News

Silent Vigils for Peace

Silent Vigils for Peace, Wednesday, December 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm:

Beginning on Wednesday, December 11, St. James will be hosting a monthly silent vigil for peace. Given the many conflicts in our world, especially as we enter the second year of the war between Israel and Hamas, we all need a place to just sit together in prayer.

This is to be a no-taking-sides event, and so we ask people not to bring signs, or wear clothes with slogans, or to engage in conversation about one issue or another. This is a place of silent solidarity with all the people who are suffering because of our addiction to aggression and violence, seen especially in the bloodshed and destruction in Gaza, in the ongoing captivity of hostages from Israel, in war and violence in other places in our world. Let’s come together and prayerfully hold the world in love and a desire for peace.

Alternative Worship Services

Alternative Worship Services:

In addition to our Sunday morning worship service, there are a number of other opportunities to gather for prayer and reflection at St. James United Church.

First and Third Sunday of the month at 7:30 pm: Inside-OUT

This time of reflection and discussion is unapologetically 2SLGBTQI+ focused, a space for people who identify as Queer to explore spirituality without having to censor themselves. This service is open to people of all faith traditions and none. It concludes with a time of socializing.

First Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm: Taizé Prayer

Based on the prayer tradition of the interchurch monastery in Taizé, France that is frequented by young people from all over the world, this reflective service uses chants, readings and periods of silence. The music is sung in many languages, repeating simple phrases from the Psalms and other Bible readings.

Second Saturday at 5:30 pm: Tapestry

Beginning with a potluck at 5:30 pm, this service celebrates the strands that make us who we are in terms of faith, experience, and identity. Based on a theme, the service makes use of popular music as its “hymnbook”. Participants are invited to bring a text or other media that represents the theme. Time is given for individual and shared reflection.

Fourth Sunday: Wild Light Spiritual Oasis (3 pm, locations vary – Generally the fourth Sunday of the month with some variation based on seasons and weather.)

This outdoor experience is not church outside but a time to seek connection with God in nature, often with a time of individual “wandering”, following an initial gathering as a group. Locations are chosen based on the time of year and participants are asked to dress for the weather.

God’s Love is for All – A Message from First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council

Dear Members of Regional Council,
With hate-motivated acts of violence on the raise and with Thursday’s hate-motived stabbing in a course on gender issues at the University of Waterloo, it reminds us that we need to be open and vocal that God’s love is for all.
With that in mind we would like to share this video that was released this week. We encourage you to share the video as widely as possible. Below is an introductory paragraph to the video along with the link.

How does God feel about Queer People? The 2SLGBTQ Clergy steering committee asked ministers from denominations all over Canada to find out. Here’s what they said: God loves Queer People. The idea that all Canadian churches are hostile to the queer community is simply false, as these ministers and Moderators of the major denominations make clear. So, what can you do? Contact your local politicians and let them know you do not condone hatred against queer people. Share it on social media and post this video to your church website. Let the world know that God is love, and God loves people of all sexualities and genders.

Video link

Prayer
We take a breath today God, wondering when the hate will turn to love, when fear will turn to acceptance. We remember the professor and the two students who were stabbed during their gender studies class at the University of Waterloo may you surround them with your healing love. We pray for those in the class who witnessed the violence. Help us to be advocates of peace and justice and to listen as people speak their truth.
Help us God to boldly share your love, acceptance, understanding and grace for all.
Amen

Leona Laundry
First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council

Church Office Hours

Effective on Monday, December 5th the office hours will be 8:30AM to 1:30PM Tuesday to Friday.

Due to this change, the deadline for announcements, dedications, and donations is now Wednesday at 9 AM.

Items received after this time will be included in the following weeks’ bulletin.

St. James United Church paints main entrance stairs in colours of Progressive Pride Flag

In a display of solidary with the 2SLGBTQ+ community, St. James United Church has painted the stairs to their main entrance the colour of the Progressive Pride Flag.

