ANGLICANLife
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April 2011
ANGLICANLife A Section of the Anglican Journal
E A S T E R
in NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
April 2011
E A S T E R
The Risen Christ - a detail from the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist’s oldest window, the tripartite Resurrection Window (1886) by Lavers, Barraud, and Westlake, which is the only stained glass to survive the fire of 1892. In the window, the “tears” visible on Mary’s face are molten lead, a direct result of the fire’s intense heat; lead has also run down the centre of Christ’s face. One quatrefoil above the main window contains the scrambled word “PAX,” indicating that it was installed backwards and upsidedown. Source: www.stjohnsanglicancathedral.org/resources/ Anglican+Cathedral+Tour.pdf SERVI NG THE DIO CE SE S OF WEST ERN NEWFO UNDL AND + CENTRAL NEWFO UNDL AND + EAST ERN NEWFO UNDL AND & LABR AD OR VING IOCE CESE SES STE WFOUNDL UNDLAND WFOUNDL UNDLAND ASTE WFOUNDL UNDLAND ABRAD ADOR
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LET US PRAY
April 2011
ANGLICANLife
Fishy fundraiser Personality type and prayer feeds Mount Pearl children The Rev. Everett Hobbs
In her book The Sense of the Call, Marva Dawn outlines four approaches to prayer related to different personality types. According to your personality type, you may find that one way of praying ‘works’ better for you than another. The four she presents are heartfelt prayer (primarily emotional), mindful prayer, mystical prayer and incarnational prayer. Some characteristics of heartfelt prayer are spontaneous conversations with God, writing your own psalms, looking for God’s movement in the day, journaling and prayer partners. Mindful prayer includes the use of collects, memorized prayers, praying Scripture, praying questions and doubts, rotating intercessions and choosing a diversity of names for God. Mystical prayer involves meditation, Taize chants, Lectio Divina, long periods of silence, praying with symbols and icons and an emphasis on the Trinity. Incarnational prayer is more external and involves praying into action, marches for peace and justice, chants, songs and hymns for justice, praying with the newspaper, letter-writing and 12-step prayer.
A valuable tool for some in growing spiritually is called the MBTI, which translates into the MyersBriggs (personality) Type Indicator. It is based on Jungian psychology and it classifies personality types according to extraversion/introversion, perceiving/judging, sensation/intuition and thinking/feeling. This can help to clarify your dominate personality characteristics and your less developed ones and because a measurement for assessing how you are maturing. Its particular application to prayer is the subject of a book by Michael and Norrisev called Prayer and Temperament: Different Prayers for Different Personality Types. Ruth Fowke presents a similar study in Personality and Prayer. It relates to an old adage, ‘Pray as you can, don’t try to pray as you can’t.’ It simply says that there are certain ways of praying that fit you and others that are not helpful (and the same could be said of worship). This may have something to do with our temperament. These two books outline different personality types and what kind of prayer may by most suitable to each.
It was not quite the feeding of the 5000, but when a large group gathered at the Reid Community Centre in Mount Pearl for a fish meal on January 29th, something awesome happened. The event was the 23rd annual Char dinner for the Parish of the Good Shepherd and it saw some 400 guests enjoy a meal of arctic char, a silent auction, and dance. While there were no leftovers to be found, the meal did generate much funds for the work of the Parish – a portion of which, totalling $1000, was presented to the Mary Queen of the World Breakfast Program to help provide nutritious breakfasts for city students. The Parish of the Good Shepherd is pleased to be able to continue the tradition of donating ten percent of monies raised at the annual Char dinner to such worthy charities and groups outside of the church. Pictured L to R: Phil and Fran Field (Shepherd’s Flock), Barbara Morgan (Principal of Mary Queen of the World), Elsie Colbourne (Assistant Principal), Archdeacon Geoff Peddle. Submitted by: S. Haskell. Photo credit: Joe O’Quinn.
