The readings for Sunday February 12 are 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Mark 1:40-45.

We’re set for another film night in our occasional series, Theology in the Dark. For this one we’ll be screening “Get Low,” starring Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek. It takes place on Thursday February 9, 7pm at in the film room at Booth College (442 Webb Place), after which we’ll head up the street to Stella’s Café for coffee and conversation. There is no admission charge for the movie.

The next in our series of “LivingRoom liturgies” is set for this Friday February 10. For this one we’re thinking we’ll incorporate some extra music and do a bit of a songwriter circle, so if you play an instrument and want to take part that would be great. You can sign up by contacting us, and indicating whether you’d like to bring wine, bread, cheese and crackers, olives, or hummus. Don’t delay… these are a great way to connect with people from around the saint ben’s community.

Our Mental Health support group continues to meet on a bi-weekly basis, with the next sessions happening on February 7 and 21. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30 pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter.

Our Hear the Silence liturgy for the month is set for Saturday February 18, 7pm at the church.

Our annual open meeting is set for Sunday February 19, starting at 4:15pm and including a catered supper at 5:30. There is a sign-up sheet at the back of the church, so we can plan our meal order. Suggested donation for supper is $10.

The next 4PM Sunday “family-friendly” liturgy is set for this Sunday February 19. While offered for families with young children in mind, these liturgies are open to everyone. And yes, we realize that the annual meeting will be starting at 4:15 that same day (which is why Helen Manfield will be leading the service for the week), but you are certainly free to come to the liturgy and then just slip into the meeting a bit late.

Our next session of ideaExchange is on for Tuesday February 21, when we’ll be welcoming  Bishop Mark MacDonald to engage us in a searching exploration of a cluster of issues connected to life as an Indigenous Christian. Mark is the National Indigenous Bishop for the Anglican Church of Canada, and passionate in his conviction that we need to pay attention to the wisdom and experiences of Indigenous peoples. Please remember that we are now in our new home for these events, The Folk Exchange located at 211 Bannatyne, at Albert Street. The door open at 7pm, with the session underway at 7:30

Our annual weekend at Camp Cedarwood is confirmed for March 9-11, with registration forms  available at the church.

The readings for Sunday February 5 are Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 2:22-40. You’ll notice that the Gospel reading returns us to the cycle of infancy narratives, and this is because we’re observing this Sunday as “The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus,” which recalls Mary and Joseph’s visit to the temple some forty days of the birth of the baby. In the tradition it is known as “Candlemas,” but more on that on Sunday!

Our next session of ideaExchange is on for this Tuesday January 31 at 7:30PM. Our speaker for the evening is Kirsten Pinto-Gfroerer, on “Why we should not give up on sin; or, how being a sinner isn’t an insult after all.” Please note that this session will find us in a new home for these events, The Folk Exchange located at 211 Bannatyne, at Albert Street.

We’ve got a few spaces still available for this Saturday’s  House Concert in the home of Lorne and Sigrid Penner. The suggested donation will be $15 for an evening of great music, food and drink, and some very fine company. On the musical bill for the night will be Kerri Woelke and Jon Lawless. We’ll have a sign-up sheet at the church on Sunday nights, and you can also reserve a space by contacting us. That’s February 4 at 7:30pm.

The next in our series of “LivingRoom liturgies” is set for Friday February 10. For this one we’re thinking we’ll incorporate some extra music and do a bit of a songwriter circle, so if you play an instrument and want to take part that would be great. You can sign up at the church, or by contacting us, and indicating whether you’d like to bring wine, bread, cheese and crackers, olives, or hummus. Don’t delay… these are a great way to connect with people from around the saint ben’s community.

Our Mental Health support group continues to meet on a bi-weekly basis, with the next sessions happening on February 7 and 21. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30 pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter.

The next 4PM Sunday “family-friendly” liturgy is set for this Sunday February 5. While offered for families with young children in mind, these liturgies are open to everyone… And of course we still offer pre-school childcare during the 7Pm service.

We’re set for another film night in our occasional series, Theology in the Dark. For this one we’ll be screening “Get Low,” starring Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek. It takes place on Thursday February 9, 7pm at in the film room at Booth College (442 Webb Place), after which we’ll head up the street to Stella’s Café for coffee and conversation. There is no admission charge for the movie.

