DIOCESAN POSt - The Anglican Diocese of British Columbia
Transcription
DIOCESAN POSt - The Anglican Diocese of British Columbia
The Diocesan post A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA MARCH 2011 Education for Ministry A response to Bishop James’ Epiphany Challenge Photo: submitted EfM mentors and trainer: L-R sitting: Peter Fowler, Larry Dingsdale; Marcia McMenamie; standing: Vicky Perry; Blair Haggart; Catherine Dafoe Hall, Director of EfM and trainer, Les Annesley; Joan Scandrett; Norah Fisher. Lenten studies At Christ Church Cathedral see page 3 Selkirk Region see page 4 St. John the Divine, Quadra St, Victoria see page 7 S.S.J.D., St. John’s House, St. Peter’s Rd, Victoria see page 8 Realities facing Anglicans in Jerusalem and the Middle East Thanks to a very generous anonymous benefactor, the dioceses of British Columbia and New Westminster will be given a first hand account of the situation of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. The Rev. Dr. Kamal Farah will be visiting the diocese during April and speaking to both clergy and laity at a number of events. While the full details of his visit have yet to be worked out, tentatively he is scheduled to take part in a clergy event up-island on April 13 and a similar one in Victoria on April 14. On Saturday, April 16 there will be a morning event for the laity at Christ Church Cathedral. Dr. Farah will be preaching during the morning services at St. George’s Church in Cadboro Bay, and at the Cathedral at the 4.30 Evensong service on Sunday April 17. He leaves for Vancouver the next day. Dr. Farah was born in 1943 to a Maronite Christian family in Rev. Dr. Kamal Farah By Elizabeth Fussell In the Bishop’s letter to the diocese on the Feast of the Epiphany, the Bishop challenges us to seek answers to the question, “Because I believe God is active in the world and is calling us to life in Himself, how might I proclaim that Good News more creatively and invitingly?” At the end of his letter, he reminds us of “The Great Commission of Christ” (Matthew 28:19/20). Go. Make. Baptize. Teach. Remember. Powerful verbs indeed; and a powerful challenge. At the end of most of our worship services, the deacon sends us out into the world ... not back into the church but into the world to serve; to continue our response to Christ’s Great Commission. But how are we supposed to do this? It is great to send us out; great to expect us to be ministers in Christ’s name; great to urge us to do ministry differently; but how? And how are we to acquire the necessary tools? Far too many of us ended our formal religious education when we got confirmed! Now many of us feel ill equipped to respond eagerly to those who would have us actively minister to others. It seems almost “un-Anglican” Patricia Bays, in her book review of Frank Wade’s Transforming Scripture (New York: Church publishing, 2008) states: “Wade acknowledges the widespread biblical illiteracy among Anglicans today. On the whole, our biblical knowledge is, in his words, “irregular and uneven”. Yet how can we learn the sound of God’s voice unless we hear the great stories of God’s relationship with humankind? How can we enter more deeply into Scripture to let it transform us? For Christianity, Wade contends, is not a body of knowledge but a way of living. Our study of Scripture, of history and tradition, is there to move us to action in the world we live in. We meet God in many ways, in the scriptures, in the stories of the lives of other Christians, in our own experiences and we are moved to accept God’s invitation to be followers and co-creators, to shape that future. Wade distinguishes helpfully between a system and a method of Bible study. In a method, we know the path but not the answer we will find. In a system, we know the answer and are showing the path by which one might come to it. He tends more towards the view of Bible study as a method, a journey The Rev. Elizabeth Fussell is a deacon in the diocese and is the Malahat north EfM co-coordinator. Dr. Farah served as director of the diocesan office in Jerusalem and was the director of the Interfaith Department of Evangelical Mission in Stuttgart. He was principal of the Schneller and Bishop’s schools in Amman before serving two terms as senior lecturer and Course Director at St. George’s College in Jerusalem. During his time there a number of Anglicans from the diocese of New Westminster made pilgrimages to the Holy Land and participated in his courses. Since retirement in 2008, Dr. Farah has continued to lead visiting groups from North America, Asia and Europe. He is respected at home and abroad as an author- ity, not only on the Bible, but also the Holy Land, its history, past and current. A deeply spiritual man, he has brought alive the Bible for many hundreds of students, pilgrims and others whose lives he has touched. A complete schedule of Dr. Farah’s visit will be available in the April issue of the Post. of exploration that can enliven and transform congregations and individuals. Wade gives examples of current Bible study materials. The first he mentions is Education for Ministry, to which he devotes three pages. He describes EfM as “one of the most widely used and effective theological education programs.” It has, he says, “a cerebral core that introduces its adherents to theological reflection techniques that can enrich their lives for as long as they breathe and believe.” (To read the whole report, go to www.efm.canada.ca and click on Newsletter) Education for Ministry (EfM) has just celebrated its 25th year in Canada and it is alive and well in the Diocese. Briefly, it is a course in theology for lay people. It is a fouryear part-time study programme designed to teach people to think theologically, develop a personal systematic theology and increase their knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. It fits in well as a response to the Bishop’s letter. This year there are over 20 people graduating from the four-year programme! Photo: submitted Northern Galilee. He completed his secondary education in Nazareth and earned a Master’s Degree in Theology at a Catholic seminary in Paris. Later he achieved a degree in Comparative Law at the Sorbonne. He was ordained in Haifa in 1967 and served as parish priest in Nazareth as well as other areas in the Galilee. 2 THE DIOCESAN POST MARCH 2011 Reflections Comment The Place and the Time By Herbert O’Driscoll Columba stepping out of his boat on to the beach in Iona; Patrick sailing into Strangford Lough, and countless others setting out on journeys from which there was often no returning - that long ago generation had a saying. They would say, “The place of my dying is the place of my resurrection.” In Jerusalem there is a massive basilica built under the supervision of both the Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena. Begun in the 4th century, it is built over the well-attested sites of both Calvary and the garden tomb. It is one of the most holy of all Christian sites. But what is of special interest is that the great church has two names. In the West it is called the Church of the Holy Sepulchre while in the East it is known as the Letters For those who are allergic Thank you Derek Ellis for your feedback in the January 2011 Diocesan Post in response to my article ‘Infection versus Holy Communion’ and for flagging an important factor I had forgotten: the real needs of those who are allergic to ingredients in the bread and wine. I have come across several people who are allergic to gluten, or have a celiac condition. Some like you ask for gluten-free bread; oth- Church of the Resurrection. Again it would seem that we are being asked to reflect on one place being the place of both death and resurrection. I can’t help wondering sometimes if the same is not true of certain times. Some moments come to mind in the long story we possess