The Caledonia Times December 2012

Caledonia Times

December, 2012 Issue The Diocesan Section of the Anglican Journal

Participants in the Service gather for post liturigcal pictures: Mr. Ken Ponsford (lay reader), The Rev. Daphne Moser (Smithers), the Rev. Katherine Lewis (Port Edward), Pat French (Gwen’s sister and Lay Reader), The Rev, Roy Andrews (Gwen’s husband), Bishop William, Dean Jason Haggstrom and Randell Deering (Lay Reader).

A new priest is ordained for Caledonia On October 18th (St. Luke’s Day) people from different parts of the Diocese converged on Holy Trinity Church in Vanderhoof for the ordination of the Rev. Deacon Gwen Andrews to the sacred priesthood. The church was filled to capacity for the Thursday evening service.

Rev. Gwen and her husband the Rev. Roy Andrews came to Vanderhoof and the Stuart Lakes-Nechako Regional Parish five and a half years ago from Newfoundland after studying theology at Queen’s College. Over their time in the parish, they have brought ministry a new vibrancy through their music and through reaching out to the communities in which there are congregations in the Parish: Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, and Fraser Lake. The couple were ordained deacons and then Rev. Roy was also ordained priest. Discernment for a calling to priesthood for Rev. Gwen seem to take a little longer.

The preacher at the service was The Rev. Roy Andrews, Gwen’s husband. In his sermon, Rev. Roy spoke of the need for the whole Church, priests and people, to make Jesus known and real in their own lives so that their friends and neigbours and all the the people around the members of the Church could get to know God and God in Christ.

When Rev. Gwen was presented to the Bishop,

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Caledonia’s newst ordained preist, the Rev. Gwen Andrews

as an ordinand by the clerical and lay presenters, Bishop Anderson commented that he “had not seen such a great cloud of witnesses” n terms of the number of presenters for a candidate at an ordination before. Family from all over the continent came to participate in the service, including Gwen’s sister who is a lay minister in the Diocese of Central Newfoundland.

The clergy present assisted the Bishop with the laying on of hands and the consecration of Rev. Gwen. She remarked after the service that it had been a good and hard five and a half years and was humbled and overjoyed by the whole experience.

The Diocese is working on ways to stay in touch and to get news and announcements out in a timely manner. We are continuing to work away at the content of the Caledonia Times. We need the help of the parishes to send us information and pictures to keep as much parish and diocesan content in the “Times” as possible. A new tool we are developing is the “Caledonian Connector” It is hoped that there will be enough to be sending out an email with news and announcements on a regular basis. If you would like to receive the “Connector” please email the Synod Office and ask to be added to the list.We are also going to revamp our diocesan website in the days ahead. So please bear with us!

A blessed, happy Christmas to you The Bishop and the Synod Office Staff want to take this moment to wish you a very happy and blessed Christmastide. May you see the blessed Lord Jesus in those you meet and may those you meet see the face of the blessed Lord Jesus in you.

Bishop William, Dean Jason, Archdean Ernest, Michelle and their spouses and families.

Merry Christmas!

Bishop’s Notes with Bishop William Anderson

Where do I fit?

As we move further into December, we again find ourselves preparing for Christmas. Folks are shopping for Christmas presents for family and friends.

Clergy are studying the Scriptures as they work on sermons for Christmas Eve, one of the two “big” services at which they preach through the year.Many, if not most of us, will essentially be caught up in the ‘here and now’ of Christmas.

But let me suggest that there is another dimension to the Christmas event that we may be overlooking.

Saint Matthew’s Gospel begins with the recitation of the genealogy of Jesus. Saint Mark begins his Gospel by quoting the prophet Isaiah foretelling the messenger who will “prepare the way of the Lord”. Saint Luke begins his account by recounting the events leading up to the birth of John the Baptist, in the process of which Christ’s birth is announced to Mary, and Elizabeth greets her, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”

Finally, Saint John’s famous prologue; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John then moves on to recount the witness of John the Baptist in testimony to the “Word become flesh.”

What each of the Gospels points us to in their own way is that the birth and subsequent ministry of Jesus was far more than a “here and now” kind of event.

Indeed, each of the Gospels points to the idea that the birth of Jesus was something foretold in the Old Testament scriptures as part of God’s plan for His creation. It had a purpose.

Too often in our hectic lives to become so immersed in the activities of daily living that we don’t stop and ask the question, “Where do I fit into God’s plan?”

Where indeed.

As we go about our Christmas celebrations, perhaps it would be worthwhile to pause and think about more than the idea that we are celebrating the nativity event. Perhaps we might pause and think about the idea that God has a plan for His creation, and that as followers of Christ, we have a part to play in that plan. We each have a role to play – a purpose for which God created us.