The readings for Sunday January 29 are Deuteronomy 18:15-22 and Mark 1:21-28.

Our next session of ideaExchange is on for Tuesday January 31 at 7:30PM. Our speaker for the evening is Kirsten Pinto-Gfroerer, on “Why we should not give up on sin; or, how being a sinner isn’t an insult after all.” Please note that this session will find us in a new home for these events, The Folk Exchange located at 211 Bannatyne, at Albert Street.

We’ve got another House Concert scheduled, this one for February 4 at 7:30pm in the home of Lorne and Sigrid Penner. Again, our suggested donation will be $15 for an evening of great music, food and drink, and some very fine company. On the musical bill for the night will be Kerri Woelke and Jon Lawless. We’ll have a sign-up sheet at the church on Sunday nights, and you can also reserve a space by contacting us.

The next in our series of “LivingRoom liturgies” is set for Friday February 10. For this one we’re thinking we’ll incorporate some extra music and do a bit of a songwriter circle, so if you play an instrument and want to take part that would be great. You can sign up at the church, or by contacting us, and indicating whether you’d like to bring wine, bread, cheese and crackers, olives, or hummus. Don’t delay… these are a great way to connect with people from around the saint ben’s community.

Our Mental Health support group continues to meet on a bi-weekly basis, with the next session happening on January 24, with Gord Johnson offering a reflection on music and inner health. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30 pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter.

The next 4PM Sunday “family-friendly” liturgy is set for Sunday February 5. While offered for families with young children in mind, these liturgies are open to everyone… And of course we still offer pre-school childcare during the 7Pm service.

We’re set for another film night in our occasional series, Theology in the Dark. For this one we’ll be screening “Get Low,” starring Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek. It takes place on Thursday February 9, 7pm at in the film room at Booth College (442 Webb Place), after which we’ll head up the street to Stella’s Café for coffee and conversation. There is no admission charge for the movie.

The readings for Sunday January 22 are Jonah 3:1-10 and Mark 1:14-20.

The next in our series of “LivingRoom liturgies” is set for Friday February 10. For this one we’re thinking we’ll incorporate some extra music and do a bit of a songwriter circle, so if you play an instrument and want to take part that would be great. You can sign up at the church, or by contacting us, and indicating whether you’d like to bring wine, bread, cheese and crackers, olives, or hummus. Don’t delay… these are a great way to connect with people from around the saint ben’s community.

Our Mental Health support group continues to meet on a bi-weekly basis, with the next session happening on January 24, with Gord Johnson offering a reflection on music and inner health. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30 pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter.

The next 4PM Sunday “family-friendly” liturgy is set for Sunday February 5. While offered for families with young children in mind, these liturgies are open to everyone… And of course we still offer pre-school childcare during the 7Pm service.

The next Hear the Silence liturgy is set for Saturday January 21 at 7PM.

Our next session of ideaExchange is set for January 31 at 7:30PM. Our speaker for the evening is Kirsten Pinto-Gfroerer, on “Why we should not give up on sin; or, how being a sinner isn’t an insult after all.” Please note that this session will find us in a new home for these events, The Folk Exchange located at 211 Bannatyne, at Albert Street.

We’ve got another House Concert scheduled, this one for February 4 at 7:30pm in the home of Lorne and Sigrid Penner. Again, our suggested donation will be $15 for an evening of great music, food and drink, and some very fine company. On the musical bill for the night will be Kerri Woelke and Jon Lawless. We’ll have a sign-up sheet at the church on Sunday nights, and you can also reserve a space by contacting us.

Finally, it would appear that all 100 tickets for the January 20 event “17 and Crazy” have now been sold. That has to be pretty encouraging for Davis Plett and his circle of young artists, writers and musicians.

In Christ,

Jamie

The readings for Sunday January 15 are 1 Samuel 3:1-20 and John 1:43-51.