as Christians… In the year 436 the very last of the Roman legions left Britain at the mercy of invasions from both east and west. Anyone in the ancient British church of that time would have thought Christian faith was staring death in the face. Yet already a whole new way of being Christian was being ignited in the mountains of Wales, the lowlands of Scotland and the forests ers make a point of receiving only a small morsel of wheat bread. Similarly, I have met people who are recovering alcoholics: some refrain from receiving the wine, others tell me that this is a sacrament and does not disturb their recovery. This important question raises a great possibility for each parish to discern whether to use wheat bread, gluten-free or rye bread; to use table wine or de-alcoholised wine for Communion. I believe including all of us on the same equal of Ireland, a way we today called Celtic. A time of both dying and resurrection. Suppose you and I could have stood together in the grounds of Lincoln Cathedral in the year 1703. If we had spoken of the church’s life in England we would probably have done so in despair at its weakness, its laziness and its general lack of any energized faith or mission. Yet if we had ridden north that day, a mere twenty five miles or so, we would have come to the village of Epworth where we would have been in time to welcome into the world the nineteenth child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley. They would decide to call the baby John. He would eventually transform the face of the church in footing when receiving the sacrament is a priority. It is easy for the priest to decree one use or another and for Vestry to vote on this; but either of these ways can undercut the whole concept of one body moving in concert together. Working together to discern a totally inclusive way to participate in this sacrament is an opportunity for many parishioners to prayerfully discuss these questions, slowly working to reach a consensus decision. Some parishes The Bishop’s Visitation Schedule During the next few weeks Bishop James will be taking part in the following events. March 1 Archdeacons’ Meeting 3 Clergy Day 6 Church of the Advent - Parish visitation 11-12 Chapter of Deacons 13 St. John the Baptist, Duncan - Parish visitation 15-16 Provincial House of Bishops’ meeting 17 Finance Committee meeting 20 St. Christopher & St. Aidan, Lake Cowichan - Parish visitation 21 National Financial Management meeting Christ Church Cathedral Buildings Directors’ meeting 26 Diocesan Council meeting 27 St. Michael & All Angels, Chemainus - Parish visitation April March 29 Council of General Synod meeting, -April 15 Standing Committee on Religious Orders meeting and National House of Bishops meetings 17 St. John the Evangelist, Ladysmith 18 Christ Church Cathedral Buildings - Executive meeting 23 Christ Church Cathedral - Holy Saturday/Easter Eve Services 24 Christ Church Cathedral - Easter Day Services 28 Diocesan Council England, giving it again a sense of mission. Because of his leadership a time of dying would become a time of resurrection. Maybe, just maybe, its possible that when Christians in the future look back at us, our struggles and our doubts and our divisions and our fears of the church dying, they may say – “But why weren’t they aware of …?” - and they will name that future reason for resurrection that is as yet hidden from us and that we find so hard to imagine! Lent is best lived in the hope of Resurrection. The Rev. Canon Herbert O’Driscoll is a retired priest from the Diocese of Calgary, who is living in Victoria and enjoys being an Honorary Assistant at Christ Church Cathedral. make all important decisions by consensus, a procedure which can move a group beyond the sad ‘us versus them’ pattern to real cohesion and unity. True consensus is better than democracy! Perhaps Derek’s parish would lead the way and gently work on this topic to reach authentic consensus? The Rev. Dr. David J. Rolfe Can we change a word or two? In response to “Infection versus Holy Communion” – part four, I would like to contribute another wording that could be used during the consecration prayer. The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault at a retreat used it. Instead of “On the night that he was betrayed,” she used “On the night you were betrayed” which adds a very real sense of presence. I found the use of those words profoundly moving. Joan Holmes Re: “Infection v/s Holy Communion” Goodness, I am not really sure what the author was trying to say or in fact why he was saying it at all. With so many interesting and topical issues facing the Church today, printing such an obscure article in the Post certainly is puzzling. The Diocese has many folks, both clergy and lay, who can offer wisdom and incite on a host of topics that really matter. Why not include some of them rather than just a list of what people and congregations are doing. Barry Rolston The Diocesan Post Published by the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia The Rev. S. Edward Lewis Editor 900 Vancouver Street Victoria, BC V8V 3V7 Telephone: 250-386-27781 Fax: 250-386-4013 E-mail: thepost@bc.anglican.ca www.bc.anglican.ca/~diocesanpost Volume 45, No 3 SUBSCRIPTIONS The Anglican Journal and the Diocesan Post are sent to members of a parish who pay for it through their contributions to the National Church. Others: $15.00 per year. SUBSCRIPTIONS, CHANGE OF ADDRESS, CANCELLATIONS Please advise your parish secretary or send your subscriptions, change of address or cancellation via writing to Diocesan Post c/o Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 3G2; or email: circulation@national.anglican.ca. You can also make changes on line: visit www. anglicanjournal.com and click Subscription Centre. A Section of the Anglican Journal The Diocesan Post is a member of the Anglican Editors Association. The Diocesan Post is printed by Signal Star Publishing, a division of Bowes Publishing Ltd., 120 Huckins Street, Goderich, ON, N7A 4B6 SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE The first of the month preceding the month of publication: e.g. The deadline for the MAY issue is the first of APRIL. All material is subject to editing. MARCH 2011 THE DIOCESAN POST 3 Trinity Institute’s 41st National Theological Conference By Boyd Shaw Saint Paul’s Church, Nanaimo hosted the 41st Trinity Institute’s Theological Conference on January 20 – 21. Organized locally by the Rev. Anne Privett, 40 Anglican clergy and laity as well as a number of clergy from two other Christian Churches joined with 52 parishes in the United States, 12 from Canada and five from other countries for the two day conference using live Webcast, Skype and previously recorded presentations. Because of the time difference between the West Coast and New York some of the presentations had been previously recorded. The conference opened with a recorded sermon by Steed V. Davidson who is associate professor of Old Testament at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. After each speaker, participants gathered in Theological Reflection Groups. In the first session, Genesis 32:22-32 was read, and after a period silence the passage was read a second time followed by a short period of time to let it sink in. Members then shared a word or image that might have emerged for them. Sister Teresa Okure, Professor of New Testament and Gender Hermeneutics at Catholic Institute of West Africa, Nigeria and Head of the Department of Biblical Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Theology spoke on the question “What Is Truth?” Both the presentation and question period were conducted in real time from New York using Skype and email. In the Reflection Session, participants were asked to brainstorm about what cultural contexts have shaped their lives, what assumptions did their faith tradition provide regarding