To learn more about Affirm United, please visit: affirmunited.ause.ca

Update on Mask Wearing

St. James United Church Council is pleased to advise that we will no longer require the wearing of masks within our premises.

We encourage those using our premises to consider masking on a personal level and will fully support their decision. We also remind everyone of the importance of Physical Distancing and hand sanitizing as a precautionary measure against many viruses.

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation through all the changes and restrictions as a result of the pandemic.

Let us move forward together to embrace our new normal.

Welcome to our new Office Administrator!

We are pleased to welcome Stephanie Harnum as the new Office Administrator at St. James. Stephanie has a strong background in office administration and comes to us with much enthusiasm. We are sure she will be warmly welcomed in this position by the congregation and you are encouraged to visit the office to meet her in person.

Our Office hours are from 8:30 am – 1:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday.

St. James’ Public Health Notice

St. James’ Public Health Notice: March 17, 2022

Now that Public Health restrictions have been lifted, St. James will be taking a cautious approach toward our “new normal”. Public Health is still strongly recommending wearing masks, so we ask people to wear masks when entering or exiting the building and visiting the office or any part of the building for any purpose.

In addition to wearing masks, until further notice, groups or committees who use the building are asked to continue to sanitize the room’s items touched, following their meetings. Each group will decide their own protocols for participation in their activities and events according to their participants’ comfort level and agreement.

Worship — For worship, we strongly recommend wearing masks while entering, exiting, or moving around the building and while singing. Masks can be removed while seated. The choir/soloists can remove masks for singing as has been the practice. Social distancing is encouraged. Registration and assigned seating is no longer required.

These provisions are in place as “an abundance of caution” and will be reviewed in 30 days. Thank you for your usual co-operation and understanding.

Marilyn Adams, Council Chair

United Church of Canada Emergency Response for Ukraine

United Church of Canada

On February 24, 2022 the armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine erupted, costing precious lives and creating a humanitarian crisis as people flee from the conflict. The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands of people, displaced from their homes, are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.

Many have lost friends and loved ones, struggle to meet their basic needs, and face an uncertain future. United Church Mission & Service partners are responding to the rapidly unfolding crisis. You can help. Right now, people urgently need shelter, clean water, food, and medical attention. Please show your support by making a gift today.

Donate Now:
Online via our secure donation page.

Phone 416-231-5931 or toll-free 1-800-268-3781 ext. 2738 and use your Visa or MasterCard.

Send a cheque or money order to:
The United Church of Canada
Philanthropy Unit – Emergency Response
3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4
**Please be sure to note “Emergency Response—Ukraine” on the face of your cheque.

Note: As part of the United Church’s Emergency Response Fund, 100% of your donation goes directly to emergency relief, with 85% of your donation responding to this designated emergency and 15% responding to future emergencies that do not receive intense media coverage. Donations to Mission & Service enable the United Church to cover all of the costs of emergency response work without deducting any fees from your donation.

The United Church of Canada is committed to working in partnership. We are responding to the crisis in Ukraine with Mission & Service partners ACT Alliance and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, we have joined the Humanitarian Coalition to call on Canadians to show tangible support for the people of Ukraine.

United Church of Canada – Pay It Forward

United Church of Canada – Pay It Forward

For just $25, you can give the gift of a two-shot dose of vaccine in a country still struggling through the worst of the pandemic and support the worldwide effort to protect people from COVID-19.

While people in Canada are receiving COVID-19 vaccines, people in many other parts of the world have no way to get them. Providing vaccines to these countries is only part of the story — the vaccines also have to get to the people who need them most. Support the worldwide effort to protect people from COVID-19, one vaccine at a time.

Your Gift will provide a complete COVID-19 vaccination to one person in a country where vaccines are in short supply.

Visit https://giftswithvision.ca/collections/featured/products/pay-it-forward to make a direct donation or to find out more information about “Gifts with Vision”