming of Jesus to us in at least three ways:

 

  • His birth in the world and his coming to us with teaching and healing and presence in that particular time in history. (Each human life is at a particular time and place and circumstance.)
  • His coming into my (your) own life personally.  He responds to our befriending him, following him, learning from him, growing in him.
  • His coming at the end of all time.

 

  Confirmation!  On the 21st of December, 9:00 am at St Mary’s.  Bishop Barry Clarke will be with us. 

 

The carol-sing with bells and merriment in St Mary’s Hall, the pageant at St Mary’s church, the traditional Lessons and Carols service at St James’, the great Holy Night Communion on Christmas eve at St James, and the Christmas morning Communion at St Mary’s – all these events are part of the whole celebration of our Lord’s caring about us, and reaching out to us in love and friendship.

 

Last Sunday we recorded the singing of Amazing Grace in St Mary’s and St James. It was part of a Canada-wide event, which is on the National Website – http://www.anglican.ca – at the time I write this our video has been watched more than 75 times!  Also check out the Niagara youth conference version!

 

Karen was wrapped in love during her time of hospitalization and her recovery.  The operation was a total success!  Thanks to everyone who responded and prayed for her, and held her in your love.

 

As always, I am at 458-5372.  I will visit, or bring Communion or a prayer to the shut-in, or the sick; or bless your home; or prepare you for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, a memorial, or simply chat!  Please do call. 

 

God bless you.  Fr John

 

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

We had another successful year with 95 shoe boxes being received.  The children eagerly awaiting these boxes will be delighted with the gifts they contain and we send a huge ‘thank you’ on their behalf.  Keep your shoe boxes for next year!!!!!

 

GREENWOOD SINGERS                                                   Wednesday December 10, 7:30 pm - St. Mary’s Church

On Wednesday evening, December 10th, St. Mary's Church will be hosting Greenwood Centre for Living History's presentation of the Greenwood Singers' Carols for a Mid-Winter's Night with readings by well-known Hudson personalities including Helen Zajchowski. The evening will comprise a wide variety of music and readings particular to the Christmas Season. Opportunities for the audience to sing favourite Christmas Carols were a big hit last year and will again be part of this year's festivities.

 

Concert attendees are invited to Greenwood at 6:30 PM for coffee and dessert before the concert (tickets $15.00) or to St. Mary's Parish Hall for wine and cheese following the concert (tickets $20.00). In either case, the concert will start at St. Mary's Church at 7:30 PM.

Net proceeds from the evening will be shared between Greenwood and St. Mary's Church. Tickets are available at Mays' Studio, may be reserved by telephoning Greenwood at

458-5396 (e-mail greenwood@hudson.net)or from Frank Royle at 458-7316 (e-mail froyle@frank-royle.com)

 

ST. MARY’S FAMILY CAROL SING                                                                 Saturday December 13th – 4:00 pm

The Turtle Pond Lane Gang and friends together with keyboard artists James Armstrong and Pat Gonzalez will be at St. Mary's Parish Hall, 275 Main Road in Hudson on Saturday, December 13th at 4:00 PM to lead the St. Mary's Annual Family Carol Sing. Instruments featured will include keyboards, tenor trumpet, guitars, bass, violin, mandolin and drums to name but a few.

 

Everyone is welcome to attend this fantastic Family Event.

 

Bring your bells, your own instruments and your voices and join in the fun! We'll have something for everyone; cookies, fruit juice and sherry.   Your freewill offering will help defray our costs.

 

ST. MARY’S DROP-IN CENTRE

Reminder:  last date for the St. Mary's "Drop-In" centre is Dec. 16th, the centre will resume again January 6th 2009.

 

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE AT ST. JAMES                                                           Sunday December 21st – 8:00 pm

The annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be held at St. James on Sunday 21st December at 8:00 pm.  Our organist and Choir Director, James Armstrong, has finalized his selection of music for the service and the choir is working hard to make this a memorable part of our Christmas worship.  This service follows broadly that of Kings College Cambridge and includes a selection of mostly traditional Advent and Christmas music and readings.  It will be a candlelight service, with opportunities for the congregation to join in.  Please mark the date in your agendas and join us for what will be a wonderful evening.

 

CHURCH COLOURS

The Church Year basically consists of two parts. The first half recalls and celebrates the life, death and resurrection of Christ. This is the festival half of the year and it has two divisions of its own; we are about to enter the Christmas cycle. The first event of this season is Advent which consists of the four weeks before Christmas. The liturgical colour will be “Royal Blue” at St. James’ and “Purple” at St. Mary’s. In Advent, we prepare for the celebration of Christ's coming. Four coloured candles are placed on the Advent wreath representing the four weeks in Advent. To be continued for part two, till then, God Bless.