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April 2011
Bishop Torraville celebrates his 25th anniversary to the Priesthood
let us pray
Bishop David and Karen Torraville celebrate 25 years of ministry. Submitted by Stella Walsh. On Sunday, January 30, 2011, the congregation of St. Martin’s Cathedral in Gander joined with Bishop David Torraville and his wife, Karen, to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination to the Priesthood. Bishop David presided
at the Eucharist and preached the sermon. The service was followed by a reception and fellowship, during which a cake, flowers for Karen and a gift were presented. Bishop David felt a calling to the ministry of Christ early in his life and growing
30 Roe Avenue, P.O. Box 348, Gander, NL A1V 1W7 Telephone: (709) 651-4100 Fax: (709) 256-2957 email: info@waltershoffe.com
up in a rectory allowed him to witness first hand both the blessings and challenges of this demanding role. This “inside” knowledge created in him the need to spend some of his adult years reflecting on how to work out this calling in his own life. However,
Bishop David is very quick to point out that, having made a commitment to ministry, he now has no regrets. He feels that, along with the challenges, there have been many blessings for him and his family in this life that they have embraced. He is also tremendously grateful to his family who have inspired, supported and helped to keep him grounded. After being deaconed on August 25, 1985 at St. Martin’s Cathedral in Gander, Bishop David was priested on January 29, 1986 at Holy Cross in Eastport. He went on to serve as Deacon in Charge and then Rector of the Parish of Twillingate from 1985 – 1989; was Associate Priest and then Rector of the Parish of Gander from 1989 – 2000; and was Executive Officer for the Diocese of Central Newfoundland from 2000 – 2005. He was made Bishop of the Diocese of Central Newfoundland on November 29, 2005 at St. Martin’s Cathedral in Gander, and continues to serve in this capacity today. Although Bishop David strives to give himself freely to all areas of ministry, he acknowledges that he has a fascination with preaching and how it affects the life of a congregation. In his own words, “It is central to the ministry of Jesus and Paul, and it is really central, for good or for ill, to how most of us have received and come to understand the faith. The ministry of preaching is part education and instruction and
must be based in serious study, thought and prayer, as well as the personal faith experience of the preacher, but cannot be limited to it.” Bishop David feels concern for how one communicates to people in today’s digital culture. Not surprising, given his background as an English teacher, he feels drawn to examine how the communication of the message of Christianity will affect the congregation. In his own words, “I believe that the ‘word’ spoken by human voice, undergirded by prayer, prepared by study and thought, grounded in faith and respectful of the hearer, still has the power to inform, inspire and call people to amendment of life; and from there to lives of service and action, in a way that nothing else can. How the congregation models that preaching, lives its life in the Kingdom, worships, supports its members and reaches out to the wider community is the mark of its faith journey and in large part, the effectiveness of its preacher.” Bishop David’s family, church family and friends are delighted to mark this milestone with him. They give heartfelt thanks for the blessing of his many years of dedication to his calling, praying that he will have many more years of service and preaching as he walks through his faith journey. Congratulations and God bless you, Bishop David!
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April 2011
ANGLICANLife in NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Roll away the stone
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
Father Sam Rose Editor
Editor-in-Chief: The Rev’d Sam Rose 8 Croydon Street Paradise, NL A1L 1P7 Email: samrose@nl.rogers.com
She stood by the graveside weeping. She placed her hand on the smooth marble, running her fingers over the indented letters of a name, as if she were trying to feel his loving touch once again. Her heart was left in pieces. Year after year as she came back to this site where she placed the love of her life, it seemed that the pain grew stronger and stronger. It felt as if her heart would burst. She hated the fact that she had to come here, to this terrible place, to be with the one she loved. She remembered the wonderful times they shared - laughing, loving, and living. But now that was over. It has been over for ten long, agonizing years. All she has left are doubts, denials, confusion, and uncertainty. She kept asking herself, “Why do I put myself through this torture? Why can’t all this pain just go away? Why can’t it all be like it was before? But there doesn’t seem to be any answers to her painful questions. If you can understand this
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
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story, you can understand Good Friday. Someone once asked me, “What’s so good about Good Friday? Jesus is left to die for hours and hours and hours upon the Cross. So much evil happened on that day - so much betrayal, abandonment, denial, and death. What is so good about Good Friday?” Indeed, this is the reality of Good Friday – betrayal, abandonment, denial, and death. In many ways that is our reality as well. Death is a bitter sting which infects us all. We have all suffered the sting of death, as St. Paul would put it. I have seen the sting of death many times when I deal with families after the death of a loved one. I have seen the sting of death when a marriage breaks down and a relationship dies. The emotions are all there - betrayal, abandonment, denial, and death – just as they have always been. Mary Magdalene felt the sting of death. That first Good Friday was not good at all for her. She had seen the whipping, the beating, the nailing, the screaming, the tears, and finally the end. And here she stood, weeping, agonizing, and perhaps running her fingers over the cold stone tomb as if she were trying to feel his loving touch once again. She could have been asking herself, “Why do I put myself through this tor-
