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Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2020 · by anglicanlifenl

An excerpt from the February 2018 editorial about Valentine by editor, Emily Rowe.

We have a lovely bright warm spot in the middle of the month with Valentine’s Day. As a kid, that meant making a “mailbox” in school from an old cereal box or something, and then the excitement of passing around Valentines to our friends, and getting them in return. As we get older, there is the romantic pressure of the day—the expected grand gesture or gift. But of course there must be more to the story of Valentine than the gifts, the fancy suppers, and even more than the funny little cards that we gave to our classmates.

Actually, there is very little that we know for certain about St. Valentine. We know that he existed in third century Rome, and that he was martyred for his faith and buried in a cemetery that is north of Rome. The name “Valentine” itself was popular at the time, and comes from the word valens, which means worthy, strong, or powerful. There are a dozen saintswho are venerated in the Roman calendar, and who share this name.

The most common version of the legend of this St. Valentine is that he was the Bishop of Terni, Narnia, and Amelia in central Italy. While under house arrest, a Roman judge questioned him on the legitimacy of Christianity and the faith in Jesus Christ. Valentine was challenged to restore the sight of the judge’s daughter through the power of prayer, and if he could do that, the judge would do whatever Valentine asked. So Valentine put his hands on the girl’s eyes, prayed, and her sight returned.

The judge asked what he should do in response to this miracle, and Valentine replied that all of the idols that were around the judge’s house should be destroyed, that the judge himself should fast for three days, and he should then be baptised a Christian. The judge agreed, and also freed all of the Christian slaves that were under his authority—he, his family, and all of the members of his household were baptised.

Valentine was later arrested again, and was sent to the emperor Claudius Gothicus himself. The emperor liked Valentine, but grew angry when Valentine tried to persuade him to be baptised too. Claudius insisted that Valentine should renounce his faith or else be beheaded. When Valentine refused this request, he was executed on February 14th, 269.

photo from http://www.unsplash.com by Laura Briedis

There are many other legends of Valentine, and many reasons given for his later association with romantic love, including theories about Valentine’s Day being an attempt to take over the pagan holiday of Lupercalia (celebrated mid-February in Roman times). Many of these legends were actually invented in 14th century England, notably by the poet Geoffrey Chaucer, and are now dismissed in serious academic circles. However, in the almost complete absence of any real stories of Valentine, there seems little harm in taking time in the middle of a cold and dreary month to think about loved ones, to celebrate important relationships in our lives, to cut out red cardboard hearts, and maybe even to eat a bit of chocolate. The saints are there to point us to the love of God, and in many ways, regardless of the truth behind his many legends, St. Valentine reminds us all to love, and that is fundamental to our lives as Christians.

“A Real Valentine” service in Port aux Basques

February 13, 2020 · by anglicanlifenl

The full story will appear in the April issue of Anglican Life; article and photographs by Lisa Brown.

At St. James’ Church in Port aux Basques on February 9th, the youth of our congregationheld a youth service. The theme of our service was “A Real Valentine”. The children passed out the bulletins and valentines to all the congregation, and they also picked up the collection, sang songs, and read. Kolby Musseau, one of our youth servers, played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. We had a puppet show with the help of Edwina Bateman and Barbara Hardy. After the service cupcakes were given out to the congregation. It was a wonderful morning of worship.

Ron and Melanie Clarke’s Column for February

February 11, 2020 · by anglicanlifenl

It is with sincere apologies that I publish the column from Ron and Melanie Clarke here online that was supposed to be in the February issue of Anglican Life. It was accidentally left out when the paper was sent for publication. Please share this widely.
-Emily Rowe
Editor, Anglican Life

The Shortest Month

When I was a young boy growing up in Chance Cove, Trinity Bay, the month of February was long and dreary! It was the month with the most snow storms and the least amount of light, or so it seemed as a young boy. There wasn’t much to do in a small outport during a snow storm so time seemed to drag even more than it seemed possible! Entertaining a small child in those days was a difficult process considering there wasn’t any TV or computers, and even books were scarce! But some of my fondest memories of my grandfather are from those stormy days when as a child I was forced to be in the house.

