Caledonia Times
February 2013 - Lenten Issue The Diocesan Section of the Anglican Journal
The Rev. Katherine Lewis (1939-2012)
The Late Rev. Katherine Lewis stands (left) with nephew the Rev. Anthony Adams (right) for pictures after the ordination on February 29th 2012. Seated below (left) are Mrs. Hazel Hill (Rev. Lewis’s mother) and (right) Mrs. Ida Russ, Rev. Lewis aunt.
The Rev. Katherine Lewis, or “Katie” to family and friends, pictured here at Diocesan Synod in September, 2012.
The Late Rev. Katherine Lewis stands with Bishop William and the rest of the ordinands at the ordination last February. from left to right they are : the Revs. Anthony Adams, Thelma Hill, Matthew Hill, Yvonne Hill and the Rev. Deacon James Nuzzo
Port Edward priest succumbs to injuries suffered in accident On December 16th, a day after being in a car accident and being transported from Prince Rupert to Terrace and then on to Vancouver, the Reverend Katherine Lewis died. She was 73. Katie had been on her way to the weekly Bible Study that was part of the ongoing training of the Port Edward Parish’s recently ordained priests at the time of the accident. She was a passenger in a van driven by close friend Lorna Martinson. Reports of the accident were that the road and weather conditions were poor and visibility was reduced. They were hit head on by a pickup coming towards them in the poor conditions. The pair were rushed to hospital in Prince Rupert where Mrs. Martinson was treated and released while Rev. Lewis was sent to Terrace and then onto Vancouver for further tests and medical care. After arrival in Vancouver, Rev. Lewis suffered a heart related incident and could not be revived. A traditional memorial service was held at the local Civic Centre was well attended by people from across the area and the Diocese. Rev. Lewis’ funeral was held St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Prince Rupert. Rev. Lewis had been ordained priest there on February 29th, 2012; just months prior to the accident. The funeral was conducted by Bishop William Anderson assisted by several of the diocesan clergy. In his homily, the Bishop noted, “I should explain that when I first met Katherine, I had only recently been consecrated as the bishop of our diocese. I
met her through John and Lorna, who introduced her to me as a true prayer warrior who was heavily involved in the prayer ministry of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer. That ministry was one she pursued faithfully and regularly, working diligently with John and Lorna on behalf of her Lord. That commitment to Christ and his Church ultimately led to her being recommended to me for ordination first as a deacon and later as a priest. She did not become a priest because she achieved academic honours – though I know she studied and worked towards this for years. She did not become a priest because of the many years of service she gave to her parish. She became a priest because ultimately through her colleagues and her Church saw within her the heart of a priest – a heart that loved the Lord and sought to carry that love to. Katherine had a passion to serve people just as our Lord has... if our Christian faith means anything to us this morning it is exactly this: through baptism we members of the Body of Christ. Christ lives. And Katherine lives in Christ, just as we do. And so we have not lost her – she stands here this morning, before the throne of heaven, alongside us. And that is where in the days ahead, we can continue to share her life. Katherine is not from us. She is gone from the world, yes. but now she stands with the rest of the Church triumphant who join with the faithful on earth in worshipping God and praying for us as we continue our Christian journey.”
