Celebrate
The Weekly Bulletin of
St. Joseph of Nazareth Anglican Church
725 Provencher Blvd. Brossard, QC J4W 1Y5
450-671-6481 / stjofn@gmail.com
February 24th, 2019
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This Week
Monday Feb. 25 1:30 p.m……….Women of Faith
Tuesday Feb. 26 11:00 a.m……….Corporation Meeting
Wednesday Feb. 27 9:30 a.m……….Men’s Bible Study
Thursday Feb. 28 7:00 p.m………..Discerning God’s Call – Session 5
Friday Mar. 1 10:30 a.m……….S.H.E. Ladies
7:00 p.m……….World Day of Prayer
Saturday Mar. 2 9:00 a.m……….Exercise Class
Next Sunday Mar. 3 10:30 a.m……….Holy Communion / Sunday School
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Twelfth Annual Black History Service
Order of Service
Choruses:
Oh, Let the Power Fall on Me
Rock-a My Soul
Down by the Riverside
Wade in the Water
Master of Ceremonies: Robert Millar
Welcome and Introduction of Guests
Opening Prayer: Reverend Christopher Belle
Hymn: Black National Anthem – Lift Ev’ry Voice
First Reading: Genesis 45: 3 – 11, 15
Hymn: Blessed Assurance
Second Reading Luke 6: 27 – 38
Peace / Offering: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
Birthdays & Anniversaries: Reverend Christopher Belle
Announcements: Reverend Christopher Belle
Hymn: Amazing Grace
Introduction of Guest Speaker: Robert Millar
Guest Speaker: Brenda Rowe – of the Coloured Women’s Club
Thanks & Presentation: Women of Faith
Closing Prayer: Reverend Christopher Belle
Closing Hymn: Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Dismissal & Grace Before Reception: Reverend Christopher Belle
Exit Hymn: When the Saints Go Marching In
Reception to follow
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The Corporation of St Joseph’s Church wish to thank OUR SPEAKER, ITS GUESTS AND All Those who made this Service possible.
Still I Rise
BY MAYA ANGELOU
You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt but still, like dust,
I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops, weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame….I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain….I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear….I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear….I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
B L A C K H I S T O R Y M O N T H
It’s Black History Month and in classrooms around the country, children have been learning about famous African Americans and their contributions to our culture. That’s a good thing. But there’s one thing most kids have not been learning about many of these famous men and women: that is, their Christian faith and how it motivated their lives and work.
For instance, Sojourner Truth is often identified as a women’s rights advocate and abolitionist. Overlooked is the source of Sojourner’s fiery devotion to human rights: That was her commitment to Jesus Christ. ‘’The Lord gave me the name Sojourner,’’ she declared, ‘’because I was to travel up and down the land, showing people their sins, and being a sign unto them.’’ At age 88, her dying words were, ‘’Follow the Lord Jesus.’’
And then there’s Rosa Parks. Many people know the story of the seamstress who helped ignite the modern civil rights movement. But far fewer people know that Parks is a devout Christian and that it was her faith that gave her the strength to do what she did that day in 1955. ‘’Since I have always been a strong believer in God,’’ she says, ‘’I knew that He was with me, and only He could get me through that next step’’ that is, refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.
Our kids have also been learning a lot about Jackie Robinson’s quiet dignity in the face of racial bigotry on the ball field. But many don’t realize the source of Robinson’s ability to turn the other cheek: It was his faith in Jesus Christ. During his ten years with the Dodgers, he endured racist remarks, death threats, and unfair calls by umpires. But Robinson’s faith helped him keep his anger in check. Every night, he got on his knees and prayed for self-control.
Most people know that George Washington Carver was a chemist and agronomist. Born a slave in 1860, Carver rose to become director of agricultural research at Tuskegee University in Alabama. He is remembered for developing 118 derivative products from sweet potatoes and 300 from peanuts including my favorite food, peanut butter. Thanks to his efforts, by 1940, peanuts were the second largest cash crop in the south. But go to his name in the encyclopedia, and you’ll find no reference to the most important aspect of his life: how his faith in God inspired his creativity. ‘’I didn’t make these discoveries,’’ Carver once said. ‘’God has only worked through me to reveal to His children some of His wonderful providence.’’
Stories like these are a reminder of what a central role the Christian faith has played in the lives of many great Americans. We Christians need to reclaim our cultural heritage from those who seem intent on deleting it from our history books and from Black History Month celebrations. So I urge you: Before the month ends, make sure your own kids learn about the abiding faith of Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, George Washington Carver, and, of course, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our kids deserve to know, not only of African American contributions to science, politics, and culture, but also of those individuals commitments to Christ. by Charles Colson
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Bible Readings
Today
Genesis 45: 3-11, 15
Luke 6: 27-38
Next Sunday
Exodus 34: 29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12 – 4:2
Luke 9: 28-43a
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Prayers and Intercessions
Prayer for Today
Almighty God, Your Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of Your saving love. Renew Your people with Your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by Your mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who is alive and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer for the Worldwide Anglican Church
We pray for the Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America – the Right Reverend Julio Murray Thompson, Primate of IARCA and Bishop of Panama.
Provincial Prayer Care
We pray for the Diocese of Montreal – Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson.
Diocesan Prayer Care
We pray for St. John the Baptist Anglican Church, Kilkenny and St. Francis Anglican Church, St. Sauveur.
Prayer for our Church family
Dear Father God, thank You for Your unfailing love for us, Your blessings, and goodness. Thank You for Your faithfulness to guide us and see us through times of uncertainty, for lifting us up, and setting us on high. Thank You for Scripture that comforts and reminds us of Your promises, plan and provision. Thank You for taking away our fears and worries, the what-ifs, and reminding us that our help comes from You. Help us to be good stewards and to sow wisely. In Christ’s Name. 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 for today is: Susan & Christopher
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World Day of Prayer
Friday, March 1 7:00 p.m.
to be held at
St. Joseph of Nazareth Church
725 Provencher Blvd. Brossard
This year a group of Slovenian Christian women is inviting the world to “Come to the Table – Everything is Ready” You, your family and your friends are invited to join us, and 1,200 communities across Canada, for the World Day of Prayer 2019.
The World Day of Prayer grew from an ecumenical day of prayer
organized by women in Canada and the United States in 1920.
This event became the international World Day of Prayer in 1922
and Christians around the world began celebrating this event
on the first Friday of March.
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Sock Drive
St. Joseph’s is collecting socks for adults
which will be given to the less fortunate.
This year we are also accepting underwear for adults.
We emphasize that all donations be new.
Thank you.
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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 