Sunday, August 27th: 10:15am In Person and LiveStreamed 

Welcome into an expansive time of Sabbath.  We continue in our lay-led services to draw inspiration from Wayne Muller’s book, Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives.

 “Within this Sabbath sanctuary, we become available to the insights and blessings of deep mindfulness that arise only in stillness and time.”

In the Reflection this week, we are encouraged to be still and know.  We are given to see that when we tap into our stillness, “we can touch where there is an opening, a readiness, a place of grace waiting to be born.” We can begin to see things not so much from a perspective of need, Wayne declares, but from the vantage point of strength. In today’s scripture passage from Matthew, listen for how Jesus — in feeding the 5,000 — operates not from what is lacking but from what is available and generously offered. 

So release yourself into the stillness of Sabbath where we are invited to tap into our centre, and there to find sacred wisdom, holy insight and a deep sense of “enough”. 

The Worship Team

Healing Pathway practitioners will be offering “Soaking Prayer” following the service on Sunday, August 27th.  If you are feeling the need for care – perhaps because of stress or concerns that you are carrying, or pain or grief – we encourage you to receive. We invite anyone who would like to come and sit in a chair at the back section of the sanctuary for a few minutes to receive healing energy through the Soaking Prayer technique. One practitioner will place their hands gently on your shoulders as you are seated.

We welcome this opportunity to offer our Healing Pathway Ministry to the congregation.

Rev. Hilde Seal will be joining James Bay United on September 1st for six months.

Could this be you?

Connecting with your gifts…increasing our vitality

This we know: at JBUC, we make a positive difference in people’s lives. We hear the many stories and we’ve benefitted from our own experiences. 

In order to continue our vital work and explore exciting opportunities, we need to focus on how we fundraise. Over the next month, we’ll be forming a team dedicated to various aspects of fundraising: event planning, grant support, promotion, and community outreach. 

This is where we hope you’ll come in! 

Christine Chepyha has announced that she is resigning her position as Communications Manager at JBUC effective September 30, 2023. Christine has done an excellent job for the past year in this capacity and the Church Board along with the members of the Ministry and Personnel Committee wish to extend our appreciation for her service.  We also wish her all the best in her new endeavor as Music Director for the Voices in Motion Choirs in Victoria.  

The church Board is in the process of advertising to fill the position of Communications Manager. 

The full job description can be found here. 

Deadline for applications: Monday, September 11, 2023

Saturday, August 26th: 4pm - 6pm

In response to the record number of musicians visiting our sessions, we are hosting a musicians’ workshop specifically focussing on elements of performance, jam session etiquette, how to learn repertoire and how to communicate effectively with a band/audience/dancers.

This workshop will be casual, fun and participatory and is open to anyone who would like to cultivate, develop or refine their musical performance practice.

Everyone is welcome, admission by donation. ($5 to $20 suggested donation).

Join us for a talk about a visit to Ireland. Focus on your interests - everything from the earliest archaeological sites to opportunities to learn some Irish language and music, geology or drama, or present-day politics and achievements.

Meeting on Wednesday evening, 6pm – 7:30pm in the lower church hall at James Bay United Church (enter at the rear of the building).

Questions? Please contact Vanessa at 250-415-9272 or islandpilgrim@gmail.com 

Photo by Jason Murphy on Unsplash

James Bay United is the rehearsal home for the James Bay Children's Chorus, and they start their new season on September 14th. A fabulous opportunity for children from 6 - 16, this welcoming community chorus provides a safe space for learning, singing and having fun. Share this news with your neighbours!

SingYourJoy Young Adult Chorus enters its 13th season on Monday, September 4th! “SingYourJoy has a reputation for being a creative, welcoming space for young adults who are exploring their world more broadly,” says Co-Founder and Co-Director Gordon Miller, “discovering a place where you fit in is not easy sometimes and this group is fun, encouraging and accepting.” Let your young adults know about it.

The James Bay Community Chorus returns on September 13th! This non-auditioned group welcomes new and returning singers for another season of good music, laughter and community. All the details and our online registration form can be found here.

Whatever is foreseen in joy
Must be lived out from day to day.

Vision held open in the dark
By our ten thousand days of work.

Harvest will fill the barn; for that
The hand must ache, the face must sweat.

And yet no leaf or grain is filled
By work of ours; the field is tilled
And left to grace.  That we may eat,
Great work is done while we’re asleep.

When we work well, a Sabbath mood
Rests on our day, and finds it good.

~ Wendell Berry

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash