Page 2
Pages 6-7
BISHOP’S GREETING
Page 8
GENERAL SYNOD
Page 19
LOCAL WOMEN’S DROP-IN OPENS NEW SPACE
CELEBRATING THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN
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 / September 2016
50th Anniversary Results in 2054lb Gift BY BARBARA BOTTRIELL
The Rev. Canon Michael McKinley, a retired priest from the Diocese of Niagara, has spent the last three years as Honorary Assistant at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Stittsville. Michael, who was born and educated in Ireland, is a wonderful preacher whose gifts are well appreciated by parishioners who enjoy his wit, pointed references and interesting stories when he is asked to preach. On Sunday June 26th, Canon McKinley celebrated 50 years since his ordination, in the Diocese of Connor, Northern Ireland. The parish of St. Thomas celebrated with him and his family (some of whom came from Toronto and Beijing) with cake and coffee after the service. But Michael asked more of us than just congratulating him. He asked us to participate in
his 50th anniversary celebration by bringing gifts of food for the downtown Food Bank which is serving many of the Syrian refugees who have come to Canada. The idea was to weigh the food and see how much we could come up with. Money donations were also accepted and for every $1 of donation, two pounds of weight would be added to the total. Parishioner William Passmore was invested as Local Weighmaster for the occasion and took his job seriously. All the food donated by the time the service began had been weighed that morning and the amount of monetary donations added to the total. The final tally was 2,054 pounds of food! Was this going to be enough to satisfy Michael that we had done our part according to the reading from Daniel that he had pointed out to
us. Would we be weighed in the balances like Belshazar and found wanting? (Daniel 5:27) William asked that all-important question of Michael in front of the congregation, and he answered that yes! – we had passed the test. The food and monetary donations were all packed up and taken to the Centretown Emergency Food Bank at 507 Bank Street in Ottawa the next day where they were gratefully received. It was the largest single food donation they had received. There had been some special requests such as lentils and chick peas which are particularly appreciated by some of the refugees. All in all it was a happy occasion and one in which we all got a chance to participate in a most meaningful way.
Little Free Library
Gary Graham
The Rev. Canon Michael McKinley and his wife Olive cutting his 50th anniversary cake at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Stittsville with a photograph of the newly ordained McKinley in the background.
Michael Coren’s Latest Book Epiphany
Parish of Huntley BY REV. MONIQUE STONE
On June 12th family and friends of the late Reverend Canon Rick Marples gathered together at the Anglican Parish of Huntley in Carp to dedicate two memorials in his honour offered in loving memory by the parish community. A tree swing was installed that has already attracted young and old as they pass by the church (including Rick and Judy’s grandson Rowan and granddaughter Emma). The Little Free Library is one of 30,000 free libraries across North America (see littlefreelibrary.org). The inaugural Library Steward
photo:
In Review
photo:
Submitted
Rev. Monique Stone and Mackenzie Burns stand beside the new Little Free Library; dedicated in memory of the late Rev. Canon Rick Marples. is Mackenzie Burns, Rick’s drop by the Parish and enjoy! great-niece. All are invited to www.huntleyparish.com
“Whether or not one agrees with the author, any reader will benefit from the way this book encourages reflection...” — Rev. Patrick Stephens See STORY, p. 9
Page 2 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
FROM THE BISHOP
General Synod 2016 By The Rt. Rev. John Chapman In July, the General Synod of the Anglican Church in Canada gathered in Toronto to listen to the Holy Spirit, and discern what the Holy Spirit was saying to us. Through prayer, listening and speaking we focused our hearts and our minds upon God’s mission and God’s plan for us. Our Primate, the Rt. Rev. Fred Hiltz called us to the “upper room’ so that we too might listen and pray. So that we like the apostles might struggle to understand what the Spirit of Jesus is saying to the church in 2016. The Primate began his opening sermon with these words. Imagine with me for just a few minutes that tiny little community that was the infant Church— Peter and John and James and Andrew and Philip and Thomas and Bartholomew and Matthew and James son of Alphaeus and Simon the zealot, and Judas son of James together with certain women including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem. They had just returned from the mount called Olivet where the risen Lord had commissioned them saying “You shall receive power when the Holy, Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.” (Acts 1:8) When he had said these things, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. And now they are back in the city. One wonders how they spoke with one another about all they had heard and seen, how they understood Jesus’ commission and how would they go about the work given them? What did they make of Jesus’ reference to the Holy Spirit? How would the Spirit come upon them? Where might it take them? Would they plant new communities of faith? How would they nurture them? What trials might they face? How might they suffer for the sake of the Gospel? How might their witness be remembered in time? While we might wonder about all these things, we know this one thing, that according to Luke “they were constantly devoting themselves to prayer”. (Acts 1:14) Prayer one supposes that they be ready to receive the Holy Spirit whenever and however it would come. They simply trusted in Jesus’ word that they would be empowered, graced and guided for the work entrusted to them. They prayed expectantly. Canadian Anglicans, inclusive of all the nations that comprise our great country, gathered together around this table of the Lord to pray for our church, locally and abroad; for peace in our own land and peace abroad; for victims of violence, oppression and for those marginalized within our church and in the world; and to receive the sacrament of Christ’s
Body and Blood confident and assured that our prayers would be received as Jesus promised. We gathered, bishops, clergy and laity, the fullness of the church, just as the disciples did, to wrestle with the question “who is to be included within the community of Jesus?” We shared together in small groups and larger groups with the question, should the LGBTQ2 community have full and equal access to the pastoral offices of the church and specifically, marriage? We gathered, bishops, clergy and laity to reverse in attitude and action our implicit acceptance of the “Doctrine of Discovery.” We struggled to make right, in a spirit of reconciliation, our past practice which marginalized and disenfranchised our First Nations people, the people who occupied these beautiful lands long before the settlers arrived. We gathered, bishops, clergy and laity, to receive for the very first time at a national gathering, the leadership, ministry and preaching of our Indigenous bishops, clergy and people. It was perhaps the most moving liturgy many have ever experienced. It was healing and hopeful. We gathered, bishops, clergy and laity, to question the right and proper use of
our natural resources and the impact that our past activity has had upon God’s earth and the climate that ultimately feeds us and nourishes us. We gathered, bishops, clergy and laity to listen to the Primate of The Episcopal Church (TEC) call us to be “Jesus people,” and embrace the hard work of the gospel that is for our times, a radical call, a joyful call and a call that is not without risk! We gathered, bishops, clergy and laity, to embrace with renewed enthusiasm and vigour our full communion partners, our ecumenical partners and those of different faith traditions. Much has already been said regarding these conversations and decisions. I do not need to reiterate them all here. Rather, you may wish to find further information using the following links: Anglican Church of Canada: http://bit.ly/2aMoE1m Anglican Diocese of Ottawa: http://eepurl.com/b9BUB9
What is most important is that we gathered in prayer, made decisions in prayer and behaved as Jesus would want us to behave, faithful and committed to His Gospel. photo:
Saskia Rowley, Anglican Journal
Members of General Synod 2016 taking part in the Eucharist during the gathering in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
Many people are quite pleased with the decisions of General Synod while others,
are not pleased at all. Some are feeling pain while others, not so much. It is absolutely critical that we continue to behave as we have always behaved in the diocese. We walk together! I have been your bishop just shy of ten years. In those ten years we have faced disagreement and conflict on many occasions yet we continue to pray together, minister together, make decisions together and care for one another always. I am so proud of our diocese’s capacity to live in the midst of diversity. All people are welcome and treasured as people of God by me and everyone else in our beautiful diocese. On your behalf, may I thank all of our delegates to General Synod: The Venerable David Selzer, The Rev. Beth Bretzlaff, Kim Chadsey, The Rev. Mark Whittall, The Rev. Monique Stone, John McBride, Audrey Lawrence, Jordan Sandrock and Ron Chaplin. These individuals represented us fully. They were active in the conversations and debate of synod, they presented their point of view with dignity and clarity and they made me proud. I was delighted to serve the church and on the Councils of the Church with the likes of these fine people. † John
For more reflections and photographs from General Synod, please see pages 6 & 7.
September 2016 • CROSSTALK • Page 3
NEWS
Co-Housing Initiative Helps Christian Seniors Fight Loneliness Mounting evidence shows that loneliness and social isolation negatively affect physical and mental health, especially among seniors. Also, getting older can be expensive—hired help, home remodels, assisted-care living, all cost. Family arrangements too have changed and many seniors don’t want to depend on their children for care, or they have no children. For these reasons and more, many seniors in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands--and now the USA and Canada--are turning to cohousing. ‘Out of site, out of mind’ warehousing is how many seniors experience aging. Increasingly, they want to not only be seen but also directly involved in their communities long past retirement… and they are doing so by taking charge of their living arrangements through ‘aging in place’ initiatives. Research into the first seniors co-housing neighbourhoods in the U.S. shows that intentional arrangements are effective in helping build social connections and support. Local architect (and member of St. Alban’s Anglican Church), Rosaline Hill, is tapping into this growing social movement by planning a co-housing development of 20-30 households that will redevelop a church property--making it the largest of its kind in central or eastern Canada. Information sessions have been scheduled for September at various locations around the city. The purpose of these sessions is to explain the difference between cohousing and other forms of seniors housing; to outline its benefits and features; and to recruit interested households to a series of 10 study sessions to explore intentional community to see if it is something they want to do over the next 3-4 years while the physical development proceeds through the necessary design and build stages. What is Christian cohousing? Cohousing is distinguished from other forms of housing
by the fact it is organized by the residents themselves as a group of people who have something in common. Groups in Europe, the USA and Canada have formed around friends, eco-friendly living, or faith communities. Christian co-housing is for seniors who want to be directly involved in designing a development that aligns with their goals for living in intentional community. For example, a seniors’ cohousing condominium could be co-located with an existing church allowing a group of seniors to contribute their wisdom and skills on that property through Christian ministry, perhaps as parttime workers or volunteers assisting with a daycare, or a program for foster children, or a small palliative care unit, or with disabled adults occupying some units, or with a Christian arts organization, such as a theatre company or musical group--whatever the group members decide through a “do-it-yourself ” approach to aging in community. In addition, residents might come from various denominational backgrounds but commit to New Testament values, e.g. a commitment to take care of each other (with some medical support) as committed Christians, living, worshipping, fellowshipping, so that seniors can age in community as opposed to living with strangers in assisted living or long-term care facilities. Christian cohousing is independent + interdependent living in a practical, economical and enjoyable manner that aligns with the values and ethics of the Christian faith. For more details about the process and proposed activities, visit: www.ottawacohousing.ca
Good Souls Talk About Good Soils
By Debra Boyd-Chisholm Did you know that 1 in 9 people in the world are hungry? 70% of these people, mostly women, are smallscale farmers in developing countries who struggle with bad soils and uncertain climates. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) partners with 15 Canadian churches and church-based agencies to help small-scale farmers and end world hunger. The Anglican Church of Canada partners with the Foodgrains Bank through the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund. As part of the ‘Good Soils’ Campaign, twenty-five Foodgrains Bank volunteers came to Ottawa from across Canada to ask Members of Parliament to increase the Canadian government’s support for small-scale agriculture in our international aid programs. Diocesan participants included Jane Maxwell (Chair of the Diocesan Primates’ World Relief and Development Fund Committee), Lisa Probst, Gary Weir, and Debbie Boyd-Chisholm. In 1976, the Mennonite Central Committee started a project so Canadian grain farmers could send their harvest to feed starving people in developing countries. During the 1983 Ethiopian famine,
photo:
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Members of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank participating in the “Hunger on the Hill” event. that project was opened to other church agencies and reestablished as the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Although CFGB is still best known for feeding hungry people during times of crisis, they also work directly with farmers in developing countries to increase food production and advocate with governments around the world to enact policies to end global hunger. The Foodgrains Bank’s ‘Good Soils’ Campaign encourages Christians to pray for those who are hungry and to write to their Members of Parliament to ask them to increase Canada’s global agriculture aid funding. Individuals and urban churches can donate funds directly or
fund local ‘Growing Projects’ where crops are planted, harvested and sold to raise money for the Foodgrains Bank. Some of these local Growing Projects are in Mississippi Mills, Pakenham, Arnprior, Fitzroy Harbour, St John’s and Inkerman. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank also provides opportunities for interested people to tour farming regions in developing countries. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank website: foodgrainsbank.ca provides more information, bilingual brochures and educational resources. Please join us and thousands of other Canadian Christians in the fight against global hunger!
