Crosstalk - January 2016

Page 2

Page 3

BISHOP’S GREETING

Page 7

DIOCESE OF QUEBEC ELECTS NEW CO-ADJUTOR BISHOP

Page 9

COMMUNITY MINISTRIES

FAITH LEADERS IN THE HOT SEAT

SEPTEMBER 2015 A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL

ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF QUEBEC • DIOCÈSE ANGLICAN DE QUÉBEC The Anglican Diocese of Ottawa

A Section of the Anglican Journal / January 2016

25,000 March for Climate Justice Anglicans Join March for Climate

BY CAITLIN ARMSTRONG

On November 29, parishioners from the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa took to the streets with a crowd of 25,000 people for the March for Climate Solutions and Justice in Ottawa. The purpose of the march was to urge the newly elected government of Canada to take climate change seriously and make Canada run on 100% clean energy by 2050.

Prior to the march the group participated in an Interfaith Prayer Service at the Human Rights Monument organized by Citizens for Public Justice. The service was opened by native el-

der Annie Smith St-George from Kitigan Zibi and also included representatives from Christian, Hindu, Universalist, Buddhist, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. A leader from each faith group then carried leaves adorned with messages of hope concerning climate change to the foot of the monument before marching on to City Hall to join the main march, while singing “We are marching in the light of god”.

The march began at Ottawa City Hall where an enthusiastic crowd braved the cold November day to listen to speeches, music, and dancing, before being sent off by environmentalist David Suzuki. The march made its way through the Byward See STORY, p. 3

photo: Jim

Parishes Partner in Support of Canadian Foodgrains Bank West Carleton

BY SIMON CHAMBERS, Pri-

mate’s Worlds Relief and Development Fund Six years ago when Gary Weir and his brother Ron set aside four acres of farmland as a growing project for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, they had no idea how the project would grow over time. “Ron was always passionate about the idea of having a growing project,” recalls Gary. There were already Foodgrains Bank projects nearby in Almote and Arnprior and other communities.

They raised about $600 that first year for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and

McIntyre, Citizens for Public Justice

25,000 people joined in the March for Climate Justice, November 29, 2015.

photo:

Lisa Probst

Harvesting the crop at the West Carleton Foodgrains Project. were glad to repeat the projparish of Fitzroy Harbour ect the following year, dougot involved in the project. bling their fundraising for the The parish took donations Foodgrains Bank. It was in for inputs, or directly to the 2012 that the project began Foodgrains Bank, and the See STORY, p. 4 to really grow, as the Weirs’

New Diocesan Youth Internship Program What is the Youth Internship Program ‘ADOYIP’?

Sponsored through the GIFT Program, ADOYIP is the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Youth Internship Program. It is a new diocesan-wide program for youth in grade 11 to 1st year of college/university.

The Diocesan Youth Internship Program provides a new and meaningful way for youth to be attached to the work of a parish, the Ottawa Diocese or our community partners, through a program that embodies mane of the priorities and practices noted in Embracing God’s Future, the strategic roadmap for

the Diocese.

ADOYIP is a program with three parts.

• Paid Internship: To gain work skills within a parish, diocesan activity, or community partner • Faith Formation: Workshops with urban, suburban, and rural clergy • Leadership Skill Development: Presentations from community leaders There are six internship positions into which youth are matched based on interests.

• 1 will help facilitate the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa See STORY, p. 8

Page 2 • CROSSTALK • January 2016

FROM THE BISHOP

NEWS

Ontario Group Continues to Help with Refugee Sponsorship

By Anglican Journal Since the photo of drowned toddler Alan Kurdi first appeared in early September, an Anglican committee that works to facilitate refugee sponsorships has been busy, having helped with the sponsorship of 10 families and 50 individuals—from both Syria and Africa—at press time.

Until September, Diocese of Ontario Refugee Support

(DOORS) had facilitated the sponsorship of only about one family a year on average over the past 10 years, says chairwoman Debra Fieguth.

In the two months that followed, however, the group was flooded with requests for help, and has aided numerous Anglican, Catholic and other community groups with sponsorships.

Those sponsored, Fieguth says, include an Eritrean wid-

ow and her three daughters, who had been living in Sudan for more than 20 years; a Burundian family of 11 (two parents and nine children ages three to 23); a Congolese family of four; and several Syrian families.

One family, which had been living in India after fleeing Afghanistan, had had to wait five years for their paperwork to be processed, Fieguth says.

Executive Archdeacons Gather in Ottawa

By Stephanie Boyd In late November, the Ven. David Selzer and St. John’s, Elgin; were host to the Executive Archdeacons Conference.

Over several days, Executive Archdeacons and Officers met, for the first time since the 90’s, to discuss items such as administration, government relations, strategic communications, and ordination formation.

It was a great opportunity to meet with colleagues, hear about their challenges and successes, and learn about the strategic process that are in place throughout the various diocese.

Additionally, attendees of the Executive Archdeacons Conference were honoured

DOORS has also been speaking with a number of individuals and families hoping to bring in family members still overseas, she says.

“The new awakening has made people aware not just of the Syrian crisis, but other refugee situations in the world, such as the protracted Eritrean conflict,” Fieguth says. “It has been extremely heartening to see people put compassion into

action. DOORS is grateful for the hard work, the enthusiasm, the commitment, the financial contributions and everything else that generous people in our diocese and communities have offered.”

DOORS facilitates the welcoming of refugees by helping with the paperwork and overseeing sponsorships..

Dialogue

Clergy News and Updates The parish of St. Matthias, Ottawa, and All Saints, Westboro, will formally amalgamate as one parish under the name of All Saints, Westboro; effective January 01, 2016.

Rev. David Andrew has received the Bishop’s permission to retire from stipendiary ministry and as Incumbent of St. James Church, Carleton Place; effective May 30, 2016.

photo:

Rev. Laurette Glasgow

Attendees of the Executive Archdeacons Conference, standing in the Parliamentary Library, during their tour of Parliament coordinated by Rev. Laurette Glasgow, Special Advisor for Government Relations. to hear from Peter Harder, Head of Transitions Team, speak about the challenges for new government; Andrew Leslies, MP Orleans, speak about the newly elected government; and David Jones,

General Synod Chancellor, speak about the importance of statistics for the national Church, Aboriginal issues, and a variety of administrative issues that may be present within a diocese.

Rev. Deacon Peter Cazaly was appointed part-time pastoral associate at Trinity, Cornwall; effective November 01, 2015.

Rev. Deacon Elizabeth December was appointed part-time pastoral associate at Julian of Norwich; effective November 29, 2015.

Ven. John Fletcher has been appointed as a parttime pastoral associate at St. John’s Church, Ottawa; effective January 20, 2016.

Rev. Arran Thorpe and his wife Charmaine Fraser are pleased to announce the birth of their first child, Greyson James Fraser Thorpe, born Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at 3:30pm, weighing in at 9lbs 3oz. Mother and child are doing well.

Ms. Mary-Cate Garden was recognized as a postulant of the Diocese of Ottawa; effective December 01, 2015.

CROSSTALK • January 2016 Page 3

NEWS

Diocese of Quebec Elects New Co-adjutor Bishop

By Tali Folkins Archdeacon Bruce Myers, the Anglican Church of Canada’s co-ordinator for ecumenical and interfaith relations, is now in line to be the 13th bishop of Quebec after being elected the diocese’s co-adjutor bishop Friday, November 27.

