Saint George's Anglican Church

Saint George’s Anglican Church
51 Church Street, Moncton, N.B. E1C 4Z3
Phone 855-5209     Fax 388-4866  
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Website : www.stgeorgesmoncton.com
The Reverend Chris VanBuskirk  389-3516
Lent 3    February 24, 2008

8:00 A.M. - HOLY EUCHARIST   
Introit Psalm:  25: 8-15   p. 358
Collect for Purity:    p.   67
Kyrie      p.  70
Collect for Lent 3    p. 145
Collect for Lent    p. 138
Epistle      p. 145
Gradual Psalm: 25:16-22   p. 359
Gospel      p. 146

9:15 A.M. – MORNING PRAYER
First Lesson: Genesis 33:1-17 (page 30 in the pew Bible)
Psalm 52, 54
Second Lesson: Hebrews 12:18-end (page 227 in the pew Bible)

10:00 A.M. - HOLY EUCHARIST
Introit Psalm:  25: 8-15   p. 358
Children’s Talk
The Litany     p. 30
Collect for Lent 3    p. 145
Collect for Lent    p. 138
Epistle      p. 145
Gradual Psalm: 25:16-22   p. 359
Gospel      p. 146
Creed      p. 71
Hymn before Homily: 440 (Capetown)
Homily
Offertory Hymn: 596 (Darwall – 392)
Intercession
Confession, Absolution   p. 77
Thanksgiving     p. 78
Consecration     p. 82
Hymns during Communion: 597 (Glen Bernard)
800 (Wimbledon)  574 (Excelsior)
Lord’s Prayer     p. 85
Recessional Hymn: 584 (Gibbons)
 Please join us for coffee and tea in the Hall.

5:00 P.M. EVENING PRAYER
First Lesson: Genesis 44:1- 45:8 (page 41 in the pew Bible)
Psalms 55
Second Lesson: Luke 22:54-end (page 87 in the pew Bible)

The Sanctuary Lamp burns this week to the Glory of God
and in Loving Memory of Gordon Shaw

“Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord,
and let light eternal shine upon them”
Agnes Beemer  Rita Cormier  Ada Lownds

Next Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent is called Mothering Sunday; named so after the words of the Sunday Epistle, from St. Paul to the Galatians, “Jerusalem, which is above is free; which is the mother of us all.” To this end all the women in attendance will receive a carnation.

This Week in the Parish
The Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer will be prayed in the Chapel at 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Monday – Friday, respectively. In addition:
Tuesday Bible Study at the Rectory 10:00 A.M.
Wednesday Spencer Home Eucharist 10:00 A.M.
Holy Eucharist     7:00 P.M.
(St. Mathias  transferred)
Thursday Holy Eucharist   10:00 A.M.
  Choir Practice      7:00 P.M. 
Friday  Stations of the Cross     7:00 P.M.
Saturday St. Michael’s Club  10:00 A.M.

The regular print version of “Our Daily Bread” is available for pickup in the vestibule.

The Rector’s Corner
 On the way into Church this morning you may have picked up your Charitable Donations receipt for income tax purposes. It is that time of year again! In any case, perhaps we could take this occasion to consider some of the new aspects of this practice.
 First of all, the Church is categorized as a ‘Registered Charity’ by the government; that is why it issues a receipt for ‘Charitable Donations’ even though these donations are actually offerings we make to Almighty God. But that begs the question: Why is the Church categorized as a Registered Charity?
 Well, lets start with “Charity” – what is it? “Charity” comes from the Greek word for “benevolence”, and it involves willing and acting on (or for) what is good. Of this, C.S. Lewis wrote, “In God there is no hunger that needs to be filled, only plenteousness that desires to give. The doctrine that God was under no necessity to create is not a piece of dry scholastic speculation. It is essential.” Lewis said this after reflecting upon this verse in St. John’s First Epistle, “Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (remedy) for our sins.” (1 St. John 4:10).
 In thinking about Charity as the plenteousness of the Holy Trinity that desires to give, we can see why the government has granted the Church a charitable status. The Church, as the Body of Christ, does not exist for itself. In fact, as the Catechism teaches us, the Church’s work is always for others: The Church is to offer God the worship which He deserves on behalf of all men and women; she is to proclaim the Gospel to everyone; and she is to unite all people to God in one family. (See p. 553, BCP).
 As members of the Church, made so through the grace of our Lord Jesus, this is our calling. Having been clothed with the righteousness of Christ in Baptism, we seek to live in Him and to grow in His Charity. Gradually, the Lord does change us. He is constantly at work, prompting us to give – to give freely without counting the cost. And so He sets His Cross before us as the measure of Charity.
 Unfortunately, in the world, challenges continually arise against God’s Charity. Covetousness and greed, the children of pride, are responsible for attempts at counterfeit charities. These selfish endeavors, along with a secularization of government and society, have resulted in the registering of charities, including Churches, as well as the adoption of stringent rules to govern registered charities. These rules, of course, are always being revised: and, the Church has just received these new stipulations which may be of interest to you:
A registered charity cannot issue receipts for donations received on behalf of another organization.
A registered charity cannot gift funds to non-profit organizations.
So, we are unable to issue receipts for specified gifts to other charities such as S.A.M.S., Church Army, Canadian Bible Society and any other charity. There is a sheet available in the vestibule with addresses of many of the more popular charities and their addresses. You can direct your donations directly to them.
 In closing, the rules and regulations governing Registered Charities are unfortunate , but they are a fact of life in this day and age. However, they need not ruin our participation in the life of the Divine Charity – in Him where “there is no hunger that needs to be filled, only plenteousness that desires to give.” May the God of Charity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit continue to enlarge our hearts and deepen our shallow wells of love that we may fulfill His new mandatum. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (St. John 13:34)
 As a final note regarding your offerings and receipts, please be advised that some people use the E-offering system of giving. You may see them place a card on the plate instead of an envelope. E-offering means electronic offering and involves an automatic debit from your bank account. Should you be interested in this method of giving, please call the Church office (855-5209) and speak to Debbie Ritchie, or pick up an E-offering application form at the back of the Church.
 Many thanks to you all for whatever offerings you make to God and to His Church – not only in treasure, but also in time and talent too.

Our next pot luck will be held on Sunday, March 2nd.

Please remember Merle and Donna Carson in your prayers following the death of Donna’s mother, Agnes Beemer, on February 14, in Windsor, Ontario. Anyone wishing to give a memorial in her name may do so through St. George’s Memorial Fund.

Belated best wishes to Mike and Jeanne Lipton who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last Sunday, February 17th.