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Dear Friends,

For events scroll down.  But we start with this from our Anglican Church Calendar...  

Hannah Grier Coome 9 February Religious, Founder of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, 1921 — Commemoration   

The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine is an order of Anglican nuns founded in Canada in 1884 and dedicated (as its Rule states) to “personal sanctification and active charity.” Today we remember Hannah Grier Coome, who was its founder and first Mother Superior.   

Born in Ontario, she married an Englishman and spent most of her married life in Britain. In 1877 her husband’s business sent him to Chicago, where he died of cancer the following year. Mrs. Coome remained in Chicago for another three years, then decided to return to England and try her vocation as an Anglican nun. On her way back she visited her family in Toronto and discovered a group of Anglicans who wished to found a Canadian sisterhood. She accepted their invitation to take the first step and performed her novitiate in the United States. Mother Hannah returned to Toronto in September, 1884, and launched the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine.   

She and her new community initially faced a good deal of harassment, but their work during the Riel Rebellion, serving in the government’s field hospitals, overcame these prejudices. The Sisters eventually founded a hospital of their own, where over half their patients received medical attention free of charge. Later they established a nursing home for the elderly, one of the first in Canada, and took charge of a school for girls.   

Mother Hannah guided these enterprises, and the everyday life of the Sisters, with holiness, practical wisdom, and a sense of humour that pierced high-flying pretensions and unseasonable gloom. She retired from the office of Superior in 1916 and died on Ash Wednesday five years later. In her life she learned to be a light which kindled righteous deeds in others, and her community continues in the same work to this day.    

Events

Feb 12th -- The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist.  On this occasion followed by a lunch in honour of the partnership forged between the congregation of St. Matthew and Father Allen over the past 11 1/2 years.  All are welcome.  There will be some time for stories and sharing.  Thanks to all who are working to put this together.

Feb 15th -- Lenten Study begins, see Dick Martin for details

Feb 21st -- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper in the newly cleared space in the sanctuary

Feb 22nd -- Ash Wednesday service, the time to be announced.

Feb 26th -- The Annual Meeting.  The Annual Report should be ready soon.

March 16th -- Interim Ministry begins.  The Bishop and Wardens are organizing this and an announcement will be made after Fr. Allen's departure.  

This is my last midweek update, a tradition started by the necessity of the Pandemic in March 2020 now comes to an end.  I will save "farewell remarks" for the lunch but will post those remarks after the fact.   

With many thanks for the blessings of knowing you and serving with you over the years.

In Resurrection Hope and Encouragement, Allen+