ANGLICANLife
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November 2008
ANGLICANLife November 2008
in NEWFOUNDLAND
&
LABRADOR
A Section of the ANGLICANJOURNAL
We Will Remember Them...
Paige Osmond and her brother Connor take a walk through what is left of the trenches that were dug at Beaumont Hamel, France during the First World War. Photo: Norman Cutler By JOCELYNE CORMIER STAFF WRITER NORTHERN PEN (Reprinted with Permission) Remembrance Day took on a special meaning this year for Norman Cutler and his family. Mr. Cutler, wife Marguerite, daughter Michelle and grandchildren Paige and Connor celebrated and participated in a Remembrance Day service held at Beaumont Hamel on Nov. 11. The visit to France was part of a trip Mr. and Ms. Cutler had been planning for a long time. “I guess because of the connection with the Royal
Newfoundland Regiment and my father being a World War II veteran and my two children are in the Canadian Armed Forces and served in Afghanistan and in Kosovo,” said Mr. Cutler, who lives in L’Anse au Clair. “The connection to Beaumont Hamel would be a highlight of our trip.” Upon arrival at Beaumont Hamel, the family was greeted by an attendant, also a fellow Newfoundlander. Noticing that Mr. Cutler was a cleric, the attendant asked him, ‘Would you be so kind to do the prayers at our Armistice Day service?’ he said.
“Of course, I became quite emotional. I was quite honoured to do that. We proceeded to visit the battlefield on Beaumont Hamel. We went through the cemetery there and certainly reminded me of John McCrae’s poem,” Mr. Cutler said in a voice choked with emotion. The group visited the battlefield where 801 Newfoundlanders answered the call. Sixty-eight returned from the battlefield. When the time came for the service, only a handful of people were in attendance, about 25 or 30 people, he said. “On the way in the pro-
cession to the monument at Beaumont Hamel, to the Caribou, Steven (attendant) said to my grandchildren, ‘Would you like to lay the wreath on behalf of the Government of Canada at our ceremony today?’ They said yes. They were quite happy to be involved in the service.” At the service, he said a prayer for peace, which was followed by the laying of the wreath by his grandchildren at the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Memorial. He wouldn’t have imagined that he’d be given the opportunity to participate in a Remembrance Day service at Beaumont
Hamel. “I think everyone was deeply moved,” he said. “Just being a part of that remembrance and that we could share in 1916 what our Newfoundlanders strived to bring peace and freedom. It was because of them that I could visit and remember what they did for me as an individual, for my community and my country.” Michelle Osmond, who lives in Germany, explained that once they arrived at the small French village of Albert, they visited the Somme 1916 muSee Beaumont Hamel: page 6
SERVING THE ANGLICAN DIOCESES OF WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND + CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND + EASTERN NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
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November 2008
News From Parish Bulletins and Elsewhere An Educational Programme “Caring for the Grieving and Bereaved” which was open to clergy and laity was held at St. Lawrence on October 2, Marystown on October 16, and at Grand Bank on October 30. The Rev’d Neal Buffett was inducted as the rector of the Parish of Fortune-Lamaline on September 21 at All Saints Church by The Rt. Rev. David Torraville. This was a parish event for all parishioners from both of their churches. There was a lunch served after the service. Primate’s Visit to the Burin Deanery: The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, attended a special service at St. Hilda’s Church in Bay L’Argent on Monday, September 29 The Rev’d Doreen Penney of the Parish of Battle Harbour was ordained Deacon in Port Hope Simpson by Bishop Pitman on September 30. In May of 2009 Doreen and her
husband and three children will be spending a year in St. John’s while she takes courses at Queen’s College. A Diocesan Mission Conference will take place November 14 and 15 at the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin in St. John’s and will be structured around the themes of ministry and mission. It is being organized under the direction of the Diocesan Education Committee with the Rev. Sandra Tilley as Chair. Rectors are asked to appoint a “missionminded” layperson from their parish with an interest in this area and an ability to communicate with the rest of their parish. Settlement Fund News (Healing and Reconciliation Fund): We Congratulate the Parishes of Bay Robert’s-Coley’s Point, Heart’s Content, Port de Grave, and The Resurrection on the completion of their commitments to the Settlement Fund this year. They now
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join the parishes of Bay de Verde, The Good Shepherd, Heart’s Delight, the Holy Spirit, Labrador West, Lake Melville, St. Augustine’s, St. Mark’s (St. John’s), St. Mark’s ( S h e a r s t o w n / Butlerville), St. Mary the Virgin in St. John’s, St. Peter’s in Upper Gullies, Petty Harbour, St. Thomas’, and St. Timothy’s in Rigolet in achieving this goal, making a total of 18 parishes! This year St. Alban’s Church in Gooseberry Cove participated in a Student Work and Service Program (SWASP) which is administered by the Community Services Council. They were extremely blessed to have Miss Tiffany Drover, a third year Business Student at Memorial University work on our church. Tiffany was instrumental in developing a data bank of names of individuals who are interred in St. Alban’s Cemetery across the road from the church. On August 17 at St.
John The Evangelist Church in Burgeo, parishioners Terry and Marie Rose attended their last service before going to St. John’s to attend Queen’s College. Terry will take up studies toward ordained ministry. God willing, he will finish next year in hopes of being assigned to a parish for an internship. After the service a group gathered at the parish hall for a cup of tea and some goodies. Everyone wished Terry and Marie all the best in their future endeavours. The tenth annual Blessing of the Animals service was held on Saturday, October 4 (Feast of St. Francis of Assisi), at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John’s. Hundreds of worshippers came with their animals to receive a blessing from God. Proceeds from the collection went toward the SPCA and Rainbow Riders. The Rev’d Robin Barrett has returned
Do you want to see news items from your parish included here? Then send along your parish news to the Editor-in-Chief via email: anglicanlife@nl.rogers.com
or by snail mail at the address listed on page 4 of Anglican Life. from the European part of his Sabbatical and is now back to full time work. Rev’d Barrett held a slideshow presentation of his travels to the parish of the Good Shepherd in Mount Pearl on October 22. He will assume duties in the new parish of the Goulds/Petty Harbour in November. 101 year old Dr. Nigel Rusted, a member of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, St. John’s was presented with the Key to the City of St. John’s at a ceremony at city hall. Dr. Rusted started his career as a medical student aboard the S.S. Kyle in 1930 and 31. After finishing school at Dalhousie, he worked as a general practitioner for 80 communities along the southwest coast before opening a private practice in St. John’s. He also worked as a general surgeon at the General Hospital and gave of his time and knowledge to Memorial’s medical school.