ture? Why can’t all this pain just go away? Why can’t it all be like it was before? But there doesn’t seem to be any answers to her painful questions. You see, on Good Friday, the heavy stone had sealed up her dead Lord. It blocked Mary from seeing and touching her beloved Master. That stone separated her life from Jesus. That heavy stone still exists in our lives today as well. That heavy stone represents a greater barrier of what we all experience when we are confronted with great sorrow and tragedy in our own life. That heavy stone represents our own doubts, denials, confusion, and uncertainty. Have you ever felt as if nothing made sense in your life? Have you ever felt cut off from God? Have you ever thought that God didn’t care or love you? What is your heavy stone that blocks you from seeing the Risen Christ? When Mary returned to that graveyard very early on Sunday morning, she expected to find that heavy stone still there. Mary remained stuck at Good Friday, at the empty cross, and the cold sealed tomb. Mary remained in her heart cut off from the one who gave her life. When she arrived, Continued on page 5 See: Heavy Stones
ANGLICANLife
April 2011
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STEWARDSHIP
Giving can change your life Kevin Smith
Just think about this: 95% of Canadian donors give because of the way it makes them feel. 84% say their giving is an expression of their hearts and souls. Four out of five Canadian donors say that their giving
is an extension of their spiritual beliefs. These observations were made recently by Fraser Green, a strategist with Good Works - an Ottawa company that has been conducting surveys of giving by Canadians in the last number of years. When I read these statements, it brought to mind a book entitled “Give to Live” by Dr. Douglas Lawson, an ordained Methodist minister. The central thesis in his book is that giving is not just a minor influence on good health but the key to bodily and mental well being. He cites studies that show for all ages (but particularly among
the elderly) one way to escape premature physical and emotional deterioration is by staying active in the service of others. Some examples of the studies included the following: A ten year study of the physical health and social activities of 2700 men in Michigan found that those who did regular volunteer work had death rates two and one half times lower than those who didn’t. A life insurance company surveyed policy holders who lived to the age of 100 years or older. One of the questions was:”What is the
most important thing you have learned in your long life?” The most frequent answer was “To love thy neighbour as thyself.” Two Harvard University doctors discovered that people who watched a documentary about Mother Theresa’s work with the dying showed an increase in immunoglobin - A , the body’s first line of defence against viral infection. A Georgia study determined that blood pressure levels were lower among residents who frequently attended church while a California study found that church members lived longer
than those who did not belong to churches. Dr. Lawson suggests that “instead of the old slogan, “Give until it hurts,” it seems we should say “Give until you feel great.” Another interesting book on the same subject is “Rambam’s Ladder” by Julie Salamon which constantly reminds us on every page that we are measured not by what we have, but by what we give. A few thoughts to consider during this Lent and Easter.
When Mary Magdalene realized that the Risen Christ was standing by her side, speaking her own name, she was transformed. Her sorrow was transformed into radiant joy – such joy that she became the first to share the good news! It is the experience of the Risen Christ present in our midst that can and does transform our lives as well. The reality of Easter is that God is not held back by the things that hold us back from God. The Good News of Easter is that out of death, God creates new life. This very day, there are people who endure heartache and suffering. Too many face a future that is desolate and hopeless. So
many search for a purpose to life, but feel like they are wandering in the wilderness. There are many who still find a great heavy stone blocking them from experiencing the Risen Christ. The Good News for them and for us is that our God moves heavy stones. For Mary Magdalene, the great stone of grief was moved by new life and hope. For you and me, the heavy stone we experience, whatever it may be, will be moved as well. The stone was rolled away from the tomb, not to let Jesus out, but to let us in, to show us that death is not the end - but rather a new beginning.A beginning that proclaims the victory of life over
death, and which allows us to turn our backs on the grave and face our future with faith and hope, confident that all of God’s promises will indeed bear fruit. The joy of Easter comes from this glorious reality: That the Lord is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!
Heavy stones Continued from page 4
to her surprise she did not find the heavy stone blocking the tomb. She found it rolled away. And she heard a familiar voice speak her name, “Mary!” Even through her tear-filled burning eyes, this stranger even looked like Jesus. But it was Jesus, alive, real, and risen! Jesus tells Mary not to hold onto him but to go and proclaim his resurrection to the others. Mary leaves proclaiming that she has seen the Risen Lord and telling all the Good News. The empty tomb of Easter morning signals not only Jesus’ resurrection but also our resurrection – our new life as Jesus’ followers. We no longer
have to live with those heavy stones of doubt, denial, confusion and uncertainty. We no longer have to live as if death will have the last word. We no longer have to live as if we are cut off from God. Faith replaces confusion and uncertainty. Grief turns to joy. Tears vanish from eyes open with amazement. Fear becomes confidence in God’s faithfulness and love. God does something completely new and unexpected in raising Jesus from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection means that you and I will be raised into a new life as well – you and I can be transformed when we see the Risen Christ standing in our own midst.