The election, which involved six candidates, went to six ballots before the only remaining candidate, Canon Stuart Pike, voluntarily withdrew his name. Following the rules of the diocese, it then went to one more vote so that the synod could confirm its choice of Myers. The decision required at least twothirds majorities of both the lay and clerical delegates.

“I think it took longer than anyone anticipated, although I think it’s also a testament to what a really fine slate of nominees the synod was presented with,” Myers said after his election. “You never know how things are going to

photo:

Facebok (Anglican Diocese of Quebec)

Bishop-elect Bruce Myers, is expected to assume his new role in the spring.

go, at an electoral synod especially, and the Spirit moves as it wills, and that can sometimes take us in unexpected places.”

Pike, who addressed synod after he withdrew in order to explain that he felt Myers was the better choice, says he didn’t feel greatly disappointed by the results.

“I feel terribly encouraged for the diocese of Quebec that they will have an abso-

lutely excellent bishop,” Pike said. “I really do affirm, from my own sense of the Spirit in this, the calling of Bruce. I think it is the will of the Spirit, and I think he will make an absolutely excellent bishop.”

The precise dates of the stage of his transition to coadjutor bishop remain to be determined, Myers said, but he anticipates being back in the diocese of Quebec and serving in his new role sometime in the spring. After winding up his ministry work in Toronto, he said, his first priorities are to travel the diocese and become more familiar with its people and communities, as well as working out a transition plan with the current bishop.

25,000 March for Environment...

- Continued from page 1 Market and up Wellington Street before ending at Parliament Hill. The crowd was diverse, ranging in ages from babies to seniors, with many people carrying an impressive array of banners, and signs. As the marchers filtered onto Parliament Hill it became very clear that the sheer size of the crowd was one normally reserved for Canada Day in the nation’s capital.

Other marches for climate justice happened concurrently throughout the day in over 1700 cities worldwide, in the hopes that the over 785,000 total marchers would be able to send a message to world

photo: Jim

McIntyre, Citizens for Public Justice

Karri Munn-Venn, from Citizens for Public Justice; speaking at the Interfaith Gathering, at the National Human Rights Monument. leaders meeting at the COP 21 meeting in Paris from November 30 to December 11, that they needed to take serious action on climate change.

Originally published for the Anglican Journal.

For the full story, visit: www.anglicanjournal.com

Rotting Stump Transformed Into Powerful Memorial

By Anglican Journal A wood-carving project funded by the Anglican Church in British Columbia has turned into what some are calling a powerful memorial to victims of the Indian residential school system.

On October 20, a work

by Ivan Rosypskye, a wood carver from the Heiltsuk First Nation, was unveiled before a gathering of some 150 people at Sycamore Commons Permaculture Garden, on the grounds of St. David and St. Paul Anglican Church in Powell River, B.C. The work was a carving made into the remains of a 12-metre-high

cypress tree. Rosypskye had been approached about doing the carving two months earlier by Ron Berezan, coleader of the garden project, which has been funded by the diocese of New Westminster for the last two years.

The stump features various symbols from nature: a sun at the top, an eagle, a killer whale, a bear and five salmon. In addition to carving these figures, Rosypskye also embedded into it, about halfway up, a brick taken from the ruins of St. Michael’s Residential School in Alert Bay, B.C., which was attended by the artist’s moth-

er and aunts. The brick, interrupting as it does the natural flow of life that unfolds in his carving, is an apt symbol of the way residential schools interrupted the flow of First Nations culture and community in Canada, he said.

Rosypskye’s decision to include the brick “gave such an incredible additional meaning to the power of the work,” Berezan said.

A short documentary, “Carving Reconciliation: Art and Conversation at Sycamore Commons,” has already been produced about the carving Topic

Montreal Parish to be Replaced by ‘Plant’ on U.K Model

By Anglican Journal A 150-year-old parish in Montreal is slated to be replaced over the coming months by a new “church plant” project aimed at new parishioners through a model of evangelism recently developed in the U.K. “It is with great joy that the Anglican Diocese of Montreal hopes to ‘plant’ a new church congregation into the

historic Montreal-centre parish building of St. James the Apostle in 2016,” the bishop of Montreal, Mary IrwinGibson, announced recently.

The goal, she said, is to attract young, urban professional and multicultural people “through a modern Anglican form of worship and evangelism,” and the project is part of the diocese’s exploration of “what [the] 21st-

century church will look like in Montreal.”

The project, according to a statement from the diocese, is in line with the diocese’s 2010-2015 Mission Action Plan, which stressed a need for “the planting of vital churches.” It follows research into work done at the diocese of London, England, which has enjoyed a 70% increase in the size of its adult

worshipping population in recent years, and then the establishment of a relationship between the diocese of Montreal with a London church, Holy Trinity Brompton. This church is where the Alpha Course, a program introducing newcomers to the basics of Christianity, was first developed.

Many current parish activities and appointments, in-

cluding that of its incumbent priest, are scheduled to end

by Christmas, and there will be a basic program of worship until Easter. Then the new project will take over. It will be headed by the Rev. Graham Singh, a Canadian priest who has already “planted” three churches on the model of Holy Trinity.

Anglican Montreal

Page 4 • CROSSTALK • January 2016

PARISH NEWS

Confronting Racial Injustice Listen For a Change.

By Neville Nankivell, longtime parishioner of St. Matthew’s and member of it’s Communications Committee St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe will be the Ottawa partner-site for the live streaming of a New York webcast of a major theological conference in January on racial discrimination.

The January 21-23 event at Trinity Church Wall Street is titled “Listen for a Change: Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice.” It will feature noted theologians and other speakers on one of the most critical social issues of our time. Organized by the Trinity Institute, it will put the spotlight on racial injustices in the U.S. judicial and penal systems.

At St. Matthew’s, discussion leaders will provide a Canadian context to what can be done to end racial discrimination. While Canada ranks second in the world for tolerance and inclusion, the hardships of our Aboriginal population are a national dis-

grace. It has high incarceration rates, poor health outcomes, high unemployment and school dropout rates, and incomes well below national averages.

In the U.S., some 70% of those in state prisons for drug convictions are non-white.

Police shootings of unarmed black people have triggered a series of violent protests. Yet many people are uncomfortable engaging in discussions about race, often because they don’t want to be seen as prejudiced. However, speaking out openly and frankly about racial issues can be a way to create change and ease racial tensions Sociology experts stress that deep listening and truth telling is a much better than staying silent.

During the conference, participants in New York and

partner sites such at St. Matthew’s will split into small “reflection” groups to learn how speaking the truth to others -- and to ourselves -can change attitudes in a positive way. Participants at St. Matthew’s will also be able to email questions in real time to conference speakers in New York.

“This event promises to be both educational and enjoyable, says The Rev. Canon Pat Johnston, rector of St. Matthew’s. “It will help us explore the role of race in many social and political issues of our day. Listening to one another and learning together will be stimulating and enriching. And St. Matthew’s will offer good food and snacks to complement conversation.”

Conference speakers include Nicholas Kristof, Anna Deavere Smith, Emilie Townes, the Rt. Rev.Michael Curry, Michele Norris, Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Victor Rios and Kelly Brown Douglas.

