Diocesan News | From the Bishop's Office | Readings and Intercession | Resources | Current Calendar | PWRDF | Advance Notice of Events

Employment | Wider Church News | General Synod Resources | Stewardship Quotable | Heavenly Humour

Issues and challenges add up to ambitious agenda for Diocesan Council

By Ana Watts

Do the math. Seven carry-over issues from Synod 2009, plus five motions passed at Synod 2011, plus four issues recently raised by Archbishop Claude Miller, equals an ambitious 16-item to-do list (find it below) for the new Diocesan Council. Familiar programs like the Nicodemus Project and the 10-10-10 stewardship model are joined on the list by a review of synod office positions and an examination of options for synod and cathedral properties. “These are all front-burner issues,” says Archbishop Claude Miller. “We won’t be putting them on the back burner, we will have teams working on them all. You will see them on council agendas. We have an ambitious agenda, but I have no doubt we can accomplish it.” Exactly when these items will be seen on those agendas is yet to be decided however. Working in small groups at the recent Diocesan Council orientation meeting in Fredericton, members got a start on prioritization and analysis, but it was large task to complete in a small amount of time. Read more.

return to top

Appointment

• The Rev. Dr. Brian Spence is appointed priest and rector of the Parish of Ludlow and Blissfield effective Feb. 1, 2012. Mr. Spence holds a B.A., from the University of King’s College, an M.A. from Dalhousie University, an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Theology from Toronto School of Theology. He was ordained a Deacon in 1997 and priest in 1998 and served in the Diocese of Nova Scotia from 1998 to the present.

• The Rev. David Dean is named honorary assistant in the Parish of Millidgeville under the direction of the Rev. Paul Ranson, rector.

2011 Parish Returns
Parish Statistical and Financial Returns (and 2012 Officers and Contacts) are due as usual on 15 March 2012.  Visit the Diocesan Information Management (DIMS) page to download the parish return package or the information memo and working forms as separate files.

Appointments and 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

Diocesan openings

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

To make a nomination or express interest in a position, contact committee chair Jack Walsworth <jwals at nbnet.nb.ca>.

return to top

RCL Lectionary and Prayer

Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012

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 1:29-38; Preface of the Lord's Day.|

Visit these prayer cycle links:
Anglican Cycle of Prayer

Council of the North Prayer Cycle
Provincial Prayer Care
Diocesan Intercessions

return to top

God's Spell
Friday March 23 and Saturday March 24
Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton
A time for young people aged 12 through grade 12
and featuring Steve Bell in concert on Friday evening
Worship and conversation on Saturday
Registration $25
Includes concert, meals and surprises!
Details here

PWRDF Resources
Order everything you need to celebrate PWRDF Sunday on March 4 in your parish from Christine Hills at <chills at pwrdf.org> and on the PWRDF website, where you will also find the latest word about the work of PWRDF to share in your message.

Group seeks clergy prayer partners
Diocese of Edmonton ACW members gather in groups once a month for prayer and they seek priests, deacons and vocational deacons from throughout the Canadian church as prayer partners. In return, they appreciate some communication by mail or e-mail and to be remembered in their partners' prayers as well. The communication does not need to be long, but they appreciate knowing something about their partners, their partners' parishes, and any special needs or projects. After a time the prayer partners usually become friends. If you are interested in such a relationship contact Mary Caunt of Camrose, Alberta at <eliza at cable-lynx.net>.

An on-line continuing education opportunity
From The Atlantic School of Theology
Evangelism for Non-Evangelicals
Register by Jan. 31

The Parishes of Victoria and Carleton on Saint John's west side have a new, joint website!