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November 2008
Keeping the “C” in CLB CLB Mission to Belize update A few months ago, at All Saints Parish Hall in Conception Bay South, and continuing for the past 2 months, members of our CLB have been busy building bird feeders as part of their efforts to prepare for an upcoming mission trip in 2009. We watched as a group of youth and officers came together as individuals, and as the days progressed, began to come together as a team. Since then, I and many others have watched these same youth speak in churches, selling bird feeders door to door as well as in all sorts of work environments. Determination and excitement has filled their minds and is feeding their resolve. This past summer I had the distinct pleasure of helping to interview all these same young people – and I can assure you that they are some of the more talented and dedicated youth I have had the pleasure to meet. I saw dedication, confidence and a desire to make a difference in this world and in our church. When the CLB was formed over 116 years ago, it was viewed as an evangelistic arm of our church – to be used for reaching out into our communities, spreading the Gospel and enabling and encouraging our youth to be involved in the life of the Christian Community – our Church. Though based in the Anglican tradition, our emphasis has consistently been to reach out to the youth of our community – seldom differentiating between creeds. It was and continues to be one of the strongest elements of outreach within the Anglican Church in Newfoundland. For a mainlander like me, the CLB was a bit of a
shock. Uniforms, salutes, marching all seemed so alien to my concept of the church – yet the responsiveness to hearing Christ’s message could not be denied. In fact in both Companies that I have been proud to be associated with, Port Rexton and St. Augustine’s, I have seen the face of Christ shining through the efforts of the men and women who serve their church as Officers and the youth who have found a place to belong. Quick to volunteer, eager to serve, and dedicated to seeking ways to both preserve a rich heritage and to be welcomed as an integral part of our church. The CLB’s crest contains symbols derived from Ephesians 6:10 – 20, symbols that include the belt of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit (the word of God) and the shoes of proclamation. It is with these shoes that the CLB has been reaching into many of our communities. It does this best with the encouragement of the Priests and the Parish. Its present mission to Belize is a result of the CLB looking at its mandate and wanting to provide opportunities for our youth to serve in Christ’s Church, within the Anglican Communion, in making a difference for others less fortunate than ourselves. The CLB prayer highlights our commitment to our Lord, “Grant O God, that we may never be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ Jesus...Amen.” Yes, the CLB works hard to keep the C in the CLB. Submitted by the Rev’d David Pilling Avalon Battalion Chaplain
Members of the CLB Mission Team seated in front of 500 birdhouses. The mission to Belize takes place in June and July 2009. Photo: Bruce Tilley For the past three weeks, the buzzing of saws, the sound of nail guns, the sound of hammers and the crackling of lumber has been the scene at Foxtrap Parish Hall and the Atlantic Self Storage Mall where some 30 young men and women of the Senior Corps of the CLB gathered. The purpose of the gathering was and is to make 5000 bird feeders of which 1600 have now been produced. These bird feeders are on sale to the general public to raise funds to send 37 young men and women of the Senior Corps of the CLB, accompanied by 13 officers, to Belize. The mission will take place starting on June 26, 2009. The purpose of the mission is to build a classroom at Holy Cross School which will become a medical clinic for underpriveledged children. Last year, the CLB went to Belize to survey the devastating situation of poverty. We saw little children living in swamps and battered homes. It was quite evident that these children needed help. The evidence of tremendous poverty gave us the motivation to go to Belize to
help these underpriveledged children. The CLB is making a significant contribution to the young people of the province. This mission will give them the opportunity to grow in mind, character and spirit. The Brigade thought it was time to reach out to help children less fortunate and to give the senior corps of young men and women the opportunity to make a difference. The bird feeder that is be-
ing constructed, is made possible by the young people and with the tremendous support of Chester Dawe Ltd., a division of RONA. All parishes in the diocese have received a four sided brochure and colored promotions respecting the sale of the bird feeders.
Submitted by Bruce Tilley CLB Mission Team Support
CLB Capt. Craig Dyer (l) receives a donation from Wayne Folow (r) for $1600 toward the Belize Mission. The money was raised by the St. Michael’s Men’s Association. Photo: Tom Johnston.
