December 2010

ANGLICANLife

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December 2010

ANGLICANLife A Section of the Anglican Journal

in NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

December 2010

Joy to the World

A Different Kind of Nativity Scene. For the past 30 years, St. George’s Anglican Church in Cormack has displayed an unusual nativity scene. Designed and constructed

by Warwick Hewitt, a member of the congregation and a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, these figures made of chicken wire and plaster of Paris were presented to the church in 1979 as a Christmas gift. This original work of art adds greatly to the awe and wonder of the Christmas season. Mr. Hewitt is quoted as saying that each piece was made with the utmost reverence and love for the Lord. Submitted by Mona Edwards

Taking back Christmas Allison Billard

I think it’s time we take back Christmas. Take it back from shopping malls and greeting card companies.

Take it back from retail executives who spend millions of dollars telling us what we must buy this season. When did Christmas become about how many gifts you could buy before you went bankrupt?

Forgive me the slight hyperbole. I get increasingly “Scroogy” as I hear the radio personalities count down how many shopping days til Christmas (50 as I write this).

I never would have thought it possible: me Scroogy? No way! I love Christmastime.

I still get that warm fuzzy thrill on the first Sunday of Advent when I realize “it’s here! These are Christmas songs!” But it’s never been about the gifts.

Well, ok, maybe one time it was a little about the gifts, the excitement of finding out what Santa brought and comparing my stuff with my brother’s stuff and all that. It was fun. But I loved the whole season: helping

mom decorate and bake, the smell of cleaner after mom shampooed the carpets, how the house always felt warm and smelled like cookies and cakes, mom’s annual Christmas party. I even liked the shopping as mom showed me how to be a thrifty gift getter.

But it’s getting out of control. There’s just too much stuff. How much stuff do people need?

Maybe it just contributes to my sense of inadequacy. I am the youngest of five siblings, they’re all settled with great jobs and families of their own, and I always think “what do you get for someone who’s got everything they want.”

It’s not that I don’t want to spend the money, or that I hate shopping. I just want it to mean something more than “Hey it’s Christmas, you get a gift.” We live in a society of so much, and my family is so blessed, I just want there to be a more meaningful way to celebrate the season. We’re supposed to be celebrating Jesus’ birth, and learning to prepare for his coming again in glory. I know the wise men brought him gifts, but they were symbolically significant! All I’m asking for is a little piece of that significance.

Then, through World Vision, my husband and I found a way to make the season more meaningful. We

honour our families by giving a significant donation through the World Vision catalogue. There are so many options, goats, a well for fresh water, roosters and chickens and bunnies. It’s incredible what a difference $100 can make to a family in need.

This is our new Christmas tradition, and we encourage our family and friends to consider starting something similar. It doesn’t take much, but it can make a big difference in the life of another.

How will you remember the reason for the season this year?

SERVING THE DIOCESES OF WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND + CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND + EASTERN NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

BISHOPS’ GREETINGS

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December 2010

ANGLICANLife

Mary’s journey Bishop David Torraville Diocese of Central Newfoundland

The gospel reading for Christmas Eve, Luke 2.1-20, ends with two quite contrasting images; one silent, the other boisterous. The angels appear to the shepherds. They rush to Bethlehem to see what has taken place. When they arrive they find Mary and Joseph, and the child. The shepherds tell what the angels told them and everyone was amazed. Then the passage ends: “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen....”

I have to admit, with some embarrassment, that I take something of a dim view

of the shepherds as they “return”. Most view them as going away joyfully proclaiming the Good News. I understand this view and appreciate its truth.

Nevertheless, I can’t help viewing the shepherds as people who just do not know how to be quiet, who can’t even be awed into silence, whose constant religious chatter allows nothing beyond the surface. Mary, on the other hand, keeps her silence; she treasures, she ponders. I can only try to imagine what that moment is for a new mother, looking on her new creation. What does Mary ponder?

Does she feel the comfort of Joseph near her, the presence of the Holy Spirit upon her? Does she fear the uncertainty of her

child’s life, born in a stable, caught up in the mass movements of people from Nazareth to Bethlehem and throughout the region?

When we read this birth story and think of mothers and newly born infants

around the world we cannot help conclude that most of the mothers and babies who closely resemble Mary and Jesus are not in the hospital in our communities, but are in refugee camps throughout the world, in places of poverty, violence and uncertainty.

In this Christmas season it is not enough for us to blithely go off, like the shepherds proclaiming Good News; we have to sit quietly with Mary, to treasure the love of God, to ponder what that love is calling from us.

We must travel with Mary and her child, into Egypt and exile, and then onward into service and to the cross, so that all the Mary’s everywhere and all their children born in want and poverty and violence can experi-

ence the peace and joy which the angels proclaimed.

My wish and prayer for you in this Christmas season is that inspired by God’s peace, we may follow the infant Jesus into a maturing faith of generous, self giving service. May your Christmas be filled, first with the prayerful silence of Mary and then the boisterous enthusiasm of the shepherds, that your commitment be deepened and your service joyful.

New Kid on the block Bishop Percy Coffin Diocese of Western Newfoundland

St. Luke is very simplistic in telling us the story of the birth of Jesus. A teenage girl and an older man find their way to a lean-to, designed for animals, on the outskirts of a small town four days journey from their home.

They are there because of a court order that required them to go to their ancestral home for a census. (Yet as Canadians we complain about the long census form.) They are also far removed from seats of government and busy cities. There is neither pageantry nor an attending physician even. As a newborn baby cries

this is still an ordinary event.

St. Luke gets us a little more excited when he mentions angels appearing to neighbouring shepherds and motivating them to the point where they sings hymns of praise. The rest is ordinary.

However “ordinary” is not the first word that comes to mind when assessing what has been done in the name of this event. Patrons in shopping barns may best be described as bats without their radars. Decorations in various hues and textures, a Newfoundland tartan leash for the mainland mutt, not to mention batteries that can last through eternity, give new meaning to Christmas.

Christmas will not be Christmas if invention is not the necessity of mother, electronics manufacturers and fashion designers. Every year someone comes up with something new but the one thing we mortals cannot provide is the miracle.

The birth of Jesus may

have been ordinary enough that is if we choose to ignore a few miracles: -the miracle of birth -the miracle of the virgin mother -the miracle of Joseph’s dream -the miracle of Bethlehem (fulfilment of prophecy in Micah 5:2) -the miracle of the angels’ message -the miracle of the star -the miracle of Incarnation (the wailing tight-fisted baby is God) In his letter to the Philippians (Ch.2:6,7) St. Paul puts it this way: “Christ Jesus...who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness”. The purpose of the miracle was to save people from their sins.

It was only by becoming human that God can offer himself as a fitting atonement for

sins committed by humanity.

That was his first night on earth.

His last night is marked by a meal wherein he takes bread and wine, blesses them, and says they are his body and blood. Then he is betrayed.

On the next day his flesh is torn and his blood is shed for our sake. Come to the Lord’s table and share in the banquet. This is our salvation.

Christmas is about a flesh and blood baby Jesus and the night God came among us.

As God has reconciled us may our relationships within

the global community, our country, our province, our communities and our homes be peaceful.

A blessed Christmas to you from the Diocesan family of Western Newfoundland!

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ANGLICANLife

December 2010

MEN’S ASSOCIATION

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Diocesan Men’s Association News Submitted by Reginald MacDonald

During the weekend of April 9-10,2010, DAMA (Diocesan Anglican Men’s Association) from the Eastern Diocese of Newfoundland and Labrador held their annual general meeting at Lavrock. Fifty four men, representing 12 parishes registered for the event.

Opening devotions were conducted by Rev. Garry Parsons, from the Parish of St. Lawrence, assisted by Rev. Gary Hussey, St. Peter’s Parish. During dinner, Bishop Pitman on behalf of the Association, presented a plaque to Don Higgins (St. Thomas’) highlighting his 50 years as a lay minister.

In the evening there was a slide presentation from the CLB Mission Belize Team.

CLB Colonel Keith Arns and Major Ron Coish provided commentary and entertained questions from the floor. The

Mitchell presented his reCLB is to be port of his commended for committee retheir work in Begarding the lize. future role of Holy EuchaD A M A . rist on Saturday While some morning was Men’s Service conducted by Clubs are satRev. Garry Parisfied with the sons, assisted by status quo, all Rev. Gary appear to be Hussey and Don acceptable to Higgins as some changes. server. In the Bishop Pitman (right) presents Don Higgins (left) on behalf of The future of open forum ses- DAMA with a plaque celebrating his 50 years as a Lay Minister.

