Digest 2008-01-09 04 March 2008
Diocesan News
From the Bishop's Office
Readings and Intercessions
Resources
The Current Calendar
Camps Campaign Update
PWRDF
Advance Notice of Events
Employment Opportunities
News of the Wider Church
National Resources and Updates
On the Web
Stewardship Quotable
Heavenly Humour
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Summer is coming!
Summer is coming, and so is the annual Faith for a Lifetime donation envelope. You will find it in the March edition of the New Brunswick Anglican. Funds from this campaign go toward refurbishment and upgrading our diocesan camps Medley and Brookwood, with the lions share going to Camp Medley, which is in the midst of a huge infrastructure replacement project.
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The Lambeth Conference takes place at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, July 16 through August 4 this year. Please pray that God will grant the workers and delegates wisdom in preparation, openness to God’s inspiration, and blessing in activity.
The third Prayer for Lambeth 2008
Bishop's Itinerary
Bishop Miller is on sabbatical until May 15
PRISM (Prevention and Response Involving Sexual Misconduct)
Workshops added: Sept. 2, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
St. George's, Parish of Bathurst, led by the Ven. Walter Williams
St. Mark's, Parish of St. George, led by the Rev. Bonnie LeBlanc
Open incumbencies
Bright
Campobello
Fredericton Junction
Lakewood
McAdam
Musquash
Saint John (Trinity Church, Aug. 1)
Salisbury and Havelock
Simonds
Information on diocesan Roles, Elections and Appointments is available on-line. Please direct inquiries or seek additional information as to terms of reference or other details to the Secretary of Synod.
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March 9RCL Lectionary Year A
Fifth Sunday in Lent (Purple)
Proper prayers 293; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45; Preface of Lent.
Pray for the Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo, the Most Rev. Dr. Dirokpa Balufuga Fidèle, Archbishop of Congo and Bishop of Kinshasa & Bukavu.
Provincial Prayer Care
Diocesan Intercessions
** back to index
Interpreting the Scriptures in Post-modern Times: The Ethical Challenge with
The Rev. Dr. Gerald Caron at the Atlantic School of Theology, 660 Francklyn Street, Halifax on Friday, April 25, 2008. To register contact Randy at <rdtownsend at ns.sympatico.ca>.
AST MDiv graduating students will present original field-based research Monday and Tuesday, March 10 and 11 in the King’s Room of the AST Library, 624 Francklyn Street, Halifax. Presentations are free and all are welcome.
Copies of Legal Guide for Canadian Churches are available for $27 (cost) through the Synod Office. Contact Phyllis Cathcart <phyllis.cathcart at anglican.nb.ca>.
There is no one-size-fits-all worship experience for people young or old.
Join Canon George Porter, diocesan youth action director and campus minister, and Liz Harding, diocesan Christian Education and Camp Medley director, at Christ Church (Parish) Church on March 15, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. for Worship: Ancient and [Post]Modern. It is a day to consider and experience worship in a variety of forms and explore what worship with young people would/could/should look like. We believe this will be a helpful time for anyone involved with children, youth or young adults. Registration is $10, lunch is on your own. Contact Liz Harding <elizabeth.harding at anglican.nb.ca>.
The Student Christian Movement of Canada’s national conference
May 4-11 in Nova Scotia
Leading the Church Through Change (in a Changing Environment)
2nd Annual Atlantic Canada Spring Training Institute for Church Leaders
May 6-8, Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax.
Please note: Deadline for early registration reduced tuition is April 7.
Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Songs: Theology, Worship and the Renewal of the Parish
Wycliffe College 4th annual continuing education conference for clergy, lay people and students, May 13-16. Keynote speakers Graham Kendrick and Marva Dawn.