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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 (Interim): The Rev’d Sam Rose 45 Tildacane Place Conception Bay South, NL A1X 3C7 (709) 834-9190 (h) Email: anglicanlife@nl.rogers.com Diocesan Associate Editors: Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador: The Rev’d Sam Rose 45 Tildacane Place Conception Bay South, NL A1X 3C7 (709) 834-9190 (h) Email: samrose@nl.rogers.com Diocese of Central Newfoundland: Margaret Jenniex 34 Fraser Road, Gander, NL A1V 2E8 Phone: (709) 256-2372 Fax: (709) 256-2396 Email: mcjenniex@nfld.net Diocese of Western Newfoundland: Vacant Please send all articles to the Editor-in-Chief (above) Advertising Rates and other information may be obtained from: 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 your Diocesan Editor (listed 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
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Your church is important Upon our Bishop’s return from Lambeth, I had the occasion to ask and listen to some of the impressions of the things we were able to read about in the most recent national and local Church papers. When I inquired as to just how interested people were in hearing “all about Lambeth”, we shared a smile and a brief discussion as to how much of a challenge it is sometimes to connect our local Churches to what is happening at Diocesan, National and International levels. Internationally speaking, the Anglican Communion identifies “Four Instruments of Communion” that are supposed to keep things running. The Archbishop of Canterbury in his role as the senior bishop in the Anglican Communion: The Lambeth Conference which meets every 10 years, for the bishops of the Anglican Communion. The Primates Meetings (which are regular meetings for the senior archbishops and bishops of the 38 Provinces. The Anglican Consultative Council which meets every 3 years, and includes bishops, clergy and laity. This is the only
“Instrument of Communion” that involves Lay People. There is no doubt that this Lambeth conference drew some additional interest from our society because of the issues and concerns in our Church. It provided an opportunity for the people of the Church to see how our leaders work together, and form perceptions as to how effective Church leadership is these days. It is clear from the reporting we have received from the Communion and our own Bishops that many who attended Lambeth now have a better sense of the social and political constraints on bishops in traditional societies. That should help communications, understanding and tolerance between bishops in the future. In fact, I believe we have seen our corporate prayers for Lambeth answered in many ways. How Lambeth affects our Church at the local level remains to be seen. However, we still have the certainty that God wants the heart of the Church to be found in believers commissioned and sent as the sign, instrument, and witness of His mission in the world. Your neighbourhood
November 2008
guest editorial The Rev. John Watton
is the place of God’s presence just as surely as Lambeth Conference. In your hometown the Spirit is at work among people who are connected to each other. This is where the Spirit is calling and equipping people for ministry. That is why your church, in whatever circumstance, is important! God has chosen each local Church to be the expression of Mission for the place that they influence; the local culture and neighbourhood. As we remember the importance of the worldwide Communion and the larger picture of God’s Grace let us never forget: God here among us...life in the midst of us bringing us to light and life. The Rev. John Watton is the Rector of the Parish of Gander.
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November 2008
The Bishop’s Spouse writes...on Lambeth 2008 As a spouse I was given the privilege and responsibility to represent our part of the Anglican Communion at the Lambeth conference. Upon arrival at the conference you soon realize that you are from a small part of the world-wide church. That sentiment was shared by many until we knew each other well enough to discover the strength of our common faith. The Spouses’ Conference ran parallel to the Bishop’s Conference. Our day began with Holy Eucharist at 7:15am. Then approximately fifteen hundred (bishops, spouses and guests) or so marched off to queue up for breakfast at the university dining halls. The morning
continued with small group sessions and Bible Study. At the group sessions the spouses shared the context of each other’s lives. It was comforting to see how we are alike even though we live so far apart in various cultures. On one hand there was not a spouse in the room who did not mention the loneliness associated with being a Bishop’s spouse while, on the others hand, we shared the joys that come from the kindness of people in our dioceses. We heard stories from spouses who suffer the threat of persecution, spouses who live in primitive conditions without running water or electricity amid disease, war and poverty. In parts of the com-
munion spouses are expected to cease their employment to accompany the bishop and share in that ministry! I felt at times that I am so blessed to live where I do. We do not have nor do we appreciate the hardships that others live with daily. There were times when I felt ashamed that we have so much and some people have so little. It is difficult to compare out Western lifestyle with that of the global church. The morning continued with Bible Study on the “I Am” sayings of Jesus in John’s Gospel. I was in a group with spouses from the United Kingdom, Africa and the United States. It was interesting to listen to each
others views on the Gospel of John yet we often reached the same conclusions about the readings. In the afternoons we could choose from self-select sessions which involved visiting communities around Canterbury, discussion groups or different interest groups such as music, environmental issues and other current-event topics. There were many highlights of this experience: listening to the Brothers and Sisters of Melanesia talk about persecutions in their church was heart-rending; marching through the streets of London in support of the Millennium Development Goals was what Bishop Claude Miller of Fredericton
The case: Why the church needs money! Recently, I had a chat with a church group about fundraising and why a case statement is very important. A case statement, according to the fundraising dictionary, gives the reasons why an organization both needs and merits philanthropic support, usually by outlining the organization’s programs, current needs, and plans. In essence, as Curtis Simic puts it, the “case stating process is the process of making insiders out of outsiders.” Essentially, that’s what raising money is all about. I recently read a joke on the web about church fundraising in the United States. “A minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. So, he talked to the organist to see what kind of inspirational music she could play after the announcement about the
finances to get the congregation in a giving mood. ”Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll think of something.” During the service, the minister paused and said, “Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000. more. Any of you who can pledge $100. or more, please stand up.” Just at that moment, the organist started playing, “The Star Spangled Banner.” Well, if it were only that easy, many of our financial woes would be cured. But unfortunately, many of our churches do have financial difficulties and people are always seeking new ways to meet that debt or deadline. Dr. Kennon Callahan offers this advice: “People with passion for mission are motivated to learn effective church finance practices. One of the stumbling blocks to mission is, ‘We don’t have enough money.’ The im-
portance of mission should not be deterred by the question of money. Practicing effective church finances puts your congregation in the best position to move forward in mission.” Canadian theologian Harold Percy suggests that the bedrock question is, “what does it mean to be a church?” He continues: “What precisely does God intend for us to be doing? What is our mission? What is our mandate? What does faithfulness in being the church look like?” Finally, American stewardship writer Herb Mather talks about the joy of giving: “Giving is integral to spiritual wholeness and money is needed for the ministry of the church. Leaders do not raise money for the church per se; they raise money for the legitimate ministries of the church” My chat about the case
statement precipitated my thoughts about church fundraising. I remembered my words of advice to parish groups in their efforts to raise money through regular or special giving or through planned giving. I refer to it as the challenges we face as leaders of our church: 1. U n d e r s t a n d stewardship as a way of life 2. PG is the stewardship of accumulated assets. 3. Articulate a vision for ministry (5 years or more). 4. Why do you need money for your Parish? 5. What good will more funds accomplish? 6. Will they further God’s work? 7. Make a personal commitment. 8. Be aware of the tools of Planned Giving.
bishop’s letter The Rev. Monica Coffin called “a challenging irony”. Here we were, dressed in our finery to visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace while protesting for the relief of hunger, war, oppression and disease. The opening service at Canterbury Cathedral and all worship services were overwhelming. The fellowship of Bishops and spouses and listening to people from every continent and island sing in harmony and praying the Lord’s Prayer (each in his/her own language) at the services was a memory that I will never forget. Lambeth 2008 was an opportunity to learn about
(See Bishop’s Spouse: page 12)
stewardship Kevin Smith
9. Resource people are available to help. 10. Concentrate on bequests. Proverbs 29:18, perhaps, sums it up best: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Kevin Smith is the gift planning consultant for the Anglican Church of Canada. He can be contacted at 709 739-5667 or by email at k_smith@nf.sympatico.ca.
