Synod '09 participants rate meeting 'Very Good Plus'
By Ana Watts

Where one is Unsatisfactory and five is Excellent, Synod 2009 was awarded a solid Very Good Plus by the 200 participants who completed evaluation forms. Even the rate of participation of about 60 per cent (200 people) in the evaluation process was well above average. The synod evaluation statistics and reports from the working groups that comprised the Synod Planning Committee for the June 4-6 event in Saint John were reviewed at a committee meeting in Fredericton on Sept. 17.  Read the story.

CE and Youth Leader Conference
The full brochure with registration details for this years Diocesan Christian Education and Youth Leader Conference on Oct. 24 at St. George's, Moncton, is now on-line.

Saturday is TEC DAY
A time for people who have been to Teens Encounter Christ, and their friends, to gather for food, fellowship, teaching and prayer. It's a TEC Get-Together!
Join the gang at St. James the Less Church in Renforth/Rothesay from 4 until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Please bring food to share at a pot luck too.
If you have questions, contact Karen Bent <4bents at nb.sympatico.ca>

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Recent decisions
• Directive 3.4 Administration of Holy Communion
A minor addition has been made (17 September 2009) to Directive 3.4 (Item 5) regarding the administrator administering by way of intinction. The dipped host should be placed, by the Administrator, on the hand or the tongue. Several clergy have expressed discomfort with placing the intincted host on the tongue of the communicant.
As stated in the directive, as circumstances change, modifications will be made as appropriate. Parishes wishing to do some proactive pandemic planning are encouraged to consider issues such as:
i. what happens when clergy are unable to be present with their congregations for worship? (sharing or trading of sacramental duties among the clergy, alternative leadership for worship)
ii. are there alternative forms of worship that can be used at an unexpected moment's notice and is leadership prepared?
iii. how do we communicate and minister to our members if they are isolated or at home (sacramental and pastoral ministry to those who need to be at home)

•  Moratorium on the Sale of Rectories
The Bishop asks that all clergy assure that parish corporations are made  aware of the current diocesan moratorium of the sale of clergy occupied rectories. Several groups within the diocese (property, finance, human resources committees) have been asked to study and make recommendations regarding our current policy direction on this issue over the next several months. Parishes contemplating property transactions are encouraged, as usual, to be in conversation with their territorial archdeacon in accordance with Policy A-3 Sale, Purchase or Renovation of Parish Property

• Post-ordination Training - Practical Liturgy
A session of post-ordination training for those in the programme is scheduled for Tuesday, 06 October 2009 at Christ Church (Parish) Church, Fredericton.  The agenda will deal with various topics regarding how liturgy and worship is lived out in our communities of faith with special emphasis on Holy Baptism, Holy Eucharist and the Ministry of the Deacon. The event is open to any clergy in the diocese who might have interest in attending.  Please let the Bishop's Office know as soon as possible if you wish to attend.

Diocesan Stewardship Conference with Bishop Edward Salmon Oct. 16-17
Parish clergy and two lay representatives (one of whom should be a warden) from each parish are urged to attend. Register on-line.

The Bishop's 2009 Deanery Visitation Schedule
Kingston/Kennebecasis — September
Saint John/Chaleur — October

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

Temporal Transactions

Open incumbencies

* Appointment process status:
     H - On hold with interim or particular circumstances
     P - In parish profile preparation/meeting with Bishop pending
     E - Accepting expressions of interest
     I - In the interview process

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

• Human Resources Committee (two lay positions available)
  
• Investment (sub) Committee (one member)
  

Please forward nominations to Nominating Committee chair Julian Dickson <julian.dickson at anglican.nb.ca>.

See a current listing of Diocesan Roles, Elections and Appointments on the diocesan web site.

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RCL Lectionary (Year B)

Sunday, September 27
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 26) (Green)
Propers 382; Esther 7:1-6. 9-10; 9:20-22; Psalm 124; James 5:13— 20; Mark 9:38-50; Preface of the Lord's Day.

Cycles of Prayer

The Most Rev. David Robert Chillingworth, Primus Scottish Episcopal Church anad Bishop of St. Andrews Dunkfield & Dunblane

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

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Camp seeks silver vessels
St. Andrew's Chapel at Camp Brookwood has pottery communion vessels that are no longer acceptable, according to the Primate's instructions following SARS and our own recently announced diocesan policies. If you have a silver chalice and patten available for Camp Brookwood, kindly contact the Rev. Douglas Painter <douglas.painter@anglican.nb.ca>.

