ANGLICANLife
1
April 2009
ANGLICANLife A Blessed and Holy Easter to our Readers!
April 2009
in NEWFOUNDLAND
&
LABRADOR
O LAMB OF GOD “I was in prison...
Behold the Lamb of God: The Rev’d David Burrows carries a real lamb into the Church of the Ascension, Mount Pearl during the Easter Day worship last year. Article by Jean Nash Photos by Georgina Short Reprinted from an previous issue of Anglican Life
Have you ever felt that something is so exciting, so enlightening, so inspiring, that you feel the need to share it? That is one of the reasons I’m writing this; the other reason is that by relating my experience maybe someone will feel the need to partake of the same or similar experiences in the future. By the time this is read, we will have sung “The strife is o’er, the battle won. Alleluia!” We, each in our own way, will have completed the Lenten journey and be celebrating the joy of the Easter season. Of course, during the Lenten season many attend the moving Sunday liturgies, the weekly evening services, the weekday Communion and Bible studies within their respective parishes. This year I decided as my Lenten discipline that I would try to develop a better relationship with God by participating in all the special activities/services our Parish provided, and indeed much provision was made in the
Church of the Ascension for our journey. One special service was “Stations of the Cross” - not new in Christian churches but new to me. This Wednesday midday weekly service was led by Archdeacon Kellett and our Rector, Rev’d Burrows. It was spiritually moving as a group of parish members went from station to station following the Passion of Christ, call-
I Come Among You As One Who Serves: The Rev’d David Burrows washes the feet of his daughter Leah during the Maundy Thursday liturgy.
ing to remembrance His road to Calvary. The leaders engaged those present by reading the Gospel pertinent to the event depicted in each compelling illustration, followed by words of meditation and prayer that reached my innermost being. I felt I was there “when they crucified my Lord”. I wanted to go out and call all to participate – to “Come and See,” especially those whom I had heard articulating concerns about this particular service, concerns that related to straying from the usual practices and modes of worship. A prayer group was also formed during the Season, a five session course on prayer for Lent, which focused on prayer patterns. In the quiet, softly lit chapel, Rev. Burrows often led us in prayer while exploring these patterns. It involved a voluntary sharing of our feelings/concerns/joys and sorrows. We listened to each other, we prayed, we wept, we felt God’s presence. It was a spiritual enlightenment for me. Up until then I had not moved far from the prayer patSee Easter at the Ascension on page 5
A Section of the ANGLICANJOURNAL
Easter Greetings from Bishop Percy Coffin “There’s certainly a God, so stop worrying and enjoy your life.” My apologies to Ariane Sherine who created the controversial London bus ad which reads, “There’s probably no God, stop worrying and enjoy your life”. However, I have two brief positive comments on her ad: First, the ad is a response to “Christian” ads that have been running on London buses featuring a website which says, “All non-Christians would burn in hell for eternity in a lake of fire”. She gives the would-be evangelist a failing grade and so would I for trying to attract an outsider to a living faith in Jesus Christ in this manner. And secondly, we know that trying to motivate people by fear rather than love is a no brainer. So thank you for the wake up call by challenging us to examine our own faith and the image we present to the world to which we are called to serve and witness. To Serve and Witness The Christian proclaims, “There is a God!” and, simply put, for this reason we are free from worry and filled with joy. The greatest of all Bible stories tells us so. Mary of Magdala was among the women who aligned themselves with Jesus in his ministry. Some were relatives, perhaps some were wealthy enough to support his ministry, some were young and some had sons the age of Jesus who also followed him. They were bonded with him and each other because he had reached their hearts and changed their lives. The women especially (Mary his mother, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene) stood nearby in the Judgement Hall and at the foot of the cross on Calvary. They were so moved by him that they faithfully offered him the final service of love by going to his grave to anoint him. The glorious ending to the greatest story is Mary’s witness to the risen Lord. While
the others witness an empty tomb Mary Magdalene is the only woman named in all four Gospel accounts as a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. That delayed encounter conveys immeasurable delight when she, in tears of grief, hears her name spoken by her beloved Rabboni. Why the delay? Why is it that Mary did not immediately recognize Jesus and why do we have to be jarred so severely by atheistic bus ads before responding to his extravagant goodness and love for us? Maybe it’s the things we needlessly grieve over or our preconceived notion of a risen Lord, our hopelessness or a heart filled anything but his love. Be assured that each of us is called, by name, to share his life and live in resurrections joy. Listen to him! Here at the Synod Office we gather for Morning Prayer in our chapel, The Upper Room. We often use A Wee Worship Book for Morning Prayer. In one of the rites there is a common refrain, proclaiming resurrection joy, before the Proclamation of the Word: GOODNESS IS STRONGER THAN EVIL, LOVE IS STRONGER THAN HATE, LIGHT IS STRONGER THAN DARKNESS, TRUTH IS STRONGER THAN LIES. Wishing you the joy of that story, The Synod Office staff: Brenda, Gloria, Ed+, Roberta+ and David+ Bishop Percy and family (Monica, David, Andrew, Johanna and Laura)
SERVING THE ANGLICAN DIOCESES OF WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND + CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND + EASTERN NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
2
www.anglicanlife.blogspot.com
News From Parish Bulletins and Elsewhere The Parish of Bay Roberts-Coley’s Point held a Lenten Quiet Day on Saturday, March 21st at St. John the Evangelist Church, Coley’s Point. The Rev. Dr. Sam Martin of The Arms of Jesus Children’s’ Mission was the guest speaker. Dr. Martin delivered four addresses on the theme “Christ’s Mission is the Church’s Mission!” (Parish of Bay Roberts/Coley’s Point) Beverley Buffett has completed all her studies and has been recommended to Bishop Torraville by the Lay Minister’s Chaplain, the Rev. Daphne Parsons, that she be issued the appropriate license. The Bishop says he will issue the licenses as soon as possible. In the meantime, Beverly has been given his authority to her to take up her duties as a Lay Minister and as a Eucharistic Minister. (Parish of Fortune/Lamaline) Recyclable Collections
are being carried out in our Parish by St. Andrew’s Men’s Club - Port au Bras, and St Matthew’s Church - St Lawrence, as ongoing fundraising projects. Anyone with recyclables that they would like to contribute to these projects can drop them off at the Church in each respective area. Please support this worthwhile project and help St. Andrew’s and St Matthew’s as they help keep our environment clean. (Parish of Burin) All are invited to make palm crosses for our Parish Celebration on Palm Sunday. Don’t know how to make the crosses...no worry, we will learn together! Come to the Veteran’s Memorial Center, New Perlican on Saturday, April 4 at 2:00pm. This is a great activity for the young and young at heart, those who like crafts and those who desire a time of fellowship. (Parish of Heart’s
The Heartland Classic Collection available at
MORGAN’S FURNITURE & APPLIANCES Birch Hill, Bay Roberts
786-2100
Toll free 1-800-786-7172
Content)
John’s)
Mary the Virgin, St. John’s)
Did you know that your perfume may be making some people sick? There is a dramatic increase in people who are made sick by fragrances because so many products are now scented. We want to create an environment where everyone can participate and enjoy education courses, meetings, worship and other events. In order to make that happen we ask that congregation members refrain from using scented products. (Parish of All Saints’, Conception Bay South)
At our congregational Annual Work Plan meeting (Jan 25) we heard about one of the plans for the parish regarding special teaching and worship evenings during Lent. We are inviting each of the major groups of the parish to attend one specific Wednesday evening 7:30pm Eucharist during Lent. Each evening will be focused on a different one of the “5 Marks of Mission” developed by the last three Lambeth Conferences and adopted in our Diocesan Ministry Plan “Living our Faith in Action”. We endure as beacons when we allow the light of Christ to go deep into the core of our lives. (Parish of St. Thomas’, St. John’s)
The Pasadena Food Bank has asked each congregation to focus on one item for the next few months. St. David’s has been asked to focus on instant coffee. (Parish of Pasadena/Cormack)
A.Y.P.A. Talent Show. The fifth annual Youth Group Talent Show was held on Friday 13th February at 8:00 p.m. It was an exciting evening of fun, excitement and magical curates! Desserts for the dessert party were served afterwards. (Cathedral Parish of St. John the Baptist, St.
