The Gift of Taizé. Feliz Navidad para todos! A Very Merry Christmas to All! Advent & Christmas Services

The Newsletter of the Anglican /United Church of St. Mary’s, Sorrento, B.C. The Gift of Taizé Advent & Christmas Services T he ecumenical communit...
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The Newsletter of the Anglican /United Church of St. Mary’s, Sorrento, B.C.

The Gift of Taizé

Advent & Christmas Services

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he ecumenical community of Taizé, located in northern France, has become a place of pilgrimage and spiritual exploration for people throughout the world. Founded shortly after the Second World War and influenced by the experience of its founder, Brother Roger, in welcoming political refugees and Jewish families fleeing the horrors of the war, the community has a deep commitment to working towards peace and reconciliation among peoples. Its life is summed up in the words of Brother Roger: “Be filled with the spirit of the beatitudes: joy, simplicity, mercy.” The members of the community (about 100 or so) come from a variety of Christian backgrounds in order to live out a “parable of community … and reconciliation.” Over the years, people from throughout the world have been coming for short periods of time to experience the worship and life of the Taizé community. In order to accommodate the many languages and backgrounds of those who come, the brothers of Taizé have developed a form of worship in which simple music is used as prayer and in which silence before God is incorporated. The focus is not on doctrine and belief but on the more primary experience of being in the presence of God and listening for what is sometimes a still, small voice. Within this context of reflective faith and prayer, a wide variety of people have found Taizé prayer to be rich and meaningful: those who have a mature faith in God, those who struggle with issues of faith, and those who are just searching.

Nov 30

Advent 1

Morning Prayer

Dec 2

Taizé Prayer

2 pm Sorrento Centre

Dec 7

Advent 2

Holy Communion

Dec 9

Taizé Prayer

2 pm Sorrento Centre

Dec 14

Advent 3

Morning Prayer

Dec 16

Taizé Prayer

2 pm Sorrento Centre

Dec 21

Advent 4

Holy Communion

Dec 24

Christmas Eve 7 pm Holy Communion

Dec 28

Service of Carols & Lessons

“Feliz Navidad para todos!”

As part of our Advent season and our preparations to welcome the Christ, we will be offering prayer services in the style of Taizé on Tuesday afternoons, 2 p.m. December 2, 9 & 16 in the conference room of Richardson Lodge, Sorrento Centre. All members of the community are welcome to attend this gentle and moving experience of prayer, bringing nothing but themselves. In the midst of a busy time of year and in a world wherein living words of peace and reconciliation need to be both spoken and heard, these services may provide an opportunity to gather as one, listen for God's voice and invite the Prince of Peace into our hearts. May we all have an expectant Advent and blessed Christmas.

Bruce

Different countries—different traditions. This Banana Christmas Tree was spotted in a mall in Manizales in Colombia by Darrel Nitsche.

A Very Merry Christmas to All!

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CP Holiday Train

The Sorrento Food Bank The Sorrento Food Bank in conjunction with the Sorrento area churches will once again be delivering Christmas hampers. Special needs for hampers are: fancy cookies (in tins), boxes of candy or chocolates, small jars of pickles or olives and tins of oysters. Gifts are also welcome. There is often a shortage on men’s and boys’ gifts. Financial donations may be made through St. Mary`s (please designate your donation to The Sorrento Food Bank). Donations may also be made directly to the Sorrento Food Bank, Box 568, Sorrento, BC V0E 2W0.

MONDAY, DEC.15, 2014 AT 8PM NOTCH HILL In late November, this beautifully decorated (a million lights) fourteen car train will embark on a three week journey across Canada. Since its inception, sixteen years ago 9.5 million dollars and 3.3 million pounds of food have been collected for distribution to local food banks. The musicians will play more than 150 concerts from a boxcar turned into a travelling stage. This year`s musicians are Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo and Tracy Brown from Family Brown. You are invited and encouraged to bring food or a money donation. All donations remain in the community—in our case they go to The Sorrento Food Bank for distribution. Come early to watch the train arrive, enjoy the bonfires, hot drinks and goodies. We are very fortunate that this train stops at Notch Hill. Thanks to the Notch Hill Community Association for the excellent hospitality they provide each year.