Clergy News and Updates Rev. Jim Collins has received the Bishop’s permission to retire from full-time ministry and as Anchor model priest for the Parish of Northern Pontiac; effective May 31, 2016. Rev. Carol Hotte has been appointed Interim Assistant to the Archdeacon of West Quebec; effective July 03, 2016. Rev. Brian Kauk has been appointed Incumbent of St. James, Carleton Place; effective August 15, 2016. Rev. Canon James Roberts has been appointed Interim Priest-in-Charge at the Parish of St. Mark’s, Ottawa; effective September 01, 2016.
Rev. Gregor Sneddon has been appointed Incumbent of the Parish of St. Matthew’s, Ottawa; effective September 01, 2016. Rev. Rhonda Waters has been appointed Incumbent of Church of the Ascension, Ottawa; effective September 01, 2016. Rev. John Wilcox has been appointed Incumbent of the Parish of North Dundas; effective September 01, 2016. Mr. Sanjay Grover has been hired as the new Director of Financial Ministry for the Diocese, following the retirement of Michael Herbert; effective June 09, 2016.
Do you know someone who is being ordained or someone celebrating an ordination anniversary? Give them a Clergy Bear with surplice and stole in a colour of your choice. www.anglicanfoundation.org
Page 4 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
PARISH NEWS
Free Community Program Brings Seniors, Young People, and Families Together By Rev. Monique Stone The Anglican Parish of Huntley is pleased to announce that it has launched a community-building project entitled ‘Sharing Wisdom Across the Ages’. The purpose of the program is to bring people of all ages together to learn from each other about the community they live in. Sharing Wisdom Across the Ages is a unique program, led by seniors in partnership with various community members and organizations, including the Anglican parish. Funding for the program has been made available through the New Horizons for Seniors, a federal Grants and Contributions program that supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and in their communities. The project includes five exciting FREE events over
the next ten months. These activities will aim to harness the expertise and wisdom of our rural elders who will provide knowledge and expertise in various activities that will reach out to new families, youth, children and individuals who have made Carp their home. The following exciting events are being planned: • Cooking the Basics ~ a three hour cooking demonstration workshop that will focus on quick and healthy recipes that can be made with local produce • The History of Carp Story-Telling and Bus Tour ~ a free bus tour for up to fifty participants that will visit various sites of importance in the historic area of Carp and Huntley. Community Tour Guides will tell the stories of the Great Fire, the early schools, farming settlement and the Diefenbunker.
• Knitting – It’s Cool Again! ~ Two workshops on knitting that will partner long-standing knitters with individuals wanting learn and take on a project. Free supplies will be offered to participants of all ages. • Founded on Farming ~ a special event that will highlight the agricultural roots of Carp and the importance of farming for our community life These activities are currently being developed and the parish is seeking ideas and involvement from all community members. Those who would like to get involved should call the Parish Office at 613-839-3195 or contact the project coordinator Heidi Wieler at carpsharingwisdom@gmail.com www.huntleyparish.com
Quebec Heritage Grants Benefit our Churches By Rev. Laurette Glasgow, Special Advisor for Government Relations The weather was sunny and the gathering at the Isleaux-Allumettes in “the Pontiac” were in fine spirits as the Member of the National Assembly and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance for Quebec, Mr. André Fortin announced funding support to assist with the restoration of three area churches – Christ Church in Gatineau, Saint-Alphonsede-Ligouri in Allumette Island, and Saint-Paul in Shawville. For Christ Church and St. Paul’s, these are additional grants to those announced previously, addressing the restoration of the stained glass in the former and completion of the restoration of the bell tower at the latter. Mr. Fortin underscored the important contribution of parishioners and local contributors who finance 30 per cent of the projects. In outlining his govern-
Treat Yourself to a Retreat By Karen Ann McKinna Need to recharge the batteries? Gain a little perspective on life? Touch base with the God who loves you? Relax deeply into the Peace that passes understanding? Consider going on a retreat with these intentions….not a vacation in the usual sense…. more about inner landscapes than outer sightseeing. This is more about becoming strengthened for life’s challenges than being depleted by the demands of air travel or distance driving. Consider a retreat at Galilee Renewal Centre: walk in the old growth forest, enjoy great meals and accommodation at reasonable price, meet likeminded souls, meditate on the two great rivers, the Ottawa and the Madawaska, that meet in this place, enjoy the ambiance of an historical little town so very close to Ottawa, sink into outer and inner peace…. Great programmes, enlightening directed retreats, fun social events, and always also the opportunity to give yourself a quiet break, a personal retreat. There is the opportunity for spiritual direction if you wish it, a beautiful outdoor labyrinth, and welcoming caring staff to assist you. You will be amazed at how wonderful you feel after a retreat! Go on, treat yourself ! www.galileecentre.com
photo:
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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Recipients of Quebec Religious Heritage grants and members of the Outaouais Regional Roundtable pose with Quebec MNA and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance for Quebec, Mr. Andre Fortin at St. Alphonsede-Ligouri Church. ment’s contribution of $10 Representing the Diocese million for the restoration of of Ottawa on the Regional 49 religious building located Roundtable for Religious in fifteen regions of Quebec Heritage, it was a pleasure for in 2016-17, Mr. Fortin stated me to thank the Government that they wished “to preserve of Quebec on behalf of our for future generations a legagrant recipients representacy of historical architectural tives of which were also presand artistic achievements.” ent for this announcement.
Crosstalk
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September 2016 • CROSSTALK • Page 5
STEWARDSHIP
Living Generously By Kim Chadsey, Member of Diocesan Stewardship Subcommittee When Jane Scanlon informed me of the upcoming Episcopal Network for Stewardship conference, scheduled for June, and that there was room in the budget for a couple of people from the Diocesan Stewardship Subcommittee to join her, I quickly put my name forward. As a professional fundraiser who is deeply committed to helping my parish and the greater church with my knowledge, I was very interested in learning more about what our friends south of the border are doing. Jane graciously added my name to the list of delegates from Ottawa. As a group we were Jane Scanlon (Diocesan Stewardship Officer and a Director on the TENS Board), the Rev Aaron Thorpe (Trinity Anglican Church Anglican Church) and me (St Thomas the Apostle Alta Vista). The ‘pre-conference’ day featured three sessions on generosity – multicultural, multigenerational and as seen through different worship traditions (high Anglican, low Anglican, indigenous, etc). We heard stories from across the continent of great generosity and of challenge; and what struck me was the fact that generosity is not just about money. Generosity should be a way of life spanning faith, finances and relationships in our everyday life. The session model was followed through the next days but I want to speak briefly about the keynote speakers who made a huge impact on us. The next day began with the official opening Eucharist with the right rev Diane Jardine Bruce presiding and preaching. Following this uplifting service we welcomed Sister Simone Campbell as the keynote speaker. Author of ‘A nun on the Bus’ and Executive Director of NETWORK, Sister Simone gave us her four virtues for a successful life in the 21st century: • Have a good quantity of joy - ask yourself every day ‘what brought me joy today?’ • Have holy curiosity – ask
Diocesan Synod Convenes “Walking in your way towards justice and wholeness” Thursday, October 20
Friday, October 21
Christ Church Cathedral 414 Sparks St., Ottawa 7:00pm - Eucharist & Delivery of the Bishop’s Charge • All members of the Diocese are welcome • Reception to follow
St. Elias Centre 750 Ridgewood Ave., Ottawa 7:15am - Registration begins 9:00am - Synod in session
Saturday, October 22
Guest Speaker
St. Elias Centre 750 Ridgewood Ave., Ottawa 8:30am - Synod in Session
The Reverend Norman Wesley - Incumbent of St. Thomas, Moosonee for people’s stories and ask ‘why’ • Use sacred gossip – share the stories • Do your part - don’t try to do everything but discern your part and do that to the best of your ability. She also challenged us to ask ourselves ‘what part of the body of Christ am I’. Am I an arm that is put to work to forge the story? Am I the eyes to see the story? Am I the mouth to speak the story? What part am I and what is my part in the story? We came away from her session feeling humbled by the amazing work done by this woman and her people. The third day began with the keynote presentation of Father Gregory Boyle – founder and CEO of Homeboy Industries and author of ‘Tattoos on the Heart’. We were again humbled by the stories that he shared of the young people who have come through Homeboy Industries (website) that highlight the strength of human spirit and the importance of doing gods work in the world God loves, even or maybe most especially, when it appears to be like throwing pebbles in the ocean. Throughout all the various sessions and keynotes I wrote many notes and highlighted ideas that spoke to me personally and/or were ideas that I wanted to bring back to Ottawa and I look forward to sharing these ideas with you. The three days highlighted the fact that we all have similar yet diverse challenges that reflect our own communities. Underlying it all is the importance of our respectful relationships with each other and our joyful relationship with God. It was a call to living generously as God has taught us.
NEWS
Diocesan Synod By Stephanie Boyd, Member of Synod Management Working Group and Staff Support for the Task Force re-imagining synod Preparations are underway for the 135th session of our Diocesan Synod. Inspired by the fourth Mark of Mission of the Anglican Church of Canada, to seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation, the theme for this year’s Synod comes from the Anglican Indigenous Covenant Collect: “Walking in your way towards justice and wholeness”. In relation to this theme, the guest speaker this year comes to us from the Diocese of Moosonee, our diocesan neighbours to the North. The Reverend Norman Wesley, Incumbent of St. Thomas, Moose Factory, is an aboriginal priest and former teacher. Some Changes in 2016 Based On Your Feedback The Synod Management Working Group wants you to know that we take your feedback seriously. One of the issues often addressed in the feedback forms is the use of styrofoam cups. We are currently working with the St. Elias Centre to resolve this issue and are anticipating a change this year. However, we do encourage everyone to bring their own personal mug and/or water bottle to use. Similarly, following a number of inquiries into recycling, we are working to make it easier for
“While it is true that Synod is where the business of governing the Diocese happens, there are also plenty of opportunities to socialize with your fellow members and forge new friendships and connections between parishes and ministries.” — The Rt. Rev. John Chapman, August 05, 2016 people to unload their recyclables throughout their time at Synod. Additionally, in interest of reducing our carbon footprint, we will be moving to a more electronic Synod format this year, with the majority of our Synod Circular being made available online only. Re-Imagining Synod Following discussion at the March Diocesan Council meeting, a Task Force was created to re-imagine how we run our diocesan Synods. The Task Force is currently working to propose a Synod experience that accomplishes the same tasks, but is presented in a different format, and offers new opportunities for growth and renewal that reflect the Embracing God’s Future Roadmap. Some of the questions currently being explored are
in regards to venue, display areas, panel discussions, etc. • While the St. Elias Centre is likely the most affordable venue that will accommodate our numbers, is their capacity limiting what we can do? • What if the display area was presented more as a community showcase, where deaneries and parishes were encouraged to have a table? • What if panel discussions were introduced where people could ask questions and receive answers? Your Feedback Is More Important Than Ever As a result of the re-imagining that is taking place, expect to see a few new questions. For your convenience, feedback forms will also be available online throughout Synod.
