This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. At St. John's, Eganville, we will celebrate with the baptism of Benjamin Rivet, welcoming him into God's wonderously big family!

Elsewhere across the parish, we will celebrate with the renewal of baptismal vows where we, together as a community, reaffirm the promises made by us and on our behalf when we were baptized.

Baptism is also a reminder that out of death comes life. The psalmist writes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... For many of us across the parish, this holiday season has been a season in that shadow. Whether it be illness, the recent loss of a loved one, hospitalization, or the journey through yet another holiday without someone, this has been a hard season for many.

Though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we do so with our parish family and with God, his rod and his staff to guide and comfort us. Please go gently with yourself and with each other as we walk.

May this Sunday with the celebration of Holy Baptism and the Renewal of Baptismal Vows be a reminder to all of us of the resurrection hope that is central to our Christian life. May you know and feel the love and life of Christ this day.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is held each year between the Feasts of the Confession of St. Peter (January 18) and the Conversion of St. Paul (January 25). This is an ecumentical observance celebrated around the world. In it, Christians around the world are invited to pray for the unity of all Christians, to reflect on scripture together, to participate in jointly organized ecumenical services, and to share fellowship.

This year's ecumentical service in the Eganville area will be held on Sunday, January 19 at 3pm at St. John's Eganville. All are welcome and invited to join this service. Rev. Christine and Rev. Nick will share in the leadership of the service on behalf of our clergy team, and will be joined by ecumenical partners from the Eganville area.

The Parish of the Valley is excited to invite families to our inaugural Messy Church Event happening on Saturday, February 1st at the Laurentian Valley Four Seasons Trail Lodge, located at 2 Henan Road, Pembroke ON. 

This is an "all family" participation event: bring your kids and/or grandkids for some faith-based activities, a short time of worship, share in a delicious meal, and enjoy the skating trail or snowshoe trail.

Please stay tuned for more information about the start time.

The Upper Ottawa Valley Parish Nursing Initiative (UOVPNI) is holding a workshop on Grief & Loss as a part of the UOVPNI's Workshop Series "Bridging the Distance:  Mental Wellness Conversations for Older Adults Across the Upper Ottawa Valley."

The Grief & Loss workshop will be held Tuesday, January 21st from 1-3pm at the Bonnechere Union Public Library in Eganville (please note: this workshop was originally to be hosted in the church hall at St. John's Eganville, which is what is printed in this coming Sunday's Valley Bulletin, however the location has now been changed by UOVPNI to the Eganville Library). There will be an opportunity to join virtually.

To register, please call the Upper Ottawa Valley Parish Nursing Initiative at 343-598-3468 or email aa.uovpni@gmail.com.

Future workshops, to be hosted at other locations in the Valley, will be:
February 4: Navigating Change
February 18:  Loneliness & Isolation
March 4: Mental Health

Please follow the Parish Nursing Initiative on Facebook for further information, including location, on these and future workshops.

These workshops are offered by the Upper Ottawa Valley Parish Nursing Initiative, together with the Robbie Dean Counselling Centre, and funded by the New Horizon's for Seniors Program, Government of Canada.

Annual Vestries for the congregations of the Parish of the Valley will be held at the end of Feburary and the beginning of March. Specific dates for each congregation's Vestry meeting are in the process of being set by the clergy team and churchwardens and will be made available when the next Sunday officiants schedule for our parish is distributed later this month.

Those who typically submit a report for inclusion in the Vestry packages (churchwardens, treasurers, key ministry leads, etc.) can feel free to begin to work on their reports. Again this year we ask that all reports be submitted to Gail at the main office at Aborn House (office@valleyanglicans.ca) by no later than Monday, February 3rd.

If you have any questions about your Vestry report please don't hesistate to reach out to Gail or to Rev. Matthew.

Epiphany Fashions at Church of the Epiphany in Barry’s Bay is open in 2025 following a break during the holidays!

We are open twice a week: Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10am - 2pm. Come and shop the wonderful selection of pay-what-you-can clothing!

Donations are accepted during opening hours.

Our diocese has a long-standing partnership with the Diocese of Jerusalem - some of you have even taken part in pilgrimages there. Bishop Shane has shared the following appeal, asking that those who are able consider making a donation to support our friends at St. George's College, Jerusalem:

Our partners, Archbishop Hosam Naoum and Dean Richard Sewell, have asked for urgent support to ensure that a key ministry of the Diocese of Jerusalem, St. George’s College, can survive the current situation facing the region as a whole.

As you can see in the attached brochure (available online), violence and uncertainty have created a major crisis for St. George’s College Jerusalem. Its normal revenue stream from pilgrims’ fees, gift shop sales, and other lodging fees has been totally disrupted.

It is highly unlikely that pilgrimages will resume in the next twelve months and there are insufficient funds to provide already-reduced salaries for the College’s staff and essential operations. Let Light Shine: The Canadian Campaign for St. George’s College Jerusalem is seeking to raise $250,000 to cover these basic costs in 2025.

Please circulate this appeal in your parish communities and consider making a donation.

St. George’s College Jerusalem is a gem of the worldwide Anglican Communion, welcoming thousands from around the world who seek to see, feel, and understand the biblical and contemporary richness of the land of the Holy One, and the Christians, Jews, and Muslims who live there. Its valuable ministry must not fall victim to the present crisis.

Your support of our partner diocese through this campaign is greatly appreciated. Please be in touch if you have any questions.

With sincere thanks and kind blessings,

+Shane

The Right Reverend Shane Parker
Bishop of Ottawa

Worship times and locations for Sunday, January 12th are:

We continue to be grateful for the many ways that members of the Parish of the Valley share gifts of time, talent, and financial resources to further God's mission across the Valley and beyond. To ensure the continued financial health of our ministries, all members of the Parish of the Valley are encouraged to make regular offerings to their home congregations and chapels. There are a many ways that you can give. Please click the blue button below to learn more.

Thank you for your continued support of the Parish of the Valley.

Here you will find our parish prayer list, scripture readings according to the Sunday lectionary, and links to worship by the Parish of the Valley and other Anglican resources and services.

Please download from the link below.