ANGLICANLife
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May 2010
ANGLICANLife MAY 2010
in NEWFOUNDLAND
&
LABRADOR
Boomer’s Legacy
A Section of the ANGLICAN JOURNAL
Anglican Life Appeal See inside page 11 for a special message from the Bishops of Newfoundland & Labrador
Members of the ACW, St. Peter’s, Upper Gullies pose with the almost 500 caps they and other members of the congregation knitted for the children of Afghanistan. Rector, Fr. Mark Nichols (far left) and Associate Priest, Fr. Gary Hussey (far right)pose with the ladies after the blessing. Article & Photo Jack Morgan
Not many are familiar with the name Andrew Eylelenboom, but his memory is alive and well among parishioners at St. Peter’s, Upper Gullies. Corporal Andrew James Ekelenboom, a soldier with the Canadian Armed Forces, was tragically killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in August of 2006, He was 23. Nicknamed ‘Boomer’ by his fellow soldiers, Andrew recognized numerous opportunities for assisting the Afghan people through the distribution of medical supplies, educational material, books and warm clothing. In small, personal ways, Boomer and his comrades felt they were able to make a special contribution to bringing peace and stability to the war torn land. ‘Boomer’s Legacy’ has been created to further these accomplishments.
The family of the late Corporal wanted to remember their loved one in a special way, and among other efforts, created the ‘Boomer’s Caps’ project. The initiative helps support the women and children who face the harsh, cold winter weather without benefit of warm clothing. Family and friends have organized a drive across Canada for interested parties to donate caps for babies and young children. “These caps are not only useful, but also deliver a message that there are caring people in the world who want to work towards a better tomorrow”, said a message from Boomer’s family. June Drover, long time member of the ACW at St. Peter’s was told this story from one of her customers, a retired Anglican Priest. She took all the details to the ladies group, who not only agreed to knit hats for Afghanistan children, but promote the idea throughout the entire congregation. And her
effort paid big dividends. The ACW and other parishioners, up to press time of this article, had contributed almost 500 caps!! That’s 500 children who will be warmer and more comfortable because of the efforts of the ACW and congregation of St. Peter’s, Upper Gullies. The caps will be shipped to Afghanistan via the Canadian Armed Forces, St. John’s. Fr. Mark Nichols is very proud of his flock. “This project of our ACW not only honors the memory of a fallen soldier, but also helps so many needy children in Afghanistan. I was blown away when I saw how many caps were brought forward Sunday to be blessed. A small but powerful act of Christian kindness in the midst of something as horrible as war”, said the Rector. St. Peter’s congregation sends a big thank you to the ACW for their Christian kindness.
Leave a Legacy See inside pages 8 & 9 for stories and information on Gift Planning
SERVING THE ANGLICAN DIOCESES OF WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND + CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND + EASTERN NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
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Saint Luke’s fight homelessness Article Sandra Piercey
As homelessness knows no age, and because we are blessed to have a wonderful, caring community of helpers, we chose to become involved in CBC’s very worthwhile project: Raising the Roof on Homelessness. Raising the Roof is a national campaign that gives people from all walks of life the chance to raise funds, raise fun and raise awareness in the fight against homelessness in Canada. Debbie Manuel and Lorraine Courvoisier spearheaded the Pancake Breakfast event at Saint Luke’s Homes and had a great response from many of the residents, managers, staff, board members, Auxiliary and volunteers who were eager to participate. We were encouraged by the support and par-
ticipation from many who are affiliated with Saint Luke’s Homes in some way. It is remarkable to see people come together for such a worthwhile cause and to bring joy to such an event through laughter and dancing, to the wonderful music of Wince Coles and Dave Wilson, and overall fellowship with such a positive community. Saint Luke’s Homes are pleased to say we were able to raise $1,234 toward the fight against Homelessness and are thrilled to have been involved in such a worthwhile cause. As tradition is an enormous part of Saint Luke’s charm and legacy, it is only fitting that the Pancake Day fundraiser becomes part of the future as well. Already we are looking forward to participating in next year’s event and possibly expanding our efforts
to help the ultimate cause of the fight against homelessness. Together we have made a difference in helping others. About Saint Luke’s Saint Luke’s Homes provides
affordable housing in long-term care for those who need it. In addition to the nursing home, we provide affordable housing to seniors in our 54 Cottages, located on the grounds of Saint
Luke’s, and to 76 apartments at the Bishop Meaden Manor located on McLoughlan Street, St. John’s.
Should a lawyer prepare your will? Article Derek Hillier, Q.C.
It is important to have a Will and it is equally important that the Will address all of the issues that may arise on the distribution of your assets after your death. While it is possible to prepare a Will on your own, if mistakes are made by you in preparing your Will, that may create significant problems for those you intend to benefit from the Will. Even where a lawyer prepares your Will, if your wishes are not clearly expressed in your Will, there may be a dispute and a possible court action. In such instances, the value of your estate may be reduced by paying the expenses involved in resolving the dispute. In one Newfoundland and Labrador case a person with significant assets left a portion of his estate to a variety of named charities. The Court held that the bequest was too vague and uncertain for proper distribution of the assets and was invalid. Therefore, the wishes of the person who made the Will were unable to be honored in the way that he intended. It is even more important for a person who has medical issues, which arguably could impact his or her decision-making
ability, to have a lawyer assist him or her in the preparation of a Will. Whether the intended bequest is to an individual or to a charity, all necessary steps must be taken to ensure that the Will is accepted as valid by a court after the person’s death. Having a lawyer prepare your Will is no guarantee that someone will not object to the validity of your Will, but the lawyer will
be able to document the necessary evidence to establish that the Will was properly executed by you and that you were competent to sign the Will. According to a 2009 Newfoundland and Labrador Court judgment (Lethbridge Estate v. McCormack, 2009 NLTD 86), Mr. Lethbridge left his entire estate to the husband (Mr. Green) of one of his nieces. The Court noted that five of that niece’s siblings, a cousin and two brothers-inlaw claimed that Mr. Lethbridge did not have the capacity to make a Will or that,
if he did, Mr. Green exerted undue influence on him. The law is that if Mr. Lethbridge did not have the capacity to make a Will, the Will would be invalid. If Mr. Green exerted undue influence on Mr. Lethbridge, then the Will could also be invalid. However, the Court held that the Will was a valid Will, that Mr. Lethbridge knew and approved of the contents of his Will when he signed it and that Mr. Lethbridge was competent and had the mental ability in law to make a Will when he signed his Will. The C o u r t stated that the lawyer “was attuned to the nuances of [Mr. Lethbridge’s] relationship with his family and realized that [Mr. Lethbridge’s] initial reticence when he met with the lawyer did not indicate that he was mentally incompetent but only that Mr. Lethbridge was an intensely shy, even painfully shy person.” The Court stated that there was no evidence that anybody (including Mr. Green) influenced Mr. Lethbridge as to whom he should leave his property. The Newfoundland and Labrador Court also stated that there was no evidence that
Mr. Green or his wife knew that Mr. Lethbridge was making a Will or that Mr. Green had contact with Mr. Lethbridge or his lawyer in the two months prior to signing the Will. The Court considered the evidence of Mr. Lethbridge’s lawyer about his contact with Mr. Lethbridge in five meetings over a period of about two months and stated that Mr. Lethbridge chose “Green because he believed that Mr. Green was frugal like he was, would use the property in his estate wisely and was strong enough to resist the forcefulness of the Lethbridge family ..... He knew what he wanted
and he held out until he got it”. Therefore, the evidence of Mr. Lethbridge’s lawyer concerning the preparation and execution of his Will helped the Court reach a conclusion that Mr. Lethbridge’s Will was valid and binding. While the foregoing addresses broad principles in preparing wills and their validity, there are other technical matters relating to witnesses and the execution of wills, any of which can invalidate a will if not adhered to. The professional services of a lawyer can be of great assistance to ensure that your assets are received by those you choose.