Generations 2008 National Anglican Youth Ministry Forum
Sponsorship of some delegates ensures every diocese in the Anglican Church of Canada is able to send delegates to this exciting event to be held at Huron University College in London, Ontario June 10-15. If you would like to be one of these delegates, please submit a letter of application to George Porter at the Synod Office, 115 Church Street, Fredericton, NB E3B 4C8 by Feb. 29. Please describe your past and current involvement with youth in the parish/diocese, and how you see your participation in this event will benefit your parish, region or the diocese.
Ten THousand Villages
Anglican House
Diocesan Resource Centre
116 Princess Street
Saint John, NB E2L 1K4
angbk at nbnet.nb.ca
Online Resource Center Listings
• Ten Thousand Villages: New items for March have arrived, including ceramic lambs and bunnies fore Easter.
• Anglican House has a good selection of Bibles, place your order now for graduation. Message Bibles (paper) are just $12.95 each.
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March 5, 2 - 3:30 p.m. Episcopal Team meeting. St. Margaret's Church, Fredericton.
March 7-8 Girls Weekend at Stone Church Jessie Joyce, Hilary Ladd and Erin Tracy-Stevenson, senior students at Taylor College, invite girls 12-14 are invited to join the fun beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and continuing until 4 p.m. on Friday. $10/girl or $15 per family. Details from<erintracy at hotmail.com>and on Face Book.
March 7-9 Companion Spiritual Formation weekend with Sister Caroline Dawson. Layreaders are especially invited to attend.
March 10 12:15 p.m. A Question of Doubt, Lenten talks with Bishop Bill Hockin at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly the Lord Beaverbrook), Queen Street, Fredericton. Today's topic: Where am I –– the day after I die?
March 10, 6 p.m. Faith Forward: God, Revelation and Creation, St. Mary's (York) Fredericton.
March 10 & 11 AST MDiv graduating students will present original field-based research in the King’s Room of the AST Library, 624 Francklyn Street, Halifax. Presentations are free and all are welcome.
March 11, 10 1.m. - 4 p.m. Bishop's Counsel, Trinity Church, Saint John.
March 11, 3 - 5 p.m. Human Resources Committee, Synod Office board room.
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Here's the good news!
The Faith for a Lifetime Campaign total as Of Dec. 31, 2007 was $619,597.34. This total does not include the $100,000 loan we received from the Anglican Foundation. In 2007 the campaign raised more than $143,172.05 in donations and approximately $3,800 in renewed pledges. Our monthly average increase in the campaign total over the 35 months of the campaign is still $17,702.78.
To date the campaign has provided more than $642,025.21 in new cash for the camps building projects: $414,703.84 in donations, $127,321.37 in payments on pledges and a cheque from the Anglican Foundation for $100,000 in the form of a 20 year loan. New cash for 2007 totaled $284,830.58. The average monthly cash inflow to the diocese over the 35 months of the campaign was $15,486.43.
In faith, hope and gratitude from
Peter Irish
Campaign Chair
Sri Lankan women press for peace in the midst of chaos
In the middle of chaos and turmoil, the women of Sri Lanka are strong and resilient. This despite the fact that there are, on average, five abductions per day and everyone is viewed with suspicion.
Kumi Samuel, director of the Women and Media Collective in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and a former international partner on the board (1997-2004) of The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, spoke to staff at the national office of The Anglican Church of Canada on Feb. 27.
She spoke of the long and strong connection between PWRDF and Sri Lanka, dating back to the 1980s when PWRDF staff members would visit the country.
The Women and Media Collective has a 25-year history diligently engaged in peace-building and peace-making. That work continues throughout the current civil unrest where thousands have been forced to flee their homes and villages, where dissent is not tolerated and where there is a heavy policing of civil rights groups. Neighbours are encouraged to spy on each other and to report any suspicious activity.
Ms. Samuel says media face daily censorship and intimidation. She says her organization has called upon the United Nations to send in peacekeeping troops. “I am not optimistic about a peaceful solution to the present conflict,” she said.
