The Nicodemus Project will transform our church

By Jim Morell

Our vision and goals as the Diocese of Fredericton, expressed by Synod 2009 and articulated by Diocesan Council, require a transformational change in our understanding of our church. In John’s Gospel, Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus leads him to seek transformation as well. He knows that in order to begin a new life focused on God, he must change his ways. In honour of that faithfulness and with confidence in our own prayerfully revealed priorities, our diocesan pursuit of transformational change will henceforth be called The Nicodemus Project.  Read the story.

News from Ho
No room at the inn, breakdowns on top of breakdowns, an adventure that defies descreption, not enough sleep … The visitors to our Companion Diocese of Ho —Archbishop Claude Miller, his wife Sharon, the Rev. Jasmine Chandra and Heather Miller — often find themselves asking "Where is God in this?" But sooner than later, a close encounter with children, the taste of fresh pineapple, or the skill of a young mechanic enables them to answer their own question. God is everywhere. Read the details and see the pictures our delegation has posted on Heather Miller's blog, and watch soon for first person accounts from the weary travelers.

Anglican Foundation
Parishes considering applications to the Anglican Foundation in 2010 should notify Diocesan Council of their intentions by Dec. 31, 2009. Find the information you need to make application to the Anglican Foundation as well as a form to request an application to the Anglican Foundation on the Diocese of Fredericton website.

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Condolences
Condolences to Sherry Painter, wife of the Rev. Douglas Painter, on the unexpected death of her uncle, James (Jimmy) Keith, at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Please keep Sherry and the Keith family in your prayers.

Condolences to the family of Shirley Smith, wife of the late Rev. Lloyd Smith, priest of the diocese. She died recently in Saint John. Please remember her, her son Howard and family in your prayers.

Announcements
View an up-to-date list of diocesan appointments and announcements.

Temporal Transactions

View an up-to-date list of property transactions within the diocese.

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 positions:

• Diocesan / Synod Nominating Committee Chair
• Investment sub-committee (one member)
• Human Resources Committee (two lay positions)
• Nominating Committee Member (one lay and one cleric)
  
  

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RCL Lectionary (Year C)

Sunday, Nov. 29

First Sunday of Advent (Violet or Blue)

Propers 268; Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 24:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36; Preface of Advent.

Cycles of Prayer
Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

West Texas — Province VII, USA) the Rt. Rev. Gary Lillibridge; Suffragan Bishop of West Texas, the Rt. Rev. David Mitchell Reed.

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

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Prepare a Different Way
The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.
So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists. And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas? What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?
Welcome to Advent Conspiracy.

AST Course
The Atlantic School of Theology has a few remaining places in its Internet course PT 2104 (Int) - Seeing God in All Things: Creation in Christian Spirituality. Explore topics in Celtic, Franciscan and Creation spirituality as well as a topic of your choice. There are no prerequisites for this one-credit course, a Biblical Foundations and/or Theological Foundations course is recommended.
For information on these and other courses, contact the academic office at <academicoffice at astheology.ns.ca>.
 
Camp Brookwood
Clergy interested in spending a week at camp next summer — with their families if they like — are encouraged to check out the summer 2010 camp schedule and then reserve their week with Mary Lee Phillips <dphillips at aernet.ca>

Vote for Church Army's StreetHope ministry
Church Army has submitted an idea to the Aviva Community Fund competition that could bless its street level ministry. If its submission receives the most votes it could win $250,000. There is nothing to buy or do, just go to the competition website and click on the big blue vote button.

Listen to God Breathe
Nov. 28, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Bishop's Court, 791 Brunswick St., Fredericton
Conference geared for people in their late teens and early 20s, featured speaker the Ven. Vicars Hodge, the Rev. Canon George Porter and David Hayward. Discussion topics include why is the Bible important? what do we do with difficult passages? art and storytelling. Register through the Rev. Jasmine Chandra, <jasmine.chandra at anglican.nb.ca>, include your name, phone number, food allergies and intollerances. $10 registration fee includes lunch and refreshments.