Page 6 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
NEWS
photo:
Bishop Chapman
The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz presiding during the opening Eucharist of General Synod.
photo:
Saskia Rowley, Anglican Journal
The Rev. Mark Whittall, clergy delegate from Ottawa, addressing the floor of General Synod.
photo:
Saskia Rowley, Anglican Journal
John McBride, lay delegate from Ottawa, addressing the floor of General Synod.
By Rev. Monique Stone, Clergy Delegate to General Synod I sat down at our family dinner table and told my children about what I was going to be doing while I would be away from home and why it was important for me to participate in the work of the General Synod of the church. I told them as much as I could about what I, as a General Synod first-timer, was able. I mentioned to them that we would be voting on allowing gay people to marry in the church. My 15-year old looked at me and said, “You are kidding, right?” I replied, “No, I’m not, this will be the biggest topic.” To which she replied, “Mom, you people in the church need to move on. Excluding gay people from marriage is ridiculous.” And so I went to General Synod with a strong viewpoint on the necessity for the church to be as inclusive as I feel Jesus would want it to be—a viewpoint that I had at the very least been able to successfully teach the teenagers that sit around my dinner table. I participated in General Synod 2016 and by now most of you have probably read about the roller coaster ride that it was. Indeed, I am thankful and joy-filled for the final outcome on the Marriage Canon. However, I did not leave General Synod with elation, but rather with a profound recognition of the complexities of our church and the many challenges that sit ahead of us, not simply those of the Marriage Canon—challenges of deep diversity that may never come to an end, but rather may simply be part of the ongoing ethos of Anglicanism. Together the delegates
The Weight of “It was challenging and it was transformative.” witnessed to others the burden of our tradition’s complexity, a burden that sometimes can be carried with joy and make us stronger, and at other times can weigh so heavily upon us that we drop to our knees. It was a weight that seemed to rest upon each and every delegate, regardless of our positions. Moment after moment each of us recognized the deep diversity that sits in our church, the deep hurt that can emerge when humans gather together and allow their anger and frustration to take over at the expense of others, the capacity some of us have to avoid those who think differently than we do, and the unbridled way in which other individuals can be drawn to each other in heartfelt embrace even across the chasm of differing views. Moment after moment we recognized the weight of trying to conduct matters of importance within the imperfect human systems of governance, structure, consultation, conversation, technology, and even language. A clicker became a scapegoat, taking the blame for something we forgot: that in all spaces as heavy as these, we must leave room for both correctness and for error. Emotions, both positive and negative, fell heavily upon us—perhaps most profoundly when over two hundred delegates, filled with a plethora of different feelings, were held together by a roll-
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ing storm of silence that took control. It was a storm that could only be outdone the next day, when silence once again took over and each in the room was obliged to experience the emotions that those opposite had felt a mere twenty hours earlier. General Synod 2016 will forever impact the journey of many. It may never be forgotten, especially by those who sat for hour upon hour at any of the tables in that plenary room. It was difficult and gut-wrenching. It was blessed and filled with joy. It was challenging and it was transformative. It was filled with profound sadness along with profound celebration. It had moments that were frivolously light and moments that were heavy. Now, as it has come to an end, its weight will enter communities across the country who will carry the joy and the challenge of its burden. When I returned, one of the first things my son said to me was, “Did we win, Mom? Can everyone get married?” “Yes, I guess we did. It didn’t quite feel like a win, though,” I replied. “Lots of people felt hurt at different times in different ways. Lots of stuff happened and it was really heavy and hard for everyone there”. “That’s okay, Mom, don’t worry,” he said. “It’s a good thing and it will all work out like it is supposed to.” “Yes,” I replied. “You are probably right. I sure hope it does.” Used with permission. Originally published for The Community www.thecommunity.anglican.ca
Photographs Very large, high resolution (at least 300 dpi) JPEG or TIFF format Include name of photographer. (613) 232-7124, ext. 245
September 2016 • CROSSTALK • Page 7
General Synod By Ron Chaplin, Lay Delegate to General Synod It was exhausting. It was exhilarating. It was hurtful. It was healing. It was the eighth session of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada which I have attended, and it is the session that I will never, ever forget. It has brought our church to an important new juncture, about how we proclaim the Gospel, the “good news” of Christ Jesus, in our place and in our time, at this particular point in our history. That we even had this discussion was an act of courage. I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to those who insisted that we do so, and they are many. It would have been far easier, and far safer, simply to shut down this debate. This is exactly what has happened on many occasions since this issue, the place of gay and lesbian persons in the Church, first arose in the late 1970’s. On previous occasions, in this diocese and in the national church, the question was several times deferred, referred to another consultative or theological body, or simply shut down. The question put to General Synod was this, and it is a very important question: Can it be that the marriage of two persons, regardless of their gender, be a sign and signal of God’s grace? For this is what “marriage” means in our Anglican understanding of the Gospel – marriage is a sacrament, a sign of grace. In one of the most memorable moments of this General Synod, Archbishop Fred Hiltz told us that he was leaving the head table to speak to us from the Lord’s Table – the altar. He implored everyone to listen respectfully and to speak honestly, before
“I found myself often wiping silent tears from my face.” leading us in prayer. He reminded everyone that General Synod had already spoken on the issue of homosexuality when, in 2004, it affirmed the “integrity and sanctity of committed, adult same-sex relationships”. This time the question was about marriage. Six hours were set aside on the agenda for informal discussion, mostly in small groups. There were another five or six hours of debate when the question was put in plenary session. Boy, it was hard. We were, after all, asking participants to share stories about their most intimate personal relationships, with partners, with family and friends, within Church community and in society. Participants shared their stories. We heard stories of grievance, and stories of grace. We heard stories about perseverance, great courage, and fidelity. We heard heartrending stories of broken trust, broken relationships, betrayal, judgement and abandonment. We heard stories of compassion, of reconciliation, and faith. I found myself often wiping silent tears from my face. The stories which brought me to tears came from those speaking on both sides of the issue. The outcome of all this discussion and debate, frankly, astounded me. We in the Anglican Church of Canada have a very high standard of theology. The barre that was set to approve the motion
NEWS
was extraordinarily high – a two-thirds “super-majority” among the laity, among the clergy, and among the bishops. That the motion was approved demonstrates a remarkable level of consensus. Yet we know that this decision, this vote, was not fully consensual. The vote tally revealed that a number of diocesan delegations were opposed to the motion. Significantly, it was opposed in a swath of northern dioceses, where indigenous communities predominate. This should surprise no one. The Anglican Church has been involved in a process of reconciliation with indigenous communities for many years. Through this work, we have all learned of the damage inflicted on indigenous families and relationships by government, the Church and society. We are all called to be agents of healing and reconciliation. This was a hard slog. It was, at the same time, cathartic. For healing to be possible, the pain must be given voice, heard, and shared. This General Synod was so emotionally exhausting because that was exactly what happened. In all the discussions in which I participated, we were not intent on scoring points, but listening, deeply and with empathy. I returned from Toronto to Ottawa with great hope – that the Anglican Church of Canada be true to its mission of “reformed catholicism” – that we proclaim Christ’s message that, in God’s Kingdom, no one is to be considered unclean, unworthy, or unwanted. And that we will not be hide-bound to those traditions which are dysfunctional. It is my prayer that we are up to the challenge. Right photo: Saskia Rowley, Anglican Journal
The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, honoured guest and speaker at General Synod.
Left photo: Saskia Rowley, Anglican Journal
The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz taking a moment to pray during General Synod.
photo:
Bishop Chapman
The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz presiding during the opening Eucharist of General Synod.
photo:
Saskia Rowley, Anglican Journal
photo:
Saskia Rowley, Anglican Journal
Jordan Sandrock, youth delegate from Ottawa, addressing the floor of General Synod.
Justin McAuley, lay delegate from the Military Ordinatiate and resident of Ottawa, addressing the floor of General Synod.
Page 8 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
Local Women’s Drop-in Opens New Community Space May 17th saw a group of people gathered at The Well/La Source, an Ottawa drop-in centre for women, for the opening of a new space called The Roxy Room, located in The Well’s Elgin Street home in St. John the Evangelist Church. The renovation of the room at The Well/La Source was donated by the Reverend Ebert Hobbs and his wife to commemorate their beloved daughter Roxanne Cooper. Surrounded by many of Roxanne’s relatives, the Venerable Dr. Peter John Hobbs read a loving tribute to Roxy from her father, who described her as “a person who reached out to bring hope to people in need, accepting them for who they are and encouraging them to move forward.” He went on to say: “That is why it is so appropriate that Roxy’s name is being associated with this room and The Well.” The Roxy Room will allow The Well/La Source to
enhance and extend its existing services with partner agencies, such as the Royal Ottawa Hospital, Housing Help, and Centretown Community Health Centre, and also to develop new partnerships. The first group using the new space was an addictions group run by Amethyst House. The Roxy Room is part of a wider community partnership project at The Well/La Source funded through the Anglican Diocese’s Giving in Faith Together (GIFT) campaign. Last year saw a new worker appointed to reach out to other agencies to provide joint services with the aim of enhancing the wellbeing of marginalized women. It is a greatly needed and appreciated addition to the community. Find out more about The Well/La Source and the services they provide at: www.the-well.ca
photo:
Submitted
The new Roxy Room located at The Well/La Source.
Carefree Karaoke
It’s Friday morning at 10:00am and the fun at St Luke’s Table is just getting started. Karaoke Fridays has long been a favorite tradition among participants, volunteers and staff here at St Luke’s Table. Whether it’s a classic ABBA cover, a Miley Cyrus hit, a Bryan Adams ballad or a crooner giving a smooth Frank Sinatra impression a good sing-along does well for the soul. In fact, we take pride in our vocal talents having won a competition on April 1st, 2016 that pitted participants from St Luke’s Table against some strong competition from The Well, Centre 454, Cornerstone, Centre 507 and Somerset West CHC. Approximately 25 participants took part in the competition, which was a hit with all involved! Singing at St Luke’s Table you may ask? Isn’t St Luke’s
photo:
Submitted
Some of the participants, staff, and volunteers at St. Luke’s Table’s Karaoke Fridays. Table just a drop-in lunch program? Well here at St Luke’s Table we focus on Nourishing Hope, which includes many other services in addition to providing breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday. In other words, the meals we provide are important but we are also building a sense of community for those in
need by providing a safe and welcoming space for all. And what says “I feel safe and welcome” more than belting out some carefree karaoke?!! Find out more about St. Luke’s Table and the services they provide at: www.stlukestable.ca
Diocesan Youth Intern Helps at Centre 454 By Nora Joyner, Intern, Anglican Diocese of Ottawa’s Youth Internship Program Centre 454, one of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa’s community ministries, provides services and support to those who are either homeless or precariously housed. Their work includes social and practical supports, counselling, help in applying for the Ontario Disability Support Program, and spiritual support. While providing practical help such as meals, essential clothes, and places to shower and do laundry, the centre also strives to help its participants to regain control of their lives and more fully engage in society. Through all of this, Centre 454 provides invaluable support for the 11.7% of Ottawa’s population that lives in poverty. For the last five months, Robert Pascoe has been volunteering for the various programs at Centre 454 as an Youth Internship Program intern; he provides help with the programs, spends time with the clients, and has even run some activities there. Some of the incredibly valuable work he did through his placement was also working with the other interns to
photo:
Nora Joyner
Diocesan Youth Internship Program member, Robert Pascoe (centre), celebrating his six month internship with new friends at Centre 454. collect donations for Centre 454. All six Youth Internship Program interns spoke with their churches to raise awareness for Centre 454 and gather donations, highly successfully; parishioners generously donated money as well as boxes and boxes worth of supplies to bring in. Thank you to the members of St. Albans, Trinity Anglican, St. James Manotick, and St. James Carp for your generosity! Robert’s contributions were so appreciated that to celebrate the work he’d done over the past six months, Centre 454 hosted a potluck
lunch in his honour. Robert’s internship placement is now finished, but there are still many ways to assist Centre 454 and be a part of its community. Volunteers over the age of eighteen are always welcome; simply fill out the application online and submit it to the centre’s volunteer coordinator: jessica.tomas@ottawa.anglican.ca.
