Good Day St. Paul's,

This week we are only livestreaming our service and will not be meeting in person. To find our live-stream services, please visit our website and visit the Events tab and click on the “St. Paul’s Sunday Service” event to find links to our YouTube Channel; or CLICK THIS LINK.

As always, please read on for more announcements.

Sincerely,
Asher Hébert
Office Administrator
St. Paul's Anglican Church - Edmonton

Letter from Rev. Myron

Dear People of St Paul,

I trust you are staying warm and well while we are experiencing the finest weather Edmonton winters have to offer and while our city and province are undergoing serious threat from the Omicron variant of COVID-19.Regrettably, I am writing to announce to you that we will NOT be meeting in-person this week - Sunday, January 9, 2022. We WILL meet on Sunday (the 9th), but the service will be streamed online only.

This decision was difficult to make, but we are making it in order to ensure everyone's safety and to minimize the potential of spreading the COVID-19 virus throughout the parish and our community. Early in the week the Parish Office was contacted by a member of our Parish, who attended church last Sunday (the 2nd), to let us know that they had just discovered they had been exposed to COVID-19 by someone the previous Saturday (the 1st). This person later contacted us to let us know that they have since tested positive for COVID-19. I spoke this morning (the 8th) with Vestry and the Wardens and the consensus is that we need to close for this week (Sunday the 9th). We are very happy with the parishioner who kept us informed and followed guidelines! We also wish to remind our parish that if you have symptoms that you should not attend church and should follow government guidelines regarding testing, isolation, restrictions, and safety.

Our concern is not to put anyone at risk or to spark an outbreak in our community. We know for certain that someone was in church last Sunday who was positive for COVID-19 but we do not know whom else - if anyone - was infected. So closing for this week seems necessary. We will then make a decision this upcoming week about next week. Please keep an eye on your email this next week as we will be communicating with you about the status of upcoming Sundays!

Over and over I am struck by how wonderful it is to serve in this Parish and I am bowled over by your commitment (to Christ and to each other) and your generosity. I find dealing with this stuff challenging and very frustrating, and I am sure you must as well. As some of our Vestry highlighted, it is a tricky balance we have to try to strike. Staying open is important for both practical and spiritual reasons, but also for psychological ones. Please continue to be in prayer with me about these issues and pray that we will be as "wise as serpents," as Jesus says in Mt 10.16, but also "as harmless as doves."

Grace and Peace,

Myron+ 
The Rev Myron Penner, PhD
Rector
The Anglican Parish of St Paul’s, Edmonton

Community Corner for Sunday, January 9

  • Wondering about ways to look after your neighbourhood? Edmonton’s Neighbourhood Watch program could be just the thing you are looking for. Did you know that just by increasing your awareness of issues you can make a difference in the crime rates in your neighbourhood! Please visit https://enwatch.ca/ for more information, programs and ways to help.
  • Save the date: Keep the evening of March 1 free for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. More information will be available later this month. We are hoping for an in-person event, and you will have many options to make it fun and connect with our church family.
  • Don’t forget! We are looking forward to our CHURCH RETREAT May 13-15, 2022. If you would like to be involved in hosting the weekend, please let us know. We are also accepting ideas for themes to cover and activities to host.
  • Ten ways to support yourself and your community right now:
    1.      Take time to pray
    2.      Eat well and get plenty of rest
    3.      Get outside in the sunlight as much as you can (even in the extreme cold, dressed appropriately)
    4.      Protect yourself and others from COVID – follow the guidelines laid out by AHS; Stay informed and stay calm
    5.      Check in with friends and family if they need anything, be sure to ask for help with things you need too.
    6.      Support the local food bank
    7.      Give blood if you are able
    8.      Volunteer your time and expertise
    9.      Support local businesses, schools and childcare centers
    10.   Provide support to frontline health workers and first responders

Coats at Street Entrance
There is a section of the coat rack at the west-facing street entrance that is reserved for storing coats for those in need during these frigid temperatures. If you have coats or supplies to donate, please place them in that section and notify Nathaniel or Michelle Schurek. If you do not wish for your coat to be taken, please hang on the north-facing alley-entrance coat rack. 

AGM - February 6, 2022
Please plan to join us for our Annual General Meeting following the service on February 6. This meeting includes key updates and announcements regarding the parish of St. Paul’s. We hope to see you there!

AGM Reports Due January 26
If you oversee any ministry area, please submit your reports on or before January 26. We look forward to seeing how God has been working through these ministry areas.

REACH Presentation - Fusion Canada
This week we will have a presentation from Terry Berard regarding Fusion Canada. To find out more information, please visit their website at https://fusioncanada.ca/ and watch their video HERE

Church Retreat - May 13-15, 2022
Our annual church retreat is being scheduled for May 13-15, 2022. Please contact Michelle if you are interested in helping out, hosting, or involved in making it happen!

Daily Morning Prayer
Beginning January 3! Please join us every day at 8am for morning prayer on Zoom, except Thursdays and Sundays. Every Thursday we will meet at St. Paul’s in the Chapel to pray and discuss Joan Chittister’s Wisdom Distilled from the Daily. For morning prayer, we are using the Morning Prayer Service in the BAS. If you would like more information, please talk to Myron or contact the office. The Zoom information is included here and is also available on the website. Meeting ID: 890 1287 7222. Passcode: 000636. URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89012877222?pwd=djd6aW13NER6UmNUQ0hTbWtvSW56QT09

Directory Update
We are updating our directory and email contact lists for 2022 and want to make sure we have up-to-date information for you and your family. Please do this even if your information is unchanged. Please fill out the below and give it to the office before the end of January.

Volunteering
If you have been thinking about getting involved in our church life and the services, please contact the office. This is a great way to get to know other parishioners!

2022 Offering Envelopes 
Envelopes are now available for pick up from the Office. If you would like envelopes or would like to stop getting envelopes, please contact the office. 

Contacting the Office? 
Having trouble emailing the office? Some people have stated that emailing the office didn’t work. If that’s happening for you, please delete and re-add the church as a contact in your address book with office@stpauls-anglican.ca. You can also email Asher directly at asher@stpauls-anglican.ca 

Youth and Kid’s Club 
Youth Group is for those in Grades 7 to 12. Led by our Youth Director, Abbi Harding, the youth meet most Sunday mornings during the service. There is a calendar already available for other activities that are planned for the upcoming year.

Sunday Service Music - January 9
Here I Am To Worship
Light Of The World
Lord Most High
On Jordan's Bank
A Christmas Alleluia
Light Has Come
How Great Thou Art

Service Volunteers Reminder for Sunday, January 9
Music/Sound: Adele's Team / Asher
Service Team: B Team
Prayers of the People: Nancy W-S.
Chapel Prayer: Dudley and Pat
Kids: Carol R.

Downloads