the nature of truth, and what did they hear Sister Teresa say about how truth in scripture can transcend cultural contexts. The questions created some interesting and enlightening conversation. “Reading Scripture Through Other Eyes” The next speaker was the Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann, a preeminent contemporary Bible scholar, who has had a long and distinguished teaching career and is the author of nearly sixty books. Brueggemann’s recorded presentation was “Where is the Scribe?” Each group then dealt with the following questions: With what lenses or perspectives do you read the Bible? What contribution does critical bible scholarship make to your reading and understanding of Scripture? When do we know we are making a faithful reading and interpretation of scripture? The first speaker on Friday was Gerald West, Professor in the School of Theology, University of Kwazulu-Natal and Director of the Ujamaa Center for Biblical and Theological Community Development in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. His presentation was “Do two walk together?” and included a Bible Study on Mark 12:38 – 13:2. The groups were asked to discuss the connections between the three texts - Jesus denounces the scribes, the widow’s offering, and the destruction of the Temple foretold. Participants were then asked to go back and read Mark 11: 2 - 13 to see what Jesus was saying and to determine what re-reading this text meant to one’s understanding of it. West’s approach to Bible study was one that none in the group had experienced and was a method that should be explored further. Mary Gordon, a writer who is one of the leading chroniclers of contemporary Catholic life in America presented the question, “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” The session dealt with how we tell our own stories, and it is time to consider that the four Gospel narratives tell us not only who Jesus is but also who we are. The closing Panelist was Mary Chilton Callaway, associate Professor Fordham University, NYC. Her topic was “What is the Treasure, New & Old?” This presenta- tion tied together a number of the points brought up over the two days. The closing panel discussion and the question and answer session included all speakers and the closing panelist. All the speakers responded to the following questions. Do we read scriptures on our own, deciding what to believe? Do we read them as part of a group, with a similar mindset? Does our worldview shape what we find there? We turn to the Bible as a source of inspiration, but our interpretation may differ radically from someone on the other side of the globe, contemplating the same verse. How do we read scripture together? They also spoke about the impact of cultural influences and individual perception on how we understand scripture. All of this should lead to a deeper understanding of how to practice authentic and transformative Bible study. All the participants were looking forward to next year’s Conference but unfortunately Trinity Institute announced it is going to be taking a one-year sabbatical to evaluate and improve its program. He was ordained to the Diaconate on February 16, 2005 and to the Priesthood on February 2, 2006. Fr. Lon is married to Marian and together they have six adult children. He enjoys riding and tinkering with motorcycles; he also enjoys travel, and together he and Marian share a gift of hospitality. Fr. Lon brings many gifts to ordained ministry including a down-to-earth love of humanity with which he is able to affirm the innate worth and value of individuals. What’s happening at your Cathedral! Two Lenten Learning Opportunities “Why I am an Anglican” A course in preparation for Confirmation, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, or just a refresher in Anglicanism. Leader: The Very Rev. Dr. Logan McMenamie Tuesday evenings in the Cathedral Chapter Room March 15- April 19 7:00 – 9:00 pm “Our Enigmatic Universe” A layperson’s look at the universe through the twin lens of science and religion Leader: Dr. Alan H. Batten, FRSC distinguished astronomer and author Cathedral Chapter Room 7:00 pm March 16: When I consider Thy heavens…what is Man that thou art mindful of him? March 23: Are there more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy? March 30: Is the universe designed? April 6: What is mind? April 13: Does God contradict Himself? Weekly Services Sunday First Incumbent appointed to the Parish of St. Peter and St. Paul, Esquimalt Bishop James Cowan has appointed the Rev. Lon Towstego to be the first Incumbent of the Parish of St. Peter and St. Paul, Esquimalt. The effective date of this appointment is April 1, 2011. Fr. Lon has been the Chaplain at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre and the Nanaimo Correctional Centre since August 2006. Prior to taking up these duties, Fr. Lon was the Curate at St. Paul, Nanaimo, having graduated from the College of Emmanuel St. Chad in 2006. Photo: submitted Participants at the conference take part in one of the pannel discussions. Monday and Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Photo: submitted The Rev. Lon Towstego 8:00 am Holy Eucharist (BCP) 9:15 am Contemporary Eucharist 11:00 am Choral Holy Eucharist (BCP) 4:30 pm Choral Evensong 8:45 am Morning Prayer 12:15 pm Holy Eucharist 5:15 pm Evening Prayer 9:30 am School Chapel 12:15 pm Holy Eucharist 7:30 am Holy Eucharist Followed by breakfast 5:15 pm Evening Prayer at West Doors 8:45 am Morning Prayer 5:15 pm Holy Eucharist 8:45 am Holy Eucharist “Our Diocesan Cathedral” 900 Burdett Ave. Victoria, Bc V8V 3G8 Phone: 250-383-2714 website: www.christchurchcathedral.bc.ca 4 THE DIOCESAN POST MARCH 2011 Climbing the Steps By Nancy Ford Evening Prayer is said or sung each day in Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria. On Thursdays it is said at the west doors. The Thursday Liturgy is both contemporary and traditional and begins with a prayer or meditation about those who work, live and struggle in the city. Changes planned for Cursillo A candle, donated for this purpose, illuminates the worshippers and offers an invitation. The light calls people to pay attention, to wonder what might be happening just inside the glass doors. It is meant to be a signal that the stairs are a bridge connecting two worlds. It is an invitation to people within the Cathedral to come to the threshold of the city and it is an invitation to the passersby to climb the steps. Awareness of the city is part of the worship. It can be a time of noisy silence. We are often “interrupted” by those who have climbed the steps. Some come for solace, quiet or curiosity. They may take a moment to listen; they may join in, or simply walk quietly by. Christ in the form of a homeless person may interrupt the order of things with questions or comments. Christ in the form of someone’s silent despair may call us to compassion and attentiveness. Christ in the shape of someone nurturing an ancient hurt may challenge us. All these are opportunities and are woven into the fabric of the worship and prayer. At the end of the service we move onto the steps and together offer our prayers to the city. Thursday Evening Prayer is a time of quiet radical hospitality. Photo: Nancy Ford Prayers for the City Let us dream that our prayers dance down the streets as if driven by the wind May they gently touch the child laughing with rare joy May they move into the awareness of the well dressed man stuck in aloneness May they warm the grieving woman, whispering things eternal May they envelop the teenager in the throes of their first great sadness May they rejoice with the couple whose ancient love has been rekindled. Let us dream that our prayers weave others into the possibilities of the Holy One May they sooth the deep hurts of harsh words in the name of things eternal May they invite and intrigue the