Other ways to help include baking or providing snacks for the participants, collecting supplies (a wish list of donations is available online), or doing other fundraising for the centre.
September 2016 • CROSSTALK • Page 9
NEWS Michael Coren...
- Continued from page 1 In Review; Epiphany: A Christian’s Change of Heart & Mind Over Same-Sex Marriage BY REV. PATRICK STEPHENS
Michael Coren is well known to Canadians as a controversial author and broadcaster. Over the past few years I have heard him weigh in on countless debates related to faith, politics, and sexuality. Nothing he said ever made me want to pick up one of his books. Coren’s dubious fame is due in part to his faith- inspired homophobic remarks. His particular brand of Christian heterosexism has been inflicting pain within the Body of Christ for years. Last year, the news of Michael Coren’s public rejection of his previous stance came as a surprise to me. Then earlier this year I discovered that Coren has written a new
book. When I learned that a group of Anglicans had arranged for copies of this latest book to be sent to each member of the Anglican Church of Canada’s House of Bishops, I decided to read a Michael Coren book for the first time. I was raised in a very conservative church and home environment. The views Michael Coren used to promote were similar to those with which I was raised. Upon adopting a more critical and open approach to faith, my understanding of morality began to change. With this in mind, I was interested to read about how the author found himself on his own journey of transformation. As expected, Epiphany contains some theoretical, even legal arguments for our church’s acceptance of LGBTQ marriages. Coren’s strongest insights, however,
come not from argument, but through the telling of his personal experiences. Indeed, isn’t experience the driving force behind any story of conversion? Experience has the ability to draw important questions to the surface, to pull us into new areas of understanding, and to test theological claims in the daily life of faith. In this book, Michael Coren chronicles the events of his conversion and he describes the current moment of discernment in which finds itself. Coren’s writing continually challenges assumptions while encouraging empathy. Whether or not one agrees with the author, any reader will benefit from the way this book encourages reflection on one’s own approach to sexual identity. It may even lead to an Epiphany!
Rice is Nice FIND OUT WHAT ARCHBISHOP FRED HILTZ MEANS AT FREDSAYS.CA
The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund the anglican church of canada
Friends of the Bishop Dinner By Heidi Pizzuto, Chair of the Friends of the Bishop Planning Committee The 34th Annual Friends of the Bishop Dinner and Silent Auction was an elegant and enjoyable evening at the Hampton Inn on May 10th. The ballroom was beautifully decorated, the food and service were great, we had many high-end items in our silent auction, Gail Gavan & Friends provided lively entertainment (even dancing!) and it was such fun to welcome our 275 guests. Bishop Chapman extends his thanks for the support of our sponsors: PBL Insurance; Ecclesiastical Insurance; Emond Harnden Law; Deloitte; Kelly Funeral Homes;
Hulse, Playfair & McGarry; Beechwood Cemetery & Funeral Services; Talisman Flowers; and RBC Phillips, Hager & North Investment Counsel. Without them, and generous donations from many others across our diocese, including of course our guests, we could not have come away from the evening with income to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund of over $13,000! This is wonderful news, for as you likely know, this Fund allows Bishop Chapman to respond quickly and compassionately to compelling and often unexpected situations locally, nationally, and internationally. I am personally grateful for the volunteers who
helped us out, for the dedication of my planning committee (Stephanie Boyd, Julia Brady, Heidi Danson, David Finnie, Jude Green, Linda Phillips, Rachael Pollesel and Jane Scanlon), and for the trust and confidence Bishop Chapman placed in us for his event. If you are interested in joining our committee as we plan ahead for 2017, please to Heidi Pizzuto about how you can contribute; heidi-pizzuto@ottawa.anglican.ca or 613-232-7126 Save the Date – the 2017 Friends of the Bishop Dinner and Silent Auction is schedule for Thursday, May 18
Crosstalk Submission Deadlines: October - August 25 November - September 26 December - October 25
Page 10 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
Children’s Festival By Bonnie McNally Saturday, May 28 was truly a ‘beehive of activity’ at St. Thomas, Stittsville, as 22 children gathered to celebrate our 150th anniversary. Approximately half the young participants attend our church and the remainder joined us from the community. Our theme for the day was “We are Pilgrims on a Journey”. The morning began with greeters in 1860’s dress guiding the children to decorate bags for their ‘take-home’ items and assisting them in sticking 150 paper butterflies around the sanctuary. Rev. Jane, in 1860’s cassock, started the formal part of the day’s events with an explanation of how long St. Thomas has been in existence (using the 150 butterflies) and, with the able assistance of Merilee Clarke and some very precocious little puppets, described what life would have been like back in the mid-1800’s. Mary Passmore led the children in several action songs. The children then formed five separate groups and rotated around five different stations. Heather Sullivan, assisted by Matthew Hunt, braved the heat outside and led the children through the process of planting an 1860’s garden. With Merilee Clarke they painted birdhouses and
Victoria Pierce assisted in decorating T-shirts. Rev. Jane guided the children through the process of following a labyrinth (with Bear Paws as the prize!) and Judy Dalloway taught them how to make Bannock. At noon, half-way through the group activities, everyone stopped for our ‘mid-day meal’, an 1860’s lunch consisting of homemade chicken soup, fresh thick-sliced bread with butter, cheese, carrot sticks, berries and apples, and oatmeal cookies. The day concluded with games from the 1860’s (sack races, three-legged races) and a snack of the bannock the children had made earlier in the day dipped in maple syrup. A big thank you to our workshop leaders (Rev. Jane, Merilee, Victoria, Judy, Heather, and Matthew), to our greeters (Barbara, Sylvie, Michelle), to Penny, Neave and Keara, Audrey and Michelle who shepherded the children from one station to the next, photographer Patrick, and, of course, Jennifer who had our noon-hour meal waiting for us. It was an amazing time! In the words of one of the parents, the children (and the adults!) “had a blast!” Such a great way to celebrate our anniversary!
photo:
Patrick McNally
Making bannock during St. Thomas’ Children’s Festival, May 28, 2016.
PARISH NEWS
From Ottawa to Chisasibi to Moosonee
By Paul Dumbrille In the early 1990’s, the Outreach Group of the Parish of St. Richard, in Nepean, decided that simply funnelling money to worthy charitable organizations was just not enough. As a result, it was decided to embark on an endeavour to connect directly with those whom we might support. So, a project was initiated to connect with the Diocese of Moosonee, resulting in an effort to help its parishes obtain copies of a hymn book that contained words to hymns in the Cree language, along with music scores of many of the hymns. The hymn books they were using were wearing out, and replacements were needed by many parishes and congregations. The project that the Outreach Group took on was to raise funds, in the thousands of dollars, to pay for the printing and production of a sizable number of copies of the hymn book. With the leadership of John Collins, a St. Richard’s parishioner, and the encouragement and assistance of the Bishop of Moosonee at the time, Caleb Lawrence, the project was accomplished. Over a number of years, the Outreach Group raised funds, predominately from members of the parish, including special Lenten donations and direct appeals for funds. A printer was engaged and a number of books printed. They were received gratefully by the parishes in the Diocese of Moosonee and put to immediate use. They were appreciated so much that, over time, sufficient funds were raised for three separate printings that were sent to the Moosonee Diocese. The first printing took place in 1993, and the last printing was in 2003 when 512 copies of the book were printed at a cost of $5,093.58. After the first printing, and in recognition of the relationship between the parish and Moosonee Diocese, Bishop Lawrence invited members of the Outreach Group to come to Chisasibi, a Cree community in northern Quebec located on James
photo:
Paul Dumbrille
Well-used Cree-English Hymn Book reprinted by St. Richard’s in 2003 and used in St. Thomas Church in Moosonee in 2016. Bay, to be part of a Deanery consultation. In August of 1994, six members of St. Richard’s, (myself & my wife Marg, John & Mirandy Collins, and Peter & Rosemary Anderson) rented a van and drove to Chisasibi, a trip of about 1,300 Kms that took two days. Over several days, we attended the meetings, events, and celebrations that were part of the gathering and were billeted in the homes of Cree families. It was an unforgettable experience where we learned about how the Christian Cree community worshipped using the hymn books we had provided, as well as how differently they discussed issues and made decisions. A search of Archives of Ottawa Diocese will reveal an article co-written by myself and Rosemary Anderson in the September, 1994 edition of Crosstalk. Copies of photographs contained in that article are included here. Fast forward to January, 2016. As a member of the national Executive, and Resources Coordinator for Anglican Fellowship
of Prayer (Canada), I led two workshops at Diocese of Moosonee Prayer conference, held in Cochrane, Ontario. This resulted in a subsequent invitation for me to lead some workshop sessions for parishes in Moose Factory and Moosonee at the end of May, 2016. Imagine my surprise and the joy that filled my heart, when I entered the church hall where the workshops were being held, and saw several copies of the Cree hymn book that our parish had printed those many years ago, including the acknowledgement of their production by St. Richard’s. At the Eucharist service at St. Thomas Anglican Church in Moose Factory on that Sunday morning, I was privileged to sing hymns with the church community, in English and Cree, using those books that we had caused to be printed years before. I am humbled to realize that God had used our Outreach Group to take on, and bring to fruition, a ministry for which we would have no idea what the result would be. As an aside, the current members of St. Richard’s Outreach Group have amalgamated with people from St. Michael and All Angels as part of Julian of Norwich parish. The connection with the church in northern Canada and our Indigenous people remains today. In 2016, a portion of Julian of Norwich’s special Lenten donations was sent to the North to help with the needs of people of our First Nations. God stirs his people to do things that are “more than we can ask or imagine”.
September 2016 • CROSSTALK • Page 11
LIFELONG FORMATION
Diocesan Youth Internship Program By Nora Joyner, Intern, Anglican Diocese of Ottawa’s Youth Internship Program The diocese’s first Youth Internship Program (YIP) has come to an end, and what a rewarding experience it’s been. I’m Nora Joyner, and I’ve had the pleasure of being the youth communications intern with Crosstalk over the last six months. Krista Hum and Annie Brazeau were placed with Habitat for Humanity, Isabel MacFarlane was placed with Kairos, Robert Pascoe worked with Centre 454, and Jordan Sandrock was the DYC/CLAY intern at the Synod office. These placements were incredible because they were selected especially for us; all of us got to contribute to something larger than ourselves, and for many of us these related to our future careers. Robert, for example, worked at Centre 454 and was able to build confidence and focus on his future plans as a child and youth worker, and Jordan plans to enter their name into the ordination discernment process as they study religion at the University of Ottawa. The Youth Internship Program also had several Faith Formation and Leadership sessions, which was a highlight of the program for many of us, myself included. “I really appreciated the chance we got to have conversation about things teens might not normally talk about among themselves,” said Krista at the end of her placement. “The most significant part of the leadership sessions was
learning more about how you can use your own strengths to help others, doing good deeds don’t require you to be anything other than what you already are even if there is always room for improvement”. Everyone expressed how much they enjoyed the safe, non-judgmental space to discuss their faith and their place within the church. Spaces where you can be completely honest about your faith are often hard to come by for teenagers, and all of us learned a lot from each other’s experiences and ideas as well as those of the adults who volunteered their time to help us. These sessions are certainly not to be forgotten in discussions about the youth internship program. Next year, all the interns will be continuing their secondary or post-secondary education. Krista will be graduating Canterbury High School, Jordan and I will be at the University of Ottawa, Robert will be at Algonquin College, and Isabel and Annie will be at Mount Allison University. “The YIP is a fantastic ex-
perience for any young person hoping to get their foot in the door of faith-based community leadership,” said Isabel at the end of the program. Annie Brazeau spoke at her church after the service on Sunday and she ended her reflection with “The entire program is excellent. I benefitted hugely from it both spiritually and academically as the program has prepared me for university and almost certainly contributed to my having been accepted to my school of choice. Everyone involved in making YIP happen through their sponsorship and organization, you guys of course, and especially Donna Rourke have my sincere gratitude. Thank you!” On behalf of all the interns, I would like to thank the YIP steering committee, the GIFT committee, and all of the placement supervisors and mentors for making this experience possible. Interns for the 2016-2017 sessions have already been selected, but youth from Grade 11 to their first year of university are welcome to apply this winter for the 2017-2018 session. Best of luck to our newest round of interns! Next month our new diocesan wide youth communication intern will have a recap reflection from Donna Rourke, the YIP coordinator, and Ross Hammond one of the Clergy from the clergy team as well as an introduction to all the new interns! YIP Info Contact: donna-rourke@ottawa.anglican.ca
Second Annual Diocesan Youth Conference By Krista Hum, Intern, Anglican Diocese of Ottawa’s Youth Internship Program The Diocesan Youth Conference (DYC) created a community of teenagers, leaders and friends. Through campfires and conversation a special kind of bond formed between everyone present on that weekend. It’s difficult
to push a group of teens together and build a community, especially in one short weekend but DYC managed to do that so well. Teenagers from all over Ottawa gathered together at Christie Lake Camp to celebrate their faith and meet some new people. By the end of the two days, everyone was talking
to anyone and it really felt like the kind of atmosphere that you wanted stay in for a while longer. We got the unique chance to spend the weekend together worshiping and learning through various workshops and sessions and by the end of the conference we were connected through friendship and faith.