The plight of women in Sri Lanka has improved considerably in recent years, thanks to organizations such as the collective. There is a high literacy rate among women, thanks in large part to free education. The collective mobilizes women. It was instrumental in introducing legislation on domestic violence, which was passed into law. Ms. Samuel continues to press for legislation offering land rights for women, and encourages greater participation by women in the media.
Find inspiring PWRDF stories here.
PWRDF is the Anglican Church of Canada's agency for international development, relief, refugees and justice issues.
Thank you for giving to the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund.
****************************************March 14-15 Living in Community, a UNBSJ Christian Fellowship Group retreat at the Forest Hills Baptist Church, Saint John. All college/university students and young adults welcome. Registration is $10. The event beginis at 7:30 p.m. on Mar. 14 and ends with supper (provided) on Saturday evening. Information at <unbcf at hotmail.com>.
March 15, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Worship: Ancient and [Post]Modern, at Christ Church (Parish) Church, Fredericton. (Lunch is on your own.) There is no one-size-fits-all worship experience for adults or young people. Consider and experience worship in a variety of forms and spend some quality time exploring what worship with children, youth or young adults would/could/should look like. Registration $10, contact Liz Harding <elizabeth.harding at anglican.nb.ca>.
March 31, 7 p. m. Consultation on Rural & Struggling Parishes, Christ Church, Pennfield for Archdeaconry of St. Andrews.
April 2, 10 a.m. Annual Meeting of the Church of England Institute (Anglican House) at 116 Princess St. in Saint John. Voting memberships are $5 annually and may be paid at the meeting.
April 2, 7 p.m. Consultation on Rural & Struggling Parishes, St. Andrew's Church, Newcastle for Archdeaconry of Chatham.
April 9, 7 p.m Consultation on Rural & Struggling Parishes, St. Mary’s Church, Dalhousie for Archdeaconry of Chatham.
April 10, 7:30 p.m Consultation on Rural & Struggling Parishes, Trinity Church, Sussex for Archdeaconry of Kingston and the Kennebecasis.
April 10, 7 p.m Consultation on Rural & Struggling Parishes, St. Peter's Church, Springhill for Archdeaconry of Fredericton and York.
April 12 10 a.m. Consultation on Rural & Struggling Parishes, St. John's Church, Edmundston for Archdeaconry of Woodstock (lunch provided).
April 15-17, Clergy Spouses' Retreat, Villa Madonna Retreat House. Margaret Harding will speak on God’s Tapestry. Natalie Noseworthy will also speak. Contact Carol Anningson <evangel at nbnet.nb.ca>.
April 19, 9:30 a.m. Consultation on Rural & Struggling Parishes, St. Mary and St. Bartholomew (come at 8:30 for breakfast), for Archdeaconry of Saint John.
April 20, 7 p.m. Choir School choral Evensong at St. Luke's, Saint John.
April 22, 7 p.m. Consultation on Rural & Struggling Parishes, St. Andrew's Church Hall, Petitcodiac for Archdeaconry of Moncton.
April 19, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. PRISM (Prevention and Response Involving Sexual Misconduct) workshops, St. Luke's, Woodstock and Trinity Church, Sussex. Register on-line.
April 25, Interpreting the Scriptures in Post-modern Times: The Ethical Challenge with
The Rev. Dr. Gerald Caron at the Atlantic School of Theology, 660 Francklyn Street, Halifax. To register contact Randy at <rdtownsend at ns.sympatico.ca>.
April 26, 10 a.m. Consultation on Rural & Struggling Parishes, St. Clement's Church, Prince William for Archdeaconry of Woodstock (lunch provided).
April 30 - May 1 AST Nicholson Lectures, Halifax featuring The Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery, Perry and Georgia Engle Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. Theme: Preaching and the Presence of the Spirit.
April 30 7:30 p.m.
Too Deep for Words? Preaching and Discernment of the Spirit
May 1, 2 p.m.
Preaching in the Language of the Spirit: Lament
May 1, 7:30 p.m.
