Parish Update
COLLECT FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY
O God, you know that we are set in the midst of many grave dangers, and because of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant that your strength and protection may support us in all dangers and carry us through every temptation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Unprecedented. Remember that word?
It was the word that was on everyone’s lips during the Covid pandemic and the shutdowns. We had never been through anything like it before and so, to us, it was unprecedented.
That word seems strangely relevant again as our country and our world face challenges that we could not have imagined just over a year ago. The prime minister recently described the current changes taking place on the international stage by saying, “We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.”
Closer to home, the federal public service has put thousands of its employees on notice about layoffs it plans to make. We know this action affects members of our own congregation. And all of us have people in our lives – friends and family – who face their own personal, unprecedented difficulties.
The combination of all these things can cause us to feel anxious, overwhelmed, angry or sad. And so, in the midst of such upheavals and the big feelings we may be carrying, what can we do to remain faithful followers of Jesus?
Pray.
Yes, I realize that this answer may sound overly simplistic or even counterintuitive, but it is absolutely the best place to start. Our anxieties and concerns may drive us to consume more information, share our opinions on social media, and organize with like-minded people – and none of those are necessarily bad things to do. They can be useful when directed by God toward the right goals. However, to remain faithful to the Lord, we need to begin with prayer.
I invite you right now to pause and take a break. Breathe. Take a posture of prayer (sitting, standing, kneeling, laying prostrate) and meditate on these words:
Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)
Let their truth sink in. Remember that the Lord is the God of life: a good God who creates us in love, who sustains us by his Holy Spirit, who redeems us through Jesus Christ his son, and who has promised not to leave us or forsake us.
What is unprecedented for us is not unprecedented or even a surprise to the Lord. Our problems and concerns – whether very personal or on an international scale – are not too much for him. When we lose trust in people, institutions or even our own understanding, we can still trust in the Lord. He is trustworthy, faithful, and true.
Return to Him again and again, everyday, in every circumstance. This is where we can find our peace in the midst of the storms we must walk through.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
A Collect for the Discouraged and Downcast:
O God, almighty and merciful, you heal the broken-hearted, and turn the sadness of the sorrowful to joy, Let your fatherly goodness be upon all whom you have made. Remember in pity all those who are this day destitute, homeless, elderly, infirm, or forgotten. Bless the multitude of your poor. Lift up those who are cast down. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs.
Cheer with hope all who are discouraged and downcast, and by your heavenly grace preserve from falling those whose poverty tempts them to sin. Though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they are perplexed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of him who for our sakes became poor, your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
(The Book of Common Prayer, 2019, p. 663)
UPCOMING EVENTS – Mark Your Calendars
January 31: Trivia Night at 7 PM. Register here.
February 1: Sunday service at 10:30 AM with Jr Church. (Streamed online)
February 14: Choral Evensong at 5 PM.
February 17: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, 5 PM to 7 PM. Register here.
February 18: Ash Wednesday Services at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 7 PM.
February 21: Women’s Potluck Breakfast at 9:30 AM. Register here.
February 22: Vestry Meeting at 12:30 PM.
May 29-31: Parish Retreat at Camp IAWAH
Containers leftover from the Christmas dinner are available for pick-up.
We have collected cookie tins and other containers left over from the Christmas Dinner. They are at the back of the church in a box to be picked up by their owners
Trivia Night at St P&P’s - Saturday, January 31 at 7 PM
Teens and adults are invited to join in a fun evening of Trivia and invite friends (no need to be an expert or form a team) at 7 PM on Saturday, January 31 in the Stiller Hall. There is no cost, but attendees are welcome to bring treats to share. Contact Kris Nanda at kkhnanda@hotmail.com if you have any questions or need more information. Please RSVP by January 28 for planning purposes. Sign up here
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper - Tuesday, February 17 from 5 PM to 7 PM
We are soon entering the Church season of Lent, which is a season of penitence and fasting, a time to repent of our sins and to intentionally draw closer to Jesus. Among the ways that Christians traditionally prepared for Lent included confessing their sins on the day before Lent. In Old English, they were shriven, or absolved of their sins and thus, the day before Ash Wednesday became known as Shrove Tuesday.