wondering May they remind the busy and the care-worn of remembered peace May they knit into the hearts of those who have lost hope May they grow a cloth of vitality and joy. Amen Selkirk Region Lenten Series Addiction and Spirituality “Addiction floods in where self-knowledge and therefore divine knowledge are missing.” Gabor Mate Come and share a simple meal, listen to presentations and have conversations about faith and brokenness. The evening begins at 6.15 pm with the meal and presentations start at 7.00 pm. March 22 – St. Peter and St. Paul Church, 1379 Esquimalt Rd “When Substance Use becomes a Problem” Gordon Harper, Executive Director of the Umbrella Society March 29 – Church of the Advent, 510 Mount View Ave. “Your Brain on God” The Rev. Dr. Martin Brokenleg April 4 (Monday) – St. John the Divine, 1611 Quadra St. “Church and other Drugs” The Very Rev. Dr. Logan McMenamie April 12 - Holy Trinity, 1962 Murray Rd., Sooke “Bringing Biology and Spirituality Together” Gwen Ewan, Registered Clinical Counsellor For further information contact The Rev Nancy Ford at 250-589-8817 or email: nford@christchurchcathedral.bc.ca After twenty-five years of Cursillo Weekends in the Diocese of British Columbia, Cursillistas are rethinking some of the assumptions underlying the movement. There is a greater emphasis on participation in Group Reunions and Ultreyas. There is also a desire to move away from weekends conducted in church halls and basements, to Cursillo Weekends conducted in residential retreat centres and the like. It is hoped that those who, for reasons of health or inclination, did not participate in the weekends either as team members or as candidates will now feel able to participate. The cost of a Cursillo Weekend conducted at a retreat centre is higher than one conducted in a church hall. It is anticipated that the cost will be close to $200.00 per person. The Cursillo Secretariat is considering various funding models to accommodate this change. In the past sponsors and team members have borne the cost of the weekend and since team members were also sponsors the burden was sometimes twofold. The increased cost of weekends could make participation beyond the reach of some who would otherwise participate. There is the danger of making Seeing It Through Your Eyes Art Show St. Luke’s Church Hall Lounge 3821 Cedar Hill X Rd March 10 - 17 Seeing It Through Your Eyes is an Art Show, showcasing ten artists from five different faith communities and various cultures. Its theme is inter-faith dialogues from the Baha’i, Portuguese Roman Catholic (Our Lady of Fatima), The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the Victoria Hindu Temple, and Congregation Emanu-El. A series of inter-faith dialogues have been happening over the last few months with the various congregations, the public, and ten artists. The art show will be the final unveiling of this unique journey represented through visual art. Opening Night: March 10, 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Weekday hours: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Sunday hours: 1:00 – 4:00 pm. For more information, contact Romy at 250-920-0373. As part of St. Luke’s 150th Anniversary celebrations, a revised version of the book A History of St. Luke’s Anglican Church was produced. The revised edition includes updated written material and photos on the various groups in the parish, as well as the historical information of the growth of the parish, and is available for purchase at a cost of $10 by calling St. Luke’s office at 250-477-6741 or emailing st.lukes@shaw.ca A book about St. Luke’s churchyard, Gone but Not Forgotten, A History of St. Luke’s Churchyard, written by Pam Gaudio and Bev Ellison is also available from the church office at a cost of $10. It provides interesting, short biographies of 194 of the more than 1000 people buried in St. Luke’s Cemetery. participation out of reach for some due to cost while is becomes possible for others due to the change in accommodations. This is not a desired outcome. The Secretariat of the Cursillo Movement in this Diocese has determined that the way weekends are funded must change. Candidates will now be asked to pay for the cost of their weekends. This will be consistent with most other dioceses. Without any other source of funding, those who work on the weekend as team members will also be asked to pay the cost of their attendance. This may place a financial burden on some Cursillistas who wish to serve on a weekend. However Cursillo BC would like to ensure that ability to pay is never the determining factor in the decision to participate. A fund from which financial support may be offered would be a blessing to many who might not otherwise be able to attend a weekend as a candidate or a team member. To meet these objectives Cursillo BC needs a nest egg. It is suggested that each member of the Cursillo community in the Diocese consider donating to the movement a dollar a week or more as the Spirit leads. The request would amount to about $50.00 per year. The question for each Cursillista is this - what value is the Cursillo Movement in this Diocese? Is the continued viability of Cursillo BC as important as a cup of coffee once a week? Those for whom this request is reasonable, and for whom Cursillo is of sufficient importance are encouraged to forward a donation payable to Diocese of BC Cursillo, or to make a designated donation through their parish. A cheque, or a series of post-dated cheques, made payable to Diocese of BC Cursillo, can be mailed to Doug Bradshaw, c/o The Anglican Diocese of BC, 900 Vancouver Street, Victoria, BC V8V 3V7. Charitable donation receipts will be mailed to donors in the new year. Both active and non-active Cursillistas are invited to make comments and suggestions as to how to support and foster the growth and strength of the Cursillo movement in the diocese either by email to any secretariat members through the website at www.cursillo.bc.ca, or by mail to the address above. MARCH 2011 THE DIOCESAN POST 5 Anti - Kipper a column for young people Su McLeod Diocesan Family Ministry Facilitator The Rhythm of Lent Do you ever have those moments of sheer brilliance and clarity of thought; isn’t it great when that happens?! Once you have such moments though, what do you? Give thanks? Whooo thanks God, you rock! Jump in to action? Tadaa! or Wait? You ponder this thought, share the vision and wait. It’s that last point I wish to ponder with you, the waiting. Some might call this action, inaction, procrastination or faffing around, whilst others might call it quiet contemplation, reflection, prayer. What is the reason behind the waiting? It was only a couple of months ago now that we waited as a community, together, with great anticipation. What did you do to hear God’s call and the angel’s voice? Are you still doing it? Here we are on the cusp of another such time, as we enter Lent, a time even more than Advent where we intentionally, listen to Gods call....right?! Where did this moment of brilliance and clarity come from? Have you ever noticed that when you are looking for something in particular how hard it is to find? Maybe it’s the fourth corner in the jigsaw puzzle, a ‘loonie’ for the parking meter, that one word in your word jumble. When we are so focused on looking and seeking what we think we need, we miss the meaning of what is before us. We dismiss these things as insignificant or as obstacles. The corner puzzle piece is already there.You have a dollar in quarters. That one word you’re looking for is the word used as an example in the beginning. That niggling thought/ idea you have had in your mind, that one you have been ignoring, has been fed by the conversations you have had, the movies you have watched, the songs you have heard, the news that you have seen, and suddenly you realize the connections. By Matthew Cook It was