The Rev’d Donna Mercer was ordained the Priesthood on March 26th at the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin, St. John’s where she is the Assistant clergy. (Parish of St.
The Passover Seder: The Seder is the Passover meal which commemorates the Jewish people’s flight from Egypt in the time of Moses (about 1450 B.C.E.). The Seder is the meal which Jesus shared with his disciples the night before he died. On Tuesday in Holy Week (April 7th), you will have the opportunity to experience the Seder/ Passover meal for yourselves. The meal with include all the traditional ingredients (roast lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, haroset, etc.); the significance of each item on the menu will be explained at supper. (Parish of All Saints’, Corner Brook)
Do you want to see news items from your parish included here?
PARROTT’S HEARING CLINIC
Then send along your parish news to the Editor-in-Chief via email:
Dr. Valerie F. Parrott
anglicanlife@nl.rogers.com
Wood Burning Propane or Electric
Family Owned and Operated for Over 40 Years
Audiologist 84 Thorburn Road St. John’s, NL, A1B 3M3 (709) 754-4884
1-800-563-0957
or by snail mail at the address listed on page 3 of Anglican Life.
ANGLICANLife
3
April 2009
ANGLICANLife in NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Easter Greetings from Bishop David Torraville flowers and shrubs and against all odds watching them bloom. The rewards that come from nurturing deep friendships, and family ties in communities where many of us continue to know one another. The rewards of deep roots of faith; faith that first took root in little
ANGLICAN LIFE in Newfoundland and Labrador is the newspaper of the Anglican Church in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. A co-operative effort of the three Dioceses in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is published monthly, except July and August, with an independent editorial policy. A section of the Anglican Journal Editor-in-Chief: The Rev’d Sam Rose 45 Tildacane Place Conception Bay South, NL A1X 3C7 (709) 834-9190 (h) Email: samrose@nl.rogers.com Advertising Rates and other information may be obtained from: Bishop Donald Young 34 Fraser Road, Gander, NL, A1V 2E8 Phone: (709) 256-7701 Email: jointcommittee@nfld.net Subscription Rates: Newfoundland and Labrador: $15.00 Outside the province: $20.00 International: $25.00 New subscriptions, cancellations, & changes of address should be sent to: Circulation The Anglican Journal (attn. Bev Murphy) 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 3G2 (416) 924-9192 (O) (416) 925-8811 (fax) Email: circulation@national.anglican.ca Each parish is responsible for maintaining its own subscription list - please notify your parish office of any changes. Changes sent to parish offices may take months to take effect. Please also send your updated information to Circulation at the Anglican Journal (above) or to Don Young at 34 Fraser Road, Gander NL A1V 2E8. Articles and photographs: Send to the Editor-in-Chief (above) Parish Bulletins and Letters to the Editor: Send to the Editor-inChief, Sam Rose (address as above). All letters must include the writer’s name, address, and telephone number. Telephone numbers will not be published. Anglican Life does not publish letters under nom de plume. Letters should not exceed 300 words (one double spaced typewritten page), and are subject to editing at the discretion of the editor. These policies were adopted by the Anglican Life Committee. Layout & Design: Sam Rose Printed by: Signal Star Publishing, A Division of Bowes Publishers Limited, Industrial Park, 120 Huckins Street, Goderich, Ontario, N7A 4B6
Circulation: 25,702
I do not know where I first heard it, but I have been repeating it ever since. In Newfoundland and Labrador it takes more faith to believe in Spring than it does in the Resurrection. We are used to living on a rock, used to making a living and a life on a spot in the North Atlantic, where most passed by, on their way to richer lands and milder climates. We know that rebirth is as painful and as tenuous as birth itself, as we watch our tender plants push themselves through the snow and frigid soil - and yet the rewards of living here! The rewards that come from nurturing those
communities around our province and which remains alive, renewed each year in the celebration of Christmas, the remembrance of Good Friday, the devotion of Easter, re-
newed daily in prayer and Bible reading and weekly in corporate worship. On Easter we recall and celebrate the stone being rolled back. We proclaim the resurrection, not only in the remembrance of the historic event, but as a living and an ongoing event in our lives. As with the rebirth of our Spring, it is sometimes fraught with difficulty and unexpected challenge in our lives, nevertheless, “Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed!” is a proclamation of faith and hope, a proclamation that God is with us eternally even when it appears that the stone will never move. May the Lord who created you, the Lord who redeems you, the Lord who sustains you, fill you with the joy of his life giving Spirit, this Easter and every day to come. +David
Virtual Church School Submitted by Fiona Brownlee Communications for the Council of the North
What do you do if your parish doesn’t have enough money to pay the bills and you have lots of children who need to hear the word of God? You can hardly begin to think about providing an adequate ministry. This is the experience of many parishes in the northern parts of Canada that are part of the Council of the North. Just over a year ago the diocese of Keewatin began an internet ministry called “Virtual Church School” that provided weekly Sunday School lessons usually based on the Gospel for the day. It can be found at : www.dioceseofkeewatin.ca/ virtualchurchschool. These lessons include some form of opening worship, a story and three craft ideas. The surprise for everyone who discovered them is that they are free. There is no cost to the parish or local leader who downloads them.
The news of this new ministry became wider known throughout the Council of the North. People working with children in isolated parishes began to use the material. A lay reader from the diocese of Montreal who is French of-
fered to translate the materials for free so that small francophone parishes in Quebec would have access to quality materials. A lay woman from the diocese of Brandon, who is on the executive for the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer and has a keen interest in children’s ministry, offered to provide seasonal prayer ideas. As
the ministry grew so did the enthusiasm for it. At the end of 2008, the Council of the North decided that this program should become a ministry of the Council as a whole. It is one that meets the Council’s mandate to provide pastoral and sacramental ministry to Anglicans living in isolated communities in Canada’s north. As a result the program is being promoted within the northern dioceses widely. The wider church has a hand in this as well. Our church helps to support the ministry of the Council through a yearly grant from the budget of General Synod and through the generous gifts Anglicans across the country make to the Anglican Appeal. If you are interested in supporting this ministry directly then please do so through the Anglican Appeal and indicate that it is for “Virtual Church School”.
4
www.anglicanlife.blogspot.com
Remembrance Day honoured in Corner Brook
Dancing with the Priests Mile One Centre will host dance competition with a purpose Article by Merissa Wiseman
Article & Photo by Debbie Ford
November 11, 1948. While quite a few of us weren’t even born, this date became one that we, as a nation, would remember and hold near and dear, hopefully, now and for many generations to come. Very few of our families, if any, were fortunate enough not to have been touched by war. The majority of us have had brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. who have served in one of the many wars. Some have paid the ultimate price for the good of all. And we remember them… One of our parishioners, Gordon Osmond, a WW11 veteran, was grateful
and honoured to be given the opportunity to represent our many veterans - those who have served and to those who have been fortunate not to have been called to active duty but served none the less. Surrounded by four generations of the Osmond family, Gordon laid a wreath at the altar and stood by as we observed two minutes of our time – a mere pittance – to pay homage to the many heroes who have given us our precious freedom. Many blessings and many thanks go to Gordon and to all our veterans from all your friends here at St. Michael’s.