I would be the very first to say that what we do when we gather on Sunday to worship God is of the highest importance. But that can never be the full measure of our faith. Looked at from God’s perspective, if Jesus had done nothing more than attend the temple or synagogue, and that was the sum total of His ministry for His Father, the gospels would look very different.

But thankfully He did more. He took His worship seriously and used it as a springboard to shape His service to the people He encountered on a daily basis.

So this Christmas, give yourself the gift of time time to sit quietly before God and to explore with Him where you fit in His plan for creation. Take the time to explore the blessings God gives you to share.

+William: Caledonia

Diocesan Announcements It is with sincere regret, that the Bishop announces the cancellation of the impending ordination and appointment of Mr. Robert Teeple to the Parish of the North Peace. The appointment was withdrawn due to a health issue in the family.

The Parishes are asked to keep the Rev. Daphne Moser in prayer. She recently had some surgery and is currently on medical leave from the Bulkley Valley Parish while she recovers.

Please note that the Diocese is developing an email news tool to get announcements out to those whoare connected to the internet. It is hoped that we will included it on the Diocesan Website when we revamp it so that everyone can get their e-news.

The Episcopal Calendar November 15th Finance Committee

at Synod at Synod Office.

November 22nd Administration Group

at Synod Office.

November 23rd Diocesan Executive Committee,

Terrace Inn, Terrace.

November 25th Cathedral, Prince Rupert

for the Patronal Festival

and Confirmation.

December 24th/25th Cathedral, Prince Rupert

Christmas Services; Christmas Eve and

Christmas Day.

South Peace Parish welcomes new clergy and family

Caledonia Times Publication of the Anglican Diocese of Caledonia

The Johnsons pose for a picture with a cake at the reception after the induction service.

On November 4th, 2012, Bishop William inducted the Rev. Dr. Tim Johnson as the new Rector of the Parish of the South Peace. Dr. Johnson was appointed to the Parish earlier this this Fall by the Bishop after a lengthy process and hardwork by the Canonical Committee. The Johnsons come to Caledonia from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Dr.Johnson served previously as the Lutheran pastor in Dawson Creek.

The Rev. Tim Johnson kneels for commissioning as Rector of the South Peace Parish by Bishop Anderson during the Service on November 4th.

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The Anglican Church in Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have been in full commuion for more than a decade now and will be having a “Joint Assembly” for the national governing bodies (our General Synod) in July 2013.

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.

Send subscription orders, address changes Diocese of Caledonia c/o Anglican Journal 80 Hayden St. Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2 Printed and mailed by: Webnews Printing Inc. North York, Ontario

Caledonia Times — December 2012

Skypilot Moments:

A thought or two from the Editor The Very Rev. Jason Haggstrom

Seen enough?

There has been a Christmas carol that has been in my head as I prepare for Christmas... “Come to Bethlehem and see, him whose birth the angels sing…” I have sung that particular carol many times. And it made me wonder: Is it possible that see is believing? We as a people and as a culture have to see things to believe them. So we are invited into the stable, called to the manger to seem what God is doing.

This Advent and Christmas has been different I have known. Things “look” the same. The lights on the houses twinkle in the starry night. The trees are up and decorated. The presents are wrapped and ready.

And yet, sitting watching the news I cannot help but be saddened by what I hear and see happening to children across this country. In particular to what has happened in the past: a young boy of six maybe seven who was stabbed to death by his four year old brother over a toy. One can be disheartened by news of children who have died in a house fire and two more who went over a 200 foot cliff on an ATV. I think about what could have happened in the great shake a few weeks back, going through the second largest earthquake in Canadian history. Then my thoughts turn to a family I know who lost their one and only son this time of year in Afghanistan

Books on the Way with Ruby McBeth

When I hear the word meditation I picture someone sitting in a yoga position and chanting words in a foreign language. While that is my first reaction I know it is not the whole story. The Christian Church has a history dating back to the Bible of prayer in many forms including silent prayer. A book by Robert Llewelyn called Prayer and Contemplation is helpful in showing contemplative prayer from a Christian perspective.

Prayer and Contemplation is a collection of four talks given during Lent of 1974 at Canterbury Cathedral. In this little book (55 pages) the author talks about prayer generally and then moves into contemplative prayer by referring to the book The Cloud of Unknowing. For people who may have not yet braved reading this anonymous spiritual classic Llewelyn’s book provides a good introduction.