My grandfather was a very religious man. He believed that everything was ordained by Ron Clarke God and we should live by His word. Grandfather had been a hard working fisherman all his life and in his old age, it was often times, him and me, together during the times when mom and dad were busy. I sat by his knee and listened to his stories about when he was young and growing up. He told me about his parents and his grandparents, all of which had passed on before my lifetime. He noted all the hard work and hard times people had in our small community and even as a small child I remember being amazed that so many people could live through such difficulties!

Most of all, in those long winters days and nights, grandfather told me stories from the Bible. Considering that February was always after Epiphany, most of the stories he told me were about the Bible readings from the Book of Common Prayer. He started with telling me about Jesus being brought to the Temple to be presented to God, forty days after he was born, and continue through the Gospel readings for the Sundays after Epiphany.

I remember all too well, the story about Jesus being at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. He told me Jesus saw that the wedding had run out of wine. I can still see my grandfather’s face when he told the story. “Do you know what Jesus did when the wine ran out, Ronald?”

“No, Grandfather. What did Jesus do?” I said.

“Jesus told the servants to get the water jugs and fill them with water, my son.”

“Water, Grandfather? Water isn’t wine! What good would water be to the wedding guests?” I asked.

“Well, Ronald, Jesus took that water and turned every last drop into wine for the wedding guests! Jesus didn’t want the wedding to be spoiled by people not having something good to drink with the feast. This was one of the first signs that Jesus showed Himself as the Son of God!”

“But how did He do that?” I asked.

“My son, God can do anything! With his Son, Jesus, they can do more than anything you can imagine! We have no idea about all the great and good things Our Lord and Saviour can do!”

I can still see in my mind’s eye, my grandfather’s face as he told me that story. His eyes sparkled and the smile went from ear to ear! I looked into his face and knew that what my grandfather was telling me was the absolute truth. I knew, even at that young age, that Jesus Christ and our Father were the Light of the World and if my grandfather believed in them, then I would too!

That memory, so many years ago, comes back to me now, as I sit looking out the window at the snow and wind and rain! My grandfather wasn’t a very schooled man—I’m not sure he went to school for more than a year—but his devotion and love for God is something I will never forget and I will always cherish!

In these dark days of winter, remember that Our Saviour is there with you. He is watching over and keeping us all safe and protected. Even in these days where it seems nothing can come from all the bad and dark weather, thoughts, happenings, in the world, remember- Jesus never leaves and as my grandfather believed and as do I, He can make water into wine and He can bring back the good when He sees you need it!

God Bless you all!

February 2020 Issue

January 30, 2020 · by anglicanlifenl

February 2020 Anglican Life

John Chrysostom

January 27, 2020 · by anglicanlifenl

440px-John_Chrysostom_Louvre_OA3970 In our BCP calendar, today we remember St. John Chrysostom, an important early Church Father. He is known for his preaching, but also because he spoke out against the abuse of authority, both in the Church and in the political sphere. He is also very well known for the “Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom,” which helped to define our Trinitarian theology and also to combat heresy. John’s guidance as Archbishop (398–404) helped to finalize this liturgy, and as the offical worship of the Church of Holy Wisdom, Hagia Sophia, it quickly became the standard within the Byzantine Empire. It has been set to music by many classical composers, and there are still people who find inspiration in it and continue to use it for their more modern musical compositions.

He was exiled (though the reasons for this are not entirely known to us), though soon after his death he began to be venerated as a Saint of the Church. He has several feast days, and on the 27th of January, we remember the translation of his relics from Comana to Constantinople.

A Seminarian’s Thoughts on Mission

January 20, 2020 · by anglicanlifenl

This article, by Queen’s College student Dale Careen, will appear in the February print issue of Anglican Life.

