Rogationtide Sunday, held on Father’s Day at the Kings Landing Historical Settlement, is a parish rite that mirrors that which took place in England in centuries past, although it still takes place there and in some parishes here.

The ceremony involves choosing a farm, and walking the boundaries of it, all the while singing hymns, reading scripture and praying a blessing on such things as the land, the water, the plough, the beasts and the crop.

The Rev. Michael O’Hara will resign, effective Oct. 1, in order to retire. He has been the rector of the Parish of Hammond River and the Parish of Quispamsis for 10 years.

Bishop Matthais, in our Companion Diocese of Ho, has asked for prayers for his diocese as the Volta region is besieged by widespread flooding.

BBC is reporting torrential rains have led to at least 13 dead in the capital city of Accra. The weather service warns of more rain expected. 

Police, fire, military and the National Disaster Management Organization have been sent to the hardest hit areas. 

Please pray for a let-up in rain, and for those in need to be rescued and cared for, as well as for the emergency responders.

Wednesdays in July, 12:10 p.m.  Christ Church Parish Church summer concert series. Admission is a free-will donation. Concerts last about 45 minutes. CCPC is located at 245 Westmorland St., Fredericton.
July 1 – Duo Atria
July 8 – Pipe Organ Showcase
July 15 – Trio Con Brio
July 22 – Adele LeBlanc
July 29 – Love Songs for Voice and Guitar

July 4 & July 11, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.   Saturday book sales at the Kingston Parish Hall. Strawberry shortcake available for $8. Book donations welcome. For more information, call 506-763-3183.

Thursday, July 9   St. Luke’s annual strawberry festival at St. Luke's Parish Hall, 12 Quispamsis Road, Quispamsis. Drive-thru take-out only.  Pickup from 4:30 - 6 p.m. Menu: roast pork, baked potato, sour cream, veggies and roll, applesauce, strawberry shortcake/whipped cream. Tickets: $20, available by calling Terry at 506-847-7609. Call early. Tickets must be picked up and paid for before the dinner.

The Anglican Parish of St. Stephen has a pulpit and baptismal font from the now-deconsecrated St. Thomas Church in Moores Mills available should any parish wish to adopt them for their own use.

We also have a number of pews and kneelers from the church for sale.  Photos are available.

If interested, please contact anglicanparishststephen@gmail.com. 

The summer schedule is now in place. The next eNews will be July 14.

Whether it’s a Blessing of the Boats, a shared ministry celebration or another moment of parish life, photo submissions are welcome for the next Canadian Church Calendar. 

Is your parish marking a milestone in 2028? Dioceses, parishes and individuals are invited to showcase their local church by submitting photos online with a brief description and photographer credit by March 31, 2027.

https://www.anglican.ca/calendar/submit-photos/

Everyone aged 14 and up is invited to join us for a weekend-long choral camp filled with singing, learning, friendship and fun, culminating, as usual, with a glorious and beautiful Choral Evensong.

Founded in 1957, the Diocese of Fredericton Choir School has brought generations of Christians together through the beautiful spirit of music.

More information on the Choir School website.

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Sea Sunday, being observed this year on July 12, a day to pray for and recognize seafarers, whose work often goes unseen but keeps much of our world moving.

Within our own diocese, we are blessed to have Saint John Seafarers Mission, serving those arriving through the Port of Saint John. A number of our parishes already support this important work through prayer, volunteering, support, and advocacy.

Sea Sunday may be a meaningful opportunity to highlight this ministry in your parish through the Intercessions and announcements.

• Sea Sunday: Mission to Seafarers – Sea Sunday (from the Global office)
• SJ: Saint John Seafarers Mission

**The Rev Eric Phinney is Regional Director for Canada, and Archbishop David serves as Liaison Bishop for Mission to Seafarers Canada. Here in Saint John, Tony Dickinson serves as Executive Director and Pastor Doug Tatton as Port Chaplain.

Tony is happy to connect with parishes, answer questions, or provide an update on the ministry. For parishes in the southern part of the province, he may also be available to visit and speak with your congregation or parish group.

Tony can be reached at:
Email: hello@sjseafarers.com
Phone: (506) 635-1731

Emancipation Sunday is celebrated on the last Sunday in July in the Anglican Church of Canada (July 26 in 2026), as formally designated by the General Synod in June 2025. Emancipation Sunday commemorates the coming into effect of the Slavery Abolition Act on August 1, 1834—Emancipation Day—freeing approximately 800,000 enslaved people in British colonies, including Canada.

For more than 180 years, Black communities across Canada have celebrated Emancipation Day with church services, parades, outdoor festivities, protests, speeches, entertainment and more, taking the opportunity for reflection on the struggle for freedom and justice, past and present. By designating an Emancipation Sunday, the General Synod invites Anglicans in Canada to join in that celebration and to support initiatives that address anti-Black racism within our ecclesial structures and in society at large.

More information and liturgical resources are available from the Anglican Church of Canada site.

The pastor had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, to no avail. The kitty would not come down.

The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided to tie a rope to his car and drive forward so that the tree would bend down and he could then reach up and get the kitten. That's what he did, carefully checking his progress in the car mirror as he inched forward. It looked like it was working but suddenly the rope broke! The tree went "booing!" and the kitten sailed through the air and out of sight.

The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they'd seen a little kitten. No, nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, "Lord, I just commit this kitten to your keeping," and went on about his business.

A few days later he met one of his church members at the grocery store. He noticed that she had cat food in her shopping cart. He was amazed - everyone knew how much this woman hated cats! He had to ask: "Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?"

She replied, "You won't believe this... My little girl has been begging and begging for a cat, so a few days ago I finally told her, 'Well, if God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it.' Pastor, I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, you won't believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed right in front of her!"

Never underestimate the power of God.