Kristof is a New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner. Smith is an actor, playwright and professor.

Townes is a scholar and leader in theological education.

Curry is presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Norris is a prominent radio journalist. Bonilla-Silva, Rios and Douglas are prominent sociology professors and authors.

For 45 years now, the Trinity Institute has held an annual theological conference on key theological and social issues. Perspectives from all faiths are welcomed. Its webcast on racial justice will be shown on a large screen at St. Matthew’s during an opening session 6pm to 9pm on the Thursday, and during daytime sessions 9am to 5:15 pm on Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturday. Light refreshments will be served Thursday evening. Lunch will be provided Friday and Saturday. There will be lots of opportunity for conversation and questions.

Registration is $70, and includes evening reception.

For more information, or to register visit: www.stmatthewsottawa.ca (613) 234-4024 stmatthewsanglicanchurch@ bellnet.ca

Weirs raised $3500.

Donations to PWRDF’s member account with the Foodgrains Bank are able to be used by PWRDF for projects that help to provide food after emergencies, or that help people to have enough food to eat every day over the long term.

Thanks to the Foodgrains Bank’s agreement with the government of Canada, projects are eligible for matching funds as well. So when PWRDF supported people fleeing violence in South Sudan through the Foodgrains Bank, for example, the $80,000 contribution from PWRDF’s account was matched 4:1 and funded a $400,000 project.

Fast forward to 2015, and Gary Weir continues to take the lead in the West Carleton Foodgrains growing project. He works up the land, sows the seeds, and provides the equip-

House at St. George’s, Fitzroy Harbour this year, and the harvest meal hosted by Christ Church last fall which brought the two parishes together for evensong, dinner, and a presentation about the project. ment for the project. Lisa Lisa’s work is all about Probst, the parish PWRDF raising awareness. “Many representative, is involved people don’t know what the in awareness raising efforts Canadian Foodgrains Bank in the surrounding areas. is, or what it does,” she said.

The parish of Fitzroy Har“I go once a year and use the bour has joined with Christ community table at the farmChurch, Bell’s Corners—an ers’ market in Carp, where I urban church—in the projput up posters, give out handect, with Christ church supouts about the Foodgrains plying funds for the seed and Bank, and engage people in fertilizer, as well as building conversation.” This gives her a large sign to advertise the the opportunity to talk about project, which now covers 25 PWRDF, the Foodgrains acres of land right near the Bank, and some of the numajor road. ances of emergency and susThe West Carleton tainability work.

Foodgrains growing project Gary had the combine out is supported by many people last weekend, harvesting this and businesses in the area, year’s crop for the PWRDF providing land, inputs and account with the Canadian more. The parishes supFoodgrains Bank. He hopes port the project through crethey’ll raise over $10,000 ative events like the Haunted

A ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. www.ottawa.anglican.ca

Publisher:

The Rt. Rev. John Chapman, Bishop of Ottawa

Editor:

Stephanie Boyd

Crosstalk is published 10 times a year (September to June) and mailed as a section of the Anglican Journal.

Printed and mailed by Webnews Printing Inc. in North York, Ontario, Crosstalk is a member of the Canadian Church Press and the Anglican Editors Association.

Subscriptions: For new subscriptions or changes, please contact your parish administrator or visit: www.anglicanjournal.com Suggested annual donation: $25

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- Continued from page 1

Crosstalk

again this year. “I’m happy to see that it’s something my brother started and that it’s continued on,” Gary said.

Ron is ill and unable to work on the project. But Gary continues the work, knowing how important it is, and how much his brother is pleased by it.

Originally published for the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund.

For the full story, visit: www.pwrdf.org For more information about Canadian Foodgrains Bank, visit: www.foodgrainsbank.ca

Food for Life

The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund www.pwrdf.org

Crosstalk reserves the right to decline any advertisement. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the Diocese of Ottawa or any of its principals.

Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all contents, including text, representations and illustrations, and also assume responsibility for any claims and costs arising therefrom.

Editorial and advertising enquiries, as well as letters to the editor, should be directed to: ott-crosstalk@ottawa.anglican.ca

Stephanie Boyd Crosstalk 71 Bronson Ave. Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6G6 (613) 232-7124, ext. 245 Submission Deadline for the February 2016 Issue is December 28, 2015.

CROSSTALK • January 2016 Page 5

PARISH NEWS

A Community Gathers

By Paul Dumbrille The newly formed parish of Julian of Norwich hosted a Family Bazaar on Saturday, November 21, that attracted more members of the community than in recent memory. Building on the experience of the former St. Richard’s bazaar and with the support of dozens of volunteers from the parish and beyond, this year’s event surpassed all expectations. More people than ever helped with the organization and running of the event and more people than ever attended the event.

It was as much a community gathering as a shopping event.

The bazaar sold the usual items such as baking, hand crafts, toys, decorations, jewellery, knitted items, plants, gift baskets, “Junk for Jesus”, and hosted a Tea Room.

When the doors opened at 9:00 a.m. the waiting line extended from the door of the church hall onto and up the street. After an opening prayer by the Venerable Mary Ellen Berry, people were personally welcomed as they entered. A Welcoming Table was set up to provide

photo:

Paul Dumbrille

Family Bazaar at Julian of Norwhich was a community event, November 21, 2015. information about the parish, answer questions, and provide “gift bags” that included information about Julian of Norwich parish. One person who attended told one of the volunteers that she had been past our church thousands of times, but never realized what went on here during the week and what a giving community we were.

Volunteers from beyond the parish were a critical component of the success of the event. There were nine volunteers from the Events Management Program of Algonquin College who helped with the set-up Friday night and running the bazaar on Saturday. We had three high

school students earning their volunteer service hours who helped on Saturday. Several volunteers who were family members or friends of our parishioners assisted as well.

One family member came from Toronto to help out.

Girl Guides served the tables in the Tea Room.

For the first time electronic media were used, with great success, to advertise the event. Postings on Facebook and Kijiji not only resulted in hundreds of “hits,” but also garnered unexpected results.

A Facebook posting that said we welcomed knitted items resulted in two women from Peterborough sending us a box of knitted mitts, hats,

E100 The Challenge!

By Elizabeth Kennedy and Maureen Anderson God’s Word transforms lives and transforms churches! It was for this reason that St. Paul’s Hazeldean/Kanata undertook the E100 Bible Reading Challenge a little over a year ago.

This program was developed by Scripture Union to get more people reading the Word of God. The challenge is based around 100 carefully selected Bible readings (50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament) designed to give participants a good understanding of the overall Bible story from Genesis to Revelation. The ‘E’ stands for Essential and each of the Essential 100 readings ranges from a few verses to a few chapters. In November of 2014 over 180 parishioners accepted the challenge to read these passages over the span of 50 weeks. What a blessing it has been!

We started the year with a “Blessing of the Bibles” Sun-

day where parishioners committed themselves to the challenge and asked God to bless their reading of His Word.

Participants ranged from those who had never read the Bible to those who were well versed in it. Individuals, couples, family groups and small groups read the selected passages over the course of the year. In addition to the private reading, we were blessed by a variety of speakers who shared their thoughts and reflections on the passages during adult education evenings which were organized periodically throughout the year. It was amazing have so many people, both from outside and from within our own community, come along side us on this journey.