with heavy and angry hearts that we read of the murder of David Kato Kinsuule, a human rights advocate brutally beaten to death in his home, most likely, by someone he knew. Such is the state of viciousness that surrounds the advocacy of homosexual rights in Uganda. On February 3, in Christ Church Cathedral some of us gathered to pay homage to a man who left the safety of South Africa, where his sexuality was not a danger to him, and returned home to his native Uganda where his work was, and still is, desperately needed. Founding the group Sexual Minorities of Uganda, Mr. Kinsuule put himself in harm’s way, and there he remained until his death. Upon his death, this member of our Church was not buried by a priest but by a lay reader. What is the reason behind the waiting? We journey to thin places; we all have or know of these thin places, Iona, Sorrento, Camp Columbia, that place where only you know. We know of these places because of experiences, either our own or of others. Not all thin places require the need to travel a couple of hours or across a few time zones. Some of these thin places are here, right here where you are, right now, where I AM. Where I AM. Is that not what its all about? Recognizing the I AM in the places we are, in this place, hearing God’s call and the Angel’s voice. As we enter this season of Lent, challenge yourself, your family to do a practice that grows with you, as you grow with God, something that goes beyond the forty days of Lent. You will notice some changes in your Church as we enter this season of Lent, the colour of the linens changes from Green to Purple. There are no flowers around the altar. The music sounds different. The ‘Alleluia’ Hebrew for ‘Praise the Lord’ and the ‘Gloria’ meaning ‘Glory to God’ have been taken out of the liturgy. Worship becomes more…reflective. Break an inexpensive bowl, and put it back together. The cracks remind us of our own brokenness. If you place a light underneath, you will see the light coming through the cracks. In the same way that God is seen through our brokenness. Take one of the pieces and smooth the edges on some sand paper. It will take time, as some of the best things do. As you smooth the edges think and pray about those things that stop you from growing in relationship with God, with someone else, for a relationship that needs healing. Fasting is a common spiritual practice, thoughout the world religions. During Lent consider fasting from the things that distract you, consume your time and feed you unhealthily. Seek to recognize God in all people and share that with them, by complimenting them - maybe your sister, brother, partner, colleague, friend or stranger. Make pretzels. Pretzels with their origin in the early Christian church, are shaped in the form of arms crossed in prayer. As fat, eggs, and milk were forbidden during Lent, special bread was made with dough consisting of only flour, salt, and water.You can find a recipe on the internet. How can you observe Lent through prayer, penance and sacrifice, as a family and learn to be more attentive to the words of Jesus and to each other? Focus your time on spiritual growth and renewal, as you seek to learn from the teachings of Jesus. Journey these forty days of Lent with Jesus, seeking to find the thin places. Have a quiet time each week (or each day). Take time for silence, time to be quiet & in prayer – no electronic devices. Some ideas: As we celebrate Easter we will have spent the past 40 days in contemplation and reflection. Take a prayer walk around your school, church, the lake, a specific an area of need in your community. Watch (on YouTube) 40 - A Video Of Jesus In The Wilderness by Si Smith “it’s an idea that I borrowed/nicked from the artist Stanley Spencer. He once embarked on a project to paint 40 images of Christ in the wilderness - one for each day of Lent - but he never completed it. I love the images from that series that he did finish, and had always thought that it was a neat concept...” Look up Stanley Spencer’s paintings of Christ in the Wilderness, accompanied with scripture, consider embarking on your own 40 project Use clay as a prayer aid, remembering to give yourself up and allow God to shape you. Consider listening to some music that helps you connect to the theme of Lent. Use your everyday routines with intentionality to experience, hear and share God. Now what? Where do we go from here? Maybe some of the practices will continue, maybe we will continue to go through life claiming to proclaim, when really we are darting, dashing and scraping through. What will it take to get your attention? God’s tune is playing; the rhythm is in your soul. Do you choose to listen and move to that rhythm or turn the volume down? As the saying goes, the choice is yours. What is the reason behind the waiting? Well, only you know the answer to that. Remembering our Responsibility During his funeral service, the reader began to make inappropriate remarks condemning homosexuality and stated the Church of Uganda’s position, that homosexuality is a sin and goes against the Bible. In the midst of this diatribe a member of Sexual Minorities of Uganda seized the microphone from the reader and began to defend Mr. Kinsuule’s life and work in what had become an anti-gay rally. These are difficult times to be an Anglican, difficult times to belong to a Church that has such colonial baggage. I call this colonial because when the British Empire spread its commonwealth across the globe, it also spread its antisodomy laws with it, thus the same laws that imprisoned Oscar Wilde in 19th century Britain are the lineage of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill pending in the Uganda parliament. That is part of the history, but it would be a lie to call it the whole picture. Whereas the American rights movements have lost so much ground on homosexual issues on this continent, they have been strategically pooling their efforts into twisting other countries’ domestic policy. Kapya Kaoma, an Anglican priest from Zambia, has clearly documented connections between the far right funding, to Holocaust revisionist Scott Lively, to Ugandan politicians. In his report Globalizing the Culture Wars: US Conservatives, African Churches, and Homophobia he ties these connections together and does justice to the complexity to the hornets’ nest our communion is being sucked into. I only allude to these issues to present some of this complexity, as I fear that the polemics of the same-sex marriage debates within our Church give the illusion that there are easy answers on how we, as a communion, address the murder of David Kinsuule. I hold that it would be an added insult to his death to not see it as a result of a very complex mess. Let us do justice to his memory; let us embrace the complexity of this madness with the cutting light that we have been given by the example of Christ. For no matter where we stand in the maelstrom of homosexual issues, Jesus is quite clear what we are to do with stones and sinners. Our God is a God of reconciliation, a God that wishes for us to be as one, and I believe that our Church has been consistent in advocating tolerance and mutual respect in this pursuit. As Archbishop Rowan Williams said to the African Bishops Conference six months ago: “We have a have the responsibility, brothers and sisters, of showing the world how precious a thing is a human being – and a special responsibility to show the world the preciousness of those who are hated or neglected by others or by society at large.” Let us live up to this responsibility. Let us not risk deepening the divisions in a world already so fragmented. Our faith is about meeting the other, encountering the reject of society as Jesus would greet a leaper. Surely if we are so devout in our fight for the politics of the Church, we can be sincere in our approach to each other. 