Easter at the Ascension Continued from page 1
tern of my youth. Often I wasn’t focussed. Often I was unsatisfied. I needed to enter into a more spiritual communion with Him. I needed guidance. These occasions put me on the road to establishing a better relationship with God, not just for Lent but, in my daily living. I am so grateful that Ascension opened its doors every Wednesday morning an hour before the Holy Communion service started. All were welcome to come and spend time in the subtly lit church with its soft background music. It was a time for meditation, prayer and reflection – a time to ‘be still and know.’ The music enabled me to quiet my wandering
mind, to focus on God’s presence. It was so wonderful to pause from the distractions of home and to be in the prayerful atmosphere of the Church. Early Wednesday morning ‘quiet time’ was both a new and rewarding experience. Indeed, we all have our Lenten practices. We each choose what we feel is best for us. I still have far to go with respect to my relationship with God but I feel my participation at my church this Lent has pointed me in the right direction. I am glad I moved from my ‘comfortable Lenten pew’ and sought other ways to renew and improve that relationship.
This spring, St. John’s will showcase its own unique twist on the popular television program Dancing with the Stars. On Friday, May 8, 2009 at Mile One Centre, 11 Anglican priests and their professional dance partners will kick up their heels in one of the most unique fundraising events ever - Dancing with the Priests! The 11 priests are from the Anglican Church Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and L a b r a d o r. Together with their professional dance partners, they promise to master the dance floor and wow the audience, all in the name of raising funds for Vibrant Communities, St. John’s. Vibrant Communities is a non-profit organization that aims to ensure individuals and families in St. John’s neighbourhoods have the resources to maintain a decent standard of living and can participate fully in the life of our community. “This event has brought together an enthusiastic group of people who are passionate about making a difference in the community,” says event co-chair Gina Pecore. “The dancing priests, volunteer dance instructors, our judges
Judy Knee of the Judy Knee Dance School and The Rt. Rev’d Cyrus Pitman of Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, and our dedicated event volunteers, are all working hard to make this day a success and ultimately raise funds for low-income families and those living in poverty.” Guests of the Dancing with the Priests Gala Performance and Banquet will enjoy a delectable meal catered by executive chefs Roary
McPherson of the Sheraton, Brian Abbott of College of the North Atlantic, and Todd Smith of Academy Canada. Then the spotlight will be cast on the dance pairs as they perform before a panel of judges whose results will determine the winner. After the competition, the audience will strap on their own dance shoes to the tunes of the Kirk Newhook Six band featuring Dana Parsons. “We’re thrilled by the level of support from the community to raise funds for Vibrant Communities” says Pecore.
From Dutch Windmills to the French Riviera
Tour - The Netherlands, Belgium and France September 14 - 28, 2009 For Brochures call: Canon William & Edith Noel
709-754-8720 Amsterdam, Brugge, Beaumont Hamel, Paris, Beaune, Lyon, Nice, Monaco and much more.
“Many individual and corporate sponsors have already pledged their financial support to the event. And there are many more opportunities to get involved! You can pick up a pledge sheet to join our fundraising drive or volunteer. We need many helping hands to make this event a success.” All proceeds will go to Vibrant Communities. A few of their priority areas include improving high school completion rates for youth in lowincome neighbourhoods, providing opportunities for unemployed adults who want to learn and to work, enhancing availability of affordable/quality childcare and helping to building spirit in low income areas of the city where volunteers are trying to make a difference. To learn more about Dancing with the Priests or to reserve tickets for one of the greatest dance performances of the year, contact Jane at Myx Meeting Centre at 709.834.6370 or email dancingwiththepriests@gmail.com. For more information about this exciting event, please visit www.dancingwiththepriests.com.
LeDrew Lumber Company Ltd. Kelligrews, C.B.S. Newfoundland
Phone: 834-2051 Fax: 834-5520 We carry a full line of Building Supplies:
Doors, Wallboard, Paints, Plumbing Supplies and many types of Roofing, Sono-Tube Concrete Forms, Aluminum Doors as well as a full line of
General Electric Products
ANGLICANLife
5
April 2009
The future shape & organization of the diocese Bishop Seaborn, in his Charge to the 1971 Synod said, “But has not the time come for an overall study of the future shape and organization of this Diocese, with a view to a fresh realization of the very purpose and mission of the Church and a renewal of its life in fath, in worship and in service to the world?” The 60’s and 70’s was a time of great upheaval and transition for the Christian Church as it was for the whole of society. In 1963 Anglicans from many parts of the world gathered in Toronto for the Anglican Congress and they met at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Many good things emerged from that gathering especially the call to mission and a call to become engaged in God’s mission together. Nationally our Church asked the famed author Pierre Burton to look at our Church and give a diagnosis so that we could be better engaged in the mission of the Church. He produced the controversial book “The Comfortable Pew”. Within the Diocese of Newfoundland, there were stirrings that we needed to develop new models so that we could provide more effective ministry throughout New-
foundland and Labrador. It is out of this context that in 1971, the Rev. Jacob Rogers moved “Be it resolved that in the words of the Bishop’s Charge an overall study of the future shape and organization of this Diocese, with a view to a fresh realization of the very purpose of mission of the Church, and a renewal of its life, and faith, in Worship and Service to the World,” be made, and that the Bishop be requested to appoint a Task Force of not more than five persons, one of whom shall be under 21 years; another resident outside the Diocese, one layman, one priest and one
person not involved in the Church’s fellowship. They were empowered to prepare a plan for presentation to a special Session of Synod. After much prayer and consultation it was decided to restructure the Diocese of Newfoundland into three separate dioceses. A process was put in place to make this happen effective 1976. The Church landscape has certainly changed in the past thirty-three years since the restructuring. Maybe the time has come for us to look again at how we share in God’s mission in this Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Document The article is reproduced as it appeared in the Evening Telegram.
Retired Anglican minister disputes historian’s claim By E. Hunt Historians and other have been telling as fact that Rev. Erasmus Stourton was the first Church of England clergyman to come to Newfoundland, and that he came over with John Guy on his second trip in 1612 as chaplain to his colony at Cupids. These alleged facts are given by Prowse in his History of Newfoundland, also by the late Canon Pilot in a supplementary chapter of the same volume, and many others. The latest reiteration of it in volume form is told in the Book of Newfoundland, by Joseph R. Smallwood, in the Framework of our History under the by-line James R. Thomas; it reads: “A clergyman named Erasmus Stourton arrived with the colonists and remained many years after Guy’s Colony was abandoned.” None gives the source of his information. The first point, as to Stourton being the first Angli-
Bishop Cyrus Pitman Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador
This is a very exciting time in the life of our Church. It is a time of opportunity and a time of mission as we share in Christ’s ministry. The shape and organization of our parishes and dioceses need to reflect this.
our history
The first priest? The article by the Reverend Edmund Hunt concerning the Reverend Erasmus Stourton is found in a clipping from the Evening Telegram newspaper. There are many interesting items buried in the mounds of past newspapers which are almost impossible to retrieve. The writer is grateful to Ms Gladys Benson for giving him a copy of it and the Telegram newspaper for permission to reprint it. The writer is not very familiar with the career of the Rev. Stourton so he would like to refer readers to the article by Dr Hans Rollman entitled: Anglicans, Puritans, and Quakers in Sixteenth- and SeventeenthCentury Newfoundland, at internet address: http:/ www.mun.ca/rels/ang/texts/ ang1.html One issue in the article needs comment: the attitude of Rev Stourton to life and others. The characteristics ascribed to him are those which would have been esteemed at his time, a time when the religious destiny of England was still in doubt. In fact for many years after this time clergy were expected to be forceful for their faith and aggressive against other faiths. Mr Stourton was not without influence as Mr Hunt notes; his connection with Villiers family headed by the Duke of Buckingham is interesting: that may have helped him approach the Privy Council.