FAITH Team Games Night By Nora Joyner, Intern, Anglican Diocese of Ottawa’s Youth Internship Program The F.A.I.T.H. Team at St. James Manotick hosted their monthly Pizza and Games night on April 29th. This particular night wasn’t just ice breakers and board games, though — there was also a presentation by three people from St James Carleton Place about their recent week-long trip to the Centre Vie Orphanage in Haiti. Barb, Robyn, and Madison were the three representatives of the twelve participants from their church; many of them were sponsors of the 33 children living at the orphanage. The Haiti team spoke with much emotion about their journey, showing their pictures and describing the wonderful children and people they met in Haiti. “We wanted to ensure these children knew we valued them,”
said Barb, a member of the team; they spent many hours working at the orphanage and spending time with the children as well as bringing supplies. Along with games and the presentation, the twenty-nine participants - youth and leaders - from across the Diocese were able to share food and spend time together before DYC and CLAY. Pizza and Games nights are done for the season, but throughout the summer the youth programming will continue. The F.A.I.T.H. team meets every second Wednesday, with either a BBQ or pizza dinner and games or a movie. All are welcome, with a freewill offering for the food, snacks and drinks. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Rourke at youth@stjames-manotick.org
photo:
Nora Joyner
The F.A.I.T.H. Team at St. James, Manotick, enjoying a recent Pizza and Games Night.
Keep the conversation going For decades, the Crosstalk and the Anglican Journal have been a vital communications link between parishes, dioceses and the national Church. Together, we have shared stories, ideas and opinions from a faith perspective in a way that has helped us put that faith into action. Whether encouraging a response to human need, educating about the care of creation, or helping readers discover new ways to reach out and grow the Church, the Crosstalk and the Anglican Journal spark compassionate conversations in an increasingly secularized world. Please give generously to the Anglican Journal Appeal this year. With your help we can keep the conversation going! Please fill out and return the enclosed postagepaid donor reply card or call 416-924-9199, ext 259. Alternatively, you can email mross@national.anglican.ca or go to www.canadahelps.org to make your gift today.
Page 12 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
OUTREACH
Habitat for Humanity By Nora Joyner, Intern, Anglican Diocese of Ottawa’s Youth Internship Program Habitat for Humanity, an international NGO with an impressive forty-year history, has begun a new Youth Build initiative within its Ottawa branch. Habitat GO builds good, affordable housing for low-income families, with the help of volunteers, sponsors, donors, and tradespeople. The Greater Ottawa branch has built 52 homes, completed nine retrofits, and housed more than sixty families in the greater Ottawa area since 1993, with plans to build six new homes in 2016. Krista Hum, a member of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa’s Youth Internship Program, has been an intern with Habitat GO since January and has worked a lot on the youth build initiative. The youth build initiative in particular hopes to inspire young people to give back, and to create volunteer opportunities for youth across the Ottawa area. The impact
participants make on the lives of families is immediate and tangible, and long-term, interest-free mortgages will continue to benefit the family long past when the home is finished being built. As part of her internship, Krista has been helping to recruit youth groups to partner with Habitat for Humanity to volunteer and fundraise. Though her placement is finished, Habitat for Humanity still needs volunteers! The Youth Build days take place on the first Saturday of the month, beginning in July and through to December, and are open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 24 either individually or as a team. Habitat GO provides food for the volunteers and all necessary safety equipment, with a recommended fundraising goal of $100/person leading up to the day. Individuals and groups interested in participating can register online, contact Kristin Harold at kharold@habitatgo.com, or call 613-749-9950
NEWS
photo:
The Ven. Chris Dunn
Thank you to Michael Herbert for many years of dedicated service as the Director of Financial Ministry for the diocese. Michael retired June 30, 2016.
Have Your Say: National Housing Strategy By Rev. Laurette Glasgow The Federal government recently launched a major public consultation process on a key campaign promise – a National Housing Strategy. By visiting letstalkhousing. ca, you can have your say on key elements of a strategy to address homelessness and affordable housing in Canada. The online survey is easy to access and gives you an opportunity to express your views and to engage on this public policy issue, one that enjoys a high priority for the Anglican Church of Canada. But do so now, for the deadline of October 21, 2016 is fast approaching! The Diocese of Ottawa’s Homelessness and Affordable Housing Working Group is also preparing a formal submission and will be inviting others throughout the country to join in our efforts. In it, we will comment
on the Federal government’s proposed vision: “All Canadians have access to housing that meets their needs and they can afford. Housing is the cornerstone of building sustainability, including communities and a strong Canadian economy where we can prosper and thrive.” We will also share our views and experiences with respect to the “ten core principles” enunciated by the government: “environmental sustainability, performance linked to results, self-reliance, fiscal responsibility, flexibility, communitycentered, economic stability, innovation, people-centered, and collaboration.” Ours is a long-standing commitment to end homelessness and to help provide affordable housing for all, notably through our Community Ministries and through parish and individual initiatives throughout the Diocese.
Inspired by the Joint Declaration at the 2013 Joint Assembly of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Diocese of Ottawa passed its own motion to move forward in a coordinated and integrated manner through prayer, learning, action, and advocacy. In providing input to this important process, we add our voices to those of others based on living our faith through loving service. See more at: www.letstalkhousing.ca
This article is the second in a series that the Diocesan Homelessness and Affordable Housing Working Group will be preparing for Crosstalk in the coming editions. The series will be one of the ways the working group hopes to stimulate learning, prayer, advocacy, and action on this important issue for our diocese.
September 2016 • CROSSTALK • Page 13
PARISH NEWS
Where Do We Go From Here... The Walk-a-thon!
By Elizabeth Kent People who are in need, are often marginalized, vulnerable, lonely and without sense of community or belonging. CCSAC, the Centretown Churches Social Action Committee, with their 23 member churches, are a middleman for our local food bank, Centretown Emergency Food Centre. We are located at 507 Bank St. at Argyle, in the basement of Centretown United Church. We remain committed to poverty reduction and social justice since 1967, when we began as nine ecumenical churches . Demand for our services has grown from a 4.4% year over year increase to a 25% increase since January 2016! From Charity to Social Justice The Centretown Emergency Food Centre, served 9,760 people in 2015. They have been in operation since 1975. Four days a week they reach out through volunteers and one paid full time co-ordinator, Kerry Kaiser, to our neighbours in Centretown. They offer a 3 day supply of food, gathered from our churches, food drives in local grocery stores, schools
and the central Ottawa Food Bank. They also provide vital community resource connections and are well versed in working with New Canadians. On March 29, 2016, a refugee couple from Iraq, in Canada for four months , was working with Immigration services and informed they needed $600.00 to complete paperwork for OHIP cards. This information was incorrect. They were distressed. A volunteer at the Food Centre, referred them to a Community Immigration service, where they were assisted to complete the paperwork, without a cost. In Centretown, we have two hotels and the YMCA which provide emergency shelter for new Canadians. The Centretown Emergency Food Centre hosts information updates for their volunteers. They recently hosted a workshop for a suicide response called “safe TALK”, by the Canadian Mental Health Association and Ottawa Public Workplace Health. A part time co-ordinator assistant, Glad-
ys Clement, who also gives cooking demonstrations, was able to assist two clients with transitioning paperwork, from Social Assistance to a Disability Allowance. The paperwork was overwhelming for them. Our Food Centre partners with a Centretown Community Health Centre nutritionist, offering two cooking demonstrations per month. New Initiatives are ongoing. For example, they now give summer lunch bags for children in camps who usually access the ‘eat in school’ lunch program. We are proud of our Centretown Emergency Food Centre! Performance is tireless through volunteers, for our Centretown ‘neighbours’ – the single mother, the rooming house boarder, the father who just lost his job or the new Canadian. They all merit our support! Please join with us and “Walk for the Centre”, Sunday October 16, 2016, from 2:00 – 5:00 pm, starting and ending at City Hall. You are welcome to register and donate online or at our event from 1:00 pm. We are looking forward to “Walking” with you for this worthy cause. www.centretownchurches.org
Triennial Treasures Auction By Elizabeth Kent St. Matthew’s triennial Treasures Auction will be held on Saturday, October 29 from noon to 5pm. Similar to the popular auctions held in earlier years, this year’s auction will raise money for the First Avenue Churches and Community Embracing Sponsorship (FACES) refugee program and St. Matthew’s roof restoration. FACES brings together three churches and a community group to fund and provide support for refugee families. The churches are St. Giles Presbyterian Church, St. James United Church and St. Matthew’s Anglican Church. The group plans to sponsor at least three families or individuals over the next three years. The auction is one of the most fun events held in the Glebe -- if not the city. For those who have not been to a
St. Matt’s auction, it includes live and silent auctions, the extraordinary “silver vaults”, the Arts Café and Wine Bar, the Tea Room and live entertainment. All of the previous auctions have featured a marvellous selection of donations from inside and outside the parish, including fine art, fine dinners, gift certificates from local businesses and the use of vacation properties. Past auctions have included the use of properties in Florida, Quebec City and Spain as well as cottages. Art sold at past auctions has included works by significant artists such as Grace Coombs, Stanley Morel Cosgrove, Philip Craig, Christopher Griffin, Sylvia Hahn, Jaya Krishnan, Estelle Kerr, Christopher Leggett, Toni Onley and Pudlo Pudlat. The auctions have typically raised more than $50,000 for various projects such as
multi-faith housing and a First Nations suicide prevention program. “I have been to cattle auctions, rural auctions, auctions in other countries and each one has its charm,” said Anne Gregory, who came to earlier auctions. “But I’ve never been to such a varied and entertaining auction as this one,” she said. “You can sit and eat and drink, listen to beautiful music, watch an artist painting or bid on the many interesting items on offer,” she said. St. Matthew’s invites you to consider making donations. Many will be eligible for charitable tax receipts. For donations of value please contact Margret Brady Nankivell at nankivell@rogers.com or 613-230-8669 or the church office at 613-234-4024
