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A Story at Christmas
A Story at Christmas 2020 Sarah sat perched, somewhat precariously for her young age, on a tall wooden stool just behind and to the right of a large reception desk where her father sat as he welcomed the guests. There was a flurry of activity. One family was arriving right after the other. When…
Lessons and Carols from Coast to Coast
National Lessons and Carols The service of Lessons and Carols is one of the most widely-anticipated and well-known events during Advent. And yet, many may not experience this event locally, due to a number of physical worship spaces being temporarily closed due to public health protocols related to the pandemic. Anticipating this potential reality, General…
Advent III
Advent III As the new year of the Church unfolds, we now have entered the Third Sunday in Advent. This third Sunday is Gaudete. The Sunday for joy. It is hard to feel joyful in these times of COVD, but let us try. It is important. A time to count blessings. To be thankful. A…
Commentary for Advent III
Commentary for Advent III 13 December 2020 The texts for this week are: Isaiah 61:1-4, Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, and John 1:6-8, 19-28. Get the readings It snowed today. It was really heavy and wet, typical early winter snow-not cold enough to give us the powder we normally get. But it’s getting close to…
Church featured on banner in Buckhorn
St Matthew – St Aidan among local institutions featured on new banners On a very foggy 26 November, new banners were unveiled over the bridge in Buckhorn. The banners were commissioned as a Trail Town initiative by the Regional Tourism Organization. Maryls Kerkman reported in the Peterborough Examiner (online 6 December): At the event the…
Advent II
The Second Sunday of Advent PLEASE NOTE: This homily contains direct and indirect references to the Gospel passage. Having it fresh in your mind will be helpful for understanding and reflection. Advent is a time of expectation and of longing. The words of the Prophet Isaiah echo this kind of longing and expectation. “Every valley…
Commentary for Advent II 6 December
Commentary for Advent II 6 December 2020 The texts: Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, and Mark 1:1-8. Get the readings Isaiah 40:1-11 Isaiah was possibly written over a long period of time, running from the eighth century BCE to as late as the second century BCE. Most commentators would agree that the…
Commentary for Advent I 29 November
Commentary for Advent I 29 November 2020 This week’s texts: Isaiah 64.1-9, Psalm 80.1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1.3-9, and Mark 13.24-37. Get the readings Hello again! It’s a grey day today-typical November. It snowed on Sunday-10 cm.-and some of it’s still here. It’s supposed to warm up over the next several days, so that’ll probably…
Fond farewell to Helen Minten ODT
Fare thee well, dear Helen On the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost, 15 November, the people of St Matthew – St Aidan bade farewell to their dear friend and long-time parishioner, Helen Minten ODT. For six years, Helen has lived in Peterborough but made her faithful journey each Sunday to Buckhorn. “The drive worries me with…
“You that are blessed by my Father…”
“You that are blessed by my Father…” PLEASE NOTE: This homily contains direct and indirect references to the Gospel passage. Having it fresh in your mind will be helpful for understanding and reflection. Listen to this homily Jesus tells a story of a king who says, “When I was hungry, you gave me food. When…
Letter from Bishop Andrew — 13 November
13 November 2020 Dear Friends in Christ: Numbers. It feels like we have been tracking a lot of numbers lately. Polling numbers. Ballot counts. Attendance stats. Online views. Financial data. But of course, the numbers we’ve all been watching closely, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began, are the infection transmission rates.…
Message of hope from Archbishop Linda Nicholls – Primate
Message of hope from the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada Archbishop Linda Nicholls shares thoughts and reflections in this short video In this short video message, Archbishop and Primate Linda Nicholls reflects on the challenges we are facing as individuals and as a community of faith during this time of pandemic. The light on the…
Letter to the Diocese from Bishop Andrew
Letter to the Diocese from Bishop Andrew – 9 October 9 October 2020 Dear Friends in Christ, I recently had the privilege of dedicating a new stained-glass window at Grace Church on-the-Hill in Toronto. The window, located high in the chancel, depicts two heroes of our faith – Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the…
Parish keeps focus on outreach mission
Parish keeps focus on outreach mission In spite of the restrictions brought about as precautions against COVID-19, the people of St Matthew – St Aidan are keeping focus on their outreach mission. It is a parish priority to allocate a very significant portion of the annual parish budget to care for the poor and those…
Letter from Bishop Andrew
Letter to Diocese from Bishop Andrew 25 September Dear Friends in Christ, Yesterday, Diocesan Council reconvened for the first time since March 26. Council had delegated to Executive Board and the Trusts committee its duties and responsibilities during the early stages of the government-declared state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like parishes…
Commentary for Advent IV
Commentary for Advent IV 20 December 2020 The texts for this week, Advent 4, are 2 Sam 7.1-11, 16, Lk. 1.47-55, Rom. 16.25-27, and Lk 1.26-38 Get the readings It’s dark and dreary today. I think I have a real sense of what the carol “In the Bleak Midwinter” is talking about. Monday will be…