ANGLICANLife
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May 2010
She could not ignore God’s call Article Allison Billard
You just can’t ignore God’s call. That is what Beatrice Hope discovered on her faith journey, which has taken her to Queen’s College - more than 10 years after God first called to her in a dream. This mother of three grown children, and grandmother to two little boys, Jonah, 5, and Owen, 1, has had an incredible journey of discovery and healing on her way to accepting and answering God’s call to ordained ministry. Born and raised in Nain, on the northeast coast of Labrador, Beatrice is from the Moravian church. As a child, she attended church from time to time and was a member of the junior English choir as a teen. It wasn’t until later years that she became involved in her faith in a more active way. She remembers the first time God called to her, like it was just yesterday. It was a Friday night in 1995 - she had a dream, and a voice said to her “I am the Shepherd, you are the sheep, follow me.” On Sunday, the sermon was about the Good Shepherd. She was floored - what did this mean? What should she do?
She spent a year praying on this. She was dealing with a number of personal issues and she wanted healingmorethananything. It was time for a change, it wasn’t enough to be a Sunday Christian anymore. “I decided I was going to make Jesus number one,” she said. “It was time for Him to be a part of my whole life, every day.” As a part of this change, she had to overcome her own personal challenges. She called an emergency family meeting, she wrote grief letters, and she prayed fervently to heal her own heart. Battling depression she prayed - and was suddenly filled with the warmth and love of the Holy Spirit. She saw the light and was comforted. That was a turning
point, but she was still uncertain about her calling. “I’m not a leader,” said
Beatrice tried to run from her calling. She has many stories of her encounters with the Holy
Queen’s College student Beatrice Hope
Beatrice. “Why was God calling me?” Like the prophet Jonah,
heart on her birthday in 2003. Her first attempt at meditation left her awestruck as she sat surrounded by warmth and light. There have been many trials on her journey so far, but each time that she called out to the Lord he rescued her and showed her His love. While she admits it is difficult to be away from her husband and family in Labrador she is grateful for the opportunity to be studying at Queen’s College. “I attend Queen’s College because it is closer to home than Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where the Moravian seminary is located,” said Beatrice. “Should I have to travel unexpectedly it would be much easier, physically and financially, to get home to my family.” She is thankful to her spiritual advisors and the professors who are always willing to help in any way they can. Upon ordination, Beatrice hopes to be able to return to her hometown of Nain and help others find the healing that she has found in Jesus Christ.
Spirit - how God called again and again. She was finally granted peace in her troubled
New fund officer for Queen’s College Article & Photo by Tom Pope
The Board of Directors, Queen’s College Foundation is pleased to announce that Ms. Gerry Poirier has been appointed as its Fund Development Coordinator. She assumed her duties (half-time) on February 15, 2010. Gerry is a resident of Twillingate who retired in 2004
as a social worker. Since then, she has completed at Queen’s a Master of Theological Studies Degree. (For more information on Gerry se the February 2009 edition of Anglican Life) The Board, in deciding upon the qualifications for coordinator notes that above all is a commitment to theological education in general and to Queen’s College in particular. Gerry met that and the remain-
Fund Development Coordinator Ms Gerry Poirier
ing qualifications admirably. The mission of Queen’s College is to prepare men and women for ordained ministry and to provide educational opportunities for those – lay or ordained – who seek to improve their understanding of theology and pastoral ministry.
Through its programs and community life, Queen’s College enables women and men to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The purpose of the Foundation is to raise funds in support of this mission. The Fund
Development Coordinator will be responsible, in conjunction with the Board, the Corporation and numerous volunteers throughout the whole province, for the development and implementation of various fundraising initiatives.
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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 8 Croydon Street Paradise, NL A1L 1P7 Email: samrose@nl.rogers.com Advertising Rates and other information may be obtained from: Bishop Donald Young 34 Fraser Road, Gander, NL, A1V 2E8 Phone: (709) 256-7701 Email: jointcommittee@nfld.net Subscription Rates: Newfoundland and Labrador: $15.00 Outside the province: $20.00 International: $25.00 New subscriptions, cancellations, & changes of address should be sent to: Circulation The Anglican Journal (attn. Bev Murphy) 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 3G2 (416) 924-9192 (O) (416) 925-8811 (fax) Email: circulation@national.anglican.ca Each parish is responsible for maintaining its own subscription list - please notify your parish office of any changes. Changes sent to parish offices may take months to take effect. Please also send your updated information to Circulation at the Anglican Journal (above) or to Don Young at 34 Fraser Road, Gander NL A1V 2E8. Articles and photographs: Send to the Editor-in-Chief (above) Parish Bulletins and Letters to the Editor: Send to the Editor-in-Chief, Sam Rose (address as above). All letters must include the writer’s name, address, and telephone number. Telephone numbers will not be published. Anglican Life does not publish letters under nom de plume. Letters should not exceed 300 words (one double spaced typewritten page), and are subject to editing at the discretion of the editor. These policies were adopted by the Anglican Life Committee. 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: 23,058
Keeping Sabbath The Biblical origins for keeping the Sabbath/Sunday are connected with the stories of Creation and the Exodus. We are told in Exodus 20 that God rested on the Sabbath day and blessed it, while Deut 5 tells us that God commands us to keep Sabbath because He brought the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt. In the Genesis story God models for us a day of rest. The two concerns of the Sabbath are holiness and social justice. Sabbath means ‘to stop’ and on the Sabbath there is no work so that everyone is equal in the way God intended. To cease from work on the Sabbath is presented as a command, not an option. This includes refraining from activities that may cause others to work. Resting on the Sabbath makes us free, not just from working but to experience true freedom. For Christians there are four basic questions related to observing Sunday: How we do we keep it holy? Where do we find rest? What makes us free? How do we celebrate the Resurrection? Jewish teaching identifies four dimensions in keeping Sabbath: everyone is equal
one day a week; it represents freedom for everyone; it is a foretaste of heaven; and it provides time to reflect on the meaning of our life. Marva Dawn has written a book entitled Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting,
Embracing, Feasting. We call Sabbath/Sunday holy and it used to be called the Lord’s Day. How can we ensure that it is the Lord’s day and it is holy? We have to make it different than the other six days to remind us that it belongs to the Lord. What can a Sabbath be like? Read Psalm 23 as one example. Sabbath rest is not just for
let us pray The Rev’d Everett Hobbs
human benefit but for the whole creation. We are constantly using nature for our own use, largely without restoring what we take. The environment needs rest as much as we do, we need to slow down from busyness and rush, to recognize our addiction to work and activity, and learn just ‘to be.’ Setting aside a Sabbath helps us to look at life in a more detached manner, seeing the injustices and rousing us to compassion for the needy. The Sabbath was instrumental in shaping Judaism, in giving it an identity as God’s People and nurturing the community of faith. In the same way, Sunday can make a difference to the Church as a counter-culture in a world marked by consumerism and constant activity There is a Jewish saying that when you keep the Sabbath, the Sabbath keeps you. Some books: Seeking Sabbath (David Sheppard), Mudhouse Sabbath: Eight Spiritual Practices I Learned from Judaism (Lauren Winner). Receiving the Day (Dorothy Bass)
ANGLICANLife
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May 2010
From L’Anse au Loop to Cameroon On Friday, March 12, St. Paul’s Church, L’Anse au Loup, was the scene of a wonderful, uplifting time of praise and worship for nearly 100 people from various churches of the area as the Parish of Forteau hosted the World Day of Prayer Service prepared by the Committee for the World Day of Prayer of Cameroon and sponsored by the Labrador Straits Ministerial Association. The United Church musicians and choir supplied leadership for the music, with readers from several denominations. The Pentecostal pastors were the “Cameroonian lady and man.” We viewed a slide show about the life and people in Cameroon, the problems they face on a daily basis, how they try to help themselves, and how we in “the West” can help them. We learned how they praise God in all situations, positive or negative, in work or leisure, and even at the time of the death of loved ones.