The blessings for our church community have been many. Participants have wrestled with passages that they may otherwise have avoided, and have found encouragement and comfort in the Word of God. Fellowship and sharing stemming

directly from this program have helped to strengthen our church community.

Perhaps most importantly, through completing the challenge, participants have been encouraged to build a regular habit of spending time with God through Bible reading and prayer.

If you are interested all you need is a Bible! If you or your church would like to investigate the E100 program Scripture Union has additional resources available including a pamphlet with the list of passages, a discussion and question guide and a reflection guide. More information can be found on their website: http://www. e100challenge.ca/

and wash cloths. They have indicated that they have started to knit for next year’s bazaar! Many think that the presence of the bazaar on social media is the reason for the increased attendance and resultant financial increase this year over that of the recent past.

One story illustrates the feeling of community and sense of mission that accompanied the bazaar this year.

In the household goods area, a parishioner volunteer was approached by a woman he knew who indicated that she and a group of friends were sponsoring a Syrian Refugee family. She asked what was to be done with leftovers from our used-household goods area after the event. The woman was told to come back towards the end of the sale and take away anything they thought would be useful at no cost. They came back with a small truck and a list of needed items. By the time they left, their truck was full (with everything from kitchen cutlery to furniture pieces).

Not only had our bazaar reached out to help others, but we also had less to clean up afterwards!

Lift High the Cross

By Pat Blythe In keeping with our mission to be a visible and Spirit-filled sign of God’s presence in the community, St. George’s, Clayton has undertaken a campaign to provide emergency repairs to the steeple and cross on the church. The repairs will be undertaken in preparation for our 115thAnniversary in 2016.

Former parishioners and friends of St. George’s are invited to contribute toward the repairs. Donations may be sent to: St. George’s Anglican Church, General Delivery, Clayton, Ontario, K0A 1P0.

Thank you in Christ’s name.

Support Development The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund

www.pwrdf.org

The Little Church that Could

By Eleanor Foy On Saturday Oct 24th, 2015 Trinity Bearbrook hosted a successful Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) electronic waste collection fundraiser in the church parking lot.

After a two week advertising campaign word was out!

The cars and trucks with trailers loaded with donations began arriving promptly at 8 am and traffic flow was steady right until the noon time cut off.

At the end of the event the full to the brim OES container weighed in at 4.8 tons which resulted in a $1018

profit. A win, win, win for the community, the church and the environment. Given the fun, interest and success of this event Trinity Bearbrook is looking forward to hosting another e-waste collection in the near future.

Special thanks to the event coordinators and volunteers pictured here as well as Sharon and Glen Armstrong , All Signs and media outlets for their donations of advertising signs, radio and billboard notices .

Many thanks to all who came from near or far too drop of donations!

For questions, please contact: priest.stpauls@gmail.com jeremy_elizabeth@hotmail.com

maureen.anderson@ocsb.ca

photo:

Submitted

(L-R) Rick Foy, Jacob t’Mannetje, Patrick Magladry, Brian Magladry, Doug Loader, and Rev. John Wilcox.

Page 6 • CROSSTALK • January 2016

STEWARDSHIP

Year-Round Ideas

By Jane Scanlon, Stewardship Development Officer As you begin the New Year, highlight stewardship as a way of life throughout 2016, by introducing two or three of the following ideas in your congregation: Congregational Leadership Ask everyone on parish council and other leaders to read at least one book on stewardship, gratitude and giving during the course of each year of service and to share what they have learned at a meeting or through a book review. A downloadable stewardship bibliography is available at www.ottawa.anglican.ca/Stewardship_Resources.html.

List What Excites You Begin a list of responses to the question, “what are you excited about in our Church?”

Start with your stewardship team because they need to be the nucleus of energy and excitement. Expand to include others, such as the parish council. Then involve the whole congregation with a bulletin board placed where people passing by can see what others have said and inscribe their own thoughts.

Highlight examples from this list in your announcements and bulletins. Identify and give thanks for the examples abundance in your church community that appear on the bulletin board.

Personal Stories of Support Individuals and families often prayerfully discern God’s direction when deciding how they will use the financial resources God has provided them to support of the ministries of the church. Ask them to share their stories of giving in worship services, meetings,

team whose responsibility it is to plan and implement a different experience of worship through congregational offerings each Sunday. On occasion, consider a procession into the chancel for the presentation of individual and family gifts. Reclaim the offertory as a high point in worship.

newsletters and other public forums.

Minutes for Mission Once a month, have a two to three-minute presentation in your worship service highlighting a ministry or outreach where lives are being changed. The presentations may include descriptions of how worshipers can assist with a project, make a special gift or provide other assistance to make a difference through their investment in a program. Collect and share stories from diverse sources about the difference that giving in your congregation is making both within the church and beyond.

Photos Tell a Story Help your congregation talk about and appreciate the events in which they have participated. Photos are easy to arrange in displays. How about recognizing in a letter to the congregation that the youth program occurs because of the giving of the congregation and taking this opportunity to enclose a photo from a recent youth event and to say thanks?

Reclaim the Offertory Have someone read an appropriate passage of scripture prior to the offering, make a few comments about why it is personally meaningful to them and then pray for generous giving. Enlist a

Get Specific in Congregational Prayers of the People Remember to include stewardship of time, talent and treasure in the prayers of the people. The value we place on time given to us by God, our attitudes about the talents God gave to us and our relationship with the financial resources God provides for us are GIFT spiritual issues and Anglican GRANTS Ad:Layout a focus for prayer.

Bulletin Inserts and Newsletters Develop a series of monthly inserts in worship bulletins beginning with the phrase “Because of your gifts”. Every issue of your congregational newsletter can carry a ministry or personal story about gratitude and generosity. Consider a separate newsletter that solely addresses stewardship topics.

Question or Information:

OUR IM IS TO SUPPORT VIBRANT MINISTRIES

GIFT Grants Committee is now accepting applications.

It is vital that we work together to grow stronger. The Diocese of Ottawa aims to strengthen our parishes, with their partners, as they start up new projects or enhance existing ones consistent with a GIFT Case for Support. All parishes in the Diocese of Ottawa are eligible to apply for GIFT funding.

Visit the GIFT website at growinginfaithtogether.ca for more information about the granting process and for the following documents: • • • •

Grant Application Grant Committee Policies Grant Application Evaluation Sheet FAQs

Deadlines for submissions for 2015 are: • January 31 • May 31 • October 31 For more information, please reach Andy Moody, Chair, GIFT Grants Committee at gift@growinginfaithtogether.ca

Submission: News - 500 words or less Articles - 750 words or less Letters to the Editor - 300 words or less Reviews - 400 words or less Original Cartoon or Artwork - contact the Editor Contact the Editor at:

Based on ideas from the United Methodist Foundation and The Episcopal Network for Stewardship

Sermons Year-round, consider the stewardship implications of scriptural texts that ordinarily are not interpreted as having a theme of stewardship. The entire Bible is a stewardship story, beginning with God’s creation of the world, and sermon canPMbe Page an op2every 7/25/14 1:37 1 portunity to talk about God’s

Deadlines and Submission Guidelines for Crosstalk Deadlines: February - December 28 March - January 25 April - February 25

generous action in our lives.

ott-crosstalk@ottawa.anglican.ca

Photographs Very large, high resolution (at least 300 dpi) JPEG or TIFF format Include name of photographer.