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ANGLICANLife
November 2008
First Sunday service in 10 years! Beaumont Hamel - ‘everyone was deeply moved’
The Rev’d Wayne Parsons greets parishioners after the first Sunday service in the community of Williams Harbour, Labrador in ten years Photo:Wayne Parsons
For a number of us, we perhaps take the privilege of regular Sunday worship for granted. This was not the case for he Congregation of St. Andrew, in Williams Harbor, who celebrated, with great joy, the Holy Eucharist, on a Sunday August 10 at 11 a.m. This was truly special, as it had been at least 10 years ago that a Sunday service was held. After the service ended, the congregation gathered to host a BBQ fit for a king! It truly was a blessed day for all involved. The congregation displays w o n d e r f u l churchmanship, giving’s, and sheer dedication. Picturesque Williams Harbour with a population of approximately 45, is roughly a two and a half hour ferry ride from Charlottetown. The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist is normally held on a week day to coincide with the ferry’s seasonal schedule. During the winter and spring months, services are held as weather and ice conditions permit. On Sunday, June 22, the Congregation of St. Mark the Evangelist, St. Lewis, held its final family service of the year, followed by a wonderful BBQ. During this service, the students of the K.F.C. (Kid’s Fun Church) brought forward their penny boxes along with others who participated in supporting the work of the P.W.R.D.F. After all the coins were counted, a grand total of $333.00 was raised. One of the many things, the children of K.F.C learned through their program, was the importance of giving to the wider church and how blessed we are to have
what we do. The congregation itself enjoyed a wonderful year, with increased attendance, giving’s, lay leadership, and a very successful K.F.C program. This past summer in the congregation of St. Andrew the Apostle in Port Hope Simpson, repairs were carried out in the church’s sanctuary, office, and kitchen area. Improvements were also made to the parking area and soon a new cross will adorn our roof along with a new church and cemetery sign. This past year the congregation seen an increase in attendance and givings as well. Likewise, the gift of music ministry is now a regular part of our Sunday worship. In closing, the two year mission project has been proceeding along quite nicely. We give God thanks for the support of the diocese, supporting parishes, wider church, and all who have contributed and continue to contribute to this vital coastal ministry. Without your generous and continued support this ministry would not be possible. May God bless you. Submitted by The Rev’d Wayne Parsons Mission Priest Parish of Battle Harbor Port Hope Simpson N.L
The Rev’d Norman Cutler says a prayer for peace during the Remembrance Day service at Beaumont Hamel in 2007. Photo: Norman Cutler Continued from page 1
seum. During the First World War, the village was heavily bombed and decades later, the bomb shelter was turned into a museum. “Through the long underground tunnels, there were remnants of the battles, as well as mannequin re-enactments of soldier daily life. We were particularly interested in the medical scene showing the wounded soldiers – one had a severed hand – and the medic was helping him,” Ms. Osmond said. “It was a little unnerving to walk through the last tunnel of the museum: The lights flashed and the sounds of gunfire and soldiers yelling filled the air. It was cold and damp and truly gave a real impression of how life was like in
Lest we forget...
the trenches.” On Nov. 11, the group visited the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel. Located some five km from the hotel, the park is like a small piece of Canada in the French countryside, she said. “We walked through the preserved trenches, between the grave markers of known and unknown soldiers, stayed far away from the areas declaring undetonated mines and searched the Visitor Centre for familiar place names of approximately 500 Canadian cities directly affected by this battlefield.” Ms. Osmond said during their walk through the park, they talked about what life must have been like for the soldiers. Were they cold because the clothes they wore were
very warm? Did they miss their families? Were they lonely? Where had they used the bathroom? “We talked about how Adolf Hitler and his German Army were trying to capture the country of France and how the Allied Forces – Canada, Australia and England to name a few – worked with the French to push the Germans back. We also talked about what the world would be if Adolf Hitler and his German soldiers had succeeded in capturing.” For her, being from Newfoundland and Labrador and having her parents visit her and her family made the excursion to Beaumont Hamel a memorable one, she said.