Receipts are issued for any donation of $10 and more. IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE IN NEED OF A HAMPER PLEASE CONTACT VERNA -675-4900 or MIKE -675-4920. Thank You. Submitted by Verna Nitsche Secretary to the Sorrento Bank

Thank You for 25 years of service to the Diocese of Kootenay! To the Congregation of St. Mary’s, Sorrento I was invited to join Diocesan Council for lunch in celebration of my twenty-five wonderful years of employment with the Diocese of Kootenay. Much to my surprise and absolute delight, many of my favorite colleagues from years past were also present at the luncheon and I was blessed with such wonderful comments from so many people. Thank you so much for your gift contribution; the absolute best part of my job is my relationship with the Congregations—the Kootenay Diocesan ‘Family’. Thanks again,

Bonnie Bailey, Diocesan Financial Manager

Editor’s Note: Bonnie assists the wardens and treasurers in this Diocese in maintaining proper financial accounts. Her advice and experience are invaluable in questions of accounting practices, investments as well as payroll and employee benefit questions.

Editors’ Corner We hope that you will enjoy catching up on St. Mary’s news and find some of the articles of interest to you. Any feedback and comments are always welcome. Val Johnstone & Verna Nitsche, Co-Editors

We are on the web: stmarysorrento.ca

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Fall Presbytery Report

by Bruce Chalmers

On the last weekend of October, 70 delegates from throughout the Kamloops-Okanagan Presbytery gathered for the Fall Presbytery meeting. Hosted by the Parish of the North Thompson (Barriere & Clearwater), we met at the Seniors' Centre in Barriere and joined with the congregation of St. Paul's, Barriere, for worship on Sunday morning. As always, it was a wonderful opportunity to gather with friends to consider the work of the church in our Presbytery. The theme of the weekend was Vitality in our Congregations and we were led through an simple exercise on Friday evening and Saturday morning that identified strengths (and weaknesses) in our various congregations. We were then introduced to a restructuring initiative in BC Conference as it continues to look at issues of governance and the oversight of resources, both human and financial. A key element to the restructuring: anything to do with Pastoral Relations (e.g. the former work of Joint Needs Assessment Committees, clergy discipline, etc.) will now be overseen by Conference rather than Presbyteries. A number of practical matters were discussed and dealt with, including:



Discussion and voting on a number of remits received from General Council office, all of the remits having to do with clarifying language in the Basis of Union and The Manual



Presbytery has a small surplus in its budget, a consequence of which will be a slight reduction in the projected annual Presbytery assessment asked of each congregation



The 2 members of Presbytery who compose the Spiritual Care Network (for the support of clergy) resigned



A lively and frank discussion was held about how best to use the funds in the Presbytery budget set aside for Theological Education, with no agreement reached



Kamloops United Church reported that enough units have now been sold for its low-cost/sustainable housing project to proceed



Clearwater United Church, part of the North Thompson parish, has begun the process of becoming a Shared Ministry congregation

A number of presentations were made:



Ivy Thomas and Irene Hart made a brief presentation on their trip to Africa this past summer and the needs of the Anglican Diocese of Kingare



Juanita Austin gave a short talk (with PowerPoint) about her trip to the Holy Land and Palestine, with special attention paid to the plight of the Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip



Janet Macdonald, Executive Director of Naramata Centre gave an insightful and emotional talk about what has been happening at the Centre in light of the strike of several employees since last May. Mediation has brought no resolution to the strike and the future of the Centre is very much up in the air. She reported that a Board meeting was to take place the following weekend, a meeting at which they would have discussion about the Centre returning to it roots and core values: a training centre for ministry in the church. In speaking to this, she co-opted a phrase used by a former CEO of Blackberry: "We have over-promised and under-delivered." [Note: Subsequent to the Presbytery meeting, Naramata Centre initiated a fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $500,000 by the end of November 2014. Should the monies not be raised, serious consideration will be given to closing the Centre.]

