Anglican Life January 2009

ANGLICANLife

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January 2009

ANGLICANLife January 2009

in NEWFOUNDLAND

&

LABRADOR

A Section of the ANGLICANJOURNAL

“I was in prison...

...and you came to Me.”

Photo by: John Paul Westin

Sometimes, in the great confusion of our lives, Christians can find themselves wondering if they are really doing what the Lord wants. It is a wonderful thing when we have certainty about what God is calling us to do. One thing Jesus was very clear about was prison ministry!

Our Lord talked about preaching liberty to the captives in His very first sermon (Luke 4:17-19) and He spoke about visiting in prison in one of His last (Matthew 25:3146). Prisoners were clearly on the Lord’s mind and He wanted them to be on His disciples’ minds as well. I am happy to report to you that Jesus’ present day disciples, in our province, are very active doing work that was and is so

important to Him. So what work do we do among prisoners as an Anglican church? First of all, we don’t do it as a church, but as part of The Church, the whole Body of Christ in our province.

Our ministry is in an ecumenical setting. We work together with four other denominational chaplains (Pentecostal, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army and United) and a very helpful staff provided by HMP, as part of a Pastoral Care Committee. We meet monthly to plan strategic ministry that offers a breadth and depth that no one denomination alone could offer. We also act as contacts for those inmates from churches other than our own.

When I was appointed as Diocesan Chaplain to Her Maj-

esty’s Penitentiary in 2001, taking over for the much-loved Father Charles Abraham, I found there was already a devoted group of volunteers that had been working inside the prison walls for many years.

The chaplain is only the tip of an iceberg of Anglican volunteers and ministry that goes deep into our province. Together we have approximately 20 regular lay and ordained ministers who work inside and many more who work outside HMP. Inside we offer the good news of liberty in Jesus Christ through Christian teaching and through building relationships between inmates and volunteers. We have a weekly Bible Study and a weekly Prison Alpha. Sunday worship serv-

ices are held twice a month (Communion and Praise & Worship). Our volunteers are involved in One-on-One meetings with inmates, and while most are connected with St. Thomas’ Church, we have volunteers from a number of different parishes in the Avalon area.

We distributed Christian literature and crosses to the inmates (and sometimes their family members). Concerts of Praise for inmates are arranged in the gymnasium, six times a year (including one that was recorded in May and broadcast by CBC Radio this past October). With the other churches we organize staff appreciation luncheons for the staff twice a year. These are catered by various churches

chaplain’s corner The Rev. John Paul Westin Diocesan Chaplain to Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

and are deeply appreciated by the staff. We are, after all, there for staff and inmates alike!

When Jesus was teaching what the kingdom of heaven would be like he spoke of how when the Son of Man will judge the nations He will be thinking See: Prison Ministry page 15

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

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ANGLICANLife

January 2009

News From Parish Bulletins and Elsewhere News from the Diocese of Western Newfoundland: The Rt. Rev. Percy D. Coffin, Bishop of the Diocese of Western Newfoundland, announces the following resignations and appointments: The Rev. John HounsellDrover resigned from the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Corner Brook, to accept appointment to the Chaplaincy Services of the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Rev. Edmund Laldin resigned from the Parish of Stephenville and was appointed Priest in Charge of the Parish of Pasadena/Cormack, effective September 15th, 2008 The Rev. Karen Laldin resigned from the Parish of Stephenville Crossing and the Parish of Bay St. George and was appointed Priest in Charge of the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Corner Brook, effective October 15th, 2008.

The Rev. Marilyn Moore resigned from the Parish of Bonne Bay South to take up a new appointment in the Parish of Spaniard’s Bay in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, effective October 1st, 2008.

The Rev. Peter Boote, formerly of the Diocese of Saskatchewan, has been appointed Priest in Charge of the Parish of Grand Bay, effective November 1st, 2008.

The Rev. Gwendolyn Butler has been appointed Priest in Charge, pro-tem, of the Parish of Stephenville Crossing, effective October 8th, 2008.

The Rev. Clayton Billard

has been appointed Priest in Charge, pro-tem, of the Parish of St. James, Channel, effective October 13th, 2008.

The Rev. Charlene Laing has been appointed Deacon in Charge of the Parish of Bonne Bay South, effective November 1st, 2008.

The Rev. Dawn Barrett, formerly of the Diocese of the Diocese of Rochester, U.S.A., has been appointed Priest in Charge of the Parish of St. Augustine, Stephenville, effective December 15th, 2008.

The Rev. Canon Duncan Granter has been appointed Regional Dean of the Deanery of Bay St. George, effective September 1st, 2008.

The Rev. Canon Roberta Woodman has fulfilled the requirements of the six month probationary period for the position of Congregational Development/Stewardship Education Coordinator for the Diocese of Western Newfoundland and has been confirmed in the position for an initial three year term effective, April 1st, 2008.

Covenants in Ministry have been instituted and signed in the Parishes of White Bay, Seal Cove, Rose Blanche, Plum Point, and Pistolet Bay and the Rev. Hannah Dicks, the Rev. Jason Haggstrom, the Rev. Andrew Nussey, the Rev. Kristen Gosse, and the Rev. Bruce Graham have been inducted as Rector of the respective parishes. All parishes that have new appointments will undergo the process of Covenant in Ministry before proceeding with the Induction of a Rector.

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News from the Diocese of Central Newfoundland: The Rev. Jerry Colbourne rector pro-tem Parish of Lewisporte effective October 15th.

The Rev. Joan Antle rector pro-tem Parish of Buchans effective November 5th.

The Rev. Margaret Hall rector pro-tem Parish of Indian Bay effective December 1st.

News from the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador: Bishop Cyrus Pitman is pleased to make the following appointments: Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes will assume the position of Executive Officer as she continues in her role as Administrative Assistant to the Bishop.

The Rev. Sandra Tilley has been appointed Diocesan Archdeacon responsible for Ministry Development. Sandra will begin her new position at Synod Office on January 1, 2009. Further details on this new ministry will be communicated in January.

The Ven. Geoff Peddle will be responsible for Discernment and Continuing Education, in addition to his new role at the Parish of the Good Shepherd, effective January 1, 2009.

The Rev. Gerald Westcott has been appointed Territorial Archdeacon for Trinity & Conception, effective immediately.

The Rev. Mark Nichols has been appointed Priest in Charge of the Parish of St. Peter, Upper Gullies, effective May 1, 2009.

The Rev. Brian Burrows has been appointed Mission Priest to work with the Moravian Church in Hopedale, Labrador, effective immediately.

News from Parish Bulletins submitted to Anglican Life: Parish Anniversary. Today we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the birth of this parish. It was on Advent Sunday in 1993 that the congregations of All Saints and St. Mary’s became the Parish of Fortune-Lamaline. There were many nay-sayers in 1993 who said the parish would have a very short life span. So far we have proved them wrong. We give God thanks today for all we have accomplished in the past fifteen years and pray that we may continue to be a strong parish in the Diocese of Central Newfoundland. (Parish of Fortune-Lamaline) Annual Parish/Family Day for (Moms, Dads, children, Grandparents, single folks, EVERYONE) will take place on Saturday, November 29th beginning with a breakfast at 9:30 a.m. followed with Advent Wreath making at 10:30 a.m. There is no charge but donations will be greatly appreciated to help defray the cost.

The event is hosted by St. Augustine’s Education Committee. (Parish of St. Augustine’s, Stephenville) While most of us experience the full joy of Christmas,

some of us deal with memoirs that are not so joyous. The Grief and Loss Committee of the Church of the Good Shepherd invite you to share in honouring our life’s losses at their 4th Annual Blue Christmas Worship Service at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Richard Nolen Drive, Mt. Pearl at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 7 th (Parish of the Good Shepherd, Mount Pearl) Our Sunday Schools have decided to fill a stable for our Christmas Project. We want to raise funds to purchase piglets, hens, roosters, sheep, etc. through World Vision to help improve the lives of families in need in places like Uganda, India, and South America..

Each Sunday the children will pass a small container through the congregation to collect any loose change you may have to donate to our project. The children will continue collecting change at our Sunday Morning services until Christmas.

We have collected over $430.00 so far! (Parish of Labrador West) Rector’s Recommendation: “Audacious Anglicans”, a book by one of our guest preachers (Bobby Moore) a few years ago, is now available to purchase. The book is about heroes of the Anglican Communion – men and women whose faith and vision challenged the establishments of their day. When Bobby was here, he showed me a couple of chapters of this book, and I can assure you it is well worth the read. (Parish of St. Augustine’s, St. John’s) See: Bulletins page 11

Do you want to see news items from your parish included here?

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Then send along your parish news to the Editor-in-Chief via email:

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January 2009

Taking care of God`s business Western Diocese reports on stewardship plan Submitted by the Rev’d Canon Roberta Woodman Coordinator for Congregational Development/ Stewardship Education Diocese of Western Newfoundland

In June 2005, the Diocese of Western Newfoundland made a proposal to the National Church to be one of a small number of dioceses to be selected to participate in a stewardship initiative called Letting Down the Nets. This initiative proposed a way of finding the resources and tools to do the work that God calls us to do together. The Diocesan proposal, Draw Your Church Together, O Lord was presented to Canon Geoff Jackson during a consultation in Corner Brook.

Later in the Fall, it was announced that the Diocese had been selected as one of six dioceses in Canada to participate in this initiative in partnership with theAnglican Church of Canada.

Prior to the conclusion of planning for the implementation of the initiative, there was a feeling that the initiative should be more mission-based. As a result two consultants from the National Office, Canon Geoff Jackson and the Rev. Rob Waller visited the Diocese to carry out a series of thirty-two interviews and one focus group throughout the Diocese.