DAMA rests sion, Reginald Photo by Reg MacDonald. with DAMA. MacDonald (St. Pitman.

He challenged Elected into office for Thomas’) and Rev. David Cook (Good Sheppard) did a DAMA to move toward a 2010-2011: Mr. George King – Presicritique of the book: “Why mission outreach style minMen Hate Going To Church” istry and that its future should dent – Parish of St. Philips Mr. Ed Miller– Vice

by David Murrow. For infor- focus on Christian formation mation on the book, you are of men from a diocesan per- President – Parish of the Ascension referred to: spective.

Following the open foMr. Aubrey Dawe – Secwww.churchformen.com.

This was followed by a pres- rum, the annual general meet- retary – Parish of Upper Gulentation by our Bishop, The ing took place. Under new lies Mr. Clarence Barfoot – Right Reverend Cyrus business, vice president Russ

Treasurer – Parish of Good Sheppard Mr. Reginald MacDonald – Public Relations Officer – Parish of St. Thomas’ The position of Program Coordinator was left vacant at the request of the executive as they plan to revise the duties of that position.

Special appreciation is extended to the staff at Lavrock for catering our meals and the warm hospitality extended to all in attendance. It was a beautiful weekend of fellowship. For more information about DAMA, please visit our website: http:// www.anglican.nfol.ca/diocesan-anglican-mensasssociation.php

A Child’s Christian Christmas Article submitted by Olive Grunert

A child born in a manger, who was to be our Savior, who would teach from the mountain tops, who would teach us to pray, to love one another, and one day would die for our sins is the real reason for Christmas.

The birth of our Lord is the reason for the season.

As Advent approaches it seems this little baby’s coming is sure lost in the crowd in this “modern” world. The Blessed Christmas day is fast approaching and as we sing the Advent of Our King, this crazy world is far from preparing for him, as people tear around in a frantic rush looking for presents “to bring” , but not for the baby Jesus as did the wise men of long ago.

We have to stop in the noise, the sales and commercialism and listen to the “drowned out” words of “Silent Night” in the malls.

As a child growing up in Corner Brook, Christmas was surely a time of Peace, goodwill towards mankind, as we prepared with the many choir practices and caroling in around the neighborhoods.

We knew the baby Jesus came first and yes, and then there was Santa and all the gifts too.

It saddens me today that so many children don’t know a Christian Christmas but to them it’s all about Santa and presents. A lot of times, the modern parent, in the struggle to “keep up with the Jones’s” have given up going to church altogether. Sundays is there shopping day or TV day and they will tell you “I work all week and Sunday is “ME” day. The children are missing so much and the feeding of their bodies has become the only feeding some parents know about.

The children today are bigger and taller than ever, and evidence is there of no shortage of food, but when you see the bullying at school, the lack of respect for other people’s property, the actual violence in the community, then you see where the lack of spiritual training shows up. You will see these parents being interviewed “I never could do anything with him”. It is very seldom that this child is in the CLB or is a server at church, and has never known the luxury of

sitting at the altar steps listening to their priest teach about Jesus and his love.

There will be so many activities at church for children this Christmas season and their little faces all aglow as they sing “away in a manger”. Our church bells all over the world will ring inviting people back to the peace of the Baby Jesus. It is

so heartwarming to see our children coming in with tightly packed boxes for children in other countries, as they were taught to share this blessed season. Where else would they have learned all this?

We owe our children and Grandchildren a good Christmas, a Christian Christmas and give them the peace and

contentment of knowing they have a savior in this modern world we live in, a world that needs his peace more than ever.

A blessed Christian Christmas to all.

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OPINION

ANGLICANLife in NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

Editor-in-Chief: The Rev’d Sam Rose 8 Croydon Street Paradise, NL A1L 1P7 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-in-Chief, 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.

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ANGLICANLife

A home for Christmas

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

December 2010

Father Sam Rose Editor

Reprinted from a past editorial

Recently students from Memorial University were building a house through Habitat for Humanity. Their goal was to have a deserving family in this new home by Christmas. Through a partnership with Petro Canada and the support of many churches, the University students worked hard to realize a dream that many people take for granted – having a home for Christmas. The mother of the family of six children said that, “This home is a blessing and a gift from God!” Usually our church buildings get quite a few more worshipers when the Christmas season rolls around. Most churches are filled to capacity for the

Christmas Eve liturgies with what some call ‘Christmas Christians.’ Quite often families still view going to worship at Christmas as being an important part of the celebration. It is rather unfortunate however, when these seekers come searching for a spiritual home for Christmas end up being treated more like visitors than Christian family members.

Some preachers will take to the pulpit this Christmas in these packed churches and extol not a message of hope but a message of guilt. Sermons filled with subtle criticisms of ‘why don’t people come to worship more often?’ or ‘why can’t every Sunday be like Christmas?’ do nothing to welcome these seekers. ‘Christmas Christians’ who want to know the Incarnate Christ and find a home for Christmas end up feeling like Mary and Joseph being told “there is no room at the inn.”

Instead of making these ‘Christmas Christians’ feel guilty, can the Church act like those University students building a home for that mother and her six children?

That family had a basic need

that the students helped meet.

It is the same in the Church.

Many people come to us all the time with basic needs and we often turn them away.

Instead of being the Incarnate Christ in our words and actions, we end up being a stumbling block. When a family walks through your church doors on Christmas Eve, they have the same joys and pains, hopes and fears.

Christmas usually brings them out because they need to know that God is real and that God is love.

The message of the Incarnation is that Christ came into the world to save sinners. That’s all of us, not just those who may drop by a church on Christmas Eve. These are not visitors or tourists but family members.

They have a place in God’s Kingdom. They have a home for Christmas.

Wouldn’t it be a great joy to have a ‘Christmas Christian’ say as they leave a Christmas liturgy, “This church is a blessing and a real gift from God!” You never know, they may want to come back more often.

ANGLICANLife

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December 2010

The Christmas baby was a Light Submitted by Garry E. Milley

John 1:14 “. . . we beheld his glory” My father was a pastor.

At baby dedications, he often repeated part of the story of the infant Jesus when Mary and Joseph took him to the Temple in Jerusalem to be circumcised. They were met by a senior citizen Simeon who was waiting to see the Lord’s Messiah. As he lifted Jesus into his arms he said, “Now, let your servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen your salvation.” In effect he was saying, “Now I can die in peace.”

To us it seems an odd thing to say at such an occasion. Had he, with this baby, come to magic number of babies he was supposed to circumcise before retiring?

Was he just that morning feeling very sick yet saying to himself, “I think the next baby that comes to this Temple will be the last one for me?

I’m getting too old for this?”

No, Simeon was not thinking like that at all. The word that is translated “peace” is a synonym for “salvation.” Peace and salvation are six of one and a halfdozen of the other. For the Hebrew mind, peace means the end of the long tyranny of sin and evil. Remember what Jesus said to the little woman who pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of his garment? “Go in peace, your faith has saved you.” The long nights of being victim to the bleeding haemorrhage are over. Healing has come and with it peace. Your life will be different from here on.

While Simeon was holding the baby Jesus he added, “for my eyes have seen thy salvation—a light to lighten the gentiles.” This ceremony for infant Jewish boys was uniquely Jewish. Gentiles did not, as a rule, circumcise their babies. Incidentally, this is the only thing we know

about Jesus’ physical appearance. He was a circumcised Jewish man. We know nothing else. He was a son of the Law. His Jewish pedigree is listed out in the gospels— Jewish parents, Jewish baby, Jewish Temple, Jewish priest, Jewish everything. Then, why does this elderly man mention “gentiles” here?

Well, it was commonly taught that the gentiles were in spiritual darkness without the true light about God. In Ephesians St. Paul said that gentiles were without hope and without God. In the dark, without God and strangers from the covenant promises!

Alienated from the life of God! In the dark and not realizing the darkness! Blind and not knowing it! Ignorant and not knowing it! The human situation is dire.

But here, Simeon looks down at Jesus and sees him as the light for the gentiles.

He may have been thinking of the scripture in Isaiah 9, “The people who dwelt in

darkness have seen a great light. Upon them has the light shined.” It brought joy to his heart.

The light has come. God who is light, in whom there is no darkness, at all has come to dwell among us.

“Emmanuel” God with us!

The true meaning of Christmas is the awesome truth that the Christmas baby is a light.