(613) 232-7124, ext. 245

CROSSTALK • January 2016 Page 7

COMMUNITY MINISTRIES

Cornerstone Gala Delights Guests

By Meg Stewart Guests at Cornerstone’s annual Fundraising Gala were treated to an evening of conversation, fine dining, and dancing all in support of Cornerstone’s ministry to house women. The dinner featured dancing and a silent auction, and was held Saturday October 24th at the Centurion Conference and Event Center. Emcee Hallie Cotnam, of CBC Radio Ottawa Morning, alluded to the strong bidding in the silent auction, betting she would be taking a few items home with her. Silver level sponsors Peggy and Dick Bakker, owners of Third World Bazaar, spoke of their interest in Cornerstone Housing as a “perfect fit from the beginning”.

Sue Garvey, Director of

“You got me where I am today.”

— Cornerstone Resident Cornerstone, highlighted the incredible support following last year’s announcement of nearly $200,000 of funding cuts from the City of Ottawa, expressing her thanks to the greater community that continues to assist Cornerstone, and emphasizing that the services which Cornerstone provides cannot be minimized, cannot be cut. Cornerstone beat their fundraising goal last year by $100,000, thanks to generous supporters.

Guest speaker Stephen Lewis challenged and inspired guests with stories of women internationally, expressing that Cornerstone locally does ‘angelic world in a field where the work is so desperately needed’. He reminded guests that affordable housing is a social justice priority for both the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa and the Anglican Church of Canada.

The international community is also responding to the affordable housing and homelessness crisis, with a Special Rapporteur on Housing and Homelessness gathering in Geneva in 2015. The issue of housing also forms part of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Stephen Lewis previously came to our Diocese as a

All About Food

Community Walkathon

By Shea Kiely, Executive Director, St. Luke’s Table On Saturday October 18th after a 2.5km walk, about one hundred people entered Parkdale United Church together. They were greeted by the smell of home baked goods and the sound of music, provided by a local band of musicians.

The occasion? The first ever “All About Food” community walkathon initiated

by St Luke’s Table, an Anglican Community Ministry, the Parkdale Food Centre, Dalhousie Food Cupboard and Parkdale United Church’s “In from the Cold Program.

The walkathon started at St Luke’s Table on Somerset Street, proceeded down Wel-

lington Street to the Parkdale Food Centre and ended at Parkdale United Church, where Mayor Jim Watson greeted participants and spoke of the importance of the work being done on behalf of their neighborhoods and communities.

This collaborative, awareness and fundraising event grew from the common goal of four local organizations – to provide food to local men, women and children who are facing ever-increasing challenges in securing enough food to sustain them in their daily lives.

Participants of all ages

had fun, met new people, increased awareness in the community about their programs and raised $8,800, which will be shared among the four organizations to help with the purchase of nutritious food.

Plans are already underway to host a similar event next year in the hope that even more people will participate.

We are now in the midst of preparing for the holiday season and in the spirit of giving, we are asking you to consider giving a donation so that we can help those less fortunate this holiday season.

For more about St. Luke’s Table visit: www.stlukestable.ca

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speaker for Synod in 2014, speaking on his foundation and the HIV/AIDS crisis. Lewis noted that of 984 women last year who became homeless in the city, 413 were housed by Cornerstone.

Lewis praised Cornerstone’s holistic view of housing that includes support of mental health, job/skills training, and counselling. Lewis also spoke of the atrocities being done to women and young girls in Africa, and their remarkable resilience in bonding together as a group, under the 90 unit housing initiative City of Joy, for women recovering from surgery due to injuries caused by sexual assaults, to convalesce, learn employment skills, and move forward together.

Following Dr. Lewis’ ad-

dress, volunteers with Cornerstone presented a narrative with accompanying video featuring a more intimate view of Cornerstone residents. “I am around people who care about me, and are interested in what I am about; I have learned in my years here that I am important”. “Thank you for helping me, you helped raise me, you got me where I am today.”

One supporter, Kim Poirrier, said she helps Cornerstone to “empower women to be in their own right”.

The evening culminated in local band “Living the Dream” providing music for two hours of dancing, a common activity for many of the women living at Cornerstone residences.

16 Days of Activism

By Rachel Robinson, Acting Executive Director, The Well/La Source Running from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The international campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.

The Well/La Source was the proud host of the launch of the 16 Days of Activism in Ottawa.

The campaign was coor-

photo:

Submitted

Candles lit to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women dinated by Women in International Security ( WIIS) and the keynote speaker was The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women.

Page 8 • CROSSTALK • January 2016

REFLECTIONS

Prayer Matters Does it matter that I pray for others?

By Paul Dumbrille, Anglican Fellowship of Prayer Representative Does it matter that I pray for others? Yes. I believe that it does. It matters not only in our Anglican worship services where we traditionally include “Intercessions” or ”Prayers of the People”, but also in our daily lives. Several years ago, a friend asked me: “Why do we pray every week for peace in the Middle East when history shows us that people have been fighting each other for thousands of years and the prayers for peace over the centuries have not made any difference?”

How you would answer that question? The question caused me to think deeply about why we pray intercessory prayers for others.

What does ‘Intercession’ or ‘Intercessory Prayer’ mean?

Intercession comes from two Latin words, inter, which means “between” and ce-

dere, which means “to go”.

To intercede is to go between two people in the hope of reconciling differences or to plead with someone on behalf of the other. In the context of prayer it means we make sure we bring others into our times of conversation with God. An Intercessor acts as a “conduit” for the Holy Spirit to “connect” God’s people with God. In our intercessions we are not trying to change God’s mind nor are we presuming to say what should be done for our people.

Why do we pray for others?

If God knows about those

for whom we pray, and their needs, why do we need to pray for them and will it do any good? I think most of us have prayed for another person who is in need and it is not apparent that it has had any effect. I suspect that when we pray for others we are concentrating on a certain outcome – we want something to happen or change.

I’d like to suggest that while this is a natural tendency, perhaps there is another way to look at intercessory prayer.

Prayer is essentially a communication between the person who prays and God. So, the essential element is communication with God about where our heart is. Praying for others is the way we tell God what is on our heart.

When we pray for healing or for peace in the Middle East, we are opening our heart to God, and to those for whom we pray. If we concentrate on what we are feeling and what has moved us to reach out to others, our focus is on loving care, not the outcome. Going back to the question posed by

my friend, the answer I arrived at was that we pray to God for peace in the Middle East because our compassion, love and hearts are with the people and the situation there. In doing so, we will be changed, whether or not things there are changed directly. For example, perhaps we will be led to take some action to help or care for the victims of the conflict. In praying for a person who is ill, perhaps we will be moved to reach out to them and help them in some way, even if it is simply calling them or visiting them. The outcome of our prayers may not have any apparent effect on the big picture, but will have a positive outcome on one or more person’s life, including our own. Not only can we pray with words, but we can also pray by taking actions that are motivated by love and fuelled the Holy Spirit.

Lowering Barriers.

We need to remember that God is the one who brings peace and healing, not the person who prays. Jane Ven-

nard is a noted author and spiritual director who came to our Diocese a few years ago. She suggests one way of looking at the effects of Intercessory Prayer is to envisage that there are barriers around the person or situation we are praying for, that are impeding God’s love and action. Our prayers can be seen as lowering the barriers that exist, so that God’s love and mercy can enter and affect change. Visualizing the barriers coming down can be helpful in allowing us to focus our hearts in prayer in the right way.

