Pastoral Letter – September 14, 2021

Dear Friends:

I hope everyone has had some rest this summer.   The past months, especially the Spring, were difficult because the lockdown set us back and helped to contribute to a general feeling of discouragement and oppressiveness.   As we look forward to the Fall, we will as parishes follow public health guidelines.  As of today, September 14, we remain in the Province’s Phase 4, which means masks are required for indoor gatherings, along with social distancing, and the use of hand sanitizer, and the restrictions on numbers imposed by social distancing and the province’s guidelines.  These restrictions remain in  place until at least October 4.   The Diocese is also formulating a policy which will provide guidance for our worship, ministry and other activities during this time.   We all need to pray for increased patience.

We will resume our normal service schedule, services each Sunday at 11 a.m., with the above restrictions.  We will also continue to post a day or so later our Sunday service of worship coming either from All Saints or St. George’s on the All Saints Church and Parrsboro Anglican Facebook pages.  This season of the Church’s year is sometimes called the Creation Season.  We will be observing that by emphasizing our need to have a concern for the environment and for the ecological systems of which we are all part.   We need to grow in awareness and actions.   We will be celebrating the Blessing of Animals in Springhill on October 3 at 2:00 p.m. and in Parrsboro, October 4. at 4:00 p.m., outdoors weather permitting, indoors if necessary.   We will, of course, be celebrating Harvest Thanksgiving on October 10 in both parishes.   Few things are  so important as a genuine spirit of thanksgiving.  Give thanks in all circumstance; it fills the world with a spirit of positivity.

On October 31, there will be a shared service for the two parishes in Springhill.   That will be for All Saints Day, the anniversary service for All Saints and, God-willing, we will be able to have a shared meal after the service.   In November, both parishes will observe All Souls Day – in Springhill on November 7 and in Parrsboro, November 14.  Many people have lost loved ones these last two years: God-willing, we will try to take time to remember and  be together in this loss and commend them and ourselves to a loving Creator and Redeemer.

Other events will be announced as the planning for them develops.  As circumstances allow us, let us move forward with a commitment to our faith, our church community, to maintaining a safe environment where we can grow spiritually and in the spirit of love and service. 

God is good; let us always seek and trust in that goodness.

Yours sincerely,

The Rev’d Dr. Brian J. Spence – Rector