Dear Editor,
World Day of Prayer. Christians from different denominations gathered in L’Anse auLoop, Labrador to worship and learn more about the Church in Cameroon, Africa. Submitted by Parish of Forteau.
Charitable Bequests A Will is a legal document that expresses wishes regarding the distribution of the owner’s property following death. Dying without a Will means the ability to express such wishes is not exercised. In the absence of a Will, provincial legislation dictates the distribution of the estate based solely on the relationship/kinship individuals had with the deceased (e.g. legal spouse). This division is totally inflexible. A Will provides the opportunity to name specific charities as beneficiaries and to detail the size and nature of the bequest. Gifts to charity by Will are called charitable bequests. It is vital that the chari-
Letter to the Editor
ty’s full legal name be used in the Will otherwise the bequest may fail, thereby creating an intestacy. Charitable bequests can be made for philanthropic reasons and belief in the charity’s purpose, or for income taxplanning, or both. It is therefore important to understand how charitable tax credits work as careful planning can reduce or possibly eliminate income taxes owed at death and therefore benefit the charity and not the taxman.
Charitable bequests from a Will can be in the form of cash or asset, for example, publicly traded securities, employee stock options and ecologically sensitive land. In fact, it can be more tax efficient to gift the a s s e t rather than sell it and gift the cash. A charitable bequest in a Will is shaped by an individual’s values and personal priorities as income tax incentives only support existing values and priorities. In establishing an es-
tate plan, it is therefore important for an individual to review their personal experiences and determine whether a charity has touched them. Through consultation with legal, tax, and financial advisors, an informed decision can then be made which balances personal and family needs with philanthropic wishes. Submitted by Don Butler Wealth Advisor Tel: (709) 576-1356 Toll Free: 1-800-563-1514 don_butler@scotiamcleod.com
Deacon Chesley Lethbridge, of Lake Melville Parish, recently had published his second book, entitled “Stories of the Past.” Martha MacDonald, who wrote the Foreword, aptly describes him as a “master tale-teller.” The past is soon forgotten; Deacon Chesley has done his part to see that this does not happen. His stories remind us of our rich heritage and of some extraordinary individuals who, though long dead, have much to teach this generation about courage, devotion to duty, and faithfulness in all areas of life. It’s a particularly useful book for those who would understand Labrador’s rich culture: in particular I think of clergy, teachers, social workers, medical folk and newcomers. As well, it will strike a cord with many who have rural roots. I have not been asked by the author (or any one else for that matter) to recommend “Stories of the Past” but I heartily do so. (The book, incidentally, costs $16.95 and is available from the author at 15 Hamilton River Road, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador Stn B, AOP IEO) Francis Buckle (Archdeacon) Topsail, CBS, NL
LeDrew Lumber Company Ltd. Kelligrews, C.B.S. Newfoundland
Phone: 834-2051 Fax: 834-5520 We carry a full line of Building Supplies:
Doors, Wallboard, Paints, Plumbing Supplies and many types of Roofing, Sono-Tube Concrete Forms, Aluminum Doors as well as a full line of
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ANGLICANLife in pictures
April 11th, 2010 was a special day for St. James’ Church in Port aux Basques. We were delighted to have Bishop Percy Coffin confirm eleven candidates: Becky Bragg, Tori Dolomount, Amy Durnford, Natasha Mercer, Sarah Organ, Kelsey Porter, Breanna Walters, Kaitlyn Ward, Candace White, Tristan Butt and Liam Walters. It was also the last service for Rev. Clayton Billard as priest in charge, pro-tem. It was with sincere gratitude and affection that on behalf of the congregation Albert Osmond, Rector’s Warden and Bessie Blackmore, People’s Warden presented Rev. Clayton and Violet with a token of our appreciation. A pot luck lunch was held following the service to celebrate both these events.Submitted by Kay Short
Members of St. Peter’s ACW Catalina visited Mrs. Annie Freake on her 96th birthday Members of St. Peter’s ACW, Catalina visited Bertha Stickley on her 90th birthday on 22 February 2010. Submitted by Minnie Lane. on March 12. Bertha is a long time member of the ACW. Submitted by M. Lane.
Cross Boss
Poetry by Robert LeMessurier Maddox Cove, NL
Burning-off the fog of morning, Sun, its job, and rays, adorning; Soon, it has the upper-hand, Spreading warmth throughout the land. What would we do without its aid, Its hands upon our landscape, laid; Where would we be, without its light, Clearing the way, from darkest night. The Lord’s like that, in case you wondered, Rising after rain has thundered; ‘neath His rainbow, gold is found, elusive, yes, but most, profound.
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May 2010
Terry Caines ordained
The Church of the Holy Spirit on Fogo Island was the scene of a very special occasion on November 30, 2009 when Rev. Terry Caines was ordained as Priest by the Rt. Rev. David Torraville. Also in attendance was the Rt. Rev. Percy Coffin of Western Newfoundland along with several visiting clergy, as well as members of Rev. Terry’s family. Louise Coffin provided the music and the Choir sang a selection Be Thou My Vision. After the service a cup of tea was held at the Town Hall, Seldom, where Rev. Terry was presented with gifts and a cake made & decorated by Lucy Hart, Island Harbour. The Church of the Holy Spirit wishes Rev. Terry and his family many years of ministry in the Church of God. Submitted by Blanche Bennett
Sunday School teachers appreciated
On February 14, 2010, during Teacher Appreciation Week, the Education Committee of St. Augustine’s Parish in Stephenville presented tokens of appreciation to their Sunday School teachers for their hard work and dedication. Sunday School teachers are (from left to right): Sandra Lewis, Janice Candow , Maureen T iller (Education Committee representative), Kelli Baker, Sherry McNeil and Roma Blundon. Second Photo: Sunday School teachers (right to left): Lorna Carter and Amanda Hulan. Submitted by Caren Noseworthy & Sandra Lewis
Bonavista Choir entertains Bay L’ Argent During the weekend of March 13 to 14, 2010, the Parish of Bay L’Argent was entertained by a “small” group of men from the Christ Church Men’s Choir from Bonavista. On Saturday the choir was at St. Paul’s in Jacques Fontaine for a pot luck supper prepared by the vestry of St. Paul’s. After
supper the choir entertained the congregation at a prayer and praise service officiated by Rev. Ken Abbott at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. On Sunday the choir took in all three services scheduled by Rev. Abbott. The services were at The Church of the Transfiguration (Boat Harbour West); St. Peters Church ( Grand La Pierre) ; and St. Mark’s Church (Baine Harbour). Before service at St. Mark’s the choir were fed
with a pot luck supper prepared by the Vestry of St. Mark’s. All services were prayer and praise. All congregations were very overjoyed with the choir and each congregation asked the choir to return later in the year. The members of the choir were: Gordon Hiscock (Musical Director); Reg Butler (base Guitar); Robert Pardy (accordion); singers : William Abbott(Rev. Abbott’s brother), Marvin Durdle, and Jim Thompson. Submitted by Clayton Johnson.
