Announcements

Starting Monday, July 11 returning Wednesday, August 10 the following are on vacation:

• • Our Priest: The Venerable Sheila Van Zandwyk
  • Our Music Director: Lindsey Mills
  • Our Newsletter

Our Deacon Sandra and our Warden Team, Ray, Barbara & Kelly, will be helping cover office and church needs during this time. Our Honourary Assistants, Donald, Cathie and Wayne will be sharing in covering the Liturgical Services for Sheila. Dorothy Brown will be covering the Liturgical Music for Lindsey. Thank you so much to everyone helping.

Parish Council is canceled for the summer, we will resume in September.

Please check your mailing information in the Church Photo Directories If you find any errors, please send the corrections to the office and we will send an update to everyone.

Steff will be looking for Sunday School/Nursery volunteers for fall.

The Bigger Questions discussion group is off for the summer.

Thank you, Garden Helpers

Our community garden is planted. What a fantastic group of people who came out to help. Sweat & Smiles.

This Sunday June 12th after the 10:30 service

We will have tables & chairs set up for those who are more comfortable sitting at a table.

Hamburgers, Veggie Burgers and Hotdogs, $2.00 each. Pop – $1.00 Water – Free!

*Please bring your own lawn chair and dishes and cutlery* (to save on clean up time!!)

Sign Up sheet for: Your food order and if you can bring: Salad or a Dessert Sheets are in the Front Hall on the bulletin board.

Special Guest Preacher and Celebrant – Rev. Judy Steers!

Psssttttt…. Live Music too !

In memory of Sharon Mc Alpine from Kelly, Lou, Lila, Joe, Erin, Aalia & Quinn.

For the first time, Fiercely Loved will take place in person!

Our third annual diocesan Pride celebration, Fiercely Loved: Born This Way, takes place on Sunday, June 12 at 4:00 p.m. Worshippers can also participate in the service through a livestream on the diocesan Facebook page. This will be a spirited celebration of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in our diocese.

Through song and poetry, visual art and prayer, word and Eucharist, The service will offer an important moment to praise the God who rejoices in the diverse and wonderful ways humanity bears God’s image. Bishop Susan Bell will preside and Bishop Kevin Robertson, area bishop of York Scarborough, will preach. All are welcome – 2SLGBTQ people, allies and advocates alike!
You are Fiercely Loved: Born This Way!

This Sunday June 5 – after the 10:00 a.m. Service – Hope you can join us!

If you are able please wear something Red, or Orange to the service.

Thank you Katherine Kerley for sharing your gifts with us during Steff’s Maternity Leave.

There are many ways that we pray, collectively on Sundays, individually or as families throughout the week and in groups such as our prayer circle.

In the past there was a sheet at the back of the church for people to add names of those in need of prayers which would be included in the Prayers of the People during the Sunday services. We are going to reinstitute that practice. This Sunday you will find a sheet at the back of the church, please feel free to add the name(s) of anyone you know in need of prayers. The sheet will be divided into 3 parts: Thanksgivings, illness/struggles and Deaths.

Please add the name and in the case of Thanksgivings perhaps the reason for the thanksgiving ie. A birth or new job.

There will also be a box at the back of the church with slips for you to fill out for ongoing prayers, this will be utilized by the Prayer Group in their daily prayers. If the need is great or ongoing, please fill out the slip and leave it in the box (this allows for anonymity).

Thank you and please continue to pray individually for those in need, our parish and the world.

Spring Clean Up time is here!

As you clean up, please consider donating some of your gently used treasures to our yard sale.

Sign up Sheets are on the bulletin board at the front entrance of the church. Please sign up – we need your help.

Items can be dropped off on:

• Wednesday May 25th between 2-5 pm and 6-8 pm
• Thursday May 26th between 9 am-noon, 1-4 pm and 6-8 pm
• Friday May 27th between 9 am and noon only

At: 320 Glendale Ave. St. Catharines, ON L2T 3K7

For more information please call 905-684-0722

‘Called to Life – Compelled to Love’ is the weaving together of the three objectives of a new Mission Action Plan (MAP) that was approved in January, the culmination of an eight-month discernment process.

Our mission action plan identifies the ways the people of our diocese are actively seeking of God and God’s mission for a church or diocese and sets priorities and
actions that reflect an intersection of our diocese’s spiritual yearnings, strengths, and challenges.

“Our MAP is a bold statement of what we want to become by the Grace of God over the next 3-5 years,” says Bishop Susan Bell. “It’s intended to be a living document – constantly in use and developing organically with the inevitable and much prayed-for developments in the life of the Church.” Hundreds of people from across the diocese contributed to the development of our mission action plan.

Mission Action Plan Prayer
Beloved God, we are your people called to walk a renewed path with Jesus.
Be with us, your whole church, as we seek to rekindle and enliven our faith.
Keep us firm in our commitment to reshape our culture and structures for mission and invigorate our social justice engagement, most especially the nurture and protection of your creation.
Let the whole world see us living and lifting up the fullness of your love.
Make new those things that have grown old; and bring wholeness to that which cries out for restoration.
All this we ask through the Spirit of the Living God and in the name of the Christ who came among us, is among us and will come among us. Amen.