Hope.

Walter Wink, another author, who has visited our Diocese in the past, has called Intercession the politics of hope. People who engage in intercessory prayer are instruments of that hope, motivated by a positive vision of the future. When we embrace God’s future we look to the present and the future with hope.

CROSSTALK • January 2016 Page 9

LIFELONG FORMATION

Faith Leaders in the Hot Seat

By Erica Howes, Communications Intern at St. Alban’s A Muslim Imam, a Jewish Rabbi and a Christian Minister sat in a panel discussing some of life’s big questions asked by a roomful of young people in an event hosted by the Diocese Youth Conference Nov. 21 at St. James Anglican Church in Manotick.

Do you believe in heaven and hell? How does your religion perceive gender and gay and lesbian people? These were a couple of the questions written and submitted anonymously by the curious youth in the room.

Imam Mohamad Jebara, Rabbi Anna Maranta and Rev. Jean-Daniel Williams cracked jokes here and there, elaborated off eachother’s answers and preached passionate responses to the questions asked.

They discussed the Bible, Torah and Quran texts and whether they should be read literally. Maranta said Jews consider themselves people of the book, but with various denominations and progressive values, holy passages involve a “law needs to move and change or be reinter-

photo:

Erica Howes

Faith Leaders: Imam Mohamad Jebara, Rabbi Anna Maranta, and Rev. Jean-Daniel Williams; sharing smiles as they sit in the ‘hot seats’. preted or renewed for every Williams said there is a great generation.” spectrum of theorists and In Christianity, Williams branches in Islam that make explained, Bible means liit difficult to form a conbrary so the Bible is a colcrete answer. The questions lection of books and it was quickly turned into curiosdecided at a meeting in the ity over the November Paris 3rd century which stories to attacks and the faith leadinclude. ers opinions. Maranta said “What do we take literally “there were really bad people and metaphorically from the who killed people. The whole Bible? We choose. We choose world responded with comwhether we admit we choose passion.” or not. Everybody chooses, However, Jebara said after sometimes you can lie to extremist attacks there often yourselves. Wrestling with becomes hate towards Musthat is part of being Chrislims and distinguishing the tian, but to ignore it all would difference between extrembe a tragic choice,” he said. ist groups like ISIS and what Jebara, like Maranta and Islam actually stands for is

critical.

“Extremism and bigotry has no religion, no culture. It is not an attack on the west or Christianity or Islam or Judaism it’s an attack on humanity,” he said. “This is about people who are inhumane, against humanity and this is the time people like us have to unite and stand in the face of such people.”

Jebara asked the audience to raise their hands if they’ve ever received a death threat.

To a riveted audience he explained that he has, along with many other Islamic scholars and to this day there are places he can’t travel to because of the risk. Thousands of Muslims have been killed in Syria and Iraq by extremist groups, Jebara said, emphasizing that they’re not associated with Islam because they’re killing Muslim people.

Another topic that came up throughout the event was gender. Where does your religion stand on the LGBTQ community? How does a name change for transgender people work in your religion?

Where do you identify on the gender spectrum?

Maranta said name changes are common in Judaism after a person’s overcome a struggle in their life to take on a new identity and move on from the past. Jebara said although he is open and accepting of the LGBTQ community in his congregation, Islam does not bless same-sex marriages. Williams said “if I’m speaking about Christianity as a whole I have to say it is not welcoming, it is not kind it is not inclusive, but that’s changing.” Although the Anglican Diocese of Canada does not permit same-sex marriages, Williams said he’s seen same-sex couples be blessed in the Anglican church.

Though Islam, Judaism and Christianity differ, all three leaders agreed their religions include a spectrum and range of ideas difficult to generalize for every answer.

Nearing the end of the discussion, the host reminded the faith leaders to keep it concise, joking that another commonality is that they have difficulty cutting down their sermons.

Youth Internship Program...

- Continued from page 1 and friends planning for and getting to the CLAY (Canadian Lutheran and Anglican Youth) Conference • 1 will support the Diocesan Youth Conference • 4 are open to be developed with parishes, the diocese, or our community partners Who can apply to ADOYIP? Any youth in the diocese in grade 11 - 1st year college/ university.

When and how are applications due?

The first Internship Program runs from January to June 2016 - so the application process is currently underway!

Please contact ADOYIP Coordinator, Donna Rourke, for an application. donna-rourke@ottawa.anglican.ca or call (613) 232-7124, ext.

504.

Applications will be accepted until December 28, 2015.

Show your school spirit!

Know a student who’s going to college?

Send them with a loving prayer and a Hope Bear dressed in a scarf of their college colours.

Perfect for graduation too!

Contact AFC to order.

www.anglicanfoundation.org

Crosstalk Submission Deadlines: February - December 28 March - January 25 April - February 25

Page 10 • CROSSTALK • January 2016

ANGLICAN CHURCH WOMEN

Bales for the North

By Evelyn Presley, Bales for the North Coordinator Dear fiends, Packing a bake to send new clothing to the North is a historic outreach project, carried out with love in this Diocese for more than 100 years. Dorcas was the group that did all the knitting and quilting, to fashion the quilts proudly distributed, 1 per bale, and sent to small northern communities where food was expensive and the choice between food and clothing was tough.

The challenges of living in the north continue to this day, and so does the Diocese of Ottawa’s commitment to bale packing.

We had 2 bale packing days this year, hosted by St. John’s, Richmond - for the north and west, and by St. Columba’s, Ottawa - for the east and south of the Diocese.

Twenty-eight people gathered to pack 42 bales at St. John’s this year. The postage cost was $2,418.70. This is an average cost of just under $60 each.

At St. Columba’s, there were two bale events. Tuesday night, 10 people came to tape the flat cardboard into boxes, while the coordinator applied the various labels in the right quantities, so all communities get their fair share. On Wednesday, 20 people gathered to pack 36 bales. The postage cost was $3,988.91. This is an average cost of approximately $110 each.

When you look at these two amounts spent, you see that it was mostly covered by the parish donations of $6,194.50. So, in total, we sent 78 bales to various communities, and they were valued by their donor churches and ACW’s at $12,269.50.

Prayer Partnership Of course, there are other expenses which are not postage, the boxes, the moving van to pick up the boxes and deliver to the post office, as well as the package tape to make and seal the boxes.

There are other benefits too, not just those for our northern neighbours. People who come once to ‘check it out’ while they deliver their parish bale materials, usually come back again and again.

The fellowship is great.

Thanks to everyone for their donation of items and money for the bales, and to St. John’s and St. Columba’s for hosting the day with muffins, tea, coffee, and friendship.

So, since this is the January Crosstalk, check out those bargains, and start buying or quilting for the Bale!

Thank you.

By Marni Crossley, Diocesan ACW Prayer partnership was a much loved relationship for many of the Missionaries sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary in India, China and Japan in the early 1900’s. This relationship provided connection with home, as well as continued support and encouragement for their ministry among those they served!! As time went on, Prayer Partnership was established among the Missionaries in the western and northern part of Canada! Among those who were supported and loved was Miss Hazel, who pioneered the spread of the Gospel

by Van with her “Sunday School by Post” and many of the northern clergy and people in remote villages . At the National Conference I attended in October, each Diocese is partnered with a Prayer Partner for the year. I am thrilled to let you know that the Diocese of Ottawa is praying for the Diocese of Athabasca. Here

is what their ACW President, Joanna tells us.....