Prayer and Contemplation begins with a chapter called “Prayer as Petition” which takes us to the Lord’s Prayer and Jesus’ teaching on prayer in the Bible. The author notes that while the Lord’s prayer is set in adoration and thanksgiving it in mostly petitions. In this first chapter Llewelyn addresses the issue of miracles and the difficulty of unanswered prayer.

In Chapter two «Approach to Contemplation» the author goes into more depth on prayer. While he Caledonia Times — December 2012

because of an IDE attack upon a Canadian Army patrol in Kandahar Province. Does make you want to ask, “Haven’t we seen enough?”

The coming of God amongst us is so powerful because God has seen us. We are drawn closer to see him at work in this city and this world. The refreshment that we gain from coming to the cradle should be the gift that surprises and strengthens us most of all. This is who Jesus is to us. Shepherds proclaimed it, angels blare it and a little mother watched and took it all in, wondering and watching as God slept quietly in her arms. There he was - the One and only - in all of his glory and all of our weakness. What can we make of all this? Events have their power to create emotions and maybe for a time, change the ways in which we might think or live. But this Child is more than just a moment in time or an event.

Consider well who He is and ask yourself: have you seen enough of Him? Have you seen enough to acknowledges that prayer is part of the total offering of life his definition limits prayer to a set time for being with God.

know who and what he is? Have you realized why He came for you and for me? Are you ready to see some more of him in your life?

God comes to us in Christ precisely God has seen enough. In this world, evil and wrong seem to be on the rise and there are those who think that God is unable to stop it. God must be powerless because to be able to stop all that is wrong in the world and not stop it would be cruel - would it not. Thus God must be powerless. Miracles are not forthcoming - No Virgin Birth, no deaf are hearing, no lame are walking, no mute are speaking, there are no dead rising and there is no freedom. We mistakenly think that it is all up to us. We refuse see what God is doing so we cannot believe because we cannot prove it. Thus many people fall into disbelief.

When I look into the face of the Lamb as he lays asleep there in the manger, I see at least the potential of a miracle. There are people who think God is weak and helpless. It’s what they see when they look at a baby. Why not look beyond what the eyes can see, When you look Jesus in the face what do you see? Where we have failed Jesus has victory.

Where we have fallen short, Jesus has triumphed.

Where we have been hard hearted and hear of hearing, Jesus has followed. In Christ, God is reforging our humanity. God is making his creation new.

Christ came that we might see God and live. So ask yourself this: “If God can make the barren fruitful and the impossible to happen, have we seen enough?”

Merry Christmas!

Jason+

Around Caledonia

As he puts it: “You are never likely to be able to pray everywhere all the time unless you first learn to pray somewhere some of the time.” He says that nowadays people may find it helpful to use a repeated prayer like the Jesus Prayer to lead them into contemplation. Older people may be led towards contemplation by their daily Bible reading booklets. The key is that it is all about seeking God. Chapters three and four use The Cloud of Unknowing to explain and give practical advice on getting started in contemplation. The author explains that just as for ordinary prayer we may close our eyes so for contemplative prayer we will close off other senses as well as the imagination. This is called “the cloud of forgetting.” He tells about having the right attitude then moves on to time, place, and relaxation. He explains contemplative prayer as “the place where the Spirit is bringing our disintegrated personalities into one harmonious whole.” The author is comfortable talking about prayer. His involvement is evident from his ability to glean from a variety of past spiritual masters to make his points. He addresses criticisms of prayer (repetition, unanswered prayer) as they come up in his explanations, but quickly moves on to his teaching.

This small book would make excelent reading for a silent retreat. Recommended for anyone who wishes to explore prayer more deeply.

Llewelyn, Robert. Prayer and Contemplation. Fairacres, Oxford: SLG Press,1975.

Parishioners brought their furry friends to the Cathedral for a Service of Blessings the Animals on October 14.

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Putting the Stool away When I first began my journey in the Anglican Church, the vicar of the church I attended was a bright, recent seminary graduate who with great enthusiasm shared with me the concept of a “three legged stool” upon which the Anglican theological method was based.

The way it was explained to me then and has continued to be understood in the intervening years was that Anglican theology and practice was analogous to a stool used to milk cows the seat (our faith) rests upon three equally important but independent legs, Scripture, Tradition and Reason. This notion is often bandied about to explain why we do not have to accept the authority of Scripture in certain matters because Scripture is contradicted by one or both of the other two. This concept is frequently credited to Richard Hooker (an Elizabethan theologian).

Unfortunately, as I have continued in graduate and post-graduate theological studies (additionally, I have actually read what Hooker actually wrote) I have come to a different conclusion than that which was reached by that new priest those years ago.