The next meeting of Presbytery will be held in Penticton, February 13-15, 2015. And by way of FYI: after discussion at some recent Board meetings and correspondence with Presbytery, we (St. Mary's) have agreed to host the Presbytery meeting of February 2016 !!! If you have any questions about this past Presbytery meeting, please feel free to speak with me.

Congratulations to St. Mary’s A well-deserved pat on our collective backs! St. Mary’s is one of 14 congregations in the Kamloops-Okanagan Presbytery that have increased their giving to the United Church’s Mission and Service Fund in the year 2013/2014! There are a total of 34 parishes in the Kamloops-Okanagan Presbytery so we are proud to have made the “honor roll”. We are one partner among many, called to receive and to give. We journey together in humility toward relationships that are just, honest, respectful, and life-giving. For details about how our gift to Mission and Service makes a difference every day, check out the website: www.united-church.ca/partners/global

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Our Stories ...

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ulie Thurston was born in Croydon, England. She was raised by her Grandmother from the age of six weeks to seventeen years of age. When the bombs of WWII hit, she moved with her Grandmother to Purley. It was in Purley, that Julie received her elementary and high school education. After high school, Julie entered nurses` training, a four year program at the Canterbury Hospital. The instructors for this program were Anglican nuns. She lived west of London with her husband and two young daughters. The family decided to relocate to Canada. In March, 1969, they moved to the small community of Claresholm, Alberta. This community had excellent Health Care Services, so employment was readily available. Julie worked part time and then full time. Her last position was as the Acute Care Manager. Her next move took her to South Calgary. From 1999 to 2006, she worked as a part time nurse caring for people with brain injuries. She also taught nursing aid courses. In June of 2006, Julie moved to Sorrento to be closer to her daughter and family. She has especially enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow into young adults. She has appreciated being of assistance to her daughter`s family. Her other daughter and two grand daughters live in Alberta.

The Anglican Church has been and continues to be at the core of Julie`s life. While in Alberta, she was part of the Cursillo Movement for seventeen years, and very involved with the Calgary Diocese for twenty four years. She served on various committees and was part of many projects. One project with the Diocese was very successful and rewarding. Julie and a group of other volunteers worked for two years with a group of refugees; helping them to integrate into the Canadian society. Her involvement continues here in Sorrento and beyond. Since living here, Julie has been an active volunteer at Sorrento Centre and has come to be known as “the wine lady”. She`s in charge for the wine for the Eucharistic services and social events. She also continues to volunteer at Hillside Village and Pioneer Lodge in Salmon Arm. At St. Mary`s, Julie offers a helping hand when needed. When the Vacation Bible School Program was active, Julie was in charge of “snacks”. She has been very active in the Worship program, is active in the Altar Guild and presently serves as The Incumbent`s Warden. We especially appreciate her “unique talent” at making the sanctuary orchids bloom!!. The scones she sometimes serves for the Ladies` Breakfasts are delicious! Two or three times a week, you might meet Julie on The Trans-Canada Highway, on her way to the Salmon Arm swimming pool. Dedication, servanthood and insight are just a few words which can be used to describe Julie. Its great to have you here at St. Mary`s !!!!!!! Submitted by Verna Nitsche

New Address: Pat Simms wants to inform everyone that she has moved. Pat is seen here wearing her Halloween costume (designed by Janice and Verna), recyclables provided by Pat. She won a prize for the most innovative costume.

Jill Anserello is waiting for customers at the Cedar Heights Christmas Fair 2013. Over 100 crèches were made by members of the congregation as a Centennial Project in 2011.

Her new address is: 216 Piccadilly Terrace 810-10th Ave. SW Salmon Arm, BC V1E 3L8

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Ladies’ Christmas Luncheon at Sorrento Centre

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ur handsome waiters are ready to serve the ladies of Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Church at our annual Christmas Luncheon at Sorrento Centre. We have lost count, but believe this tradition has carried on for the past 30 to 35 years! An ecumenical tradition, for sure!! We will be getting together again on Thursday, December 4, 2014. Not only do we enjoy a lovely meal together, a glass of wine or punch and fellowship, we also fill the Sorrento Food Bank Christmas Hampers with gifts galore. We end the gathering with poetry and carol singing, a great way to get into the spirit of Christmas!