From the information gathered in these consultations, in October 2007, they presented a proposal to the Diocese that we enter into a partnership with the National Church to participate in a Deanery based Congregational Development/Stewardship Education initiative, to be known as Taking Care of God’s Business. Subsequently this proposal was discussed with the Regional Deans and presented to Synod Executive for approval. The proposal

called for the appointment of a Task Group by the Bishop, to oversee the development, organization and implementation of the Initiative. The Task Group would include a Chair, Deputy Chair, two representatives from each Deanery, one lay and one ordained, with the Bishop, Archdeacon and Congregational Development/Stewardship/Program coordinator being ex-officio members.

In January 2008, the Bishop appointed the Chair and Deputy Chair, and both were involved in the process of hiring the coordinator the Rev. Canon Roberta Woodman.

On February 25-26, the Chair and Deputy Chair attended the opening of the Clergy conference in Grand Falls/Windsor, where C a n o n G e o f f Jackson was also present for an Orientation session, in which he outlined the purpose of the Initiative and provided an outline of the process. Following this session, the Working Group Bishop, Archdeacon, Coordinator and Chairs met and selected the lay and clergy representatives from the names submitted by the Regional Deans.

Representatives from each Deanery were appointed as follows: Bay St. George Deanery: The Rev. Andrew Nussey & Mr. Doug Fowlow.

Humber Deanery: The Very Rev. Michael Rice & Mr. Larry Renouf.

Deer Lake Deanery: The

Rev. Hannah Dicks & Mr. Glenn Granter.

St. Barbe Deanery: The Rev. Kristen Gosse & Ms. Fran Gros.

The first meeting of the Taking Care of God’s Business Task Group, together with the Regional Deans was held on April 22 at the Synod office. This was an opportunity for the Task Group to get to know each other and to outline the proposed process we were about to undertake.

On May 22, the Task Group met for an Orientation and Training Day led by Canon Geoff Jackson with the assistance of the Rev. Rob Waller. The Training Day was followed the next morning by a short meeting of the Task Group to review the training and prepare the Covenant in Ministry which was signed at the close of Synod. At present, a Communication Task Force has been established. Two others are in the process of being formed: a Lay Leadership Task Force and Congregational Development Task Force.

The Covenant in Ministry process continues to be an exciting ministry in the Diocese.

Five parishes have entered into a Covenant in Ministry having worked with their new clergy and bishop in the process of identifying who they are, the gifts and resources available and the needs or challenges facing them.

The bishop, priest and laity, affirm, covenant and commit to working together for the build-

ing up of the Body of Christ.

The Covenant is read and signed at the Celebration of New Ministry in which the clergy is installed as rector.

Following this process, a strategic plan is to be developed giving life to the Covenant.

Since the signing of their Covenants, two parishes have had parish healing missions and music workshops.

Other parishes in the Diocese are working on strategic planning, congregational development, youth ministry and stewardship education. The four city parishes are visioning and planning for ministry building upon their current joint ministries.

Since the Initiative was birthed on April 1, 2008, seventeen of the thirty-two parishes have been involved in particular ways. Plans have been made and implemented for deanery based Pastoral Visitor Training. In January 2009, the Rev’d Edward Dallow, from Ontario, will train the trainers for Welcoming and Integrating workshops which are to be carried out throughout the spring.

The whole process of this initiative is to teach, preach and enable all to understand and better use the gifts entrusted to us for the building up of the Body of Christ. We are called to be stewards of creation and that includes taking care of each other and all that God has entrusted to us.

In an environment where it is easy to focus on the negative, including out-migration, sickness, employment issues, few young people in rural areas, etc., we are turning to Christ our Lord and envisioning the future with a positive attitude, hope and joy in sharing our faith and building up the Kingdom of God.

Silent auction a huge success Submitted by Sylvia Hann

On November 14, 2008, St. Ambrose Church held their Annual Silent Auction and Entertainment at the Community Hall in Benoit’s Cove. With almost 200 items up for bids, the Annual Auction was a huge success.

A large crowd turned out early in the evening hoping to be the winning bidders on their items of choice. The bidding started at 7:00 pm and continued until 9:00 pm.

Throughout the evening, live entertainment was provided

by Rev. Nellie Thomas and Marie Park which made for a great time. There was also tea, coffe and desserts available for those in attendance.

Rev. Thomas also had the privilege of announcing the winners of the items at the end of the evening. When all was said and done, approximately $7000 was raised for St. Ambrose Church.

The Silent Auction was a tremdous success and provided a great evening of fellowship for members of the community. St. Ambrose church would like to send a big thank you to all the individuals and businesses who helped gave donations and volunteered their time to make this event possible. A special thank you is also extended to Jody Davis who organized and collected all the items for the Auction. St. Ambrose Church is looking forward to seeing you all again next year at their Annual Auction.

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ANGLICANLife

ANGLICANLife in NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

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

Ministry at the margins It seems that, despite our best efforts, the church struggles to minister to those who live at the margins of society.

Visiting a prison or serving at a local food bank are not top priorities for many Christians.

Many seem content to put a few extra dollars in the collection plate so that others can get their hands dirty.

But is giving money the answer? What about spending some time out of the pew and into the dirt and filth that comes with helping the broken and the marginalized? Can a person really understand how to help the outcast if they do not know where they live or how they struggle to survive?

Is it possible to help those involved in drugs and prostitution when we tend to think that it only happens in big cities and not in our own backyards?

In His ministry, Jesus was not afraid to go where respectable church people would not venture. His giving of Himself fully and completely to the poor, the sick, and the helpless resulted in huge demands placed on Him. Christ saw the need and healed it immediately.

He did not strike a committee

or working group to decide how best to help people – He just did it!

In our comfortableness, we lose sight of who really is important to Christ. We try to justify ourselves by giving a little bit here and there, but really we are not that interested.

We tend to think that someone is out to scam us and take away our hard earned money.

That bum on the street begging for change or the local town drunk end up being treated not as human beings, but as jokes we tell our friends.

Music artist Moby once said, “What would happen if Christ walked into a church and had long hair and smelled like a homeless person and said, ‘Listen everybody, I want you all to quit your jobs, renounce your worldly goods and give away everything you have, and come and walk around with me?’ I don’t think he’d get very far. People would look at him and say, ‘This is not the form of God we’re used to!’”

Indeed, we have a pretty sanitized view of Jesus Christ.

We tend to form Him into our own image, instead of letting

January 2009

editor ial editorial The Rev. Sam Rose

Him form us into His. So when He asks us to follow Him, where do you think He goes?

Where do you think He wants us to go?

Perhaps a better way to understand ministry at the margins to ask: Do I know a homeless person? Have I met a drug addict? Do I know a prostitute? Do I know a person who uses a food bank?

Have I met a man who steals?

Do I know a murderer? Do I know a person dying from AIDS? Have I met a person suffering from a painful divorce?

Chances are if we do not know any (and many others) listed above, we won’t fully understand how Christ wants us to help them.

However, if we take a good hard look, we may be surprised who actually may be one of the “least of these, our brothers and sisters.”

Changes to Anglican Life Submissions: Please Send All Articles and Photographs to: The Rev’d Sam Rose

via email: samrose@nl.rogers.com

or postal mail: 45 Tildacane Place, CBS, NL, A1X 3C7

Make sure that your photographs are properly labelled with the name of the event, people, and the photographer. Due to space limitations, Anglican Life does not publish all photos submitted. All submissions (articles and columns) are subject to editing at the discretion of the Editor.

New Editor appointed for Anglican Life Submitted by Bishop Donald Young Joint Committee Officer

The Anglican Life Management Committee & the Tri Diocesan Joint Committee wish to announce the appointment of the Rev’d Samuel Rose as Editor of Anglican Life in Newfoundland & Labrador effective January 1, 2009. The appointment is for a three year period with the option to continue for an additional three years. After either of these terms and on a rotating basis, the editorship will be offered to applicants from the other two dioceses in Newfoundland & Labrador.

While acknowledging the contribution of the present editors and after a thorough review by the Joint Committee Executive of the previous eighteen papers published, the

decision was made to have just one editor for Anglican Life.

The Executive, in reviewing the editorship and making its recommendations, looked at the overall editorial content and the editorship contributions to the paper in respect to editorials written, photos and stories submitted. In reviewing these aspects of the editorship, it was determined that many of the photos and stories submitted came directly from parish reporters.

The Executive were genuinely surprised and encouraged at the number of parish reporters in place throughout the three Dioceses in Newfoundland & Labrador who send regular contributions to the paper. The new editor has been asked to contact and encourage these parish reporters in continuing their excellent work

(and contribution to the paper).

With the resignation of the previous editor in chief, Mr. Rose since 1 September 2008, has filled the duel role of Associate Editor for the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador and has filled the position of editor in chief on a pro tem basis. He has been the Associate Editor for the Diocese of Newfoundland & Labrador for the past two years.

Sam was ordained in 2000 and has served in parishes in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador and the Diocese of Central Newfoundland. He currently serves as the Mission Priest in the Parish of St. Michael & All Angels in St. John’s, NL. He resides in Conception Bay South with his wife Jill and children Amy and Samuel.

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January 2009

News from the Parish of St. John the Evangelist

Busy times for Chance Cove ACW group Submitted by Carol Smith

Photo by: Rod Baker Members of the Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Conception Bay South: (l to r): Lois Baker, Robert Dawe, Archdeacon John Dinn (Rector), Jeffrey Petten, and Paul Trickett.

Submitted by Lois Baker

Ministry to the Council of the North: As a part of our Thanksgiving service, many parishioners brought vegetables and baked goods and presented them on the altar. These goods were then used on Wednesday, October 15th to prepare a meal. Money raised from the dinner brought in $2000, which we donated to the Ministry of the Council of the North.

