ST. JAMES’ JOURNEY APRIL 2020

Volume 15, Issue 3 April 2020

Our Vision - A strong faith community, reflecting God's Love to those around us. Our Mission - To serve and share Jesus Christ Our Values - Faith, Compassion, Integrity, Respect

Welcome to the Church of St. James’, Orillia Whether you are a follower of Christ, or on a spiritual journey, all

are welcome to this Holy and Sacred place.

An Easter Message from Canon John

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! May his grace and peace be with you. May he fill our hearts with joy. This is the Easter ‘gathering of the community’, which is used from Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost. For some of us, the idea of the gathering of the community rings hollow because we are not sitting in St. James’. We are not in that holy and sacred place that brings us together each Sunday. We cannot listen to our choir, the organ, or participate in the Eucharist. One parishioner said that ‘it just wouldn’t be church unless I can be there on a Sunday.’ I can tell you that all the clergy of St. James’ share in your frustration. We also deeply miss the spiritual and litur-gical rhythm of the week. In our minds we know that it is important to continue to practice physical distancing and, in many cases, self-isolation. All of us know that we need to protect the most vulnerable and our health care workers. However, our hearts tell us that we connect with God when we are in church. I want to remind you that the thing that brings us together as a community is more than coming together on a Sunday for worship. It is even better than new technology and social media, although of course this has been es-sential in allowing us to be in communication with one another. I think it is captured in these words for the Collect (Gathering Prayer) for Easter Sunday: God of glory, by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death: fill your church with faith and hope, for a new day has dawned and the way of life stands before us; through Jesus Christ, our risen Saviour. Amen. Common Worship: Additional Collects (2004) alt. As a community of faithful people that proclaim a belief in the resurrected Christ, we are knitted together in the fabric of faith. Easter Day reminds each one of us that we are part of a mystery, and that a new day has dawned, and a way of life stands before us. So even when we are disconnected as a physical community, we are still bound together in our deeply rooted faith in the resurrected Christ – and this gives me security and hope. I ask each one of you to read John 20:1-18, which is the Gospel for Easter Sunday. Remember that all of the dis-ciples (both male and female) were in a state of confusion, anxiety, fear, and doubt. For them, it was caused by their belief that Jesus was dead and lost to them forever; for us, in the Spring of 2020, it is the fear that this pan-demic will continue and cause us more suffering. In one way or another, we are all running towards the empty tomb, not knowing what to expect. Yet just like the disciples, we have the gift of faith and it will sustain us. Remember, we are not alone, Jesus walks with us, he promised he would. Yours in Christ, Rev. Canon John Anderson

St. James’ Journey - Volume 15, Issue 3 —April 2020 – page 2

Saving Church Photos I have been taking down the older framed photos in the church and digitally scanning them to preserve copies for future use. The museum has been allowing me to use their high-resolution scanner to get the best copies possible. A few photos have damage issues. At least two are dirty, on one the black emulsion is turning brown, and on this 1993 choir photo the image is flaking off the paper. The older photos cannot otherwise be replaced. However, we would like to replace this recent photo but do not know the name of the photographer or who has the negative. Can you help us replace this photo? I am still looking for more photos from the black and white era.

By Fred Blair

Heritage Project

FaithWorks and Your Lenten Duty

Thank goodness we organized an event for FaithWorks that did not involve a communal gathering of any sort. This year’s FaithWorks task can be done entirely in your own home. Hopefully you have either picked up the quiz at church or printed it off from March newsletter and are busily checking your task each day. Your contribution to FaithWorks can be returned any time after April 8 to the church office. Please put your contribution in an envelope marked FaithWorks 2020 including your name and address for receipt. Meanwhile stay healthy and positive.

It was a great evening when the St. James’ Walkers participated in the fundraising walk, “Building Hope”, for the erection of a new shelter in Orillia There were seven of us from St James.’ Bill Manley, Joan Gordon, Joyce Hird, Hugh Rowlinson, Judy Forma, Michael Zelding and me (Rosemarie Freeman) walking. Our team raised $2,981. Although we didn’t come up to last year’s total, we did our best and had some fun doing it. Many thanks to all who sponsored us! Be sure to join us next year!