God has become incarnate, become human in Jesus. God, who was in the bright cloud by day and fiery pillar by night, as the guide for his people Israel, has come into our world in Jesus. He entered into the depths of human life, into the darkness to dispel the darkness.

We need this light. Our human condition requires light because we are in the darkness of death. Apart from Jesus there is no light. Our minds are darkened and we cannot see the truth of the gospel.

Can you make the connection here? Jesus has come

to dispel the darkness. In the first chapter of John this theme is introduced. Jesus is the light that the darkness cannot comprehend. He is the light that destroys the works of darkness.

What type of darkness is John speaking about? The human heart is desperately wicked. There is darkness there. There is darkness in the human mind also. It is so dark that we cannot even see the kingdom of God let alone enter it. Surely, one of the great motives for ministry is that people without Christ are in spiritual darkness.

Simeon saw Jesus as a light to the gentiles has said something about the human condition. People desperately need the light. It is only found in Jesus. Simeon saw his salvation in Jesus. Do you?

May you get a glimpse of that life-changing light this Christmas season! It will mean everything in this world and everything in the next.

Contact Information for each Diocesan Synod Office Eastern Diocesan Website - http://anglican.nfol.ca/ Central Diocesan Website - http://centraldiocese.org/ Western Diocesan Website - http://www.westernnewfoundland.anglican.org/ Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador SYNOD OFFICE 19 King’s Bridge Road, St. John’s, NL, A1C 3K4 Telephone: 709-576-6697 Fax: 709-576-7122 E-Mail: ecrisby@anglicanenl.net

Diocese of Central Newfoundland SYNOD OFFICE 34 Fraser Road, Gander N.L. A1V 2E8 Telephone (709) 255-2372 or (709) 256 - 3954 Fax (709) 256-2396 e-mail mcmsimms@nfld.net

Diocese of WesternNewfoundland SYNOD OFFICE 25 Main Street, Corner Brook, NL , A2H 1C2 Telephone: 709-639-8712 (office) email: b.hurley@nf.aibn.com

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STEWARDSHIP

December 2010

ANGLICANLife

A legacy of love Kevin Smith

One of the tongue-incheek comments I sometimes make about the need for estate planning is that families always get along. Well, we all know that this isn’t always the case. A book I am currently reading examines both sides of that statement. Authors Barry M. Fish and Les Kotzer state in “Where There`s an Inheritance,” that death and inheritance unleash

a vast range of emotions which embrace bitter meanspiritedness on one end of the spectrum, and the deepest imaginable wellsprings of good will and love on the other.`` Here is one of the good ones from their book that I will share with you as the season of Christmas approaches.

Elizabeth died leaving six adult children surviving her. Her will named two of them as executors but all six children came to our office together, because their executor siblings insisted that all of them be there. They described how their mother was left a widow, shortly after the birth of the last child.

Financially, life was a struggle for all of them, but they

explained how Mom‘s spirit allowed them to surmount the worst of times together.

With help from friends, Mom was able to get an extra job during the evenings but she taught her children to look for coupons in flyers and how to use them. She taught them how to be organized and the importance of looking out for one another. Everyone one of them remembered the times when their mother confessed that she was sorry that she could not give them everything that their schoolmates had. However, what she gave them was far more valuable than the fancy clothes worn by their friends.

The family somehow managed through the difficult years and four of the children were now successful profes-

Gambo Prayer Walk Sharing our Story: On Friday, October 15, at 10 o’clock in the morning fifteen women of the community (and one dog) met in Smallwood Park, Gambo to take part in a Prayer Walk, led by Rose Skiffington and Maude Kelloway. The focus was on “Trees and Humanity”. We paused at various points in the park to hear a portion of scripture, to reflect and to pray. We stopped and reflected on various themes, such as Along the Road, Life Journey, Grow Tall, Green Trees and Mysterious Ways. The weather that morning was crisp and clear, a perfect day for walking in the woods and taking time from busy schedules to reflect and to pray. Following the walk, coffee and muffins were shared in the church hall. Submitted by The Rev’d Betty Harbin

sionals while the other two were not so fortunate and had never escaped from hard times.

What impressed the authors was the attitude of the Elizabeth‘s children. The four successful ones said that all they cared about was that their less fortunate brother and sister be looked after.

They instructed the lawyers to do the necessary paperwork in order to turn over the entire estate to the two siblings who needed it most.

The brother and sister who had fallen on hard times had no idea this was coming.

They had tears in their eyes and the lawyers didn‘t know what to say. One of the other four children said it for all of them, ‘We know you would have done the same for us if

the situation were reversed.

Mom raised us to be there for each other and that will never change. Mom taught us the real meaning of love and the importance of family. That was her gift to all of us.

Without a doubt, Elizabeth would have been proud.

What a legacy!

On that note, my wife Kay and I wish you and yours a blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2011.

Kevin Smith is the gift planning consultant for the Anglican Church of Canada. He can be contacted at 739-5667 or by email k_smith@nf.sympatico.ca

ANGLICANLife

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December 2010

NEWS FROM ACROSS THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Primate celebrates Integrity’s 35th anniversary At a service in Toronto to mark the 35th anniversary of Integrity, the organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Anglicans, Archbishop Fred Hiltz apologized for the hurt they have endured within the church. “I stand before you as one member of the church called by office to care for all members of the church,” he said. Then he acknowledged the church had silenced gay and lesbian voices, refused to listen and failed to see them as deeply committed to the church.

“I am sorry for the many ways in the past, and maybe in the present, in which you have been hurt by the church,” he said.

The Anglican Calgary congregation helps African kids go to school When parishioners at St. Barnabas in Calgary heard that children in Tanzania couldn’t attend school unless they pay about $100 for a school uniform and school supplies, they wanted to help. They worked with COSAD (Community Solutions for Africa’s Development), an organization that helps people find the means to provide for themselves. The Sewing Singers project raised money in Calgary to provide sewing machines and training for rural choir members in Africa. After making a number of school uniforms at cost, Tanzanian trainees can then borrow the machines for their own commercial enterprises. A percentage of the profits go back to the choirs to buy more fabrics for more uniforms. So far, 139 children have been outfitted for school and several nearby villages are clamouring to participate in the program.

The Sower Church Without Borders A growing multicultural community and a large international student population inspired St. Luke’s in Kingston, Ont. to start a second Sunday service with an international flavour.

“Church Without Borders” began on Oct. 3 with African music, a scripture reading in Chinese and some French liturgy. The “rich cultural diversity in our city is not necessarily being mirrored yet in our Anglican churches,” explained the Rev. Ian Ritchie, adding that the congregation of St. Luke’s felt called to answer such worship needs. Parishioners from Zambia, Congo, Botswana, Ghana and the Caribbean have made their home at St. Luke’s.

The Dialogue Camp Caledonia re-opened People from Haida Gwaii to Fraser to Vancouver Island ended the summer with a diocesan celebration for the re-opening of Camp Caledonia. There was a ribboncutting, tours of the camp and a dinner, which was provided collaboratively by communities throughout the diocese. Although it wasn’t intended to be a fundraising event, dinner tickets sales and donations added up to more than $4,400.

Caledonia Times Priest named Citizen of the Year This fall, the Saskatchewan Federation of Indian Nations honoured the Rev. Arthur Anderson with its Citizen of the Year (male award). A member of the George Gordon First Nation, Anderson served 29 years with the Canadian Forces — in Germany, as a paratrooper and as part of a peace-keeping mission, as well as in Cyprus and Africa.

He has spent 22 years as an Anglican priest, trying to bridge the gap between First Nations and non-First Nations cultures.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

Letter to the Editor Regarding the Provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy: As the holiday season nears, I would like to direct your attention to food banks.

It is certainly tempting to donate to and feel good about food banks. This is evidenced by such things as CBC Radio’s annual turkey drive, various organized collections of food items (e.g.

Santa Clause Parades), and comments by ministers of the crown lauding food banks.

In spite of its origins as a temporary stop-gap measure during the recession of the early 1980s, the modern food bank is entrenched in our society.

How can this be? How does it pass for normal that, in our affluent society, so many of our citizens are forced to present themselves for free food just to stay alive? Donors may feel good when we donate but how do moms and dads feel when they pass in their ID cards and pick up a bag of food that will last only a few days?

The Anglican archbishop of Toronto recently tried to live on a temporary diet of food bank items and he found the experience left him humiliated, isolated and

slightly nauseous due to all the empty carbs and fatty meats. The bishop had the choice to return to his normal diet but so many of our fellow citizens, especially in Newfoundland and Labrador, do not. Why not? Why are we ok with this?

