Mary’s Mother
One of the many joys I found in coming into the Anglican Church was learning about the saints that appear on our church calendar. Some of them I knew something about (e.g. St Peter); others I had either not heard of, or knew little about them. The benefit of moving around several churches is that I was able to learn something of the saint after whom they were named.
Today we are marking the feast day of St Anne, mother of St Mary. As with a number of our church saints, there is little known about her that can be factually proved, as she is not even mentioned by name in the gospels. However some details have been put forward by later generations, which may or may not have been based upon any known facts of her life – we just don’t have any way of knowing. Mary’s parents are said to be Anne and Joachim. Like Hannah, the mother of Samuel, they were a childless couple who prayed to God for their lack of children and were promised a child, whom they gave to the Temple when she was still an infant – this also echoes the story of Hannah and Samuel.
In some ways what we don’t know is not as important as what we can deduce from the willingness of Mary to be obedient to God’s will. When we consider Mary’s role in the incarnation of Jesus, that is reason indeed to celebrate St Anne today, and to give thanks for her parenting that modelled such obedience and joy to her daughter.
Last Wednesday the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into State and Faith-Based Care was released. Our Archbishops have released a statement in response to the report, which will be read at the service this Sunday, and our Church has set out procedures for survivors who want to have their story heard. Please keep in your prayers those who suffered abuse and who continue to be affected by it.
From the Vicar
In the Middle Ages Mary's Song inspired the Feast of Fools celebrated after Christmas usually around New year. This feast was a literal acting out of the Magnificat as a rather strange way of witnessing to God’s kingdom that inverts human power structures and raises up the oppressed to places of honour.
We are to give up our insatiable desire to consume and replace it with the expectation of the coming of Jesus.
Advent is a time of reflection and preparation for when time will end and Jesus will come in power and glory bringing our waiting to completion.
Parish Officers
Parish Governance
The executive team of Vicar, churchwardens and treasurer meet constantly on parish business.
Parish Groups
Worship leaders, lay readers, servers, ushers, greeters, flower arrangers, cleaners, counters, intercessors and cup bearers all join together to support the service.
Beginning the year, with an excerpt of a letter from Corraine Haines, from the City Mission, in regards to the Back To School programme
In the Middle Ages Mary's Song inspired the Feast of Fools celebrated after Christmas usually around New year. This feast was a literal acting out of the Magnificat as a rather strange way of witnessing to God’s kingdom that inverts human power structures and raises up the oppressed to places of honour.
Regular Summer Sunday Services
We are to give up our insatiable desire to consume and replace it with the expectation of the coming of Jesus.
Community Fair bringing affordable toys, books, china, vintage clothes and more from the Opawa - St Martins Parish.