Struggling parishes need our help now
by Jim Morell
Are you committed to the future of the Anglican Church in New Brunswick? Are you interested in facilitator training to enable you to help guide struggling parishes through a process of self-assessment that leads to positive change and growth? Do you know anyone else who loves the Anglican Church enough to accept this important challenge? If you do, please contact Hazel MacKenzie, chair of the Parish Support and Development Team (PSDT) of Diocesan Council at 506/327-6726 or <mhmack at nbnet.nb.ca>.
Read the story.

2009 Narrative Budget
The 2009 Narrative Budget is on-line in full page and booklet format. "Everyone in the Diocese needs to read this to get a big picture overview of who we are, what we're doing and how we're doing it," says Archdeacon Geoffrey Hall, the bishop's executive assistant and secretary of synod.
"It is a tremendous model for parishes producing their own narrative budgets and should be available and referred to at parish annual meetings."

Lenten Bible study available now

Notification of the on-line posting of the Bishop Edward Salmon Lenten Bible study was e-mailed to clergy last week. The retired Bishop of South Carolina, who so inspired our diocesan leadership during his visit to the August of 2008 clergy conference, prepared the study to address the struggles and opportunities of our diocese with readings (following the RCL) for each Sunday in Lent.

All parishes are encouraged to use the Bible study in ways that fit their particular situations. Synod delegates and alternates are especially urged to attend this study series.

Companioned Spiritual Formation Annual Retreat
The registration deadline for the 2009 Companioned Spiritual Formation annual retreat is March 4. It takes place at Villa Madonna Retreat Centre in Rothesay from March 6-8. The $150 registration fee (bursaries available on request) includes two nights accommodation, six meals (beginning with dinner on Friday, March 6, at 5:30) and the joy of a quiet and natural setting. Bishop George Lemmon is facilitator and his topic is Living In Step with the Spirit: Are we so busy making a living we forget to make a life? Further information is available on-line.

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ACPO Assessors 2009
ACPO (Advisory Committee on Postulants for Ordination) is an ecclesiastical provincial step in the discernment leading to ordination to priesthood.  The 2009 ACPO will meet in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in May.
Each ACPO requests "assessors" from each of the Dioceses in the Province of Canada.  If you have interest in being considered by the Bishop of Fredericton as a recommended assessor for 2009, please contact the Ven. Geoffrey Hall as soon as possible <geoffrey.hall at anglican.nb.ca>.

Parish Appointments
The Rev. Amanda Longmoore is appointed priest-in-charge, on a part-time basis, of the Parish of Tobique, effective February 15, 2009. She leaves the Parish of Pugwash and River John in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island where she has served since 2003.

The Rev. Bonnie LeBlanc is appointed priest-in-charge of the Parish of Andover, effective May 1, 2009. She leaves the Parish of Kingston where she has served since 2003.

The Rev. Robert LeBlanc is appointed priest-in-charge, on a part-time basis, of the parishes of Denmark, Grand Falls and Madawaska, effective May 1, 2009. He leaves the Parish of Central Kings where he has served since 2003.

Ordinations
The Rev. Dick Black, Parish of Salisbury and Havelock; the Rev. Michael Caines, Parish of the Nerepis and St. John; the Rev. Jasmine Chandra, Parish of Rothesay; and the Rev. Kevin Cross, Parish of McAdam, will be ordained to the priesthood at 4 p.m. on March 28, 2009, at Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton.

Surgery Scheduled
Bishop Claude Miller is scheduled for surgery on Feb. 16, 2009. He will return to his office in late March.

Prayer for Synod
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding: be present with those who take counsel at Diocesan Synod in Saint John in June 2009 for the renewal and mission of our parishes, diocese and your Church in this place and beyond. As your disciples, teach us in all things to seek first your kingdom to your honour and glory. Guide us to what is right and grant us both the courage and patience to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Bishop's 2009 Deanery Visitation Schedule (tentative)
Shediac — February
St. Andrews — April
Fredericton/York — May
Fredericton/York — June
Kingston/Kennebecasis and Saint John — September

Appointments and Announcements
View An up-to-date list of Bishop's appointments and announcements.