Rosemarie Freeman

Coldest Night of the Year Outcome

Keep informed from the World Health Organization for current, factorial information on COVID-19 by clicking the link: https://www.who.int/

St. James’ Journey - Volume 15, Issue 3 —April 2020 – page 3

Vestry Motion 2020—Taking Action on Climate Change

We, the vestry of St. James’ Orillia in the diocese of Toronto, recognize that there is a global climate emergency. We acknowledge that all sectors of society, including gov-ernment, business, churches and other non-profit organizations, and private individu-als, have an obligation to do what they can to minimize their contribution to climate change. We call on the government of Canada to commit to the following:

Reduce public financing of the fossil fuel industry (oil, gas, coal)

Confirm and enforce Canada’s climate and energy policy to align with the Paris Accord emission targets to do our part to limit the rise in global average tempera-tures below 1.5 degrees Celsius

Support a balanced transition to a low carbon economy through investment in re-newable, off the grid energy through investment in renewable energy sources and infrastructure, energy efficient technologies, and skills development ad retraining for high quality, sustainable jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Where possible, assist indigenous, northern and coastal communities and other vulnerable populations, to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on their local environments.

As Christians, we have a particular obligation to care for the earth as God’s beloved creation as well as for the most vulnerable among human family. Accordingly, we also commit our parish to the following goals: 1. Reducing our parish energy use by 5% 2. Eliminating (or reducing) by 90% our use of single-use plastic products 3. Expanding our community garden 4. Planting several more trees on our church property in 2020 5. Committing, as parishioners, to shop at local thrift shops at least 1x annually

Green Thumbs Wanted! For

Our Parish Vegetable Garden Team

JOIN OUR PARISH ECO-TEAM!

We need your Time and Talent to expand our garden for community use.

We need: Builders of raised boxes and planters Waterers Weekly tenders Harvesters Limited meetings Sign up for specific duties when you are available Please contact church office

With your active support we CAN fight Climate Change!

St. James' Approves a modified Diocesan Vestry Motion. During our Vestry meeting of February 2020 the following Diocesan vestry motion re climate change was endorsed with a few modifications. As parishioners we need to take particular note of the section at the end noting what we at St. James' are committing to in this regard. Hopefully in the coming months we can move towards accomplishing these goals.

St. James’ Journey - Volume 15, Issue 3 —April 2020 – page 4

Upcoming Events

ALL FUTURE EVENTS ARE PENDING A message from The Rev. Colin Bowler about confirmation classes:

I’m afraid we need to put our confirma-tion classes on hold for now. I was hop-ing to offer something online but it has become clear that this isn’t going to work for at least half of the class. As well, we cannot be certain that Bishop Fenty will be available for the scheduled confirma-tion service.

Thank you for your understanding and please be assured that we will revisit this as your confirmation remains a priority for me.

St. James’ Journey - Volume 15, Issue 3 —April 2020 – page 5

Q. What is your hometown? A. John is from Englehart, ON and Christine hails from Sudbury, ON. Q. What about family? A. John’s three sons, 7 grandchildren and 5 greatgrandchildren have firm roots in Englehart. Christine has two sons, in Barrie and Sudbury, with 3 grandchildren. Q. How did you start your career at St. James’? A. Christine arrived in Orillia first and started church shopping. St. James’ was l ove at first sight! Audrey and Ken Lee were the perfect welcoming hosts. Q. How did you meet? A. We had worked together in Sudbury and remained in touch when I separated from my former husband and moved away. Several years later, after the death of his wife Judy, our friendship turned into more. He moved here and one year later we were married in St. James’. Q. What are your favourite hobbies? A. John is an avid tractor fan and has rebuilt Fred – a 1950 Cockshutt 20. Garden ing and puttering are two more favourites. Christine is a jig-saw puzzle fanatic and music lover, especially hard rock. Q. What are your most favourite songs? A. John is a firm country fan so Mansion on the Hill by Hank Williams Sr. Christine rocks to ACDC Thunderstruck. Q. What does St. James’ mean to us? A. St. James’ is central in our lives, whether in public or in the background. The church rekindled faith in God and teaches us daily to become better people. Some days we learn the lesson, and some days we need a repeat.