Self-injury behaviour in youth — Issues and strategies
This Moncton workshop (Oct. 19 & 20, early registration savings until Sept. 28) offers a general overview to assist partcipants in understanding the experience and motivations of adolescents who intentionally injure themselves.  The content will focus on practical strategies for working with youth struggling with this complex issue. Self-injury refers to deliberate, self-inflicted tissue damage, such as cutting or burning. Self-injury has reached alarming proportions amongst our youth, with North American studies indicating adolescent prevalence of between 14 and 18 per cent. Helping professionals are therefore increasingly encountering young people who engage in self-injury.

Leadership in the small congregation
Apply now for the 2010 Summer Collegium (June 23 – July 1) project in support of small congregations at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. Clergy (and their spouses or partners) from 25 small churches of all Christian denominations are invited to spend nine days at Virginia Seminary for encouragement, education, rest and renewal. All expenses, including travel, books, meals, lodging, child care at home and pulpit supply, are paid by a grant from the Lilly Endowment.

Found at RNS

Following the Clergy Conference a leather case and cell phone were found at RNS. If they are yours, please contact Leo Martin <leo.martin at anglican.nb.ca>.

Advent workshop
AST and its Alumni Association present NO MINOR PROPHETS!, a cutting edge, ecumenical education workshop
to help prepare for Advent, on Nov. 19 & 20 at Church of St. Andrew and St. David, 164 Germain St., Saint John.

A dessert party celebrating what God is doing through students and faculty at UNB & STU
It all happens Oct. 3, 7-9 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral Hall, 168 Church Street (parking is on the street), Fredericton. Please invite a friend and RSVP by Sept. 29 to Scott Dunham, IVCF Staffworker <dunhamsa at yahoo.ca>. An offering will be taken to support the ministry of IVCF on campus. Sponsored by the generosity of Christ Church Cathedral & the Fredericton-IVCF Support Council.

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Sept. 24, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.  Human Resource Committee, Synod Office board room, Fredericton.

Sept. 26, 9:30 a.m.  Visioning day for parishes of the Miramichi, St. Andrews Hall, Newcastle.

Sept. 26, 2 p.m.  Afternoon tea for retired clery and widows, Bishop's Court, Brunswick St. At Church, Fredericton.

Sept. 26, 4 - 8 p.m. TEC Day, a kind of reunion for those who have been to Teens Encounter Christ and their friends. It's fellowship, prayer, teaching and a pot-luck meal at St. James the Less Church, Rothesay/Renforth. Details from Karen Bent <4bents at nb.sympatico.ca>.

Sept. 28, 7 p.m. The Next (and first of the season) Hard Stone Cafe at Stone Church, Saint John. The musical line-up includes: The Telecasts, Riot River, Vegabond, and Ben Marmen Band. That fills all the spots for this Cafe. If you are interested in playing at the Oct. 24 Hard Stone Cafe contact, Jonathan Springthorpe at Stone Church

<jonspring_2 (at) yahoo.com>.

Sept. 29, 9:30 a.m. Clergy Day with the bishop, Trinity Church, Sussex.

Sept. 29, 4:30 - 8 p.m.  Diocesan Council, Trinity Church, Sussex.

Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.  Blue Mass, at Holy Trinity, Blackville, honouring police, firefighters, and paramedics in the area of the Parish of Derby and Blackville. The celebration takes place on the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels. His Honour, Dr. Herménégilde Chiasson, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New Brunswick, will be in attendance.

Visit the Diocesan Web Calendar of Events

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Emergency Response in Sri Lanka Continues September 19, 2009
Four months after the government of Sri Lanka declared the civil war over, some 265,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) still live in the tightly controlled camps in the Northern part of Sri Lanka. The majority of IDPs in camps are not permitted to leave these camps and are fully dependent on external support from the Sri Lankan government, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations. In February 2009, with funding support from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) contributed $75,500 to the Organization for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR) providing them with a one month stop gap feeding program for 3,600 IDPs caught between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan army forces during this period of intense fighting. Read the full story.

To find out about PWRDF 50th anniversary events and photos, please check www.pwrdf50.org.

More PWRDF links

PWRDF blog

justgeneration.ca.

Diocesan PWRDF

PWRDF National

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Oct. 3, 7-9 p.m. A dessert party celebrating what God is doing through students and faculty at UNB & STU at Christ Church Cathedral Hall, 168 Church Street (parking is on the street), Fredericton. Please invite a friend
and RSVP by Sept. 29 to Scott Dunham, IVCF Staffworker <dunhamsa at yahoo.ca>. An offering will be taken to support the ministry of IVCF on campus. Sponsored by the generosity of Christ Church Cathedral & the Fredericton-IVCF Support Council.