bishop’s letter
David Davis
can clergyman to come to Newfoundland, is in itself a moot question. The late Canon WR Smith, local historian, said that, “the first Anglican service held in Newfoundland is said to have been held on the beach at St John’s by Sir Humphrey Gilbert’s chaplain whose name is not recorded.” that was in 1583. If this is so, Stourton was not the first but the second clergyman to come to Newfoundland. However, the first to be known by name, and the first resident clergyman. The second point, as to his coming over with John Guy in 1612 as chaplain at Cupids, and remained “ many years after Guy’s Colony was abandoned.” is no longer tenable in the light of recent research, and is regarded by up-to-date historians as pious fiction or wishful thinking. On this point, the following biographical sketch is proof that he did not come with Guy in 1612: “Erasmus Stourton was born in 1603, eldest son of six children of Edward and Mary Stourton of Narborough, Leicestershire, England. At 16 he matriculated from St John’s College, Cambridge; graduated BA 1622 and took his MA in 1627.” (For verification, see Lincolnshire pedigrees 190204, and Alumni Catabrigensis 1922-54 (English parochial and
Academic records). It would be absurd to say that Stourton came over as chaplain wit Guy in 1812 when he would be only nine years old. Furthermore, there is no mention of Stourton in a recently discovered document, the Willoughby or Middleton papers, a historic document contemporary with and relative to John Guy’s colony at Cupids. A photo static copy is available at Newfoundland Archives, Colonial building. Stourton’s tenure in Newfoundland was of comparatively short duration. He established himself at Ferryland in 1627 and that he returned to England the following year rules out the idea that he spent many years in Newfoundland. In a document dated Oct. 9, 1628, after he returned to England, he refers to himself as “the late preacher of the colony of Ferryland.” The only connection Stourton might have had with Cupids was, possibly and very probably, that after his banishment by Calvert at Ferryland he journeyed there to await passage to England on one of colony’s boats, and while there may have held a service when, according to Prowse, Anne, the wife of John Mason, governor of the colony at that time, “found the preaching of Erasmus Stourton rather dull.”
It is difficult to assess Stourton’s human qualities because there is not much in local literature about him. What little is written is one-sided and of a debasing nature. Calvert called him “an audacious man, a narrow-minded sectary, and a troublesome meddlesome busybody.” The late Archbishop Howley referred to him as “an aggressive protestant, unbearable, and most likely seditious.” Such views may well be exaggerated by reason of enmity and prejudice, common in those non-ecumenical days, when much bigotry and bitterness existed between the two religious faiths. But there is evidence that he was audacious, aggressive, and perhaps a bit on the seditious side. When he returned to England it is said he tried to stir up the Privy Council and other authorities against the popish colony of Ferryland, and told how the priests said Mass there “and carried out all the ceremonies of the Church of Rome in the ample manner as it was used in Spain.” On the other hand he was courageous. His leaving the amenities of home and coming to this desolate rock-bound isle amid the conditions that existed in those days, attests to that. He apparently too had the courage of his convictions, of which he gave utterance with no uncertain sound. It was a brave act on his part to withstand the powerful and influential Calvert, then a royal favourite. When he returned to England in 1628, the Rev. Erasmus Stourton continued in his calling. He became in turn chaplain to Christopher Villiers, Earl of Anglesey, and Rector of Walesby, Lincolnshire (16311658) where died in 1658 at 55.
6
www.anglicanlife.blogspot.com
St. Martin’s Cathedral celebrates Life in the Eucharist fifty years of worship in Milltown Article & Photo by Shawn Fowlow
On Sunday, February 22, five young members of the congregation of Christ Church, Milltown participated in their First Communion. For Chloe Ann Hicks, Mark Fowlow, Kyla Kendell, Allysa Organ, and Pierce Roberts the event marked the conclusion of their involvement in the Life in The Eucharist program. The Life in the Eucharist Program, a program of the Anglican Church of Canada, promotes co-operation between sponsors, children, clergy and the parish community and is designed to help children participate more fully in the Eucharist and therefore
Christian life. Throughout the program the youth meet to discuss the many topics including the significance of prayer, the Word of God and Holy Eucharist. They took part in the worship services by leading the prayers of the people and participating in the offertory. During the February 22nd service, the Rev. Roy Simms led an instructed Eucharist with the youth and the entire congregation to share the meaning of the various parts of the service of Holy Communion from the time the priest puts on the vestments to the dismissal.
Many members of St. Martin’s Cathedral congregation, who were present at the 50th Anniversary Service on February 8 of this year, were also present at the Dedication Service in 1959. Article by Stella Walsh Photo by Ralph Miller
On Sunday, February 8, 2009, St. Martin’s Cathedral held a rededication service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the official opening of the present church building. This liturgy followed the same order of worship as the original dedication on February 8, 1959. The order of service, along with other noteworthy information, was printed in a booklet for each member of the congregation to keep. The booklet included the same readings, hymns, and prayers as those used in 1959. As well, during this anniversary, the Eucharist was sung using the Merbecke Setting. Bishop David Torraville rededicated the church building, while Reverend John
Watton, Rector, presided over the Eucharist. Both Bishop Torraville and Reverend Watton spoke of honoring those who were committed to working for the Church in the past, are committed now, and will continue to work for the Church in the future. This anniversary was well attended, with several things adding to the feeling of nostalgia. Bishop Torraville carried the staff that originally belonged to Bishop John A. Meaden in 1959. Also, several members of the congregation attending the service were also present at the dedication service in 1959. A particularly nice touch was that Gerald Saunders was able to attend as crucifer. In 1959, at age sixteen, he was brought from Gambo to serve at the dedication. Following the service, the
congregation moved to St. Martin’s Hall for refreshments. During this time, the elders entertained the younger generations with stories of the way things were back in 1959. It was evident that the senior parishioners delighted in reminiscing and sharing their memories of the past. The words “In those days...” could be heard from all corners of the hall. Throughout the day, many spoke of the late Reverend John H. Moss, and how proud he would be of St. Martin’s Cathedral today. This anniversary marks the beginning of the celebrations at St. Martin’s Cathedral during this 50th anniversary year. There are more activities planned for later, during the warmer months.
The Junior/Intermediate choir of St. James’ Church in Port aux Basques raised their voices in praise on December 5th, 2008 to entertain the residents of the Mountain Hope Manor and the Charles L. LeGrow Seniors’ Complex. The choir members are pictured here with some of the residents of the Complex and their dedicated leaders, Jane Allen and Kay Osmond. The joyful singers were rewarded for their efforts with popcorn and a movie at the St. James’ Memorial Centre. Submitted by Kay Short.
Life in the Eucharist: The Rev’d Roy Simms (rear) stands with the five young persons who completed the Life in the Eucharist program in Christ Church, Milltown.
New rector inducted Article & Photo by Lois Baker
Archdeacon John Dinn was inducted as Rector of the Parish of St. John the Evangelist, Topsail on 22 February 2009. Bishop Cyrus Pitman officiated at the liturgy. The church was filled to capacity. The congregation included members of the CLB, visiting clergy and guests. Bishop Pitman stood with the new rector and wardens Kelvin Fowler and Robert Dawe as Father Chris Snow (Regional Dean) read out the incumbent’s licence. Archdeacon Sandra Tilley read the oaths, letters and declarations. Members of the congregation
made presentations of appropriate symbols of ministry to Archdeacon Dinn. During the signing of the Covenant by all involved, Nicholas Dinn (Archdeacon John’s son) played “Take My Life and Let it Be” on the clarinet. The senior choir under the direction of Stephanie Gavelle, sang several selections including “I Feel the Winds of God Today.” Following the service, all gathered in the Parish Hall for a social time. St. John the Evangelist is very pleased to welcome Archdeacon Dinn and his family to the parish.
