Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom and healed every infirmity among the people. Matthew 4.23
Holy Eucharist
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Priest: Rev James Gomez Lay Readers: Doug Livingston
Readings
Genesis 45:1-15 Psalm 133
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Collect:
Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and sent into our hearts the Spirit of your Son. Give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that all people may know the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Please join us for fellowship and refreshments in the Parochial Hall following the 10 am service.
Important dates in the life of the church:
Monday, August 17th: John Stuart, Priest, Missionary among the Mohawks
Thursday, August 20th: Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, 1153
Notices
Secretary’s Office Hours: The office Secretary office can be reached at 467-8466 or send an email to cotasecretary@gmail.com and it will be attended to. Wednesday 11am – 4 pm and Friday 9-10 am
Rector’s Office Hours: The Rector’s office hours are Wednesday and Friday from 10 am till 4 pm. It is advisable to call before coming. He can be reached at: # 204-404-9875.
Happening around us:
Restoring the Lantern: St. Thomas Anglican Church is excited to share that they have successfully achieved their initial goal of raising $50,000 for the roof. Many thanks to ALL who have contributed. The fundraising campaign will remain open until the end of August as initially planned. Any extra donations received will go towards fixing damage to the interior of the building because of the failing roof. Thank you for helping keep the lantern shining.
Donate: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-thomas-church/campaign/Restoring-the-lantern/
The Diocesan Magazine (RLN’s e-magazine: Rupert’s Land News) can be found on a link on the Diocesan newsletter. Catch up for so much more on The RLN Weekly Newsletter
DID YOU KNOW?
5. Recognize the rich contributions that Indigenous peoples have made to Canada
Canada is indebted to the diverse cultures and nations of Indigenous peoples and the rich history and knowledge they have contributed to Canada, including the country’s name (which likely comes from the Huron-Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning village or settlement) and our collective identity as a country.
According to the Calls to Action, supporting Indigenous peoples’ “cultural revitalization and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, oral histories, laws, protocols and connections to the land are essential to the process of reconciliation.”
6. Take action to address historical injustices and present-day wrongs
Before taking action, it is important to engage with anti-racism training. Anti-racism training teaches how to address unconscious biases about Indigenous peoples and unlearn harmful stereotypes. This type of education also provides the necessary tools to act in a culturally sensitive and well-informed way.
Before acting, it is important to reflect on why you are taking action, the affects you hope to achieve with these actions and how you will include Indigenous peoples in your actions.
7. Teach others
Teaching others what we have learnt is a crucial step in engaging with reconciliation, as it deepens our own learnings and understanding and helps create a community of culturally safe people. When teaching others, it is important to refer and guide individuals to Indigenous sources of knowledge and information. While we can begin to teach people about the importance of reconciliation, and all that we have learnt, we must ensure it is grounded in the voices and knowledge of Indigenous peoples.
8. Create a culturally safe environment
To better understand the systemic structures of oppression and the importance of dismantling them, non-Indigenous people must learn about the treatment of Indigenous peoples within institutional environments, like schools and hospitals, and how anti-Indigenous racism has been embedded into policy and practice. With cultural safety training***, people can carefully and critically learn about the oppressive social structures within these institutions and how they impact the health and education of Indigenous peoples. Individuals and institutions can then begin to create and support equitable environments that are culturally safe and Indigenous-informed.
Creating a culturally safe environment is an important step in creating a culturally safe Canada, wherein Indigenous peoples are included in all spaces, without barrier and with access to traditional knowledge and practices.
May God’s hand cast a shadow over the enemy of thine spirit. . . . Let cold winds blow on the backs of those who seek thine diminution. . . . May tormenting dreams visit their sleep and trouble their wakefulness. . . . Let resourcefulness sing her song in the morning and righteousness follow in kind in the evensong. . . . May your rest be deep in the bosom on the peace that passes understanding. . . . May you gird up your loins with laughter and put on the vestment of friendship which even now surrounds you like angels of mercy who will carry you through the dark passage into the light of a new day. – Author unknown
Next Week: August 23rd 2026 Morning Prayer
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Lay Readers: Joneen Livingston, Ross Thompson
Readings:
Exodus1:8-2:10 Psalm 124
Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20
August 2nd 2026