Two parents forced to use food banks told me that they feel embarrassment and shame, especially in front of their children, who will undoubtedly internalize these feelings as well. A single man I know had to beg from his neighbours because his food bank allotment ran out.

Imagine having shame, guilt, indignity, disempowerment, hunger, and panic about food as regular parts of your life.

How crippling and corrosive this must be.

Our fellow citizens deserve better than this. As you continue with the Poverty Reduction Strategy, please consider developing and implementing a formal strategy to eliminate all food banks in Newfoundland and Labrador, with food security as its core.

Thank you.

Sincerely, Maura Hanrahan, Ph.D. St. John’s, NL

CHURCH LIFE

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December 2010

ANGLICANLife

150 years of worship in Topsail Article and Photo submitted by Lois Baker

St. John the Evangelist Church in Topsail celebrated 150 years of Christian worship on October 16th and 17th.

We were honored to have the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada as our special guest.

On Saturday evening, October 16th, 150 parishioners, friends and special guests gathered at Woodstock Colonial Restaurant for a delicious dinner. During the evening, best wishes were brought from Scott Andrews, MP Avalon; Woodrow French, mayor of Conception Bay South; Rt. Rev. Cyrus Pitman, Bishop of the Eastern Diocese of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.

A dramatic presentation recalling the events of both churches through the 150 years was written and presented by Susan Bonnell with assistance from Morris Hodder, Bill Richardson and Louise Smith. Amanda Dawe accompanied on the piano and sang the accompanying songs.

On behalf of St. John the Evangelist, an oil painting of “The Old Historic Church in Winter” painted by Bill Richardson, was presented to Primate Fred Hiltz by Warden Kelvin Fowler.

On Sunday morning, special friends and parishioners met for the Anniversary Service. The worship began in the Old Historic Church with prayers by Primate Fred Hiltz. Led by piper George Moore, the procession moved to the cemetery outside the old church; then proceeded to the present church which opened in 1974. They advanced into the church, passing under an arch of fir boughs, welcoming The Primate.

The service began with the singing of “We Love the Place, O God”. Cliff Fowler and members of the CLB presented their colours. Sarah Bonnell gave a heart-warming welcome to all. Primate Fred Hiltz based his message on our motto for the anniversary year: “Celebrating our Past, Embracing our Present, and Envisioning our Future”.

The service closed with “Faith in our Fathers”.

Following the service, the congregation retired to the parish hall to greet the Primate and the Bishop. The

ACW hosted the luncheon.

During the year, we have held many celebrations for our Anniversary year. On New Year’s Eve, we had a Service of Thanks in the Old Historic Church; In January, there was a moose stew/beef soup dinner followed by a service with the Cathedral Choir; in April, there was an Old Fashioned Concert with

skits, singing by various musical guests, and recitations; in April we held an Anniversary Dinner of Salmon in the parish hall; in June, a Victorian Afternoon Tea was presented by the ACW; at the end of June, a Family BBQ to mark the closing of the Sunday School for the summer; in July, a Garden Party was held on the church

grounds featuring games for children, a fish pond, bake and craft tables.

Still to come—The annual Fall Fair will be held on Thursday, November 11th; a Christmas Holly Teas will be held in the parish hall on Saturday, December 11th.

The miracle of the red metal roof Article and Photo submitted by Canon Bill Strong

St. Peter’s Church, Upper Island Cove, is very pleased to have completed the installation of a new red metal roof in September of 2010. The project took years of discussion and fund raising and miraculously was installed without incurring financial hardship on the congregation.

The project started with the establishment of a Restoration Fund to gather funds to provide for the up keep and repair of the historic 120 year old structure. Donations to the fund were made in addition to the regular weekly envelope offering. The fund accumulated $30,000 in two years and approval was granted for the roof project to proceed in the Spring of 2010 along with the potential for

a loan the Diocesan Church Extension Fund up to $45,000 to complete the project.

The Vestry hand delivered letters in June outlining the project and asking all en-

velope holders for a contribution of $65 over and above their regular envelope giving to support the project. Canvassers would return later to collect donations. In the

meantime, Trico Limited, the installer placed the materials in the church yard to help show that the project was taking p l a c e .

Work began in early August and was completed over a four week period.

By the time the work was completed the congregation had raised enough funds that it was able to pay for the $82,000 project without outside support. We have received many, many compli-

ments on the roof and note that it survived Hurricane Igor without incident.

Canon Bill Strong reports that one the miracles of the project is that a number of individuals restarted their support to both the project and the work of the church simply because someone knocked on their door and asked for their support. “It has truly been a miracle for us.”

The next project will be to replace the church’s aging furnace. We thank God for every dollar received and to enable us to continue to proclaim His Kingdom here in this place.

ANGLICANLife

December 2010

CHURCH LIFE

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The Friendly Church St. Mark the Evangelist Church lives its motto Article and Photo submitted by Gina Grandy, PhD Mount Allison University

St. Mark’s is a vibrant Parish with an interesting history. The community of St. Mark’s started in 1977 as an outreach plant, sponsored by St. Thomas’ Church in St. John’s. A local school was used for worship until 1983 when the current facility (office space, hall and sanctuary) was constructed. Parishioners are quick to describe the Parish as friendly to all and long time parishioners recall it to be this way for as long as they can remember.

The Church’s motto, ‘The Friendly Church’, emerged under the leadership of past Rector, Ven. Thomas Moulton. In an interview with Ven. Moulton he recalled, “I ran into some people and they tell me it was a very unfriendly church.

And I went ‘Oh I’ve got to change that’. So someone once told me that you give a person an idea for a year and you begin to put it upfront for a year people will believe it and they will think it came from them. I decided to put on the front of the bulletin ‘This is the friendly church’ – every Sunday that was in front and every Sunday they would see this message”. This vision is the shared vision of St. Mark’s Parish today.

The people of St. Mark’s are sensitive to the notion that faith can be experienced in different ways by different people. St. Mark’s respects the traditions of the Anglican faith, but also makes space for novel ways to connect with parishioners. This is evident in the interactive sermons on Saturdays, birthday wishes during services, and tea after services.

This spirit of inclusiveness and respect is also evident in its joint installation service for the men and women Church groups, the presence of four previous rectors as parishioners of St. Mark’s, a sound system equipped for those with hearing impairments, facilities that are wheel-

chair accessible and scentfree, and extensive outreach activities.

Only on rare occasions will you find that there are no activities happening at

through my research, that his willingness to experiment was reflective of the spirit of St. Mark’s. For example, the Parish organizes a Lent and Advent café se-

reflection by parishioners and the Parish leaders. It is a learning organization where change, albeit sometimes difficult, is viewed to be a natural part of the spir-

St. Mark’s was the site for lunches during a nearby Habitat for Humanity build in July 2010. This picture was taken on the day St. Mark’s hosted the lunch. The other days of the two-week period, lunch was provided by churches of varying denominations, and by local restaurants.

the Parish. St. Mark’s is changing the perception that faith is something expressed at Church once a week; St. Mark’s fosters a spirit of living faith throughout the week.

Email and telephone conversations in September of 2009 with the recently hired Rector, Rev. Dr. Wayne Short, piqued my interest in S t .

Mark’s.

My research involves investigating the factors that make Churches successful and how success can be measured in the Church context. In our early conversations, Rev. Short indicated that regardless of the conclusions of my research on St. Mark’s, he felt that it would be an excellent learning opportunity for the Parish. I learned later,

ries that focuses upon developing a deeper spirituality among members of St. Mark’s as it pertains to their own faith, as well as their appreciation for other religions. In addition, the Parish delivers two formats of its Bible Study, one is positioned as a time of teaching

and the other as a time for sharing and exploration of faith. Most recently, the Parish has begun a series of zone meetings which serve to connect with people informally in their homes, bring parishioners together by geographic region rather than service attendance, and provide an opportunity for

itual growth of the Parish.

The Church’s, and its members’, capacity to learn is linked to innovation. St. Mark’s prayer writing group is comprised of members who volunteer to write the weekly prayers for the Parish. St. Mark’s was also the first Anglican parish in N e w foundland to hold a Saturday service.

Moreover, few parishes in the area offer a contemporary style of worship similar to St. Mark’s Saturday service. As one of the first parishes in the province to provide electronic giving as an option for giving, the Parish offers both direct debit and credit card payments electronically. More than 120 families use this option. St. Mark’s use of technology in other ways also demon-

strates its innovativeness.

