Christ Church

Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead on Saturday - you don't want to miss a great service!

Rev. Marie and Rob will be at a wedding for dear friends, Sam and Yuri, and Canon Murray will celebrate with Heather Chambers bringing an inspiring message.
Please note the change in service time - there will be ONE SERVICE ONLY AT 10 AM - NO 8:30 SERVICE

It's today! Our much awaited Tabernacle experience begins today at 1 pm! I have gotten a sneak preview this morning and believe me, you don't want to miss this!

Come by the church at 1 pm and feel free to bring friends with you.

You will never read the story of the Exodus the same way again

See you here!

Hi Folks
Make sure you check out the Algoma Anglican for an informative and well balanced article written by our own Linda Langdon. Well done, Linda!

Linda's article explores the use of technology in our congregation.

We'd love to hear your responses to the article and your thoughts about how we use technology. What works well for you? What doesn't? Can you think of things we could do that would be helpful? How might we do things differently/better?

If you send your comments here christchurchnorthbay@hotmail.com we will forward them to the email list and get a discussion going.Let us know if you are willing for your comments to be posted on this web page, and if you are ?I will cross post to our Facebook page and ?here.

Don't be afraid to "speak" up - your thoughts and impressions are important. And above all we want to make what we are doing work the best way possible for the Kingdom's sake!

Blessings
Rev. Marie

Hi FOlks
This morning I discovered an amazing Lenten resource - if you begin immediately you will be a few days "behind" but that is no matter - just begin at day 1 and follow along.

The retreat will require about 40 minutes a day to complete, so it is a fairly rigourous commitment, but you will be repaid many times over with a depth of new love for God and an awareness of His love for you!

Just go to http://retreats.sacredspace.ie/ and follow the directions. You will receive both written and audio guidance on your computer.The meditations are rooted in Scripture and follow an Ignatian ( ancient and traditional Christian) format
You will be blessed - even if you do only a few days, but warning - you may want to do them all!!

Rev. Marie

18 19
Wednesday February 20, 2013
(Anne Germond)
Readings For The Day
John 3:1?10
Psalm 51:1?13
Luke 11:29?32
Psalm 51:1-2
?Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast
love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my
transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and
cleanse me from my sin.?
Ps. 51: 11-13
?Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take
your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit. Then I will teach
transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.?
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open,
all desires known, and from you no secrets are
hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by
the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may
perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your
holy name; through Christ our Lord.
(BAS pg. 771)
?Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall
return+?; ?Remember that you are dust?+?;
?Remember+?; ?Remember+?. The words are
repeated over and over again and can be heard throughout
the church on Ash Wednesday as people line up to receive
a smudged ash cross on their forehead. Then it is my turn
to hear the same words spoken to me as a cross is made
on mine. ?Remember that you are dust, and to dust you
shall return+?. What are we to remember as we carry that
smudge with us through the day, and though faded, through
the season of Lent? They are a powerful reminder of our
mortality, but also that we are sinners in need of repentance.
Lent is an opportunity for us to be honest about
the power and the hold that sin can have over our lives
when we refuse to acknowledge them or turn away from
them. We live with the guilt, the shame, and the disgrace
of what we have done, of who we have hurt, or of what
we have neglected to do as followers of Jesus. David?s
sin was so great that he likely wailed when he sang of his
transgressions and pleaded to God for forgiveness. ?Wash
me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from me
sin.?(vs.2)
Yet, even as we confront our failures this Lent our
ashes are also there as reminder that our brokenness is no
match for God?s grace. ?Remember, remember, remember.?
Remember that at Baptism we were made children of God
and with a cross of oil on our foreheads anointed as Christ?s
forever.
It is in the very moment that we acknowledge our
helplessness before God that the way back to God is
opened for us again. David also sings of this ? ?Restore
to me the joy of your salvation.? (vs. 11) Our sin is not
the end. The promise of forgiveness and life in union with
Jesus Christ, a life of meaning, purpose and ministry is.
As you carry the ashes with you throughout Lent,
may they remind you that they are a sign of renewal and
recreation, and that our God will not rest until we are all
transformed to His likeness.

We have been invited to participate in a great day of training for those who are interested in being home or hospital visitors - or who just want to learn how to listen better. You can register directly and just go - but there may be some folks willing to carpool, so if you are interested please talk to Rev. Marie and we will try to facilitate this.

Here is the important information:
The Manitou Conference of The United Church of Canada will be holding the second of three session in Pastoral Visitation on Saturday 27 January 2013. The first session was excellent and attended by many people from different denominations. Speakers include Lianne Tooley, The Ven. Anne Germond, Rev. Catherine Somerville, and Rev. Dawn Vaneyk. If you are interested in attending click on the following links

http://www.manitoulearningcommunity.com/

For more information contact Gillian 705 671 0185 gschell@laurentian.ca

Looking forward to seeing you there!

On the last evening before his crucifixion Jesus prayed for unity among his followers.

For a number of years, there has been an international effort towards that unity that is marked by a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. You can find lots of information, prayers and devotions at

http://www.oikoumene.org/

Locally, the downtown churches have a tradition of joining together for a service of worship. This year we are delighted to be the host church for this important service.

Please join us at Christ Church on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 2 pm for a joyous service of unity with our ecumenical brothers and sisters!

NOTE CHANGE OF DATE

Instructed Eucharist
Why do the people at the front wear those unusual clothes? Who figures out which scriptures we read? Why do we pray THAT prayer at that time in the service? Why do we do things in the same order all the time - wouldn't it be more fun and creative to mix this stuff up?

I know that I wondered about lots of these things - but I was too embarrassed to ask someone! I think lots of us would have trouble answering all those questions, whether we are newer Anglicans, exploring the idea of being an Anglican, or we have been in this tradition for years.

On Friday January 18, at 6:30 pm you will have a chance to ask and explore lots of these kinds of questions as we celebrate an "Instructed Eucharist". This is a full Eucharistic service, with explanations of why and when as we go along/

Come along and learn together. You will find that the investment of a couple of hours will enrich your worship from then on!

See you there

Rev. MArie

Hello everyone

Just a reminder that our annual meeting will be at a different day and time this year - Wednesday January 23, 2013 at 7 pm.

Please plan to be there. We have lots of important things to discuss, and well, its just good to get the family together!

If you consider Christ Church your home congregation, you are a voting member ( the only requirements under church law are that you be 16 years old, be a regular attender and contribute to the church).

If you are very new and still "checking us out" to see if this is where you will settle - you are also very welcome. It is a good chance to understand how things work and who does what.

We have a number of committee and positions that will need filling so if you have any interest at all in being more involved, or changing the focus of your involvement please talk to Rev. Marie or the wardens before the meeting. All of us are given gifts to be used for the good of God's kingdom and we want to use all the wonderful gifts with which God has blessed this congregation!

See you there

In the meantime - pray and pray. We need to hear God's voice!
Rev. Marie