Remembering the forgotten ways

Revolutionize your thinking on the church with an on-line discussion based on the book The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch with instructors, Alan Hirsch and Reed Fleming. Explore the concept of Apostolic Genius and harness the power of the early church January 11 through June 11 2010. Hirsch takes the reader through a dynamic mixture of passion, prayer, and incarnational practice to rediscover the dormant potential of the modern church in the West. Details and registration.

The Anglican Centre in Rome offers
The Nature of Church as communion
A course for the church leaders of tomorrow
Feb.15 – 21
Focus: the nature of Church as communion
Express your interest to the Primate's office <pfeheley at national.anglican.ca>.

ANGLICAN HOUSE
Church calendars in stock now
This year the Canadian Church Calendar features only Anglican churches

Christ Church in St. Stephen is featured for April.

The St. Peters calendar is also available.
Buy 1-9 copies of either calendar for $5.50 each, plus HST

Buy 10 or more copies for $4.25 each, plus HST.
Anglican House

116 Princess St.
Saint John E2L 1K4

Order by mail, phone 506-693-2295 or e-mail <angbk at nbnet.nb.ca>.

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Nov. 25, 6 p.m. Archdeaconry of St. Andrews Greater Chapter meeting, at St. Anne's, Lepreau (Parish of Musquash). Meal begins at 6, meeting follows.

Nov. 26, 6 p.m. Faith Forward, Round 4: The Holy Spirit in the Church, St. Mary's, York, Fredericton North. This week is the final study and the Rev. Canon Jon Lownds talks about the sacraments of reconciliation and healing. The evening begins with a light supper followed by teaching and discussion and ends with Compline, guaranteed to finish by 8 p.m. St. Mary's is at 780 McEvoy St. -- turn off MacLaren Ave beside the hole in the ground where the Devon fire hall used to be.

Nov. 27 & 28, 6 p.m.  The Wife of Bath’s Tale, a Christmas Madrigal and Dinner Theater at Young Smith Hall, next to St. Martin’s-in-the-Woods Church, 3400 Route 134, Shediac Cape, NB. A festive dinner with wassail, Figgie pudding and, of course, the boar’s head. Presented by the church drama team and choir, this is a trip back in time to medieval England. Tickets $28 adults, $15 for those under 12, call 506/532-6960. All proceeds go to Bishop McAllister School in Uganda.

Nov. 27, 7 p.m. UNB Campus Ministry presents Sing a New Song, and evening of worship and encouragement at Memorial Hall on the UNB Fredericton campus. For information contact George Porter <george.porter at anglican.nb.ca>.

Nov. 28, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Listen to God Breathe, a conference geared for people in their late teens or early 20s with speakers the Ven. Vicars Hodge, the Rev. Canon George Porter and David Hayward, at Bishop's Court, 791 Brunswick St., Fredericton. Register through the Rev. Jasmine Chandra <jasmine.chandra at anglican.nb.ca>, include your name, phone number, food allergies and intollerances. $10 registration includes lunch and refreshments.

Nov. 28, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Layreaders' Retreat Day at the Ducks' Unlimited Museum and Meeting House, 752 Union St. (Next to Carleton Park), Fredericton. A presentation and workshop on "The Beauty of Worship" will be presented by the Rev. Canon John Cathcart. All Layreaders in the Deaneries of Fredericton & York are cordially invited to attend. Details from <jc8 at nbnet.nb.ca>.

Nov. 28, 1 p.m. Carleton Choristers concert at Brunswick Square, Saint John.

Dec. 1-30 An exhibition and sale of 10 evocative new paintings by artist Dale Cook and based on photographs by the Rev. Marian Lucas Jefferies and Carolyn Vanderlip begins at the Kennebecasis Public Library in Quispamsis. Proceeds of this fundraiser support the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). Archbishop Claude Miller will officially open the show onTuesday,  Dec. 8, at 11 a.m.

Dec. 1, 2 p.m. Episcopal Team meeting, Synod Office board room, Fredericton.

Dec. 4:30 p.m. Finance Committee meeting, Synod Office board room, Fredericton.

Dec. 1, 6:15 p.m. Taylor College Christmas Celebration at St. James the Less Church, 1760 Rothesay Rd., Rothesay. Punch and a turkey meal followed by a benefit musical concert by Stephanie Mainville. Dinner and concert tickets, $15; concert tickets only, $10. Church Army will also receive an offering in support of its local and national missional ministry. Call 506/642-2210, ext. 222. Leave a voice mail message if no answer.