An Anglican Explores the Faith

by the Rev. Canon Keith Osborne, Parish of Pennfield

This brief review of our Anglican tradition, with reflections on various aspects of what it means to live as a Christian and a reflection on the Via Media of Anglicanism, will be available in February. The price is $15 and it can be ordered directly from Keith at <kenosis at nbnet.nb.ca> or 755-3520 / 755-2972, from his E-Store, or on Amazon.ca

PWRDF WORKSHOP IN ANDOVER MARCH 3 & 4

The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) grew out of the Springhill Mine disaster of 1958. A deadly “bump” trapped 174 miners, 75 of them died and the town was devastated. The Rev. Bonnie LeBlanc of the Parish of Andover, and the Rev. Bob LeBlanc of the parishes of Denmark, Madawaska and Grand Falls, both come from Springhill and grew up with stories of what the Anglican and other responses to the disaster meant to their town. Today they are both strong advocates for PWRDF and their parishes will be participating in a PWRDF weekend March 3 and 4. Bonnie and Jeanne Cronk, PWRDF representative for the Parish of Andover, have put together a program for Saturday featuring presentations by Anne Walling, Diocesan PWRDF Coordinator. She will share news of the latest PWRDF projects and resources at the Archdeaconry PWRDF Workshop in the Parish of Andover. Plenty of good food and fellowship are also included in the planning. Anne will also speak at Trinity Church, Perth-Andover on Sunday, March 4, about why PWRDF is important.

Anglican House
COMING SOON!
In response to popular demand
We are expanding our selection of boxed cards and greeting cards. This new section should be complete by the end of January!

Anglican House/Diocesan Resource Centre/Ten Thousand Villages
116 Princess Street
Saint John

506/693-2295

<angbk at nbnet.nb.ca>

Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

return to top

Feb. 4, 10 a.m.  Diocesan Formation Programme, Cathedral Memorial Hall, Fredericton.

Feb. 4, 10 a.m.  Mothers' Union Diocesan Council, All Saints Church, Marysville.

Feb. 7, 4:30 p.m.  Finance Committee meeting, Synod Office boardroom.

return to top

Half a Million People Receive Help through PWRDF/CIDA Joint Effort
By Simon Chambers
PWRDF Communications
Jan. 19, 2012
Women in Burundi learned new farming techniques and about nutrition, enabling them to better support their families. Photo: Zaida Bastos. Between August 2008 and December 2011, PWRDF programs in Bangladesh, Burundi, Mozambique, and Tanzania were funded in conjunction with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Working with local partner organizations in each country, the $4,956,000 program reached over 557,000 people during the three years of the project. Partners’ programs focused on health care, environmental sustainability, and promoting good governance, including the construction of health clinics, working with farmers to promote chemical-free farming techniques, and a focus on enhancing the role of women in local communities. Read more.

Diocesan PWRDF | National PWRDF

As an instrument of faith, PWRDF connects Anglicans in Canada to communities around the world in dynamic partnerships to advance development, respond to emergencies, assist refugees and act for positive change.

Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m. Ecumenical Worship Service celebrating the Atlantic School of Theology's 40th anniversary at Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax, featuring the King’s College Chapel Choir under the direction of Paul Halley and the AST story narrated by former CBC Radio host Adrian Hoffman.

Feb. 21, 3:30 - 6 p.m. Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, St. Luke's Church hall,Temperance Vale — pancakes, beans, sausage, brown bread, and desserts. Adults $7, children $3, family $18. Sponsored by St. John's and St. Luke's ACW. 

March 4, 11 a. m. PWRDF Sunday — Anne Walling, Diocesan PWRDF Coordinaator, will speak at Trinity Church, Perth-Andover.

May 4, 6:30 p.m. Gala dinner celebrating the Atlantic School of Theology's 40th anniversary at Pier 21, Halifax, featuring guest speaker Brian Stewart, an award-winning CBC foreign correspondent. Details and ticket information.

return to top

Camp Brookwood Staff 2012
Camp Brookwood will accept staff applications for the 2012 camping season until Feb. 10, 2012.

Job listings for the Canadian church

return to top

Canon Kearon preaches on 350 years of the Book of Common Prayer
Anglican Communion News Service
Jan. 31, 2012
The Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion, Canon Kenneth Kearon, preaching earlier this month in Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral on the topic of the 350th anniversary of the Book of Common Prayer, described it as an "iconic" Prayer Book that had shaped Anglican worship and teaching since 1662. He said that the Reformation in continental Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries had caused "enormous religious turmoil and ferment in England and, to a lesser extent, in Ireland". Canon Kearon noted how, in England, Reformation principles eventually had been incorporated into Church life, with the Church seeking to preserve much of its ancient order, while also adopting many of the new religious ideas and concepts from continental Europe. Read more.