Men’s Club: On October 26th, our Men’s Service Association invited men from the Diocesan Anglican Men’s Association (DAMA) to a supper at our church. Ninety men came for the fellowship meal and a service of evening prayer.

Remembrance Day Service: On Sunday, 9 November, a special service of Remembrance took place at the 10:30 a.m. service. A colour guard and other members of the Canadian Legion participated in the service. A bugler, Charles Bishop, played “The Last Post” and “Reveille”. A bagpiper, George Moore, led a procession to the cemetery to lay a special cross of poppies on a veteran’s grave.

Fall Fair: On Tuesday, November 11th, we held our Annual Fall Fair. There were sales of baked goods, crafts, a soup and sandwich lunch and a Fish ‘n Brewis Supper followed by a card game in the evening. We were able to raise over $14,000 for God’s work in our parish.

The Anglican Church Women (ACW) of Chance Cove, Trinity Bay have been very busy during 2008. We held a Valentine’s Party. On St. Patrick’s Day, we hosted a Turkey Dinner with our Assistant priest, the Rev’d Moses Tucker and his wife Stephanie, as our special guests. Many thanks go to Shelia Fahey who cooked the excellent turkey dinner.

On “Chance Cove Day,” the ACW had a booth and had a wonderful time. Many thanks go to our community who supported us. We also had a Bake Sale as a fundraiser to help for one of our church members who is having a bad medical difficulty.

We catered to three weddings during the year.

We held a Halloween Party with song and praise and followed by a lunch and fun time. A Mitten Tree was placed in the church in which all the women were knitting items to place upon it. The Tree is getting filled already!

Our Shoeboxes went over very well also. A box for Curby Place was also placed in the church and is filling up quickly.

Photo by: Carol Smith

Stephanie Tucker (left) and her husband the Rev’d Moses Tucker (centre) enjoy a special St. Patrick’s Day Dinner hosted by the ACW in Chance Cove.

We had a Thanksgiving Dinner which was a great success.

A lady in our ACW, Mrs. Hazel Ray, knit 60 Teddy Bears to be given to less fortunate children. Thank you to all our ACW members for doing all you are doing. We have the best ACW workers!

Our next big event is our Breakfast with Santa. This event is getting bigger each year. Children and parents attended and all the children were given a gift. In December we held a Secret Sister Turkey Dinner and gifts were

exchanged. The ACW will also be giving each senior a gift – last year it was a Christmas loaf.

Many thanks to our community for your support and a big thank you to all our members. Keep busy and serve the Lord.

New priest for White Bay parish

Grand Bay welcomes new Rector

The Rev’d Hannah Dicks (left) is installed as the new Rector of the Parish of White Bay by Bishop Percy Coffin (right).

Photo by: Eileen Keeping

LeDrew Lumber Company Ltd. Kelligrews, C.B.S. Newfoundland St. Paul’s congregation of Grand Bay welcomed their new Rector, Rev. Peter Boote, with a brunch after the morning services.

Photo by: Wyonetta Pittman

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ANGLICANLife

January 2009

The Parish of St. Philip has a new rector

Photo by: Wendy Decker First Row: Canon Bert Cheeseman, Bishop’s Chaplain; Bishop Pitman, Rev. Ed Keeping, Server, Alyxandra King, Preacher, Rev. Iliffe Sheppard, Crucifer Sara Squires, Server, Nicholas Mercer.

Second Row & Third Row, Visiting Clergy Submitted by Moses G. Tucker

The Reverend Edward B. Keeping is the new Rector in the Parish of St. Philip, at St. Philip’s, Conception Bay, NL. He began tenure in this new position during the first week in September 2008. He comes after serving as Hospital Chaplain in St. John’s for the last four years. He stated

that recently he had “felt a calling to return to parish life for the continued building-up of God’s Kingdom here on earth”. Rev. Keeping accepted this calling when Bishop Cyrus Pitman appointed him as our new Rector at St. Philip’s Parish.

On Sunday 2 November 2008 (All Souls Day), a special service was held at St.

Philip’s. Bishop Pitman officiated at the Celebration of New Ministry during the “Service of Induction and Holy Eucharist”. Canon Bert Cheeseman was the Bishop’s Chaplain for the service. The Rev. Sandra Tilley, Regional Dean for the Avalon East Deanery, read the covenant.

The Rev. Iliffe Sheppard preached the sermon. The

Rev. Ed Bonnell assisted by preparing the Altar for Holy Eucharist. Archdeacon Tom Moulton, Canon Don Morgan, and Eucharistic Servers Linda Roberts and Ann Lambert administered the sacrament.

A large congregation attended this celebration service. Several active clergy and retired clergy attended and participated as a symbol of their support for Rev. Keeping’s induction and his continued efforts in the building-up of God’s Kingdom. Former co-workers from the circle of people he worked with as Hospital Chaplain were in attendance as well, to support and congratulate him. Rev. Keeping’s wife Joyce, his sister Rosie Miller, and his niece Vivian Sheppard, along with Canon Ruben Hatcher, a special life-long friend, were in attendance to offer their prayers and support for his new ministry.

The new Rector has invited four retired clergy from the congregation to join him in this new ministry and become part of the team. They have accepted his invitation and will assist in parish work and church services. Bishop Pitman presented certificates of “Honourary Assistants” to Canon Bert Cheeseman, Canon Don Morgan, Canon Shirley Gosse and the Rev. Russell Osmond.

During this service, the Rev. Ed Bonnell was installed by the Bishop as a deacon at St. Philip’s Parish. He will perform duties assigned to him by the Rector to assist in the daily life in the Church.

The Bishop also availed of this occasion to present Eucharistic Assistant licences to Christopher Earle, Ann Lambert, Harvey Hiscock, and Moses G. Tucker.

Cecile Bradbury, our organist, and the St. Philip’s senior choir did a marvellous job in leading the congregation in the singing and musical part of the worship.

A time of fellowship with customary refreshments, thanks to the ACW, followed the service in the Parish Hall where congratulatory greetings and best wishes were offered to Rev. Keeping and his team.

Our congregation is very delighted to have the Rev. Ed Keeping and his family become part of our Anglican Church family here at St. Philip’s. We look forward to working with him and supporting him in his Ministry among us. In this we pray, as we reflect on our past accomplishments; and as we vigorously work on our present goals; and with God’s guidance, as we prepare plans for a successful future in His Vineyard.

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January 2009

guest columnist

Some thoughts...on Preaching The Rev. Dr. Peacock once told our class at Queen’s College a story about preaching. Dr. Peacock was a very fine preacher who prepared carefully and thoughtfully for every sermon. He was puzzled by a friend of his who never seemed to carry a note into the pulpit.

“When do you prepare?” he asked his friend.

“On my way from my seat to the pulpit,” his friend responded, “I trust in the Holy Spirit.”

In the telling of the story Dr. Peacock paused, and looked at us intently. Then, almost whispering, said. “There were mornings the Holy Spirit let my friend down terribly” The single most important aspect of preaching is preparation. The Holy Spirit is certainly central, but, is much more likely to attend those who wait prayerfully and quietly over time than on one who de-

history of liturgy, or the history mands her attention NOW! Walking to the pulpit is of the church; they do not never a good place to prepare come to hear the preacher a sermon! Rather the preacher expound on their view of state must consider, what are the of the church, nor to learn how scholars have historically inreadings, how do they relate to the life of the parish, and congregation? Who will be in People come to worship to enter church and how will the the presence of “the holy” to readings relate to them?

What is the Good experience a sense of connection News of Jesus Christ to the worshiping community that cries to be pro- and to God. Then, they hope to claimed today?

Preaching is that leave carrying something of aspect of the preacher’s what they experience in worship pastoral ministry which into their daily lives. most often touches the greatest number of people. While, from time to time, terpreted a passage of scripa sermon will be a “teaching” tures. They do not come to sermon on some item of the- hear the preacher ramble. ology or liturgy or current con- Above all people do not come cern, most sermons, in my to worship to hear the opinion, ought to be pastoral. preacher ride their hobby It is my experience that horse. People come to worpeople do not usually partici- ship to enter the presence of pate in worship to learn the “the holy” to experience a

Bishop David Torraville

sense of connection to the worshiping community and to God. Then, they hope to leave carrying something of what they experience in worship into their daily lives.

The sermon gives the preacher a rare privilege to help people hear the words of the prophets in fresh ways. It gives the preacher a rare privilege to help people connect the words of Jesus to their every day circumstance.

People often come to worship carrying burdens and troubles, worries and fears. However, people also come with faith; sometimes as small as a mustard seed, but enough, scripture tells us, to remove mountains. People come in hope and desire and sometimes even with expectation that something in the worship will inspire, will motivate, and will change a heart. There is nothing more

Anglican Life welcomes Allison Boone, a youth blogger for the National Church website: generation.anglican.ca

likely to do that than a sermon, prepared carefully with dependence on the Spirit, in respect for scripture, and in care for the people who will hear it.

This is the fourth in a series of articles written exclusively for Anglican Life by Bishop David Torraville of the Diocese of Central Newfoundland.

youth voice

Youth Ministry Part One: Common Themes in the Twin Cities Disclaimer: This piece appeared in its original form at http:// generation.anglican.ca, it has been modified for the audience and medium.

I would like to contribute a series of pieces on Youth Ministry on Newfoundland’s East Coast. I spoke with five of the Anglican churches in St.

John’s/Mount Pearl (also known as the “Twin Cities”) and I learned a lot about youth ministry in my area that I would like to share.

I spoke with representatives from five churches: Rob Cooke at St. Mark’s; Rev. Gail MacDonald at St. Thomas’s; Rev. Sam Rose at St. Michael & All Angels; Rev. David Pilling at St. Augustine’s and Rev. David Burrows at the Church of the As-

cension. I had a great time chatting with each and every one of them, and I hope to be able to work with them should the opportunity arise.

