CeleBrate
The Weekly Bulletin of
St. Joseph of Nazareth Anglican Church
725 Provencher Blvd. Brossard, QC J4W 1Y5
450-671-6481 / stjofn@gmail.com
April 21st, 2019
We give everyone with us a warm welcome to St. Joseph’s this Easter Sunday. We pray that all that is said and sung will bring our hearts together in worship.
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This Week
Monday Apr. 22 1:30 p.m……….Women of Faith
Tuesday Apr. 23 11:00 a.m………Corporation Meeting
Wednesday Apr. 24 9:30 a.m……….Men’s Bible Study
Friday Apr. 26 10:30 a.m………S.H.E. Ladies
Next Sunday Apr. 28 10:30 a.m………Morning Prayer & Sunday School
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Bible Readings
April 21
Acts 10: 34-43
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15: 19-26
Luke 24: 1-12
April 28
Acts 5: 27-32
Psalm 150
Revelation 1: 4-8
John 20: 19-31
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Christ is Risen
Christ is risen! What exactly does that mean? Sometimes people see the phase as grammatically incorrect. Should it not be Christ has risen? But that is the whole point…Christ is risen…it is ongoing. Christ is risen for all humankind and for all time. He is risen for the people of long ago, He is risen for today, and He is risen for those in the future.
Now comes the harder part. What is He risen for? You will hear it said that He is risen for you and for me. Okay, we are the object of His resurrection. But what for?
If we take a moment to look at the world today, it is not hard to see sin. People take advantage of weaker people, people put themselves up on pedestals, countries war with each other, organizations, and companies (run by people) exploit people for fiscal gain. The world is not always a nice place. Just by accident of birth, people who are just like us live in horrible, degrading, and dangerous situations. Sadly, many in our part of the world, who have so much, are still are unhappy and dissatisfied.
Let’s take another moment and look into ourselves. Do we sin? Do we always “do the right thing”? Have our own actions sometimes been less than admirable? Has our self-centeredness ever impacted others in a negative way? The Bible says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…” (Romans 3:23).
Some day we will be called to account for our actions and attitudes. Will we be ready to stand before God? That’s where the death and resurrection of Jesus comes in. He died because we will not be able to stand before God as sinners. Sinners cannot just “get off”. God is just and a penalty must be paid to erase those sins. God also says in the Bible, “the wages (or the payment) of sin is death…” (Roman 6:23).
Alleluia, thanks to God, Jesus Christ has covered our sins, He has paid the penalty. For all humankind? Yes, if all humankind acknowledge what He has done and live accordingly. But God knows, and so do most of us, that not everyone will accept the forgiveness He offers. Many cannot and will not see themselves as sinners. You may say…“I do, but I still make mistakes, I still do what is wrong.” We all do. And that is why Christ IS risen…his forgiveness is complete and ongoing. The most important question is: Have you accepted Him and this wonderful gift?
The Word of the Lord
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. “And we apostles are witnesses of all He did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross, but God raised Him to life on the third day. Then God allowed Him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be His witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.” Acts 10:34-36, 39-43 New Living Translation
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Prayers and Intercessions
Prayer for Today
Lord of life and power, through the mighty resurrection of Your Son, You have overcome the old order of sin and death and have made all things new in Him. May we, being dead to sin and alive to You in Jesus Christ, reign with Him in glory, Who with You and the Holy Spirit is alive, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer for the Worldwide Anglican Church
We pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and the People of the Land of the Holy One.
Prayer for the Worldwide Anglican Church
We pray for the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East: the Most Reverend Suheil Dawani – Archbishop, Jerusalem and the Middle East and Archbishop in Jerusalem.
Provincial Prayer Care
We pray for the Diocese of Quebec: Bishop Bruce Myers.
Diocesan Prayer Care
We pray for Retired Clergy – the Reverend Fred Tiplady, the Reverend Gwenda Wells, and the Reverend Canon Francis Xavier.
Prayer for our Church Family
Father, we thank You for Your indescribable gift in Jesus Christ. Grant that we may understand Him in a new way and what it means to be offered and to accept this gift. Today and tomorrow many will gather to celebrate this wonderful season. Thank you, Lord, for all those we love. We also ask for peace and blessings for those going through hardship and difficulties. Show us ways we may show Your love and compassion. We pray this in the Name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today’s Prayer Team
For those who wish to pray with someone, a prayer team is available after the Service in the left-hand corner of the Sanctuary.The Prayer Team scheduled for today is: Dulcy and Christopher
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Rector – Reverend Christopher Belle – 450-672-4549 / stjofn@gmail.com / padrebelle@gmail.com
Rector’s Warden – Diane Allen – 450-466-5112 / deedee-one@sympatico.ca
Interim People’s Warden – Patricia Wood – 450-465-4733 / pwrightwood@gmail.com
Our Vision
To be a beacon of light and truth in our community
inviting all people to receive God’s promise of salvation through
Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
St. Joseph of Nazareth Anglican Church 