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ANGLICANLife online: www.anglicanlife.blogspot.com
The legacy of Roy Ash Roy Ash, a cradle Anglican, supports his Church through his weekly givings, special gifts and planned gifts. I met Roy several years ago and have been blessed to know him. He is an incredible person, a marvellous Christian and a good steward. I was privileged to hear and read his story through his personal memoirs which describe why he is the person that he is. The following is but a small part of the story of Roy Ash and his legacy. Victor Leroy (Roy) Ash is and always has been very much involved in and supportive of the Anglican Church. Roy, a parishioner of St. Michael’s and All Angels in St. John’s, was born in 1919 – one of a twin. He was considered the runt of the two and was not expected to live. In fact, his aunt kept him alive by wetting his lips with milk, honey and brandy. Later he commented that it was a wonder he didn’t become an alcoholic. His father Ernest worked with the railroad and was often away from home for long stretches at a time so his mother Mary was left to take care of the home, set the rules and see that they were carried out. His mother was very active in church organizations and she and Roy attended St. Mary’s Church, on the south side at the time. In his memoirs, Roy states that, “When I began teaching Sunday school, I would be in church three and four times a Sunday.” Roy felt his mother was a kind and caring person with a deep Christian faith. Because Roy was the eldest, the many chores that normally would be done by his father fell to him. Such duties includes shovelling coal, banking the stove at night, cleaning the oil lamps as well as repairing
shoes and boots for all the family. Support of the Church came early in his life. His first job was with a printing company on Duckworth Street where he worked six days a week for a grand total of four dollars. Of that princely sum, half of it was given to his mother for board and the other half was divided between his personal spending money and a collection for the Church. A similar story Roy relates has to do with raising money for the new St. Mary’s Church Hall in 1933-34. All the Sunday school children were asked to take a
Mr. Roy Ash
punch card which was divided into ten blocks. The youngsters were asked to sell a brick for ten cents each. Roy won a medal for having sold the most cards. The Church Lads Brigade has always been an important part of Roy. When World War two began Roy, like many of his colleagues in the CLB, enlisted in the 166th Newfoundland Field Regiment. He remembers the day they left St. John’s on the train – bound for the war zone. “Sunday April 14th was a very emotional day. As we marched down Long’s Hill.....it seemed all St. John’s
had turned out to bid us farewell. There was hardly a dry eye anywhere, the closer we got to the railway station, the more we had to fight our way through the crowds – all pretense of marching in formation was lost....The emotion was heightened by the sounds of sirens, bells from fire trucks and churches made it a day that no one will ever forget.” While overseas, Roy came to know about the Cowley Fathers – an Anglican Monastery in Oxford – where he spent some of his leave. This experience significantly changed his life. When he returned to St. John’s, he joined the Parish of St. Michael’s and learned how to serve the altar – a task he continued for many years. He also learned to appreciate the Anglo Catholic ritual of the Church as well as the Sung Eucharist and Solemn Evensong services. Roy began his own business eventually, ASKA Sales, which he grew and developed for many years until he retired. In the meantime, he was still involved as a member of the CLB, the Kiwanis and the Shriners. He has written a memoir – primarily for his children Ian and Glenys and his grandchildren. He speaks lovingly of his family and thanked his wife Louise for her sharing the challenge and joys of raising two fine children. Roy wanted them to understand the difficulties of growing up in the depression years and was grateful because his children and grandchildren did not have to experience those difficult times. Roy resides in his own home in St. John’s and faithfully attends St. Michael’s Church and Kiwanis. Thank you Roy for your legacy of love, Christian faith and good stewardship.
Tell Me More! Please send me: o A free brochure on writing a will o A quote on a Gift Plus Annuity o Information on other ways of giving o I have already remembered my church in my will Name _______________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Postal Code ___________________________________________________ Telephone ____________________________________________________ Dates of Birth (for annuity quote) If you are Male _______________________________________________ If you are Female ______________________________________________
Will seminar in Heart’s Content One of the popular ways to advance the cause of gift planning in a parish is to hold a Will seminar. The Parish of Heart’s Content held such an event in February with Diocesan Vice Chancellor John Babb in attendance. The information was much appreciated by those in attendance. Thanks to Rev’d Cathy Laskey for arranging this event.
Holistic stewardship Mail to:
Kevin Smith Gift Planning Consultant Anglican Church of Canada 10 Strawberry Marsh Rd St. John’s, NL A1B 2V4
During March, the Taking Care of God’s Business Task Group, Regional Deans and Stewardship Committee of the Diocese of Western Newfoundland, participated in a Stewardship Education Training Day led by Rev. Rob Waller, consultant with the Anglican Church of Canada, and Archbishop Douglas Hambidge (retired). While Congregational Development has been the focus of our Initiative during the past two years, the Diocese is encouraging the teaching and practice of a holistic understanding of stewardship. Archbishop Hambidge, author of The ‘S’ Word, provided us with tools, skills and wisdom to help facilitate an educational process throughout the Diocese.
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May 2010
A legacy of support
Leave your legacy by Kevin Smith
May is Leave a Legacy(TM) month and this is the 13th year that we have marked this initiative in Newfoundland and Labrador. I’m delighted to say that the Anglican Church of Canada is a partner in this program which is celebrated all across the country and throughout the United States. The goal is to encourage more people to get a legal will and to leave a bequest in that will for the charity of their choice Stats Canada suggested that a recent survey reported that almost 23 million Canadians, or 84% of the population aged 15 and over, made a financial donation to a charitable or non-profit organization during the 12-month period covered by the survey. During the same period, 12.5 million Canadians, or 46% of the population, volunteered their time through a group or organization. These rates were largely unchanged from 2004. The report also claimed that Canadians donated a total of $10 billion in 2007, up from $8.9 billion in 2004. In 2007, the average donation was $437, compared with $400 in 2004. These increases were not adjusted for inflation. Interestingly enough, about 91% of the population aged 15 and over in Newfoundland and Labrador made a financial donation to a charitable or non-profit organization during that time. This was highest among the provinces and territories, and well above the national average of 84%.Note as well that religious organizations (46%) were the biggest beneficiaries of charitable giving. They received more than three times the donations than did the second most popular type of organization health. In Newfoundland this year, the Legacy partners will be advertising in the local newspaper and running radio ads on a provincial radio station promoting the idea of gift planning. We are making progress. I believe strongly that some of that progress is due in no small part to the Leave a Legacy(TM) program. In the final analysis, planned giving is like planting seeds and therefore a long run proposition. The key is for the Church to get in front of the prospects, stay in front of them and be there when the time to move forward eventually arrives. Those prospects are our faithful parishioners, so let’s ensure they understand how leaving a legacy for their church is an expression of their stewardship intentions. Kevin Smith is a gift planning consultant for the Anglican Church of Canada. He can be reached at 709 739-5667 or by email at k_smith@nf.sympatico.ca.