Churches have a lot in common and many differences when it comes to youth ministry. I would like to first introduce some of the

I spoke with emphasized the importance of working together, engaging the church community and making the “youth group” a part of that community, not separating it, it’s not “us” and “them”. As it turns out, youth members of the parish want to be a part of the parish. Who knew?

commonalities I noticed.

There’s the obvious, like the fact that they are all teaching the same doctrine and most have “traditional” youth initiatives like Sunday School, Confirmation and a Servers Guild. But some themes emerged. Things you might not really even think about, but that are very important to the successful operation of the Church’s mission for youth.

The first is a sense of community. All the youth ministers

A second theme I noticed is relationship building. This, of course, is instrumental in any successful group, youth or otherwise. You have to trust each other and care about one another in order to successfully work together. Especially when it comes to activities and groups for youth, this group needs to be a safe haven.

Young people need to know that they can trust you to keep secrets and to reserve judgment, that they can talk about

Allison Boone

anything and you won’t make fun or judge them or their choices. We all feel much more connected to our groups and our community when we feel like we can really be ourselves.

Each of the youth ministers also spent time talking about how kids just want to help. They want to help those less fortunate in their neighbourhoods and province and they want to help those outside, in other provinces, and countries around the w o r l d .

Outreach is becoming more and more important in youth ministry, young people really do embrace the idea that we need to take action and make a difference.

It was interesting to see so many common themes emerge in such different churches.

Part II will talk about different outreach initiatives being undertaken by the churches I sat down with.

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ANGLICANLife

Project Michael Parish of Port-de-Grave Supporting Canadian Troops In Afghanistan Photo by: Amanda Taylor

January 2009

Patronal Festival for St. Michael & All Angels, Corner Brook Photo by: Debbie Ford

The Rector of the Parish of St. Michael & All Angels, the Rev’d Gordon Druggett (left) is joined by the Most Rev’d Dr. Stewart Payne (centre) and Diocesan Executive Officer, the Venerable Ed King (right).

Submitted by Debbie Ford

Members of the Parish of Port -de-Grave collected items for the soldiers in Afghanistan as part of their outreach ministry.

By Karen Dawe The Parish of Port-de-Grave

Fellowship, friendship and acts of kind-ship were evident in the Parish of Port-de-Grave on Tuesday, November 4th., when members from St. George’s, St. Mark’s, and St. Luke’s gathered at St. Luke’s Parish Hall to make a soldiers life, while serving in Afghanistan, a little brighter during the Christmas season.

It started out as “Project Michael” in honor of Capt.

Michael Winsor who is presently deployed to Afghanistan and is the son-in-law of Gerry & Karen Dawe of Port-deGrave. He has recently begun his tour of duty and will be away until April or May of 2009. As we can all imagine this is a stressful job and being away from loved ones only adds to this stress.

Project Michael began when I mentioned to our rector, the Rev’d Amanda Taylor how I was talking to my daughter and she was telling me how we can send items to the troops free of charge through Canada Post. Why not consider sending him something?

So, in the spirit of making this a true Parish outreach initiative, all three congregations gracefully donated items for this cause. Everyone was given a job to do – from sorting to writing down the items in each box.

The youngest parishioner to help out, four year old Brady Crane, was the photographer for this event. At the end of the morning we had enough items to fill 5 boxes. Each “morale” box contained books, gum, snacks, puzzle books, pencils, toiletries and other items. We also put Christmas cards in each box. Even though

Cursillo weekend a shining success

Article & Photo by: Josephine Johnson

each box was addressed to Captain Michael Winsor, the items in each box will be shared among all the troops.

Of course, in true Anglican fashion, we finished our project with a lunch. After lunch, and before taking the packages to the post office, Rev’d Amanda blessed our efforts and the boxes began their long journey to Afghanistan.

Whether you agree or disagree with our troops being in Afghanistan, it is not for us to argue at this moment. The fact of the matter is that they are presently in Afghanistan and while there they will need our support and prayers. Let us continue to pray for each soldier’s safe return to their loved ones and also continue to wear our “Support our Troops” red T-Shirt every Friday. And lpray for each soldier’s safe return to their loved ones.

Blessed by sunshine and picturesque surroundings, smiles and squints are evident here as everyone poses for a quick photo during the October 16-19 weekend at Mint Brook Camp. Fun and fellowship, while learning and growing in our faith journey, always makes for a wonderful weekend. Eleven new Cursillistas were welcomed and encouraged to deepen their relationship with Christ as He is counting on all of us to build up the Kingdom Of God (His people here on earth). We are all encouraged to reach out in Christian love and fellowship to help restore peace and unity in a very apparent broken and damaged world.

This year has been a significant one for our Parish of St. Michael & All Angels. Our Patronal Festival celebrations in late September provided us an opportunity to mark this as the 60th anniversary year of the dedication of the Chapel of the Epiphany in the Leggo Memorial School and the 50th anniversary year of the first worship services in the first Church of St. Michael and All Angels on our present site. That building was destroyed by fire in 1983 but the present building was quickly built on the same foundation and opened in 1984.

We have a long and proud history of ministry in this area of our city.

During the celebration, parishioners participated in many fellowship activities. On our fun night, while some had a friendly game of “Growl” and some played darts, others were brave enough to tackle a game of baseball on the Nintendo Wii! Batter, Jennifer Renouf

and pitcher, Rex Ford were ‘coached’ by Rev. Gordon Druggett and Lloyd Sheppard.

At our luncheon many came forward with stories of church life in our parish, in years gone by. Arch Legge and Gordon Osmond were honored as original parishioners of the Chapel of the Epiphany in the Leggo Memorial School.

We were very pleased to welcome, the Most Rev’d Dr. S. Stewart Payne, the second Bishop of our Diocese and a former Metropolitan Bishop of the Province of Canada, as our guest preacher at our worship service celebrating our Patron Saint, St. Michael. We were also blessed to have Archdeacon Ed King participate in our service.

While we have celebrated many great milestones in our parish, with God’s blessing, we will continue to grow and give future generations opportunity to celebrate their own milestones.

Photo by: Debbie Ford

Virtual fun for all ages! Nintendo Wii pitcher Rex Ford (left) tries to strike out batter Jennifer Renouf (right) while their ‘coaches’ the Rev’d Gordon Druggett and Lloyd Sheppherd cheer them on. This and other activites marked the Patronal Festival of the Parish of St. Michael & All Angels in Corner Brook.

ANGLICANLife

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January 2009

ACW President for 50 years!

St. Augustine’s ACW celebrates Betsy Hefford’s 50 plus years as President Photo by: Eileen Matthews

A Century of Worship St. Philip’s ACW celebrates 100 years

Betsy Hefford (left) receives a gift from the Rev’d Cathy Lasky (right), Rector of the Parish of Heart’s Content as Betsy was honoured for over fifty years as an ACW president.

Submitted by Eileen Matthews and Lorraine Warren

A surprise commemorative supper was held at Legge’s Restaurant in Heart’s Content for Betsy Hefford who held the office of President for over 50 years.

Betsy joined St. Augustine’s ACW 67 years ago at the age of 14, immediately after she was confirmed, which was the custom of the time. She was first elected President at the age of 18. She has occupied the office of President on and off for over 50 of those years. Betsy was presented with a beautiful gold cross necklace by Rev. Cathy Laskey to honour her Presidency.

Betsy tells the story that back in her day all the young girls were waiting excitedly to be confirmed so they could join the CEWA (as it was called at that time). There was a “sign” to enter the meetings, it was a “backwards joining of the hands” and there was a pass-

Article and Photo by: Arthur Marsden

word which was “Tabitha” (coming from the bible). The younger girls would have to bring buckets of water from the nearby brook for tea and they would also bring the firewood and have the stove lit by the time everyone got to the school where the meetings were held. The group would meet 2 nights each week, 1 for a regular meeting and the other for hooking rugs, making quilts, embroidering or knitting which they would learn from the older ladies. They would keep some of the quilts and the rest were sold at CEWA socials. Every 4 years they make all the linen veils for the confirmation girls and the older ladies would put the veils on the girls to be confirmed at the school (next door to the Church) and the girls would then parade to the Church and up to the front to their rightful seats. The younger CEWA girls were told each week where they would be going on Saturdays to “clean house”, as any of the sisters that were elderly or sick would

have their housework done by the younger CEWA girls. They would also be appointed to sit through the night with the sick or dying accompanied by some of the older ladies.

ACW offices can only be served for 3 years consecutively but because there was so many times that no one would accept nomination for President, Betsy would take the position again rather then see ACW fold. Extension approvals past 3 years for the office of President were done many times for Betsy to hold the office again.

Betsy has been a loving, faithful and diligent ACW sister and St. Augustine’s would certainly be lost without her.

She remains a very active member today, however, she chose to step down as President in 2007. We thank the Lord for leading Betsy through her years of invaluable service to her Church and her Community.

In Ramea on 9 November, St. Boniface Church received a large number of Shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse.

Chidlren in the congregation went to the back and brought all the boxes to the front of the church, with an expression of excitment on their faces. They were asked by Wilhelmena Green if they knew about the shoe boxes and where they were going. Without hesitation, the children explained it to her.

Shown in the photograph are (l to r): Mackenzie MacDonald, Ewen Leib, Hunter Skinner, and Wilhelmena Green. Music for the service was provided

by Double Vision (Mona & Gerard Edwards).

Photo by: Wendy Decker Submitted by Wendy Decker

This year, 2008, marked the 100th anniversary of St. Philip’s church ACW, or CEWA as it was called back in 1908.

The centenary was marked in true St. Philip’s form. A weekend of celebration marked this milestone in the life of St. Philip’s Church.