I am one among the many in our Anglican faith community who is exploring not what Mission is, but how we go about mission. I have come to understand that mission is inherently social justice centred, and evangelization can be expressed in acts of compassion. The command to “love thy neighbour” is a command to engage in good stewardship and equitable distribution of the world’s resources. Mission cannot be separated from social justice, which cannot be separated from God’s message of love. Mission is about positive transformation. Jesus’ life reflects his purpose—transformation. Mission is transformative because we change as people seeking to do God’s work on earth. I have been told by some that we must be careful with doing “social justice” because then we are forgetting the Christian path and we may be teetering on the edge of secularization. I disagree with this. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ lived and died because he was a social activist. Jesus’ mission was concerned with changing the consciousness of the society as a whole. If we look to the person of Jesus, we can see that mission is not just a part of the church that is done alongside other things, but it is the whole purpose of church. It is how the church lives in relation to society and how it functions internally as well.

Missional work provides God's Work copy.jpg opportunities for bringing good news to the world and ways to concretely engage in that process. Engaging in missional work generates tremendous opportunities to create, explore, and transform. While there needs to be clarity around what mission is, it should not be limiting or restrictive. Part of mission work is to be proactive, to look into our communities and see where God is speaking. Our mission as a church is to be present in our communities. Our faith was founded by those who went out among the people and interacted in the communities they found themselves in. This is a powerful tradition that we must continue to practice in order to have healthy ministries and effective missions. The church, its leaders, and those of us who aspire to be her leaders, needs to actively search out opportunities for the church to participate in addressing injustices in our communities. We need to be vocal and active about the lack of affordable housing, the almost non-existence of supportive housing for those of us with complex needs and con-current substance abuse issues, and the ever-increasing problem of food insecurity. These issues are gross injustices on humanity in a country as rich and abundant as ours. We need to use our existing resources wisely. Church properties must be maintained and not allowed to fall into disrepair. Church properties should not be sold, but rather re-purposed. By repurposing our buildings, we can respond to human need by loving service. Within mission there is unlimited space for ministry to be practiced in new and exciting ways right alongside the traditional ways that have endured for centuries. We must always remember that our spiritual path is formed and directed by so much more than our own personal journey. Our journey changes shape by those around us and by the services that we provide to our families and communities. Learning to give of oneself makes a better, stable, loving community for everyone. Engaging in good works locally and globally, done in the name of Jesus Christ, is proclaiming the Gospel. Our Christian proclamation does not always need to use words. We can proclaim a very strong message by living a life centred on caring for the earth and all its inhabitants. Our mission, as instructed by Jesus, is to love God and love our neighbour. Mission is the manifestation of God’s spirit. Mission enables us to know God is present.

Hospital Chaplaincy—A Ministry of Hospitality in the Midst of Pain

January 14, 2020 · by anglicanlifenl

The article, by the Rev’d David Pilling, will appear in the February print issue of Anglican Life:

In the Gospel of Luke we have examples of a Pastoral side of Jesus’ ministry. In one of the strongest images of pastoral care, some friends of a paralyzed man carry him to see Jesus. Because of the crowd, they climb atop of Peter’s roof, remove some of the thatching, and lower their friend down to see Jesus. In every sense of the word, it is the faith of the friends that brought about this encounter the paralyzed man had with Jesus. They saw their friend’s pain and sought a healing presence in his life, and they acted with compassion and deliberate actions.

Another such encounter takes place a few chapters on, in which a woman enters into Simon the Pharisee’s house. The woman does not say a word, rather she kneels down at Jesus feet, crying so that her tears wet his feet. She dries them with her hair, kisses and then anoints them. For her, Jesus created a space of hospitality where she would encounter God, and the unconditional love that lead to wholeness, in spite of the uncomfortable surroundings of Simon’s home.