Mr. & Mrs. Jack and Betty Noseworthy
Planned Giving donors are a special lot. It has been said that people who include the Church in their Wills are on a journey of faith – a journey that is very rewarding and connected to the theology of stewardship. Such were Jack and Betty Noseworthy of Mount Pearl. They were longtime members of the Church of the Ascension and both served in various capacities within the parish. The Church was a core part of their lives and through their wills, they continued with support through a planned gift. When I began my work with the Anglican Church in late 2000, I visited with Jack and Betty in between a couple of gift planning appointments in their area. While there, I explained to Jack and Betty about my work and what I was trying to do. Well, they both very
quickly told me that they had a number of bequests in their will for the Church but no one knew anything about it. I suggested it would be good if the rector was aware of this generous gift because it would give him an opportunity to say thank you (very important) and to talk about it publically (without mentioning names, if anonymity was requested). In this way, he could inform the congregation that the parish appreciates such gifts and encourage them to consider doing a similar gift. Jack and Betty took my suggestion and the rector at the time, The Rev. Geoff Peddle, was delighted and ensured that the Noseworthy’s were thanked appropriately. Betty passed away in 2005 and Jack in 2008 but they will not be forgotten, neither by
their families nor by their Church. Not only did they leave a bequest for their parish Church, the Ascension, but they also left bequests for St. Philip’s ( where Betty’s parents are buried) Harbour Grace ( where Jack was born) and for Queen’s College – an institution which was near and dear to their hearts. Jack lived in the Queen’s residents while he was a student at Memorial. Your Will is the final statement you will ever make to this world – the last opportunity we have in this life to proclaim the Good News and express our gratitude to God for the abundance we have received Jack and Betty surely used their wills as a statement of their beliefs. What a legacy! Thank you Jack and Betty.
St. Luke’s Homes An Anglican Enterprise
by Dr. Robert Sexty - Chair of St. Luke’s Homes Board of Directors
Saint Luke’s Homes in St. John’s operates a 125 bed nursing home, 54 clergy and family housing cottages, 76 apartments and an adult day program. Its mission is to provide affordable housing for seniors from independent living in Bishop Meaden Manor to complete care in the nursing home. Focus is on community care, respect and dignity, affordability and Christian values, with about 335 seniors served every day. The Mildred Boyce Cottage is available to anyone visiting residents of any faith-based nursing home. Saint Luke’s is blessed with volunteer support from the community, and in particular
from Anglican parishes. Financial contributions are an important aspect of this support. These donations allow the home to enhance residential care by paying for additional programs, equipment and furnishings. Recently, a campaign to replace an aging bus was undertaken and is nearing a successful completion. The Board of Directors and management are now developing a comprehensive giving plan so the Saint Luke’s can provide living options for seniors well into the future. To support Saint Luke’s, mail your cheque to:Anglican Homes Inc. 24 Road Deluxe, St. John’s, NL A1E 5Z7
Or, by credit card go on line and donate through Canada Helps at http:// www.canadahelps.org/ and enter Saint Luke’s Homes.
This page is dedicated to the memory of Canon Geoffrey Jackson my friend and colleague at Church House who passed away on January 5 at the age of 69 years. He left a legacy of marvelous service for his Church. - K.Smith
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Measuring Christian success Be honest. After having undertaken a new initiative in your parish how would you determine if it was a success? The money raised? The number of “bums in seats”? It would likely be a numerical measurement that would be reported to Vestry to show that you had accomplished something. But are big numbers really a demonstration of “success”? What is our mission? To spread the Word of God. The disciples were sent out into the world to spread the Good News, that was the mission. Some sources say that one third of the world’s total population identify as Christians. That is more than 2 billion people! The way I see it, the disciples and church leaders who followed them did a fine job of spreading the word
in those early days. They didn’t just spread the word, they converted the masses. In the early days it certainly was very valuable to see more people coming together to worship. We must keep in mind also
that while some areas are seeing declining attendance at church, there are some places where the Christian Church is growing rapidly. China now has more than 100 million Chris-
tians compared to just 5,000 40 years ago. In South Korea they say some churches often have tens of thousands of members each. While the congregation we belong to might be shrinking, the Church as a
whole is not. While I do talk a lot about the importance of growing the church, I think I have, on occasion, overemphasized the importance of getting more
people to come. It is not just about growing the congregation; it is about growing the faith. If we make our worship something wonderful that we truly love to be a part of, others will be drawn to that, and the numbers in the pews just might grow. If we are passionate about our faith, and willing to share it with others we will have succeeded. If nothing else, our services will be a place where we want to be: a time of worship and praise, a time for healing and growth, a time to prepare to spread the word using our own unique gifts. I use my gift here. Where do you use yours? What makes our worship something wonderful? That is up to each congregation. At my church we’re trying a number of new things to breathe some fresh air into our worship. We’re changing the music, we’re going a little mul-
columnist
Allison Billard
timedia, and we’re trying to have a little fun, and we’ve added a contemporary service on Saturdays. It has started out slowly and only time will tell if any of these changes are having any effect. But we decided it was time to try, and I’m excited to get some feedback from parishioners - I’ve been enjoying the new-ness of it all and I hope others have been too. Having celebrated Easter and the resurrection of our Lord into new life, and as we embrace the beginnings of Spring, it is perhaps the perfect time to try something new in our worship as well.
History of the Church in Topsail The year of 2010 is a very significant one for the Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Topsail. It was in 1860 that Bishop Edward Feild and the church authorities made the decision to establish another church in what is now the Town of Conception Bay South. The first Church of England building in this area was located in Foxtrap and appears to have been built in the 1840s after the appointment of the first resident clergyman, Rev. Benjamin Fleet. Considering that Conception Bay was one of the first and most populated regions within Newfoundland it is rather unusual that it was relatively late before the Church of England became established in this area. There are several reasons for this, but one of the main ones was geographic. At the time the economy of Newfoundland was based almost exclusively upon the cod and seal fishery. With its lack of harbours and location at the bottom of the bay it was not a very productive fishing area. In the first official Newfoundland Census’ taken in 1836 there was only a population of 643, listed as the South Shore, with no individual communities recorded, By comparison, Harbour Main had a population of 550 at that time, Port de Grave had 1029 residents, while Brigus came in at 1318. In the religious affiliation recorded for the South Shore
in 1836, there were 144 Roman Catholics; Protestant Dissenters 44 (Methodists and/or Wesleyan); Protestant Episcopalians 455 (Church of England). By 1845, the South Shore had a population of 812, with 595 being listed as Protestant Episcopalians. In the 1845 Census, the various communities along the “Shore” are listed. However, only three could boast of a population over 100, and of these Long Pond only had 135 residents. Since Foxtrap is located around the center of the area, it is not surprising that it was chosen to be the site for the first church building and the resident clergyman. By 1857, the population of the “Shore” had almost doubled to 1509 inhabitants with the greatest increase taking place in the Topsail to Kelligrews area. The reason for this growth can perhaps be best accounted to Newfoundland being granted Representative Government in 1832. It be-
came easier for residents to obtain legal title to property and this was an incentive to take out grants and clear land for agricultural purposes. In
lation of about 21,000 and it provided a significant market for vegetables, meat and dairy products, etc. , Undoubtedly one of the
addition, the Newfoundland Government undertook a substantial road building program that had by the mid 1840s provided a good access to St. John’s for communities in this area According to the 1845 census, St. John’s had a popu-
reasons Bishop Field had for choosing Topsail as the location for a second Church of England presence in this area was that the community was expanding rapidly. In 1857, the population of Topsail was 307 in contrast to just 118 in 1845.