Preaching in the Language of the Spirit: Celebration
May 6-7 ACW Annual Diocesan Meeting, hosted by the Parish of the Nerepis and St. John at St. George's Church in Saint John West. Tickets for the dinner are $15 and available from Donna Middleton, 2913 Route 845, Carter's Point, Kings County E5S 1T6.
May 17-19 Teens Encounter Christ weekend, St. Mark's, St. George.
Details and candidate application
June 25-28 The National Worship Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada
Aug. 3, 10 a.m., Cemetery Memorial Service, The Church of Ascension, Apohaqui, Kings County (Parish of Upper Kennebecasis). Descendants, relatives, friends and all other interested people are invited to attend and bring along photos, genealogy and stories to share following the church service. Contact: Beverley Floyd (Church of Ascension ACW) <floydb at nbnet.nb.ca>.
Sept. 20, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. PRISM (Prevention and Response Involving Sexual Misconduct) workshops, St. George's, Parish of Bathurst; St. Mark's, Parish of St. George.
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The Bishop of British Columbia, along with the Comox-Nanaimo Presbytery of the United
Church of Canada, seeks to appoint a half-time incumbent (rectory available) to St. Peter & St. Paul’s Ecumenical Church, Gold River, B.C. The church building is shared with the Roman Catholic congregation. This is a re-advertisement for the position. For a parish profile and further information contact <isecker at bc.anglican.ca>. Application deadline March 31.
The Bishop of British Columbia seeks to appoint a part-time rector to the Parish of Pender and Saturna Islands, in the Southern Gulf Islands adjacent to Vancouver Island. For a parish profile and further information contact <isecker at bc.anglican.ca>. Application deadline March 31.
The Bishop of British Columbia seeks to appoint a rector to the Parish of Holy Trinity, North Saanich, just north of Victoria, B.C. on Vancouver Island, adjacent to the Victoria International Airport. A parish profile will be available soon. Application deadline will be set this spring. For information contact <isecker at bc.anglican.ca>.
The Bishop of British Columbia seeks to appoint a rector to the Parish of St. Peter (Quamichan), Duncan, about one hour north of Victoria, B.C. on Vancouver Island.A parish profile will be available soon. Application deadline will be set this spring. For information contact <isecker at bc.anglican.ca>.
Job listings for the Canadian church.
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Anglican Schism
Conservative congregations defect from national church
CBC.ca News
March 4
Find a map with locations of defecting congregations.
Church and native leaders commence walk to remember children of schools
Tour hopes to raise awareness of truth commission
by Art Babych
Anglican Journal
March 3
Canadian church and aboriginal leaders launched a four-city tour before almost 500 people at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa March 2 to begin what Phil Fontaine, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations called, “one of the most remarkable journeys that this country has ever taken.”
Anglicans and Lutherans act against homelessness
General Synod Web
March 3
The Anglican Primate and the Evangelical Lutheran National Bishop call on the members of their respective churches to advocate for affordable housing solutions for the homeless with letters and visits to their Members of Parliament. In a letter sent to the Minister of Human Resources and Development Canada, Monte Solberg, on Feb 27, 2008, the leaders urged the government "to address homelessness in Canada as part of a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy."
Judge rules against diocese of Niagara in dispute with local churches
by Solange De Santis
Anglican Journal
March 1
Hamilton, Ont.: An Ontario Superior Court judge ruled on Feb. 29 that the diocese of Niagara may not send its clergy into two area churches in the next two weeks to hold Sunday services for members of the congregations that remain loyal after most of their fellow parishioners voted to leave the Anglican Church of Canada.
House Divided
by Stuart Laidlaw
TheStar.com religion reporter
March 1
On his way to Rome to be executed for spreading Christianity, St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote letters to leaders of a still-small church emerging around the ideas of Jesus Christ, crucified only decades before. His letters spelled out what it meant to be Christian and formed the basis of the Catholic Church and, later, the Anglican Church. too. This week, some 1,900 years later, Ignatius's words are echoing in a legal battle over church property.