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November 2008
Three beloved priests retire from parishes
The Rev’d Nathan and Edna Cutler receive a gift of a painting of the town of Clarenville. They retired from the Parish of Clarenville after serving there for eight years. Photo: Sheila Sceviour
TheCutlersbidfarewell toClarenville At a banquet held at the Royal Canadian Legion on June 18, 2008, St. Mary’s Parish in Clarenville said a fond farewell to its first rector the Rev’d Nathan Cutler and his wife Edna after eight years of ministry. Rev’d Cutler was the first rector after St. Mary’s became a distinct parish from the parish of Smith Sound. Over these formative years, he gave St. Mary’s spiritual and administrative guidance
which led to a strong parish identity and financial stability. Under his watch, a parish strategic plan and an effective pastoral ministry to the sick and shut-in, and to local retirement institutions were established. During their time with St. Mary’s, they both gained the love and respect of many of the parishioners. Submitted by Harvey Locke Parish of Clarenville
The Rev’d Jim Pollard was presented with a model dory by Andrew Hillier at his retirement party. Rev’d Jim and his wife Rita retired from the Parish of FortuneLamaline in June. Photo: Lochleigh Fiander
The Pollards say goodbye to Fortune-Lamaline The Rev. Jim Pollard and his wife Rita left the Parish of FortuneLamaline at the end of June after a fruitful ministry of nine years and eight months. They left a parish with two churches that are in excellent condition, a parish that is in good financial shape, and we hope a parish which has prospered spiritually as well. They will long be remembered, not only for what they did for members of their own congregations, but for what they did for the communities in general. They were always there to help anyone who needed help under any circumstances. But before they left each congregation was determined to honour them in the best way they could. So early in June each of the congregations - St. Mary’s at Lamaline and All Saints at Fortune honoured
them with separate retirement parties. At Lamaline on June 6 about eighty people sat down to a wonderful spread after which many gifts were presented and many tributes given. A dance was held with accordion music, provided by 80 year old Freeman Hillier accompanied by his son on the guitar. It was a memorable time for that congregation. The next evening the All Saints Vestry sponsored a banquet. The hall was crowded with more than two hundred people including some of Jim and Rita’s family who came to share in the celebration. Bishop David Torraville attended along with the deanery clergy - Rev. Tim Graham, Rev. John Nicolle, Rev. Ken Abbott and Rev. Lochleigh Fiander. After the meal, the Bishop addressed the
gathering, as did the other clergy and wardens and others, and many gifts were presented officially by the Wardens, Licenced Lay Ministers, Altar Guild, ACW, and the Sunday School. Many gifts were presented personally by members of the congregation. The banquet was followed by a dance with music supplied by a band made up of Junior Herridge and Garfield Simms from Grand Bank and Roy Kendall and Eric Kendall from Fortune. May they have a happy retirement and enjoy their “cabin” at North Harbour. Submitted by the Rev’d Lochleigh Fiander Parish of Fortune-Lamaline
A happy ‘bon voyage’ for the Fudges
The Rev’d Dr. Hugh Fudge and his wife Elsie at their retirement party. The Rev’d and Mrs. Fudge retired from the Parish of Channel - Port aux Basques. Photo: Kay Short
The Vestry and congregation of St. James’ Church, Port aux Basques took the opportunity on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 to celebrate the ministry of the Rev’d Dr. Hugh Fudge and his wife Elsie as they prepare to retire after twenty-seven years in Parish Ministry. The evening began with a worship service followed by a cold plate dinner. Rev. Fudge and three members of the congrega-
tion provided entertainment for the evening as they have done monthly through the Prayer and Praise services. The various church groups made a number of presentations throughout the evening. The Rev’d and Mrs. Fudge both bring a strong sense of spirituality, devotion, leadership and commitment to the Word of God and their presence will be missed. Their friends at
St. James’ wish them a long and healthy retirement as they move to the East Coast to begin this new phase of their life. Submitted by Kay Short On behalf of the Vestry and Congregation of St. James’, Port aux Basques
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ANGLICANLife
our history
The St. Paul’s Project This year, the Church of St Paul’s in Harbour Grace has undertaken to apply to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada for registration of their church as a national historic site. This procedure has many long term ramifications which require considerable effort over a number of years. The most important of these is to recreate the history of the church and the many memorable activities which took place inside its walls. Many of the records of these events and services
have been lost and can only be revived by historical research from old newspapers, documents, plans and photographs. The committee with this responsibility is headed by Chairman David Moores and People’s Warden John Payne. They and the writer of this article are making an appeal to persons with connections to St Paul’s and any other persons who may have historical materials of any kind related to St Paul’s to contact the writer at telephone: (709) 722-2891 or email:
The Document The following was taken from the Conception Bay Mercury newspaper of July 31, 1835 as it appeared in The Times of St John’s. The text of the scroll, below, was placed in a bottle and the bottle in the cornerstone of the new church building. The scroll “was read with an audible voice by John Stark Esq., (Chairman of the Building) as follows:Here stood St Paul’s Church which was burnt to the ground by the great fire at Harbour Grace on the
18th of August, 1832, erected on the site of the first Church built of the same spot in 1764. And the corner Stone of this new Stone Church is now laid by his Excellency Henry Prescott, Esq. Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-inChief, in and over the Island of Newfoundland and its Dependencies, and Vice Admiral of the same, on Tuesday the twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our
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David Davis daviddavis@nf.sympatico.ca. It is not the intention of the committee to collect historical materials for their own sake but to collect the information contained in the documents, so a good, readable copy would be sufficient for the purposes of this project. The origins of St Paul’s church were lost in the middle of the 1700’s or before. We know that the beginnings of the parish and the first church date from the period of 1764-5 when the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel funded the
Reverend Laurence Coughlan, a follower of John Wesley, to be their missionary in Conception Bay with headquarters at Harbour Grace. A series of churches followed: the first church burned in 1794, the second burned in 1816, a third church was partly reconstructed when it blew down in 1817, and the fourth burned in 1832. In those years, missionaries were scarce and often the missions in Newfoundland were vacant, as was St Paul’s. It was not until the coming of the first bish-
ops Aubrey Spenser and Edward Feild that stability and expansion was achieved. This period was also the best economic time for Harbour Grace during the epoch of the Ridley and Munn firms and the Labrador fishery. The present building was erected in the years 1835-1836, contemporary with St Thomas’ the second church in St John’s. It has not suffered a disaster since but many repairs have been made and it celebrates its 175 th anniversary in 2010.
Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty five, and the Sixth Year of the Reign of His Majesty William the Fourth of Great Britain and Ireland, King.
Episcopal Minister Port-deGrave And the following members of the Building committee: Thomas Ridley, Esq, Churchwarden, Alfred Mayne, Esq, Churchwarden, John Stark, Esq, Chairman of Committee, Mr John Kingwell, W. Stirling, Esq, Mr Thomas Godden, Mr Jacob Moors, Mr Samuel Bennett, Mr Mansel Alcock, Mr William Andrews- Also Peter Brown, Esq Member of the Hon House of Assem-
bly; beside a large concourse parishioners, merchants, magistrates, children of the Newfoundland School, The Benevolent Society, the Fishermen and Shoremen’s Society, the Mechanic’s Society and other inhabitants. Dated at Harbour Grace, on the day and year first above written. Robert Lee Whiting & Thomas Kitchen- Contractors and Builders
Present His Excellency Governor Henry Prescott The Hon. James Crowdy, Colonial Secretary Fort Maj. Griffiths of St John’s The Rev John Burt, Episcopal Minister of Harbour Grace The Rev Charles Blackman,
Book Review: Newfoundland Gothic Newfoundland Gothic by Peter Coffman
The title of this book refers to the original name of the See established by Queen Victoria in 1839. The book features Gothic Churches across the Province: Twillingate, Trinity, Forteau, Greenspond, Brigus, Battle Harbour, and St. John’s to mention a few as well as some churches that are no longer extant. The book is beautifully illustrated with original photographs, and shows many architectural features that merit a second look. A few of these churches were built of stone, such as the Anglican Cathedral in St. John’s and St. Paul’s in Harbour Grace, but the majority were constructed of wood following the Gothic style. How did this incredibly beautiful style of architecture come to the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador? The book answers this question.
