Parish Update
THE COLLECT FOR THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
O Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow after us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Pastoral Reflection
By the Reverend Ben Vanderheide
As many of you know, Pastor Harman and Christine had their baby Magdalena (Lena) last week on Monday, August 17. Harman+ will be taking paternity leave for 5 weeks and will rejoin the ministry team near the end of September.
In order for us to begin our youth group prior to Harman’s return, we have hired a temporary youth worker who will be with us from September 1 to December 13. We are happy to announce that Clara-Maria Thaut has accepted the position. Clara will oversee the Youth Group ministry on Sunday evenings and will work closely with Carolyn Vanderheide, director of our Children’s Ministries, to implement a new Grade 7&8 class that will meet at the same time as our Jr Church on Sunday mornings. The Grade 7&8 class will be called “Crossroads” and they will meet twice a month in the Augustine College space (upstairs).
Please pray for Clara as she prepares to join our team and also pray for our babies, children, youth, Jr Church and Youth group leaders as we transition into the fall season.
Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom so to train them, that they may love all that is true, and pure, and lovely, and of good report, following the example of their Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
O Eternal God, bless the schools of our land, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
UPCOMING EVENTS – Mark Your Calendars
August 30: Sunday service at 10:30 AM. (Streamed online)
September 2: Weekday Eucharist Service at 12:15 PM
September 6: ALPHA Launch Party in Stiller Hall following service.
September 6 to 14: Global Week of Prayer. Register here.
September 8: Morning Prayer begins again on Zoom at 8 AM.
September 13: Life @ St P&P’s Course begins. Register here.
September 16: ALPHA course begins. Register here.
September 17: Ephesians Course begins. Register here.
September 19: Women’s Potluck Breakfast. Register here
September 19: Choral Evensong from 5 PM to 6 PM.
Road Closures on Sunday Morning
The Capital Pride Parade will involve road closures downtown this Sunday, including Bank Street between Slater and Gladstone and Wellington Street between Booth and Vimy Place. None of the closures prohibit access to the church. Additional closures will begin starting at 12:15 PM, but they will not prevent departure from the church.
Midweek Eucharist Service on Wednesdays
Our Midweek Eucharist Service starts up again on Wednesday, September 2 at 12:15 PM.
Join us every Wednesday as we gather for a Communion service that starts at 12:15 PM and finishes by 1 PM that includes a brief meditation on Scripture followed by Holy Communion. All are invited.
Daily Morning Prayer on Zoom
Our online Morning Prayer gatherings begin again on Tuesday, September 8 at 8 AM. Morning Prayer meets online over Zoom, Monday through Saturday, and lasts about a half hour. We pray through the Morning Prayer service using the Book of Common Prayer, which is displayed on the computer screen.
Join by using the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/353321062?pwd=SWVKTVFyMHFhK01SU1dBdlVMYVU2Zz09
Meeting ID: 353 321 062 Passcode: 537528
ALPHA Launch Party: Sunday, September 6
Join us in Stiller Hall following the morning service as we officially launch our next Alpha Course! We will share a time of hospitality and pray together for the Alpha team as they prepare to welcome guests this fall.
The Alpha Course begins Wednesday, September 16, and runs weekly from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM, and runs weekly until November 25.
Alpha provides participants with a free meal, short film, and plenty of time for discussion as they learn about the Christian faith in a relaxed environment. It is a wonderful opportunity to make friends and grow in the faith. It is especially designed for inviting others who may not have spent a lot of time in church.
There is still time to register! Sign up yourself and/or invite a friend, family member, or neighbour to take the course with you. Invitation postcards are available at the back of the church.
Don't miss the launch! Come celebrate with us, pray for the Alpha team, and help build excitement for the course ahead.
Global Week of Prayer - September 6 to 13
The 24-7 Prayer Movement is inviting the Global Church to pray non-stop the week of September 6–13 for the Global Week of Prayer.
