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By Tom DeBurger, Christ Church, Dresden, October 11, 2020
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By Jane Von Der Recke, St. John's-in-the-Woods, Aughrim, October 18, 2020
"...in order to show our love for one another, we remain vigilant, abiding by the protocols we have put in place..." 
-The Right Reverend Todd Townshend, Bishop of Huron

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We are in the Amber Stage of pandemic reopening.
October 11. 2020, marked the first in-the-church-building worship service at Christ Church, Dresden, and October 18 the first at
St John's-in-the-Woods, Aughrim.

These are the first two churches in the parish to go live.

Services are held in both places each Sunday at 9:30 am. Our clergy are at one while a lay reader is at the other. 

For the rest of the parish, and for those in Dresden and Aughrim who are unable to attend for any reason, all worship services, meetings and classes continue to be made available on the website. See the Worship Services and Teaching Series tabs above, and the Announcements below for details.

The Amber Stage means that pastoral visits are allowed, with safety protocols in place. 

​Read all of the protocols from the Diocese of Huron for the Amber Stage here.

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Past newsletters can be found here in the newsletter archive.
​WORSHIP SERVICES

Parish services, meditations, studies, and diocesan updates from
Sunday, March 15 | Lent 3
to
this current Sunday
ARE AVAILABLE/FINDABLE ON OUR WORSHIP VIDEOS PAGE. 

Although services have begun in-person at two of the churches, Dresden and Aughrim, the online option continues.

​We have a worship schedule, which organizes the weekly participation of each of our churches in these online services. We need readers, intercessors, and musicians to help! For readings and prayers, this could be as simple as calling Justin, who can record you over the phone.

​It is a great encouragement to your fellow parishioners to hear your voice. Please be in touch with your church wardens and worship coordinators if you are able to participate. 
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MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Bishop Townshend announces that the following will be ordained to the Order of Priests on the Commemoration of Elizabeth of Hungary, November 19, 2020 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance will be by invitation only. Please keep the ordinands in your prayers in the days ahead as they prepare for their ordination.
 
  • The Reverend Dr. Justin Comber, upon priesting the Rector of the Parish of the Transfiguration (Church of the Advent, Ridgetown; St. John’s-in-the-Woods, Aughrim; Christ Church, Dresden; St. Matthew’s, Florence; Church of the Redeemer, Highgate and Trinity Chapel of Ease, Highgate.)
  • The Reverend Andra Townshend O’Neill, upon priesting the Rector of St. Mark’s, London.

​Parish council will next meet Thursday, November 26, at 7 pm via Zoom. If you are a member of parish council, you will receive that link via email. Note that the 2021 budget will be presented at that meeting.

Catechesis means "teaching" and it's a chance to ask all the questions you've ever had about the content of our faith -- and find some answers! We will begin on Tuesday, October 27, at 7 pm, and meet each Tuesday evening at the same time.

Pandemic Outreach
Individuals all around the parish are doing what they can to keep in touch with shut-ins, deliver groceries and cheer, and follow pandemic protocols to keep everyone safe!
​Here is the story from one of our points:

It takes a village...
​The Village Stitchers (St. Matthew's and Florence Library) always accept donations of good quality yarn and cloth. Where they once worked together on articles for the local men's and women's shelters, meetings are, right now, cancelled until further notice.
But the Stitchers are stitching from home! They are making facemasks for community individuals and for clinics and group homes. If you need a mask, write to stmatthewsflorence at gmail.com and they will fix you up!
On April 16, at the request of the local hospital ICU, the Stitchers started a new project knitting hearts for COVID-19 patients, dying alone, and their remote grieving families. A heart is placed with the patient, while a matching heart is held by a loved one. In more cheerful news, these hearts are now going to a local retirement residence so residents and their families can "hold hearts" while physically distancing. 
St Matthew's has also set up a Little Free Pantry in the village of Florence and has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the pantry builder, the sign painter, the "landlord", and the community in keeping it stocked!