Sunday, 2 April – The Sunday of the Passion

We strongly encourage you to wear a high-quality medical mask for in person attendance at worship. Although not required, this advice comes from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health and Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, and from diocesan guidelines. Wearing a mask while indoors in public is the best way to protect yourself and others.

Coptic Icon of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey.

You can join the service, live or later, via YouTube. The live-stream will begin at about 9:45 am, and the service will begin at 10 am. You are able to watch or re-watch it on YouTube at this link at any later time.

The order of service is available here. It includes the readings, all the responses, and the words of the hymns, to help you join in as fully as possible via the live-stream.

This is the Sunday of the Passion, with the Liturgy of the Palms Sundays and Seasons offers this reflection on the day and the readings we’ll hear:

Today, we encounter the paradox that defines our faith: Jesus Christ is glorified king and humiliated servant. We too are full of paradox: like Peter, we fervently desire to follow Christ, but find ourselves afraid, denying God. We wave palms in celebration today as Christ comes into our midst, and we follow with trepidation as his path leads to death on the cross. Amid it all we are invited into this paradoxical promise of life through Christ’s broken body and outpoured love in a meal of bread and wine. We begin this week that stands at the centre of the church year, anticipating the completion of God’s astounding work.

Sunday, 26 March – 5th Sunday in Lent

We strongly encourage you to wear a high-quality medical mask for in person attendance at worship. Although not required, this advice comes from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health and Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, and from diocesan guidelines. Wearing a mask while indoors in public is the best way to protect yourself and others.

A painting by John August Swanson of Lazarus emerging from the tomb (story in John 11).
John August Swanson, “Take Away the Stone”

You can join the service, live or later, via YouTube. The live-stream will begin at about 9:45 am, and the service will begin at 10 am. You are able to watch or re-watch it on YouTube at this link at any later time.

The order of service is available here. It includes the readings, all the responses, and the words of the hymns, to help you join in as fully as possible via the live-stream.

This is the fifth Sunday in Lent. Sundays and Seasons offers this reflection on the day and the readings we’ll hear:

In today’s gospel Jesus reveals his power over death by raising Lazarus from the dead. The prophet Ezekiel prophesies God breathing new life into dry bones. To those in exile or living in the shadows of death, these stories proclaim God’s promise of resurrection. In baptism we die with Christ that we might also be raised with him to new life. At the Easter Vigil we will welcome the newly baptized as we remember God’s unfailing promise in our baptism.

March 19, 2023 – Fourth Sunday in Lent

We strongly encourage you to wear a high-quality medical mask for in person attendance at worship. Although not required, this advice comes from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health and Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, and from diocesan guidelines. Wearing a mask while indoors in public is the best way to protect yourself and others.

Jesus cures the man born blind – John 9:1-41

You can join the service, live or later, via YouTube. The live-stream will begin at about 9:45 am, and the service will begin at 10 am. You are able to watch or re-watch it on YouTube at this link at any later time.

The order of service is available here. It includes the readings, all the responses, and the words of the hymns, to help you join in as fully as possible via the live-stream.

This is the fourth Sunday in Lent. Sundays and Seasons offers this reflection on the day and the readings we’ll hear:

Baptism is sometimes called enlightenment. The gospel for this Sunday is the story of the man born blind healed by Christ. “I was blind, now I see,” declares the man. In baptism God opens our eyes to see the truth of who we are: God’s beloved children. As David was anointed king of Israel, in baptism God anoints our head with oil, and calls us to bear witness to the light of Christ in our daily lives.

March 12, 2023 – Third Sunday in Lent

We strongly encourage you to wear a high-quality medical mask for in person attendance at worship. Although not required, this advice comes from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health and Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, and from diocesan guidelines. Wearing a mask while indoors in public is the best way to protect yourself and others.

The Samaritan woman encounters Jesus at the well.

You can join the service, live or later, via YouTube. The live-stream will begin at about 9:45 am, and the service will begin at 10 am. You are able to watch or re-watch it on YouTube at this link at any later time.

The order of service is available here. It includes the readings, all the responses, and the words of the hymns, to help you join in as fully as possible via the live-stream.

This is the third Sunday in Lent. Sundays and Seasons offers this reflection on the day and the readings we’ll hear:

In today’s gospel the Samaritan woman asks Jesus for water, an image of our thirst for God. Jesus offers living water, a sign of God’s grace flowing from the waters of baptism. The early church used this gospel and those of the next two Sundays to deepen baptismal reflection during the final days of preparation before baptism at Easter. As we journey to the resurrection feast, Christ comes among us in word, bath, and meal—offering us the life-giving water of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

March 5th, 2023 – Second Sunday in Lent

We strongly encourage you to wear a high-quality medical mask for in person attendance at worship. Although not required, this advice comes from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health and Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, and from diocesan guidelines. Wearing a mask while indoors in public is the best way to protect yourself and others.

Nicodemus – John 3:1-21

You can join the service, live or later, via YouTube. The live-stream will begin at about 9:45 am, and the service will begin at 10 am. You are able to watch or re-watch it on YouTube at this link at any later time.

The order of service is available here. It includes the readings, all the responses, and the words of the hymns, to help you join in as fully as possible via the live-stream.

This is the second Sunday in Lent. Sundays and Seasons offers this reflection on the day and the readings we’ll hear:

During Lent we journey with all those around the world who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil. In today’s gospel Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of water and Spirit. At the font we are a given a new birth as children of God. As God made a covenant with Abraham, in baptism God promises to raise us up with Christ to new life. From worship we are sent forth to proclaim God’s love for all the world.