St. Alban’s Welcomes Fall Changes By Erica Howes This September, St. Albans is not only welcoming new and returning students, we’re welcoming Ken Grahlman, our new Young Adult Minister. Ken grew up in the Lutheran church and was drew to St. Albans because of its focus on students and young adults. Working with young adults, Ken explained, is one of his passions. “Youth are not the future of the church, they are the church now. They represent change, they represent policies, and they provide us with insight on what is to be expected in the coming years,” he said. Ken has led youth groups in CLAY (Canadian Lutheran Angican Youth) conferences and is an experienced guitarist. As St. Albans welcomes Ken into the community, we bid farewell to Zack Ingles, our former Young Adult Minister and Music Director for the past four years. Zack has moved to Montreal and is now working at the Anglican Diocese of Montreal on a new project focusing on actively engaging youth in leading worship. He described his years at St. Albans as some of “the most formative” in his spiritual and professional life. “What started as a retweet from a friend about a cool church in Ottawa practicing a blend of liturgical and contemporary worship, cascaded into an incredible journey filled with many exciting twists and turns,” he said. In his time at St. Albans, Zack worked closely with
photo:
Submitted
Ken Grahlman, new Young Adult Minister at St. Alban’s. students at the University of Ottawa and Carleton, coordinated the weekly young adults discussion group and led the worship band every Sunday. From this, he said he learned a lot. “In our time together my community has taught me to not be afraid to take risks but, to be humble while doing so. They have taught me that not knowing all the answers is exactly how God uses people to lead with authenticity and integrity,” he said. This month, we welcome Ken into our community as he puts his passions of working with young people, music and faith together. He said his job is about “finding a safe, fun and spiritually enriching environment in order to facilitate growth within the church, within those youth, and creating leaders both now and for the future.” The young adult and student ministry is in full swing and gearing up for the upcoming church crawl on September 10th and the St. Albans welcome back barbeque Sunday September 11th. To extend a welcome message to Ken you can contact him at ken@stalbanschurch.ca www.stalbanschurch.ca
The Church Bookroom Order your Anglican Annuals Today! The Church Bookroom 90 Johnson Street Kingston, Ontario K7L 1X7 Local: (613) 544-1013 Toll-Free: (866) 794-1013 Fax: (613) 547-3745
Page 14 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
EMBRACING GOD’S FUTURE
NEWS
Church Consults Community Scholarship Dinner on Refugee Settlement By Derwyn Sangster The Church of St Thomas the Apostle strives to strengthen its engagement with the Alta Vista community, reflecting the directions of Embracing God’s Future Priority 2, Engagement with the World. On May 18, the church hosted a breakfast discussion on the issues of food security, affordable housing, and immigrant/refugee settlement in the Alta Vista and south Ottawa community. About 35 invited guests participated, representing housing organizations, immigrant/ refugee settlement bodies and sponsoring groups, faith communities, community groups, and local politicians’ offices. Conversations were informal, at small tables of 10 people. Table discussions were led and recorded by St Thomas members. It’s not possible to capture the breadth of the conversations in a few hundred words. The full Consultation report is available on the St Thomas website. Discussions clarified the different situations facing federally versus privately sponsored refugees, identifying some of the additional challenges that may face families in the former group. These families tend to lack the support which private sponsors
can offer, including greater financial resources and more volunteers who can provide other forms of day-to-day help. All refugee families, however, will have to face the ‘thirteenth month’, at which point sponsorship responsibilities end and refugees are on their own. Governments and settlement groups are working to help families prepare for this. While housing is clearly an important immediate issue, for many it has been overtaken by language training and job finding efforts. Language training may be an even greater challenge for those refugees who require help to become literate in their own language, even before tackling English or French. In terms of jobs, some participants pointed out that parttime jobs that allow time to attend English lessons may be the most practical. Participants commented on the high level of interest in Ottawa in refugee sponsorship and support. Many conversations, in fact, focused on the challenges of coordinating individual and community approaches to refugee settlement. Participants listed many practical ways, formal or informal, in which community organizations, families and individuals can welcome and support
refugee families. Innovative housing solutions in other cities were also shared. A number of those present commented on the benefits of this kind of community consultation. They noted that it brings various agencies and individuals together, often for the first time, to discuss issues and explore potential responses. Housing agencies, for example, can informally exchange ideas directly with those whose focus is on immigrants and refugees. Community associations and faith groups, as part of these conversations, can identify ways in which they can further support refugees. New partnerships can emerge. This Consultation built directly on St Thomas’s first one, held in June 2015. Those discussions looked broadly at the community’s issues, including seniors, youth and families, and refugees, among other subjects. St Thomas is considering how best to build on our May 18 event, and is polling participants for their ideas. One suggestion being considered is to identify a group who would like to take the discussions to the next level, and facilitate a follow-up discussion among them. Clearly, more to come! www.stthomasaltavista.ca
By Joy Bowerman The Brotherhood of Anglican Churchmen (BAC) and Friends Scholarship Dinner was held on May 6 and St Thomas’s. As usual, it was a lovely relaxing evening with good food, interesting conversation and a relaxing hymn sing. This dinner has been held for a number of years (at least 19 since I went when I was hugely pregnant with my son, who was born four days later). While it has changed locations and the format of the entertainment has changed several times, the main focus of the event has always been to provide financial support to the postulants of the diocese. Each year, the BAC has given a scholarship to a postulant selected by the Anglican Studies program at St Paul University. The evening begins with an evensong which is led by the winner of the previous year’s scholarship. This year, the Reverend Ryan Boivin led the evensong. He had been ordained on May 2, along with three other postulants. In his remarks at the dinner, he posed the question of how many of the postulants which had just been ordained had received the BAC scholarship. The
answer was, all of them except the postulant who came from outside the diocese. The support that is offered is important to the postulants for financial reasons, but knowing that people outside of academia care about them and wish to support them is equally important. As well as supporting postulants, the Scholarship Dinner brings people from a number of different parishes together for a convivial evening and promotes a spirit of fellowship that extends beyond our individual parish boundaries The BAC has become the BAC and Friends for reasons related to health and age. Even with this augmentation, the support for the dinner has declined as active numbers in each parish have declined and the money raised for the scholarship also declines. We have now reached a point where we are looking for help, a partner organization or contacts from a number of different parishes who would be willing to promote this yearly event which takes place on the first Friday of May. For more info contact Don Butler bulterd@hotmail.com
September 2016 • CROSSTALK • Page 15
LIFELONG FORMATION
FROM THE EDITOR
Above photo: Submitted
The Rev. Kerri Brannan welcoming the youth at the first night of the Diocesan Youth Conference.
Right photo: Submitted
Participants at the Second Annual Diocesan Youth Conference, held at Christie Lake Camp.
See STORY, p. 11
COMMUNICATIONS
Tech Tips Graphic Design Apps; Canva, Typorama By Stephanie Boyd Design software can be expensive! But did you know that there are apps and tools that can help you and your parish create great visuals for a low cost or even for free? Canva and Typorama are two apps that do just that. They are free (with available paid in-app features), and easy to use solutions for creating graphics for your social media accounts, websites, posters, etc. Both apps come with ready to use background images and provide you with the option to import your own photographs. With drag-and-drop features, you can easily edit the typeface and font of your desired text and easily reposition it within your image.
photo:
Stephanie Boyd
A simple graphic, designed in minutes using Typorama, to illustrate what you and your parish can do with easy to use, drag-and-drop design apps. One of the great features of Canva and Typorama is that you can select your desired output for you image (facebook, twitter, instagram). By doing so, the apps will ensure your image is sized to the correct ratio to optimize
its appearance on your desired platform – saving you a lot of time and energy. www.canva.com http://apple.co/2b4c0ev
By Stephanie Boyd The world of communications never really slows down. Despite there being no issues of Crosstalk during July and August, it’s been a busy summer for me as Editor and Communications Officer. In June I met with my fellow members of the Anglican Editor’s Association for our annual conference, which held in Kingston this year. Once again, it was a great opportunity for me to meet with my colleagues, hear about their challenges and successes, and learn new technical skills during the various workshops that were presented. Following my return from the Editor’s Conference, I quickly began work in preparation of General Synod; where I assisted Bishop John in publishing his statements and dealing with the media, as well as sharing updates from the floor via social media. Now, as we prepare for fall and for the return of much of our parish and diocesan provided programing, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to mark your calendars and participate in Social Media Sunday, September 25.
Originally started in 2013 by Carolyn Clement, a member of the Episcopal Church in the United States, Social Media Sunday has quickly grown into a global and ecumenical event. What is Social Media Sunday? It’s a day when people around the world will be collaborating, sharing their experiences, and talking about what it means to be church – it’s an invitation to share faith in the digital universe. So, on September 25, bring your phone or tablet to church*, and share your experience. * Please be courteous to your neighbour and turn off any sounds that your electronic devices would have the potential to make. stephanie-boyd@ottawa.anglican.ca
Page 16 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
FEATURE PHOTO Do you enjoy photography? Want to have your photography featured in Crosstalk or on the Diocesan Flickr account? Send your high resolution photographs, including a brief description, and full name of the photographer to ott-crosstalk@ottawa. anglican.ca Find other featured photographs online, on the Diocesan flickr page www.flickr.com/OttawaAnglican
photo:
Gavin Thompson
Emily Sangster recently married Greg King at St Thomas the Apostle Church. Rev Jonathan Askwith performed the ceremony. Emily and Jonathan were Sunday School classmates at St Thomas!