A delicious roast beef dinner, served by the St. Philip’s ACM, kicked off the weekend.

At the pre-dinner reception artifacts and photos detailing the history of the ACW/CEWA were on display in the foyer.

The dinner was attended by the Diocesan and Deanery presidents as well as all the living past presidents of the St.

Philip’s ACW. Each of the deceased past presidents was represented by a family member.

A special 100th Anniversary program, including an ‘Ode to ACW’ was written for the Sunday morning service by Lorna Walters. Past Presidents Beatrice Tucker, Catherine Squires, Violet Ruelokke, Laura Squires, Fanny Tucker and Nina Martin-Sheppard delivered the readings.

Commemorative items produced included special anniversary pins and a booklet on the history of St. Philip’s ACW titled “Journeying through Time”. The 100th Anniversary banner is now hanging on the Chancel wall.

Article by: Tammy Curtis Photo by: Wyonetta Pittman

On 23 November 2008, Amazing Grace Sunday was held at St.Michael and All Angels Church in Pollard’s Point. A parish prayer service was held by the Rev`d Hannah Dicks in which she blessed all the shoe boxes recieved.

In photo are the ACW ladies: (L-R) Madilyn Ricks, Dorothy Ralph, Joan Ralph, Mary Gillingham, Rev.Hanna Dicks, Carrie Combdon, Patsy Davis, Linda Blanchard, Liz Pope and Syble Warford.

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ANGLICANLife

our history

Twillingate, 1821 Mr. Laugharne is having some difficulties at Twillingate.

The usual difficulty being not enough revenue in the parish to keep things afloat. In this situation it looks like the more affluent among the parishioners have put forward the idea of a rental on the pews. The ancient churches did not have pews or any form of seating except stone benches along the sides of the church. Of course the better class of persons could bring their own

chairs. When pews were introduced people felt that they should have sole use of their family pew and in some churches the pews had a door to make the point that the pews were private property.

The pew was also a class barrier as Mr. Laugharne notes, “many people will not be able to afford one.”

In many places only part of the church had pews and those did not own one were forced to stand. In Twillingate,

January 2009

David Davis

those parishioners without a pew were out of luck or they could go to the Calvinists (Methodists) for a free one.

The cost of living in Twillingate has caused some concern to Mr. Laugharne. As he notes, he has been forced to pay three times the price paid in St John’s for provisions such as pork and molasses. He says that he is going in the red on his expenses, beyond his salary from the Society for Propagation of the

Gospel and his collections from the local people. In the postscript he reports having received a raise of £30 to defray his visiting outside Twillingate. The cost of food and other supplies was a constant complaint in Newfoundland history.

Despite his protestations to the contrary, it looks like Mr. Laugharne is fishing for a mission to the southwards, as far south as possible. He seemed to have lost the mis-

sion at Trinity to Mr. W. Bullock who was ordained by the Bishop of London.

Colbourne & Company, the principal merchants of Twillingate, seemed to have carried the debts of the parish and Mr Laugharne.

Some of the text is a bit disjointed because of the missing word(s) but the writer hopes that the main sense is intact.

however, be demanded if Provisions are so much higher in Twillingate than St John’s why not procure them from the latter.

Please the Answer is this, if the Clergyman does not deal with the Merchants of the Harbour they will not make any collections for Him at the Fall of the YearAnd, to give your Society a faint idea of the Price of Goods in this Place, I can only say that when Pork was £4.10.6 per barrel in St John’s & Molasses for 1/6d per gallon (?) and complete the greater Part of the Port of Twillingate I was obliged to pay (?)

Guineas. for the former.

Four Shillings for the latter & under the Circumstances trust the Society will not think mine an unnecessary Ground for complaint. I ought also observe that, the Expenses of my house, last Year, were far beyond my Salary a Collection (?) greater than these & any Other Missionary in Newfoundland. The Winters are

much longer and much more severe than in any Other (?) & I have spent (?) in this harbour & without be’g absent a single Sunday, I trust (?) in a more Southerly Part of Newfoundland.

self the smallest Contribution.

The Document The usual warning is issued to readers: the two hundred year-old document has some damage and unreadable parts so the symbol (?) is used to note the omissions in the text.

Twillingate 7 July, 1821 Revd Sir; I feel particularly happy in be’g able to inform your excellent Society of the still flourish’g State of my Mission I am, however, sorry to believe that Obstacles have arisen with (?). I was not acquainted when I last wrote you & (?) enjoying the Comforts of the Minister.

In consequence of the Church & Parsonage (?) be’g so deeply in debt it has been (?) by the Chief of the (?) upon The inhabitants to pay a certain Sum, each Year, a rent for their Pews, consequently Many will be obliged to leave the Church, as they are too poor even to assist their Photo submitted by: Parish of Rose Blanche

Clergyman and Others (?), with much Labour, I have brought from the (?) of Calvinism will again return to Their Mal’g where they will be gladly received & accommodated with a seat for Nothing. I have sent the Society a correct Statement of the Persons who have subscribed towards for the Erection of the Church & Tower & to observe, that, they are the only People in the Harbour who have it in their Power to pay. It is true, there many Others who would gladly pay a small Rent annually rather than leave the established Church, yet, in that Case, they would be unwill’g, perhaps unable, to assist Their Missionary &also, as the Expenses of my Mission (ow’g to the enormous Price of Provisions in Twillingate) are much greater than that of any other Station in the Island.

I have from Necessity been obliged to oppose the Measure until I hear from the Society- It may,

At the same Time, I cannot but state that there is in this Place a fine field for the Labour of a Clergyman, & as long as I am placed among them, I shall endeavour fully to do my duty- The Church is, at present, is crowded to excess, the population are (?) & the communicants increase- I shall send a correct Account of the spiritual (?) of the Mission immediately. I have the honour of a Letter from your excellent Society inform’g me how I am to proceed, as it will be next to impossible for a Clergyman to remain in this Harbour upon this present Stipend, if a Rent is to be laid on the People who are too poor, as I have before observed, even to pay My-

I am Rev’d Sir / Your most obied’t / T.G. Langhorne I have visited the Outharbors for more than Twelve Months, & have always found a large & attentive Congregation- I have latterly been pay’g my Respects to the Governor at St John’s where I found a letter inform’g me of the Society’s allow’g me 30£ in addition for visit’g the Out Ports, & I have been obliged to (?) for that Sum, I really trust that the Society will not consider me as act’g from any (?) an unfair Account of my Situation. I have no particular desire to leave Twillingate, cold as it is, provided I could be [here the letter ends]

Burnt Islands youth Submitted by the Parish of Rose Blanche

Burnt Islands youth in the Parish of Rose Blanche gathered at St. George’s Church for a Training Day on Saturday, November 15th.

The day began with a short service of Bible Reading, reflection, and prayer and ended with pizza for lunch. The young people were given instructions concerning their involvement in church services, especially focusing on serving at the altar.

PICTURED from left to right: Cody Chaulk, Michael King, Adrian Chaulk, Matthew Keeping, Nathan Keeping, Irma Keeping, Chelsea Bryan, Tori Hatcher, and Amy Croucher.

ANGLICANLife

11

January 2009

Straight talk on unanswered prayer There is no such thing as unanswered prayer. In fact, the very words are nothing more than an oxymoron - a contradiction in terms. God always answers prayer. But let us get real here for a moment. While God answers all prayer there are times when we feel that God has abandoned us. There are prayers we pray earnestly and don’t understand why God is silent or has not responded. Or worse still, the very thing happens which we fear most – a loved one dies; the cancer is back; a relationship fails. And so we ask, “what went wrong?”

Surely God would want to heal and reconcile. Is not that, God’s WILL? Was not that a part of our Lord’s mission? Did not our Lord say, “For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds and everyone who knocks, the door will be open” (Matthew

Bulletins Sunday, November 30th is World AIDS Sunday.

More than 42 million people are living with AIDS, and over 2 million are dying each year, mostly because of lack of medicine. At the morning and evening services on Nov. 30th, pill bottles will be distributed by All Saints Mission and Outreach committee members for those people who would like to donate to

7:8). To be honest there are times when we feel that our prayer have went UNANSWERED. Why? In the first chapter of his Epistle, James tells us to “ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, MUST NOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD.” (James 1:6-7). Doubt then is a problem when we come before the Lord in prayer.

Jesus said to Thomas, “Do not doubt but believe.” The doubter’s entire conduct reflects inconstancy of purpose.

Another reason for what seems like a forsaken God in the time of prayer is an UNCLEAN HEART. Scripture reminds us over and over for the need of confession and repentance. We are assured in Psalm 51 that God will not deContinued from page 2

PWRDF in the fight against AIDS. By taking Action today, we may one day live in a world without AIDS. (Parish of All Saints, Conception Bay South) St. Michael & All Angels Choir presents the Annual Advent Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols on Dec 7th, 4:00pm at St. Michael & All Angels Church.

columnist The Rev. Greg Mercer

Renovare

let us pr praay...

The Rev. Everett Hobbs

spise “a broken and contrite heart” (Ps 51:17). But contrition is far removed from a heart that is filled with malice or envy or jealously. Can we really expect God to answer our prayer if we have not dealt with the unforgiving heart?

Can we really expect God to be present to us when our heart has issues of sin that has not been dealt with? At that moment when our Lord hung on the Cross bearing all the sins of the world, what was his greatest agony? “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

The doubting, unforgiving heart need not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Renovare is a Latin word meaning to “to renew”. It is the name given to a renewal movement founded by Richard J Foster, noted writer on spirituality.

Renovare consists of spiritual formation groups of two to eight people who meet regularly to focus on their spiritual lives.

Renovare describes itself as Christian in commitment, international in scope and ecumenical in breath, incorporating into its mandate different traditions of the Christian Faith.

