text: Chimes (February 14, 2021) - Parish of the Ascension
  Chimes (February 14, 2021)
  Admin February 12, 2021 Chimes
  Lections: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-15; Mark 9:2-9
  Morning Prayer/BAS (11:00 a.m.) - Officiant: Rev'd David Burrows, Preacher: Rev'd. Lynn Courage, Reader: Ina Kearley
  Hymns (CP): We Have Come At Christ's Own Bidding 166 Vs. 1 & 3, 'Tis Good, Lord, To Be Here 167 Vs. 1, 2, 5, Transfigured Christ, None Comprehends 168 Vs. 1, 3, 6
  Lent in a Bubble: The Clergy of the Mission of the Transfiguration have been continuing to meet the past number of weeks in preparation for Lent. This year, anticipating some ongoing challenges due to COVID-19, we prepared a resource that would focus on Parishioners and families exploring their spiritual lives through a threefold focus of Home, Church, and Community; we entitled this multigenerational activity LENT IN A BAG. With the current restrictions upon us due to the spike in COVID numbers and community transmission, we recognize that the plans we had made will have to change. Beginning Ash Wednesday, the adapted resource, LENT IN A BUBBLE will be available online at lent.thetransmission.ca This resource will enable families in their own bubbles to use resources and means at hand to explore their lives in Christ Jesus. Each week we will share a video outlining one of the Lenten Activities, and give suggestions as to personal reflection, learning, and prayer. In addition, we will livestream a service of Compline each Wednesday evening at 8:00 pm, beginning February 24, at fb.com/anglicantransmission/live
  Tax Receipts for 2020: Due to the recent closure of the church office to the public, your tax receipts will now be mailed. If you have had a change of address recently, please call the office at 368-5693 or email [email protected] to update your file. Because the church office is closed to the public, your Lenten folders are not available for pick up. If you wish to contribute, you may do so by placing your donation in an envelope and dropping it in the church mailbox located at the front steps of the church. You may also donate electronically on line at CanadaHelps. Thank you.
  AGM: Details regarding the AGM will be provided as the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic unfold. We will provide more information closer to the scheduled date of March 7. Please refer to the church website or the weekly edition of the Chimes for further information.
  Wednesday, Feb. 17: 7:00pm, Evening Prayer, streamed online at ascensionnl.ca
  Sunday, Feb. 21 (Lent I): 11:00am, Morning Prayer, streamed online at ascensionnl.ca
  Dear Parishioners and Friends of the Ascension;
  This week has been a shock and challenge to so many of us, as we navigate through this latest surge in Covid-19 transmission through the community. As you may recall, last week many of the retired clergy as well as Reverend Lynn and myself were required to self-isolate and arrange Covid testing due to a possible exposure at Bigg's Restaurant. I am pleased to share that all have been tested, and all have received negative test results. I have never been so happy for all these clergy (and myself) to fail a test!
  While this is good news for us, I recognize and appreciate that many of our parish, and those beyond our parish, have not had good news this week. A number of families are self-isolating due to possible exposure, and at least two families have contracted coronavirus. I ask that you pray for those that are ill and that you continue to pray for all the front line workers who are facing such challenges today and in the coming
  Please continue to observe the directives of Dr. Fitzgerald and please note the changes that have come to all parishes that have been shared by Bishop Samuel Rose.
  This is a hard time for so many, combined with the challenges of winter weather. May we all journey through this time with safety and grace, as the Holy One journeys with us.
  March 13, 2020. This was a Friday when all life changed for me. The novel coronavirus was unknown and indistinguishable to me. As I listened to announcements and realized that this pandemic had reached our shores and that, for a couple of weeks, schools, university, businesses and churches would be locked down, I did not overly worry for I had faith in our health care system, our governments, in humanity, and in the Holy One.
  On this day, I changed my pattern of prayer, to focus on the daily recitation and reflection upon the Psalms of David from the Hebrew Scriptures. Each day I recited a psalm and spent time in meditation. I listened to the voice of the Holy One through these Scriptures, as the Psalms changed from lament to praise, protest and patience.