REFLECTIONS
Prayer Matters Questions About Prayer By Paul Dumbrille, Anglican Fellowship of Prayer Representative Does it matter that we have questions about prayer? I think having questions about prayer is not only natural, but asking and pondering questions is important in developing our relationship with God and strengthening out prayer life. This article poses some, but certainly not all, questions that, I think, many people have. What is prayer? What happens when we pray? Prayer is effective communication with God: effective because it involves the release of energy and because it gets something done; communication because while it makes use of words, it is more than words, and because it is not a monologue but a dialogue; with God. Several things happen when we pray: we relate to God who wishes to be in close relationship with us; we project energy towards persons, situations
and needs; we set in motion a unifying process within ourselves, between persons and between God and ourselves. In prayer we not only present our needs but also express our thanksgivings, our praise, our offerings, our hopes for ourselves and others, and our confessions to God. We also hear from God in words and images.. Why should we pray? We pray for several reasons: because we are told to (I Thess. 5:17); because human experience teaches us that it is a source of understanding and strength, and a unifying source and a means of growth.; because by it we can help others (II Cor. 1:6); and because it is a way to the
healing of minds, bodies, human relationships and the inner self. How do we know that our prayers are being heard? A certain way of knowing that our prayers are being heard is by experiencing the results of prayer. They are “heard” when situations, attitudes, circumstances, hopes, fears, and relationships, are changed. While the outcome of prayer may not be what we expect, we can be assured that God has honoured our prayer. Why do our prayers often seem to go unanswered? At times we have decided ahead of time what the answer should be, and either it doesn’t come, or comes in a different way, and we don’t recognize it. Maybe the answer we seek is contrary or inappropriate to God’s will and plans. We tend to look at things from our own point of view, and the answer we are looking for may not be what is best for others. A trivial example may be a situation in which a vacationer is praying for sun and no rain, while a farmer
in the same area may be praying for rain for his crops. God has given humans the gift of free will, and people are going to make decisions and do things that are not in everybody’s best interest, but God is not going to intervene in every case. My own view is that it is much more important, and useful, for us to pray that God helps us to respond in a Christian way to the situations in which we find ourselves in, rather than praying that God will change the situation. How should we pray about world situations? Pray about big things that seem beyond our power to influence, with confidence and with disciplined concentration. There are many examples in Scripture and elsewhere, where the prayers of small people have affected big change. It can be likened to voting in an election. The votes of many affect the outcome. I have written in an earlier article in this series that it can be useful to think of our prayers for others as lowering the barriers around
A perfect gift for Baptism Give a gift of Hope Bear to someone who is being baptized. Your $20 donation benefits a child in need in Canada. www.anglicanfoundation.org
a person or situation, thus allowing God’s healing power to work effectively. How can we clear our minds so that we can hear God? We can clear our minds by an act of will in which we deliberately empty our minds; by keeping our mind open, still and receptive; and by patient, passive listening, giving God an opportunity to speak. Prayer is a two-way conversation in which we should give God at least equal time. Is there a difference between the prayer of praise and the prayer of thanksgiving? Yes. In praise, we thank God for who he is. In thanksgiving, we thank God for what he does. Other Questions? If you have other questions about prayer, I encourage you to ask your pastor or spiritual advisor about them. I would also be pleased to discuss them with you. For more of Paul’s answers about prayer, see the full article online at: medium.com/@OttawaAnglican
September 2016 • CROSSTALK • Page 17
REFLECTIONS
Faith in Action By Diane Roussel The year 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the kidnapping and killing of seven French Trappist monks from Tibhirine, located in the North of Algeria. The monks were taken from their monastery during the night of March 26-27, 1996, and their death announced by communiqué the following May 21. The circumstances surrounding this tragic event were never satisfactorily explained nor was the identity of the kidnappers ever definitively established. French authorities to this day pursue their investigations into the matter. In the midst of the commemorations that are being held in France throughout the year, it is important to remember not only the selfless generosity and quiet courage of these seven men (and of the two survivors1) who committed their lives to God, but also their profound faith. The monks resisted all entreaties to leave Algeria, then in the brutal grip of civil war, in order to continue serving the Muslim community that lived near the monastery. Brother Luc, who ran the dispensary, treated all who came to the monastery seeking medical attention, whether villager or rebel. In a context of violence, fear and uncertainty, the monks decided to remain in Tibhirine. It was not an easy decision, nor was it reckless or naïve. It stemmed from the religious beliefs and values that under-
pinned their existence. Each man had felt a calling to go to Algeria. The North African country held a special significance for them. They also felt a strong sense of solidarity with the population of Tibhirine. How could they leave while the villagers, who did not enjoy the luxury of fleeing to a safe place, were condemned to remain? One might think that it should have been easy to leave, to move to another location where prayer and devotion could have continued uninterrupted. Or that humanity’s great instinct for survival would have dictated the way forward. Yet it wasn’t so for these men. Ruled by prayer and work, they weren’t cloistered in isolation from the community. They applied the teachings of Christ in the only way they could: by treating the villagers as children of God, by respecting Islam and by expressing their own Christian faith through their actions. The monks of Tibherine saw God in the people they served, whose life of poverty and devotion they shared. They were deeply committed to carrying out their vocation, putting into action the lessons of Jesus Christ, the very ones we learn about in Church on Sundays. They considered themselves members of the wider community. Their lives were the embodiment of their faith. They answered God’s calling by fully trusting in His love and His
word. Some two years earlier, the Trappist community’s prior, Brother Christian, had written a letter later called his spiritual testament. Obviously well aware of the situation in Algeria, he considered the possibility that he might be killed. He starts by reminding his readers that his life was dedicated to God and Algeria, and that it had no more value than that of all the other victims of the civil war. He writes: “I give thanks to God for this life, completely mine yet completely theirs, too, to God, who wanted it for joy against, and in spite of, all odds.”2 The testament ends with a kind message addressed to the one who will have taken his life. What a generous statement! The monks of Tibherine lived a quiet life. They worked diligently, practiced their faith within the monastery walls, and reached out to the Muslim community in a spirit of communion and solidarity. We may never know what happened, nor how they met their tragic fate. We can however remember their lives, and draw inspiration from the way they put their faith into action. 1
Two of the nine monks living in the monastery were missed by the kidnappers and so escaped the fate of the others. 2 Kiser, John W., The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love and Terror in Algeria (St. Martin’s Griffin, New York, 2002), p.245
What Do I Know So many people seem to know so many things. I often feel that I know things as well. Yet, in the midst of what seems like senseless tragedy, I realize there is so much I don’t know. I only know that my heart grieves for the people personally affected by the dark brokenness of our world. And I only hope that, in the darkness, we will be able to see glimmers of light shining through as the future unfolds. I don’t know the people involved, the facts or the details, the reason or rationale; I don’t know the terror or the trauma caused by the sights and sounds of being physically present; I don’t know the cause or the cure, the problem or impulsion, the road in or the way out; I don’t know what it takes for revulsion to become action or how to heal a sick and hating heart; I don’t know the grief of the friends and family of those who were murdered or wounded or related to the shooter; I don’t know what could have been done or what needs to be done to avert or prevent; I only know the heartbreak of looking on, not knowing how to stay silent in the realization that it probably won’t be long before it happens again. I only know I must continue to hope….
- Terri Skuce
ANGLICAN CHURCH WOMEN By Leslie Worden, Corresponding Secretary In past months I told you about our new partner, the Society de St. Vincent de Paul. They have an extensive network of communities in the Western Arctic, to which they deliver dried food and other goods in large crates. We shipped many of our bales from the Richmond Bale packing with them, saving at least $1000 in shipping costs. To augment our partnership, we gave them a gift of $500 towards their dried food program. Peter Ouellette, the rep, wrote back that he was thrilled with the gift, and used it to buy powdered
photo:
Leslie Worden
Participants at the Bail Packing at St. Columbas. milk for the north. Not the semi skimmed milk you and I can buy in the stores here, however. He phone the company and arranged for them to dry a large batch of whole
milk, for the Society’s project. That way, when the people in the northern communities reconstitute the milk, they are getting all the protein and other nutrients normally
found in fresh milk! The other new partner for us in the Eastern Arctic is the Northern Shopper. Most of the bales we packed at St.Columba’s this year went in 8-carton shipping crates with this innovative company. We found last year, when we were first invited to partner with them, that 8 of our Bales cartons fills a crate, and keeps us at around the $60 per carton shipping costs. These same cartons with Canada Post, vary from $60 to $110, depending on whether they have to be air lifted in to the final destination. So, more savings with your generous donations of
money and goods. Teaming up with innovative partners such as these gives a chance for people to respond to the old dilemma, should we send goods, food or money, and how would we send food anyway. Thanks to all the churches who participated in our Bales for the North program in 2016, See you all again at the bargain counters, and at Bale Packing days in 2017. www.ssvpwrc.ca www.thenorthernshopper.com http://bit.ly/2axHltC
Page 18 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
PARISH NEWS
New Jazz and Chamber Concert Series Learn more about Education for Ministry!
This versatile program of ongoing Christian adult education and faith formation equips laypeople for ministry and discipleship. If you are interested in starting a group in your Parish, please feel free to contact the Diocesan EFM Coordinator Rev. Jason Pollick
glengarryrector@gmail.com
PWRDF The Anglican Church of Canada’s Agency for Relief and Development
www.pwrdf.org
Sunday evenings this fall, Church of the Ascension will give over its Sanctuary to bring two new concert series to Old Ottawa East: The Archville Chamber Music Series, and the Ascension Jazz Series. Each series will showcase both established and rising stars, for a low price that includes an artists’ reception after the show. The congregation is enthusiastic about welcoming the community to its worship space, and concert proceeds will go towards the church’s music program. The series programmer (and Ascension’s music director), Adam Reid, says he “hopes to engage and inspire church youth— part of the money raised will help provide resources for young people in the congregation who have an interest in music.” Reid is adamant that a portion of the gate will go towards fair compensation for the artists. “We want to encourage local music in the
photo:
Submitted
Peter Woods, member of The Canto Trio.
space, and be able to pay artists above their minimum expectation.” Drawing from the Ottawa Valley’s abundance of accomplished chamber and jazz musicians, the two programs will offer a diversity of great performances: a brass quintet, a Balkan folk/klezmer/free jazz trio, a jazz evening of songs from the Church Hymnody, and an a cappella choral Christmas concert. The Archville Chamber Series debuts Sunday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m. with “September Song,” an evening of music with an
autumnal theme, featuring performances by musicians from the Ottawa Chamber Players: Gertrude Letourneau, Sohia Hsiao-Fei Pan, Catherine Donkin, Gary Elliott, and Guy Edrington. Coming artists in the chamber series include Harmonic Generation, Christan Paquette and Fred Lacroix, and the Rideau Lakes Orchestra. The Ascension Jazz Series premieres Sunday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m. with the Canto Trio, featuring veteran jazz artists Peter Woods, Devon Woods, and Hélène Knoerr. Coming artists in the jazz series include the Wedding and Funeral Trio, Betty Ann Bryanton & Friends, and Julie Kevan & Peter Browne. For performance schedules, ticket purchase, and series passes, visit www.churchoftheascension.ca or call 613-236-3958. Concerts will take place at Church of the Ascension,
253 Echo Drive. To help these two fledgling concert series grow, and to promote local businesses, we are offering several tiers of program sponsorship. To participate, contact Pat Howes at howes.pat@gmail.com or 613-327-0197
photo:
Submitted
Hélène Knoerr and Devon Woods, two thirds of The Canto Trio. They will kick off Church of the Ascension’s new Jazz Series on September 25 at 7pm.
REFLECTIONS
Meagan Goes To Church By PJ Hobbs Almost every Sunday Grandma picks Meagan up and they go to Church, sometimes Grandpa goes with them. Meagan is six years old. There is no one else at Church who is six years old. Sometimes there are big kids, like Meagan’s cousin Samuel who comes with Grandma when he is not playing hockey or soccer. Sometimes there are babies. There are a few mommies and daddies at Church, but mostly it is grandmothers and sometimes grandfathers. Meagan loves the friendly faces, the hugs and smiles, and even the tickles. Meagan loves going to Church, everyone knows her name. There is a woman at Church who stands at the front and talks more than anyone else. Her name is Reverend Margaret and she always has a big “Hello” for Meagan. Sometimes when Samuel is at Church he helps Reverend Margaret at the front. Meagan is not sure if Samuel likes helping, he
doesn’t smile as much as usual. When Reverend Margaret remembers, Meagan gets to run up front and put out the candles on the big table. Meagan hopes she can help more at Church. Meagan likes to say prayers. There are a lot of prayers at Church. There is one long prayer that Reverend Margaret says, it can be hard to listen to the whole thing; but Meagan always listens to the part about Jesus sharing bread and wine with his friends. Meagan loves to kneel with Grandma, put her hand out for bread and take a sip of wine. She knows God
loves her just like everyone else, big or small. Meagan likes to hear stories about Jesus. Reverend Margaret tells a lot of stories about Jesus. So does Grandma. And Grandma likes to pray too, even at home. Grandma says everyone should know the Lord’s Prayer by heart. When Meagan sleeps at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s, Grandma always tells a story about Jesus and then they pray together, and they always end with the Lord’s Prayer. Meagan feels warm, sleepy, cozy and wonderful when she falls asleep. Sometimes Meagan’s other cousins, Emma and Benjamin, listen in on FaceTime when it is time for stories and prayers with Grandma. Emma and Benjamin live in the city and go to a big Church. There are a lot of people there; babies, kids, teenagers, mommies, daddies, and still mostly grandmas and grandpas. There are even other six year olds. Meagan really likes going to Emma and Benjamin’s
Church. She likes Grandma’s more, it makes her smile to think about it. Meagan is excited to go to Church with Grandma. She likes the people, the prayers, the hugs, the bread and wine. She likes all the stories of Jesus and his friends, like Moses and Joseph and Peter and Adam and Eve. She especially loves the story of Jesus’ mother, Mary; when the Angel visits Mary, when Jesus is born in a stable and the Angels tell the shepherds. Meagan believes there are Angels living in her Church. Sometimes she whispers to them. Sometimes Grandma listens and smiles. Meagan knows the story when Jesus died. Jesus’ friends ran away. People hurt Jesus and made fun of him. Worst of all, people killed Jesus. He died. When Meagan hears that story, it makes her very sad and she cuddles in even closer to Grandma. But she is learning all the stories of Jesus, the happy ones and the sad ones. The happiest story of Jesus is when God
brings Jesus to life again after he died. That is amazing. Grandma always says Jesus lives in our hearts. Meagan likes Church most at Christmas and Easter. That is when the best stories of Jesus are told and there are more people in Church. It is almost full and everyone sings. Grandpa is there with Grandma; Adam, Emma and Benjamin with their parents. Reverend Margaret is really happy at Christmas and Easter. Everyone hugs her and tells her to get some rest. Even Mommy and Daddy come to Church at Christmas and Easter. Mommy sometimes prays with Meagan at home and knows some stories about Jesus. Daddy knows the Lord’s Prayer and makes everyone laugh when he talks about Reverend Margaret; he calls her the preacher lady. Mommy and Daddy do not go to church very often. They are something called “busy”. So Meagan goes to Church with Grandma. Thank you Grandma.