BISHOPS’ LETTERS
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EASTER GREETINGS
April 2011
ANGLICANLife
FROM OUR BISHOPS
Circumstances in my personal life give rise to particular thoughts about the journey from the cross to resurrection. As I write this my mother is in the “Quiet Room” at St. Luke’s Home. The folks there know what that means. Mother is well into her 100th year. She is tired and weary. A few days ago my brother-in-law brought Holy Communion to her. She is ready for her final journey. She is yearning to enter the eternal rest promised by the risen Lord. It would appear that while she is bound to her human form she has a cross to bear. I expect that she has sung that familiar hymn often enough to know that just as there’s a cross for everyone there‘s one for her. Mother frequently emerges from her naps or periods of meditation with some insight into the uncertainty of this dying process. Last evening she propped herself up and emphatically stated that she is ‘like a bird in a cage’. The longing for release from this human form was beautifully expressed a long time ago by the psalmist who wrote, “O Bishop Percy Coffin that I had the wings of a dove; I would fly away and be at rest.” (Ps 55:6) The final departure is a longing, a Diocese of yearning, to be free. The cage metaphor tells me that there is a point in our existence when separation takes Western Newfoundland place between the body which comes from earth and the soul which comes from heaven. Is this, I wonder, true spiritual maturity? Is the desire to let go of all, even our mortal bodies, the fullness to which we aspire? When we fold up this earthly tent then do we truly entrust ourselves to our Creator’s gracious keeping because we have nothing else left? When dear old Job was stripped of every possession and his dignity he confesses, “I know that my Redeemer lives and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth”. Jesus has done just that! Because of her faith in Jesus Christ mother will not die. The “Quiet Room” is really the place where people go to live because there is only life. Well perhaps there is life and laughter...the laughter of the High King of Heaven soaring where there is neither height nor depth nor death because death has lost its sting. Jesus lives! To him the throne Over all the world is given: May we go where he has gone, Rest and reign with him in heaven. Alleluia! “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”. Easter is a victory, not a promise of a victory to come, not “Pie in the sky when you die” victory, but present victory. But what is “victory”, really? Victory is about more than merely winning a battle. One of the wisest insights about victory was, in my opinion, expressed by Golda Meir, one of the Founding Mothers of Modern Israel and at one time, its Prime Minister. Spoken in a time of bloodshed and conflict during wars for independence and the survival of Israel, she said: “We do not rejoice in victories. We rejoice when a new kind of cotton is grown and when strawberries bloom in Israel.” Victory is not only the defeat of an enemy; it is the creation of something better which must follow. For Christians, the victory of Christ is not about hunkering down within a cloak of “personal salvation”, with a safe group of like minded persons awaiting, as it were, the final salvation. It is about going into the world to proclaim Bishop David Torraville the “Good News”. Diocese of Easter is neither about a past resurrection nor about a future one. It is about a victory which has been won; it Central Newfoundland is about the Kingdom of God which has been proclaimed, in which we are called to participate and, with God’s grace and the living Christ to guide us, build daily. There are many ways to build something better. Supported by prayer, inspired by worship, impelled by a call to God’s justice, there are countless opportunities in your community and in your church to nurture new growth, to help “strawberries bloom.” There are senior’s facilities, food banks, shelters, youth programs, health foundations, choirs, prayer groups, servers guilds, and countless other places in God’s Kingdom where you are called to live God’s love and proclaim the Peace of Christ to people who will likely hear it from no one - but you. On this Easter do not celebrate the blessing of the resurrection in Church alone, but proclaim it through living the “New Life” of Christ in the community around you. May the Blessing of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit fill you with the “New Life” which Easter promises that, in Christ, you too may be a blessing. Dear Friends in Christ, Alleluia Christ is Risen!! I want to wish you all the blessings of Easter. As we celebrate Easter we are reminded that the resurrection is at the heart of our faith and the basis of our hope. It is a sure sign that God is true to God’s promises. Bishop Cyrus Pitman Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador
St. Augustine said years ago “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song”. We are indeed Easter people and we are people of hope. The Easter proclamation spreads throughout the world with the joyful song of Alleluia. Let us sing it with our lips and live that way with our lives. In the places where God has placed us may the Risen Christ always accompany us.
ANGLICANLife
April 2011
CHURCH LIFE
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Passing on a legacy of faith
Article by Lori Hollett
Great Grandmother sees seven great-grandchildren confirmed. Mrs. Elizabeth Peach of Arnold’s Cove is 93 years old and has been involved with the church since she was a young girl. She has been an active member of the ACW for many years and was a choir member from the time she was an adolescent and still sings in the choir each week. She also participates in other concerts and services throughout the year. In November she was very proud to attend the confirmation ceremony for seven of her great-grandchildren at the St. Michael’s and All Angels Church in Arnold’s Cove. She has seven children, eighteen grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.
New Canons Two new Canons were installed at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist by Bishop Cyrus Pitman on 16 January 2011. The new Canons include The Rev’d Canon Eli Evans (Rector of the Parish of Heart’s Content) and The Rev’d Canon David Pilling. (Rector of the Parish of St. Augustine). Pictured (left to right): Canon Eli Evans, Bishop Pitman, Father Jonathan Rowe (Bishop’s Chapalin), Canon David Pilling, The Very Rev’d Dean Josiah Noel. Photo credit: The Editor.