These Traditions include: Contemplative: The prayer-filled life focuses upon intimacy with God. Holiness: The virtuous life focuses upon personal moral transformation.

Charismatic: The Spiritempowered life focuses upon the chrisms of the Spirit and worship.

Social Justice: The compassionate life focuses upon so-

cial justice and peace.

Evangelical: the Wordcentred life focuses upon the proclamation of the Gospel.

Incarnational: The sacramental life focuses upon making present and visible the realm of the invisible spirit.

In this context, those joining Renovare commit themselves to a covenant and design a discipline (Rule of Life). The motto is Credo Ergo Ago - I believe therefore I do.

In order to grow as Christians we need a framework which helps keep us in an environment where we are nourished. This can be done by covenanting a Rule of Life which sets goals and demands commitment. Renovare is one way of taking on such a practice. It provides a balanced vision of the Christian life, together with training and support.

A peaceful candlelit service to contemplate the true meaning of Advent and Christmas. A freewill offering will support the Choral Scholarship program & a non-perishable food items for Emmaus House would be gratefully received.

(Parish of St. Michael & All Angels, St. John’s)

is God’s ministry at work, bringing the Joy of Christ to those in need, whether financially or otherwise. However, the success of our dinner and the warmth of our welcome relies solely on Volunteers and contributions, both cash and in-kind. (Parish of St. Thomas’, St. John’s)

2. If the weather is extremely good, church attendance will be down.

3. If the bulletins are in short supply, church attendance will exceed all expectations!!

(Parish of Bay RobertsColey’s Point)

Christmas Outreach Dinner: Our Christmas Outreach Dinner will be offered again this year to the needy in our community. This

Church Humour/Wisdom: 1. If the weather is extremely bad, church attendance will be down.

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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.

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ANGLICANLife

Bishop Martin Mate to receive honourary doctorate Submitted by Tom Pope, Ph.D.

25th, 1980. He retired on December 31, 1992.

At the electoral Synod, Bishop-elect Mate asked “why me?’ A partial answer to that question is certainly found in his university record and the above

It is with much pleasure the Corporation of Queen’s College announces that at the May 5th, 2009 convocation of the College the degree of Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) will be conferred upon the Right Reverend Martin Mate.

Martin was born at Port Rexton where he also received his early education. He subsequently attended Memorial University, Queen’s College and Bishop’s University, Lennoxville, Quebec.

He received a L.Th. from Queen’s, as well as a B.A. (first class honours) and a M.A. from Bishop’s.

Martin was a school teacher prior to being made a deacon in 1952 and was assigned immediately to the Cathedral. Later that same year he was appointed dea- Photo courtesy of Eastern con-in-charge of the Diocesan Archives Parish of Pushthrough. He became rector following his ordi- twenty-eight years of ministry. nation to the priesthood on Bell It would, however, be anIsland in 1953. Five years later swered even more so during he was made the incumbent of the twelve years which lay the then mission of St. Anthony ahead.

With respect to these and the rural dean of St. Barbe.

In 1964, the Reverend Mr. years, another part of the anMate moved to Quebec where swer came in the way Bishop he was rector of the Parish of Mate served Queen’s College.

Cookshire. He returned to He was a member of the CorNewfoundland in 1967 to be poration and its various subthe rector of the Parish of committees throughout all of his Catalina and shortly thereafter episcopacy, providing spirited the rural dean of Bonavista. leadership to the College’s onThen, in 1972, the Reverend going developments. His enMr. Mate was made rector of thusiasm was particularly imthe Parish of Pouch Cove / portant at that time as the ColTorbay. It was from there that lege had just reopened in 1979 he moved to Synod Office in and many challenges still lay 1976 to assume the position of ahead. Even after his retireDiocesan Treasurer. He held ment he continued to work on that post until 1980 when he behalf of the College.

One other part of the anwas elected as the second bishop of the Diocese of East- swer came about at the diocern Newfoundland and Labra- esan (Eastern) level. Numerdor. Bishop Mate was conse- ous developments / events occrated on Whitsunday, May curred during his term, includ-

ing the Lavrock Centre’s planning and construction; Labrador becoming a part of the Council of the North; the hosting of General Synod; Anglicans in Mission undertaken and completed; the establishment of twelve new parishes; the ordination of the first female Anglican priest, namely, the Reverend Trudy Gosse; the official appointment of Eucharistic assistants; the introduction of the Book of Alternative Services; the acceptance of Life in the Eucharist; the promotion of confirmation sponsors; baptism becoming a part of regular worship; and youth attendance at synod being encouraged and eventually formalized.

Perhaps the final part of the answer to “why me?” is found within Bishop Mate himself. Those who have worked closely with Bishop Mate describe him as a most unassuming leader. As such, he so easily empowers those around him. His associates and colleagues point out as well that he is truly a shepherd, that is one who not only understands intellectually the command to Peter - Feed my lambs and sheep – but one who has so internalized the command that it is a part of his whole being.

It is clearly evident that Bishop Mate has served Queen’s College and the Anglican Church of Canada in a most exemplary manner. No doubt he was ably assisted along the way by the constant support of his wife, Florence and their five children, Caroline, Elizabeth, Phyllis, John and Carl.

Members of the Corporation, faculty and students of Queen’s College offer Bishop Mate their most sincere congratulations.

Deadlines for Submissions to Anglican Life For the February issue - Deadline is January 1st For the March issue - Deadline is Febraury 1st For the April issue - Deadline is March 1st For the May issue - Deadline is April 1st For the June issue - Deadline is May 1st

January 2009

Canadian diocesan news in brief Anglican – Moravian agreement The Anglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador signed a memorandum of agreement with the Moravian Board for Labrador at a special Labrador mission conference in Goose Bay in October. The agreement allows Moravian churches, which have had problems finding clergy to fill vacancies, to hire Anglican ministers. The Rev’d Brian Burrows has been appointed to the Moravian congregation in Hopedale. Bishop Cyrus Pitman signed on behalf of the Anglican diocese and Mrs. Joan Anderson signed on behalf of the Moravian Church.

Anglican Life Diocese of Toronto delays fundraising campaign Due to recent financial turbulence, the diocese of Toronto has postponed kicking off a major fundraising campaign for about six months. The campaign was due to begin in the fall of 2008 with a targeted approach to individual donors, followed by a launch with parish participation next spring. The recommended goal was $65 million to $75 million. Bishop Colin Johnson said turmoil in the world’s markets caused him to reconsider the timing of the campaign. Members of the diocesan council supported the idea of waiting to launch the campaign until the fall of 2009.

The Anglican Pray for the Land “In a hundred lifetimes, we could not see beyond the diversity which the Master of Life has created,” said Robert Lovelace, chief negotiator of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation. He asked people to pray for the land at the site of the proposed uranium mine at Robertsville, near Sharbot Lake. Clergy, including Nancy MacLeod, deacon-in-charge of the parish of Parham-Sharbot Lake with Maberly-Lanark, asked people to gather at the site for a “Pray for the Land” weekend. Despite bad weather and cold winds about 25 to 40 people came each day.

Dialogue St. Jude’s Cathedral gets a $20,000 boost A concert held in Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa raised $20,500 to help rebuild the Iqaluit’s “Igloo Cathedral” that was destroyed by fire in 2005. In a letter to North American cathedral deans, Dean Shane Parker wrote, “We hope it (the event) will give the rebuilding effort a tremendous national profile and will encourage others across Canada and beyond to support St. Jude’s, especially now that the foundation is in place and construction of the new cathedral can begin next year.” Almost $7 million is needed to rebuild the church.

The concert, which featured the Capital Swing Band and Inuit dancers, drummers and throat singers, had many highprofile people in the audience, including Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin of the Supreme Court of Canada, federal cabinet ministers Chuck Strahl and Jim Prentice, House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken, Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq and three bishops of the Anglican diocese of the Arctic – Larry Robinson, Ben Arreak (regional bishops) and Bishop Andrew Atagotaaluk.

Crosstalk Taking to the airwaves The Hudson Coast Deanery reports that Cree services from Great Whale River are now broadcast on the Cree FM station, and they are exploring doing the same with the Inuktitut services.

The extra equipment was supplied by the Cree FM station.

The Arctic News Compiled by Anglican Journal staff.

ANGLICANLife

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January 2009

Have you considered a Legacy Gift?

An article on the website for The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) asks this simple question: “Why Do Less Than 2% Of Christians Leave Deferred Gifts To Their Churches?”

The Network goes on to suggest the answers, the top two answers being: 1) They have not been asked!

2) They do not know how!

The first answer reminds me of that quotation from Herb Mather, an American stewardship writer who said:” A planned gift is rarely made without an invitation.”

Church leaders should remember and inwardly digest those words.

International fundraiser Debra Ashton made an even clearer statement on the perils

of not being involved in gift planning: “Charities that are not engaging in some sort of planned giving will be left in the dust compared with charities that are practicing planned giving.”

Regardless, the responses given by TENS are a little perplexing considering that seniors in today’s world have more assets than any comparable generation in history. They suggest that these are the same people who make up the core of the church’s most loyal members, who still believe in old fashioned values.

From my experience, most people procrastinate about estate planning. They don’t want to think about death or feel they aren’t “rich” enough to need to plan. TENS argues that if these decisions are delayed in-

definitely, it is the survivors who suffer and the very churches that have been so important to these people go wanting. In addition, it is also a classic example of poor stewardship.

Gift planning encourages people to help themselves and their churches.

Some of the tools of gift planning can provide the following: More income for themselves for the rest of their lives; Immediate income tax deductions to keep more money in hand; Reduced capital gains taxes; A way to make a truly significant gift to the church or institution they want to see survive and prosper; Many Church leaders shy

away from getting involved in gift planning because they don’t know enough to rationally discuss it. Please note: its ok not to know the details.