Moreover, in 1857 there were 137 residents in Chamberlains and 120 in Manuels. The population of both Chamberlains and Manuels consisted almost exclusively of Church of England adherents. In fact, both these communities despite being much smaller than Topsail contained about three quarters of the Church of England population in the immediate area. Topsail’s population in 1857 was primarily Roman Catholic, with 186 residents, although there were also 59 Wesleyans. It is interesting to note that in the 1857 Census both of these faiths had a church in Topsail. One can speculate that maybe Bishop Feild was concerned about losing his flock to the competition! Whatever the reason, what emerges from the data contained in the 1857 Census is that Topsail was a vibrant community by 1860 Continued on Page 14 See “Topsail”
30 Roe Avenue, P.O. Box 348, Gander, NL A1V 1W7 Telephone: (709) 651-4100 Fax: (709) 256-2957 email: info@waltershoffe.com
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Help us share the Good News! Anglican Life Appeal
Dear Friends, As your Bishops, and as publishers of Anglican Life in Newfoundland & Labrador, we want to thank you for your continued support of our beloved Church Newspaper. Anglican Life (as did the former Newfoundland Churchman) has a long history of telling the Good News of what God is doing in our province. Anglicans have many great stories to share. We are blessed that Anglican Life is the means by which we can share our stories with one another and with the wider church. As we begin our Anglican Life Appeal, we once again respectively ask for your financial support. Your financial commitment ensures that your Church paper will continue to tell God’s story in our three dioceses for future years to come. We give God thanks for your support of Anglican Life! Yours in Christ, Bishop David Torraville Diocese of Central Newfoundland
Bishop Percy Coffin Diocese of Western Newfoundland
Bishop Cyrus Pitman Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador
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Quiet Day at Good Shepherd
The flock gathers at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Mount Pearl. A flock of ninety gathered at The Church of the Good Shepherd on March 13 for its annual Lenten quiet day. The event was held from 10 am – 3pm and featured worship, prayer, quiet time, lunch, and a series of talks by Archdeacon Geoff Peddle as per this year’s theme – “I am the Good Shepherd: I know my own and my own know me.” At the end of the day, prior to sharing in Holy Eucharist, participants were treated to a retelling of the Parable of the Good Shepherd by means of the Godly Play method. Submitted by: S. Haskell.
A ‘snowless’ Shoeboxes in Gillams Snowmobile Race in John’s Beach Article Sylvia Hann
On March 6, 2010, St. Ambrose Church in Johns Beach planned on having their annual ski-doo run but Mother Nature had different plans. The weather did not cooperate and we did not have enough snow. However, that did not dampen the spirits of the people or the fundraising efforts. Even without the snow, we raised approximately $1800 for the event. The ACW had prepared a wonderful meal which was served in the church hall and we had a beautiful day of fellowship. Participants for the skidoo were acknowledged in their fundraising efforts and prizes were awarded for the top five individuals. First place: Shauna O’Neal; Second place: David Hickey; Third place: Kevin Park; Forth place: Shawna Kervian; Fifth place: Alexandra Kervian. Plans are in the making for
next year’s annual ski-doo run and we are hoping that Mother Nature provides suitable weather. The Rev. Nellie Thomas is also making plans to participate in next year’s race and she is also praying for snow! On behalf of St. Ambrose Church, a huge thank-you is extended to all those who donated and raised money for the ski-doo run and to the ACW for hosting yet another successful day of fellowship.
St. James Church of Gillams in the Parish of Meadows again this year filled shoe boxes for Samaritans Purse and the children of Africa. Each year the boxes are growing and this year we filled a total of 46 boxes. The congregation eagerly took part to help make a child’s Christmas a little merrier and to feel the joy of the Christmas spirit. Submitted by Audrey Park (St. James -Gillams)
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May 2010
Church growth & Couch potatoes When we talk about congregational growth we usually think in terms of numbers. Numbers are very important. The bottom line is this: 1) Any human institution that does not develop an effective method of recruiting new membership (and leadership) to continue its mission will ultimately die; and 2) Any local church that does not care about bringing ‘outsiders’ into a relationship with its faith and its FOUNDER is ignoring a clear imperative of the New Testament. Hence, on the basis of sheer survival, as well as Scriptural imperative, every congregation must develop a strategy to acquire new members. This
may be much easier to do in growth areas but in many parts of rural Newfoundland/Labrador where communities are aging and decreasing in population, numbers become impor-
tant for other reasons. Congregational Development (Growth) is not only about increasing the number in the pews. It is also about spir-
itual growth, community, and missionary activity. The ability of a congregation to challenge, support and encourage each one of its members to grow in the maturity of their faith and to broaden their religious imaginations is also a growth issue. It is a matter of each of us being able to say, “My congregation needs to help me keep the dialogue going with God as I seek God’s intention and purpose for my life.” We are responsible for one another’s spiritual growth. How well we do that as a congregation is a
congregational growth issue. Another aspect of Congregational Development has to do with how we grow together as a community. This is where I believe smaller outport congregations have the edge over larger urban and suburban churches. The concern here is to grow together as a community, not in terms of size, but in terms of practices and processes that result in a dependable, stable network of human relationships. It is about becoming and being a community that generates life and energy and being pastorally responsible for each other. Finally, congregational growth is about how we become and how we grow as a missional church, preparing ourselves for God’s missionary activity. We do not feed the body to become couch pota-
straight talk
The Rev. Greg Mercer
toes; we feed the body because it needs energy to work. We come together as a congregation to be nurtured, to be fed by word and sacrament, and to be energized and then dismissed into the world to do ministry. Congregations need to look at what they EXPORT from their life together back into the life of the world and the social environment in which they exist. Any congregation that feeds itself and does nothing in terms of mission is nothing more than a ‘couch potato‘.
Lay Minister celebrates 25th year Article & Photo Harvey Locke
Every day of the year is probably the anniversary of some event or other, large or small, happy or sad, important or not. On Sunday, March 21, 2010, St. Mary’s Anglican Church of Clarenville celebrated a happy anniversary of importance to our church family: the 25th Anniversary of the Ministry of Hazel Cooper as a Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) in the Diocese of Central Newfoundland. Hazel was inducted into this ministry on March 17, 1985, while a member of St. Andrew’s Church at Trinity East. At that time, she would have been one of the first female LLMs in the province. She served in that parish until 2006. In that year Hazel and her husband moved to Clarenville, became members of St. Mary’s Church, and continued her ministry as a Licensed Lay Minister at St. Mary’s. Rev. Daphne Parsons (Rector of St. Mary’s) was celebrant for the service; Rev. Perry Cooper, Executive Of-
ficer of the Diocese of Central Newfoundland, Hazel’s son, preached the sermon. He also presided over a lively and interactive children’s story time. Several other members of the Cooper family were present: Marshall, Hazel’s husband; Glen, another son; Rev. Perry’s wife, Kalie; and their two children, Victoria and Jonah. Also in attendance was Harvey Locke, her eldest son, accompanied by his wife Mary. Stop a moment, now. Have you realized yet who was missing? Hazel was missing! The celebration of her ministry was to be a surprise. There were weeks of secret meetings and sneaking around corners by the planning group. Then, after all that intrigue, a day before the service, Hazel came down with a debilitating flu and had to take to her bed! It was a surprise, all right! The surprise was on us! The solution: a video of the whole service: if she was unable to come to her celebration, the celebration would come to her. Alex Phillips, a younger member of St. Mary’s, volunteered to do this task. Others attending in a sort
of ‘official’ capacity were Clyde Seward, 1st vice-president of the LLM Central Diocese Licensed Lay Minister Association and several of St. Mary’s own Lay Ministers. Clyde Seward brought a certificate of appreciation from the association for Hazel; while Rev. Perry, representing the Diocese, presented a certificate of appreciate on behalf of Central Diocese. Her husband, Marshall, accepted these on her behalf. This special service was held in the regular 11:00 a.m. time period, and the usual large congregation was present. Because this was also the third Sunday of the month, which made it ‘Birthday Sunday’, the congregation was even larger ....near capacity.