Our Vision
Called to Life – Compelled to Love

Our Mission Statement
Ignited by the irresistible love of Jesus and renewed by the Holy Spirit, we partner with God to deepen faith, share stories and care for God’s world.

Objective and Strategies

1. Create and implement opportunities to ignite and strengthen faith
   Strategies:
   1. Nourish and support clergy, parishioners (current and de-churched) and staff in their longing to know Christ. Listen, learn and then act to understand what is required to provide nourishment and support.
   2. Share the Good News of Christ’s life changing love for all.
2. Reimagine diocesan culture and adapt our structures to enable ministry
   Strategies:
   1. Invite interested people to gather in incubator groups to pray, discern and propose innovative recommendations around common topics.
   2. Examine personnel, governance, financial and vocational policies and structures of the diocese with the intention of freeing us for God’s mission.
   3. Review internal and external communication practices and implement more effective communication strategies.
3. Prioritize Social Justice action with an emphasis on Environmental Justice
   The Gospel calls us to work to change unjust structures and help the marginalized and the poor. This includes all forms of injustice including climate crisis, racism, mental health discrimination, human rights, homelessness, human trafficking and poverty. Knowledge and skills will move us to impactful advocacy.
   Strategies:
   1. Deepen our understanding of local and global social justice needs.
   2. Provide response strategies, training and resources to enable parishes to take appropriate action on issues.
   3. Actively engage in reconciliation work in response to the TRC recommendations

Note:
Church on Sunday, May 15 will be a combined service starting at 10:00 am with the congregation invited to stay after to begin our Mission Action Plan. Please review the Adult Faith Formation tool sent earlier this week prior to attending the meeting next Sunday. We hope you can all attend.

The Primate’s World Relief & Development Fund (PWRDF) is allocating $360,000 to support humanitarian relief efforts in four parts of the world where needs are high, where looming conflict threatens to further displace people and where crisis is preventing families from staying healthy.

“We are taking the same amount from our PWRDF reserves to allocate $90,000 each to four humanitarian responses, each of them complex, each of them seeking justice, health and peace for communities so affected,” says Executive Director Will Postma. “We are doing so at a time when we are concerned for the people of Ukraine, the loss of peace and so many lives, but also recognize the many other humanitarian crises around the world that need financial support.”

The matched funds will be given to support ongoing relief and development projects in Myanmar, Iraq, Ethiopia and Syria.
Click on this link to read more: https://pwrdf.org/pwrdf-matches-donations-for-ukraine-with-four-other-humanitarian- responses/

Kay Langlois, passed away on April 12, 2022. Kay was a lifelong member of Christ Anglican Church and Church of the Transfiguration. She was involved with the ACW organizing many events within the church.

In keeping with Kay’s wishes, funeral arrangements have been entrusted to George Darte Funeral Home, 585 Carlton St. (cremation has taken place). Guests are welcome for visitation on Saturday, May 14th from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life to follow in the ceremony room.

To The Rev. Dr. Wayne Fraser who is now officially an Honorary Assistant here at Church of the Transfiguration. We have already been blessed by your reflections, sermons, and worship leadership and we look forward to sharing in the ministry of God with you in the years ahead!

KATHLEEN HARMON
April 9, 1921- April 16, 2022

In the middle of her afternoon nap, Kay left 101 years behind her and went to join Ken (2006). Loving mother to Richard (the late Judy) and Dorothy (Donald) Brown. Grandmother to five, and Great-Grandmother to ten. Devoted Aunt to her nieces and nephews.

Born in Thunder Bay, Kay, Ken and their family lived throughout Ontario, settling in Burlington in 1957. Kay was one of the first volunteers at Joseph Brant Hospital. She was also President of the Altar Guild at St. Luke’s Anglican Church as well as a long time member of the ACW.

After Ken retired, they travelled frequently to South Carolina as well as visiting family in Eastern and Western Canada, Nevada, England, and Portugal.

Twelve years ago, Kay relocated to the Niagara Region to be near family, and was one of the first residents at Seasons Retirement Residence in Welland.

Kay’s family thanks the staff at Seasons for their loving compassionate care, and particularly to Shari from Sandra’s Home Health Care who came into Mom’s life at the exact right moment.

In keeping with Kay’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Church of the Transfiguration, April 27th, 2022 beginning with visitation at 1p.m. followed by the service at 2p.m. Masks required. In lieu of flowers, donations to Kay’s favourite charity, Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund would be appreciated.

If you would like to make a donation to the Easter Flower Fund in memory of a loved one there will be a sign up sheet in the front entryway, email Lindsey in the office at transfigchurchoffice@gmail.com or you can call (905) 684-0722.

Envelopes will be available at the church, or please mail your donation in with a note indicating that the offering is for the Easter Flowers.