6 THE DIOCESAN POST MARCH 2011 Victoria to host “Safe Church Consultation” Partnering for Prevention: Addressing Abuse in our Communion & in our Communities By Marion Little An international conference titled “Partnering for Prevention” is scheduled to be held in Victoria June 24-26 at the University of Victoria. This major conference is being hosted by The Anglican Communion Safe Church Consultation in collaboration with the Diocese of British Columbia, Christ Church Cathedral, the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria, and the Anglican Foundation of Canada. The Anglican Communion Safe Church Consultation is an international Anglican group that asks hard questions about how abuse is perpetuated, how it can be prevented, how to support healing when it happens, and most importantly, how to foster healthier relationships in the first place. The Consultation has invited the Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune, founder and senior analyst of the Faithtrust Institute in Seattle, to address the social and religious structures that perpetuate or prevent abuse. The legacy of abuse will be discussed by the Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, Anglican Indigenous Bishop of Canada, and Dr. Patricia Vickers, noted Canadian and Aboriginal ethno-consultant. The conference includes an array of workshops on issues from bullying to sexual violence and human trafficking, as well as tools for response and prevention such as the ‘Respect Ed’ program of the Canadian Red Cross, and policies developed across the Communion. The keyspeakers Dr. Patricia Vickers is an ethnoconsultant with more than 20 years of professional experience in education, mental health, conflict resolution and capacity building. She completed her PhD dissertation studying the transormative power of Ayaawx (Ts’Msyen Ancestral Law). Her ancestry is Heiltsuk, Ts’msyen and Haida as well as British. She is presently working for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and consulting with First Nations communities on Vancouver Island. She brings rich personal and professional experience and insights of transformation to Partnering for Prevention. The Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald is the first Indigenous Anglican Bishop of Canada. He was selected for that office by the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, appointed by the Primate in January 2007, and installed in June 2007. He was Alaska’s seventh bishop from 1997 untill 2007. He is the author of several papers and journal articles on Native ministries. In his newly created ministry in Canada, he is pastor to Canada’s First Nations as they work with the proceedings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in resolving claims of abuse and suffering over the course of Canada’s Residential School history and its legacy. A pioneer in the field of religion and domestic violence since 1976, the Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune is a leading American expert on sexual exploitation by religious leaders. Rev. Fortune is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ, as well as an author, educator, ethicist and theologian. She is Founder and Senior Analyst of the Seattle-based Faith Trust Institute, and has served in the USA on the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women and the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence. Workshop leaders include barristers, lawyers, clergy, child protection officers, and educators. The Diocesan Canon Pastor, Ms. Marion Little states, “that if the Church ever hopes to attract and retain discerning young adults and young families, we need to assertively address the issues around abuse, its perpetuation, how to prevent it and how to support healing.” She believes the Church is uniquely positioned to meet basic human needs for sanctuary, meaning, purpose, and belonging. “But that we can’t hope to serve the latter three without ensuring that we truly provide the first to every member,” says Little. She continued “Providing sanctuary for each other is the most central aspect of Christianity in my mind. If we cannot provide true sanctuary to our most vulnerable, and respond compassionately and quickly when we fail, we might as well lock our doors and go home.” According to past Canon Pastor, Rev. Mary Louise Meadow, “We must acknowledge that abuse happens, and that it can only be addressed by working together, across ecclesial and community boundaries.” Little and Meadow both note that abuse happened in Canada’s residential schools in no small measure because of the uses of Church by the government, and vice versa, in implementing deeply flawed policies of colonization and domination. They see its continuation in the legacy of suffering among many of our Aboriginal families and communities. They also point out that abuse is a risk in any social context where some people are placed in positions of power and authority over others (particularly if those others are vulnerable due to age, ability, or distress). Meadow identifies, more specifically, that “abuse happens in the Church because we perpetuate structures of clericalism which place clergy in unrealistic positions of power and adulation among the faithful.” She concludes, “abuse happens to vulnerable children and adults because we embrace and perpetuate theologies of domination and atonement in the interests of preserving the heritage of a regal past.” Little The Contemplative Society From Tourist to Pilgrim A journey from “church” focused to “mission” focused spirituality Women’s Retreat Weekend May 6 – 8 Camp Columbia Facilitator: Rev. Nancy Ford Worship Leader: Rev. Elizabeth Fussell Music Leader: Diane Bell Cost: $125.00 Registration Deadline: April 25 For registration form please contact your parish office 0r Brenda Dhaene, 2291 Calais Road, Duncan, BC, V9L 5V2 presents Cynthia Bourgeault March 18 – 22 Contemplative Retreat Poet’s Cove Resort, Pender Island, BC For information email admin@contemplative.org, or call 250-381-9650 ❦ March 23, Noon to 1:00 pm Noon Lenten Forum St. John the Divine Anglican Church 1611 Quadra Street, Victoria BC Free ❦ March 23, 7:00 – 9:00 pm An Evening with Cynthia Bourgeault: “Wisdom Way of Knowing: A Path of Transformation” Rm. C102, David Strong building, University of Victoria by donation emphasizes that this is an issue for lay leaders as well. The Safe Church Consultation which takes the entire Communion to task on these very points began to emerge several years ago through the work of Rev. Mary Louise Meadow during her term as Canon Pastor. Meadow, and the Rev. Bruce Bryant Scott, Diocesan Executive Officer attended the 2004 conference of the Nathan Network in California, which served as an important catalyst. The Nathan Network is a group of clergy and laity in the Episcopal Church who support one another in developing abuse prevention programs. Over the course of that conference Meadow and Bryant-Scott found not only Americans but also Australians sharing concerns and experiences about harm in our midst and what our response should be as a Christian community. This critical conversation had expanded beyond the bounds of our continent and a fledgling international group now known as the Anglican Communion Safe Church Consultation was formed. The Safe Church Consultation formalized its identity and structure during Lambeth 2008 at a conference in Woking, Surrey, where participants gathered from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand as well as Canada, Australia and the United States. Sharing stories and experiences about addressing abuse in our respective provinces and countries led the Consultation to seek status as a network within the Anglican Communion. It is now recognized as a valuable resource for those responding to the broad spectrum of harm and abuse suffered by vulnerable members