Weekly Newsletter

February 20th, 2026

A Note from Rev. Holly

Lent seems to have come upon us quickly this year! We had just hit our stride following the revelation of Jesus’ earthly life and mission, week by gospel week, in the Epiphany season.

In the Christian liturgical year, however, we are also following the lunar calendar. The beginning of Lent is determined by the moon. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the vernal or spring equinox, which Christians have called the Paschal full moon. And so, Lent is calculated by counting back from there, allowing us to live out Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness and leading us into his Passion in Holy Week.

Here we are, then, in Lent. How are we to change gear, so to speak, and enter into the spirit of this new season? Br Luke SSJE writes “Lent does not begin with confession. Lent begins with love. Lent is like a retreat, with the purpose to reclaim, renew, and refresh our identity as children whom God loves.” (As an aside, I would add, confession is never discouraged in Lent! But it is only by the grace of love that we receive any true desire to make ourselves known to our all-loving God.)

St George’s is offering two ways in which you are invited to enrich your Lenten experience of reclaiming, renewing and refreshing your identity as beloved children of God.

Every Tuesday evening, you may join with others to close the day with the ancient monastic office, preserved in our prayer book tradition, of Compline, led by Ben Crosby. Turn off your other screens and prepare to rest in that Peace which the world cannot give. (Thank you, Ben, for being willing to change this weekday offering to Tuesdays!)

Then, on Wednesday evenings, St George’s is registered as a parish group to take the 5-week online course offered by our Diocesan College on “The Christian Gospel in Works of Contemporary Culture.” There is no cost for you, your family and friends to attend. If you feel drawn to do this, simply send an email to Holly at h.ratcliffe@st-georgeschurch.org who will register you as a St George’s participant. Each class is followed by a time of prayer and reflection as a parish group, led by Holly Ratcliffe. You can find more information on this later in this newsletter and through this link:https://montrealdio.ca/courses/christian-gospel-and-popular-culture/​

However you choose to deepen your identity as beloved child of God, may you be blessed richly by that same God, this Lent.

Holly+

Table of Contents:

What to expect in this issue of the Newsletter!

1. Updates for this week, February 20th
   1. AGM Circular
   2. Lenten programming at St. George's
   3. Sandwich Sunday: March 1st
2. In Case You Missed It!
   1. Rental Space Advertisement
   2. Alongside Hope Lenten Program
   3. Alongside Hope Webinar
3. Sunday Service Information

Updates for this week, February 20th

2026 Vestry Circular

St. George's Annual AGM is this Sunday, February 22nd! To prepare, we invite you to take a look at our Vestry Circular and read about what 2025 has looked like for our Church and community.

St. George's 2026 Lenten Offerings

Tuesday Night Compline with Rev’d Ben Crosby, 8:00pm on Zoom from February 24th - March 31st

Wednesday Night Discussion Group with Rev’d Dr Holly Ratcliffe from February 25th- March 25th. Meet to watch Rev’d Dr Jesse Zink's series The Christian gospel in works of contemporary culture, at 7:00pm. Then, on a separate zoom link, those of us from St George’s will gather to discuss the course content for another 30 to 45 minutes, closing with prayer.

To register, send an email directly to Holly at h.ratcliffe@st-georgeschurch.org We look forward to seeing you there and to growing together in faith as individuals and as a community with the help of this course! May this be a blessed Lent!

Palm/Passion Sunday: March 29th, 10:30am

Wednesday Holy Week Service: April 1st, 12:15pm

Maundy Thursday Art Talk & Potluck: Join us to share a meal and listen to a lecture by Hilliard Goldfarb titled Poussin: Art & Faith in 17th-century Rome. More information to come! Keep an eye on the Newsletter!

Good Friday Service: April 3rd, 3pm

Easter Sunday: April 5th, 9am and 10:30am

Sandwich Sunday, March 1st

After an extended break, we're back!!!
Join us after the 10:30 service on March 1st for an afternoon of sandwich-making for St. Michael's Mission!
We will be making PB&J with the jam donated by the congregation! There will also be colouring activities for kids! We are also sharing a potluck lunch - if you'd like to contribute, bring a dish! But no pressure, you'll be fed :)
Hope to see you there!

Sign up at the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSddFmAMoVWb_cZ9qBbCUJqaQIVckhu0foirrhA9kq8LMFbzAA/viewform

Updates for this week, February 20th

Space for Rent!

We are offering approximately 5,000 square feet of second-floor space, formerly used as a daycare, for lease to non-profit organizations, community groups, and mission-aligned initiatives. The space is located at 1105 Stanley, Montreal, QC H3V 2S6, Canada.

• 3800 square feet interior space
• 500 square feet terrace
• Second floor
• 6 large rooms
• 3 small rooms
• 3 toilets
• 1 terrace
• Additional space available to rent (playground and outdoor amenities)

The space is ideal for commercial organizations, community groups, non-profit organizations and mission-aligned initiatives. It was previously rented as a daycare.
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3D Walkthrough of the space:https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=goNPvqtdjtt (Sign up into Matterport app and use password “stgeorges”)

What makes this place special?

This space is part of St George’s Anglican Church’s long-standing commitment to service, inclusion, and community wellbeing. More than a rental opportunity, it offers organizations the chance to operate within a setting that values care, dignity, and positive social impact.

Lease and Pricing:

• Long term lease preferred
• Competitive rent for non-profit and community organizations
• Lease price and inclusion or services: to be discussed
• Customization of space or sub-lease possible subject to negotiation and commitment
• Cleaning, extermination and snow cleaning services available as additional negotiation under the same vendors

Interested or know someone who might be? Reach out to rentals@st-georgeschurch.org

Alongside Hope Lenten Program

Wild Paths of Peace, written by Martha Jarvis, explores the unexpected hope of peacemaking at time of conflict in the world and in our personal lives. As the Anglican Communion’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Jarvis works to create partnerships between churches and UN teams as they respond to conflict, climate change and forced movement of people. Jarvis has also facilitated church-led peacemaking in South Sudan and Mozambique. Throughout it all, she’s seen nothing that compares to the power of people coming back together after conflict, and ultimately, coming back to faith through Jesus.

This resource will be available for download, or subscribe below to receive it as a free daily email message throughout Lent (beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026).

For more click this link: https://alongsidehope.org/lent2026/​

Alongside Hope Webinar

Alongside Hope is one of 15 members who make up the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a Christian response to hunger. Join us in our upcoming webinar to learn more about this partnership and how to get involved.

When: Tuesday, February 19, 12 noon ET

What: This webinar will introduce you to the projects and partners supported by Alongside Hope through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Mary Obiero and Naba Gurung will be joining us from Kenya to describe the current context of international assistance and how Church World Service and Alongside Hope are responding through our membership in the Foodgrains Bank. You will also hear how you and your parish can get involved.

Click the link for more: https://conta.cc/3MkhpVo​

This Sunday, February 22nd

First Sunday in Lent

Zoom Link for Services

Ways to Give to St. George's​

• Interac transfer to accounting@st-georgeschurch.org We don't have auto deposit turned on so be sure to email the password to us too!

• Contact the office at office@st-georgeschurch.org to initiate or change your PAR giving

• Mail a cheque to: St. George’s Church, 1101 Rue Stanley, Montreal, QC, H3BS6​
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