If you know the answer, ask bigger questions!
To find out more about what we can do, use your web browser or Google: joingoodside.com or The Good Guide: Learning About Climate Change. This site offers free e-books ( some short, some longer) that offer excellent information and guidance about a variety of actions we can participate in.
This year we will be studying Katharine Hayhoe’s book “Saving Us: A climate scientist’s case for hope and healing in a divided world”
The books are not inexpensive—they are available from Chapters or Amazon for $36.00 for hardcover, or you can download the Kindle version for less, a softcover is not available. If you are not able to find the book in store and can’t order online please let me know ASAP and I will order it for you. Please be sure to let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in taking part in the book study and if you need a book purchased. It looks like there are some copies available at the Chapters at Fairview Mall but I can’t promise anything.
We will have discussion groups meeting at the church on Wednesdays beginning on March 9th at 11:30 am and an evening Zoom meeting on Thursday evenings (time to be determined) beginning on March 10th. The meetings will run for 5 weeks. If you are taking part please read the first section of the book up page 33 before the first meeting.
Lent is right around the corner, beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 2nd. Each lent is a time for Christians to reflect on their relationship with God through prayer, study and giving of time talent and treasures.
This can take many forms, from setting aside time each day to read the Bible and pray, joining a church or on-line Bible or book study, or looking at how we use our time, talents, and treasures with regard to reacting to the needs of individuals or groups or our planet.
This year at Transfiguration we would like to look at our stewardship of the planet we call home and so would like to challenge each parishioner to find ways be a blessing to the earth.
This could take the form of eliminating single use plastics in your home, using beeswax wraps, reusable mesh bags for produce and reusable lunch and food storage options
It could be to take a ‘trash walk’ where you bring along gloves and bags to pick up trash in your neighbourhood or somewhere you already walk each day. This is a wonderful family or group project, make sure to plan a number of walks in different areas throughout Lent.
This might mean raising awareness for environmental issues, or donating funds or time to environmental groups or causes.
In all this, the idea is to thank God for the beauty and generosity of this planet our island home and as we take on these challenges to pray about them and use them as ways to refocus our lives and hearts toward God’s love for us and all people.
Brier has resumed her yoga classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9:30. You can reach her at brierc54@cogeco.ca.
Justine Cotton (justinelcotton@gmail.com)will be resuming her barre classes on March 7 (Monday) at 7pm.
Anna Racine will be facilitating two upcoming events at the Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre in Niagara Falls. The first event is a one-day workshop called “Surviving separation and Divorce”. It takes place from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Saturday, March 5 and costs $65 (lunch included). The second is a retreat exploring the “Power of Forgiveness”. This event costs $300 and takes place March 18-20.
Please contact Anna Racine through www.annaracine.org for more information or to register.
The Canadian Council of Churches has offered this prayerful reflection on the protests that we have been witnessing in recent weeks.
“When we are weary, longing for renewed human connections, impatient to return to the way things used to be, struggling with what is becoming, let us not allow fear or suspicion to erode our hearts, hearths, and communities, pulling us into isolation and distrust.”
Protests have happened in several communities in our diocese, including in Fort Erie on the weekend. “When we are at the end of our rope, Lord draw us into the Spirit’s tether,” offers Bishop Susan Bell who invites our prayers for peace and harmony.
Vestry is Sunday February 20th at 2:00 pm. It will be held on Zoom and following is the link to that meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85328319016?pwd=QlFUZDBrWG1DRkROdG1VRFVhQzJ2QT09
Meeting ID: 853 2831 9016 Passcode: 205023
I look forward to seeing you then!
Rev. Sheila
The next step in completing our directories is now complete. This includes putting together the roster of parishioner’s names and addresses, sending in photos from families who weren’t able to come to the photography sessions, writing the opening message, choosing the photos for the editorial/ activity pages and choosing the design and look for the directory. By the end of February, we hope to have a proof which we will then have to check for accuracy and by Easter we will have the directories ready to hand out!
For those who did not choose a package their 8×10 portraits are done and at the office. I would prefer to hand those photos out once we are in person again as there is usually no one in the office at this time. Thank you to everyone for your involvement in this project and I look forward to seeing the final product!
It’s that time again! Coldest Night of the year is set to happen on February 26, 2022. Your help is so important for this event! Start Me Up Niagara needs this support to be able to continue its very important work. To Register now as a member of the Anglicans in Action team or make a donation to support our team click this link:
https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?teamID=969630&langPref=en-CA
This year, we will likely once again all walk in our own bubble in our own neighbourhood any time in February. Information will be finalized soon. Your team leader is Diane Kidson (905-933-6759 or diane.kidson@live.ca) Let’s help make this a fun, positive event this winter! All are welcome!
Please note that we have a number of Transfig folks taking part in this event, and if you would like to support them without going online, you can send a cheque to the church, made out to the Church of the Transfiguration, but clearly marked Coldest Night of the Year and we’ll forward the funds for you.
Sheila is taking a week for Continuing Education purposes from January 24 – January 31. She will be taking an on-line course and doing some reading and strategic planning. On Sunday January 30th Sandra Thomson will be leading Morning Prayer. (Thank you Sandra!) In the event of a pastoral emergency, please contact one of the Wardens.
Date: February 2, 2022 – 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Learn about tools being developed by Climate Justice Niagara to assist parishes in their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2025.
This presentation will include a question and answer session and have you ready to start your parish walk-throughs and assessments of current GHG emissions.
Flowers in the church today are to the Glory of God, and given by Steff and Josh Doan in loving memory of Dolores Scibetta and Donald Knight.
Don’t forget to get your Intention Letters in as soon as possible, if you haven’t done so already. Our Corporation is working on the Budget for our upcoming Vestry, and could really use this information.
A huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard preparing for our Christmas celebrations! Although things did not go as we planned and hoped, all your work was noticed and very much appreciated.
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am sorry to announce that the Diocese has decided to suspend all in person worship starting immediately. While this is difficult news to receive the decision has been made with everyone’s health and well being in mind. The numbers due to the Omicrom variant are alarming and there are not enough people able to get vaccinated or a booster shot at this time to slow the wave in any way.
We will be live streaming the 7:00pm Christmas service but the 4:30 family service and the Christmas Day service are cancelled as are the Wednesday services.
We will continue live streaming a 10:30 Sunday morning service each week as we did with the last shut down.
While this is not the way we wanted to celebrate Christmas this year it does not mean that the spirit of Christmas is not present among us. May you find God’s blessings in your life in unexpected places and ways, may the gifts of love, hope, peace, and joy be yours this season and throughout the New Year.
With love,
Rev. Sheila
If you would like to place flowers in the church in memory of a loved one for our upcoming Christmas celebrations, there is a sign-up sheet in the foyer. You can also call or email the office with the details of who you would like to donate flowers for. You can then just put your donation in an envelope marked “Christmas Flowers” and drop in the Offertory Box.
A reminder for the Music Ministry team that this Sunday, December 19 is the last rehearsal before Christmas with this special word from Lindsey, “Okay, Sunday we have our Final Rehearsal – 12:00 noon until 1:00 pm ish. Get a good nights sleep, we have lots of work to do.”
If you would like to help a family in need this Christmas, please consider purchasing a gift card for us to pass along to Community Care. They are accepting unwrapped toys but their space is limited and it is difficult for them to allow families in to choose toys due to pandemic restrictions. So for Christmas Gift Cards in $25.00 denominations for both children and teens are welcomed. Some suggestions are:
Please leave the gift cards in an envelope in the Offering Box and we will make sure they get to Community Care.