Katie is remembered by family and friends for her deep faith and prayer life. She is also being remembered as a person of great strength and considerable humour. Katie always loved to laugh and was rarely seen without a smile on her face. Mrs. Martinson is at home recovering from her injuries, as is the driver of the truck involved in the accident. It is noted that the clergy in the Prince Rupert - Port Edward parishes have been in a few accidents in recent weeks. Prayer is asked for safety and care for the cerlgy of the whole diocese as they travel, especailly in doing their duites According to reports from the RCMP in the local paper, the road conditions and the weather were extremelypoor and were significant factors in the accident.. The investigation into the accident, at the time of writing this article is still on going. This issue of the Caledonia Times is offered to the Glory of God Almighty in thanksgiving for the ministry and sacrifices of all those who have served in this diocese: late bishops, clergy and laity over the years. Rest Eternal, grant unto them. O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls with the souls of all those departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. —Editor
Bishop’s Notes
Study,learn & pray in small groups for Lent As we begin the Lenten Season this year, it may be helpful for each of us to take some time to reflect on the foundations of our faith as Christians. One of the easiest patterns for us to fall into is attending Church once a week, perhaps saying grace at meals, and then simply relying on what we learned about our faith when we were in Sunday School. The problem with this approach of course is that most of us left Sunday School about fifty or more years ago and we may not have engaged in any systematic and critical study of our faith since then. But Christianity, and the Anglican Tradition, is far more complex than most people realize and has a depth that is unimaginably beautiful. Yet we often can miss this because people tend to fall into patterns with which they are comfortable – such as the patterns I mentioned above. So this Lent I would encourage you to gather in small groups for Bible Study, or to study the Liturgy, or the Catechism. Yes, part of this requires getting some expert study material or support from your parish priest. But some of this has to do with the simple and very ancient practice of small groups of Christians gathering together to talk and share their faith, as well as to learn from one another, and to support one another with their prayers. Such small groups have been a hallmark of Christianity since Jesus called the twelve to follow Him. This inner core of twelve spent three years studying with Jesus. Even as they travelled
Haven’t seen your parish in the paper yet? Then let us make a suggestion for the parishes as the get ready for their annual meetings this year: please consider having a person or a small group of people who will collect stories and pictures and send them into the Cal Times. To send in pictures and stories, please email them into: caledoniatimes@gmail.com
they would watch Him, ask questions, and discuss their concerns and ideas with Him. Even then, some of the best questions were, “Why do we do this?” “What does this mean?” Now to be sure, I am not suggesting that all ideas are of equal weight or that there aren’t ‘wrong ideas.’ Clearly, if one is to accept the Scriptural and historical evidence, some ideas were clearly wrong. Peter thought travelling to Jerusalem was a bad idea and tried to convince Jesus not to go. For this he was sternly rebuked. St. Paul, before his conversion, thought persecuting Christians was a good idea, and he had some executed. Again, from a Christian perspective, not a good thing. Pilate thought that truth was an elusive and subjective matter, and then crucified God.
+William: Caledonia Bishop William J. Anderson is the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of Caledonia and begins the 12th year of his consecration in February, 2013. - Ed’s note
Below: Bishop William pauses for a picture flanked by the Dean and Mr. Andy Cook, Rector’s Warden at the Cathedral. The Bishop confirmed Mr. Cook on St. Andrew’s Day November 30th 2012 at the Cathedral.
Caledonia Times
Publication of the Diocese of Caledonia Publisher: The Bishop of Caledonia Editor: The Dean of Caledonia Published monthly, except July and August by: Diocese of Caledonia, 200 – 4th Avenue West Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1P3 (250) 627-1143 or (250) 600-7143 Address correspondence and copy to the address above. Or to caledoniatimes@gmail.com Submissions must be received by the 1st day of the month for the following month’s issue.
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So as we enter into Lent, let us take opportunities to explore and grow in our faith so that we may more faithfully serve Our Lord.
Across Caledonia
Publishing deadline for the
February 1st 2013
None of us is the whole body- we are only parts. As part of that body we have an ongoing opportunity not only to learn from others, but also to share with others what we have learned through our own experiences and studies.
But this is precisely why gathering for prayer, study and discussion is a good thing- it has the potential to keep us from being self-justifying and provides us the opportunity to see things through the eyes of brothers and sisters in the faith. It can also help us to discover new facets of our faith and correct errors we may have developed in how we understand it. Gathering is also important be-
If you are having a problem or have questions please don’t hestitate to call (250) 627-1143.
the Caledonia Times is
cause being a Christian is not an individual thing. When we are baptised into the Church we are baptised into the Body of Christ.
Above: the Revs. Ben and Thelma Hill listen to the speeches made during the meal after Church on December 30th. The family hosted the dinner in honour of their parents’ 64th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to Revs. Ben and Themla Hill!
Send subscription orders, address changes Diocese of Caledonia c/o Anglican Journal 80 Hayden St. Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2 Printed and mailed by: Webnews, North York, Ontario
Caledonia Times — February 2013
Skypilot Moments: a thought from the Editor
It’s time to get in line for the kingdom Have you noticed it yet? The days are already discernibly longer than they have been in the weeks around Christmas and New Year’s; the darkness is slowly being overcome by the light. It is only a few minutes today and a few more minutes tomorrow. It will be a while before people will generally acknowledge that the days are lengthening. But they are already discernibly longer if one pays attention to this. So it is fitting that we are celebrating another Lenten season. The light is lengthening and increasing its grip on the world. Jesus has come among us and yes he is the Light of the world. But if we stop there, we miss something that is huge. He did not come alone. He is bringing the kingdom with him. Some might say that we are on a six week journey to find God through Epiphany and another 40 days in Lent to disciple ourselves in that relationship.
even before we now about him or our need of him and the life that he offers to all of us. Moreover, we as God community in the world are signals and signs of his presence in the world for the rest of the world to seek, to see and to join in service of God and his coming kingdom.