Temporal Transactions

Open incumbencies

* Appointment process status:
     H - On hold
     P - In parish profile preparation
     E - Accepting expressions of interest
     I - In the interview process
     A - Awaiting appointment

Diocesan openings
The Nominating Committee currently invites nominations for the following diocesan positions:

• Diocesan / Synod Nominating Committee (chair)
• Diocesan Council (member - Saint John Archdeaconry/lay)
• Atlantic School of Theology Formation Advisory Committee (member - Canon Four s. 21)
  
• Diocesan Council Administration Team (chair)
• Investment (sub) Committee (member)
• Human Resources Committee (clergy member)
  

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RCL Lectionary (Year B)

Sunday, Feb. 8
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Green) (Proper 5)
Propers 353; Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-12, 21c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39;
Preface of the Lord's Day.

Cycles of Prayer
Maseno South — (Kenya) the Rt. Rev. Francis Mwayi Abiero.

Visit these links:
Anglican Cycle of Prayer
Provincial Prayer Care
Diocesan Intercessions

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Parish Nursing Program

N.B. Parish Nursing Ministries (NBPNM) offers Basic Parish Nurse Education beginning in September of this year. This is a two year program for registered nurses, clergy and congregational members of Christian churches to prepare for health ministry with a Parish Nurse Coordinator. NBPNM is affiliated with the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC) in St. Louis, Missouri and continues to collaborate with Inter-Church Health Ministries (ICHM) of Ontario.
To register and for further information, contact Sr. Ernestine LaPlante, Theological Director, NBPNM, at <ernlapl at nb.sympatico.ca>. A minimum of six churches is required for a successful program. The course may be delayed if sufficient numbers are not confirmed by July 1, 2009.

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Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m. Artist talk and exhibition with Don and Louise Pentz on Mixed Blessings at the Atlantic School of Theology Library, 660 Francklyn St., Halifax. Storm date Feb. 12.

Feb. 7, 9:30 a.m.  Mothers' Union Diocesan meeting, St. Mary's Church, McEvoy Street, Fredericton.

Feb. 10, 10 a.m.  Vocational Chaplains, Synod Office board room.

Feb. 11, 9:30 a.m.  Sharing Ministry Task Group, Cathedral Memorial Hall, Fredericton.

Feb. 11,  11 a.m.  Nominating Committee teleconference.

Feb. 11, 2 p.m. Human Resources Travel Task Force, Synod Office board room.

Visit the Diocesan Web Calendar of Events

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PWRDF 50th Anniversary Website
PWRDF is celebrating its 50th anniversary and everyone is invited to visit its Internet CAFE. Find out what’s happening across the country, share your own stories and photos with other Anglicans in Canada, sign the guestbook, download resources, and get some ideas for planning your own event. See you in the CAFE soon!

Visit Diocesan PWRDF or PWRDF National

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Doctor of Divinity at AST
May 2  The Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax, will award the degree of Doctor of Divinity, (honoris causa) to two outstanding contributors to ecumenism at its convocation. The Most Rev. Frederick James Hiltz, an AST alumnus, is the 13th Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and former Bishop of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The degree recognizes his significant contribution to ecumenism and the leadership of the Anglican Church of Canada. Sister Donna Geernaert, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Charity-Halifax. The degree recognizes her many contributions to ecumenism and interfaith understanding and to raising the visibility of religious life.

May 5-9   Diocesan ACW annual meeting, St. Luke's Church, Saint John. Dinner tickets for May 5 are $15 each and available from Pauline Long, 11 Wasson Ct., Saint John  E2K 2K6. Make cheques payable to St. Luke's senior ACW. Deadline for ticket purchases is Apr. 20.

Visit the Diocesan Web Calendar of Events

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Job listings for the Canadian church.

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Primates discuss Anglican covenant, Zimbabwe crisis in private sessions
Anglican leaders say Alexandria meeting less confrontational than previous gathering
by Matthew Davies
Episcopal News Service
Feb. 3, 2009
Alexandria, Egypt
As the primates reviewed the latest draft of the Anglican covenant and heard presentations about mission priorities and challenges from different global contexts, many of them agreed that there was a lower level of anxiety at this meeting than at the last. Read the story.

Stretching the soul
General Synod News
Feb. 3, 2009

Archdeacon Paul Feheley, Principal Secretary to the Primate, is accompanying Archbishop Fred Hiltz to the Primates’ Meeting in Alexandria, Egypt and is filing occasional reports.
In my first report on Sunday I said that this meeting does not seem to have the tension that previous meetings have had. At the first official news conference yesterday Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, the Primate of Australia and official spokesperson, confirmed that, "There are not the levels of anxiety that have accompanied other Primates’ Meetings." Read the story.