Approximately 70 percent of its parishioners are on an email distribution list and receive a weekly message from the Rector. The Parish also distributes a quarterly newsletter electronically and posts it on the Church website.

St. Mark’s also invests in youth development. A part-time youth minister successfully integrates youth into the Parish. The group refers to itself as SMAC, that is, St. Mark’s Anglican Church Youth.

SMAC has its own Facebook page and website.

Youths are actively involved in the outreach activities of St. Mark’s and their discovery of faith is grounded in tradition but delivered in novel and informal ways. These initiatives bring faith to life for youths. One program, Meeting at Someone’s House (M*A*S*H), involved themed informal discussions held in homes. Another initiative, a fundraising challenge to buy 50 sheep, brought to life the parable of the shepherd.

For the purposes of my research, St. Mark’s is an excellent example of a successful parish. St. Mark’s history of strong leadership in its clergy and lay leadership has facilitated the development of its shared vision of community. It has and continues to contribute spiritually and materially to the lives of its parishioners and those in local and global communities. ‘The Friendly Church’ is an innovative parish that is willing to take risks and learn from its mistakes.

More information about St. Mark’s can be found on its website http:// www.stmarks.nfol.ca/. This research is funded by a three-year Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant. If you would like more details about the findings of the research on St. Mark’s or the larger research project, please feel free to contact Dr. Gina Grandy by email at ggrandy@mta.ca or by telephone at 506 364 2292.

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December 2010

ANGLICANLife

A fresh expression of church and show us the right way to reach them for Christ. Then he asked the question, “Are we willing to go outside our comfort zones to bring people back to God.” Personally, I thought that was an excellent question since it is so easy to lose sight of Christ’s

ramps and let the kids use the Parish Hall for the winter months while he was chaperone. He taught the kids to pray and read Scripture before starting their evening.

They each took turns praying.

I was so glad to see these young people having good

clean fun in a safe, secure the VBS, the Parish holds a Christian environment. I service in the hall for the think that there is a good whole area. The hall is usuchance that many of these ally packed with more peoIn October, 2010, The kids will grow in there rela- ple coming than would go to Rev. Canon Nick tionship with God. church. It’s a Christian servBrotherwood of Fresh ExAnother video was about ice where the children show pressions Canada spoke with women in Britain who met what they have learned about students and faculty at in each others homes to have God. Queen’s College, the Bible study and discussion.

George Badcock, a paclergy of the Diocese of These were called cell rishioner from Gambo, also Central Newfoundland at groups. Women told how told about a fresh expression their fall conference, and at they had needed others to of church in his community. a special Vision Day of lay talk to and found the cells There had been no men gopeople and clergy at Mint to be full of wonderful shar- ing to their church, so he and Brook Camp. Dinah Laming friends with whom they a couple of guys decided to bert, a parishioner of could share their deepest start a men’s group. They Greenspond, wrote about thoughts in confidence. start their evening together in her experience at the ViRenee Easton, a warden the Parish Hall with prayer sion Day. from the Parish of Indian and a Scripture reading, then On Saturday October Bay, gave a report on a lo- play cards and darts. There 31, I attended a very enjoycal fresh expression they is no gambling and they all able vision day at Mint were doing. Every summer, have a wonderful time. They Brook Camp. The conferfor the last few years, they do get to share the Word of ence room was completely have held a Vacation Bible God and the number of men filled with one hundred lay School (VBS) in the Lion’s coming has increased greatly. people and ministers. Our Hall in Trinity. They get The men have a greater unbishop David was also kits and have a committee derstanding of what needs to there. The day featured a who puts a lot of time and be done around the church speaker from Fresh Exeffort into preparing the building and hall, like paintpressions Canada, Nick program. Then they invite ing and upkeep, and they enBrotherwood, who offered Canon Nick Brotherwood, a leader in the Canadian Fresh Expressions kids from all over the local joy doing it. And when the new ideas on how to bring movement, speaks to clergy and laity of the Diocese of Central communities. Last summer ladies have a social, they help people back to God, not Newfoundland. Photo by Jonathan Durdle. they had ninety-one kids them out, whereas before only through the tradiwho enjoyed the VBS very they didn’t. tional church, but in many much. For instance, Renee In this changing world, new and creative ways, or command. was at a gas station when Christians are called to Sometimes we feel that fresh expressions of church. she heard someone in the spread the Word of God, and Nick explained that to be as long as we are in church it next car singing the songs we do it through any creative a Christian means not only is OK, but we don’t take into they had sung at the VBS means we can. The Bible says that we believe in God and account the number of peothe year before. The par- that “the Word became flesh attend church, but that we ple starving for some kind of ents told her how much and dwelt among us.” A fresh have a personal relationship hope in this world. We ourtheir kids loved it. On the expression puts it this way, with Christ, and are follow- selves need to get to know last day of “The Word became flesh and ing in his footsteps. There- and have a personal relation‘moved out into the neighfore, like the disciples, we too ship with God. bourhood.’”

Nick showed some vidhave the Great Commission, So let’s do what we can and that is to make disciples eos of how people in Canada to be part of the Great Comof all nations, starting in our and England were making mission Jesus gave us, to go changes to how they did own communities. spread the Gospel and make As our society is chang- church. One was a church in disciples of every nation. ing greatly, we need to make Perth, Ontario, which had no Let’s keep an open mind and adjustments in what we con- young people in attendance. take every opportunity to sider to be our idea of serv- The church had a break-in win souls. ing God. It is not just about and kids were caught skate attending a structured boarding in the Parish Hall. church. There are a lot of At first, people were very people who will not go in- angry and posted signs that The Rev’d Shaun O’Connor, Rector of the Parish of Greenspond/ side a church door because of this was not allowed. But Newtown/Pound Cove leads the worship muisc at the Fresh old hurts of feeling the church one man had an idea. He Expressions Conference in the Diocese of Central Newfoundland. is not relevant to them. In our asked the church to permit Photo by Jonathan Durdle. communities we have many him to make some jump who would come if we made a special effort to invite them.

But if they will not come we need to make a way to go to them. Someone from a fresh expression of church would say, “We are willing to come to you.”

30 Roe Avenue, P.O. Box 348, Nick presented many Gander, NL A1V 1W7 ideas on how to start a new Telephone: (709) 651-4100 approach to bringing people back to God. Our first step Fax: (709) 256-2957 would be to pray, asking God email: info@waltershoffe.com to open hearts to the Gospel Submitted by Dinah Lambert

ANGLICANLife

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December 2010

Parish of Windsor-Bishop’s Falls Submitted by Eugene Toope

The earliest Church of Englanders (now as Anglicans) of Grand Falls held its first recorded Church service in the AND Company staff house on Sept. 8th, 1907. Worship was presided by Rev. Henry Uphill and the first Church building was constructed in 1910. This group officially organized The Grand Fall’s Parish Council in 1911 and initially encompassed most areas between Botwood and Buchans as they became established communities, including the former Towns of then Grand Falls Station (later Windsor and now Grand Fall’s - Windsor) and Bishop’s Falls.

In 1922 Bishop’s Falls built St. Andrew’s Church as part of the Botwood Parish but switched to become affiliated with the Grand Fall’s Parish in 1940. The first recorded service at Grand Falls Station was held at the “Church of England Station Schoolhouse” on May 13th 1930. These Anglicans formally established St. Alban’s congregation in 1952 and built a small Church and School complex on then Church Rd. Windsor. The present St. Alban’s Church on Master’s Avenue was constructed during the years of 1961 and 1962 and was consecrated in 1974. It still remained a part of the Grand Fall’s Parish Council.

In 1979 The Grand Falls Parish Council entertained a motion to restructure into two separate units and with Synod’s

ANGLICAN PARISH WINDSOR - BISHOP’S FALLS: 30TH ANNIVERSARY 1970 - 2009: L-R: Rev.Roy & Daphne Martin; Rev.Canon David & Shirley Hewitt; Rev.Arnold Torraville; Area MHA’s Clayton Forsey and Ray Hunter; The Rev.Glenn and Shirley Small. Photo by Douglas Tucker.

approval, Holy Trinity at Grand Falls became a single point Parish. St. Alban’s at Windsor and St. Andrew’s at Bishop’s Falls became a twopoint Parish, namely; The Anglican Parish of Windsor- Bishop’s Falls. Our Clergy support since then included: The Rev’s Boyd Morgan 1979-1983, Charles Green 1983-1995, David Hewitt 1995-2001, Dennis Newhook 2001-2005, Charles Harris 2005-2009, Glenn Small 2009 - present and Roy Martin Assoc. 2009 -

Pilgrimage to ISRAEL & JORDAN April 27 – May 14, 2011 17 Days in Israel & Jordan (with optional Sinai excursion)

Discover the places of our spiritual story.Explore the history, cultures and wonder of this fascinating region.

Visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, the Galilee, Nazareth, Masada, Qumran, Petra, and so much more.

Land Package Airfare (St. John’s, NL) Land and Airfare

$3,780 $1,560 $5,340 All inclusive.

40 seats are available! Registration is OPEN! For more information & registration package contact Pilgrim Routes Travel Inc. pilgrimroutes@shaw.ca or The Rev. David Pilling, St. John’s, NL 709-753-1931 dpilling@nf.aibn.com

present. The Town’s of Grand Fall’s and Windsor amalgamated as Grand Falls - Windsor on Jan.1st 1991.

On Nov.16th, 2010 about 100 representatives of both congregations (St. Alban’s and St. Andrew’s) celebrated the Parish’s 30th Anniversary at St. Alban’s Church Hall with a Roast Beef Dinner prepared and served by the catering committee of Holy Trinity. The event was emceed by Rev.Roy Martin. Other Clergy in attendance were: Reverend

Randy Lockyear for the Grace and Greetings from Holy Trinity, Rev. Arnold Torraville brought Greetings from Rt.Rev. Bishop David Torraville and Synod Office.

The Rev. Canon David Hewitt was our guest speaker and thrilled us with some of his wittiness, and humoured us with happenings over time, both within this Parish and others. Our Rector The Rev. Glenn Small spoke of us as being an interesting Parish of connections and referenced a com-

parison to the Biblical phrase “The Land of Milk and Honey”. A Toast to the Parish was given by Margie Prince who overviewed some interesting Parish facts of time.

Greetings were brought by area MHA’s Ray Hunter and Clayton Forsey. The Anniversary Cake was cut by Synod representatives Harry Reid and Douglas Tucker. Thanks were offered by Patricia Rideout. A social mixing and music by Jody Hale concluded the evening.

OUR HISTORY

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December 2010

ANGLICANLife

Bishop Feild on the Labrador, 1849 David Davis

The Document This document is a few pages of a book from a series called: Church in the Colonies, No. 25, “Newfoundland. Journal of a Voyage of Visitation in the “Hawk” Church Ship, on the coast of Labrador, and round the whole of the island of Newfoundland, in the year 1849.” The book is in the rare book collection of Memorial University, a partial copy is in the collection of the Family History of Newfoundland and Labrador from which the extract in this article was taken. The author thanks The United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, London, England for permission to reproduce it.

In August 1849 Bishop Edward Feild was doing a visitation to the communities along the West Coast and onto what we call today the Labrador Straits (the settlements on the Labrador side of the Straits of Belle Isle).

This was part of his voyage around Newfoundland in the church ship Hawk. Sailing along the coast of Newfoundland with its long distances and few scattered settlements was a strenuous enterprise.

It was easier to do this work in the summer months but that was the height of the fishing season and ships were all dedicated to the fishery.

This is probably why when the Bishop left England, after his consecration, part of his kit for survival in Newfoundland was a church ship for transportation. The coast of Newfoundland was hard on ships used for this kind of work, a later missionary leader, Dr Wilfred Grenfell, used ships donated to him by wealthy supporters but the coast of Labrador took a heavy toll on them. Also, the operation, staffing and replacement were a heavy burden on the church.

Bishop Feild had come to Newfoundland in 1844 in the footsteps of Bishop Aubrey Spencer. Before their time, the Church of England in Newfoundland, especially the clergy, had been slow to develop with few young men wanting to come to Newfoundland and even fewer wanting to stay any length of time. At that time Newfoundland was part of the Diocese of Nova Scotia, containing the whole of what is today the Atlantic Provinces.

Bishop John Inglis of Nova Scotia was responsible

for Newfoundland and to the limits of his capacity he attempted to promote Newfoundland by making visitations to the coast of Newfoundland and during visits to England speaking about its needs, but the results were meagre. However, out of these efforts and others, it was agreed that Newfoundland should have its own bishop and the Rev Aubrey Spencer of Bermuda who had been in Newfoundland in 1819-2021 was to be the first bishop, consecrated in 1839. Bishop Spencer did not stay long in Newfoundland (four years) but he kick-started the recruitment of priests for Newfoundland which injected new life into the church. It was Bishop Field who had the firmness of purpose and the physical endurance to do the many things great and small needed to set the church on a long term course.

In this document, Bishop Feild is moving north along the west coast of Newfoundland toward the Labrador Straits. This is an area of scattered population and abundant fisheries. Bishop Feild was looking to a structure for the church in the area and people to staff it. He needs teachers as the do-all people in the area, to act as assistants to the priest he is going to plant there. This is a frontier area where people make up their own rules about marriage and other activities and Bishop Feild is going to introduce orthodox society in its place. He stops at the Newfoundland side of the border with Canada (Quebec) and investigates the area of Blanc Sablon, L’Anse Amour, Forteau and L’Anse à Loup to set up a mission.

Saturday, August 11th- Sailed from Forteau for Blanc Sablon about seven o’clock. The wind was a-head and light, and though we had the help of the tide, we did not arrive at out destination till three o’clock. Here I saw for the first time the end or one end of my Diocese. Here the government of Newfoundland is divided from that of Canada by a small stream, and that stream is the Rubicon, which I may not, and happily have no temptation to, pass. Brother Montreal has no reason to fear that I shall be forward to thrust my sickle into his harvest, or to “boast in another man’s line of things,” &c. My friends went on shore and called on the agent of Messrs De Quetteville,- a Mr Le Selleur, who received them kindly, and promised to prepare a store for the service tomorrow. I afterwards went on shore, and walked along the banks of the Rubicon, which it would not be difficult to ford if there were occasion.

Sunday, August 12th.- My friend, as usual, went on shore about half an hour before me, to prepare the room for divine service. The place assigned for the purpose was the upper loft of a store, very commodious and convenient. We found boards nicely arranged for seats: and a vestry had been set off in a corner of the room with flags, which answered its intended purpose exceedingly well. The only objectionable feature or circumstance was the approach to the room on the outside, by a ladder; but Mr LeSelleut had provided a new one, which was abundantly sufficient for persons accustomed to climb the sides of ships and vessels, as were the pastors and all the flocks on this occasion. The store is yet in course of construction, and if there had been any rain we should have felt it through the roof; but the day was happily quite fair and fine.

The service commenced at 11 o’clock, and the store was well attended: two women only, and they not connected with the merchant’s establishment. The senior chaplain gave notice of my intention of administering the Holy Sacrament. I afterwards explained to the people the purpose of my visit, and how it affected or concerned both the residents and visitors. Three young men came forward to communicate, connected with two of the vessels int the Harbour, from Jersey. They appeared very earnest and devout. Two Englishmen, who reside some sixty or sixty miles to the westward, but have come here for some salt herrings, spoke to me on the subject, but excused themselves on the ground of not having been confirmed. But more, I saw plainly, was meant or contained in their excuse than met the ear.

The afternoon service commenced at half-past three o’clock, and the attendance was quite as large as the morning, which I did not expect, as many of the Jersey men I know cannot understand the service in the English language; and I feared that, after their curiosity had gratified in the morning, they would have stayed away. I cannot, indeed, say that the persons were the same; but the number was as large, and the behavior was very decent, though I only saw one prayer-book in use. All the Jerseymen who attend church at home attend the French service, which alternates with English each Sunday (I believe) in every church in Jersey; and they bring their French prayer-books and Bibles. I saw one French prayer-book, printed at Guernsey, verbatim, I think, the same as ours. I very much regret that G– cannot read and preach in the French language. It would be very desirable to have service here in French. He must learn. I saw several headstones in their graveyard or burying place, on which the inscriptions were in French; and they always converse together in that language. On descending the ladder from the store, I found many of the people waiting below to take leave. Mr LeSelleur and some others accompanied us on board, and several visitors afterwards presented themselves. I then went in a boat to visit two families who had settled here, and in each of which I understood some of the children were ill, and the mothers thereby prevented from attending the services. The men are from Jersey, and sons of a person who built a good house, and made some money killing seals. The women are from Carbonear, together with a mother and two sisters of the Dumaresqs, and nine or ten nice little children. Their house is the best I have seen on the Labrador. The place is called L’Anse Cotard. The children would be an occasion of much interest and pleasure to a Clergyman, where such treasure are so rare, if properly brought up. We walked back to Blanc Sablon along the shore: the distance is under three miles, and the path is dry. One of our communicants, with the clerk, accompanied us. The clerk has been accustomed to baptize the few children in neighborhood D– had been married

by Messrs DeQuetteville......................Bradore is about four miles, or rather more from Blanc Sablon. Messrs de Quettevile’s establishment is the only one for trading, on the Labrador coast, till you reach Battle Harbour.