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Church bells around the world to ring for ecological justice through climate action
At 3 o'clock on Dec. 13, New Brunswick churches will ring their bells 350 times for climate justice during the international climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark. Please ring the bells in your church, and pray the world emerges from Copenhagen with a just, binding, science-based climate treaty.
PWRDF, as a member of KAIROS, joins churches and Christian organizations throughout the country to deliberate on issues of common concern, advocate for social change and join with people of faith and good will in action for social transformation.
Anne Walling
Diocesan PWRDF
<pwrdfnb at gmail.com>

Art of Sharing exhibition and sale

An exhibition and sale of 10 evocative new paintings by artist Dale Cook, based on photographs by the Rev. Marian Lucas Jefferies and Carolyn Vanderlip, begins on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the Kennebecasis Public Library in Quispamsis and remains until the end of December. The paintings (scroll down the page to find them) all depict life in African and Asian countries like Bangladesh, Sir Lanka and Ethiopia, where a stable food supply is often illusive. A single painting sold at silent auction during the Diocesan Synod last June was the inaugural Art of Sharing event in support of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) through the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF). Archbishop Claude Miller will officially open this Art of Sharing fundraiser on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 11 a.m.

More PWRDF links:

PWRDF New Brunswick Blog
justgeneration.ca.

Diocesan PWRDF

PWRDF National

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Dec. 2, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Advent Day of Reflection with David Goss and Jim McKenna at the Villa Madonna Retreat House in Rothesay. Carols and songs of Advent and Christmas will explore the season. The fee is $40 and includes snacks and lunch. There will be a celebration of the Eucharist at 11 a.m. for those wishing to participate and there will be time in the full day program for periods of reflection, strolling about the extensive grounds, or visiting the well stocked library. For further information, contact David Goss at <gosswalk at nbnet.nb.ca>>

Dec. 2, 12:30 p.m. Luncheon and card party at St. Luke's Church Hall, corner of Metcalf and Lansdowne, Saint John. Tickets are $10 per person and available from the church office (693-1452).

Dec. 4, 12:10 – 12:50 p.m. Advent Organ Recitals at Christ Church Cathedral, corner of Brunswick and Church Streets in Fredericton. Today’s concert features Dr. Sharon Pond, the cathedral’s associate organist.

Dec. 5, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Christmas bazaar and chicken casserole luncheon, St. Margaret's Church, 775 Forest Hill Road, Fredericton. Everyone welcome. Tickets at the door.

Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. Saint John Chorale 16th Annual Christmas Gala. Spencer Belyea. Director. The chorale will be joined by the Loch Lomond School Choir, the 3rd Field Regiment Band, the KV Blunotes Jazz Choir, the District 8 String Ensemble as well as the Symphony Chorus. This is a delightful way to celebrate the Christmas season. Tickets $22 - $24, available at the Imperial.

Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m. Archdeaconry of Chatham Greater Chapter meeting, St. George's, Bathurst.

Dec. 8, 11 a.m.  Archbishop Claude Miller officially opens an exhibition and sale of 10 evocative new paintings by artist Dale Cook and based on photographs by the Rev. Marian Lucas Jefferies and Carolyn Vanderlip at the Kennebecasis Public Library in Quispamsis. Proceeds of this fundraiser support the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB).

Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. Carleton Choristers present Sing Fa La La for Christmas at Carleton Kirk United Church, West Saint John. Tickets $8 available from David Goss at Trinity Church, Saint John; Heather DeGrace, 632-0997. They can be set aside at the door.

Dec. 11, 12:10 – 12:50 p.m.  Advent Organ Recitals at Christ Church Cathedral, corner of Brunswick and Church Streets in Fredericton. Today’s concert features Dr. Willis Noble, the cathedral’s organist and choirmaster.

Dec. 12, 1 p.m. Carleton Choristers concert at Brunswick Square, Saint John.

Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.  Community Ecumenical Choir Service, Trinity Church, Saint John under the direction of Spencer Belyea. The superb music includes a brass ensemble as well as organ accompaniment by Michael Molloy. Choristers interesting in joining the choir may call Trinity Church, 693-8558, to find out times of practices. Lessons will be read by local clergy and dignitaries. All denominations welcome.