of the church and the communities we serve. Little says, “Together, we have set the partnership standard for engaging the important work of abuse prevention in our Communion and in our communities.” Rev. Mary Louise Meadow and Ms. Marion Little, Canon Pastor for the Diocese of British Columbia Sexual Misconduct Policy are coordinating the Partnering for Prevention conference. For more information about the conference visit: www.aco.org/networks; or email: partnerforprevent@ shaw.ca. MARCH 2011 THE DIOCESAN POST 7 By Derek Dunwoody Here I am, in the nowness of now, becoming more and more excited and indeed, grateful to be an Anglican-style Christian in this day and age. Why so? Well, strange though it may seem, because there are some very noticeable cracks developing in the corpus Anglicanensis a.k.a. “God’s Frozen Chosen”. This is where global warming “is a good thing” as Martha Stewart used to say; new green shoots are sprouting through the ice. Let’s change analogies and shift our gaze to the humble caterpillar. Some time ago it cocooned itself and is now a dark brown chrysalis looking quite inert. However, if one were to look closely, little cracks can be observed and also there seems to be some movement within. The next thing we notice is that this small creature has a name written along its side: “The Anglican Diocese of British Columbia”. Yes, on the face of it, things seem to be falling apart. Some parishes have been closed down and others amalgamated due to catastrophic drops in membership and consequent shrinkage of funds. Others have gone off in a huff into quasi-Anglican collectives because of gender issues based on rather obtuse interpretations of a few verses from the Bible and also related doctrinal statements drawn up eons ago. But take courage; it is always darkest before the dawn! In one of the reports drawn up by the Diocesan Commission that was created to suggest strategies for coping with our new diocesan realities, there was a summary of steps that St. Barnabas’ Church 1525 Begbie Street (Corner Belmont & Begbie) stbarnabas@telus.net 250-595-4324 Sunday Concert Series April 10 - 3:00 pm Rising Stars: Students from the Collegium Program for Young Musicians. $10. Family Service Saturdays at 5.00 pm Candlelight Compline Fourth Sunday of the month at 8:00 pm meditative service of choral singing and monastic chant Cracks in the Chrysalis? needed to be taken if our diocese is to continue to be viable. These steps are as schizophrenic as all get out. At the head of the list are such statements as “Business as usual is no longer an option”, and “Parishes should be given freedom to try new ways of ministry.” But at the bottom of the list are several items that appear to be “non-negotiables” e.g. the continued use and teaching of the Apostles and Nicene Creeds and some similar equally restrictive caveats. In other words, “Business had better be as usual or else!” In his latest book, The Future of Faith, Dr. Harvey Cox shows from the written records of the first three centuries of the Church how it devolved from being a community of Faith to a kind of doctrine controlled corporation with a top-down management style in which the expression of compassion was an uncommon experience. This is how Cox succinctly describes the process: “Christianity erupted into history as a movement of the Spirit animated by faith-by hope and confidence in the dawning of the era of shalom that Jesus had demonstrated and announced. The “Reign of God” would include both Jews and Gentiles. The poor would be vindicated, the outsiders brought in. For nearly three centuries the Age of Faith thrived. Then, however, in a relatively short time, this inclusive new Reign faded and what had begun as a vigorous popular movement curdled into a top-heavy edifice defined by obligatory beliefs enforced by a hierarchy.” (The Future of Faith p.71) Compare this quote with the “non-negotiables” I mentioned in a previous paragraph and you will recognise the last dying kicks of hierarchical control. Now we have clear evidence of the cracks in the constraining chrysalis, which is the current condition of our diocese. The population at large has more sense than to align itself with the current perversion of how Jesus envisioned his purpose. Through recent research and reflection many of us have increasingly realized that his purpose was to cry, “Wake up the latent ability within you to live into the awareness of the presence of the Compassionate Holy Mystery in your hearts and let it flow out from you into all of humanity”. The emerging butterfly will eventually escape from the chrysalis and fully unfold its colourful translucent wings of the Spirit. Compassion, mysticism, healing and a message of hope for everyone will once again be the characteristics of the Community of the Church. This is the future of Faith. Where do you see it beginning to happen already, right in your own parish? Hang in there; we live in exiting times! The Rev. Derek Dunwoody is a retired priest from the Diocese of Calgary residing in Victoria. LENTEN NOON FORUM The Church of St. John the Divine 1611 Quadra Street, Victoria Tel: 250-383-7169 www.stjohnthedivine.bc.ca Wednesdays 12:00 noon -1:00 p.m. Bring a bag lunch – coffee and tea available “The Future of Church” March 16: Teaming and Scheming Three saints with four clergy How do you let the community around your church know you’re alive, active and up to new things? How do you create enticing thresholds for newcomers to step over and discover church in fresh ways? Members of the Three Saints Team Ministry in Saanich will talk about their experiences of forming a team out of three Anglican parishes, and learning by trial, error and flights of imagination how to connect with the community around them. From Messy Church and primal ooze to Theology Pub and the big questions, come and hear what they’ve been up to! Lucy Reid, Scott McLeod, Christopher Parsons and Betty Miller are clergy serving three parishes in central Saanich in a new imaginative team approach. Mystics and Contemplatives as Visionaries Cynthia Bourgeault and Prophets March 23: In this new percolation of the spirit that is often being called nowadays “The Emerging Church,” it is the mystics and contemplatives who will emerge as the prophets and visionaries— because their contemplative practice makes this evolution virtually inescapable. Cynthia Bourgeault is an Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader. She divides her time between solitude on Eagle Island, Maine, and a demanding schedule travelling globally to teach and spread the recovery of the Christian contemplative path. Cynthia has worked closely with Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, Richard Rohr, as well as many other contemplative teachers and masters within Christianity and other spiritual traditions. From Mainline to Sideline to Heartline something new in something old Wendy Fletcher March 30: Weekend Workshop April 9 & 16, 9:15 AM- 5:00 PM The lounge at St. Luke’s Anglican Church Cedar Hill X-Road Leader: Barbara Baillie (Mid-life consultant, teacher, spiritual director, counselor, art therapist) Fee: $150 (includes manual) Mid-life can be a crisis of negative feelings, a world falling apart or an exciting opportunity for new beginnings. Mid-life transition can begin in our 30’s and go on into our 60’s or later. This weekend workshop leads each person into a process of discovery of the “Self within” that needs to emerge in the second half of life. It includes the insights of Judeo-Christian spirituality and Jungian psychology. Both men and women welcome To register: Call: South Island Centre For Counseling and Training: 250-472-2851 Or email: info@southislandcentre.ca Bring a bag lunch. Liquids will be provided. For decades historic “mainline” Protestant Christianity has been in dramatic numeric decline; the tide has been ‘out’ . Wendy