The St. Mary’s Music Trio and choir provided a lovely
Ms. Hazel Cooper
range of appropriate musical selections, including “Here I am
Lord” and “Jesus, You have come to the lakeshore”. Perhaps it was the plaintive call, ‘Whom shall I send?’ from that first hymn that led Hazel into this ministry 25 years ago. Music was an important part of this service, and Granddaughter Victoria, with piano accompaniment by Charlene Sawler, contributed a beautiful solo: “This is my Father’s world”. The service was followed by a reception in the church hall. Did anyone remember to bring home some cookies for Hazel to nibble on while watching her video? Congratulations again, Hazel, on your 25 years of service. Thank you. But don’t let your story end here: we look forward to your continuing ministry. Best wishes and God bless.
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James Noseworthy, 1774 Our History David Davis
This month’s document is a symptom of the times. In the second of half of the eighteenth century the growth of the reformist Methodist movement was sweeping England and penetrating its colonies. It had begun within the Church of England but gradually separated itself into a new church. The evangelistic nature of this movement had a profound impact on people, on how they expressed their faith. The experience of James Noseworthy and his wife is one of the touchstones of Methodism. James Noseworthy has a life threatening injury which is indicative of the poor state of medicine at this time, when the repairing of broken limbs was left to poorly skilled bonesetters. The high standards of limb repair which existed during the Roman and Greek times had suffered a gradual and catastrophic decline over the intervening centuries. Mr Noseworthy may feel with his injury worsening and his death in sight that his condition has become self fulfilling.
John Stretton, the person who wrote down James Noseworthy’s words, was born in Ireland and converted to Methodism. He was engaged in the Newfoundland fish trade and came to Newfoundland in 1773 settling in Harbour Grace where he was associated with Laurence Coughlan who had been sent as a missionary to Conception Bay by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG). Mr Coughlan had been appointed a missionary by the intercession of John Wesley, the leader of Methodism, whose disciple Mr. Coughlan had been. It appears that Wesley, who had been an Anglican priest, still retained his former contacts with the Church of England. Stretton became a lay preacher at Harbour Grace after Coughlan returned to England in 1773. If this information is correct the letter below was written to Coughlan in England. A good item on John Stretton can be found in the Newfoundland Encyclopedia. Volume 5 by Dr D.G. Pitt.
Topsail
The Document Harbour-Grace, November 4, 1774 Mr Coughlan, Reverend Sir, I Hope, that this will find you possessed of every Thing that can make you happy here, and filled with that Peace which the World cannot give, or ever take away. Suffer me, dear Sir, with the rest of your Friends in these Parts, to acquaint you with the Work of God upon my soul. When I first heard you preach, I went and searched the Scriptures, to find if Things were so; and I found that your Preaching and the word of God agree: Then I began to consider what State I was in, and the Lord was pleased to shew me, that I was a helpless Sinner. One day, when employed in my ordinary business I suddenly felt a depression of Spirit, and all the Sins I had ever committed stared me instantly in the Face: about one week I felt this guilty Load and I constantly prayed to be delivered from it; The lord heard my Prayer, and set my Soul at Liberty. I cannot say that I felt any sudden or instantaneous Change: but I found the Burden gradually remove, and Love of Jesus overpower my Soul: However, I can now say, in full Assurance of Faith that Jesus loved me, and gave himself for me: I find him very precious to me, and I do know, god for Christ’s sake, has forgiven my Sins. Blessed be God, I have been called to suffer and Affliction in this life; I am almost in continual Anguish, in consequence of a broken Limb, that was badly set; yet in the midst of my Pains, I can rejoice in the Lord and triumph in the God of my salvation - At present, I have a Persuasion that my Time here below is short and I bless God, I am ready whenever the Messenger comes. The Ground of my Persuasion is this: almost six weeks past, my Wife informed me, that she heard the most extraordinary and charming Musick in the World and then she heard it continually while awake: her Words seemed to me idle Tales, and I would not be persuaded , but that it was mere fancy and Imagination till, at last, about three Weeks past I began to hear the same myself: since which Time, it is a constant Attendant, while I am awake: in what Place soever I am. It is with me continually. It is different from any other Musick that ever I heard and it is most like the Sound of an Organ, according to the Description I have heard given of Organs; the sounds are many and various; the tunes which are Psalms or Hymn Tunes, “which many a Preamble sweet” are truly Heavenly, so that, if a Pause is made in it, but a Minute, I seem dejected for want of it: This makes me think that I shall soon be set at Liberty from the House of Clay, and delivered from the cumbrous Clod that now bows down my Spirit with Anguish _ I hope you will not look upon what I have said as wild and outrageous for I solemnly declare in the Presence of God that it is the very Truth - Glory be to my God, that ever I heard your Voice receive my Thanks; and may my God give you his BlessingI hope to see you in the Realms of Bliss, and to welcome you in the Mansions of Everlasting Repose: till then, Adieu: Continue faithful unto Death and your Master will give you a Crown of life. Yours &c. James Noseworthy N.B. The above extraordinary Account was related by James Noseworthy and corroborated by the Testimony of his Wife in the meeting and every Particular nearly as expressed above comes from his lips and was written by John Stretton.
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with a strong agricultural based economy. Just eight fishing boats were listed in 1857 with a combined catch of 373 quintals. In contrast the community had 678 acres of cleared land, which was just less than the 711 acres recorded for all the other communities combined. Its hay production was 164 tons, while the combined total for the others was just 163 tons. It had 37 horses, 11 neat cattle, 82 milch cows, 118 swine and goats. 1853 barrels af potatoes and 35 barrels of turnips were raised. In 1860, Rev. Charles Palariet was appointed to head up the newly-created Mission of Topsail and it was not long before his labours began to bear fruit. For example, in a leaflet prepared by The Old Church Preservation Committee it was noted that in Feb-
ruary 1860, James Harvey, a carpenter from St. John’s, was engaged to build the framework for Topsail Church. The church foundation was laid May 16, 1860. Construction continued that year, however, it was not until 1861 that the work was completed. Finally on June 18, 1861, Bishop Edward Feild came to Topsail to consecrate the church and churchyard which was dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. While the church was adequate to meet the needs of the congregation for over a century, by the late 1960s population growth in this area led to a need for a larger and more up to date facility. For example there was no basement or washroom facilities in the church and its heating source was a single coal burning stove.