 

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT                                                        Christmas Eve at St. Mary’s – 4:00 pm

This Christmas Eve at 4 o’clock in the evening, the children from St. Mary’s and St. James’ Sunday Schools will enact the gospel of the birth of Jesus.  This year we will see the birth through the eyes of the animals and we have many costumes for the children.  It has become a Christmas tradition for many families to celebrate together, with friends and neighbors, the very real reason why Christmas is Christmas.

 

We will sing most of our favorite carols, witness frightened shepherds, the simple awe of the animals, behold the joy of heavenly angels, and follow Joseph and Mary through their arduous journey to Bethlehem.

 

We invite children who would like to be a part of the pageant to join us at rehearsal at St. Mary’s Hall starting Sunday, December 14th at 9:00 am. There will be many parts for the children – speaking, acting, just standing, and angels and lambs for the tiny tots.  We hope you can take a step back from the hustle and bustle this season tends to bring and come share with us the true meaning of Silent Night, Holy Night.  For more information, please call Wanda Smith at 450-458-0481

 

THE CAVAGNAL SCOUT GROUP

 We are proud to announce that St. James' is now the sponsor of the Cavagnal Scout Group. As sponsors it is our responsibility to give moral and liason support and uphold the values of this long standing and worthwhile youth focused organization.

 

ST. JAMES LADIES SUPPER                                                                                              Monday, January 19th

Save the date!!!!  The Annual General Meeting and Dinner: Monday, January 19th, 2009. Your chefs and hosts for the evening will be Anne Drake and Margaret Lagimodière. Further details will be provided in the New Year.

 

MEMORIAL FLOWERS - Christmas flowers

One of the Chancel Guild’s responsibilities is to see that there are flowers in the church every Sunday.  At this time of year, flowers are expensive and so we would be very grateful for any donation, no matter the amount, towards our Flower Fund.  We are looking forward to having an abundance of Christmas Poinsettias again this year.  For $15 a beautiful plant will be placed on the altar in memory of a loved one. Tax receipts will be issued. (Air Miles points not available, sorry!)  Thanking you in advance! Please call Sherrill Gordon at 450-458-5010 for memorial flowers for St. James or Elizabeth Dempsey at 450-458-4380 at St. Mary’s.

 

ST. JAMES’ ADVISORY BOARD MEETING                                                              Thursday, December 4th 2008

ST. MARY’S ADVISORY BOARD MEETING                                                                Tuesday, January 20th 2009

ST. MARY’S VESTRY MEETING                                                                                 Tuesday, January 27th 2009

ST. JAMES’ VESTRY MEETING                                           Sunday, February 1st 2009 after the 11 o’clock service

 

PARISH FAMILY - (milestones of recent weeks)

 

WEDDING:

Amanda Kuschak and Graham Burke were married at St. James’ on November 22nd.

 

BAPTISM:

Hunter William Duval, son of Ashley Smith and Damon Duval and grandson of Lisa and Larry Smith was baptized at St. James’ on November 16th.

 

Julian Oliver Ward, son of Chantal Ayotte and Rufus Ward was baptized at St. Mary’s on November 23rd.

 

DEATHS:

Mary Parsons died on November 3rd and her Memorial Service was held at St. James’ on November 15th.

 

Eugene Arthur Forward died on November 8th and his cremated remains were buried at St. James’ on November 22nd.

 

Monica Shand (sister of Wendy Fox) died recently and her cremated remains were buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

 

The Parish Pulse Editorial Team is actively looking for your articles.  Please feel free to contact any of them with your ideas or suggestions for an article. (Mary Vipond, 514-488-3485, maryvipond@gmail.com;  Wilf Hall, 450-458-7913, wghall@sympatico.ca).

 

 Deadline for the next issue is December 23rd, 2008.  The publication will be at the end of the month. 

 

Submissions should be directed to Mary Vipond through:   maryvipond@gmail.com or parishvaudreuil@ca.inter.net, drop off at the Parish Office, FAX to the Parish Office at 450-458-8802, or mail to The Parish of Vaudreuil, 642 Main Road, Hudson, Quebec, J0P 1H0. 

 

WEB LINKS RECOMMENDED BY THE EDITORS: http://www.montreal.anglican.org/index-01.shtml

http://www.alphacanada.org/http://www.podm.net/po_how.htmwww.parishofvaudreuil.com