Please … say Merry Christmas T’was the month before Christmas When all through our land, Not a Christian was praying Nor taking a stand. See the PC Police had taken away The reason for Christmas—no one could say. The children were told by their schools not to sing About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things. It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say December 25th is just a “Holiday’. Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it! CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod Something was changing, something quite odd! Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda. As Targets were hanging their trees upside down At Lowe’s the word Christmas—was no where to be found. At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears. Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton! At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter. And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded The reason for the season, stopped before it started. So, as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’ Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me: Choose your words carefully, choose what you say Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS Not Happy Holiday! Wish everyone you meet

Merry Christmas Christ is the Reason for the Christ-mas Season! Very true, even if it is written from the American perspective! Submitted by Marsha Miller

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The Dash Between the Dates Napoleon’s tombstone is huge. Churchill’s is simple. The eternal flame burns over the grave of President John Kennedy. Very different lives, very different markers. As different as each was from the other, their lives share at least one common mark: The dash between the dates. On every tombstone, whether simple or ornate, there is only one dash, or hyphen, between the dates. The character and quality of our lives vary greatly. Yet, when all is said and done, we become precisely equal. They put one dash between the birth date and the death date. We get one dash through life. That’s it! No seconds! No restarts! Everybody finishes! Some dash through life with great flair and style. Others become a quiet blur. Some run with long strides, leaving only toe marks in the sand. Most leave an erratic trail of footprints with more that a few heel marks. Many show evidence of being lost. Yet having lost their direction, they run all the faster. The content of our “dash” varies. But in the end, the workmen still chisel only a dash. It reminds us of the stark truth: “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people …” In the end, men reduce all living to the cold mark on the stone. Those of us who “live a life worthy of the Lord,” following in the footsteps of Jesus, find the end of earth’s dash to be the beginning of heaven’s glory. By Jospeh B. Fuiten From “Pure Gold” by David McCasland - Biography of the Life of Eric Liddell

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is very patient, very kind. Love knows neither envy nor jealousy. Love is not forward or self-assertive; Love is not boastful or conceited. It gives itself no airs. Love is never rude, never selfish, never irritated. Love never broods over wrongs, love thinks no evil. Love is never glad when others go wrong. Love finds no pleasure in injustice, but rejoices in the truth. Love is always slow to expose, it knows how to be silent. Love is always eager to believe the best about a person. Love is full of hope, full of patient endurance; Love never fails. - paraphrased by Eric Liddell

Both articles submitted by John Howat

Peace is … Drifting into your favorite book. The sweet touch of hot chocolate in your mouth. Jack-o-lantern faces gleaming in the moonlight. A baby napping snuggled up with her blanket. Holding Grandma’s warm hand walking on the beach, with the afternoon breeze pushing against my face. An orca spy hopping, its skin glistening in the morning sun. A beautiful sunset wrapping over the mountains like a baby in a blanket. Peace is peace. Go out and make some. By Alexandra Peto (Howard & Elizabeth’s granddaughter) Burr Elementary School, Fairfield, CT Grade 3— 8 years old

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Good-Bye, Jim & Barbara!

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im and Barbara Stewart have been a part of St. Mary`s and Sorrento community for approximately the last ten years. They served St. Mary`s faithfully and have always came back after short stints away. Jim was treasurer of the board for a few years. Barbara inspired the congregation in her position as an interim priest. Leadership was her forte. She organized Mardi Gras parties, Advent parties, taught a group of young people how to be servers, led book study sessions, taught some in the congregation how to visit (newcomers and shut ins and the sick), and was instrumental in establishing the Altar Guild. A few years ago, when Barbara was looking for Christian Christmas decorations , she became very perturbed that they were not available. She designed her own Nativity scene from a card and organized a group to cut, sand, paint and sell Barbara painting them. Approximately one crêches hundred sets were sold!!! The church service of “The Blessing of the Animals” will always be remembered. A child asked Barbara to come out to the car to bless his dog (the dog had refused to come into the church). Of course Barbara obliged!

