The Lakeshore Parish

Advent Newsletter

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December 17, 2008

Advent Wishes From Reverend Jenny Sharp

What an exciting time to be coming on board as your new minister! As I look outside and see the lovely dusting of snow and gaze across the lake, I can not help but thank God for all the many blessings He has bestowed upon me. I am so honoured to have been chosen as your new rector. Everything I have seen so far has enriched my understanding of what a caring, loving, Christian community you are. My first week here, I was asked to narrate “The Christmas Carol” and got to see first hand the talent in this parish. And then I had the honour of being the auctioneer for the Blind auction at St. John’s. Nice to see that you are such a serious group…not!

It has been a very busy time these past two weeks as I settle into my lovely cottage in the Grove. As I unpack boxes, I cannot help but feel excitement as I decide what things to bring into my lovely office at St. John-in-the-Wilderness. It is beginning to feel like home!

When I learned that I was to be blessed with a secretary and then met Kathy, I felt doubly blessed. It is a treat just to have a secretary, but Kathy is a true gift. I look forward to getting to know her better.

This year to come will bring many new experiences. Early in the New Year, I will be ordained Priest and then we can have an Induction Service where I will truly become your Rector.

We also have the usual events in our year to look towards. Easter will be upon us before we know it! As the weather warms up, I am sure to find a reason to spend time at the Bright’s Grove beaches! I cannot wait to be involved in the Triathlon and all of the other events to come.

All in all, this next year looks very promising to be a wonder-filled year. God is so awesome, and we have been very blessed in this parish. I wish each of you the many blessings of the season. Have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year too!

Best Wishes from St. John’ss

From The Wardens

As we near the end of another year, we review the many blessings God has bestowed on us. Although it was sad to see Fr. Rob and Trish leave for Leamington, we are gladdened by the arrival of Rev’d Jenny Sharp as our new spiritual leader. We look forward to a wonderful relationship of love and guidance with Rev’d Jenny in the coming years. This year we achieved quite a few things, not the least of which was redecorating the inside of the church. Thanks to all of you for your generous gifts of time and talents in our daily operations, and in our various outreach activities We, along with our families, wish you all a Merry Christmas and every blessing in the New Year.

Yours Faithfully, - Nancy Mann, Kathy Svoboda

Greetings from Christ Churchs

From The Wardens

As Christmas, 2008 at Christ Church, Camlachie is approaching, we wish you all blessings, joy and happiness. We are elated by the arrival of our new minister, Rev’d Jenny, and exhilarated at what the future will hold with her at the helm.

We thank all those who have been involved in our church life over the past year - your efforts are always appreciated!

We give thanks for all our many blessings, and remember those who are without comforts this Christmas, and pray for their peace through God’s gracious love.

We, along with our families, wish you all the best now at Christmas and in the coming New Year.

Yours Faithfully, - Brent Anderson, Beth Burnley

Liturgical Changes

Here we are in the middle of Advent! What a wonder-filled season! A perfect time to welcome in a new pastor and with me come a few changes. I am currently ordained as a Deacon. That means I am not yet able to consecrate the bread and wine. This has been done already by the Rev.’d Dick Hebbourn before he ended his time with us. Therefore, the Eucharistic Service will look a little different. The Eucharistic prayer is not done as the elements are already consecrated. After the peace, I will say a short prayer, we will say the Lord’s Prayer, and then we will receive communion.

We look toward the New Year when I will be ordained Priest and the Eucharistic Service will go back to what it was!

You will notice other subtle differences in the services as well. Please feel free to talk to me about them.

Let’s look forward to the many years we have ahead of us as we grow together. -Rev’d Jenny

The “News”

New Pastor

Rev’d Jenny Sharp came to us on December 1^st as Deacon-In-Charge. We welcome her with open hearts, and look forward to a warm and wonderful relationship with her, joyfully enriched as time goes by. Please note that Rev’d Jenny has opted for Fridays each week as her well-deserved day off. She can be reached anytime, day or night, however for pastoral emergencies at home at 519-869-4139, on her cell at 519-330-4798, or by email at revjenny@gmail.com.