'Breakaway' congregations will hold services in disputed churches, for now
Charles Lewis, Canwest News Service
The Vancouver Sun
Feb. 29
HAMILTON - The two sides in the bitter debate that has caused a schism in the Anglican Church of Canada squared off in court on Friday for the first time - with the dissident conservative faction winning the first round.
Montreal student to serve at Lambeth
by Ali Symons
General Synod Web
Feb. 29
This summer Nick Pang, a 21-year-old McGill student, will rub elbows with the bishops of the Anglican Communion. Just a few weeks ago Nick was chosen to be a youth steward at the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference, where the 800 or so bishops of the Anglican Communion will gather at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. The theme of Lambeth 2008 is "Equipping Bishops to Fulfill Their Leadership Role in God's Mission."
Breakaway parishes win short-term victory over Anglican Church of Canada
Canadian Press
Feb. 29
HAMILTON — An international schism between the Anglican Church and its more traditional parishes, divided by their theological viewpoints on issues like gay rights, spilled over into an Ontario courtroom Friday as two breakaway churches asked a judge to re-affirm their property rights.
Info! Here it comes!
ACC News & Information
Feb. 29
Q: What's green and orange, and chock full of Canadian Anglican news?
A: The new email newsletter from the national office, Info! News from General Synod
The newsletter will inform readers about what's going on at General Synod, including
* New resources online
* News from departments
* Continuing Education opportunities for church leaders
* Upcoming events
* Who's been travelling where
Primate speaks on Church unity
Feb. 28
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, says that although he is saddened by the unnecessary decision made by a small number of parishes to leave the Anglican Church of Canada, the Canadian Church as a whole remains vibrant and united in its witness to the Gospel message.
Despite reports that emphasize division, the Primate says, the reality is that thousands of Anglicans continue to worship together every week, even though they disagree over issues such as sexuality.
In a message to the church specially taped for the Web, Archbishop Hiltz speaks about the state of the Canadian church and asks Canadian Anglicans to pray that we may remain one.
Two churches ask to offer same-sex blessings
Moratorium still in place in New Westminster
by Solange De Santis
Anglican Journal
Feb. 26
As four churches voted in February to leave the Vancouver-based diocese of New Westminster and the Anglican Church of Canada over changing attitudes toward homosexuality, two churches asked to be able to join eight other parishes in offering blessing ceremonies to same-sex couples.
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An aboriginal and church leader's tour to prepare for truth and reconciliation
Bring the homeless poor into their own house
March Anglican Journal on line
Written transcript of the Primate's video statement
****************************************Lenten meditations on justice and peace.
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"So your parish is a place where personalized talk of money has been taboo for decades. You are probably thinking there is very little you can do to change this culture, and you might secretly admit to being very pessimistic about opportunities for turning this around. The first piece of good news is that scripture is on your side as you take up this task. The Bible contains more than 500 references to prayer, almost 500 references to faith, but there are more than 2,000 references to money and posessions. "
David M. Ponting
From Scarcity to Abundance (p25)
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A preacher was shopping for a horse to make his visits in a small farming town. He was sent to an old farmer who had a special horse. The preacher wanted to take the horse for a test ride, so the old farmer told him what made the horse special.
"If you want the horse to go forward," the old farmer said, "shout Praise the Lord. If you want the horse to stop, yell Hallelujah."
The preacher mounted the horse and shouted Praise the Lord. The horse started running. The preacher was so excited that he let the horse continue to run until he saw a great cliff ahead. He yelled stop, halt, quit; but the horse kept running.
The preacher finally remembered the words of the old farmer and yelled Hallelujah just in time. The horse skidded to a halt on the very edge of the cliff.
The preacher took off his hat, wiped his brow, and said, "Praise the Lord."
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E News is published weekly, September through June, and monthly in July and August, from the office of the Bishop of Fredericton. Contributions are always welcome.
E News information page.
Send items to be included by Friday afternoon to the Editor.