ANGLICANLife
7
April 2009
One hundred years of faithful service St. Alban’s in Badger’s Quay celebrates historic milestone
Twillingate, 1821
Article by Shirley Churchill Photos by Melvin Knee
At 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 2009, St. Alban’s congregation began its 100th celebrations with a potluck supper held in The Lions Hall followed by a 7pm Eucharist at St. Alban’s Church. After Rev. Robin Trevors invited the people to be seated, the buffet supper began with the singing of “Be present at thy table, Lord”. Rev. Robin welcomed the congregation and invited guests. The Matron of Ceremony, Mrs. Sybil Knee, kept the event running smoothly as she invited each guest to speak. Emma Gale brought greetings from our mother church St. James, Bishop David Torraville from the Central Diocese, Rev. Shaun O’Connor from the Ministerial and from our neighboring parish, Mayor Grant Burry from the Town of New-Wes-Valley and MHA Harry Harding from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Premier Williams, and also personal greetings to his home church of 36
years. On behalf of MP Scott Simms, Sybil Knee read a letter he had forwarded. Sybil thanked them for their reflections, appreciations and bless-
loved member of our congregation and town, David Knee assisted by his good friend Jim Combden cut the anniversary cake. Rev. Robin thanked the
photographed individuals and families to be displayed at our week- long celebrations August 17th23rd, 2009. The Centennial Serv-
ings. As we enjoyed a meal together, the guest book was signed. MC Sybil invited Minnie Janes for a photo shoot with the cake she had baked and beautifully decorated for this occasion. A well- known and
Centennial Committee members and all who attended. The supper ended with the singing of the song composed by Minnie Janes set to the tune of “The Church’s one foundation”. Ms. Denise Hounsell
ice began with a processional consisting of the choir, lay ministers, Eucharistic Assistants, servers, Rev. Robin and Bishop David as those gathered sang the hymn “The Church’s one foundation” – the first hymn sung at
the consecration of the church on January 17th, 1909. Gordon Norris and Melvin Knee provided their gift of music. The choir sang, “Great is thy Faithfulness”. Bishop David spoke about how God was not just God of some long ago ancestors but a God who is present to each of us today. What the structure of the Church will be in another hundred years Bishop David said he could not say, but he knew that there will always be believers because of God’s enduring love and witness found in Jesus Christ. Our service of Thanksgiving ended with lifted voices and in spirit joined with all the saints of St. Alban’s as we recessed singing “Onward Christian Soldiers”. St. Alban’s is looking forward to having our friends and former members come and celebrate with us in August. For more information on all the events, go to our parish website at www.parishofbqpi.org. There’s a whole year of celebrations planned!
8
www.anglicanlife.blogspot.com
A Sabbatical Diary - part two The Rev. Robin Barrett shares his sabbatical journey with Anglican Life maid to give to her the necessities of life for her and her cat. I spent a week in the Guest Twenty five years ago, on House with Sr. Pamela of the May 8, the Feast Day of Sisters of All Hallows, next Mother Julian of Norwich, I door to St. Julian’s church. It was ordained at the Cathedral was powerful to worship in the of St. John the Baptist in St. very place where Mother Julian John’s. Until then I had not spent most of her life and in heard of which she Mother Julian, wrote her book, a medieval Revelations of mystic and the Divine Love. I first woman to also explored have her writNorwich with ings published its many in English. She churches and its had suffered a castle and marvery serious illket place, there ness at the age since Roman of 30. During times. that illness, she Next stop had received was the west visions from coast of ScotGod. For the land and the rest of her life, holy isle of Iona, she lived in her just three miles cell attached to long and one the Church of mile wide, but St. Julian in Statue of Mother Julian at big in the history Norwich, (from the entrance of Norwich of Scottish which she took Cathedral Christianity. It her name) and was here in 563 contemplated these visions, all that St. Columba came from the while counseling people Ireland to convert the Picts, the who came to see her. Her cell original residents of Scotland. had three windows, one look- To get to Iona, involved a jouring into the sanctuary of the ney on trains to Oban, ferry to church, one to the outside to the Isle of Mull, a bus across counsel people, and one for her the one track road and then a Article & Photos by The Rev’d Robin Barrett
Abbey on Iona
ferry to Iona. There stood the restored stone Abbey of the medieval period. The original Abbey of Columba was long gone, the brothers having been killed at the turn of the century by the Vikings. The medieval monastery, long in disrepair, was restored during the Depression of the 1930’s under the supervision of the Presbyterian clergy, Rev’d Ian MacLeod, as a way to train unemployed men in stone masonry. The Abbey is now the center of the Iona Community, and the Abbey building itself and the MacLeod Centre offer weekly course for
pilgrims all year round. I spent one week in the Abbey during a holiday week with many families present, and one week at the MacLeod Centre, on a course called Spirituality and Sexuality for the 21st Century. During each week, you worship twice daily in the Abbey church, take part in daily chores, go on a one day pilgrimage around the island and participate in a Scottish ceilidh (dance). I also went during the second week on a trip to Staffa Island which has a very unique geological formation and caves, which became the destination
for travelers in the 19 century, including Queen Victoria, Darwin and Mendelssohn, who was inspired to write one of his music pieces by the sound in the caves. George Macleod called Iona a thin place, a place where the divide between heaven and earth seems less. There definitely was a feeling of the sacred there, as it has been for years, to the extent that many Scottish kings and some French and Norwegian kings have been buried there. Iona was a place to breathe in the presence of God.
Ready for the Souper Bowl!
Souper Bowl Sunday: (left to right): Melissa Cullen, Rebecca Dawe, Becky O’Leary, Meagan Cullen, and Kim Petley. Article & Photo by Robert Cooke
You’ve heard of Super Bowl Sunday. It’s a day of hype, great half-time performances, snazzy commercials, an excuse to have a mid-winter party, and somewhere in there a football game happens. Well at St. Mark’s in St. John’s it’s not about the football at all, it’s about the soup, and supporting a good cause. We call it “Souper Bowl” Sunday. The Youth of St. Mark’s provide and serve the soup and all the money raised goes to some ministry that the parish is in-
volved in. This year we raised $360 in aid of the CLB Mission to Belize. Roy Leake an 8th grade student member of SMAC Youth and the CLB, along with the Rev’d Lynn Courage, Ruth Leake, Jennifer Wheeler, Heather Wheeler, Trelyn Derrington, and Kimberly Lilly will be going on the Belize trip from St. Mark’s.
ANGLICANLife
9
April 2009
let us pr praay...