ANGLICANLife

December 2010

STRAIGHT TALK

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Tickle Trunk sermons The Rev. Greg Mercer

By ‘Tickle Trunk Sermons’ I mean children’s sermons, which for some time now has been fashionable in many churches. Every Sunday we (usually clergy) pull out of our tickle trunk some object or costume or trick in an effort to communicate to the children some meaningful lesson as related to the Gospel or theme for that Sunday. ‘Good luck,’ some would say.

There are generally two arguments against children‘s sermons. The first concern is of a linguistic nature. The children that come forward are usually no more than four,

five and six years old – absent are the fourth, fifth and sixth graders. The question is whether precious worship time should be used for the preaching of the gospel to children who do not yet comprehend that they are sinners (understood in the context of God’s love and Jesus death on the Cross). Hence, what happens is that the preaching, if one could call it that, is often degenerated into kiddiemoralisms or an exhortation to be good, to help your parents, be nice to other children, work hard in school, and that animals too have feelings.

The other argument is that children are too often used as props for the entertainment of the congregation; to get a laugh here and a laugh there, albeit at the expense of the child. Some professionals, especially those in the human sciences, would argue that this is an unfair and unjust use of a child and that such laughter can be damaging to

the child‘s welfare. So much for Art Linkletter‘s most popular program for 20 years, ‘Children say the darndest things.’

My first response to either of these arguments is to say, ‘what utter, utter nonsense.’ I realize, however, that my response is a defensive one since I am all in favour of children’s sermons.

Dare anyone accuse me of using a child as a prop! But with further reflection there is some truth to these concerns. How do we communicate the Gospel, which is rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to young children who have limited vocabularies? And, do they become props for the entertainment of the congregation? I guess they can.

What I do know is this.

We can’t help but to be amused by what children say.

And sometimes they will say and do things that will tickle our funny bone. Laugh we

will at times but we must guard against using children as props for that purpose.

Children’s sermons must be given as much attention as an adult sermon but obviously they are going to be preached and communicated differently. Creativity and good preparation is no less important for a children’s sermon as for an adult sermon, and should not be a final thought on a Sunday morning. Moreover, some preachers are good at it and others are not, but there are people in the congregation who are very good at working with children. And we must pull all the stops: creativity, objects, drama, and music – whatever it takes to communicate the Gospel for that Sunday. Telling the biblical story is by far the better approach. But it must be done well. Children’s sermons must be clear and to the point. Anyone who can hold the attention of a group of 5

and 6 year olds for anymore than two minutes is certainly gifted and very good indeed.

Moreover, the preacher/ teacher needs to be informal with the children – forget about the rubrics and engage them.

Finally, the message for children is a message for everyone. Quite often the adults will not remember one’s wonderful exposition of the Sunday lectionary but they will remember the story or the drama or the object you (clergy/lay) pulled and demonstrated for the kids. As it is for any part of the liturgy, if you do a children’s sermon, do it as best you can.

Now how would I go about demonstrating Mary riding on the back of a donkey? I can’t pull a donkey out of a tickle trunk. By George I got it! I will....

will make available a form to gather all applicable data to be used in genealogical searches. The more information the archivist has the more likely the search will be successful. These forms also indicate the charges that are necessary to fund, in part, the activities of the Archive.

As I have mentioned in my last article about the Archive I would encourage every parish in the strongest terms to begin their own archive. It does not have to be big. It can be in one filing cabinet that is secure and safe from pests, water infiltration and other damage. Each parish should have a small archive committee that would coordinate the beginning and the continuing work of the archive. For when a parish

commits to begin an archive then the collective memory of our Church is enhanced and preserved. Please contact me if you need help help.

In my next article I hope to highlight some of our holdings and will include a picture or two for identification.

What is an Archive?

Article submitted by Peter Chalker Honorary Archivist Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador 19 King’s Bridge Road St. John’s, NL A1C 3K4 Phone: 576-6697 Fax: 576-7122 E-mail: archives@anglicanenl.net

The Archive of The Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador (DENLA) is a repository of the Church’s memory in Newfoundland and Labrador. That memory is comprised of church records of various types from baptisms, weddings and funerals. It contains many vestry books in which clergy recorded Sunday services, spe-

cial services and the festivals of the church’s calendar. It also includes gifts of textual material donated by parishioners and the public at large.

The Archive contains many photographs taken over the years of The Church’s and parish’s activities. All of this material is preserved to enhance our collective memory.

This memory in many instances is very fragile. That is why the public who wish to gaze upon that memory must make an appointment to do so. The Archive is a type of library. It is not a borrowing library. All records must remain in the archive and only very special circumstances would permit a loan to a parish. However, the records are there to be

viewed and to refresh and energize our memories of the past.

Our records are there for legitimate researchers to use to gather data for their particular investigations. Those investigations include looking for our ancestors. The Archive gets numerous requests for baptism, marriage and death certificates. The archivist usually does that type of search. However, we provide a very limited amount of space for researchers who wish to consult our records.

All requests for information from our records require forms to be filled so that the Archive can keep track of the type of use our archive is getting. When a person calls for information the archivist

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LET US PRAY

December 2010

ANGLICANLife

Praying with the Carmelites The Rev’d Everett Hobbs

The Order of Carmel is a religious community originally associated with Mount Carmel, which as a spiritual site goes back to Elijah. It is a contemplative order, which means its members live a life of prayer. Among its saints are John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila and Therese of Lisieux.

For the Carmelites, prayer is primarily a relationship with God. Teresa describes prayer as “nothing more than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be with God who we know love us.” For John it is a deepening relationship between Lover and the beloved.

Therese relates to God as a trustful child to a loving father.

Consequently, they focus on what makes up a true relationship with God, which are a humble knowledge of yourself; authentic living;

exposure to the reality of a We just need to come often. speaking must sometimes self-surrendering God; and We don’t need special lan- give way to listening. Being with God, sharing, contemplation of loving and being his presence within loved are some eleus. Teresa insists ments of Carmelite that the prerequiprayer. sites for a serious True prayer is also life of prayer are revealing.

It reveals love of others, demore clearly both tachment on all levGod and self.

God els, and humble wants a relationship self-knowledge. with the real you and In prayer we you need a relationshould look for the ship with the real God. same personal conGenuine prayer retact with our Lord as veals the false self and his disciples had uncovers the true self. during his life on So self-knowledge is earth. Represent essential. This in turn the Lord as clear to will give us a clearer you and remain picture of God. Our with this good image of God can be friend as long as distorted, immature you can. You will and self-serving. find him everyIn prayer we need where. We are simsimply to pay attenply to be with God, tion to the immediate present to him.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, in the presence of God. It is We come to Carmelite Brown Scapular, 1895. more than thinking God as we are: come about God and with sorrow, come with joy. There is no correct guage in talking to Go but just imaging: it is simply looking pose, no required attitude. be natural. However, the at him in love and faith. It is

A WHOLE NEW REVIEW Chasing Francis - A Pilgrim’s Tale Reviewed by The Rev. Dr. Wayne Short St. Mark’s Parish St. John’s, NL

Chasing Francis is a delightful book written by Ian Morgan Cron. Cron a pastor himself writes about a founding pastor’s faith struggle through the lens of an unlikely pilgrimage. Pastor Chase Falson becomes undone after a tragic death of a 9-year-old child he knew from birth. After a series of inappropriate actions Chase is required to take a sabbatical to get things together and for his church to reflect on what they need to do. Chase with the help of a friend/therapist seeks advise from an unlike source an Uncle who is a Franciscan Priest living in Italy.

His journey to Italy becomes a pilgrimage, but

also an introduction into the teachings of St. Francis. It is not an easy journey for him but one that gradually draws him into a discovery of his ancient faith. Cron skillfully weaves together the realities of church life and leadership when the passion dies. He gives an honest portrayal of modern life and a culture yearning for a deeper connection. He finds renewal in the writing of St. Francis, in liturgy and community. In this book we have some of the gems of St. Francis working their mystical and healing charm on him.