Barbara and servers Heather, Sam, Sarah, Jacob, Alana and Chuck

On November 2nd, we said good-bye to Jim and Barbara. Some of us were moved to tears! Jim and Barbara were given a blessing led by Bruce, a picture of St. Mary`s and a prayer shawl for each of them—to keep them warm in Mardi Gras Party in 2006 at Sorrento Centre. We can’t be sure— Kingston, Ontario — their new home. Jim and Barbara but believe this is Barbara hiding behind a beautiful mask!!! served the good-bye cake, baked and decorated by Janice Cambruzzi. Their children and five grandchildren, who also live in Kingston, are eagerly awaiting Jim and Barbara`s arrival. We wish them happiness and good health. THEY WILL BE MISSED!!!!!!! Their new address is :

Jim and Barbara Stewart 10 Corrigan Street Kingston, Ontario K7K 1S4

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“Are We There Yet?” … an Advent Reflection by Rachel Sawatzky; December 2013

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is early on Saturday morning, the last Saturday in November. Noah is still in bed, so I whisper in his ear, “It`s time to roll croissants, Noah.” My words to wake him work like magic, and this tired twelve year old in the middle of a growth spurt gets up with joy and enthusiasm. It is bread baking time. Winter finds me in the kitchen. If I am awake, I will be in my kitchen at work or my kitchen at home, making chocolate or baking or cooking or just assembling gifts. The work is intense in December: I used to despair that if I ever had children I would not be able to stop to enjoy the season, that come Christmas Day I would be too tired to enjoy anything. I feel strung out and tired: I forget to shower, I forget to eat. Most importantly, I forget to stop and think about what Christmas is, what Advent is. I know that many people feel this way. But this is my second Christmas as a kid-raiser, and Noah is teaching me how to stop. In the last week of November he asked me if we could bake croissants. Always eager for a food related project, Noah wanted to learn to bake `French stuff.’ So on Friday night we rolled the dough and let it sit over night. In the morning we rolled again, cut and shaped crescents of dough. Noah`s a bit of a science consumer: he wants to know how yeast makes the bread rise, why we put butter in the croissants but not in the baguette. On week two we made baguette, and on week three challah. I decided, right after the first week that baking bread with Noah on Saturday mornings will be my Advent practice. As the dough rises in the oven I will take time to wait: I will drink a cup of tea, and wait. When the smell of warm yeast drifts through the house, I will think about the anticipation of the season: Christ is coming. My mind will turn over to the places in scripture where the bread becomes key to the story and my mind will turn inevitably to Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. When I was a child, visits to my grandparents house were not complete without the perusal of their books of Bible Stories for Children, and this story was one of my favourites. The illustrations showed a smiling and healthy looking woman in possession of a beautiful, tiny metal pitcher of oil., and a small handful of flour. I always pictured the widow mixing the oil with the flour, feeding the dough to the oven, pulling out a hot, small loaf. I felt the satiation of their hunger by those mouthfuls of bread. While I read this story, lying on the carpeted floor of my grandmother’s dining room there would be bread baking in her oven-it seems my grandma always had buns on the go. My own belly would rumble: the smells and tastes of the bread of Elijah and the widow came alive to me.