But let me ask you this, how are we going find God and be in relationship with God when we cannot find or consistently discipline ourselves?
God causes his Church not to husband a little fire around which a few may gather for warmth but also to light torches that we might seek out the least, the lost and the last, that all whom God calls are enabled to come to him. We are called to seek out the sick, the hurt, the broken and those weighed down by their sins and those who are dying to care for them and comfort them in any way possible. We are called to turn the values of this world on their heads and in that journey find that we have light to guide us in our way as we lead others into the kingdom.
The thing about the nature of God is this: God seeks us. God finds us. God desires and calls us – even draws us. God disciplines his children. His light and his life reveal who he is and who were are because we are his people. God comes tous
Thus, this Lenten season calls us not just to live an obedient life. We are called to more than such an emaciated existence. All of us are called to live a life that fulfils what God has planned for it. It is important that we be obedient so that we can hear
the Spirit speaking to us. It is also important that we go as the Spirit leads us. All of the cosmos witnesses to the coming of the Lord Jesus. All of creation proclaims and celebrates his life amongst us. How will you use your time, talents, treasure, trees and tears to respond to the fact that his light and his kingdom are coming? Will you get in line with the rest of us and join the great exodus that is coming, for the line forms right here on the desktop. Will you not come and get into line with us so that we might seek, see and serve the Lord Jesus together? Peace of the Lord be with you! Jason+ Editor, Caledonia Times
Books on the Way by Ruby McBeth Comforting Those Who Grieve: A Guide for Helping Others I recently attended a memorial service for a neighbour. This woman had been a much loved 4-H leader teaching my daughters and other teenagers about horses and riding. The pastor who took the funeral did not preach. Instead he told the story of her life. For me this became a lesson in the goodness of God’s creation. I was helped to accept her death by celebrating her life. Doug Manning, a Baptist pastor from the U.S., would have understood my reaction. He has worked for some time at grief counselling and has written several books on the subject. His short book Comforting Those Who Grieve: A Guide for Helping Others is addressed primarily to clergy but keeps the needs of the grieving front and center. The little stories about individuals going through the grieving process make this book interesting generally to adults. Manning divides his book into three parts: Part 1 explores what grief is, Part 2 talks about the funeral, and Part 3 gives practical advice for helping those who grieve. In the first part the author makes it clear that grief is a process. Any attempt to stop people from grieving will just slow the job down. He states that grief typically lasts two years. Ministers need to teach friends of the bereaved to listen rather than try to stop people from grieving. The author’s terms for the stages of grief Caledonia Times — February 2013
overly active, being hyper-religious, drinking to excess, and being promiscuous. He notes that often the anger of the bereaved is directed at the clergy. He cautions them not to take this personally. Manning suggests that the helper needs to avoid focussing on the symptom and instead address the underlying problem which is grief. The author observes that many people with personal problems have unresolved grief in their past. There is a noticeable absence of preaching in this book. The author explains in Part 2, his section on the funeral, that his approach has changed with experience. Whereas before he felt obligated to try to convert the living in his funeral sermon, now he feels called to celebrate the life of the deceased and to comfort the family. COMFORTING THOSE WHO GRIEVE A Guide For Helping Others. by Doug Manning San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1985. differ from those of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. In his chapter “Grief as a Process” he lists the stages as shock, reality, reaction, and recovery. Manning gives considerable attention to his “reaction” phase as this includes anger and other possible negativelooking reactions such as sleeping a lot, being
Part 3 of the book pulls together the thoughts of the first two parts. Friends are most important to the bereaved but need to be taught to listen. Books can help, flowers can be sent, and most important people need to be allowed to talk about the person who died. For some it will be helpful to meet with other people who have suffered a loss. Suggestions for running such a group seminar are given a separate chapter. The book ends with a chapter called “Listen.” From beginning to end listening is shown to be the key to ministering to the grieving. Recommended generally for people working with the bereaved and specifically for clergy. Page 3
Canada Briefs - news from around the country New housing for homeless in Burnaby
Captain Nichola Goddard helps light up Papua, New Guinea