A fine example of gothic architecture can be found at St. James Anglican Church in Battle Harbour. Photo: Peter Coffman.
This is a scholarly account of how and why the style of Gothic architecture came to be established as the style of architecture for Church of England churches, and how it came to this province, Britain’s oldest colony. It all happened in the mid-nineteenth century when travel and communication were not as simple as today, but men were inspired to spread the word of God to all people, and they
did. Bishop Edward Feild, second Bishop of Newfoundland, in particular, traveled about the colony in a Church ship visiting all the small outports, establishing churches and then finding the men to serve in them. He appointed the Rev’d William Grey to be his ecclesiastical architect. The Church at Battle Harbour is one of Grey’s designs, the only one still in use after 150 years on that wind swept island. Dr.
Coffman says of Bishop Feild, he “conducted a slow but determined campaign to spread Anglican influence by peppering his huge diocese with Anglican clergymen and Gothic churches” (p.186). There are other men of note such as Sir George Gilbert Scott, Archdeacon Wix , Rev’d J.J.Curling, Rev’d Algernon Gifford, William Hay and Frank Wills who impacted the Church in Newfoundland. Did you know that the first Church Building Act was passed in 1818 or that Thomas Rickman defined the different categories of Gothic architecture? Did you know that the present St. Paul’s in Harbour Grace is the fourth church to be built there and why this is so? These and many other fascinating bits of information await you, the reader. Dr. Coffman won the Phyllis Lambert prize, awarded to the best researched and written Ar-
chitectural PhD thesis for the year 2007 according to a panel of collegial judges. This publication was a part of that prize. The printing of the colour photographs was funded by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. Dr. Coffman was also the recipient of the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal at Queen’s University. The book was launched on 18 June 2008 in the Crypt of the Anglican Cathedral. I strongly recommend this book to all historians and lovers of architecture and religious history in this province. Submitted by Julia Mathieson Diocesan Archivist. Editor’s note: The book can be purchased at the Diocesan Resource Centre, 19 King’s Bridge Road, St. John’s or at the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, 1 Springdale Street, St. John’s.
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November 2008
Thank God???
Last month was special - we had a long Thanksgiving weekend. How many of us spent some of the weekend thanking God? Every Thanksgiving some of my friends are sure to ask “what have I got to be thankful for anyway?” This year my friend Bev, a middle-age, single lady who’s fully employed, with a lovely home, two healthy teenage boys, and who has no really serious health concerns, was the first to pose the question. I invited Bev to accompany me to a senior’s complex I visit. There I wanted her to meet one of the happiest old ladies I know. Sarah is in a wheelchair.
She has only two short stumps left of her legs, both having been amputated in several operations because of diabetes. Her milliondollar smile greets me at every visit. “I’m fine” she says. “Thank God I can see and hear and eat. I love to eat! There’s lots of blind and deaf people around here”, she continues. “I’m mobile,” she states triumphantly. “Watch me buzz around in my battery operated wheelchair!” This “handicapped” lady is truly grateful to God. Then there was Frank, the perennial complainer. In his mid-sixties, arthritis
columnist prevents him from moving around much. Fishing, hunting, skiing, etc., are no longer possible. He lies around a lot, regretting his lost independence, making misery for his family. “What have I got to be thankful for” he demanded. I told Frank about Uncle Joe in the nursing home. In his prime he was a successful “outdoors” man, a part-time fisherman, carpenter, and all-around handyman. Nobody was more perpetually “busy” than Joe. Today he, too, is wheelchair bound, nearly blind, and unable to do much for himself. “Thank God,” he says,
“that I can still see a little bit, and I can hear well, and my appetite is good, and they treat me well here. Thank God.” “What do you say to that Frank?” Like so many of us, Bev and Frank have lots to be thankful for. Each of us has so many “blessings” every day of our lives. Life itself, every breath we breathe, is a blessing from God. As the old hymn says, all of us should stop, and “count our blessings”, every day and thank God for each one of them. God expects our gratitude. Identifying, and counting our blessings was never more important than as it
the food on our tables, opportunities for leisure, etc. – EVERYTHING! People say, “I worked hard for what I have.” But who created and supplied the resources and the opportunities for you to earn money, to provide for your families and to build up your estate? GOD! Psalm 24 and verse one says, “The earth is the Lord’s and ALL that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” It ALL belongs to God! Moreover, what belongs to God is to be used for God’s glory. In his letter to the Colossians the apostle Paul wrote, “He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created... ALL things have been cre-
ated through him and FOR HIM.” The fact is we are simply stewards, i.e., loyal and trusted servants of what belongs to God. That makes us responsible and accountable to God for the whole of his creation. We are simply the mangers of what belongs to him. This also includes his Church, the Community of faith, and the household of God. The Old Testament exhorts us to tithe in terms of our financial
is today, because we live in such troubled, and even terrifying age. The comfortable world we know and love seems to be falling apart. In the uncertainty, and the threat, of it all, though, God’s mercy, and
(See Thank God: page 11)
columnist
Straight talk on stewardship As children and teenagers we would spend hours looking at the stars and the moon at night, literally dazzled by its wonder and mystery. “Where does space end?” we sometimes asked each other only to get overwhelmed and bewildered trying to phantom something without a beginning or an end. “Where did it all come from?” we would ask, knowing all too well that it pointed us back to God. So often we act as if what we have belongs to us – our homes, our cars, our families and even our hard earned money. The first and foundational principal of stewardship is that everything belongs to God – EVERYTHING! That includes the earth, our loved ones,
Ronald Clarke
The Rev. Greg Mercer support to the church. The New Testament says to give by grace. Regardless of what way you look at it, it simply means to give until it hurts. Probably instead of calculating what we need to give we should be looking at what God has portioned us to keep for ourselves and our own needs – 90 percent. God give us grateful hearts. But let us not make the mistake of thinking that stewardship is just a matter of money.