The Diocese of Athabasca is located in Northern half of the province of Alberta, we are part of the Council of the North. There are 16 parishes made up of approximately 33 congregations - many parishes are multipoint. All though we are geographically large, population wise we are not. To get anywhere we have long distances to travel. Where I live I am approximately 430 km from our Synod Office in Peace River. The Anglican Church Women in the Diocese of Athabasca annually hold a weekend women’s conference of which the AGM is a small part. The majority of the weekend is spent with a guest speaker, music, prayer and fellowship. This year’s conference will be held in Valleyview, AB in April.

Let’s keep them in our thoughts and prayers on a regular basis!!

REFLECTIONS

God With Us

By Rev. Canon Stewart Murray At the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year we are bombarded with endless lists of the top 10 movies, music, fashion trends etc. and the prognostications of the latest experts on what to expect in the coming year.

For many the coming of the new year is a light hearted event with little thought given to the year that is past or what the future might bring.

The beginning of a new year for me, is a time of mixed feelings. It is both a time of reflection on the old year, with all its joys and sorrows, and an opportunity to look to the days that have yet to unfold. In reflecting on the events of the past year in the world in which we live, it is all too easy to see only troubles, sorrows, injustice and the rise of senseless destruction and disregard for

human life; to see only the poverty of the human spirit and imagination. In our own personal life we can be tempted to remember only our short comings and our feelings of inadequacy when we encounter the trouble and injustice in our world. I wonder if all the top ten lists can make us feel that somehow we should have done more; make us ask ourselves what mark, what difference did I make in the past year?

Looking forward can also be

a very uncomfortable experience. Fears about the future, about our family, our health and the environment, employment and a myriad of other worries can quickly fill our thoughts. I often wonder about what kind of world are we leaving to our precious children and grandchildren.

Will they have the same quality of life that I so often take for granted ?

But we cannot let the loud voices of our fears and worries drown out the joyous songs of the angels and the celebration of Christmas and the Epiphany that we have just enjoyed. In the midst of the seeming chaos of our world, and at times of our own personal lives, we remember and affirm the message of Christmas – God with us - the Incarnation, wherein the living God took flesh and was born in a stable to share the joys, sorrows,

doubts and questions of being alive in the 21st century.

For me the truth of the Incarnation becomes the focus of my way of seeing and understanding the world. When I stop and remember that my life has been redeemed and that I am a son of the living God, by Christ’s death and resurrection a member of the Body of Christ, a sense of peace comes into my life.

I realize that the temporary chaos around and within me will not overwhelm me, but that Jesus Christ has me and all whom I love in His hands. Being a Christian does not mean that the brokenness of the world will not touch my life, or the lives of those I love, but rather that in the midst of the world I walk with and in Christ. In a sense the turmoil in the world does not define me or you, but it is our membership in the Body of Christ

that is the ultimate truth and reality. Just as in the parable from the Gospel of Matthew 7:24-27 about the wisdom of building our house on rock, rather than on sand, our faith in Jesus is a sure rock on which to build our lives.

Faith in Jesus will withstand all the chaos and turmoil that we will surely meet. That is why sharing week by week in our Parish Eucharist is so important. In the Eucharist especially we have a constant reminder that we walk not alone, but in the great company of disciples on earth and in heaven; a reminder that we are nourished and sustained by the grace, mercy and love of God which will never fail. This Sunday bring your fears, your hopes and worries to Him and allow the living God in our midst to bring you the gift of the peace of God which passeth all understanding.

CROSSTALK • January 2016 Page 11

DIOCESAN ARCHIVES

Clarendon Deanery Opening a New Church 116 Years Ago.

By Glenn J Lockwood Radford is located West Quebec, near Shawville, seven miles east of the Grand Calumet Falls on the Ottawa River.

In 1827, colonizer James Prendergast managed to draw to the vicinity a retired British Army engineer, one Captain Walter Radford (1790-1858). Radford, who had a knack for building mills, was granted 283 hectares of land in this vicinity, and the hamlet that sprang up at the site of his own mill came to bear his name. Radford, where he built his last flourmill in 1851, today has a population of thirty.

The traditional history of Holy Trinity, Radford tells us that the first services here were in 1880 at the school, as an outstation of the Parish of Clarendon. The Reverend William H. Naylor tells a slightly different story.

“Upon my arrival in this Parish on the 4th of September 1876, I found services established in No. 10 or Eighth Line School House, held once in four weeks. The following summer Mr. Thos Prendergast Sen’r requested me to hold services in the Rad-

ford School House, which I did fortnightly on Thursday nights,” he recalled:

“As the work of the Parish grew & an assistant student or clergyman was appointed it was found possible to hold more frequent services. That at No. 10 was changed to a fortnightly Sunday service, & a fortnightly Sunday night service was added at Radford.... Not long after the establishment of services at Radford, Mr. Wm Brownlee organized a Sunday School which has

greatly aided in the work of the parish. Somewhat later he aided in organizing a Sunday School at No. 10, of which Mr Sam’l Richardson became superintendent & remained so for several years. Upon Mr. Brownlee’s death in 1887 his son Geo. E. Brownlee took up the work of the Sunday School. These Sunday schools have had no small part in the formation of the congregation which will now worship in this Church.”

According to the traditional account, “in 1900,

the schoolhouse at Radford was clearly too small for the congregation, and preparations were made to build a house of worship. The new Holy Trinity Church, Radford, was opened on 16 June 1901.”

Naylor provided much more detail. “The idea of a church has been in the minds of the people for many years,” he wrote. “But the first definite step was taken in the fall of 1897, when a proposal that the two school house congregations should unite & build a church met with general acceptance. A Harvest Thanksgiving service was held at Radford & offerings were made to form the nucleus of a building fund.... The total offering amounted to $25.27. This was our beginning financially & it encouraged us.... The present site however was not decided upon till the 29th of June 1899, at a meeting at which also a Building Committee was appointed....” A key ingredient to help pay for it all was the organizing of a ladies sewing society at this time.

Anyone who doubts what the new church meant to that community should read Naylor’s account of the opening. He wrote, “The

services in the mother church of the Parish [Shawville] were almost overshadowed in interest by the opening of the newly built church at Radford. Upon arriving there at 3 p.m. not only was the Church yard found filled with teams, but the road for a half mile was lined both sides & there could not have been less than 400 people present.”

In 1908, Radford was transferred to the Parish of Portage du Fort, then re-attached to Clarendon in 1910. Within nine years, on October 1st, 1910 Holy Trinity was consecrated. ___________ The Diocesan Archives has Special Collections, including medals, regalia, costume, stamps, music, paintings, banners, pins, sketches, and recordings. If you would like to help the Archives preserve the records of the Diocese, why not become a Friend of the Archives? Your $20 membership brings you three issues of the Newsletter and a tax receipt for donations above that amount.