The Spirit What was not real to me then was the desperation and grace of this story. Before Elijah came along, the widow was near death. She was preparing to eat her last meal and then die from long term starvation and thirst. She would not have looked healthy and beautiful , she would have been starving, emaciated. As a child I couldn’t know what this meant, and I probably still can’t, but I can feel and know the power of that mouth full of bread. For me, bread was unlimited, rich and hot from the oven. The widow, her son, and Elijah began to have enough-just-to stay alive. The flour jar was never quite empty, the pitcher of oil replenished by miracles every morning. The daily act of making bread became a time of waiting for the drought to end, and waiting on God, waiting for the provision of His grace. I find myself now in the kitchen, waiting for the bread to rise, waiting for the time to celebrate the resurrection of the Saviour, the Bread of Life, whose body will be broken for us. I have always been well fed, but my soul keens for the renewal of my soul as the widow must have yearned for the renewal of her body. I am hungry for the peace of the season and Noah asks me, “Rachel , is it ready yet?”-it becomes another kind of asking, an anticipation. Has the bread risen? Has Christ yet come? The year passing now was a hard year for so many. I don`t know anyone who went through it in peace. My own circles of connection were rife with illness, business failures, heartbreak, and grief, so much that I could hardly stand to look past my tiny neighbourhood into the wide world where typhoons ravaged the Philippines and war raged in Syria. In Advent we acknowledge this deep and earthly grief and wait for joy of the coming of Christ. Perhaps penitential, last week I chose a flat bread seasoned with olive oil and salt, the closest we will come this month to the food of the widow and Elijah, but this weekend coming we will make stollen. We will prepare for celebration, of joy, light, and hope, and the bread itself will be a celebration: risen and studded with fruits and nuts, it will be beautiful, sweet and hopeful. For this is the promise: to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He will come, just as the yeast will cause the bread to rise. (Used by permission.) Note: Rachel Sawatzky is a chocolatier and writer. She lives in Vancouver with her partner, three teenagers and a dog. She is the niece of Verna and Dieter Nitsche.

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Church Clean-Up

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ave you ever wondered, why St. Mary’s looks so neat, tidy and well-kept??? Well, there is a dedicated group of volunteers that gathers each Spring and Fall to dust, wash, scrub, weed and garden in and around the church. As well, twice a month a group of ladies comes and dusts the interior of the building to make it look shiny for Sunday worship. They call themselves the “Holy Dusters”. If you are interested in joining this group, give Mary Husieff or Jean Brown a call, they are in charge of drawing up a yearly roster—it only takes an hour of your time.

During the summer months Elizabeth Peto organizes more dedicated volunteers who tend to the watering of the plants around the church. Many days you will find Doreen Weed (aptly named, don’t you think?) manning the weed-whacker keeping the grass trimmed. And don’t forget Ivan Branson and his crew who keep the grass cut around the church yard and cemetery. Once the snow flies, more people appear and clear sidewalks and steps. Our maintenance man Len Pettersson makes sure everything is safe for us to use.

It is a busy place and it shows—our 100+ year old little church looks well-cared for and loved.

St. Mary`s Guild

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t. Mary`s Guild began in 1964 for the purpose of providing assistance and support to St. Mary`s. Over the years, the Guild has had many different duties. We cleaned the church, provided and arranged the flowers for the Sunday services, provided for memorial/funeral teas and of course did fundraising. The Guild would help out whenever a need arose. There were even times when financial aid from the Guild was needed to pay the minister`s salary! Fund-raising activities, past and present, have included Strawberry Teas, Victorian Teas, Rummage Sales, Bake Sales, creating and selling the St. Mary`s Cookbook, and selling church calendars. Today we continue to raise funds through our annual garage sale, which is held in July. The Guild`s fundraising has not only supported St. Mary`s, but also funds have been donated to Sorrento Centre, Naramata Centre, The Anglican Primate’s World Relief Fund, The United Church Mission and Service Fund, Operation Eyesight, The SAFE House in Salmon Arm and other community outreach.

Today, the Guild continues to be very active. The Prayer Shawl Ministry was initiated in 2009. Members prayerfully knit or crochet shawls which are presented to those in need. Our support and assistance to St. Mary`s is always available and given willingly. Monthly meetings are held at The Shuswap Lions Manor on the third Wednesday of the months of March to June and September to November. We share prayers and devotions. The meetings are always filled with conversation, fellowship and laughter. Immediately following the meeting, the Guild provides and shares in an afternoon tea with the Manor residents and other members of the community. We encourage all the women of the church to join us at a meeting, or to simply join us for tea. You will be warmly welcomed.