In a divided world, we sense God’s invitation to unite across national borders and denominational lines to lift up the name of Jesus. We are inviting communities around the globe to join in on a whole week of unbroken, day-and-night prayer. (24-7 Prayer Website)
St Peter & St Paul’s will not have a 24-7 prayer room set up, but we do encourage our people to pray. We may not be able to reach the goal of 24-7 prayer for the week, but we can participate to the degree that we are able. Consider signing up to pray for an hour or more during the Global Week of Prayer, September 6-13. To join with others in prayer at St Peter & St Paul’s, along with others around the world, sign up here:
https://pray.24-7prayer.com/signup/d9cac4
We will share themes and prayer ideas from 24-7 Prayer and from Pray Ottawa in the next couple of weeks. If you would like to join with others to pray, you could consider neighbourhood prayer walks, meeting with others in a home or deciding together to pray in your own home at the same time.
If you would like more information about the week, please take a look at the 24-7 Prayer site here: https://www.24-7prayer.com/weekofprayer/
"Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work." Oswald Chambers
Women’s Ministry Potluck Breakfast
The women of the church are invited to a women’s potluck breakfast on Saturday, September 19. This will be a wonderful time of food and fellowship and a great chance to get to know others. We will meet at 9:30 AM. You can sign up using the link here or on our Website.
Thursday Morning Online Bible Study begins September 17
The Thursday morning Bible study will be resuming on September 17 at 10:45 AM ending at noon. We meet on Zoom, so no need to find parking downtown! Our leader, Karen Bergenstein, will send out the Zoom link to those who wish to join. This fall (and for the foreseeable future), we will be looking at the book of Daniel, so it would be helpful to read through it before we begin. If you are considering joining the Bible study, or if you would like more information, please contact Karen at karen.bergenstein@gmail.com.
Life @ St P & P’s Course –Sundays, from September 13 to October 25, at 9 AM
We will be offering a 6-week class designed for those who are new to our parish and interested in learning more about what it means to follow Jesus in the Anglican way. The course will begin on Sunday, September 13 at 9 AM in Stiller Hall. We will take a break on Thanksgiving Sunday, and finish up with a Luncheon on Sunday, October 25 at 12:45 PM. This class will focus on our core values, our approach to interpreting and applying scripture, Anglican worship and discipleship and membership. Register here.
Ephesians Course - Thursdays, from September 17 to December 3, at 6 PM
Pastor Ben will be leading an 11-week course focused on Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Unlike many of Paul’s letters, Ephesians does not focus on any obvious pastoral issues, rather Paul gives us a big-picture view of what God has done for us in Christ, and how to live into the fullness of this new reality. The letter is a masterful work of art, made up of praise, prayers, theological statements, and practical implications for daily life. Our time together will be a mix of teaching, discussion, and prayer. There will be light refreshments. A study guide will be provided. Download it here or in ‘Resources’ on our website. Please register here.
Seeking Dresser Donations for Student Housing at 77 Gloucester
As you may know, our 77 Gloucester property is leased to Augustine College, where it serves as a Christian student residence. In preparation for the upcoming school year, the college is looking for donations of 4-drawer dressers (approximately 30" wide and in good condition) to help furnish the student rooms. If you have a dresser you would be willing to donate, or if you know someone who does, please reach out to Paul at operations@augustinecollege.org. Thank you for your support!
Looking for Sandwich Makers, Soup Makers, and Friday Night Volunteers
Our church runs a weekly drop-in on Friday evenings from 7 PM to 9 PM called A Place To Go. This ministry gives us the opportunity to provide Christian hospitality to our neighbours in Centretown and it provides a place for food, fellowship, community, and prayer for those who may not have anywhere else to go.
We depend on a large number of volunteers to make this ministry happen. A team of about seven volunteers (different ones each week) including a team leader prepares Stiller Hall, the drinks, and the food for serving. We pray together before opening the doors at 7 PM and then serve our guests. We have a lot of fun and get plenty of exercise! We also spend time in the kitchen washing dishes, running them through the sanitizer and putting them away.