“Lockdown” Yes, there is fear. Yes, there is isolation. Yes, there is panic buying. Yes, there is sickness. Yes, there is even death. But They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise you can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet the sky is no longer thick with fumes. But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi people are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood so that the elders may have someone to call on. Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary. All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting. All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way. All over the world peo-ple are waking up to a new reality to how big we really are. To how little control we really have. To what really matters. To Love. So, we pray and we remember that yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes, there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness. Yes, there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness. Yes, there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul. Yes, there is even death. But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. Today, breathe. Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic the birds are singing again. The sky is clearing, spring is coming, and we are always encompassed by Love. Open the windows of your soul and though you may not be able to touch across the empty square, Sing.

Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM March 13th 2020

John and Christine Hager

This Newsletter has been sponsored by Cheryl Behan

St. James’ Journey - Volume 15, Issue 3 —April 2020 – page 6

Are you ill? In the Hospital? Now in a nursing home? If you or someone you know from our congregation is ill, in the hospital or moved to a nursing home. Please let us know by calling the church office. We have no other way of knowing as the hospital and nursing homes are no longer permitted to give this information out due to the privacy act. Altar Flower Donations If you wish to have flowers at Easter or wish to dedicate the Palms to a loved one, please contact Kathy Parks or the church office at 705-325-2742. The following dates are available for flowers for special occasions or in memory of a loved one, the following dates are available April 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. Newsletter Sponsorship A valuable part of this monthly newsletter is the people who sponsor it each month. A donation of $100.00 will help with the costs of printing and then mailing out to those who cannot pick their newsletter up personally. To lessen this cost though, if you wish to receive your newsletter via e-mail you would receive it in colour and di-rectly to your home. Just advise Phyllis in the office of your e-mail address and you can be added to the list of receivers. Also if your group has upcoming events or you want to let folks know about your past events - please email to Nancy Noakes-Morrison at nancynoakesmorrison@gmail.com .In 2020 the newsletter will no longer be mailed. Copies available for pick up and on line via email. Book Discussion Group Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover is the book planned for our April 20th discussion. Tara’s story is her personal journey of growing up outside normal society and coming to a different understanding of the insulated world she grows up in and shedding her parents’ beliefs while moving forward, dealing with the numerous chal-lenges that entails. We will be meeting Monday morning at 10 a.m. at the Leacock Retirement Lodge in the Solarium. Please note meeting information is tentative and cannot be confirmed at this point. Fundscrip Twice a year we get a rebate cheque from Fundscrip. This month we received $1,500.00 as our first install-ment. This project costs us nothing, has a wonderful variety of participating stores, the cards have no expiry date, and they make great gifts for anyone in your family. You just hand in your order and payment (to St James' Church) on the first Sunday of the month and your cards will be given to you the following Sunday. This is a great way to plan a budget for the month. Please continue to support our beneficial fundraising project.

April Birthdays

Sylvia Baker

Andrew Hill

Leigh McCann,

Wendy Passmore

John Smith

ST. JAMES’ ANGLICAN CHURCH 58 Peter St. North, Box 272, Orillia, Ontario

L3V 6J6 325-2742 office@stjamesorillia.com

http://www.stjamesorillia.com Rector The Reverend Canon John Anderson

Priest-in-Charge The Reverend Colin Bowler

Editors: The Communications Committee

Compositor: Nancy Noakes-Morrison

Production: Phyllis Johnson

Circulation: Mary Staines, Empower Simcoe

April Calendar At this time we can not provide a

calendar of meeting times, events, programs, worship

services etc. due to the COVID-19