Announcements

As part of our MAP initiative, we wanted to find a way to work with Brock and to set up a community fridge or pantry. We have spoken with Brock’s Faith leaders and we are excited to work together to provide meals for students in need. If you have extra meals, please consider freezing them and sharing with Brock students. Meals should be labeled and indicate if they are vegetarian, vegan, gluten- free, lactose-free, or contain pork. Brock is looking for all kinds of food, they just want to know if they fit into any of the categories.

Once you have frozen them, let Barbara Sainty know [either by email (bsainty@brocku.ca) or phone (905.892.1758 – leave a message is fine)]. You can then put the meals in the church freezer and Barbara will pick them up and get them to Brock. Containers are available at church or you can use your own. Feel free to ask Barbara any questions you might have. We hope that this is an ongoing ministry. Students (especially international students) are at Brock year-round and can always appreciate any food!

It was so wonderful to be able to bring back the Lenten Lunches this year! We use to hold Lenten Lunches every Wednesday in Lent. It was quite the production, and many hands were required each week to ensure things ran smoothly. It was very rare that I could go on a Wednesday to participate, but they were always well attended, well…unless there was a snow storm, and I think there were a few!

This year we chose to do the lunches a bit differently and held them on the first and last Sundays of Lent after the 10:30 service.

I cannot even begin to list all the people involved in making this year’s lunches such a success. To those that made soups and desserts, thank you for sharing your amazing culinary talents with us! (Thank you, Peggy, for my take home bag of treats! I’m being good! Only one a day!!) To those that set up, put away, dished out soups, jumped in wherever needed, washed dishes, and washed more dishes, thank you! We could not have done it without all of you! Y’all are hired for the next lunch!

I am sure you noticed I said the lunches were a success. Success does not even begin to describe how generous you have been. We raised a total of $2,017.75 for PWRDF! These funds are greatly needed right now as PWRDF responds to so many current world events. So, from the bottom of my heart, as the PWRDF representative at Transfiguration, thank you! Thank you so much for your generosity and support.

Watch out for future events and information about PWRDF this year.

Again, thank you! Kelly Twerdy

On Maundy Thursday we read in John’s Gospel about Jesus showing what it means to be a servant to all as he kneels before each of his disciples and washes their feet. As a reminder of this lesson and knowing the number of people in need in our community we are asking for a donation of socks, men’s or women’s. These will then be given out to the homeless and those in need.

Thank-you to Katherine Kerley for organizing our Purdy’s Chocolates fundraiser. We have raised over $300 for the church and your chocolates are ready for pick up Sunday

The Downtown Council of Churches sponsors the Annual Good Friday Walk on friday april 7th, 2023 beginning at 9:45 a.m. The walk begins at Royal House, 95 Church Street proceeding along Church Street, ending at St. Thomas’ Church for the final readings. Music provided by Infinitely More with Guest Speaker Deacon Maurice Prindiville.

Please pick yours up on Sunday. Those not picked up will be mailed after the service.

The newly formed “Welcoming Committee” is looking for volunteers to not only welcome all parishioners to church each Sunday, but to welcome newcomers, and provide information about our church to all who come through our doors! Please see Ray for further information!

During Covid the phone in the Meeting Room ceased to work and so the only phones which were available were in the offices of the Administrator and Rector which are often locked. For safety reasons we felt it was important to purchase a new phone system so that in event of an emergency people could easily access a phone from a couple of spots in the building. Thanks to the generous donation from the Wednesday Morning Group we have new phones! There are 4 phones now located in the Administrator and Rector’s offices as well as in the Kitchen and Meeting Room.

Thank you again to the Wednesday Morning Group!

The Thursday morning Lenten study group is moving to Friday mornings at 10:00 here at the church. If you’re interested in joining us please feel free.

It hurts to lose someone you love. Niagara Life Centre is offering their 13 week group program to help you get through one of life’s most challenging experiences. This program begins Thursday, March 2nd from 6pm – 7:30 pm and can be joined at any point throughout the course. Grief Share is a free program with an optional $20 accompanying workbook. Sessions will be held in the NLC’s community space at 65 Lakeshore Road, St. Catharines. To learn more or sign up, visit our website at www.niagaralifecentre.ca or call our office at 905-934-0021

The first meeting of the new Parish Council is on Tuesday March 7th at 7:00 pm at the church. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

We’re teaming up with Purdys Chocolatier to fundraise for Transfiguration this Easter. Stock up on your favourite Purdys Easter treats (did someone say Hedgehogs?) and support a great cause at the same time—it’s the best of both worlds. All fundraising profit raised will directly support our church, so every order makes a great difference to us.

Ordering is as easy as eating chocolate. Just click this link: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1718990-105474 , fill out your info you’ll need an email address, click “Join Campaign”, and order to your heart’s content! If you prefer, order forms are available at the church office, and you can submit them to Katherine Kerley with payment.

The order deadline is March 15, 2023 in order to get your orders in time for Easter, so get shopping!

This Sunday we will Commission our Parish Council at the 10:30 service.

They are:

Wardens

• Ray Elder
• Barbara Sainty
• Kelly Twerdy

Lay Delegates and Alternate Lay Delegate to Synod

• Byron Nicholson
• Beth Kerley
• Barbara Forder

Parish Council Members

• Karen Perry
• Joanne Lynagh
• Don Alsop
• Carrie Adewumi
• Debra Shiers
• Jane Sissmore

“Life is so beautiful. Life is so hard.”

This is one of Kate Bowler’s observations as she ponders the terrible things that she is dealing with. I discovered Kate during the dark days of the pandemic through one of my Instagram fitness friends who recommended that I read No Cure for Being Human (and other truths I need to hear). I fell in love with Kate’s writing – her optimism, her humour, and how she reconciles her beliefs and her blessings during her own dark days.

She was at the height of her career, teaching Divinity at Duke University with a new baby at home, when she was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. She has written many books about what it means to be #blessed, how we try to make our lives look more perfect, and what to do when our faith is challenged. I’m looking forward to this Lenten study to dive into her latest work! ~Justine Cotton

Our Lenten Study is written by Kate Bowler and is called “Bless the Lent we Actually Have” we will have two sessions; one on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm beginning on March 1st (this will either be in person or on Zoom, please state your preference when you sign up) and on Thursday Mornings at 11:00am here at the church beginning on March 2nd. There will be a sign up sheet in the front hall.

This study is meant to be done while reading Kate’s book “The Lives we Actually Have: One Hundred Blessings for Imperfect Days” which is available for purchase on-line but it is not necessary to have to be part of the group discussion.