OUR HISTORY
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April 2011
John Leigh, 1822 (part three) John Leigh is well known in Newfoundland, on the positive side, for his vocabulary of the Beothuk aboriginal people and his reconstruction of the parish registers of Twillingate which are found in the same correspondence file as the document in this article comes from. On the negative side, he was presiding with Captain David Buchan in the Surrogate Court when the notorious Butler and Landrigan cases came before the court. By subjecting these people to severe corporal punishment Mr. Leigh and Captain Buchan sank into the emerging Newfoundland political environment and found a question mark placed after their names. Any reader interested in the Beothuk vocabulary can look at the article on John Leigh in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography on the internet by doing a Google search naming the dictionary and then follow the links offered. Mr. Leigh appeared in two previous articles in this series: in April 2008 (the price of provisions in Newfoundland) and February 2008 (life in Twillingate). We will see a theme from this last article repeated later in this article. Readers should have the usual warning that because some words in the text of the article are missing due mainly to damage to the microfilm on which document is available in Newfoundland and Mr. Leigh’s habit of jumping from one topic to another with little connections in his letter, it is not always easy to follow his tread of his thought. However this document is one of the largest from a missionary in Newfoundland discussing issues of importance to the church so the writer will devote three articles to it. Readers might want to save the previous articles to help make sense of the current one(s). The church in Newfoundland had laboured under a severe disability for many years: the lack of any oversight or leadership position to make the church operations more effective. Also, it was exceedingly difficult to find missionaries and to hold them, for any length of time. The first step in this process was appointing a visiting missionary. As is noted in the text, this position would
be a traveling supervisory position such as was used for many years in education in Newfoundland, a combination of an inspector of work and a resource person for improved work. When we begin the first part of this document, we found Mr. Leigh had been appointed Ecclesiastical Commissary for Newfoundland; the somewhat vague “visiting missionary” has been given more substance. He has been made a sort of an assistant bishop reporting to the Bishop of Nova Scotia. But as one would expect the appointment has made him none too popular among his colleagues in the church. Accusations are being hurled at Mr. Leigh, or maybe he thinks they are being cast at him. Now with the prospect of higher positions being created there is space in the church in Newfoundland for clerical advancement. However, his appointment was one small step that led to Aubrey Spencer’s appointment as Bishop of Newfoundland later. At the end of this part of his report Mr. Leigh summarizes the persons who need the support of the society such as Mrs. Lampen who might be indigent without her husband’s salary but usually the society was reluctant to do this. Also noted are the needs of school masters and catechists and their situation with the lack of priests and signs of church and school Continued on page 9 See: John Leigh
ANGLICANLife
David Davis
The Document Due to the missing word(s) the symbol “. . .” has been used to mark the gaps. Harbor Grace Jany 22.1822 (Continued from the last issue) The distress in this island is very great, and will be acutely felt this winter, I heartily pray the spring was come, as it may bring us a fresh supply of provisions - and the minds of the lower orders, will then be engaged in the fishery - They are already issued diminished rations at Saint John’s - I already dread the consequences - the winter so far has been severe in the extreme, more so then any I have hitherto met with- ...this the efforts of the young men at . . . having what the legal consequences and support of the merchants there reasons believe enough has been exhibited to them, & consequently they wanted a leader - a strong . . . why those who have come forward, Mr Danson did here, and Mr. Colbourne did at Twillingate, should not be permitted to loose anything by so doing if it could be avoided It would be well if the Society would take the Attorney General’s opinion on the 57Geo.3 c.51 as the Dissenting Ministers still continue to marry and we do not know what to do? – There is one subject that I did not intend to mention at first, but perhaps a duty I owe to myself compels me to do so, however reluctantly - Which is that I fear Mr. Laughorne is not very . . . connected with the production of - . . . Evangalius - he has I know spared no pains to draw the attention of different persons to the Report about the school Altho. I to him denied it to be a statement of mine in the presence of Messrs. Carrington & . . . but even if he thought I had made a false report, he should have written the Society, need not have . . . me, which may have injured the course we engaged in, - I have a letter from a magistrate in the neighborhood of Twillingate, saying that a deposition had been brought to him to prove that I had sold books and he says “It as the opinion of many here that Mr. Laughorne is at the head of the above mischief, and that he had busy enquiring whether I had sold any of the Society’s bibles - This is in return for my sparing him worse, and offering him furniture out of my own house that he might be comfortable. The first winter - I do not deny that I have sold books, I have sold some pounds worth, I bought out with me Testaments Bibles prayer books, I purchased some from a Captn of a vessel who brought a lot from the Bible Society - and I wish Mr. Laughorne may never commit any greater sin, then to provide books at a cheap rate for his parishioners - The most charitable construction I can put upon his conduct is that he is not always in his senses, I believe I assure you I communicate this with every great . . . Society. I do not wish to injure him, or to stand in the way of his promotion, but a duty I owe to myself, & the chance of his relating to the Society on this head, & the advice of all my friends have induced me to state thus much - I have forwarded his application to come here, & I do not wish that what I have been compelled to state should prevent his having the benefit of any privilege that his seniority may give him - I only want to defend myself- . . . the Bishop . . . directed under cover to his Lordship at Saint Martins Library, I do not know whether or not whether this be correct or not, pray inform me In the anxious hope of hearing from you early in the Spring, and which I may do if you send your letter addressed to me to the care of Messrs. Slade Elson &Co. Poole , or Messrs. Hart, Robinson 28 Walbrooke, London, early in February - by either of these concerns I shall hear two months sooner then by way of Halifax.I remain Yours faithfully John Leigh