Plans and a financial campaign were undertaken and as a result the corner stone for a new building was ready to be laid in 1972. The new St. John the Evangelist Church was completed in 1974 and was open for public worship in October of that year. Following the opening of the new church, the old building continued to be used on occasion—usually during the summer months. For many years the annual Flower Service has been held there. Numerous weddings took place there as well as the occasional funeral. This past summer, traditional evening prayer services were held in the old church each Sunday evening at 7:00. Five couples were married in the old sanctuary in 2009. Some years ago, the Town of Conception Bay South des-
ignated the old St. John the Evangelist in Topsail as a heritage structure. It has also been recognized by the Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Foundation. Clergy who have been stationed at Topsail in the old church include: Rev. Charles Palariet 1860-1867; Rev. George Hutchison 1867-1876; Rev. Canon Edward Culley 1877-1904; Rev.Canon Robert Temple 1905-1911; Rev. Canon Theophilus G. Netten 1911-1918; Rev. Arthur Pittman 1918-1934; Rev .. William Butler 19341943; Rev. Evelyn Clench 1943-1949; Rev. Joseph Goodland 1949-=1959; Rev. George Camp 1959-1964; Rev. Sidney M. Bradbrook 1964-1974. Clergy who have been stationed at the new St.John the
Evangelist: Rev. Sidney M Bradbrook 1974-1977; Rev. Canon Wilson Tibbo 19771985; Rev. Lloyd Collett 1985-1998; Rev. Canon Howard Hynes 1998-2008. The current incumbent is Archdeacon John Dinn. Story written by Howard Brown. Reprinted with permission from “The Shoreline”
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The Great Assignment Jesus imparted His teaching to His disciples for about three years. After His death and resurrection, Jesus gave His followers the Great Assignment. He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20a). Jesus told His followers to make disciples of all the nations. When we make disciples, we bid people to come and die to their old, destructive ways and to live for Jesus. The word “disciple” means a learner. A disciple is the student of a teacher. He is not one who has already learned,
but one who is always learning. The school-days of a disciple are never over. On the Day of Pentecost, the birthday of the church, three thousand new disciples were baptized after Peter’s spirit-filled preaching. The newly baptized remained in the church that they might be taught the truths of the Christian faith (Acts 2:41-47). Then they were able to go out and win others and teach them. Very often the best teachers are the ones who continue to learn by teaching. We, modern followers of Jesus, are given the same Great Assignment to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). We are called to make disciples while we are going
throughout the world and while we are going about our daily activities. It is a huge task. We cannot achieve this task without the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. We have learned from the early church that disciples were made before they could be taught. The churches functioned as schools for the baptized. We have no right to baptize anyone whom we cannot undertake to teach. Baptism marks the beginning of a process of learning under the Holy Spirit. All baptized people, including the selfconfident, the tares, the false teachers, the stubborn, the unteachable, the proud, the backsliders should be enrolled in the school of the Holy Spirit. We trust that the Holy Spirit is
A labour of love
willing and able to teach them. In the local church, the objective is that disciples should be able to keep on learning and growing in the Spirit. They can learn how to talk to God, how to tell Him their doubts and fears, how to thank Him, how to forgive and accept forgiveness, how to love others, how to develop personal talents and spiritual gifts, and how to deal with sins. Many can be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit in due course. Some Christians believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is evident in Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, which started with six people on May 15, 1958. Today Yoido Full Gospel Church is the world’s largest Christian con-
The Rev. Michael Li
gregation with over 850,000 members. The Christian Church is not perfect. But it is the responsibility of the local church to teach the baptized. The church is a group of learners. We are called to make more learners. We are all still learning from the Holy Spirit.
The Miracle Bird
Ronald Clarke
Over the years members of the ACW in the Church of the Ascension Parish in Mount Pearl have lovingly created beautiful items for charity. In the photo are a few of the dedicated workers displaying their handiwork: Pauline Sutton, Marjorie Loder and Rachael Andrews display afghans and lap rugs that they continue to do for nursing homes in St. John’s and Mount Pearl; and Norma Benson displays the finger puppets and baby hats that have been knit for the Janeway Children’s Hospital. This is only a small segment of the wonderful work that the ACW ladies do to support charitable causes within and outside the parish. Submitted by: Ruby Clarke & Jean Nash
columnist
My mother was thirteen that dreary long winter of 1919. Nearly everyone’s winter supplies of essential foodstuffs were gone, or almost so. Many people were hungry, some malnourished. Women and children were ill. My grandmother was very sick the last week of March and my Mother was terrified that she would die. Her dear mother especially needed protein. What could she do? First she prayed fervently for Divine help. She and her family firmly believed in a loving and providing Father God. She was certain that, somehow, He would help. Taking her bucket, she went into the nearby barrens
to search for any berries uncovered by the melting snow. After a few minutes, with a few handfuls of marsh berries in her bucket, she saw a bird, possibly a partridge, flying towards her. The bird landed a few feet away, then scurried into a low bush to hide. Hurrying to the bush, my mother cautiously reached inside and grabbed the bird. Strangely, the creature made very little attempt to escape. Clutching her prize, mother ran home to her father. Soon the bird made a nourishing soup for the sick grandmother, with plenty left over for further meals. Grandmother recovered and the whole family heartedly thanked God for his wonderful miracle. We don’t believe in miracles anymore. Old fashioned stuff. Too bad, because God can and does provide miracles today for those who truly believe inhim. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Isn’t it wonderful that our loving God is so “old fashioned”?
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you hLife
youth ministry in newfoundland & labrador
Corner Brook youth chosen Thank you Reuben PWRDF leader
Jennifer Renouf “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” (Proverbs 20:11) St. Michael and All Angels has been blessed over the years with its young people who have become faithful in their service to God and to the parish. We consider it a blessing to count Jennifer Renouf among those young people. Over the years Jennifer has served in many, many ministries at our parish. She is a youth delegate at Synod as well as serving as a youth representative on the Synod Executive for the Western Diocese. She is currently serving as a leader for the confirmation course. As well, Jennifer serves as a Lay
Reader and Eucharist Assistant in our parish. But Jennifer’s service doesn’t end with Parish work. In fact, her service is limited only to the extent to which the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund serves! Jennifer is one of just 10 youth chosen from across Canada to become one of the leaders in the PWRDF 50 Leaders initiative- an initiative undertaken to celebrate the 50th anniversary of PWRDF. Over the next 5 years, 50 youth leaders (including the 10 chosen for this year) will be chosen to participate in the 50 Leaders program. The program is designed to develop the God given gifts of our youth to make a difference in
our world; for participants to become a voice for justice; and to become leaders in our church. Each participant is completing a self directed learning experience based on the area of social justice that they are most passionate about. Jennifer’s passion is centred around “Fair Trade” and the importance of supporting fair trade products. Jennifer has been called by God to “Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:9” Fair Trade seeks to change the terms of trade for the products we buy - to ensure the farmers and artisans behind those products get a better deal. Most often this is understood to mean ensuring better prices for producers, but it often also includes longer-term and more meaningful trading relationships. Supporting Fair Trade means also supporting community development and sustainable environmental practices. Fair Trade Certified products have a minimum price that aims to ensure that producers can cover the cost of sustainable production. Jennifer recently organized a gospel concert to both raise funds for the program and to bring awareness to our area. Bless the performers who provided a wonderful and uplifting experience for all who attended and to Cindy Turner who spoke on behalf of the PWRDF. We, at St. Michael’s are very proud of Jennifer for opening her heart to God’s call. Bless her and all those who have been and will be chosen to become our leaders of the future! Submitted by Debbie Ford
Reuben Bonnell receiving a plaque for his years of serving as a server at St. Hilda’s , Bay L’Argent. Reuben started as a server at age 11 and is currently enrolled in a general studies program at Memorial University . Since becoming involved as a server in the church, he has been a camper, a cabin captain, a SIT (staff in training) and now a staff member at Mint Brook Church Camp near Gambo, NL.. Reuben also represented the youth at Senate and Generation Eight at London , Ont. This year Reuben will be representing youth at General Senate in Halifax in June .In this picture is Michael Russou visiting from the Philippines, Reuben and Rev. Ken Abbott, Parish Priest of Bay L’Argent, NL. Submitted by Daphne Bonnell.
New gowns for Youth Choir
Sunday, March 28, 2010, was a special day for the Youth Choir of St. James’ Church in Port aux Basques. In appreciation for their dedication, the Choir received new gowns which were worn for the first time and blessed by Rev. Clayton Billard. The congregation is blessed to have so many youth offer their time and talents on a regular basis. A special thank you to choir directors Jane Allen and Kay Osmond, and to the ladies of the Wednesday sewing group for making the gowns. Photo submitted by: Tony Leamon. Story submitted by: Kay Short
Confirmation at St. Martin’s Cathedral in Gander. On March 21, 2010 Bishop David Torraville confirmed the candidates at St. Martin’s Cathedral in Gander. The families and friends of the candidates would like to congratulate them on participating in this sacrament. May God bless and keep you all. Submitted by Stella Walsh