In addition to our in-person volunteers, we rely on a team of soup makers and sandwich makers. Our sandwich makers make four loaves of sandwiches at home and then drop them off at the church once a month. Sometimes, sandwich makers who live close to one other will bring one another’s sandwiches. Those making sandwiches can submit grocery receipts to the church for reimbursement.
A Place To Go is in need of people who are willing to make sandwiches once a month, make a batch of soup once a month, and who are willing to volunteer at the church from 6 PM to 9:30 PM once a month.
If you would like to learn more about A Place To Go or volunteering, please click here or contact the church office.
Meals Ministry
Do you like to cook or buy and deliver meals? Our Meal Train Ministry is looking for people to cook and deliver meals. Providing meals is a practical way of supporting others during a challenging time. It is a real blessing to receive a meal following surgery or recovering from an illness. It is also a wonderful gift to young families after the birth of a new baby. If you are interested in joining the team or learning more about this ministry, please email church office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
This week is our last week of Jr Church being on break. Jr Church will return on Sunday, September 6. Please make sure to register your children for the new school year. We need a new registration form each fall.
Jr Church Registration for children born 2015-2022 can be found here.
Nursery Registration for children born 2023-2026 can be found here.
For this Sunday, children are invited to remain in the Sanctuary with their families during the service. There are activity sheets at the back of the sanctuary for them.
Our Nursery space is open but not staffed. Parents are welcome to bring their children into the nursery but must remain with their child at all times. Nursery is for children up to age 4 only. Should older children need to leave the Sanctuary, they are invited to use the library or Stiller Hall with a parent.
We look forward to gathering together again on September 6.
Youth Group Registration
Youth Group will start back up on Sunday, September 13, with doors opening at 5:45 PM and youth starting at 6 PM. All youth in grades 7 through 12 are welcome to join. All families need to have filled out the registration forms for Grades 7 & 8 and Grades 9-12 for the 2026-27 school year before they attend youth group. For more information and to register your youth, please fill out the form on our website or here.
Young Adults Wednesday Potluck
Our young adults' Wednesday night potluck is back for the fall! This group is for adults in their 20s and 30s and is a chance to enjoy food and fellowship and study the Bible together. They meet from 6 PM to 8 PM on Wednesdays in the Parish library. Plan to join and bring a dish to share. Please contact the church office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com if you have any questions or would like to be added to the email list.
Hospitality Team
Thinking you would like to volunteer somewhere, but are afraid of making a regular commitment? The Hospitality Team may be for you!
The Hospitality Team hosts Hospitality Hours after church, receptions, potlucks, and other parish events in Stiller Hall. You are welcome to join us once a year, once in a blue moon, or every time we host an event. You are welcome even if baking is not your thing. You can set out dishes, plate cookies, put jugs of water in the fridge, bring dirty dishes into the kitchen, help load or unload the dishwasher –there are lots of different things to do. You will receive an email when there is an upcoming event, and you can respond or ignore, depending on your availability. Join the team by signing up here.
CHURCH RESOURCES
Church Office: The church office is open from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM Tuesdays through Thursdays. You can reach the office by phone at 613-235-1636 or by email at admin@peterpaulottawa.com.
Worship: We gather together for worship at 10:30 AM on Sundays, both in-person at the church and online on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/StPandPOttawa/)
Please use the Worship Guide to follow along with the service. You can join us in person at 152 Metcalfe Street.
Parking: There is a paid lot directly behind the church on Gloucester Street that offers all-day parking at a flat rate on Sundays. For street parking, please check posted signs and pay stations.
Online: Check out our Facebook page for livestreams of our services, audio recordings of our sermons, and other news and posts. You can listen to our Parish podcast and sermons on your favourite podcast app by searching for “peterpaulottawa” and subscribing. And there is also our Website where you can listen to our sermons and podcasts, sign up for events, and read an extended cut of the weekly parish update.