  Today, eleven months later, there have been many changes and challenges accumulating in our movement within community. This past week has been devastating and disruptive for all of us here on the Northeast Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. Specifically, for us in Mount Pearl, it has been surreal, being at the epicenter of the latest clusters of Covid-19 infection. In the daily reports, and in the communication we have shared with family and friends both here and further afield, there has been concern, worry, anguish, grief, pain, anxiety, and loss. Our world is upside once again.
  Into this reality I opened up my prayer book and I settled on Psalm 61.
  'Hear my cry, O God, and listen to my prayer.
  I will dwell in your house for ever; I will take refuge under the cover of your wings.
  For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have granted me the heritage of those who fear your name.
  Add length of days to the king's life; let his years extend over many generations.
  Let him sit enthroned before God for ever; bid love and faithfulness watch over him.
  So will I always sing the praise of your name, and day by day I will fulfill my vows.'
  God of our salvation, when we are depressed and fearful, teach us the way of quiet confidence and hope. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
  May these words bring us perspective this day; may we continue to move and respond with our families and in our community in the ways that are safe and respectful of the challenges that we are facing.
  May we live and move with kindness and compassion, with consideration and with love.
  May we journey through this time, as we pray for and care for essential workers, isolating persons, the homeless and unemployed, and with those that have contracted the virus.
  The word of God calls us to see that all the places and occasions of the world, even places of sorrow and death, are transfigured by the presence of the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Let us now call to mind all who are in any need and commend them to God's transforming care, saying: O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For those who are alone, for widows and widowers and orphans, and for the divorced, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For the imprisoned, for those whose only home is the streets, and for those caught by addiction, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For the hungry, for those who cannot feed their children, and for the unemployed, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For refugees, for the victims of warfare, and for those held in poverty by racial discrimination, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For the people of our nation, our city, and our community as we continue and support one another in the wake of the recent outbreak of Covid 19, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For artists and writers, and for all who on the edge of society, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For preachers and teachers of the light-bearing word of Christ, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For the church and its leaders, we pray for Samuel, our Bishop, for the Parishes of Bonne Bay South and Botwood and those worshiping in the Anglican Church of Canada who are formed by the life-giving word of Christ, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For this assembly, as we give thanks for the support of the Parish for those clergy who are in isolation, as we continually feed on the word of Christ, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  For our own needs as we enter into the season of Lent that the bread we share and the wine we drink may strengthen us to build up the body of Christ, so that one day from east to west and north to south all God's people will converge on the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, Lord hear our prayer.
  For those who have died, especially Sophie Pardy and Maud Maybee that in passing beyond the cares of this world they may no longer be in want of any good thing, O merciful God, Lord hear our prayer.
  With Moses and Elijah and all the people of God, with the church throughout the ages bearing witness to the great light of God shining in dark places, we commend to you all for whom we pray, O merciful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  Ascension Prayer Cycle: Aden, Ann, Aubrey, Audrey, Barbara, Baxter, Bob, Brenda, Brian, Brittany, Brandon, Carl, Cathy, Christina, Cindy, Claire, Clarence, David, Debra, Delilah, Dennis, Don, Donna, Doreen, Dot, Doug, Dulcie, Edgar, Elaine, Erin, Finnley, Frederick, Fred, Frank, Flo, Garrett, George, Gerry, Gilbert, Glenda, Gordon, Harry, Hilda, Ike, Ina, Ingrid, Ira, Jack, Jason, Jennifer, Jenny, Jim, John, Josephine, Judy, Junior, Kent, Kevin, Kim, Laura, Leo, Leonie, Lindsay, Lori, Louise, Madeline, Marie, Marsha, Mark, Marion, Maud, Maurice, Maxine, Maxwell, Melissa, Melvin, Michelle, Moana, Nancy, Pam, Phyllis, Rachel, Randell, Renee, Rodney, Roland, Ruby, Ruth, Rita, Sean, Shirley, Stephen, Susan, Tina, Todd, Tom, Valerie, Vera, Victoria and Wayne