We’re now organizing our Winter round of LivingRoom liturgies, with the next dates set for January 12 and February 10. The January 12 evening still has a bit of space, but we really do need to hear from you in the next day or so if you’re interested in coming. You can sign up for either evening by contacting us, and indicating whether you’d like to bring wine, bread, cheese and crackers, olives, or hummus. Don’t delay… these are a great way to connect with people from around the saint ben’s community.

Our Mental Health support group has now resumed meeting on a bi-weekly basis, with the next two sessions happening on January 10 and 24. I’ll be joining the group on the 10th to talk a bit about the place of prayer in finding stability, while Gord Johnson will be there for the session on January 24. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30 pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter.

The next 4PM Sunday “family-friendly” liturgy is set for Sunday January 15. While offered for families with young children in mind, these liturgies are open to everyone… And of course we still offer pre-school childcare during the 7Pm service.

The next Hear the Silence liturgy is set for Saturday January 21 at 7PM.

Our next session of ideaExchange is set for January 31 at 7:30PM. Our speaker for the evening is Kirsten Pinto-Gfroerer, on “Why we should not give up on sin; or, how being a sinner isn’t an insult after all.” Please note that this session will find us in a new home for these events, The Folk Exchange located at 211 Bannatyne, at Albert Street.

We’ve got another House Concert scheduled, this one for February 4 at 7:30pm in the home of Lorne and Sigrid Penner. Again, our suggested donation will be $15 for an evening of great music, food and drink, and some very fine company. On the musical bill for the night will be Kerri Woelke and Jon Lawless. We’ll have a sign-up sheet at the church on Sunday nights, and you can also reserve a space by contacting us.

Looking well down the line, our annual weekend at Camp Cedarwood is confirmed for March 9-11. Details and registration will be available in the next few weeks. And if you are interested in being a part of the planning team, do let us know as soon as possible!

Finally, it would appear that all 100 tickets for the January 20 event “17 and Crazy” have now been sold. That has to be pretty encouraging for Davis Plett and his circle of young artists, writers and musicians.

In Christ,

Jamie

Are you interested in exploring baptism or the reaffirmation of your baptismal faith? We’ll be celebrating adult baptisms in the Easter season, and over the course of the winter will be forming a group to explore the themes of our baptismal faith. If you’d like to take part, or just want a bit more information, please do contact us in the next week or two.

The readings for January 8, which we are observing as the Feast of the Epiphany, are Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12.

We’re now organizing our Winter round of LivingRoom liturgies, with the next dates set for January 12 and February 10. The January evening – which takes place at the home of Lorne and Sigrid Penner – is coming up really fast, and we’d really like to hear from you this week if you’re interested in coming. You can sign up by contacting us, and indicating whether you’d like to bring wine, bread, cheese and crackers, olives, or hummus. Don’t delay… these are a great way to connect with people from around the saint ben’s community.

Mark this one on your calendars now: Davis Plett and Friends Present “17 and Crazy: A collection of thought, song, and art created by the adolescent imagination,” offered in collaboration with saint benedict’s table – Friday January 20, 7:30pm at Aqua Books. Tickets are only $5, and are available at the church on Sundays. You can also reserve tickets by contacting us.

Our Mental Health support group will resume meeting on a bi-weekly basis after the break, with the next two sessions happening on January 10 and 24. I’ll be joining the group on the 10th to talk a bit about the place of prayer in finding stability, while Gord Johnson will be there for the session on January 24. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30 pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter.

The next 4PM Sunday “family-friendly” liturgy is set for Sunday January 15. While offered for families with young children in mind, these liturgies are open to everyone… And of course we still offer pre-school childcare during the 7Pm service.

The next Hear the Silence liturgy is set for Saturday January 21 at 7PM.

We’ve got another House Concert scheduled, this one for February 4 at 7:30pm in the home of Lorne and Sigrid Penner. Again, our suggested donation will be $15 for an evening of great music, food and drink, and some very fine company. On the musical bill for the night will be Kerri Stephens and Jon Lawless. We’ll have a sign-up sheet at the church on Sunday nights, and you can also reserve a space by contacting us.

Looking well down the line, our annual weekend at Camp Cedarwood is confirmed for March 9-11. Details and registration will be available in the next few weeks. And if you are interested in being a part of the planning team, do let us know as soon as possible!