Photo credit Marion G. Rogers, 1974 Diocesan Archives 51 R10 1

PARISH NEWS

TRC Reflection Circle

By Debbie Grisdale “This feels like spring – with the slow drip of melting snow and the promise of new growth”, said one person in describing how he felt at a recent gathering to read through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Sitting in a large circle at St Margaret’s Church, 26 people – Anglicans and others, indigenous and non-indigenous –took turns reading the 94 calls to action. Each reader held the special stone. There was a stillness in the room as the voices of people of different ages, sexes, accents and background read. The stone was passed and the next reader began.

The evening started with a drumming song in Inuktituk

by Rev. Aigah Attagutsiak that spoke of sunrise, the beginning of a new day. Prayers

for reconciliation opened and closed the session.

People read slowly and sometimes the call to action held a special meaning. For example Call to Action #21 about sustainable funding for Aboriginal healing centres to address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual harms caused by residential schools was read by a woman who had spent 11 years in a residential school.

At about the mid-point, a young man after taking his turn to read, looked up and asked ‘what does reconciliation actually mean anyway’?

The responses indicated that its about a new relationship in Canada that will mean changes for both Indigenous and non-indigenous people.

After reading the calls, people were asked how the experience made them feel.

The replies included “it makes me feel hopeful”, “I am grateful to hear the voices of others reading”, “what the TRC report says is not new – this is what Indigenous people have been calling for since 1982 – it just a consolidated list”.

It was clear that this evening of reflection on the TRC’s Calls to Action resonated with people, and that they want more opportunities to share and discuss. Although there was a strong feeling that this group’s focus should be on what the church can do, other topics put forward for future gatherings included the impact of the Doctrine of Discovery, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Algonquin land claims and other land issues, the future of Chaudiere Falls.

photo:

Submitted

A new steeple was raised, December 5, 2015, at the 144 year historic St. Paul’s in Shawville.

Page 12 • CROSSTALK • January 2016

REFLECTIONS

Reflections of Christmas

By Rev. Carrie Irwin, Member of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, Huron I recently saw a little sign that read: “You are not on a journey to God; you are on a journey with God.” As I sat down to write this column for the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, I thought about that sign and it got me thinking about my own journey with God. While the particulars of my life journey are unique to me, we all are on a journey, not in an isolated moment in time but as a part of a bigger picture. As Christians, we believe we are part of a larger narrative, that our lives fit within the lives of those who have come before us and will be a part of the story told by those yet to come.

The new year is a perfect time for reflection. It is a time for looking back at our collective story and connecting with our memories and traditions. Then looking forward,

“We can hardly do better than to say that it is a hearing, telling, and living story.” we bring with us those pieces that shape us and create the landscape of our current lives.

Looking back, I am reminded of a time that was transformative in my life, and I thought I would share that story with you. I believe we are created to tell stories, as a way to add richness and depth to that tiny portion of life’s collective story that we are called to live, enriching and bringing colour and texture to God’s creation.

It was Christmas Eve of 1992 in Kuwait City. It was our first Christmas there.

Our son John-Ross was three months old, and our daughter Sarah was 17 months old. Life had settled into a rhythm of sorts within sharia law. There was no visible Christian community for us to connect with, music was banned, and the country was in mourning for the lives lost during the Iraqi invasion.

Somehow, John found a small white Christmas tree, which we decorated with the few ornaments we had brought with us. Our celebration of Christmas was a private one, as was our worship.

It was late in the evening and a warm breeze was blowing, so I opened the windows of our seventh-floor flat overlooking the courtyard of the Muthana Centre, an enormous complex with a shopping mall underneath.

Many of the city’s expatriate

workers lived in these buildings. There were seven towers of apartments, each with 17 floors that looked out over that courtyard, right in the middle of Kuwait City.

I had my Christmas carols playing ever so softly, and as I stood by that window, feeling a little homesick, I heard the faintest whisper of music coming from another open window. There were very few lights on, but as I stood by my window, a candle flickered across the courtyard, and that single whisper of music was joined by another and then another.

As I stood watching and listening, the windows began to flicker with lights all around me, in a powerful moment of shared worship.

I ran into the kitchen, and found our one emergency candle, and raced back to the window, to join in this collective moment of praise.

In a land far from home, thousands of miles away

from the beautifully decorated churches, I stood enthralled in one of the most powerful moments of worship of my life. Every candle was a mighty prayer, an unshakable witness to the majesty and might of our creator God. And in that moment, I wondered about all the other lights I couldn’t see, all offering their own witness to God on that night.

In those few minutes while the music played and the candles burned bright, I knew God was there. I knew I could believe in the promise of God’s Kingdom because I could see it and hear it and feel it.

Three minutes, more than 20 years ago, and I can still see it, I can still hear it, and I can still feel it. If we are indeed meant to share our stories and we were pressed to say what Christian faith and life are, we can hardly do better than to say that it is hearing, telling and living a story.”

CALENDAR January 17

January 01

Address by the Primate & Bishop’s Levee: At 12 noon at Christ Church Cathedral (414 Sparks St).

All are welcome to a Choral Eucharist with address by The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada; followed by the Bishop of Ottawa’s Levee.

January 10

Lessons at Twilight: At 4:30pm at Christ Church Cathedral (414 Sparks St).

Lessons and Motets for Epiphany.

January 16

Good Food Market: From 9am-noon at Epiphany, Gloucester (1290 Ogilvie Rd). A not-for-profit market providing affordable food, free snacks, live music, used books, and local yard sales.

Come for the food, stay for the community.

Info: (613) 746-9278 www.epiphanyanglican.ca

Welcome Back Ultreya, Cursillo: At 3pm at Julian of Norwich (8 Withrow Ave).

Info: communications@ oacm.ca www.oacm.ca

January 21-23

Listen for a Change: Trinity Institute Conference: Hosted by St. Matthew’s, Glebe (130 Glebe Ave).

Info: www.stmatthewsottawa.ca stmatthewsnglicanchurch@ bellnet.ca

January 24

Celebrate Robbie Burns: At Christ Church Cathedral. 5pm cocktails, followed by dinner at 6pm with the procession and toast to the Haggis. Come and enjoy a Scottish feast in the Great Hall. Entertainment will include Burns music selections sung by the Cathedral Girls Choir, Geoff Heintzman, Brad and Garth Hampson.

Proceeds go to the Cathedral Girls tour of Germany and England in July of 2016.

Tickets: $40 Info: (613) 824-2350

February 20

Concert Series: At 7:30 pm at St. James, Carleton

Place (225 Edmund st). Ottawa Cape Breton Session.

Tickets: $20 or $50 for the series (3 concerts) Info: (613) 257-3178 www.stjamescarletonplace.org

Stewardship Café: From 9:30-2pm at Epiphany, Gloucester (1290 Ogilvie Rd). Join the Stewardship Subcommittee for conversations and case studies about Stewardship and bring successes and challenges to the table. Refreshments and lunch provided.

Info: jane-scanlon@ottawa. anglican.ca RSVP: info@ottawa.anglican.ca http://bit.ly/1Kl82Kd

Connect with the Diocese are several ways that you can connect with There the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa www.facebook.com/OttawaAnglican @OttawaAnglican www.youtube.com/AngDioOtt

February 21

Evensong: At 7pm at St. Barnabas (70 James St). A beautiful traditional service of Evensong, sung by the award-winning Choir of St. Barnabas, durected by Wesley R Warren. Music by Howells, Gibbons, Whitlock, and Bach. All welcome!

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www.ottawa.anglican.ca