So, in good Anglo-Catholic manner, let us go ad fontes or to Hooker to see what he actually said: “What Scripture doth plainly deliver, to that the first place both of credit and obedience are due; the next whereunto, is what any man can necessarily conclude by force of Reason; after this, the voice of the church succeedeth” (Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity 5,8,2 - Richard Hooker). As I read this, I come away not with a three legged stool but rather with a prioritisation in our method of interpreting Scripture which will be reflected in the way we speak of God (theology). Under this paradigm, the priority is fidelity to those things about which the Scriptures speak to us clearly, then those things

Anglican writer and theologian, Richard Hooker.

which can be extrapolated from Scripture using the best resources available to us from the last twenty centuries of Christian reflection. This means that we should honour the cumulative wisdom of those who have come before us and walked these paths before us. Finally those areas in which the Church as the body of Christ, using Scripture and the learned study thereof, the church as a whole is free to define (and frequently has already defined). An example of this at work would be the formation of the Nicene (or Nicene-Constantinopolitan) Creed. The church examined the Scriptures, reflected upon them and then in general council came together and worked out the Christological definitions in harmony with and as an extension of the other two.

So, I think it is about time that we put the stool back in the milking shed. Instead, we should devote our time to study and reflection upon the Scriptures, understanding their own context, so that we might begin to apply them in our own lives and fully realise our mission in our own communities.

The Venerable Ernest R. Buchanan, Archdeacon of Caledonia West

Re-imaging the Church from the local level What is the future of the church? How should the church respond to the changes in our culture? These are some of the questions that are being addressed by a new developed by Fresh Expressions Canada for Canadian Anglicans and other denominations.

“Re-Imaging Church: shaped for mission” is a fiveweek course geared to developing leadership among lay people in parishes across Canada.

As the Anglican Church of Canada faces the challenges of dwindling membership and resources, the reality is that “we’re going to need leadership from the laity as well as from clergy,” says course developer Dr. John Bowen, professor of evangelism and director of the Institute of Evangelism at Toronto’s Wycliffe College. In the Church of England, 50 per cent of fresh expressions of church are being initiated and led by laypeople, notes Bowen.

Re-Imaging Church is meant to “stimulate people’s imaginations, to help them think outside the box about the way the church has traditionally operated,” he told the Journal. While the course offers examples of fresh expressions that have been initiated in other parishes, they are not meant to be prescriptive, he adds. The goal is for participants to return to their parishes ready to start new kinds of community outreach. “The intention is for people to start dreaming and imagining, and listening to God,” says Bowen.

Participants are asked to delve deep into the following questions: Where is God working in your community? How can you cooperate with the work Page 4

Dr. John Bowen, Wycliffe

of God? These questions are important because “we shouldn’t assume that the work of God is only happening within the walls of the church,” explains Bowen. The course has been fieldtested for 18 months in 20 parishes across the Anglican diocese of Toronto.

Cathedral needs new music leader The Cathedral Church of St. Andrew (Anglican) is seeking the services of a new organist/pianist for January, 2013. The person would be responsible for working with the clergy of the parish to pick hymns and to play the settings for the liturgy in Sunday worship. The person would be also asked to be available for the occasional wedding and funeral.

The Cathedral has a rich musical history with a blend of an upright piano, a 1926 2 manual Casavant pipe organ with chimes for both inside the building and outside and parishioners and clergy bringing in their stringed instruments, in particular guitars. The Cathedral is looking for someone who likes to work with people of various musical skills and abilities and work to building up the music ministry of the Parish.

Honourarium for the work would be negotiated with the Parish and the Bishop prior to commencing any duties. Honourariums for the weddings and funerals is separate from Sundays and any other seasonal services that would require the organist/pianist to play.

The Cathedral could be made available for practices, concerts, for teaching to play the organ and recitals as a way of helping the community and making good use of a building with excellent acoustics.

For more information, please call The Very Rev. Jason Haggstrom, Dean @ (250) 627-1143 and you can email questions and resumes to caledonia.dean11@ gmail.com.

A Seasonal Comic Corner

It incorporates various media and includes lectures, small group discussions, visual illustrations and videos. “In each session there’s engagement with the Bible and a chance for personal reflection and prayer,” says Bowen.

The materials are culled from different sources but have significant Canadian content. They are also applicable to other faith traditions facing similar challenges of congregational growth. “My hope is that people in other denominations will take it and change it in a way that works better for their tradition,” he says. The course has had some success in the diocese of Toronto, where new applications for outreach grants have come from parishes whose members have taken the course. Bowen hopes it will have the same effect on many others. “I will be very happy if it helps people think freshly about the mission of God,” says Bowen.

- Marites N. Sison, Anglican Journal Caledonia Times — December 2012