There are experts out there in the community who can help us. If I want legal information, I talk to a lawyer or if I need details about a life insurance policy, a financial planner is only too pleased to offer expertise.

But that’s no excuse for not inviting your parishioners to have a legal will and a bequest in that will for their Church.

Such encouragement goes a long way in helping our faithful achieve a better understanding how stewardship should play a role in their lives.

Please contact me if you need some assistance in this most vital area.

stewardship Kevin Smith

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.

An Amazing Thank You to an Amazing Church Submitted by Fiona Brownlee Communications Officer Council of the North

“Oh mamaskatayihtakohn Shewayihchichuwin Ka winisheniyan wahyo Christ ah chi wiskiiwiit” (Amazing Grace in East James Bay Coast Cree) Across Canada in churches, prisons, college chapels, youth gatherings, and wherever Anglicans met over the last 6 months Amazing Grace was sung. It was sung with enthusiasm, with love and with support for the Council of the North. It was sung in a variety of languages and to a variety of instruments.

Even before the actual Sunday of singing, 23 November 2008, groups of Anglicans were gathering to sing the hymn. They sang to show their unity. They sang to show their love for God. They sang to give a donation to the Council of the North. By mid-November these donations were around $4,000.00. It was a sign of support in such difficult and trying times.

The church in the northern part of Canada continues to struggle with the rising prices for goods, social instability in many of its communities and the after effects of residential schools. The Anglicans who live in these communities have experienced the rest of the Anglican Church of Canada reaching out to them with love

and support. They have seen the videos of Canadian Anglicans singing Amazing Grace, have heard about the offering of the ‘toonies’ and have gathered and sung the hymn Amazing Grace and made their donations.

Marion Jenkins one of the coordinators of the Henry Budd College of Ministry reported this: “Christ Church, The Pas, MB in the Diocese of Brandon, a Council of North diocese was amazing singing Amazing Grace that morning.

We sang the first verse in English, then in Cree, then all the other verses. The congregation made its way to the chancel and sang the first verse again in English. Not everyone was there yet so we kept on singing in Cree and in English. Peo-

ple were generous. It was great fun and holy chaos.”

As the members of the Council take in what happened on this special Sunday for the church, they would like to say thank you, ekosi (Muskeg Cree), megwetch (Ojibwa), naqurmiik (Inuktitut), kitatamihin (Plains Cree), mahsi (Gwich’in), gunalcheesh (Tlingit) as they look forward to the new year and the new ministry projects that they will be able to take on.

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Then when we’d first begun.”

Anglican Fellowship of Prayer Diocese of Central Newfoundland is sponsoring a

LENTEN RETREAT at St. Catherine Renewal Centre Grand Falls-Windsor

March 12 to 14, 2009 Retreat Leader: Captain Rob Marsh Anglican Church Army

Cost: $75.00 [Includes meals from noon on 12th to noon on 14th] Apply to: Synod Office: Rev. Perry Cooper 34 Fraser Road Gander, NL A1V 2E8 email: executive@nfld.net (This is a paid advertisement)

An Amazing Response!

Over 25 videos from church groups and individuals from our three dioceses were posted on the YouTube website in support of the Amazing Grace project. To view them and others, please visit:

www.youtube.com/ user/generalsynod

14

ANGLICANLife

columnist

One blood In the early 1930s, my father’s youngest brother attended university in California.

He was not allowed to marry a white person because interracial marriages were illegal in those days. In 1948, California became the first state to strike down a ban on interracial marriage, even though nine out of ten Americans opposed such unions at that time. Sixty years later history was made, when a man of mixed race was elected the next President of the United States.

Many people today still have ingrained prejudices against certain groups of peo-

ple. Race prejudice is as old as the human race. There has never been a time in which humankind was not guilty of some form of race discrimination and colour prejudice.

Race prejudice has even produced violent wars. I wonder can a genuine Christian be a hater of any race?

Today, racial factors permeate through every facet of life in Canada and in the United States, including the recent presidential election. Many Americans did not vote for Senator Barack Hussein Obama because he is halfblack, while others voted for

The Rev. Michael Li

him because he is half-white (In the U.S., if you are not quite white, then you are black.

However, in Brazil, if you are not quite black, then you are white).

Scientists are now agreeing that, biologically, there is only one “race” of humans.

The Bible does not use the word “race” in referring to the various people groups. Instead, it describes all humans as being of “one blood” (Acts 17:26). This emphasizes that we are all related, for all humans are descendants of the first man and woman.

We all have the same col-

Another ‘Great Depression’? I hope not!

The last day of November, and worldwide, it seems people are talking “recession” - a frightening possibility. Our global economy - bad last month - is even worse today.

Cautiously, people are suggesting even that this will be a “depression.” Will it be a worldwide depression? After so many years of material prosperity, excessive riches even, too horrible to imagine!

This generation has never experienced a real devastating depression. Some of us seniors, though, lived through the Terrible Depression of the 1920’s and 1930’s. I was only a small boy then, but I shall never forget some very traumatic circumstances.

In our small community almost nobody had any moneyabsolutely not a cent. Every man and boy was a fisherman.

Fishing supplies were charged at the local store. Proceeds of the catch went to the merchant. At season’s end, often nothing was left after bills were paid. Frequently large debts were left unpaid. With no cash,

how could parents clothe their families? Mothers knit garments from sheep’s wool, but what about footwear? Children usually went barefoot, even in winter.

What about medicine?

Tree sap made plasters, roots and leaves made tonics, fish oils made ointments and greased sore throats. Many people, however, died young from diseases easily cured today.

What about food? We were so fortunate. The ocean teemed with fish. The countryside provided small game (no moose then), trout, and wild berries in abundance. Our small gardens gave us vegetables. Our stables, with sheep, cows, goats, or chickens gave us ready protein. Almost no one really starved. The Great Depression was much kinder to us than to urban areas worldwide.

The Great Depression of the 1930’s did have one very positive effect- it brought us all, in a very real sense, closer to God. Though they were unable to contribute a single cent to

January 2009

its upkeep, people literally blocked the church twice each Sunday, and they maintained it with their own free labour. The church thrived.

In those very lean times people really NEEDED God. God seemed very real to us all.

We knew He was the source of all things, that He really loved us. And we could depend on him for all our needs.

Our God, and His church, seemed to be the most important things in our lives.

For many years now we have had plenty (too much?) of everything. Virtually anything we wanted we could, with our own money, and our credit, buy, and take home. And, of course, we’ve been very generous to ourselves.

Unfortunately, far too many of us, with all our money and resources, really felt any pressing need for God. We were always able it seemed, to take care of ourselves. Indeed, modem science and medicine could not only protect and heal us, but also resuscitate usbring us back from the dead!

ouring pigment in our skin called “melanin”. If we produce a little melanin, it means that our skin will be a very light brown. If our skin produces a great deal of melanin, we will be a very deep brown. We have the same skin colour after all. We are still all of “one blood”, even though we just have different shades of brown skin today.

It is very unfortunate that some Christians manifest prejudice against other believers on the basis of colour, nationality, background, or socioeconomic class. Some selfrighteous Christians even de-

columnist Ronald Clarke

So, it seems we’ve lost our close contact with God, haven’t we? Churches, therefore, are pining away. Younger people stay away in droves. Finances are critical. Is religion doomed?

Could it be that another great depression is necessary to bring us back to God? Certainly if another does come, we will not be as fortunate as our forefathers were. Why not?

Well, where are most of our natural resources now? The sea is almost empty of fish.

And how long would our land creatures last? And where are our family farms today?

In a great depression today, we would need our loving God like never before! So, let us pray….and batten down the hatches.

spise non-believers. We must deplore this Christian superiority attitude towards others. We should be humble toward one another (Philippians 2:3-4).

Jesus teaches us to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:31). Thus prejudice is firmly condemned.

Do you want to send a photo & story to Anglican Life?

Submitted by Bishop Donald Young

The Rev. Samuel Rose, the newly appointed Editor of Anglican Life in Newfoundland & Labrador, asked if I might share something of my recent experience in sending photos and a story to Anglican Life.

As many would recall, I spent a number of years as Editor in Chief of The Newfoundland Churchman and also Associate Editor for the Central Diocese. During that tenure and, of course, with the same mindset in the way we used to do things, I thought the process had not changed a great deal.

Having attended a parish event, I took some photos and immediately had them sent to a photo agency to obtain prints. In the meantime I had prepared the captions which I would neatly attach with scotch tape to the photos and mail to the Editor. Suddenly, with my lack of technological skills, I called Rev’d Rose and inquired if there might not be a simpler way.

My photos were on a digital camera and my captions were typed on my computer.

And within minutes and, of course, with my daughter’s guidance, I emailed the Editor at samrose@nl.rogers.com and he had the photos and the story information in a flash.

It’s simple, even I could do it!

ANGLICANLife

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January 2009

Prison Ministry Continued from page 1

about prisoners and whether His Church was visiting them and Him in them…‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:40).

Strong stuff!

We preach liberty to the captives but we are careful not just to preach with words. The Bible is very clear about the relation of faith and works. Your chaplaincy is involved in the works of faith through encouraging healing of individuals and relationships and enabling inmates and their families to connect with the Church and their communities outside of the prison walls (James 2:14-26) Outside of the prison your chaplaincy continues its ministry. We developed and funded an information pocket-card of help agencies in the Avalon which is given to every inmate released from HMP or the St. John’s lock-up. Correctional authorities were so impressed that they have promised to take it on themselves and fund it for all provincial correctional facilities in the future!

Last spring St. John’s hosted a conference for Federal Correctional Chaplains.

We are now much better connected with chaplaincies in federal penitentiaries increasing our ability to follow up with inmates who wish to stay connected with the church for their return to Newfoundland.