Oct. 4, 3:30 - 6 p.m. St. Ann's Parish Harvest Supper at the Newmarket Recreation Centre, 253 Route 3, Newmarket (between Long's Creek and Harvey). Roast beef dinner with all the trimmings $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets at the door. Take-out available.Oct. 4, 3:30 - 6 p.m. St. Ann's Parish Harvest Supper at the Newmarket Recreation Centre, 253 Route 3, Newmarket (between Long's Creek and Harvey). Roast beef dinner with all the trimmings $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets at the door. Take-out available.

Oct. 6, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Post Ordination Training, Christ Church (Parish) Church, Fredericton.

Oct. 7, 9 a.m.  Shediac Deanery ACW annual meeting, St. Mary’s, Hillsborough.

Oct. 16-17, Stewardship Conference with Bishop Edward Salmon, Trinity Church, Sussex. Register on-line.

Oct. 16-18 Stand Up to Poverty. If your church is interested in joining this world-wide effort to raise awareness of the devastating issues of poverty and to pressure governments to hold their promises to the Millennium Development Goals, get the details and notify Rebeka Frazer-Chiasson at St. Thomas University <gzqrt at stu.ca> of your participation.

Oct. 17, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.  St. Luke's Day workshop on spirituality and mental health at St. Paul's Church, Rothesay. Brochure.

Oct. 18, 9 & 10:30 a.m.  Bishop Salmon preaches at St. Mary's (York) in Fredericton.

Oct. 18  St. Luke's Day at St. Paul's, Rothesay, focusing on spirituality and mental health.

Oct. 24, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Christian Education and Youth Leader Conference, St. George's, Moncton. Elective workshops, a presentation on building relationships with young people. Advance registration $10 through <greerstackhouse at hotmail.com>

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Job listings for the Canadian church.

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First Anglican deacon ordained from Slavey people
by Leigh Anne Williams
Anglican Journal
Sept. 17, 2009
The Rev. Georgina Bassett became the first Anglican deacon from the Slavey people when she was ordained on Sept. 6 at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Hay River, N.W.T. The Slavey are native people who live mainly south of the Mackenzie River, in communities such as Fort Simpson, Fort Providence, Fort Smith and Hay River. Read the full story.

Canadian and African theologians correspond about sexuality
by Ali Symons
Anglican Church of Canada Web News
Sept. 16, 2009

In a kind of high-level pen pal relationship, theologians from five African dioceses are now exchanging essays about sexuality with theologians from three Canadian dioceses. Dr. Kawuki (Isaac) Mukasa, General Synod's coordinator for dialogue, paired up dioceses during two trips to Africa, including visits to South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda from July 31 to Aug. 21. Mr. Mukasa, a native Ugandan, considers this work essential to improving communication within the Anglican Communion, which is divided over the place of gays and lesbians in the church. Read the full story.

"Hands On" event will bring together Lutheran and Anglican youth in 2010
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada Web News
Sept. 16, 2009

In a ground-breaking event featuring Lutheran and Anglican youth from across the country, the National Planning Committee (NPC) for the 2010 gathering announces "Hands On" as the theme of next year's gathering which is taking place August 19-22, 2010 in London, Ontario. Drawing from the text in Isaiah 64:8, "Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand", the gathering will explore how God calls us to use our hands to help shape the world around us.  Read the story.

New Primate elected for the Church of Nigeria
Anglican Communion News Service
Sept. 16, 2009

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has elected Nicholas Orogodo Okoh as its fourth Primate in succession to the Most Revd Peter Akinola. The announcement was made on 15 September after an election at the Cathedral Church of Stephen, Umuahia, Abia State in which the new Archbishop secured a two-thirds majority in a four candidate contest. Read the full story.

New metropolitan of Canada knows how to walk the talk
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
Sept. 15, 2009

A bishop who in 2006 walked 500 kilometers to help raise $50,000 for HIV/AIDS is the new metropolitan (senior bishop) of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada. Claude Miller, bishop of the diocese of Fredericton, was elected the 22nd Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Canada’s oldest province, during a provincial synod held in Gander, Nfld., Sept. 10 to 13. Read the full story.

Poll finds Americans believe Muslims face discrimination
by Chris Herlinger
Ecumenical News International
Sept. 14, 2009

New York (ENI)—Eight years after the United States faced its deadly terrorist attacks Americans believe Muslims in the country encounter more discrimination than any other religious groups. A survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found that a majority of those surveyed – nearly six in ten adults or 58 per cent – believe Muslims face far more discrimination than Jews, evangelical Christians, atheists or Mormons. Read the full story.

The gifts of this world will not last past our lifetime, but God's gifts to us - and our gifts to God - will last through this life and beyond.

Katie Murphy

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One evening a church maintenance worker left a note attached to a receipt on the desk of the secretary/treasurer. The note read: "Van Battery died." The secretary dutifully typed into the bulletin: "We are saddened by the passing of Van Battery. Our sincere condolences go to the Battery family."