ANGLICANLife
April 2011
STRAIGHT TALK
9
The stewardship of giving The Rev. Greg Mercer
Popeye! Remember him? Popeye the Sailor Man! Whenever Popeye was at his wits end he would howler out “That’s all I can stands and I can’t stands no more.” And with that he would break open a tin of spinach and began throwing punches. Well, I am not at my wits end and neither am I about to start throwing punches but I can’t help but wonder why Anglicans are at the bottom of the list when it comes to supporting their church financially. This concerns me because, ultimately, it will affect the future of the church
we all love. According to one report that measured the annual financial contributions of Anglicans and Lutherans across Canada against other denominations, Anglicans were SECOND from the bottom. That is to say, when it comes to supporting their church financially, Anglicans hold onto their money. Not necessarily the kind of statistic that would make one proud. And not only are they at the bottom of the list, they are the only denomination which is supported primarily by an aging church. The majority of our regular givers come from those who are retired. Do the math. In twenty or twenty-five years from now who will be left to support the Anglican Church? Why aren’t we growing in this area of our stewardship? Where is the growth
from one year to the next? Why aren’t we attracting more givers? Surely Anglicans have as much to give as other Christians. Jesus talked frequently about money, wealth and riches. In fact, in one particular parable commonly known as ‘The Dishonest Steward’ (Luke 16:113), Jesus holds us accountable for how we manage our money. For all intensive purposes he is telling us to give him an account of our stewardship. But we can’t even talk about money without getting upset. It’s almost like we are afraid to talk about it; paranoid even. Why is that? Let’s get talking, that’s what I would say. Money is one of our primary resources, second only to time and talents, i.e., our human resources, our volunteers. The fact is we don’t do enough teaching on stewardship. The only time we hear about it is when the church
is in some dire straits. Stewardship encompasses the whole of life. The giving of money should be as natural as the giving of ourselves but properly understood in the context of who God intended us to be. The Old Testament teaches tithing, i.e., ten percent. Not many Anglicans give at a ten percent level. In fact, on an average, most Anglicans give less than one percent. The New Testament teaches us to give by grace, which I would suggest is much more sacrificial then the tithe. But is that what giving is all about, some minimum standard, some formula, some calculated proportion? When Jesus talked about money it was almost, always a spiritual issue and NOT an economic one. God created us to be loving, giving, generous people. It is in our nature to give. I mean, when we understand who we
are, where we come from, and that our very lives are gifts, it follows that one of the most human and noble things we can do is to be generous givers. Generous giving flows NOT from a demand placed on us, BUT from the core of our being. It is who God created us to be. So come on Anglicans, we can do better and in most cases much better. The apostle Paul reminds us in his second letter to the Corinthians, 9:7, “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion [emphasis added], for God loves a cheerful giver.” Of course we can always eat more spinach but I am not sure that will help the situation, unless you are chasing after a girl by the name of Olive Oyl.
John Leigh Continued from page 8
development in Conception Bay. As usual there was a period of economic distress in Newfoundland at this time, which makes the established persons nervous that the common people will become hungry and make trouble. The government in St John’s is giving out some food relief and some merchants are advancing some supplies. Mr. Leigh is aware that the supplies advanced need to be replaced or the financial stability of the merchant houses may be compromised, and thus reduce the credit they could advance in the next fishing season. The issue of Dissenting clergy marrying was still an issue as we saw in a previous
article in this series. The desire of the church to maintain its authority over the sacraments had to be balanced against the rise of Methodism in influential circles in England. Also, the government in London was keen to maintain religious peace in the colonies: it was no longer acceptable to use the armed forces to suppress religious dissent. Most of this part of Mr. Leigh’s report again deals with the accusations among the clergy. Again we have only a small part of the story but the poisoned issue of the testaments, bibles and prayer books seem to have a life of its own. Of course, all books were very scarce in those days especially in remote
colonies. They were also symbolic of middle class aspirations, as an encyclopedia became later. It appears that Mr. Leigh is engaged in some delicate eroding of Mt Laughorne’s standing with the Society. Missionaries are looking to their futures in Newfoundland. The closing of the report reminds us of the slow passage of the mails in these early years, especially the official mails which went on naval vessels between major cities or naval stations. Many persons who were willing to compensate the owners and masters of commercial vessels got quicker service from commercial port to commercial port.