Dec. 15, 7 p.m. Carleton Choristers at Carleton Kirk's annual Christmas service for lodge residents. Everyone is welcome.

Dec. 18, 12:10 – 12:50 p.m.  Advent Organ Recitals at Christ Church Cathedral, corner of Brunswick and Church Streets in Fredericton. Today’s concert is the Fredericton Organist’s Association Christmas Special.

Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m.  Handel’s Messiah presented by the Symphony Chorus and Orchestra at Trinity Church, Saint John. Adult advance tickets $30, seniors and students $25. Call the church office, 693-8558 or any chorus member. If you want to reserve a ticket to be left at the door, call Marje Harrison, 832-3033.

April 20-22, 2010, Clergy Spouse's Conference, Villa Madonna in Rothesay. Please reserve these dates.

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Job listings for the Canadian church.

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Anglicans called to help end homelessness
by Leigh Anne Williams
Anglican Journal
Nov. 20, 2009November 22 is National Housing Day, and both behind the scenes and on the frontlines, Anglicans are calling for an end to homelessness and shortages of affordable housing. The Right to Housing Coalition, of which the diocese of Rupert’s Land is a member, picketed a decommissioned military base in Winnipeg today. Coalition members are protesting the fact that while many families lack affordable housing, more than 100 houses on the base have remained empty for the past five years. These houses, they say, have cost $1.5 million per year to heat and maintain. The coalition is calling on the federal government to permit the houses to be used as transitional housing for eligible families. Read the story.

Anglican Book Centre alive and well in Lutheran partnership
by Ali Symons

Anglican Church of Canada
Nov. 20, 2009

A Bach cantata plays quietly as customers stroll through the bookstore, looking for clergy shirts, commentaries, or that last book in their Sunday school series. For over 100 years, the Anglican Book Centre has provided these material accessories to ministry, and now thanks to Lutheran booksellers Augsburg Fortress, the service continues.  Read the story.

Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome to talk church relations with Pope
by Martin Revis
Ecumenical News International
Nov. 19, 2009

London: The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has arrived in Rome for a visit during which he will meet Pope Benedict XVI in their first meeting since the pontiff's offer to allow Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church while retaining some of their own traditions. The Vatican on November 9 published an apostolic constitution setting down the arrangements for "personal ordinariates", similar to dioceses, to be led by former Anglican bishops or other senior clergy who wish to be in full communion with the Catholic Church. Read the story.

PWRDF asks bishops about name change
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
Nov. 19, 2009

Niagara Falls, Ont.: The Canadian House of Bishops was asked to weigh in on the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund’s (PWRDF) ongoing efforts to change its name because of low recognition rating among Anglicans in the country. The relief and development arm of the Anglican Church of Canada embarked on a name change after an “appreciative inquiry” conducted at the 2007 General Synod revealed that only 30 per cent of Canadian-Anglicans know what PWRDF is about. Read the story.

Task force to review bishops’ leadership role
by Marites N. Sison
Anglican Journal
Nov. 19, 2009

Niagara Falls, Ont.: A task force has been formed to review how the Canadian House of Bishops meet and how it provides leadership for the church. Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, said it was an opportune time to conduct a review. This is because for the first time in more than a decade, the church has four new metropolitans (senior bishops) and a number of new bishops. Read the story.

New bishop elected to diocese of Saskatoon
by Leigh Anne Williams
Anglican Journal
Nov. 18, 2009
David Irving, currently the executive archdeacon of the diocese of Kootenay, has been elected the new bishop of the diocese of Saskatoon. Bishop-elect Irving will replace Bishop Rodney Andrews , who is retiring on Feb. 28. “I am absolutely delighted,” Bishop-elect Irving said.  Read the story.

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17 Nov - Praying with our Partners Nov. 29, 2009 to Feb. 4, 2010

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Deuteronomy 15:7-11
Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land.”

From the Ven. John M. Robertson, National Gift Planning Officer, Department of Philanthropy
Anglican Church of Canada

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New bumper sticker:

Honk if you love Jesus! Text while driving if you want to meet Him.

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