Today we mark the start of a new year in the Christian calendar with the first Sunday of Advent: a season of anticipation and preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, both in His birth at Christmas, and in His future return to reign forever over a renewed creation.

Each week in Advent, we reflect on an important aspect of the Christian life as we wait faithfully for our Saviour, and serve His kingdom even now. The first Sunday of Advent, we reflect on the theme of Hope.

​In addition to our Service of Morning Prayer and Sermon this week, here is a great video from the Bible Project exploring how the Holy Scriptures help us to have Hope.

​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

Today we commemorate the Feast of Christ the King, Jesus our Saviour, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit reigns now, and will forever more.

And yet, we can often misunderstand the true nature of Christ's Kingdom, and so we can easily fail to see His reign at work, and how His reign takes root in our lives. 

Here is a great video from the Bible Project that explores the surprising way in which Jesus Christ is King, entitled The Last Shall Be First:

For those who want to dig even deeper, here is a great 11 Episode Podcast series exploring the same theme:

​Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, & Sermon for this week can be found here:

​And our Songs can be found here:

​Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, & Sermon for this week can be found here:

​​And our Songs can be found here:

Today we at St. Luke's take time together to mark Remembrance Day as a Parish, honouring those who faced the horrors of war in order to bring life to others. We remember their sacrifices in the light of Jesus Christ, who in self-giving love gave up His life at the cross to bring God's forgiveness and peace to all the world. 

Below you will find the St. Luke's Honour Role and prayers.

​And our Songs can be found here:

This week we at St. Luke's GP are celebrating the Feast of All Saints, remembering the whole family of God, across time and space, set aside to be God's holy people together. 

Sometimes the words "saint" or "holy" can seem out of place in our world, and we're not sure about their significance in our day to day lives. Thankfully, the folks at the Bible Project have put some resources together for us to explore what the Bible means by holiness, and why it matters all year long. 

Here is a link to a short video from the Bible Project entitled "Holiness":

​And to dig a little deeper, here is a link to their three part podcast series on the same topic:

​Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, & Sermon this week can be found here:

​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

​Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, & Sermon this week (from our Honorary Clergy, the Ven. Cathy Laskey) can be found here:

​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

All throughout the Scriptures, the Living God shares His heart with humanity, and invites us to come to know His divine character and steadfast love.

The Bible Project has released a series of great videos exploring the Character of God. You can find them here:

​For those who want to dig even deeper, here is a Podcast series they released on the same subject:

​Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, & Sermon this week can be found here:

What is the Living God really like? And what does he want for His people, and His creation?

These are questions that the Bible encourages us to explore, and one of the ways it does so is by talking about the Image of God. Here is an excellent video from the Bible Project that looks at the Image of God theme in the Holy Scriptures:

To dig even deeper, they also have a four part Podcast series exploring the same theme, which can be found here:

​Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, & Sermon this week can be found here:

​​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

There are so many things to be grateful for each day, but it can be easy to lose sight of them, or to simply take them for granted. Often it helps to set aside time to reflect on the profound gift of life that the Living God has given to us. 

Here is a great video narrated by Br. David Steindl-Rast to remind us of some of the most basic and beautiful gifts we have already been given:  

This weekend we marked the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, a day calling Canadians to remember the tragic legacy and impact of residential schools for generations of indigenous peoples, to support the healing and restoration of their lives and communities in the present, and to affirm our commitment to working towards restored trust, respect, and reconciliation in the days to come.

As Christians in the Diocese of Fredericton, we have a particular calling to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in relation to all these things, which includes real repentance for our Church's role in the damage done, as well as actively embodying the Living God's compassion and love for our indigenous neighbours. 

We acknowledge that the diocese conducts its activities on the traditional and unceded territory of the Wabanaki people, which includes the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Peskotomuhkati nations. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship,” entered into with the British Crown in the 1700s, to establish an ongoing relationship of peace, friendship, and mutual respect.

And in particular, we humbly pray for God's mercy and healing.

Here is a prayer to help us do this, entitled Remembering the Children, shared by the Anglican Church of Canada:
 
God of our Ancestors,
who holds the spirits of our grandmothers and grandfathers
and the spirits of our grandchildren,
Remembering the Children,
we now pledge ourselves to speak the Truth,
and with our hearts and our souls
to act upon the Truth we have heard
of the injustices lived,
of the sufferings inflicted,
of the tears cried,
of the misguided intentions imposed,
and of the power of prejudice and racism
which were allowed to smother the sounds and laughter of
the forgotten children.
Hear our cries of lament
for what was allowed to happen, and for what will never be.
In speaking and hearing and acting upon the Truth
may we as individuals and as a nation
 meet the hope of a new beginning.
 
Great Creator God
who desires that all creation live in harmony and peace,
Remembering the Children
we dare to dream of a Path of Reconciliation
where apology from the heart leads to healing of the heart
and the chance of restoring the circle,
where justice walks with all,
where respect leads to true partnership,
where the power to change comes from each heart.
Hear our prayer of hope,
and guide this country of Canada
on a new and different path. Amen

​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

The reading of Holy Scripture together as a community has been a central part of Christian worship throughout the Church’s long history, and it has deep roots within the spiritual and communal practices of Israel.

We read Holy Scripture together not simply to learn new information about God’s dealings with humanity in the past, but also to listen in faith to what the Living God is saying to us His people today. We listen to His Word to draw closer to Him, and to one another.

This week, as we did for much of the Summer, we will be engaging with the Scriptures in a more open-ended way: carving out some time for silent contemplation, as well as sharing some questions for further reflection, rather than having our usual Sermons.

After every Scripture Reading in the At-Home Morning Prayer service, we’re all invited to take a few moments (1-2 minutes) in silence to reflect upon the passage, and how God’s Spirit might be addressing us through it, as individuals or as a community.

In those moments, pay attention to any words, ideas, or images that stand out to you. In the silence afterwards, ask God to help you hear His heart for you today.

After the Gospel is read, and we’ve taken a moment to in silence to reflect upon it, review the Reflection Questions for the week that Pastor Rob has prepared to help us dig in a bit deeper. 

In addition, here is a link to a short video put out by the Bible Project exploring the important practice of the Communal or Public Reading of Scripture.

And our Songs for this week can be found here:

​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

​And our Songs for this week can be found here: