Parish Update
THE COLLECT FOR THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your grace that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
It is no secret that during the summer months, attendance at church tends to take a dip. We aren’t surprised by it and we understand that more people are travelling this time of year.
Because of this seasonal drop in attendance, sometimes churches have to remind their congregations to continue to give tithes and offerings during the summer months because “we still have to pay the bills,” no matter how many or how few people are in church.
While that is true and I would encourage people to keep up with their financial giving, today I have a different reminder for you: Please keep up with your prayers for the church.
As much as our church depends on the financial generosity of our congregation, we also greatly depend on the spiritual blessings and power that comes from your prayers. Your prayers change things for the better.
When occasionally someone at the church tells me, “I pray for you every day,” it is impossible for me to adequately thank them for that great blessing. How many times have I been spared from harm, had doors for the Gospel open up for me, been given divine wisdom, and received the Lord’s peace because someone was praying for me? I will never know this side of Heaven.
But I do know that the church needs your prayers. The clergy need your prayers. The staff, parish council members, volunteers, and the many ministries of our church need your prayers. The people who worship with you on Sunday mornings – both in person and online – need your prayers. Those who are ill, who are grieving, who may feel far from God need your prayers.
The apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament and was involved in spreading the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean, often asked for prayer. He knew he wasn’t involved in a solo project, but in a mission from the Lord and that the Lord was inviting a whole community of people to be part of it.
He wrote to the believers in Colossae,
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:2-4).
And so I beg you: Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us.
If you are not sure what to pray, there are some wonderful prayers for the church that you can find in The Book of Common Prayer or by clicking here. You also can ask the Holy Spirit to help you, as Paul wrote to the Romans,
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer during this summer season. And if you have prayer needs to share with us, please let us know by calling or emailing the church office. We would be happy to pray for you.
UPCOMING EVENTS – Mark Your Calendars
August 2: Sunday service at 10:30 AM. (Streamed online)
August 7: Visitation (11 AM) and Funeral (12 PM) for Laura Eldridge at the church.
August 17 to 21: VBS Kids Summer Camp for Children. Registration is FULL. Register on our waitlist here.
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.
Fred Bigham (1942 - 2026)
Fred Bigham, father of Anne Bigham and friend of our church, died on July 24. Fred, and his wife, Laraine, attended Alpha at our church and befriended a number of people in our congregation. A funeral service will take place in Peterborough on August 6. Please keep Laraine; Anne; and Anne’s sisters, Melissa and Emily; in your prayers. Full details can be found here.
Laura Eldridge (1924 - 2026)
Laura Eldridge, a longtime member of our parish, died on Tuesday, July 21, at the age of 101. Laura was a faithful Christian who served our church in a variety of ways, including leading the altar guild for many years.
Visitation will take place at the church at 11 AM on Friday, August 7, with her funeral following at 12 PM. There will be a reception afterwards in Stiller Hall. All are invited. Laura’s obituary and full service information can be found here.
ALPHA course - Wednesdays, September 16 to December 2, at 6 PM
We are excited to announce that we will be running the ALPHA course this fall, starting Wednesdays, September 16 (6 PM – 8:30 PM). ALPHA is designed to be a safe place to learn about the Christian faith in a relaxed, friendly environment over a meal.
Over the span of 11 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.
Please pray about how you might take part in ALPHA and who you could invite to come with you. We have postcards at the back of the church you can use to invite friends. If you’ve taken the course before, consider how you can support this outreach ministry through prayer, serving as a table helper, making and serving food, or perhaps taking the course with a friend. If you have any questions, contact the church office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com or 613-235-1636. Please register here.
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. Please register here.
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 the 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.
We also welcome those who can make a batch of soup in advance, freeze it, and drop it off to be used for a future Friday. Please mark soup containers with “PTG,” the date it was made, name and primary ingredients in the soup, your name, and if it is vegetarian.
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
During the month of August, our Nursery space will be 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.
Jr Church volunteers are taking a break during the month of August. Children will remain in the Sanctuary for the Sunday service. Should children need to leave the Sanctuary they are invited to use the library.
Our full Children’s Ministry program will resume on September 6th. We continue to pray our families will have a safe and relaxing summer!
VBS Summer Camp - August 17 to 21 - FULL
VBS Summer Camp will take place again this summer and will run August 17-21 from 9 AM to 2 PM. VBS was designed to reach children who may not otherwise come to church and hear about Jesus. We are pleased to announce that camp is now full, with almost 50% of our registrants coming from outside of our church community. There is currently a waitlist. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Carolyn Vanderheide. Our theme this year: Jesus is the Light of the World. Camp is for children born 2015-2021. Registration for the waitlist can be found here. Parents/Guardians will be notified if space becomes available.
Playgroup on Summer Break
Playgroup is taking a pause over the summer months. We will resume gathering in September. Praying for a safe and fun-filled summer break for all our children and parents.
Online Thursday morning Bible Study on Summer Break
The Thursday morning Bible Study is taking a break for the summer. We will resume in September to study the book of Daniel.
Online Morning Prayer on Summer Break
We are taking a break for the summer. We will resume on September 8.
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.