Parish Secretary - Change in Hours

Kathy Svoboda can be found in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Please feel free to contact Kathy at the church at 519-869-2403, home at 519-899-2874, or by email at asvoboda@xcelco.on.ca.

Outreach At St. John -In –The- Wilderness

We’ve had quite a few projects and events happen at St. John over the year, such as these:

• The $500 donation to the Royal Canadian Regiment Fund.

• The $500 donation to the Community Girls’ Home.

• The $2000 donation to the Habitat for Humanity build in Watford, plus the proceeds from the yard sale, the blind auction, and the Men’s Breakfast, for a total of over $3400.

• The $2,000 pledge to the Raise the Roof on the Good Shepherd’s Lodge (Inn of the Good Shepherd’s new shelter) project, to be given in early 2009, in addition to the proceeds from the reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, from the Blind Auction, and from the Advent Soup and Sandwich luncheon, for a total of about $3,000.

• The Bluewater Trails Half-Marathon in October to benefit the local hospitals.

• The regular donations of food and other necessary goods to the Inn of the Good Shepherd, along with the serving of supper on the first Saturday of each month (helpers always appreciated for this every month).

• The Samaritan’s Purse “shoebox” Christmas project, sending Christmas gifts and much needed joy to children worldwide who would otherwise have no gift to open on Christmas Day.

• Care packages sent to our four students in post-secondary education programs. This lets our young folks know that we miss them and are thinking of them, and of course, helps us all to stay connected.

• The ACW sponsored child (through World Vision Canada).

• The 2 Christmas hampers to be sent out to needy families in the local schools.

Regular Projects At St. John -In –The- Wilderness

• The Triathlon in July which raised about $7,000.

• The Iron-Kid event in July.

MANY, MANY THANKS to all those organizers of all of these fine projects, and to all those who participate in the fulfillment of them! Praise God that we find ourselves in the position to be able to do outreach, and we offer our constant prayers that we may continue to grow and develop even more in this area of our lives.

ACW

Morning / Afternoon Branch

Meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of the month, and meetings are announced as required, verbally in church and / or in the bulletin. The December meeting is the most fun of the year – it’s the Christmas luncheon where we meet initially at Skeeter Barlow’s restaurant for lunch, then come to the church for dessert and fun. Our main projects during the year include the bridge game in May, and the turkey pie making and sales in November. For further details or more info, please contact Pauline Walsh.

Evening Branch

On November 30^th, a Soup and Sandwich luncheon was held following the 10:30 a.m. service to help to kick off the Advent season. Proceeds from this event went to the Inn of the Good Shepherd’s new shelter project. There is also a luncheon held on Palm Sunday each year. The Evening ACW holds a baby shower to collect items for Saint Monica House, sells church calendars (on sale now), makes donations to the Annex Youth Outreach Centre in Sarnia and the Devine Street School Breakfast Program. They sponsor a child through World Vision Canada. The ladies also make a donation to the Diocesan ACW. Meetings are held occasionally - just contact Ruth Pedlar for details.

Altar Guild

The members of the Altar Guild have been busy polishing brass and silver, cleaning linens, setting the Altar for services and decorating the church for special occasions. They will be putting poinsettias in the church for Christmas, and anyone can come out and enjoy the spirit of the season by being a part of this project! For more information, please contact Ann Hitchins.

Choir

Music is a unique form of worship, and always enhances the services. We’re always looking for more members. Practices are held on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Come on, give it a try - you don’t have to be able to read music to join in!

Sunday School

Sunday School is working its way through the regular curriculum, and Rev’d Jenny has started the new tradition of speaking with the children in the church just before they go into the hall for their session. We welcome new children always, and also anyone who would like to teach, especially in the summertime. Many heartfelt thanks to all those who do teach - your efforts are greatly appreciated! For further info, please contact Deb Walker.

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