What will today taste like?

Dear Friends,  

It's not often that you wake up and ask "I wonder what today will taste like?" Smoke with notes of burnt toast and campfire! is what my nose is telling me. Seriously, I'm hoping that you are able to follow the health recommendations and avoid strenuous activity today, the latest Air Quality reading is not just "very unhealthy" but hazardous! You might consider pulling out that KN95 mask and wearing it for non-covid reasons. #prayingforrain.  

If you have an event that you'd like to put in the midweek update, a ministry or issue that you'd like discussed please send something my way by Tuesday and I'll try to include it when I send out this update on the Wednesday of each week.   Events Oct 19 (today) -- 7 pm -- The next installment of our Book Study is based on N. T. Wright's book Broken Signposts: How Christianity Makes Sense of the World. Today's topic is Chapter 6 Truth.

Here is the Zoom link to join the study:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87902193406?pwd=MHhzaUlXTUpMd2FpUnZWeEtRdXVTUT09

As we move into the fall season we are evaluating/tweaking several things we are doing at St. M. In this issue of our update I highlight three areas:

Music - In two words we are hoping to increase participation with a diversity of singers, musical instruments, and new focus on creating "blended worship" that draws from the best music used by Anglicans across the country and not just music from our wonderful hymn book, Common Praise. If you're interested please chat with me (Fr. Allen) about this.  

Our Online Presence - Our live stream service is something that doesn't quite capture who we are as a community. We are looking at ways to offer live streaming to our shut-ins or people who have to stay home for a Sunday but not offer it as our "public face."  We're trying to figure out how to best present ourselves to our wider community so that the vibrancy, openness, and participatory nature of who we are shines through. Please chat with me about this.  

Lay Administrators needed - We would like our communion time to run in a hospitable manner. To do that we need two people most Sundays who are willing to share the chalice with the parishioners. If you would like to be added to the Lay Administrators please connect with the office and/or Fr. Allen.  

Here's something from our sister parish, St. Thomas, Chilliwack A parishioner, Johanna Mdoe goes to Tanzania in November yearly to support and liaison with nancysprojectsinarusha.com a wonderful organization providing educational opportunities and food for the poor of Tanzania.   

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,

Allen+