Toronto bishops propose process to allow same-sex blessings
Anglican Journal
Feb. 2, 2009
The bishops of the diocese of Toronto are proposing that “a limited number of parishes” be given episcopal permission to offer prayers and blessing “but not the nuptial blessing” to same-sex couples “in stable, long-term, committed relationships.” Read the story.

Primates begin to meet
International concerns; Anglican covenant top agenda
by Matthew Davies
Episcopal News Service
Feb. 2, 2009
Alexandria, Egypt
The proposed Anglican covenant and global issues such as Zimbabwe and the financial crisis will be addressed by almost all of the 38 Anglican primates meeting February 1 to 5 at the Helnan Palestine Hotel in Alexandria, Egypt. Read the story.

TRC breakthrough welcomed, but church apologizes for delays
General Synod News
Feb. 2, 2009
The Anglican Church of Canada has welcomed a breakthrough in the re-establishment of the long-awaited Truth and Reconciliation Commission on residential schools, but apologised to survivors for long delays in allowing them to tell their stories. Read the story.

The Primates' Meeting: "The person praying next to me ..."
General Synod News
ALEXANDIA, FEB. 2, 2009 -- Archdeacon Paul Feheley, Principal Secretary to the Primate, is accompanying Archbishop Fred Hiltz to the Primates' Meeting in Alexandria, Egypt. This is his second report.
"I remember a signboard outside a church," began the Archbishop of Canterbury, "that was filled with activities and I couldn't help but wonder if they had left any space for God." Preaching at the dedication of Saint Mark's Pro-cathedral in Alexandria Egypt on the first day of the Primates' Meeting, Archbishop Rowan Williams went on to challenge people about observing, honoring and understanding that Jesus prays with them, for them and through them. He said it is important to remember "the person praying next to me is a person in whom Jesus is praying ... When I diminish them, I am in danger of destroying Jesus' voice in them." Read the story.

Primates' Meeting starts on a low key
General Synod News
ALEXANDIA, FEB. 1, 2009 -- Archdeacon Paul Feheley, Principal Secretary to the Primate, is accompanying Archbishop Fred Hiltz to the Primates' Meeting in Alexandria, Egypt, and will be filing reports as he is able. This is the first.
The sun shone brilliantly in the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria on Sunday as the Primates of the Anglican Communion gathered for the first time since 2007. This meeting, announced at the Lambeth Conference last summer, seems to lack both the tension and the focus that recent gatherings of global primates have had. It also seems to be attracting less attention, at least thus far. Read the story.

Remaining Truth and Reconciliation commissioners resign
Anglican Journal
Jan. 31, 2009
The two remaining commissioners on the Indian Residential School Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Claudette Dumont-Smith and Jane Morley, announced their resignations on Jan. 30. Read the story.

Archbishop Hiltz travels to Africa for primates' meeting and PWRDF visits
General Synod News

by ALi Symons

Jan. 29, 2009
February will be a month of airplanes and suitcases for Archbishop Fred Hiltz. With trips to Egypt, Kenya, Burundi, and Costa Rica, it's his busiest stretch of international travel since his election as Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada in July 2007. Read the story.

Amazing Grace donations total over $73,000
General Synod News
Jan. 29, 2009
Canadian Anglicans have donated a whopping $73,000 to the Council of the North through the Amazing Grace Project. The project encouraged all to sing "Amazing Grace" on Nov. 23 and send in their filmed rendition to the national office, where they were included in a ten-minute compilation video. Each "Amazing Grace" singer was also encouraged to donate a toonie to support ministry in Canada's northernmost dioceses. Read the story.

Great expectations
Anglican church at its best in hard times: philanthropy director
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
Jan. 28, 2009
Anglicans have been warned by their primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, that Holland Hendrix can’t walk on water. Still, the expectations are high for Mr. Hendrix, who was appointed last fall as the Anglican Church of Canada’s first executive director of philanthropy. Read the story.

Primate congratulates new Patriarch
General Synod News
Jan. 28, 2009
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the Primate, has written to Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, congratulating him on his election as Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. Read the letter.

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February Anglican Journal on-line

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Planned Giving
"Certainly the Planned Gift is extremely important to individual donors. It often represents much more than just a donation to a favoured charity or church. For many, the Planned Gift symbolizes several meaningful issues surrounding the donor's life. A bequest or gift later in life is a way of declaring one's priorities, of giving impetus to a ministry, of making an impact on an institution that has been an important part of a donor's history. "
by David Ponting
From Scarcity to Abundance: A complete Guide to Parish Stewardship p 121.

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