Global Week of Prayer | September 6-14
In a divided world, we sense God’s invitation to unite across national borders and denominational lines to lift up the name of Jesus. We are inviting communities around the globe to join in on a whole week of unbroken, day-and-night prayer.
Consider signing up to pray for an hour or more during the Global Week of Prayer, September 6-14. Register below.
Midweek Eucharist Service
Join us for our Midweek Eucharist Services on Wednesday at 12:15 PM. This is a spoken service and is a great way to spend some time in worship in the middle of your busy work week. Some of our major feast days (Saints' Days) are celebrated at these services. Everyone is welcome.
Alpha Launch Party | September 6
Join us in Stiller Hall following the morning service as we officially launch our next Alpha Course! We will share a time of hospitality and pray together for the Alpha team as they prepare to welcome guests this fall.
Young Adults Wednesday Potluck
Our young adults' Wednesday night potluck is back for the fall! This group is for adults in their 20s and 30s and is a chance to enjoy food and fellowship and study the Bible together. They meet from 6 PM to 8 PM on Wednesdays in the Parish library. Plan to join and bring a dish to share.
Women’s Potluck Breakfast | September 19
Saturday, September 19 at 9:30 AM
The women of the parish are invited to a potluck breakfast on Saturday, September 19 at 9:30 AM. Please join us for food, fellowship, and inspiration. Please register below.
Ephesians Course | September 17 to December 3
On Thursdays, starting September 17 at 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Pastor Ben will be leading an 11-week course focused on Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Unlike many of Paul’s letters, Ephesians does not focus on any obvious pastoral issues, rather Paul gives us a big-picture view of what God has done for us in Christ, and how to live into the fullness of this new reality. The letter is a masterful work of art, made up of praise, prayers, theological statements, and practical implications for daily life.
Our time together will be a mix of teaching, discussion, and prayer. There will be light refreshments. A study guide will be provided.
The curriculum will be:
Ephesians 1:1-14 - Grace and Peace Revealed (part I) - September 17
Ephesians 1:15-23 - Grace and Peace Revealed (part II) – September 24
Ephesians 2:1-10 - Saved by Grace – October 1
Ephesians 2:11-22 - The New Humanity of Grace and Peace – October 8
Ephesians 3:1-13 - Paul’s Mission of Grace and Peace – October 15
Pastor Ben will be away October 22 at our annual Synod
Ephesians 3:14-21 - Experiencing God’s Grace and Peace – October 29
Ephesians 4:1-16 - The Goal of Grace - November 5
Ephesians 4:17-32 - Walking by Grace (part I) – November 12
Ephesians 5:1-21 - Walking by Grace (part II) – November 19
Ephesians 5:21-6:9 - Manifesting Grace in Our Relationships – November 26
Ephesians 6:10-24 - Standing Firm in the Grace and Peace of God – December 3
Life @ St P&P Course | September 13 to October 25
We will be offering a 6-week class designed for those who are new to our parish and interested in learning more about what it means to follow Jesus in the Anglican way.
The course will begin on Sunday, September 13 at 9 AM in Stiller Hall. We will take a break on Thanksgiving Sunday, and finish up with a Luncheon on Sunday, October 25 at 12:45 PM.
This class will focus on our core values, our approach to interpreting and applying scripture, Anglican worship and discipleship and membership.
The Alpha Course
Wednesdays, 6 PM - 8:30 PM (September 16 - December 2)
ALPHA is designed to be a safe place to learn about the Christian faith in a relaxed, friendly environment. Over the span of 10 weeks, we explore a number of questions like: Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How and why should I pray? Does God heal today? Each evening we share a meal together, watch a video, and then spend time in discussion. ALPHA is also a great way to connect with new friends, build community, and grow in your relationship with God.
The course will run on Wednesdays, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM (September 16 - December 2) at St Peter & St Paul's Anglican Church.