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God OWNS YOU and God expects from you nothing less than the complete offering of yourself. Isn’t it time you placed yourself in the collection plate?
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ANGLICANLife
columnist
The end of the world Eschatology is the doctrine of the last things, including the return of Jesus, the final judgment, and heaven and hell. Some preachers like to terrify us about the last days. They hope that the prospect of the end of the world might shock at least some of us into faith. There are writers who make a lot of money selling books on the topic “the end times” for the gullible. I continue to refuse to read or buy any fiction of the end times. God does not need to threaten me with the end of the world in order to make me a follower of Jesus. By the grace of God,
I am what I am. Almost everyone now believes that the spacetime universe, and time itself, had a beginning at the big bang. According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, processes in a closed system tend toward a state of equilibrium. The sun and stars cannot keep burning forever; sooner or later they will run out of fuel and die. The supply of energy available in the universe is finite, and cannot last forever. When the sun begins to die, life on earth will become impossible. Sooner or later, this world will come to an
The Rev. Michael Li end. We may joke about the end of the world by saying “Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in New Zealand”. We must accept the fact that this space-time universe is only a temporary habitation. Our world will eventually be terminated (Revelation 21:1). Christians believe that God created the universe with all its natural laws and boundary conditions. He is the same God who has raised Jesus from the dead, and Jesus promised He would come again at some un-
known time in the future. The extinction of the human race, the extinction of the stars, and proton decay will occur in the future. Before these events can take place, God will act to terminate human history and introduce a new heaven and a new earth fit for eternal habitation (Revelation 21:1). We will then enjoy the presence of our God. In the meantime, let us continue to use our gifts in the building of God’s kingdom. We still continue to save as many people as we can. We must not be indifferent to injustice and famine and to all sorts of things that
others have impacted on my life and my faith. My friend from the cabin was really quite a brief acquaintance and yet there was something about her that touched my soul. Perhaps it was finding quite an elderly and, even then, somewhat frail woman, at the end of a long rough gravel road, in the middle of Newfoundland. On the face of it, she was completely out of place, yet, here she was, filled with such quiet joy, peace, and contentment. There are people who seem to carry a sense of “the holy” with them. They are not given to religious conversation or holy words but their presence puts one in mind of “the
holy.” Their demeanor brings calm and peacefulness, their very silence brings comfort. She was such a woman, indeed she and her family were, and they refreshed my soul. My high school principal was a powerful man. The truth is I was somewhat fearful of him as my principal; a gruff demanding math teacher, a strict disciplinarian but when Public Exam marks came he opened the school at 8:00 or 9:00 at night, so we could pick up our marks. He knew us all by name, congratulated us, encouraged us, and chatted with us as he handed out the envelopes with our grades. When he
are wrong in our society. We should do what we can to have honest government and moral laws. We should live as though Jesus died yesterday, arose this morning, and is coming again tomorrow. If we live for Jesus, the end will not be terror, but eternal joy.
guest columnist
Being nurtured in the Faith I guess I have reached that age where friends, long time parishioners, and the adults of my youth are dying. In the last little while, a number of people who have touched my life have passed away. One such person was my high school principal. The second was a woman I first met as a member of the congregation in Gander who I knew as a member of Cursillo, bible study, and a vestry member. The third is a dear elderly woman I did not know well, and who I met, not through the church, but at a cabin in the Newfoundland interior. I have been reflecting on how these and
November 2008
Bishop David Torraville laughed the whole school shook. As I got to know him over the years I came to respect his dedication, his commitment to his students, to his Church and his Lord. We had something of a chuckle the first time I met him after being elected a bishop. I had not been the greatest of high school students and he had taught many more likely candidates than me, for this office. Yet, he seemed genuinely pleased for me and so warmly supportive. The faithful come in all shapes and sizes and in all temperaments and he taught me the value of a good character and of devotion and service to the Lord.
My long time parishioner was a lady of deep, living and ever growing faith. I could always depend on her for an honest opinion, a faithful answer, never merely telling me what I wanted to hear but always stretching my comfort level, always challenging and yet always loving. A life in ministry is truly a blessed thing, whether it is in ordained or lay service. As we view people through the Christian lens we notice their gifts of grace, we are moved by those small wonders about them, that sometimes, they do not even see in themselves. We are humbled by their faith and inspired by their presence. Each one of us has had these people touch our lives. They are truly the people who nurture us in the faith, and we give God thanks for them. This is the second in a series of articles written exclusively for Anglican Life by Bishop David Torraville of the Diocese of Central Newfoundland.