Another practice among Christians through the centuries was Carnival, which literally means "farewell to meat." During Carnival celebrations, people would use up the ingredients that they would be abstaining from during Lent -- meat, dairy products, fat, and eggs -- by having feasts. In North America, we know this by the name Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday." While different cultures would create various pastries, omelettes, and soups, the British traditionally made pancakes. And that is why we still hold Shrove Tuesday pancake suppers to this day. It is also a great opportunity for us to fellowship together and to extend hospitality to our neighbours in Centretown.
We hope you will join us for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at the church on Tuesday, February 17, from 5 PM to 7 PM. It is free and open to all.
We are in need of extra griddles! If you could lend us yours, please put your name on it, and leave it downstairs outside the kitchen on the designated table. Please sign up here.
Women’s Potluck Breakfast - Saturday, February 21 at 9:30 AM
The women of the parish are welcomed to our next women’s potluck breakfast on Saturday, February 21 at 9:30 AM. Laurie LeChasseur will be our speaker. Please register here.
Meal 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 the church office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
Music is an important part of our ministry to children. From time to time, the children lead the church in a hymn or worship song. We are fortunate to have one of our worship leaders, Janet Carioni, who will incorporate the children’s singing into the first worship set. On February 8, children will be invited to come forward to sing This is My Father’s World before heading down to Jr Church. We have been taking the first ten minutes of our time in Jr Church to practice over the past two weeks. Our final practice is this Sunday.
Our Nursery Blessings begin a new Winter Unit this week - Life of Jesus. This week, they will hear the story of Simon and His Boat.
Our Chapel Lambs hear how Jesus proclaims the Good News. This week’s big idea: Jesus is the Saviour sent to free us from sin.
Kingdom Kids continue to explore the Question: What is the Gospel? This Sunday, our fifth week in the unit, the group will learn about the promise of Eternal Life. Because Jesus rose again to life, He defeated death and made a way for us to be with God forever!
The Lions of Judah continue to look at the Apostles’ Creed. This week, the focus is on Jesus God and Man. Jesus’ incarnation declares Jesus to be fully God and fully man. God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, took on human nature and was born to a historic Jewish woman! The account of Jesus’ baptism helps us to unpack the incarnation by revealing His humanity and His deity.
Registration Forms
Junior Church registration for the 2025/2026 school year can be found here.
Junior Church is for children born between 2014-2021.
Nursery registration for Nursery can be found here.
Nursery is for children born between 2022-2026.
Playgroup on Wednesdays
Playgroup has a new time! Our group will now gather from 10 AM to 12 noon on Wednesdays. Playgroup is for parents and caregivers of children up to the age of 5. This has become an important time of connecting during a season of life that can be isolating.
Online Thursday morning Bible Study - Thursdays at 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM
The Thursday morning Bible Study is studying the Book of Judges. We meet online via Zoom every Thursday from 10:45 AM to 12 PM. If you are interested in joining, please contact the church office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com
Online Morning Prayer Monday - Saturday at 8 AM
Join us every morning (Monday - Saturday) at 8 AM to take part in Morning Prayer over Zoom. We gather virtually for about a half hour to worship the Lord, read Scripture, pray, and enjoy Christian fellowship. It is a wonderful way to begin the day. We use the 2019 Book of Common Prayer as our guide, but you do not need to own a prayer book to participate; all the words are on the screen. If you are interested in joining, please contact the church office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com
Volunteer Opportunities
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.
A Place To Go
For those looking for more of a regular commitment, our church runs a weekly drop-in on Friday evenings from 7 PM to 9 PM called A Place To Go.
A Place To Go is in need of people who are willing to make sandwiches once a month; who are willing to make a large 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 speak with Pastor Michelle.
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.