Archbishop commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day
Anglican Communion News Service
Jan. 30, 2012
In his video message to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfSeLCnLfdg last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury urged us to have the courage to speak out on behalf of the neighbour and on behalf of the stranger as part of this year’s theme: Speak Up, Speak Out. “Holocaust Memorial Day brings back to our minds the appalling consequences of a situation where people don’t speak for the neighbour and don’t speak for the stranger; where people are only concerned about their own security, their own comfort zones,” he said. Continuing, he said, “In our commemoration this year we are encouraged to challenge ourselves: who do we speak for? Are we willing to speak for the neighbour and for the stranger, for people like us and also people who are not like us? Are we willing to take risks alongside one another?” Read more.

French Protestants put spotlight on chaplaincy
by A.D. McKenzie
ENInews
Jan. 30, 2012
n a bid to reduce tensions with other religious groups and to highlight challenges, the Protestant Federation of France has turned the spotlight on chaplaincy this year. At the group's General Assembly on 21 and 22 January in Paris, members examined the issues chaplains face in hospitals, prisons and the military and urged member churches to take steps to support chaplains' work. Pastor Claude Baty, president of the federation, told ENInews that a key concern was the tensions in some sectors between Protestant chaplains and those from the Catholic Church. He said that as the number of practising Catholics decline in France, the Catholic Church was "worried" about losing its traditionally dominant position, including in the area of chaplaincy. Read more.

U.S. Jewish-Catholic dialogue on religious identities
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Jan. 20, 2012
Jewish and Catholic leaders agree that much work lies ahead in accurately presenting the religious identity and practices of each other’s communities in their respective religious education textbooks. “Much of today’s religious education in Jewish schools still focuses too closely on the mistreatment of Jews in the past,” said Rabbi Arnold Samler of the Jewish Education Project of New York City. “Even though Jewish religious schools are required by state law to teach about other religions, there are no consistent standards to help guide teachers in this important project,” he added. Read more.

Marriage memorial at Toronto Synod
Commentary By Dean Mercer

The Anglican Planet

Jan. 2, 2012

Late in the day at the recent 154th Synod of the Diocese of Toronto (Nov. 25-26), the meeting debated a private member’s motion requesting a memorial – effectively a position statement of the Diocese – to General Synod asking that the marriage canon be amended “to allow marriage of all persons legally qualified to marry each other.” The law governing marriage in the Anglican Church of Canada, Canon 21, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Toronto synod also approved a motion requesting the Canadian House of Bishops “withdraw the February 1979 statement on human sexuality which prevents the ordination of persons in committed same-gender relationships.” Protests were issued once the motion hit the floor, noting that the motion was a sweeping wish list for which the diocese had received no prior preparation, unlike extensive debate and discussion over supposedly lesser goals of same-sex blessings. A motion to refer failed by merely nine votes.  Read more.

return to top

Council of the North

Virtual Church School

return to top

The Generosity Chronicles

Generosity – a Mother’s Call
By Michelle Hauser
Manager of Annual Giving
Anglican CHurch of Canada
Jan. 24, 2012
When I started this blog in the Spring I touched briefly upon the generosity conflict that I inherited from my family of origin. The inaugural post was read by approximately one person—and I do believe that person was me—so please don’t mind if I revisit this briefly since it will be new to most of you. My sister and I spent a good deal of our childhood caught in a tug of war between a father with a nomadic, magnanimous spirit—who appeared to be most fulfilled when emptying his pockets and giving everything away—and a mother who was desperately trying to provide her children with the necessities of life. Mom worked tirelessly to move our family a few small steps forward, only to find that my dad preferred to stay behind. Read more.

return to top

Picture of God

An elementary school teacher observed the children in her classroom while they were drawing. She walked around to see what each child was doing. She stopped to speak to a little girl who was working with great diligence and asked: "Please tell me a little about what you are drawing, Ellen."

"I'm drawing God," Ellen replied.

The teacher paused a moment then said, "But no one knows what God looks like."

Without missing a stroke or looking up from her drawing, Ellen replied,
"They will in a minute."

return to top