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Easter resurrection Ronald Clarke
Snow lies deep and heavy on my backyard garden. My trees, a mixed collection of willowy spindly three-to four-year olds, that I have been nurturing tenderly and watering faithfully through hot city summers poke their brown dry skeletons through the chill white blanket, looking forlorn and dead. I fondly remember them as they were last summer-leafy, flower-
ing, some loaded with orange and red berries. Now, alas, they are dead- no, not dead, but soundly, heavily asleep. I do not mourn for my trees, though they ”died” last October, their leaves shriveling to yellow, red and brown husks. I know, indeed I am certain, that they will resurrect in spring’s warm sunlight. They will live and bloom again renewed, revitalized. Now they sleep in useful, necessary dormancy, but they will live again. Why mourn for trees that merely sleep? Recently, I lost a longtime friend; but I did not weep. My friend was leaving for Europe, and knowing his distaste for letter-writing, I doubt that I will hear from
I did not weep “as one without hope”. Why should I? Christ, my father’s Saviour and mine, had taken this journey before- and he had risen, returned to life. Christ promised all who believe in him the same thing- death, then, is no longer death, but rather deep profound sleep. It would be just as silly, then, to weep for my father as to weep for my Europe-bound friend. Christ, by his Easter Resurrection, has transformed death to sleep, and so dying is no more permanent than travelling. I was just as certain that my father will resurrect as I am certain that my flowers and trees will bloom again next spring. I was more certain that my father will live again then I am that my
friend will return from Europe, since earthly life, with its vicissitudes, is as uncertain for him as it is for all of us. But the promises of Christ are sure! Confident of the eventual resurrection, I experienced at the graveside a sense of peace, a pulse of joy. To me and to all sincere believers, Easter is much more than a historical or theological event. Easter is the personal assurance that each of us, like Christ, shall surely conquer death. Bereavement then is but a temporary separation. Death is nothing more than refreshing sleep. Thanks and glory to Jesus Christ for Easter!
ceived. Eternal life is a gift. It is free, not earned. Mark
over to Jesus or not. Jesus said, “He who
entry into salvation, which is completed only in the life to come. There is a sin “will never be forgiven” (Mark 3:29), not because God will not forgive, but because human refuses to be forgiven. All the other religions of the world are essentially systems of human merit. The Christian God is merciful to the undeserving sinners. Nothing can be added to the finished work of Jesus. We cannot save ourselves. All we have to do is to believe in God’s Word and trust the work of Jesus for our salvation. Jesus is our Saviour.
8:35 suggests that a person can either be saved or lost by giving himself or herself
stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Our conversion is only the
him again for a long time. I know, however, that he will return when his overseas posting is finished, and then we shall be reunited. Separation of friends is painful, but since I am certain we shall be reunited, I am satisfied. As I waved goodbye and watched him board the airplane, I felt genuine sadness, but I would look awfully foolish crying over a friend from whom separation was only temporary. Years ago, when I was much younger, I stood at the grave of my beloved father. Dad had been one of my dearest friends, one for whom there can be no surrogate, no earthly substitute. I should have been prostrate with grief. I was not. Again,
It is finished The Rev. Michael Li
The Apostle’s Creed states that Jesus “was crucified, dead, and buried” (John 19:17-42). Jesus made seven statements while He was dying on the cross. On the cross Jesus drank the vinegar to moisten His throat. The drink of vinegar did not fully quench His thirst, but it did enable Him to utter a loud cry saying “It is finished” (John 19:30). As He spoke these words Jesus was not yet dead. His death was only moments away. He spoke anticipatively of the work now done. The loud cry stood for a shout of victory, because the purpose of God has triumphed in His death. When Jesus shouted, “It is finished”, He referred to the completion of the work of redemption. Nothing further needed to be done. He died on the cross for our salvation. On the cross He offered Himself as the one per-
fect sacrifice. In His dying moments, “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). No more sacrifice would be necessary. God became incarnate and gave His life a ransom for sinful humanity. Jesus referred to the Communion cup as His “blood of the (new) covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). The forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sin were made possible by the death of Jesus. The work of redemption was accomplished. It was done without the addition of human merits. We must remember that the forgiveness of God is a gift to be re-
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April 2011
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Giving it up for Lent Allison Billard
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of giving up something for Lent. That you would go without one of your favourite things for 40 days when normally you would be attached to it like an appendage is really quite interesting. I’ve always admired those who can fast. I’m way too big a wimp to fast for 40
days, maybe 24 hours or so but that’s about it. I can’t lock myself away for all of Lent, which is what it would require otherwise I’d be fired from my job and probably abandoned by my family for being so cranky and difficult. A couple of times I gave up chocolate for Lent, and wow it was hard! Coffee was even worse, it turns out your body really can become dependent on a certain level of caffeine
intake and I had a headache for 3 weeks! And I was for-
bidden by co-workers and family members from ever doing that again. Oops. So maybe I will try tak-
ing up something for Lent instead. I’ve proved, if somewhat arguably, that I can give up some of my favourite things, so maybe it’s time to try to develop a new spiritual habit. I’ve always wanted to have a better, more disciplined prayer life, so maybe this will be my chance to make that happen. Lent is the season of
preparation and prayerful reflection as we get ready to celebrate Christ’s sacrifice for us. Each time we miss what we’ve given up we can better appreciate what Jesus gave up for us and be thankful for it. Each time we set aside time for purposeful prayer and reflection on Scripture we are reminded of Jesus’ time of preparation for his own ministry while he fasted 40 days in the desert. What will be your undertaking for Lent? Will you be giving it up or taking it on?