Women in Burnaby and New Westminster in need of safe, affordable housing now have new options at Elspeth Alley Housing for Elder Women in Burnaby. The Diocese of New Westminster and Atira Women’s Resource Society will operate a 23-apartment women’s residence in the former Abbeyfield House on the grounds of St. Margaret’s of Scotland in Burnaby. The Diocese of New Westminster will lease the land to Atira at a nominal rate for 44 years. The apartments will be designated for elder women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. In addition to the apartments, the building includes a common kitchen and amenity space including living and activity rooms. Support services will include a 24/7 live-in co-ordinator, life skills education and training and treatment support. The facility is named after the Rev. Elspeth Alley, the first woman to be ordained in the Diocese of New Westminster in 1976. —Topic
“It was such an accident of birth that we ended up where we did when we did, that we are where we are now, with the choices that we have available to us. It seems to me that we have such a burden of responsibility to make the world a better place for those who were born into far worse circumstances. It is more than donating money to charities - it is taking action and trying to make things better....” These are the words of Nichola Goddard, written in a letter to her parents on the 2nd of May, 2006 her birthday - and arriving a week after her death on May 17, 2006 in Afghanistan, the first female Canadian combat soldier killed in combat. Her mother, Sally Goddard, addressed the national conference of the Anglican Church Women in Calgary in September 2012. She spoke about “Light Up Papua New Guinea,” an international development project by the University of Calgary’s Light Up the World Foundation and the family of Captain Goddard in her honour. The purpose of this project is
to replace the hazardous kerosene lamps used in medical clinics across rural Papua New Guinea with safe, non-polluting, solar-powered lighting systems. For more information on “Light Up Papua New Guinea,” visit http://www.nicholagoddard.com/ —The Sower
St. Paul’s Lachine closes Bishop Barry Clarke of Montreal presided over a final service in November marking the end of a 139-year ministry at St. Paul’s Church in Lachine, Que. Bishop Clarke asked a near-capacity congregation of more than 300 parishioners and wellwishers not to waste energy trying to assign blame for the closing of the church. “For us to move forward in God’s mission we have to do things differently... I give thanks for your diligence, perseverance, courage and risk. God is calling us into something fresh and new.” The parish reported 154 people on parish rolls last year, with average attendance at 53. —The Gazette
The Church of England rejects female bishop legislation in thin vote The General Synod of the Church of England has voted to reject the draft legislation to allow women to become bishops. Under the requirements of the Synod the legislation required a twothirds majority in each of the three voting houses for final draft approval. Whilst more than two thirds voted for the legislation in both the House of Bishops (44-03) and the House of Clergy (14845), the vote in favour of the legislation in the House of Laity was less than two-thirds (132-74). The vote in the House of Laity fell short of approval by six votes. In total 324 members of the General Synod voted to approve the legislation and 122 voted to reject it. Bishop Victoria Matthews was the first woman conserated bishop in te Anglican Church of Canada in 1993 and later became the first female diocesan bishop in Canada as the the Bishop of Edmonton. She currently serves as Bishop of Christchurch Diocese, New Zealand. Photo Credit to Christ Church Cathedral Parish Website - Ed.
The consequence of the “no” vote of terminating any further consideration of the draft legislation means that it will not be possible to introduce draft legislation in the same terms until a new General Synod comes into being in 2015, unless the ‘Group of Six’ (the Archbishops, the Prolocutors and the Chair and Vice Chair of the House of La-
ity) give permission and report to the Synod why they have done so. Speaking after the vote the Rt Revd Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, said: “A clear majority of the General Synod today voted in favour of the legislation to consecrate women as Bishops. But the bar of approval is set very high in this Synod. Two-thirds of each house has to approve the legislation for it to pass. This ensures the majority is overwhelming. The majority in the house of laity was not quite enough. This leaves us with a problem. 42 out of 44 dioceses approved the legislation and more than three quarters of members of diocesan synods voted in favour. There will be many who wonder why the General Synod expressed its mind so differently. “The House of Bishops recognises that the Church of England has expressed its mind that women should be consecrated as bishops. There is now an urgent task to find a fresh way forward to which so many of those who were opposed have pledged themselves.”
Surfin’ for the Lord with Ruby McBeth You can make a difference. That is what some Christians in Alabama discovered in 2006. Moved by a desire to reconnect God’s blessings and his purpose they established a mission to bring clean water to needy people in third world countries. Read all about it at www.neverthirstwater. org. This website is organized, informative and colourful. “Adopt-a-village” and “sponsor a woman” are links to sponsorship opportunities. “About us” and “our work” explain the history and work as well as giving information on the lands served.
This group works through local churches and educates women in the villages on the issue of clean water. Inspiring reading for Christians who need a good example to spur them on to Christ-centered action. Happy surfing, Ruby
picture credit - Jason Wallis, Never Thirst Website
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Caledonia Times — February 2013