September 2016 • CROSSTALK • Page 19
DIOCESAN ARCHIVES
Celebrating the Ordination of Women 40th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women to the Priesthood in the Anglican Church of Canada. By Patricia Bays November 30, 2016, marks the 40th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Anglican Church of Canada. It seems a long time ago, with ordained women today well established in leadership roles in the Canadian Church. There are women deacons and priests in every diocese. There have been women bishops in Canada since 1994, more than 20 years. There are women clergy on the national staff and involved in every aspect of life of the General Synod. But it does not seem all
that long ago to me. I began my theological studies at Trinity College in 1962, just a few years after women were first admitted to the full degree program in Divinity. There were three women in my Divinity class. There had been three or four women before us in the M. Div. program. We were in some sense pioneers. Ours was the last generation of women who undertook the academic
study of theology without any expectation of ordination. In fact the ordination of women did not seem to be a gleam in anyone’s eye in the early 1960s and, when I went to work in Winnipeg as a lay church worker, I remember being told by Archbishop Howard Clark that he saw an important place for women as theologians but not as priests. So how did it happen that ordination became a reality only a few years later? Events were stirring in the Anglican Communion, and the ordinations of women to diaconate and priesthood came about within a decade. Any great change such as this is not without conflict and hurt. And yet the decision in favour of women’s ordination has changed the life of the church and brought to us
the many gifts of ordained women. My own vocation has been to remain as a lay educator in the church, and my particular passion is the theological education of the laity. Theology matters, and all, lay and clergy, are called to be theologians. But I believe that the decision to be inclusive of the gifts for ministry of both men and women has been life-giving for the church. The Friends of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Archives will hold their Annual General Meeting on Sunday, 27 November 2016 at 2 p.m. in the Great Hall, Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks St. Ottawa. They have invited me to reflect on this bit of our history. Come and join us for conversation and celebration.
Annual Diocesan Altar Guild Meeting St. Thomas Anglican Church 1619 Main Street Stittsville, ON
Saturday, October 03 9am - 3pm Registration $12 (Includes lunch) To Register Email:
nortap2016@outlook.com
or telephone: 613-836-3803 Deadline: September 24 Do plan to join us for a wonderful day of fun and fellowship
Stormont Deanery An Archive By Glenn J Lockwood Anglican services were held at Moulinette by 1830. Originally Christ Church faced the frothing Long Sault rapids on the Saint Lawrence. Moulinette, as Marion MacRae points out, originally took its name not from a small mill, but from a windlass on the riverbank used by voyageurs, to draw their craft through the rapids upriver. Loyalist settlers established Mille Roches, Moulinette, Dickinson’s Landing, Wales, Aultsville, Woodlands and Iroquois. Christ Church alone survived the obliteration of its community in the 1950s. Built in 1836, Christ Church was a gift to his community from Adam Dixson, mill owner of Moulinette. Dixson, an innovator and Reformer, harnessed the Saint Lawrence for his use, and built, before 1821 a very handsome house in the finest style of Upper Canadian Neo-Classicism. A decade later, he set about realizing another dream - building a church in the picturesque Gothic style. Business reverses and law-suits shortened his life, and he died, in 1836 while the new church was structurally complete but devoid of interior fittings. Dixson ballroom chairs reputedly were
Church, Moulinette was secularized by Bishop Ernest S. Reed on 24 June 1957, and then was chosen by the Saint Lawrence Parks Commission to represent the houses of worship of the drowned riverfront in Upper Canada Village for three reasons: it was an early church; it had retained to a large extent its original appearance; and it was of timber construction, which made it possible to uproot the structure and transport it bodily to the chosen site on the man-made shoreline of the new Lake Saint Lawrence. ___________
carried to the church for his funeral, and a “D-end”of the family dining table served as altar. The pulpit when built was a “two-decker Reading desk and Pulpit” in which the clergyman stood at the top, the lesson from a bible was read from a desk in the middle, and the parish clerk sat at the bottom. Double- or triple-decker pulpits were disliked by later church reformers, and the one in Christ Church was taken down and remodelled in 1868. In 1862 Moulinette belonged to Cornwall Parish.By
1874, Moulinette headed a parish, which by 1880 included a church at Newington. In 1893 a committee prepared to “take out the old windows, and put in new double lancet windows”. The glazing of the transom above the entrance doorway was left untouched, comprising a factual archive for restoring the original design of windows much later. The original windows contained sixty small panes in two main sashes below the springing of the larger arch. The arched sash, of true Gothic proportion, had
been formed by the intersection of arcs whose radii were the full width of the window and contained ten interlacing curved muntins of the same constant radius. Here we see Christ Church long after it was enlarged and improved in 1902 by the addition of a spacious chancel. The 120th anniversary of Christ Church was celebrated in 1956, but with Saint Lawrence Seaway construction impending, a replacement house of worship was built in the new town of Long Sault. The old Christ
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Page 20 • CROSSTALK • September 2016
CALENDAR
August 28
Summer Evensong: At 7pm at Holy Trinity, Lascelles (5 Pritchard Rd). All are welcome. Info: anglicansinthehills.ca
meal, short video, and honest discussion. No question is out of bounds. Info: trinityottawa.ca For other churches running Alpha courses, contact: heidi-danson@ottawa.anglican.ca
September 23
Fish Fry Dinner: From 5-7pm At St. Thomas the Apostle (2345 Alta Vista Dr). Join us for a fish fry dinner and silent auction. Tickets: $15 for adults $8 for children. Info: 613-733-0336
September 24 September 07
The Cathedral Girls’ Choirs of Ottawa and Wurzburg, Germany: At 7:30pm at Christ Church Cathedral (414 Sparks St). Under the direction of James Calkin and Alexander Ruth, the Girls’ Choir join forces to sing Evensong. The massed choir of nearly 70 girl choristers will sing music by Archer, Hogan, Mendelssohn, and others.
September 17
Wine & Bread Tasting: At 3:30pm at St. John the Evnagelist (154 Somerset St W). Join us for our 2nd annual community event, led by sommelier Asha Hingorani, to promote our mission and ministries. Tickets: $10 in advance $15 at the door (Includes a commemorative glass & two initial tastings) Info: 613-232-4500 office@stjohnsottawa.ca
September 18
St. Luke’s Concert Series: At 7:30pm at St. Luke’s (760 Somerset St W). St. Luke’s opens up its 201617 series with an evening of opera favourites. Morgan Strickland (sorprano), Sonya Sweeney (mezzo-soprano), Corey Arnold (tenor) & Norman E. Brown (baritone) with Frédéric Lacroix (piano). Admission by donation. Info: 613-235-3416 music@stlukesottawa.ca stlukesottawa.ca/connect/recitalseries
September 19
Alpha: At 6:30pm at Trinity (1230 Bank St). What if there was a safe space to wrestle with questions about life and faith? Alpha is an open space to ask those challenging questions. And it’s free. Join us weekly for a
Threshold Ministries Dessert Social: From 1:303:30pm at St. Mark’s (1606 Fisher Ave). We invite you to come learn more about Threshold Ministries and the work their Evangelists are doing all across Canada. Info: 1-888-316-8169
September 25
Social Media Sunday: Join Christians around the world as they use #SMS16 in an ecumenical effort to share the good news and build community with social media. Share your Sunday experience by using #SMS16 on your favourite social network.
October 01
Diocesan Altar Guild AGM: From 9-3pm at St. Thomas, Stittsville (1619 Main St). Registration: $12 (includes lunch) Info: 613-836-3803 nortap2016@outlook.com
October 02
St. Luke’s Concert Series: At 7:30pm at St. Luke’s (760 Somerset St W). The organist of St. Luke’s presents a programme feat. the music of Bach, Mendelssohn, and Franck. Robert Jones (organ). Admission by donation. Info: 613-235-3416 music@stlukesottawa.ca stlukesottawa.ca/connect/recitalseries
October 15
Parish Financial Management Workshop: From 9am to noon at St. Clare’s, Winchester (2530 Falcone
CALENDAR Lane). This is a Free Workshop with coffee and lunch provided. Info: 613-232-7124 x222 heidi-danson@ottawa.anglican.ca
October 16
St. Luke’s Concert Series: At 7:30pm at St. Luke’s (760 Somerset St W). Curtain Up: two seasoned performers, alike in musical tastes, combine their talents in showcasing timeless classics from both Opera and Broadway. John Avey (bass-baritone) with Nadia Boucher (piano). Admission by donation. Info: 613-235-3416 music@stlukesottawa.ca stlukesottawa.ca/connect/recitalseries
Ladies Fashion Show Fundraiser: At 2pm at Christ Church Bells Corners (3861 Old Richmond Rd). Featuring fall and holiday fashions from Alia/Tanjay at the Hazeldean Mall. Tickets: $20 (includes a 10% off coupon, good in store for the week following the show). Info: 613-829-1826 ccbc@bellnet.ca Walk for the Centre: At 2pm at City Hall. Join the Centretown Churches Socail Action Committee (comprised of 23 Churches in Centretown) in a walka-thon to raise money for the Centretown Emergency Food Centre. Commencing at 2pm, the walk is 3km in length, beginning and ending at City Hall. Registration: centretownchurches.org
centretownchurches@gmail.com
October 19
Affordable Housing Event: From 5:30-7pm at St. John the Evangelist (154 Somerset St W). All are invited to join in this event to learn more about the challenges of finding affordable housing in Ottawa and what that means for many of our fellow citizens. There will be an opportunity to network with people involved in providing more affordable housing in Ottawa, get firsthand information about the Multifaith Housing Initiative Project, The Haven, and consider becoming involved financially. A short program from 6-6:40 and refreshments will make it easy to stop in at the end of a work day.
October 30
St. Luke’s Concert Series: At 7:30pm at St. Luke’s (760 Somerset St W). Christian Maquette (flute). Admission by donation. Info: 613-235-3416 music@stlukesottawa.ca stlukesottawa.ca/connect/recitalseries
Canadian Church Calendars Canadian Church Calendars are available at the same price as last year. 1-99: $3.90 each 100 or more: $3.80 each There will be no extra cost for shipping. While we are still awaiting confirmation of delivery dates, we will do our best to keep you up to date. Please provide a cheque to Cynthia Greer when you pick up your calendars. For more information on calendar collection or payment, please contact Calendar Rep. Cynthia Greer. Cynthia Greer 1628 Senio Ave. Ottawa, K2C 1T8 613 723-2680 greercynthia69@yahoo.com
Bazaars & Holiday Fairs Is your parish hosting a Bazaar or Holiday Fair? New this year, we’ll be compiling a special calendar for Crosstalk and our diocesan website where you can find all the seasonal fairs and bazaars taking place throughout the diocese. To have your parish activity included send your submissions to ott-crosstalk@ottawa.anglica.ca or complete our online form: http://bit.ly/2aYOR07
All submissions must be received by
October 01, 2016
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 www.flickr.com/OttawaAnglican www.medium.com/@OttawaAnglican
www.ottawa.anglican.ca