Janice Cambruzzi President of St Mary’s Guild

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Snapshots of events in our Parish during the year

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O Come, Emmanuel An Advent Prayer for Africa “How long, O Lord?” “How long?” they ask in Africa. In camps where homeless hungry wait, in towns where rebels rape and loot, in fields where women pull the plows designed for oxen dead of thirst, in queues where many wait long hours to see uncaring bureaucrats, in streets where congregate young men for whom a job’s a distant dream, in chanceries where clerks add up the debts owed nations far away “How long?” they ask in Africa. In ancient days the prophets gave to such a query harsh reply: “Till cities crumble, mighty fall, till millions die of hunger, plague, and all the land lies desolate.” Is that the word for Africa? “O Come, Emmanuel,” we respond. “O Come, O Shoot of Jesse, come.” Sprouting Branch, shooting out from a stump we took for dead, grow tall and strong, branches spread to shelter all who seek repose. “O Come, O Key of David, come.” Key to every door that’s closed against the quest for fullest life, open wide those portals grim and free the captives waiting long. “O Come, O Dayspring, come.” Morning Star, eternal Light, rise wherever darkness reigns. Let day break upon the foes of peace, the purveyors of pain. “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Come, lift the weight of weariness. Bring in the awaited age of hope. Set all free to sing your praise, to offer service all our days. Following our worship service on September 28 , the congregation and staff at Sorrento Center celebrated the 3rd Annual Harvest Feast. More than 70 people gathered to enjoy delicious food grown at the Sorrento Centre Farm. We raised $720 for the benefit of the Sorrento Centre Farm Food Sharing Ministry.

How long? Not long. Emmanuel is come to us, to Africa. By Allen Myrick, South Africa From “Gifts in Open Hands”

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St. Mary’s Anglican / United Church 1188 Trans-Canada Highway Box 271 Sorrento, BC V0E 2W0 Phone: 250-675-2294 E-mail: [email protected] Web: stmarysorrento.ca Incumbent: The Rev. Bruce Chalmers Phone: 250-579-5648 E-mail: [email protected]

An Ecumenical Shared Ministry

In Memoriam With heavy hearts we said good-bye to Chris Lind who passed away on July 11, 2014. Chris left us far too soon after a short six month illness. His loss will be deeply felt by his family and friends, as well as at Sorrento Centre where Chris was the Executive Director at the time of his death. Prior to leading Sorrento Centre, he was Director of the Toronto School of Theology. He also served as President of the amalgamated St. Andrew’s College and St. Stephen’s College in Saskatoon and Edmonton. Excerpts from a prayer led by The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate, at the Eucharist held at Sorrento Centre on the day Chris Lind died:

A Special Card from Anne:

…….Into the sadness and smiles of our memories We lay you down; Into the cycle of living and dying and rising again We lay you down; May you rest in peace, in fulfillment, in love, May you run straight home into God’s embrace. Into the freedom of wind and sunshine We let you go; Into the dance of the stars and the planets We let you go; Into the wind’s breath and the hands of the Starmaker We let you go. We love you, we miss you, we want you to be eternally happy. Go safely, go dancing, go running home. - Ruth Burgess

The word clouds on the front of the card were designed by Chris’ longtime friend, James Stacey. The size of each word relates to how often it appeared in the text. On the front were words posted to Chris on Facebook by his community to “let him know how wisely he guided us, and how deeply he touched our lives.” On the back are Chris’ words from articles and Facebook postings.

Thank You Thank you so much to the Outreach Committee for the card and the picture of St. Mary’s. I am slowly adjusting to life in Toronto and miss my friends at St. Mary’s very much. I have a beautiful photo taken by a friend of Chris and I walking up the path from the Director’s House on our way to church. We enjoyed St. Mary’s so very much. Please thank everyone for the love and care that continues to be extended. Blessings,

Anne Elliott

Anne’s new address:

80 Asquith Avenue Toronto, ON M4W 1J8 E-mail: [email protected]