Scripture is filled with examples of how God creates opportunities for His people to encounter Him, often in times of crisis or extreme discomfort. In our society, perhaps the pilling copy.jpg most common such crisis we encounter, is when we are sick and in need of medical intervention. When people enter any hospital, they surrender a great deal of control over their own lives. It is a very stressful and vulnerable time for many. It can be almost as stressful to the family who visit and see their loved one so vulnerable. In many cases, even though death is not a likely outcome, patients can identify with Psalm 23, as they realize they are walking in the valley of the shadow.

As a chaplain, I am part of the “Circle of Care” that a patient receives. The hospital setting is unique within the province, in that some of the most highly educated people work together to create a community of healing. I witness some incredibly caring doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists who offer their skills, and attention to those in need. I see how personally they take their vocation; how they rejoice when someone gets better, and how they grieve when someone dies. I watch as they extend themselves in attempting to offer comfort at a very uncomfortable time in people’s lives.

I visit all Anglicans who have identified that they wish to receive Pastoral Care. Like Jesus did with the woman who went into Simon’s home, I attempt to create, during my visit, a space of hospitality where each person may encounter God through our conversation and prayers, on their own terms. The hospitality I speak of is simply creating a safe space where conversation will take place. Hospitality is not meant to change people, but to offer a place where emotions and thoughts can be openly and safely discussed. Hospitality is the full extent of Jesus’ command to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.

In my previous 33 years of ministry as a parish priest, I would have attempted to create hospitality in each of the home visits I did or to extend it to each visitor who came to see me. It was simply an extension of my faith and prayer journey. The same is true in a hospital setting, except it is learning to ignore the complex machinery connected to many patients or to find quiet in the midst of a busy, busy room. Like Jesus did with the woman who visited him at Simon’s home, I attempt to create a space where God may be encountered, prayers may be said, emotions may be discussed and, in many instances, Holy Communion and/or the Sacrament of Anointing may take place. As chaplain I am a very visible presence of Christ within a place of healing, which is humbling, and I daily thank God for this opportunity.

One of the lessons I have learned is the importance of taking time to engage people in conversation. I am fortunate to have seen two of my role models, Canon John Courage and Sister Betty Morrissey, doing this in their ministry. We never know where God is opening a door for an encounter to take place.

A number of years ago, when I was about to have surgery, my surgeon came up to me in the pre-surgery room and asked if he could have a prayer with me—I have never forgotten this request. It is an honour to be present with anyone going for surgery. As chaplains we are only too pleased to offer prayers for each person, praying that God’s healing presence will be seen and felt through the surgical team and that each patient will know that the God who loves us has them in the palm of His hands.

When possible, and only at the patient’s request, I let the patient’s rector know of their stay in hospital. This notification is made usually with the assumption that their rector will pray for them while in hospital, possibly visit them and that there will a follow-up upon their return home.

I am truly pleased to be part of a team ministry, both as Anglican chaplains and the larger chaplaincy team working in Eastern Health. I am grateful for the insights gained from Canon Ed Keeping, and appreciate the unique insights he has to this shared ministry.

Celebration of Anniversaries in Fogo

January 2, 2020 · by anglicanlifenl

Submitted by Lisa Snow—will appear in the February print issue of Anglican Life

On Sunday November 24th, 2019, a special service was held at St. Andrew’s Church in Fogo in celebration of 203 years of official church worship at St. Andrew’s, and 103 years of the present building, and 119 years of the present pipe organ. The Venerable Terry Caines was the guest preacher, and the present rector, the Rev’d Kennth Abbott, was the celebrant. It was a beautiful service of thanksgiving, and a potluck meal was held after the service. Shown in the picture with Archdeacon Terry and Rev’d Ken are the children who attended. fogo celebration.jpg

January 2020 Issue

December 28, 2019 · by anglicanlifenl

January 2020 Anglican Life

Photos of Chistmas Past from Anglican Life’s files

December 17, 2019 · by anglicanlifenl

In honour of the upcoming season of Christmas, I have gone through the files that I have, and have pulled out some Christmas photopgraphs for you to enjoy. I hope that they bring back some happy memories for you all.