A WHOLE NEW REVIEW “Jesus in the Power of Poetry” by Diarmuid O’Murchu Reviewed by Gail Brittain
Diarmuid O’Murchu Jesus in the Power of Poetry A New Voice for Gospel Truth The Crossroad Publishing Company, New York 206pp. $22.95 978-0-8245-2521-7
Have you ever wondered how Jesus might have felt or thought of Judas after his betrayal? How about the thoughts and questions that ran though the minds of the twelve disciples? Jesus in the Power of Poetry, by Diarmuid O’Murchu allows us to meet the human Jesus, the Jesus who shares his most private thoughts. We read about Mary’s struggle as a woman and mother. We hear her as she bears the shame of having a child out of wedlock. We feel her pain as she worries about her son’s travels and rebellious nature. The Gospels invoke in us the desire to know Jesus as the Son of God come to empower the oppressed, the marginalized and the victims of the political and religious rulers of the day. In poetry we have license to “speak the unspeakable, uncover what has been subverted, illuminate the invisible and give voice to dimensions of life that tend to be subjected to invisibility and inaudibility.” The poetry in this book shows us another side of Jesus, the side that will not only lead us to God but a Jesus who empowers us to seek justice,
to heal and forgive, to love and live in community celebrating God’s goodness. Jesus in the Power of Poetry enables us to stretch ourselves. See the mystery; experience the suffering, and pain. Reach out for justice. Imagine the anguish of the bleeding woman before she dared to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Such empowerment! Experience the pure joy Zaccheus must have felt when Jesus beckoned him from the tree and befriended him. So inclusive! Diarmuid O’Murchu has authored many books such as Quantum Theology and
Catching Up With Jesus. He is a social psychologist working with couples, the bereaved, and the homeless. I’ve read Jesus in the Power of Poetry several times and continually go back to it. In it I find the familiar parables and miracles of Jesus told in a way that invites me to experience Jesus and the people in his life in everyday situations, with everyday feelings; making the Gospels, as relevant today, as always. This book is available at The Diocesan Resource Centre, 19 King’s Bridge Road, St. John’s.
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YouthLife
youth ministry in newfoundland & labrador
Bonavista youth reach out to seniors Submitted by Debbie Ryder
The Bonavista Youth Group have fun when they get together every second week. While trying to keep the meetings entertaining, much of the content of the meetings revolve around how the Lord can work in their lives and how they can work for the Lord. As part of a community service in December they held a “cookie crusade” where we made cookies to deliver to those that had
been sick. We also visited several seniors’ homes to sing Christmas Carols. Working with Youth can be very demanding but it can also be very rewarding. We have seen how many of our young people have opened their lives to allow the Lord to intervene in different circumstances. They grow in their faith and develop a close bond to one another as they learn to serve the Lord.
Ask & Imagine Poem Gold being responsible, green being curious, orange being adventurous and blue being harmonious,
Ask and Imagine was a friendly place, People came from everywhere with a smile on their face, Nobody was ever left out of a game, Each and every person was treated exactly the same, The first day there was more of meet and greet, We played all kinds of games that were really neat, Six count, hot chocolate, touch the G and body drumming, Was some of the games we played when guitars was strumming, We had to plan for some events like worship and CLAY 2010, Creating a workshop working time to the end.
We all lived in the one house together which wasn’t bad, Even cooking dinner and supper was pretty rad, In this house is where everything went down, Nobody ever had any type of frown, That’s where we ate, slept, showered and lived, Felt just like home it really did, Welcomed from the very first day, Everyone got there in all different ways, Between the planning and games, We all had fun nobody was ever shamed.
CLAY 2010 was a bonus for this Ask and Imagine, We done a workshop about different topics, Stuff, permission to fail, and time were some, We all worked hard but yet had lots of fun, Sat5 down with people from all over from coast to coast, Met all kinds of people who I shall miss the most, We sung and danced at the CLAY gathering, Played games that were fun and tiring. Even after these days of CLAY 2010, We weren’t even close to the end, All oup preparation for the workshops and presentations, We even had our own little presentations, Between mind blowing presentations from Bill, And learning about different Gods, religions and peoples will, We even had a day about colors and what is meant, Blue, gold, green and orange were the colors where our time was spent, Of course the colors have different meanings,
Couple little activities that we have done, Tree climbing, visiting an oldened town and going out having fun, Being 40-50 feet up in the air, Havin’ the feeling your flying and you just don’t care, Or goin’ to an old England place, Having fun seeing smiles on the peoples face, Seeing an old church and tractor filled with hay, Riding on the trailer looking out to people and say “hey,” Submitted by Nathan Buffett
This experience was a blast, I recommend it to everyone to apply fast, To have just as much fun as I had, Not one person would ever come out sad, So this is about my A&I CLAY 2010 trip, Hope it inspires you to apply and go for it.