Books on prayer We read books on prayer for understanding and guidance. Obviously, reading a book about prayer is not the same as praying. We learn to pray by praying. A book on prayer is only helpful if we do what it says. In this article I will recommend a few books on prayer that I have found beneficial. Now there are thousand of books about prayer and you will have your own favourites but you may be at a place in your prayer life where a suggestion is just what you need. The Art of Prayer: A simple guide to conversation with God (Timothy Jones) is a first-rate guide to
prayer. Jones integrates his own experience and the wisdom of the ages in prose that is a pleasure to read. To Pray is to Love (Roberta Bondi) is described as a conversation on prayer with the early Church. She looks at how Christians prayed in the first four centuries and what it can mean for our thinking, praying and living today. Heart of Prayer: Finding time, a place and a way to pray (Brother Ramon) is a practical companion to nourish and deepen prayer and the spiritual life. Sister Wendy on Prayer (Sister Wendy Beckett) treats prayer as a normal part of Christian living. She writes
The Rev. Everett Hobbs
well and easily. Approaches to Prayer (Ed. Henry Morgan) is produced by the Diocese of Southwark as a lesson book for groups and individuals. Prayer: Finding the heart’s true home (Richard Foster) is a review of the different traditions/streams of prayer practised by Christians. Beginning to Pray (Anthony Bloom) is de-
scribed as a primer for ‘people who have never prayed before’ but there is much wisdom in it for any of us. It is a beautiful and moving book. Dimension of P r a y e r (Douglas Steere) is offered as a workbook on prayer addressed to those already within the Christian community and committed to its life. For him to
stewardship
This fragile earth Much talk has been centred recently around the five “Marks of Mission” that the Anglican Consultative Council adopted some time ago. The purpose of this list was to give parishes and dioceses around the world a practical and memorable checklist for mission activities. The one that I will concentrate on is the fifth mark: To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew life of the earth. The Anglican Church’s “Eco” Working Group studies environmental and economic issues and looks at ways that the church can respond in faith. They give priority to issues that are a concern for Canadian Anglicans and our partners or that have broad ecumenical support. In addition, they seek op-
portunities for the Anglican Church of Canada to participate in campaigns and advocacy initiatives such as protecting the earth through various ways: Climate Change through reducing carbon emissions: Their web site goes on to say: Climate change is increasingly regarded as one of the greatest threats to the wellbeing of our planet. More than 2,000 scientists who contributed to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predict that by 2100 the average temperature of the earth will climb between 1.5 and 6 degrees Celsius, with consequences to the health and safety of all living creatures. They found that most of the warming in the past fifty years
pray is to change. Other recommendations are How to Pray (Jonathan Pritchard) and Approaching God (Steve Brown). Letters to Malcolm: chiefly on prayer was the last book penned by C.S.Lewis (1963). It contains wideranging observations on prayer. It doesn’t tell us how to pray but deals with issues and concerns around prayer. Other fine books no longer in print but still available online: The Use of Praying (J Neville Ward), Teach Us How to Pray (Louis Evely), Let’s Start Praying Again (Bernard Bassett) and Day by Day (Michael Hollings).
Kevin Smith
can be attributed to human activities and in particular to burning fossil fuels. The webpage reports that since the General Synod of 2007, the Task Group to Reduce Carbon Emissions of the Partners in Mission and Ecojustice Committee has been exploring ways to support Anglican churches to reduce their carbon footprints. The KAIROS website suggests the following: Our addiction to oil is killing people and the planet...sometimes slowly through the degradation of the air that we breathe and the ecosystems on which we all depend, and sometimes quickly as a result of human rights abuses and conflict over the control and use of fossil fuels.
Finally, the working group is encouraging dioceses and parishes to set targets for reducing green house gas emissions. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, defines green house gases as the following: Greenhouse gases are gases in an atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. In our solar system, the atmospheres of Venus, Mars and Titan also contain gases that cause greenhouse effects. Greenhouse gases, mainly water vapor, are essential to helping determine the temperature of the Earth; without them this planet would likely be so cold as to be
A NGLICANLife Old L is Lis istting
un inhabitable. Although many factors such as the sun and the water cycle are responsible for the Earth’s weather and energy balance, if all else was held equal and See This fragile earth continued on page 10
Kevin Smith is a gift planning consultant for the Anglican Church of Canada. He can be contacted at: (709) 739-5667 or by email: k_smith@nf.sympatico.ca
Addr es ha n g e F orm ddres esss C Ch Fo
Ne w L is Lis istting
Name ____________________________________
Name _______________________________________
Street Name and # __________________________
Street Name and # ______________________________
Apt / Suite / Unit # _________________________
Apt / Suite / Unit # _____________________________
Town / Municipality _________________________
Town / Municipality ____________________________
Province __________________________________
Province _____________________________________
Country ___________________________________ __ Postal Code ________________________________
Country _____________________________________
Parish _____________________________________
Parish ______________________________________
Please add name to list
Postal Code _________________________________
Please remove name from list
Addressee is deceased
Please send this form to: The Circulation Manager, Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ontario,Canada, M4Y 3G2, attention Beverley Murphy, or send changes to circulation@national.anglican.ca. Please notify your parish of these changes. You may also send changes to Donald Young at the Anglican Life business office, 34 Fraser Road, Gander, NL A1V 2E8.
10
www.anglicanlife.blogspot.com
God in a pub? Article by Robert Cooke
Picture this. It’s a grad student pub on a secular campus, there is loud music filling the room from the latest independent artists like Vampire Weekend or maybe it’s poetic musings of Leonard Cohen. Around the tables are students discussing the latest in academics or politics, Profs giving advice to the students on how to write the perfect proposal, and folks just relaxing after a hard day in the office. Around one particular table, though, there is a group of 6-8 students where the discussion is decidedly religious, even theological. The group is a very diverse one. There are undergrad and grad students, a chaplain or two, and perhaps a faculty or staff member or an invited clergy. There are Anglicans, Catholics, Pentecostals, Baptists, Salvation Army, United Church, agnostics, atheists, even a Buddhist, a Pagan and one girl who describes herself as a Gnostic. The topics vary from the nature of Christ, to the Bible’s teaching on masturbation, to the inspiration of scripture, to the reasons why there is evil in the world, to sexuality, politics, technology, ethics, and everything in between. What you have stum-
bled upon is Theology on Tap and it’s happening at Memorial University’s St. John’s campus. In reality this is not a new idea at all. Jesus reclined after meals to sip wine and teach about the Kingdom of God. Martin Luther, the great Protestant Reformer, talked theol-
ogy with his students over pints of his homemade ale. Scholars like Karl Barth loved to meet his students in the pubs of Switzerland to talk scripture and theology. Likewise, the famous Inklings, which included great minds like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, gathered to discuss all things theological. Theology on Tap does seem to tap (pun intended) into a latent need among the “twenty-something” generation. Rebecca is a second year student from BC raised in the Christian Reformed tradition, and converted to Anglicanism while living in the Diocese of the North. She was drawn to Theology on Tap for the diversity of thought. “The appeal of
Theology on Tap to me is that it doesn’t assume a specific background or set of beliefs. With a varied group, it’s wonderful to hear and discuss struggles or questions of faith, doubts, or even world events.” This thinking is echoed by Johan a grad student from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Faroe Islands, who has been involved with the Pentecostal Church since coming to MUN. He says, “The environment and discussion are less restricted.” The purpose of such an event is to meet students where they are, to talk about religion and spirituality in a safe and respectful atmosphere. You see, young adults are very interested in these topics. Like anyone else they have a longing for God and community, but they are not looking to traditional churches to feed that longing. The reasons for that are many and best left to the musings of another article. This is not a problem unique to the Anglican Church, but one that plagues all the Christian denominations. Theology on Tap, then, is a fresh expression of church. After all, Jesus did promise that wherever a group of believers gathers, he too is there in the midst of them.
This fragile earth Continued from page 9
stable the planet’s average temperature should be considerably lower without greenhouse gases. This is a topic that many young people are taking up and attempting to make a difference in this world. A young lady told me the other day the she composts, uses laundry detergent that is eco friendly and only washes her clothes when she has a full load. Youth at my parish have taken up the environmental cause as well according to Youth Minister, Robert Cooke, “We’re planning on starting composting at St. Mark’s in the spring and also taking part in the PWRDF Off the Grid 24 hour fast from electricity. We also started doing some hiking and camping as a way to get out and enjoy nature. The CLB at St. Mark’s
also do recycling blitzes from time to time.” What is your carbon footprint? We have much to learn
here. Let’s make an effort to truly protect this fragile earth, our island home.
