What a snowy week. It has felt like a peaceful gift of slowing down in the midst of world chaos. On Wednesday, Bonnie and I were holding a service at AMICA in the basement - the gentleness of the words, the quiet and peacefulness of the snow was a real gift to us.

This Sunday we consider the call narrative of Peter and his fisher friends in Luke's gospel. It gives us a moment to pause and to consider the story we tell about our lives of faith - the beginning, the constant call to return and the ways that we invite others to consider their values in the midst of local and global unjust systems. The weather on Sunday, though cold, looks clear and with thanks to Ashkon who has been shovelling snow, we will be able to worship in the church. 

A reminder that February 23rd is Vestry Sunday - our parish AGM. We will gather for Morning Prayer, followed by sandwiches (by donation) and a meeting until 1 pm. In preparation for Vestry, following the service on February 16th, we will hear about our budgets both from the Property Development Committee and our Parish Treasurer. Please plan to stay for an hour following that service.

In other news - we have had a wonderful response to our advertisement for a Communication Specialist, who will oversee our website, Friday notices, Village posters and North Shore News ads. The Wardens will be reviewing these in the next two weeks. We would appreciate your prayers as we discern our way forward.

Blessings to you and those you love. Here is a poem on Willingness that I am enjoying: 

Willingness

By Steve Garnaas-Holmes

             Simon said, “Boss, we worked all night long and caught nothing.
             Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”
                         —Luke 5.5

A beckoning deeper than words
comes to you, an incoming tide,
a hunger not your own,
a hankering greater than all of us.
Love asks something of you,
innocent, outlandish,
like an expectant child.
You don't need to know or understand,
you needn't calculate outcomes
or judge whether you are able,
you only need to be willing.

A great shoal of possibilities
swims just beneath your knowing.
You cast your control of things
into the mysterious waters.
The net of holiness
is not belief or understanding
but willingness.

In Faith,

Rev. Sharon 

_________________

The service will also be livestreamed.

A copy of the bulletin is here:  Sunday February 9, 2025

The Service livestream can be found here:

St. Catherine's Website Services Page

Previous livestreamed services, and sermon notes can be found here:

St. Catherine's Website Past Services Page or

St. Catherine's YouTube Channel 

Presider and Preacher: Rev. Sharon Smith 

Muscian: Hyejung Jun and Choir 

Intercessor: Heather Luccock 

Readers:  Claire Louie and Penny Zuk 

Greeters: Lori Burns and Bob Paxton 

Coffee Team: Penny Zuk, Susana Wensley, Ivy Howes

Eucharistic Administrator: Elizabeth Barratt, Ethan Spence, Bonnie Grundy

Livestream: Ashkon Vahedi 

Sunday School: Shaunti Bains

Just a reminder the 2024 ROTA is in effect until Easter 2025. If you would like to be on the ROTA for 2025 please let the office know. 

In our prayers this week, 5th Sunday of Epiphany The Anglican Church of Australia

We pray for our Companion Diocese:  The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines, The Right Rev Benny Lang-akan, Bishop. We pray for our companion cluster parish of St. Catherine of Siena in Cervantes and The Rev. Gladys Pag, Bunga, Tadian.

In Canada we pray for Acting Archbishop Anne, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada the Rev. Dr. Eileen Scully, Director, and the staff of Faith, Worship, and Ministry; Bishop Michael Pryse, the people and rostered ministers of the Eastern Synod; The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the ecumenical work and witness of our churches

In our Province we pray for our Metropolitan, Archbishop John. 

In our Diocese we pray Bishop John, we pray for The Rev. Canon Andrew Gross, Canon for Communications in the ACNA, and his wife, Summer. 

We pray for Spencer, Richard T., Terry R., Nicole, Derek and Family.

Thanksgiving for Vivian, and blessings on her retirement; and for Mermi and Ali on becoming Canadian citizens.

Send non-confidential requests to Natasha: scadmin@shaw.ca

**Please note that for confidential, urgent prayer requests, Natasha will send these to our prayer circle ministry. We ask that you make this clear either by phone or email.

We have started again new for January, please send in your prayers to the office. These prayers will come down after Easter. 

All are invited to gather following the 10 am service for a meeting of the parish. We will be reviewing the ministry plan, and voting in leaders for worship, Parish Council, and the 2025 budgets. 

Sandwiches will be provided by donation after the service.
 

More information to follow.

Congratulations to Mermi and her husband who are becoming Canadian citizens today!  There will be cake on Sunday to celebrate.

message from Linda Robertson 

Looks like there was a blip in the system when the notices were sent out last Friday - some people received them and others didn't.

When this happens please let the office know and we can send you a notice again. 

--- Natasha