In Christ,

Jamie

The readings for January 1, the 2nd Sunday in Christmastide are  Galatians 4:4-7 and John 1:1-14.

We’re now organizing our Winter round of LivingRoom liturgies, with the next dates set for January 12 (which will come up awfully fast…) and February 10. The format is to gather in a home for a simple communion, followed by the sharing of food, drink and conversation. These are a really good opportunity to get to know others who are connected to saint benedict’s table, whether as their primary church community or as a second church home. You can sign up at the church, or by contacting us.

Mark this one on your calendars now: Davis Plett and Friends Present “17 and Crazy: A collection of thought, song, and art created by the adolescent imagination,” offered in collaboration with saint benedict’s table – Friday January 20, 7:30pm at Aqua Books.

Our Mental Health support group will resume meeting on a bi-weekly basis after the break, with the next two sessions happening on January 10 and 24. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter.

The next 4PM Sunday “family-friendly” liturgy is set for Sunday January 15. While offered for families with young children in mind, these liturgies are open to everyone… And of course we still offer pre-school childcare during the 7Pm service.

Looking well down the line, our annual weekend at Camp Cedarwood is confirmed for March 9-11. Details and registration will be available early in the new year.

• December 24 – Christmas Eve 8:00pm

• December 25 – no service… spend some time with friends and family

• January 1 – 2nd Sunday in Christmastide – 7pm

• January 8 – Feast of the Epiphany – 7pm

The readings for Christmas Eve are Titus 3:4-7 and Luke 2:1-20.

We’re now organizing our Winter round of LivingRoom liturgies, with the next dates set for January 12 and February 10. You can sign up at the church, or by contacting us.

Mark this one on your calendars now: Davis Plett and Friends Present “17 and Crazy: A collection of thought, song, and art created by the adolescent imagination,” offered in collaboration with saint benedict’s table – Friday January 20, 7:30pm at Aqua Books.

Our Mental Health support group will resume meeting on a bi-weekly basis after the break, with the next two sessions happening on January 10 and 24. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter.

The next 4PM Sunday “family-friendly” liturgy is set for Sunday January 15. While offered for families with young children in mind, these liturgies are open to everyone… And of course we still offer pre-school childcare during the 7Pm service.

Looking well down the line, our annual weekend at Camp Cedarwood is confirmed for March 9-11. Details and registration will be available early in the new year.

And finally, a word from our ministry coordinator, Jaylene Johnson:

Thank you, thank you, thank you! “Amero Little Christmas” was a fantastic event, and you, the saint benedict’s table community, helped to make it so! It was so rewarding to see a packed theatre during such a busy season, and to know that many of the people there were able to be because of your generosity. Extra donations were also taken for Agape Table, and there was some good exposure to the audience for the work they do.

Also, special thanks to all of our amazing volunteers. The quality of our life as a community is made rich because of what you give in time and resources. May this never go unappreciated! It has been a joy to get to know some of you, and I look forward to connecting with more of you in 2012. Thank you for your service in great and small ways.

The readings for next Sunday, December 11 are Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 and John 1:6-8, 19-28.

ideaExchange at Aqua Books – Tuesday December 13, 7:30pm – Jamie Arpin-Ricci on The Cost of Community: realities, gifts and challenges. Jamie Arpin-Ricci is an urban missionary, pastor, church planter and writer living in Winnipeg’s inner city West End neighbourhood. He is the author of The Cost of Community: Jesus, St. Francis & Life in the Kingdom, and the founding co-director of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Urban Ministries Winnipeg with his Australian wife Kim.

Our Mental Health support group has decided to meet on a bi-weekly basis, with the next one set for December 13. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30 pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter!

On Thursday December 15 a group of us will be joining with some of the members of All Saints to decorate the church in anticipation of Christmas. Always good to have a few people who are happy to climb ladders to hang the garlands, as well as some who are quite content to do things at floor level… set-up starts at 4:30 and runs till about 6:00, following which they’ll be ordering pizza for anyone who wants to stay on for a shared meal. If you’re interested, just come out and join us.