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November 2008
Beep!! Beep!! Beep!! Beeeep! Beeeep! Beeeep! The pager goes off, it’s three in the early morning and within thirty minutes the chaplain is at a patient’s bedside. In St. John’s, the Anglican Chaplaincy to hospitals and institutions has had a long history and a wonderful ministry that was provided by respected priests which in recent years has evolved to include diaconal and lay ministries. Everyday, seven days a week, 365 days of the year the chaplaincy serves the Health Sciences/ Janeway Complex, St. Clare’s Mercy and Waterford Hospitals as well as the LA Miller Centre and Caribou Veteran’s Pavilion. The work of a chaplain presumes long hours and many stressful situations such as sitting with parents at the Janeway; spending time with a family in Palliative Care; being part of the Emergency team who ‘break the news’ of a tragic death; sitting with someone who has no-one as they come to the end of life, and listening to stories of pain and sadness. There are also many blessings as we watch a ‘preemie’ grow by milligrams to
being discharged home; walking with those who have just been fitted with a prosthetic leg; sharing joy as a cancer patient finishes their treatments; and praying with those whose faith has been restored. Each of us does find a sense of fulfilment and gratification as a member of the professional staff or a family member reaches out a hand to say ‘Thank-you’. The cards, the faces of recognition, the hugs, and the gentle smile tell us that God has worked through us and that this ministry is indeed vital. Numerically, there are about 200 Anglican patients a day within ‘the system’ from all parts of the province. Each Sunday, a Chaplain or Eucharistic Minister brings the Blessed Sacrament to those who have requested their Holy Communion. There are others who volunteer through the week as lay visitors seeing primarily those who are from outside the greater Metro area. Their visit comes as a blessing to those they visit, and we sincerely thank them for their commitment and personal witness. Did you know that along with the chaplains, Eucharistic
chaplain’s corner Hospital Chaplain The Rev. John Courage
Ministers, Volunteers and community clergy, log an average of over 10,000 visits a year within our city hospitals? A popular misconception by many is that ‘chaplains are paid by the hospitals’ when in fact our stipend comes directly from the assessments that comes either from parishes throughout the Diocese or from donations made directly to the Diocese by individuals who have appreciated the ministry provided to them while in hospital. This is true in all three of our Dioceses. In 2009, I will begin my tenth year in hospital chaplaincy and even though there are days when I drag myself home feeling tired and ‘wore out’ this ministry has been one that continues to bring me much satisfaction and joy.
Deadlines for Submissions to Anglican Life For the December issue - Deadline is November 1st For the January issue - Deadline is December 1st For the February issue - Deadline is January 1st For the March issue - Deadline is Febraury 1st
Thank God (Continued from page 9) his never failing love for us all, is still strong and constant as ever. He still blesses us richly each and every day. “Heaven and earth shall pass away” God’s son reminds us, “but my word shall never pass away”. And, the Father God, Jesus assures us, is going to clear up all the mess we have made and is going to “make all things new”, a glorious new heaven and earth- to last forever more. Nothing to thank God for you say? Thank God for God! Ronald Clarke is a longtime columnist for Anglican Life
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Lift high the cross!
“Lift High The Cross” the program offered in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador in 2000, came to the mind of Elsie Fudge of Port aux Basques as she snapped this picture of the cross being lifted at least 90 feet into the air to be put in place on the tower of St. James’ Church in Channel, Port Aux Basques, on September 9, 2008. This cross replaced one that blew away during a wind storm in November of last year. St. James’ Anglican Church celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2007. It stands proudly on a hill over looking Port Aux Basques as a landmark for many. May it continue to do so for many years to come. Photo: Elsie Fudge
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ANGLICANLife
Let us pr praay...
The Rev. Everett Hobbs
Praying the Lord’s Prayer When the disciples asked Jesus about how to pray, he replied with a set prayer which came to be called the Lord’s Prayer. It is a prayer many use regularly, so regularly that we may not pay close attention to the words we repeat. To avoid rote and to enter more fully into the Lord’s Prayer, it may be helpful to say it in different ways from time to time. One way is to pray it slowly and deliberately, paying attention to each word or phrase. This slow repetition quiets our minds and our attention to the prayer is more focussed. Simone Weil’s goal in praying the Lord’s Prayer was to say it with full attention to each word. If necessary she kept repeating the prayer until she achieved her end. Some may find it helpful to sing or intone the prayer. There are plenty of settings and tunes that are used. The Lord’s Prayer in the Aramaic (the language Jesus likely spoke) seems to be in the form of verse for recitation We can also pray the
We Love the Place, O God...
Lord’s Prayer as a meditation. As you pray it, take a word or phrase and reflect on its meaning. Prayer is more than words - it also about living. True prayer translates into the way we live. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us a great deal about life in the Kingdom of God and its application to our daily life. Although we often pray the Lord’s Prayer as an ‘I’ prayer, it is in fact a ‘we’ prayer. It is a ‘we’ prayer in that we pray it together as Christians in worship and at other gatherings. It is a ‘we’ prayer since what we ask the Lord is for everyone and not just myself - give us today our daily bread. So when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we are mindful that we are joined with others who are praying it and we pray it for others in their needs. In this and other ways we can pray with the imagination. For further study: Praying Like Jesus (James Mulholland); Living the Lord’s Prayer (David Timms); Follow and Do (for children) (Joni Walker); Praying the Lord’s Prayer (J. I. Packer)
On September 7, 2008 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Burgeo, Maryrose Colbourne from MacKays was commisioned as intern for our parish untill December. Bishop Percey Coffin attended the morning Worship service. Maryrose will be evaluated by a committee selected by the Rector, the Rev’d Hubert Vallis. The parish is very honored to have Maryrose wishes her the very best in answering God’s call. (L to R) Bishop Percy Coffin, Mary Rose Colbourne, Rev. Hubert Vallis. Photo: George Crant
November 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
The historic St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Trinity, Trinity Bay is one of the churches featured in Dr. Peter Coffman’s new book, “Newfoundland Gothic.” Please read a review of his book on page 8 of Anglican Life. This church is also the inspiration for the hymn, “We Love the Place, O God,” written by former Rector of Trinity, the Rev’d William Bullock (1797-1874). Photo: Peter Coffman
Busy times in the Parish of Grand Bay
St. Paul’s, Grand Bay Parish has been quite active by being involved with Canada Day Celebrations and other community events. The “New Wine” gospel group, in conjuction with their “Celebration Sunday” birthday gatherings, is once again leading worship services. Here are parishioners with their newly appointed Rector the Rev. Peter Boote. Photos: Eileen Keeping
Bishop’s Spouse (Continued from page 5) our world and our church and how we can support each other in our common faith journey and remain in communion. I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to attend the Conference. My hope is that the harmony we heard in our singing may be echoed in our living so that the world may see that we are sincere members of Christ’s beloved church. Submitted by The Rev’d Monica Coffin