Canadian News Briefs Docume nta ocus n JJaame umen tarry ffo usees oon mess SSeettee
A new television documentary has been produced about the life, teaching, and impact of Rev. James Settee, who at 86 became the oldest man ever to be ordained priest in the Anglican Communion, and who is best known for having translated John Newton’s Amazing Grace in Cree. “Jim Settee: The Way Home,” written, produced and directed by Metis filmmaker Jeanne Corrigal, was to premiere at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon March 15, and air on March 25 and later on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). “The Way Home is a retrospective of a remarkable life, and also a story of transformation for me and many others who came home through Jim’s teaching,” said Ms. Corrigal. Born on the Montreal Lake Reserve, Settee was the greatgrandson of an earlier James Settee, who brought the Gospel to the La Ronge and Stanley Mission area in the 1800s. The former bishop of the diocese of Saskatchewan, Anthony Burton, once described Mr. Settee as the diocese’s “living memory bank,” citing that he had “attended his first diocesan synod as a child in 1912; he remembers his father’s stories of having visited in Prince Albert the camp of Sitting Bull following Custer’s Last Stand.” A respected elder and community builder, Mr. Settee had an active ministry: he led the renovation of the church at Little Red, Sask., and gave Cree lessons to the young. “Settee was well-respected for his integrity, generosity, humour and kindness. He was also a good story-teller, who collected the memories of others as an enthusiastic historian,” wrote the diocesan newspaper, The Saskatchewan Anglican. He was “very much a seeker of lost souls in his ministry, and of lost bodies with search and rescue teams in the Saskatchewan bush.”
Parishes press for poverty reduction
More than 150 parishes across the diocese of Toronto are presenting an anti-poverty motion at their 2009 vestry, as requested by their diocesan bishop, Colin Johnson, and the diocese’s social justice and advocacy committee. The motion says: “The vestry of (name of parish) commends the Government of Ontario for its commitment to a Poverty Reduction Plan for Ontario, and urges that the government’s 2009 budget contain specific anti-poverty measures so that substantial progress is made toward poverty reduction and in alleviating hardship among the poor during 2009.” Details of the campaign, along with information about poverty in Ontario, are posted on the diocese’s Social Justice and Advocacy Web site, www.torontoanglican.ca/sjac.
Money for Gaza hospital
The diocese of New Westminster has raised $56,000 as of the middle of February for the Anglican-run Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which has been providing crucial services following the recent conflict in Gaza. “It’s really a very, very heartening result,” said the diocesan bishop of New Westminster, Michael Ingham, who initiated the appeal in response to what he described as a “humanitarian disaster.” Forty-eight parishes and several individuals gave donations. Bishop Ingham asked priests in the diocese to read a pastoral appeal in January in which he said, “The situation in Gaza has become urgent and I believe we must respond.” He added, “I had the opportunity to meet the new bishop of Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, on several occasions last year and I have also visited the Anglican hospital in Gaza. Both deserve our support at this crucial time.” Bishop Ingham said that “the political roots of this conflict are complex, but we have an opportunity now to respond in a compassionate way to the needs of the suffering, regardless of politics.” Bishop Suheil thanked the diocese for the support, saying, “Ours is a humanitarian hospital, where civilians receive the best possible care, regardless of faith or ability to pay.” He said that a majority of people in Gaza “must rely upon aid for the health and welfare of their families.”
Orchestra performs original work
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra recently performed And There Was a Great Calm, a 10-minute work by an emerging Rupert’s Land composer whose music was based on her experience of camping trips and thunderstorms in the Canadian Shield country of Northwestern Ontario. Karen Sunabacka’s entry in this year’s Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region Emerging Competition also earned her a $1,000 cash prize. Her husband, Rev. Preston Parsons, rector of St. Mary Magdalene, diocese of Rupert’s Land, suggested the title of her composition, drawing attention to the incident when Jesus calms the storm in the Sea of Galilee. Ms. Sunabacka’s piece “starts in quiet sweetness, swells to thunderous violence and then returns to a calm which recalls the opening, though the opening material is transformed at the end,” wrote Rupert’s Land News, the diocesan newspaper.
ANGLICANLife
11
April 2009
columnist
How to save money John Wesley (17031791), Anglican priest and founder of Methodism, said: “Get all you can; give all you can; save all you can.” Let us consider the difficult task of saving money. Saving money requires discipline, sacrifice, and hard work. I have learned to watch my pennies from my father (1906-1979), who was a frugal person. My father stressed academic excellence and simple lifestyle. Growing up in Hong Kong, I remember my father used to walk almost everywhere so that his four kids had money for a bus ride. Later, he would take the bus so that we could afford an occasional taxi ride. Between the age of 60 and 65, he spent onequarter of his teacher ’s paycheques on my university education in Ontario. His total investment in my education was about $10,000.00. During our current economic hardship, many of us are tightening our belts. We need
to re-examine our lifestyle. We need to rediscover that many of the best things in life cost little or nothing. Fresh air, sunshine, radio programmes, use of public libraries, enjoyment of friends, church, and community functions enrich life at little cost. But gambling, drinking, and smoking can be costly to our financial health. Our basic physical needs include food, clothes, shelter, and employment. Here are some money-saving tips regarding grocery shopping. Don’t take the kids to the grocery store. Make a list to
avoid overbuying. Take advantage of sales and coupons. We all need clothes, but we don’t need to buy expensive clothing. We can s w a p young k i d s ’ clothes w i t h friends and family members. We can buy children’s clothes out of season. Other money-saving tips include conserving energy at home by using a programmable thermostat. The optimum highway cruising speed for most vehicles is 90 km an hour. In winter, idle the car for a maximum of 30 seconds. Plan carefully for Christmas and other holi-
The Rev. Michael Li
days. Think carefully before buying a pet. We need to adopt a simpler lifestyle, which may mean not buying four or five coffees a day, not eating out all the time, or not shopping at the mall for frivolous items every week. Don’t dry clean clothes we could wash ourselves. Don’t run up excessive cell and phone bills. Don’t buy extended warranty plans. Try not to buy too many DVDs, CDs and computer games. Also never be in a hurry to buy into new technology. We can always get it later when it is better and cheaper. The bottom line is, if we don’t need it now, buy it later. Most people cannot buy a house without a mortgage. Try to pay off the mortgage as quickly as possible. When a term expires, shop around for a better deal. Signing up for short-term mortgages usually save money. For retired people, selling the house and moving to a smaller accommoda-
Straight Talk...on life’s difficulties People have said to me from time to time, “There are things in life worse than death.” What could be worse than death, especially the death of a child in the prime of his/her life? I guess the old cliché applies, “until you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” you will never know. Consider, however, going through life without family or even a friend to share your life with. I remember one time committing a man to the ground and there was no one by the graveside except for me and the funeral director. Here was a man who had no one to remember him, utterly alone. Loneliness has been called the
“silent killer.” I can’t imagine the anguish of such a life, but could it be worse than death? Then I have known and counselled people who have been wrongly accused in life. What must they endure – the insults hurled at them, the mistrust of society, the rejection – only in the end to be proven innocent? But by then it is too late, they are out of a job and nothing left only a bad reputation, labelled by society. Oh, the heartache, but surely that can’t be worse than death? Others are born with illness, misfortune and are left to endure the whole of their life in pain – physical, emotional. The stress of it all becomes too
much. They are tired of being tired; they are tired of being
sick, tired of having to depend on others. Their cry of mercy
often falls on deaf ears – or so it seems. Some people rarely experience the brighter side of life, but to compare that to death? I don’t know if anything can be worse than death. In my own experience there is nothing worse than the loss of a child. But then, there are those who claim that death would be their liberation from life. Unfortunately, personal crisis is the fate
tion can generate money for investment. Last fall the stock market fell sharply. Karen and I were fortunate that our assets increased by 7.91% in 2008. We believe in spending our money wisely. Saving money is not what life is all about, only a means to an end. The more money we can save, the more money we can share with others - family, those less fortunate, charitable organizations, and the ministry of the church. We should be thankful to God for the money entrusted to us. We need to learn to use our financial resources for the service of God and others.
columnist The Rev. Greg Mercer
and sufferance of many. Nevertheless, we are assured that “death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death... is your sting” (1st Cor. 15:54). Jesus says, “let not your hearts be troubled...in my Father’s house there are many rooms” (John 14:1-2). What we call death Jesus calls home. If we truly believe that, then in spite of the physical absence of a loved one through death, there must be some comfort in the fact that they are in the nearer presence of God and reunited with their loved ones. Death has been destroyed and not to be feared. And as for the rest of life, well we only have each other. Probably that is why Jesus taught and preached and lived a life of love and forgiveness. Over and over again he reminds us to be in a right relationship with one another and with God, and to be charitable towards each other. It is the formula for life’s difficulties.