On Friday December 16, we’re presenting “Have Yourself Amero Little Christmas” with Don Amero and special guest Jaylene Johnson. The concert takes place at the Ellice Theatre and Cafe at 8PM (Doors open at 7:30PM). Proceeds from the event will help support the ongoing work of Agape Table. You can purchase $12 advance tickets through Don Amero’s site or just come out that night and buy a $15 ticket at the door. We’ve got a few free tickets still available for anyone who’d like to come but can’t afford the $12; for more information just contact us.

Hear the Silence for the Season of Advent – Saturday 17, 7:00PM – a liturgy of music, readings, prayer and stillness; a great way to slow down and savour the deeper meaning of the season.

The last 4PM Sunday “family-friendly” liturgy before we enter the Christmas season is set for December 18. And yes, these liturgies are open to everyone… And of course we still offer pre-school childcare during the 7Pm service.

Though it is still very much the Advent season, you’re probably thinking about Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers. You might consider a saint ben’s book or CD, such as the new Alana Levandoski/Ignatius Mabasa three song CD (only $5) or how about Beautiful Mercy: a book of hours, now offered at a special reduced price? And then there’s always CDs by Jaylene Johnson, Mike Koop’s Multitude of Sins, and of course the original We Will Not Be Silent: music from saint benedict’s table. It is all available Sunday nights at church, but because our online store is about to be launched we’ll also be able to take orders from further afield…

The readings for next Sunday, December 11 are Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 and John 1:6-8, 19-28.

ideaExchange at Aqua Books – Tuesday December 13, 7:30pm – Jamie Arpin-Ricci on The Cost of Community: realities, gifts and challenges. Jamie Arpin-Ricci is an urban missionary, pastor, church planter and writer living in Winnipeg’s inner city West End neighbourhood. He is the author of The Cost of Community: Jesus, St. Francis & Life in the Kingdom, and the founding co-director of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Urban Ministries Winnipeg with his Australian wife Kim.

Our Mental Health support group has decided to meet on a bi-weekly basis, with the next one set for December 13. The group gathers in the small chapel from 7 to 8:30 pm. Please use the main Broadway doors to enter!

On Thursday December 15 a group of us will be joining with some of the members of All Saints to decorate the church in anticipation of Christmas. Always good to have a few people who are happy to climb ladders to hang the garlands, as well as some who are quite content to do things at floor level… set-up starts at 4:30 and runs till about 6:30, followed by a bit of a pot-luck supper. If you can lend a hand, contact us and we’ll give you a bit more info on the supper. And even if you can’t stay on for the meal, it would be great to have more volunteers this year.

saint benedict’s table presents Have Yourself Amero Little Christmas with Don Amero and special guest Jaylene Johnson on Friday, December 16th at the Ellice Theatre and Cafe at 8PM (Doors open at 7:30PM). Proceeds from the event will help support the ongoing work of Agape Table. For advance tickets just contact us  or visit Don Amero’s site. Advance tickets are  $12 advance tickets ($15 at the door), and will also be available at the book and CD table at church on Sundays. And f you are unable to attend, please consider purchasing tickets which could be donated to volunteers from Agape Table and other who would otherwise be unable to attend.

Hear the Silence for the Season of Advent – Saturday 17, 7:00PM – a liturgy of music, readings, prayer and stillness; a great way to slow down and savour the deeper meaning of the season.

The next in our series of 4pm Sunday “family-friendly liturgies” takes place on December 18. Though offered with those young children in mind, these liturgies are certainly open to everyone.

Opportunities to get behind some other important ministries:

The annual saint ben’s Agape Table challenge… over the next couple of weeks we invite you to bring along a pair of warm socks, gloves or a winter hat to add to the Agape Table baskets. The last two years we collected over 250 articles of winter gear for their ministry. So far this Advent we’ve gathered about 175 items, so we’re getting close…

Manitoba House, a faith-based children’s drop-in centre in the north end, is hoping to collect new Christmas gifts in the $10 range, for children ages 5-12 years old. Possible items include stuffed animals, dolls, toy baking sets, nail polish, remote control cars, origami sets, sports balls, jewelry-making kits, art sets, tea party sets, and lego. If you can help, donations of new gifts worth $10 each, or financial contributions would be greatly appreciated. We’ll have a collection drop-box at the church this coming Sunday, December 11.