Last fall (2007) we partnered with Prison Fellowship Canada in offering a training workshop for volunteers in prison ministry which included volunteers from nine different congregations and denominations as well as a Hebrew rabbinical student! We are involved with PFC in planning a post-release conference in the New Year (2009). This will bring together interested individuals, volunteers, churches, as well as representatives from different levels of government, health care and education workers, to find a way for us to work together locally and provide effective support and help to ex-offenders in rebuilding their lives and re-entering their communities after release from prison.

We work closely with other groups, pastors, leaders and churches (Turnings, John Howard Society, Community Services, Cornerstone Pentecostal, the Wiseman Centre, to name a few) to help build bridges from the penitentiary back into local congregations and the community.

Many local churches

across the province are involved in PFC’s Angel Tree programme, which ensures that inmates’ children are not forgotten at Christmas.

Through Prison Fellowship’s provincial contact (Carolyn Westin) your chaplaincy makes sure that those inmates who are incarcerated over Christmas but wish to send presents to their children at home are able to do so. Parishioners from local churches buy the requested presents and hand-deliver them to the children’s homes during the week before Christmas.

Chaplaincy provides hands on, effective ministry that connects with inmates and their families and lets them see and hear about the love of God in Jesus Christ. This is what we believe is an acceptable Christian prison ministry, and one that is offered on your behalf from a dedicated and devoted group of Anglican Christians ministering in the Avalon area and across the province. Your prayers for this ministry are coveted. It is Jesus’ ministry, that you are working through those who are sent into the prisons on your behalf.

And Jesus was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.

And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” (Luke 4:17-19) Should anyone want to support Prison Ministry financially please contact St. Thomas’ Parish Administrator (phounsellcollins@stthomaschurch.com).

The Rev’d John Paul Westin is the Eastern Diocesan Chaplain to Her Majesty’s Penitentiary and Rector of the Parish of St. Thomas’ in St. John’s

feature Queen’s College Student Profile: Gerry Poirier Submitted by Meaghan Whelan

When Gerry Poirier, a Twillingate native and member of the singing group, “The Split Peas” retired from social work in 2004, she realized that she wanted to do something new in her free time. With encouragement from Reverend Daphne Parsons, she decided to take the course Portraits of Jesus at Queen’s College. One course turned into another and then another, and now she is just one semester away from earning her Master of Theological Studies degree.

Gerry originally planned on coming to St. John’s, taking classes and going home again, but that was before she realized the familial atmosphere she had stepped into. “This place has a real specialness about it,” she explained. “It feels like a family that looks after each other.

We’re concerned about how people are doing academically, how people are handling the balance. You’re here to learn, but it is such a welcoming community.”

Gerry says when she tells people that she goes to Queen’s College, they assume she is on route to becoming an ordained minister. “The perception that

Q u e e n ’s College is Photo by: Meaghan Whelan solely for those looking to become ordained in the Anglican Church is one of the things I would like to s e e change,” she said. “I believe that I believed,” she explained. laypeople in the church have an After more than a year at active role to play in their own Queen’s, Gerry says her expeparishes and that Queen’s Col- rience has taught her that it’s lege is a resource that can help.” okay to not know all the answers, A good place to start is with but it is important to ask questhe Associate and Diploma pro- tions. “I don’t know if I’m getgram. An Associate in Theology ting any closer to figuring out focuses on developing pastoral what I believe – I think I am – skills and providing a theological but I’m learning that there is base for people who are exer- some mystery to it that you just cising leadership and ministry have to accept. So I have grown within their faith community. The since I’ve come here,” she exprogram is offered on campus plained. at Queen’s College, via corre“Studying can be hard and spondence, or a combination of long, but Queen’s is such a welthe two. coming, supportive place. I’m “You think that most people doing this because I want to, in theology school are there be- because I love to study. I belong cause they know what they be- here.” lieve and they want to deepen For more information about that belief. I came because I Queen’s College, visit wanted to understand what it is www.mun.ca/queens.

Fun times in Margaree

Photo by: Karen Simon

The St. Augustine’s Stewardship Committee and Friends in Margaree were busy this fall with their dinner theater. The first performance took place on November 1st and a repeat performance on November 22nd. It was a great evening with everyone having a great time

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16

ANGLICANLife

January 2009

‘Living our faith in action’ Making church Eastern Diocese launches new Ministry Plan

accessible Photo by: John Meade

A new elevator has been installed in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels in Deer Lake.

Photo by: Kevin Smith Dr. Harold Press (centre) speaks about the details of a new Ministry Plan for the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador.

Submitted by The Rev’d Sam Rose Editor

“Living our faith in action.”

These words serve as the motivation for a new Ministry Plan adopted by the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador. The title “Living Our Faith in Action” is derived from the words of Bishop Cyrus Pitman himself, “As we work together to build the Kingdom of God, let us continue to journey, pray, and serve together, as we live out our faith in action.”

Building on the results of a Diocesan wide survey in 2007, the Ministry Plan lays out seven priority issues: 1) Spiritual Development; 2) Evangelism; 3) Parish Life; 4) Social Justice, Outreach, Service, and Advocacy; 5) Inspirational Leadership; 6) Stewardship of all our Resources; and 7) Sound Administrative Practices. The entire document itself can be found on the Diocesan website under: http://anglican.nfol.ca/ publications.php or can be obtained through your clergy.

The Plan invitesAnglicans to commit to not just doing mission, but to be a people of mission. That is, to allow every dimension of church life to be shaped and directed by our identity as a sign, foretaste and instrument of God’s reign in Christ.

The Diocesan Survey received 3,310 responses.

Sixty-five percent of the respondents were female and thirty-five percent were male.

The largest age demographic (twenty-eight percent) who responded were between the ages of 60-69 years old. The smallest response (seven percent) came from those under the age of 30 years. The Sur-

vey was mostly completed by Anglicans on a Sunday morning at worship where sixtynine percent said that they attended church every week.

Generally, the results to the Survey questions were affirmative. There was very little disagreement over the importance of Worship, Congregational Development, Evangelism, Pastoral Care and Fellowship. However, questions concerning Current Issues facing the Anglican Communion and Financial Stability received the lowest numbers.

It may be said that since many Anglicans seem to be content with their parishes and Diocese, why launch such a Ministry Plan focused on mission? Considering the fact that Parish Statistics report that there are over 60,000 identifiable Anglicans in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador, the Survey represents only a fraction of those the Church needs to reach out with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself prophesized, “The fields are ripe for harvesting.”

It seems that theAnglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador has much mission work to do in their own backyard.

In a report to the Diocese, Archdeacon Geoff Peddle revealed through his study of the Anglican Church in the province that perhaps more than anywhere else, the Anglican Church has the strongest presence in the lives of people.

However, there is a dark side to the positive. Anglicans in the Diocese can easily form “tribes” where ministry is focused on self-preservation rather than mission and outreach. The Ministry Plan is a call to reach out beyond the needs of individual congregations and to focus outwards

at the needs of the world.

Archdeacon Peddle is completing a PhD Thesis in Anglican Identity in Newfoundland & Labrador.

To quote the Ministry Plan document, “Imagine a world where every human being would live in freedom and dignity. Imagine a world in which we would shed the same tears when a child dies in Darfur or Heart’s Content. Imagine a diocese in which ordained and lay Christians work together collaboratively. Imagine a diocese which is fully engaged with the call of God to be a people of justice and peace.

Imagine a parish where leadership and responsibility are shared. Imagine a parish where there is an abundance of gifted people who can become excited by a vision of what God can do with and through them. Our journey over the next several years will take us to places where all these things are possible.”

The document continues, “Our journey will focus on strengthening relationships, seeking new opportunities for mission, engaging in conversation, learning from ourselves and from others, responding to the yearning for spiritual nurture in the wider community, being inspired by young people in the way they connect, embracing diversity, searching for balance, striving to sustain the earth, enabling all the gifts across our Church, discovering new ways to walk with the disadvantaged and disengaged, examining challenges with different eyes and being prepared to take risks, and celebrating all that we do with grace and joy. While our journey will be a challenging one, we will never arrive unless we set out.”

Submitted by The Rev. Canon John D. Meade Rector Parish of Deer Lake

Shortly after my arrival in February 2005, I was confronted with a long-standing building issue at St. Michael & All Angels, Deer Lake; the many steps up to the worship area and down to the hall. Several parishioners informed me of their inability to attend worship and fellowship events.

This was not acceptable. So, a committee was struck, an engineer secured and a solution investigated, planned and the cost estimated.

In December of that year, armed with a proposal, we presented at a congregational meeting and requested the financial support of our people.

When the commitment cards were tallied, we were short of our goal, thus we had to postpone construction. Because some submitted their offering with their commitment card, Vestry decided to establish an Accessibility Fund to grow the

capital to fund the project.

Thankfully in 2006 and 2007, many were faithful in honoring their commitments and the fund grew considerably. By our Annual Meeting, Vestry determined that, as our fund was healthy, we should move ahead with project and unanimous approval was granted.

With fifty percent of the funding from our Accessibility Fund and Savings Account, and the remainder in loans and grants from the Anglican Foundation and Diocesan Loan Fund, we were good to go.

Construction began in July and continued into October. This project saw the installation of a three-stop elevator accessible from the parking lot, and the renovation of our washrooms to meet accessibility standards.

In early November, a provincial inspection certified the elevator, and it was used, at worship, for the first time on November 9. On November 30, we held a congregational celebration in thanksgiving for this project. It is our intention to expand our outreach ministry to capitalize on this investment.

Photo by: Parish of Rose Blanche

A service was held on Remembrance Day 2008 at St. Thomas’ Church, La Poile.

Pictured: (l to r): Tara Bond, Curtis Organ, and Arlene Vautier.