12
www.anglicanlife.blogspot.com
feature
Queen’s College
Article & Photo by Meaghan Whelan
Profile: Garry & Christine Milley “What are Pentecostals like you doing in a nice Anglican place like this?” Of course, no one actually asked Garry and Christine Milley this question, but they did ask themselves as they began studying at Queen’s College. Garry had taught church history and theology for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in Ontario for 25 years. After returning to pastoral life about three years ago, he and his wife, Christine, decided to audit a number of Queen’s courses together for personal enrichment. The pair is now working towards the diploma in theology and ministry and is expected to graduate at the spring 2009 convocation. In fact, last fall Garry was an adjunct professor at Queen’s College. “It was an affirming experience and part of the exciting journey of living in the grace of God,” he said. “God is at work in all parts of
the church, although many denominations serve Christ in iso-
lation and ignorance of each other. We pray this will change.” Garry says he and Christine had a textbook knowledge of the Anglican Church, but they had never spent much time worshipping or praying
with Anglicans until they came to Queens. “Last fall, we were blessed. I even had the privilege of preaching in chapel. Thanks be to God that our hearts can be united together in the love and service of Christ our Lord, even though our heads are apart on s o m e things!” Garry earned the Doctor of Ministry degree at Acadia University. Anglican scholars J.I Packer, Geoffrey Bromiley and N.T. Wright were among his professors. He considers himself a Narniaphile and is an
avid C.S. Lewis reader. Although they are Pentecostal, Anglicans have made a great contribution to the Milleys’ spiritual and intellectual life. Christine was baptized an Anglican, their daughter Erika is in ministry at St. James Anglican Church in Dundas, Ontario and her husband Jonathan Massimi is preparing for ordination. Even grandson Samuel is a baby Anglican. As Garry explained, with a twinkle in his eye, “we wanted to be good team players for the Pentecostals, so we are not ‘on the way to Canterbury’, as they say, even though we are contributing to Anglican Church growth.” The Milleys see a number of connections between Pentecostalism and Anglicanism. The first Pentecostal Bible College in Canada was started by Rev. Dr. J. E. Purdie, a graduate of Wycliffe College who was an Anglican all his
columnist
Happy Easter - to me! Easter, for me, takes on more meaning as I get older. When I was younger, I seldom thought very much about death. Death, after all, was for the elderly or the unfortunate. I was young, healthy, wellprotected. Whenever I heard of somebody dying I felt sorry, in a general sort of way- but, while others might die every once in a while, I was sure that would not happen to me, at least for a long, long time. Most other people, I guess, feel the same way I felt. When we are reminded of death because somebody else has died, we either try to push the thought from our minds as far as we can, or else sweeten the whole experience as soon and as much as possible. We buy fancy cards, send expensive flowers, shake hands with the bereaved, and get away from there fast! We treat death as we would handle unpleasant odours in our kitchen by spraying sweet perfumes (deodorants or whatever) and ignoring the basic situation underneath. If you’re not overly concerned with death, then you’re not overly excited about resurrection. But, as I get older, I can no longer dismiss the thought of death so easily. Old people surely die- and I’m getting older!
As I get older, however, death loses more and more of its terror for me- for several reasons. First, I have learned through increasing maturity that death is a NATURAL process- just as birth is. I was born, brought from another “world”, or mode of existence, into this world. Like death, birth was not an entirely pleasant process, but it was necessary because my Father God willed that I should spend some time in this “vale of tears”, hopefully, doing his will. So, here I am, and if I had had a choice, I probably would not have been born at all! Just as my life had a beginning, it must have an endnaturally. One of these days I must return to that other world, God’s realm from which I came. Foolishly, like everybody else, if I had a choice I would not leave this
world either. Would not leave this world?? How foolish indeed! This world is full of work and worry and uncertainty and disappointment and illness. Not want to leave such a place? Why not?? Ah, yes, the promised joys of that other world begin to sound more and more attractive as I get older. Increasing age diminishes my physical appetites, decreases my vitality. As I become wearier, the thought of rest and heavenly bliss becomes more and more attractive. And what’s Easter got to do with all this? Well, according to the Scripture, because Christ died for me I am saved, “born again”. And because I am saved I have inherited, Photo by:Christ, Karen Simon through eternal life in God’s kingdom, that other world I am so foolishly afraid to go to! Not only did Christ die,
life. He always wore a clerical collar and wrote a catechism for the Pentecostals. “Anglicanism is a grandparent of Pentecostalism,” Garry said. “As Methodism sought to revive Anglicanism, Pentecostalism, in its origins, was seen as a revival among the Methodist/holiness people.” Garry says his Pentecostal roots were welcomed warmly at Queen’s College. “Christine and I want to express our thanks to the Provost, Dr. John Mellis for the privilege of teaching at Queen’s College and to the faculty and students for accepting us as part of the community. We think of Queen’s College as an undiscovered treasure that we’re very happy to have found.” Rev. Dr. Garry E. Milley, DMin (Acadia) is the Senior Pastor of Park Avenue Pentecostal Church in Mount Pearl.
Ronald Clarke
but he ROSE. At his resurrection, the Scriptures tell us he had a NEW BODY, a spiritual body. That new body no longer had those physical characteristics that so often make life so miserable: the cravings of hunger, the debility of fatigue, and the gnawing of pain. The spiritual body of Christ is perfect in every detail. Because Christ rose I, too, shall rise and my resurrection body will also be spiritual and perfect. Oh how wonderful it will be never to be ill. And how wonderful it will be to be rid of a “bum” leg that has hampered me since childhood. I think I shall joyfully run and jump and kick for at least a century and a half, just to enjoy my new leg. Oh, yes, Easter not only means that I don’t have to be afraid of death. Easter means that, in God’s good time, I too
shall have a perfect, spiritual, resurrected body like that of Christ, the first-fruits, brought back from his death on Calvary that Easter day 2000 years ago. If we REALLY BELIEVE the story of Good Friday and Easter, then all of us should be waiting eagerly, impatiently, for that life of security and immeasurable bliss that awaits us in God’s other kingdom. Once again, thank God for Good Friday and Easter.
MOORES, ANDREWS, COLLINS Barristers, Solicitors, Notaries Public 30 Roe Avenue, P.O. Box 348, Gander, NL A1V 1W7 Telephone: (709) 651-4100 Fax: (709) 256-2957 email: info@waltershoffe.com
P.O. Box 806 Conception Bay Highway Bay Roberts, NL A0A 1G0
We Handle All Injury Claims A. Douglas Moores, Q.C. David L.G. Andrews, Q.C. Richard L. Collins, B.A. (Hon.), LL.B.
Telephone: (709) 786-7114 596-3202 834-9292 Facsimile: (709) 786-6952 Preferred Areas of Practice Personal Injury - Criminal Law Real Estate - Estates & Probates Commercial
CONCEPTION BAY’S OLDEST ESTABLISHED LAW FIRM