Vestry Report

Our Annual Vestry Meeting will be held on February 26th, 2023, following the 10 o’clock service. It is held to receive the accounts of the Vestry from the previous year, to elect and appoint wardens and lay delegates, and for other business connected with the temporalities of the parish.

Each year, we publish a Vestry Report. It includes financial and attendance information, shares significant ministry moments, and offers a snapshot of what the previous year has looked like. You can read the Vestry Report about 2022 here.

In accordance with diocesan guidelines, the meeting will be held in person. All are welcome to attend. Per diocesan Canon 4.1, eligible members of vestry entitled to speak and vote at the meeting are: baptised members of the Church of the Nativity of the full age of 16 years, who for at least six months preceding the meeting have been identifiably involved with the Church of the Nativity, through worship, fellowship, and financial support.

February 26th, 2023 – First Sunday in Lent

We strongly encourage you to wear a high-quality medical mask for in person attendance at worship. Although not required, this advice comes from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health and Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, and from diocesan guidelines. Wearing a mask while indoors in public is the best way to protect yourself and others.

Jesus stands on a high peak with the tempter
Jesus is tempted – Matthew 4.1-11

You can join the service, live or later, via YouTube. The live-stream will begin at about 9:45 am, and the service will begin at 10 am. You are able to watch or re-watch it on YouTube at this link at any later time.

The order of service is available here. It includes the readings, all the responses, and the words of the hymns, to help you join in as fully as possible via the live-stream.

This is the first Sunday in Lent. Sundays and Seasons offers this reflection on the day and the readings we’ll hear:

Today’s gospel tells of Jesus’ temptation in the desert. His forty-day fast becomes the basis of our Lenten pilgrimage. In the early church Lent was a time of intense preparation for those to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. This catechetical focus on the meaning of faith is at the heart of our Lenten journey to the baptismal waters of Easter. Hungry for God’s mercy, we receive the bread of life to nourish us for the days ahead.

Ash Wednesday – February 22nd, 2023

We strongly encourage you to wear a high-quality medical mask for in person attendance at worship. Although not required, this advice comes from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health and Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, and from diocesan guidelines. Wearing a mask while indoors in public is the best way to protect yourself and others.

A colourful image of the cross with the text "The Forty Days of Lent: Return to the Lord your God"

You can join the service, live or later, via YouTube. The live-stream will begin shortly before the services begins at 10 am. You are able to watch or re-watch it on YouTube at this link at any later time.

The order of service is available here. It includes the readings, all the responses, and the words of the hymns, to help you join in as fully as possible via the live-stream.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent.. Sundays and Seasons offers this reflection on the day and the readings we’ll hear:

On Ash Wednesday we begin our forty-day journey toward Easter with a day of fasting and repentance. Marking our foreheads with dust, we acknowledge that we die and return to the earth. At the same time, the dust traces the life-giving cross indelibly marked on our foreheads at baptism. While we journey through Lent to return to God, we have already been reconciled to God through Christ. We humbly pray for God to make our hearts clean while we rejoice that “now is the day of salvation.” Returning to our baptismal call, we more intentionally bear the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.

Sunday, 19 February 2023 – Last Sunday after the Epiphany

We strongly encourage you to wear a high-quality medical mask for in person attendance at worship. Although not required, this advice comes from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health and Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, and from diocesan guidelines. Wearing a mask while indoors in public is the best way to protect yourself and others.

The Transfiguration – Matthew 17:1-13

You can join the service, live or later, via YouTube. The live-stream will begin at about 9:45 am, and the service will begin at 10 am. You are able to watch or re-watch it on YouTube at this link at any later time.

The order of service is available here. It includes the readings, all the responses, and the words of the hymns, to help you join in as fully as possible via the live-stream.

This Sunday is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. Sundays and Seasons offers this reflection on the readings we’ll hear:

Today’s festival is a bridge between the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes to a close today and the Lent-Easter cycle that begins in several days. On a high mountain Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved Son, echoing the words at his baptism. This vision of glory sustains us as Jesus faces his impending death in Jerusalem. We turn this week to Ash Wednesday and our yearly baptismal journey from Lent to Easter. Some churches put aside the alleluia at the conclusion of today’s liturgy. This word of joy will be omitted during the penitential season of Lent and will be sung again at Easter.

Sunday, 12 February 2023 – 6th Sunday after the Epiphany

We strongly encourage you to wear a high-quality medical mask for in person attendance at worship. Although not required, this advice comes from the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health and Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health, and from diocesan guidelines. Wearing a mask while indoors in public is the best way to protect yourself and others.

Jesus preaches the sermon on the mount, an image by the artist Laura James (who has given permission for the non-commercial use of this image with attribution--thank you, Ms. James!)

You can join the service, live or later, via YouTube. The live-stream will begin at about 9:45 am, and the service will begin at 10 am. You are able to watch or re-watch it on YouTube at this link at any later time.

The order of service is available here. It includes the readings, all the responses, and the words of the hymns, to help you join in as fully as possible via the live-stream.

This Sunday is the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. Sundays and Seasons offers this reflection on the readings we’ll hear:

In today’s reading from Sirach we are called to choose life by loving and obeying God. Much of today’s gospel reading echoes portions of the Ten Commandments. Jesus’ instructions to the crowd reveal a pattern of behaviour that honours both God and the neighbour, resulting in life and health for the whole community. We too are invited to embrace these commandments, not out of fear of retribution, but because God has promised that to do so means life for us.