will explore the relationship of religious enthusiasm to the phenomenon of decline in the West arguing that despite all numeric indices, the tide is now turning and a new day in religious enthusiasm among the exhausted intellectualism of the West is rising. What will this mean for us living in the aftermath of Christendom? Wendy Fletcher is Principal and Dean of Vancouver School of Theology. She also holds the rank of professor, teaching in the areas of the spirituality of leadership and social history and has served at VST for 10 years. Prior to coming to UBC, Wendy served as professor of history at the University of Western Ontario, Huron College for 12 years. April 6: Metaphors and Mystery:Discerning the Coming Church John Privett As Christians we live with a variety of metaphors or images of what the church has been and will be. There are some metaphors that seem to be gaining in importance in guiding the development of the life of the future church. This will be a time to reflect on some of the metaphors we live by and some that we might find life-giving for a faithful future. Archbishop John Privett has served in parishes in Alberta and British Columbia, and was ordained Bishop in 2009 as Bishop of Kootenay (south eastern B.C.) and later that year was elected Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia and Yukon. He is passionate about the life of parishes for they are the most common places where the gospel is heard, nourished and lived out. He is particularly interested in Congregational Development, Dialogue, Christian Formation and Spiritual Direction. Encouraging Good Questions: returning to Chris Lind the Wisdom Schools April 13: What would happen if, as churches, we stopped claiming that we had all the right answers and instead started helping each other ask better questions? Dr. Christopher Lind is an Ethicist and Theologian serving as Executive Director of the Sorrento Centre in British Columbia. His most recent book is Rumours of a Moral Economy published by Fernwood Publishing, Winnipeg, 2010. He is also a Senior Fellow at Massey College, Toronto. 8 THE DIOCESAN POST MARCH 2011 New Incumbent appointed for St. Philip’s, Cedar The Rev. Howard Adan has been appointed Incumbent of St. Philip, Cedar, effective April 1, 2011. He comes to the diocese from the parish of St. John and St. Philip, located in The Hague, Netherlands. Rev. Adan is married to Renata and together they have four daughters. Their youngest daughter, Evan, will graduate from high school in July, so Renata and she will stay in Holland until then. During the period 1986 to 1999 he and Renata were involved with ‘Youth with a Mission’ in both Amsterdam and North Africa. After that period Rev. Adan served as airport chaplain in Amsterdam and chaplain for ministry development in Belgium; as well he has served as Curate, Bishop’s Assistant and Associate Priest in parishes in Amsterdam and The Hague. Other Personnel Notes Steve and Karen Beal, a husband and wife team; have accepted an offer of employment as the director and administrator, respectively, at Camp Columbia. Their contract will run from March 1 to and including Oct 31. Steve and Karen hail from the UK and their employment is contingent on their receiving the necessary visa or work permit allowing them to work in Canada. Terry Mikkonen has accepted the offer of ongoing employment with the Diocese. The Rev. Rick Root has relinquished the exercise of ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada effective 25 January 2011. Prayer Book Society of Canada Vancouver Island Branch Meeting St. Peter’s Church 218 Church Street Comox Saturday, March 19 The Rev. Anne Privett Speaker Beginning at11:00 am and concluding with Evensong at 2:30 pm Please bring your own bag lunch. Koinonia Christian Books & Gifts 1119 Blanshard Street Victoria, BC V8W 2H7 250-382-5814 1-800-663-6290 Books for Lent Photo: H. Adan Rev.Howie Adan (centre) with Old Catholic Bishop of Haarlem, Dirk-Jan Schoon and Ecumenical Patriarchate Bishop of Sinope, Athenagoras (Yves Peckstadt). Lent and Easter - Wisdom from: - Henri J. M. Nouwen - compiled by Judy Bauer - Thomas Merton - by Jonathan Montaldo - G. K. Chesterton - by T. Satterlee & R. Moore-Jumonville - St. Francis and St. Clare - by John V. Kruse Gifts from within - Women’s Meditations for Lent by the Women of Brigid’s Place Shadows, Darkness and Dawn - A Lenten Journey with Jesus Thomas R. Steagald 40 Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer Ron Klug, editor Four Days in Spring Christ Suffering, Dying, and Rising in Our Lives Herbert O’Driscoll For Children: Lent is for children (stories, activities, prayers) Julie Kelemen Lent for kids 2011 Jesus leads the way Mary Kathleen Glavich,SND St John’s House 3937 St. Peter’s Road Victoria, BC Phone 250-920-7787 E-mail: bchouse@ssjd.ca The Chapel of St. John SERVICE TIMES Tuesdays – Saturdays: Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday: Thursday: Morning Prayer 9 am Eucharist 12 noon Mid-day Office 12 noon Eucharist 5 pm Tuesday, Wednesday Evening Prayer 5 pm Friday Evening Prayer & Compline 5 pm Saturday Celtic Vespers 7.30 pm Compline: Tuesday and Wednesday 8.30 pm Thursday 7.30 pm Sunday and Monday there are no regular times for services. Please call if you plan to come to services in case the times have been changed due to mission engagements, etc. Coming events at St. John’s House Please call 250-920-7787 to register or indicate attendance. Deepening your relationship with God through the Monastic Vows Led by Sr. Brenda Friday, March 18, 6:00 pm (supper) - Sunday, March 20, (after lunch). Sooke Discover how the monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience can enhance your spiritual life and your relationship with God. Cost $125 includes accommodation and meals. Numbers are limited. The Gardens in Scripture and in our Spiritual Life A Wednesday evening series during Lent March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at St. John’s House This series will focus on the various gardens in Scripture and in our own life as we journey through Lent towards Easter. Each evening will end with a short service of Compline (the monastic late evening prayer). Suggested contribution for each evening: $10. Come for one evening or all five evenings. Registrations due March 14 A Garden Work party at St John’s House! A Saturday of Work and Fun April 16, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. St. John’s House Come and help prepare the garden for planting at St John’s House! This is a time of fellowship and fun, as well as a good work out! At noon: Share Eucharist together, then soup and a bun for lunch! Please call 250-920-7787 if coming. Baptism gowns, Easter Greeting Cards Devotionals, CDs, Gift Books, Children’s Books Communion Wafers (both People’s and Priest’s) Altar Candles MUSIC AT MIDDAY St. Paul’s Church 29 Church Street, Nanaimo Organist: Peter Orme Director of Music, St. Paul’s Church Wednesday, April 13 “Music for the Morning” Music by Elgar, Buxtehude, and Grieg Wednesday, May 11 “Music for the Evening” Music by Elgar, Rheinberger, and Karg-Elert 12.15 – 12.45 p.m. Admission free donations to St. Paul’s organ fund John Dominic Crossan Conference On The Lord’s Prayer Church of St. John the Divine 1611 Quadra Street, Victoria March 18-20 The Lord’s Prayer is the only prayer Jesus ever taught, and is prayed by the world’s 2.5 billion Christians. Crossan will show us why this seemingly simple prayer sparked a revolution and why praying it is critical for our time. Dom will give four lectures at the conference at St. John the Divine - Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon. He will also preach at the 10:00 am service on the Sunday. Pre-register now for the conference by emailing admin@stjohnthedivine.bc.ca Dom’s book, The Greatest Prayer is available at Koinonia Books and other locations.