Chase, like most of us at times, discovers the growth comes through struggle, uncertainty, transition and openness to new possibilities. The ancient spiritual discipline of pilgrimage is literally making a journey in search of meaning and greater spiritual connec-

tions. Sometimes the journey may not involve travel, but rather an interior journey. Chasing Francis does indicate that a guide would be most helpful. This book comes with a study guide making it an excellent choice for book club or study group.

Chasing Francis is available at the Diocesan Resource Centre located on 19 King’s Bridge Road, St. John’s.

Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale

by Ian Morgan Cron ISBN 1576838129 Ian Morgan Cron Navpress, 2006

not to think much but to love much. We gaze at God who is gazing at us.

We will find distractions and dryness in our prayer life. Keep going. Dryness comes and goes. Don’t measure the value of prayer just by the delight and satisfaction it sometimes gives.

We deal with distractions with patience and persistence. As we keep praying we become more united with God. Two accessible writers on Carmelite spirituality are Ruth Burrows and Eugene McCaffrey.

More at www.carmelite.org.uk/ Prayer

ANGLICANLife

December 2010

15

COLUMNIST

The Ten Virgins The Rev. Michael Li

May I share with the readers of Anglican Life the summary of one of my sermons preached in 1978.

A parable is not an actual story. It is a story that seeks to drive home a point the speaker wishes to emphasize by telling a familiar situation of common life. The parables of Jesus are stories that are true to life. Jesus tells us the parable of the ten virgins who are invited to a marriage feast (Matthew 25:1-13).

The bridegroom accompanied by his friends has gone to meet the bride and to

bring her back in procession to his parents’ house where the marriage feast is held.

The bridegroom represents Jesus and the ten virgins the church (the genuine and the nominal members).

These ten virgins possess many characteristics in common. They are all virgins.

They all have lamps. They both know that they are going to meet the wedding procession. They do not know the exact hour of the bridegroom’s coming. They all expect to enjoy the marriage feast when the bridegroom comes. They all fall asleep while they are waiting for his return.

But here their likeness ends. The wise virgins have extra oil to use, while the foolish virgins have no reserve supply of oil for their lamps. This means that the foolish virgins cannot keep their lamps going right

through to the end.

At the announcement of the bridegroom’s sudden coming, the foolish virgins ask the wise virgins for some oil but are refused. This refusal has a special point.

When Jesus comes at the end

of the age, there can be no transfer of spiritual reserves or merit. Relationship with God, Christ-like character,

faith, obedience, holiness, humility, prayer and service cannot be transferred. The outcome of this difference between the two groups is that the five wise virgins go into the marriage feast, and the five foolish virgins find the door shut in their faces.

But we must not draw the conclusion from this parable that only half of the human race will be saved.

The parable states the uncertainty of the time of the Second Coming of Jesus and recommends constant alertness. We know Jesus will return in the future. We must be ready for Him at any moment.

In our earthly pilgrimage, we must watch against everything which might interfere with a readiness for Jesus’ return. We must watch against false doctrine and

unbelief, legalism and ceremonialism, pride and selfrighteousness, and watch against indulgence and neglect.

We know Jesus is coming again. Our present situation can be summed up in two words as “not yet”. This “not yet” calls for patience and endurance. The signs of the Second Coming of Jesus will not necessary be something unusual and spectacular.

We must continue to proclaim the Gospel, both in words and deeds, to warn people against unbelief.

While we are waiting for the Second Coming of Jesus, I urge you to be “ready”; I urge you to be “awake”; and I urge you to “watch”.

Happy Holidays! Bah! Ronald Clarke

Have you ever noticed what the commercial boys are trying to do with Christmas? Is there a definite plot to take Christ entirely out of Christmas?

Let’s start with Christmas cards.

Traditionally, Christmas cards were all about Christ, his birthday. So, typically, we had on the cover scenes of the

baby Jesus in the manger, with angels and shepherds, then the magi, to inspire our devotion to the baby king.

Inside the greeting was all about the holy season: “Peace on earth, goodwill to men” was the entire theme. Everybody understood that “men” meant “people”, not just males. “Merry Christmas”, “Blessed Christmas”, and “holy season” was all the emphasis.

There were of course, some Santa and snow scenes, but, primarily, Christmas was CHRIST-MAS, a celebration of the birth of the son of God. Today???? It’s “Happy Holidays”, “Greetings of the season”, and so on with little or no reference to Jesus. So, Christ’s birthday is

only a “season”!

Am I looking in the wrong places, or not, for I find each year it gets harder to find cards with any religious content.

Traditionally, too, Christmas started on Christmas Eve, and lasted for twelve religious and festive days.

A short, but truly special, family time.

Today, the “season” begins earlier and earlier each year, as the stores and malls decorate inside and out, with Santa’s bells, lights et al.

Sound systems continuously blare “Here comes Santa Claus”, “White or Blue Christmas”, “Winter Wonderland”, and the like. Maybe, for a day or so, when we are all thoroughly sick of the noisy racket, we might have a religious carol or so.

Santa and the almighty

dollar are kings! The Magi brought gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to the baby Jesus.

Our generation brings commer-

cial “Stuff” that we don’t really need, that, often times we don’t even want, to the people who have too much already.

Boxing Day (used to be St. Stephen’s Day) becomes a frenzied time of returning all the “junk” we got, and

frantically grabbing more “junk” at bargain prices.

Half-off, of course, really means that the stores still make a tidy profit.

Can Jesus Christ be very pleased with all this? Virtually everyone, it seems, gets so excited about his birthday; but all that’s in it for him is an hour or two of worship on Christmas Eve! Do we, his followers, have to be hopelessly swept up in all the worldliness this Christmas?

Can’t we do the right things this year?

Sure; we can have some Santa for our children, but we must make them all aware that Christmas is really CHRIST-MAS, a celebration of HIS birthday. So, we take them to church, sing carols with them, read the Christmas story to them and give them good gifts.

This Christmas let’s be good examples to others!

Let’s not get swept away in the commercial tide. Let’s find and send cards that say, “Have a blessed Christmas”.

16

December 2010

ANGLICANLife

You hLife

youth ministry in newfoundland & labrador

Catalina youth honoured

Mae and Steven Joudry from The Samaritan’s Purse present Victoria White with a Billy Graham Bible.

Father and son confirmed

On Sept. 12, 2010, St. Mark’s Anglican Church was the scene of a beautiful service as Paul Abbott and his son Joshua were confirmed. Even though Joshua has cerebral palsy, he is a huge part of this congregation. The large congregation of family and friends were touched as Joshua, along with his Dad, repeated the words of Bishop David. Bishop David himself was so moved by Joshua, that instead of his usual sermon, he referred to Joshua as being “the Gospel” and spoke around that. At the end of the confirmation, Paul and Joshua were presented with Bibles by Rev. Jim. A pot luck supper followed at the fire hall in Princeton. Pictured in photo: Bishop David, Colleen Abbott (Joshua’s Mom and Lay Minister), Paul Abbott, Rita Pollard (Rev. Jim’s wife), Rev. Jim Pollard, Joshua Abbott and Camryn Baker (Joshua’s cousin).Photo submitted by Colleen Abbott.

On September 21, 2010, Catalina, Bonavista and surrounding areas were hit with hurricane Igor. Over the past month or so Samaritan’s Purse and Christian Reform groups have been in our area helping people get their lives back to normal. St. Peter’s Church Hall was set up as their command center.

During our 11:00 a.m. Church Service held at St. Peter’s on October 17th, members from the Samaritan’s Purse had high praise and recognized 16 year old Victoria White as an inspiration to their work. Ever since the storm hit Victoria has been at the Church Hall after school helping out in any way that she could. Congratulations Victoria... You truly are an inspiration to all youth. Submitted by Glenn Freake.

Servers’ Event at Killdevil

On October 2nd and 3rd, the Deer Lake Deanery held its annual Servers Event at Killdevil Camp and Conference Center in beautiful Gros Morne National Park. This year we were pleased to invite and share this time with Servers from the Humber Deanery. 35 Servers and 15 adults (Lay and Clergy) descended upon the camp on Friday evening for a time of friendship, fellowship, food and fun. The theme for our event was “The Winds of God” which permeated our worship, Bible Studies and activities, as our craft-time was the making of kites. A great time was had by all and we give thanks to God for blessing us all with this time with Him and each other. Submitted by The Rev. Canon John D. Meade.