But the truth is that the Church has never been able to handle strong women. Throughout the centuries, it has done what it can to deny them full participation in its life and ministry. At times, its response has been outright hostility, at times indifference, and at times subjugation. In some instances, the response has been more nuanced. In the case of Mary Magdalene, for example, she was discredited for centuries, in order to downplay her revolutionary role in the early Church. As for Mary the Virgin, she was domesticated in such a way as to hide the strong disciple that she was. The result is that, often, her prophetic message is lost to the eyes-downcast, submissive image we see in religious paintings, icons and stained glass windows.

Like Jesus, the meek and mild persona of Mary lives along with a passionate advocate for justice in a world where injustice is endemic in our systems and our mind set. They were both  gentle and loving with those who were vulnerable, but unflinching when it came to naming the places in our world where those with power and influence lord it over others.

March 25th on our Church calendar is “The Annunciation of the Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary.”  Whether it’s because I serve in a Church dedicated to Mary the Virgin or whether the subordination of her valiant nature goes against the grain, I find myself more and more drawn to her story and to rediscovering who she was. When Mary said to the angel, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word,” it was a courageous statement of faith and trust. This same Mary would articulate a profound vision for a just world in the Magnificat, the Song of Mary. Reminiscent of her ancestor, Hannah’s song, it is one of the most radical visions of a world turned upside down that we have in scripture, or anywhere for that matter. It’s no wonder that those in power would do what they could to tame her and her view of the world as God would have it.

Patriarchy still has a strong grip on the Church and society but maybe, that will be lessened ever so slightly in the ministry and witness of Sarah, Archbishop of Canterbury, and maybe instead, the Church can concentrate on living Mary’s vision.

The post Turning The World Upside Down: The Church And Stong Women appeared first on Anglican Life.

It’s a simple song, yet it holds a profound message. It upholds the value of community and emphasizes our role, exercised in the love of God within us, in building that community. It also holds implications for Church life.

A friend of mine recently reflected, “As the world becomes increasingly impersonal, the Church must become more personal.” I would add that in a world where pretty much anything and everything can be accessed through your laptop or tablet, the Church has to consider what it has to offer. Gathering in community helps the Church become more personal and allows us to be together in a way that is incarnational.

This is not to reduce the Church to a service-based industry but to ask the simple question, “What can you find in a Church setting that cannot be accessed from the comfort of your home and which helps foster a sense of belonging?” Because, let’s face it, online, you can pray, watch a worship service, listen to a sermon, hear good inspirational music, and even interact with a community of others. So why gather?

Simply put, there is an added dimension when you gather which is intangible, yet real. As we gather in community, as we work to develop that community, the Spirit moves. We worship and come together as unique individuals who may disagree and rub each other the wrong way from time to time, but that doesn’t make us any less a part of the community, nor does it diminish our connection. Rather, we become greater than our individual parts. As Paul says, “if the ear were to say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body… The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’ … If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”(1 Corinthians 12:16, 21a, 26-27)

That is not something that is done in isolation; for it to happen, we need to gather in community, and through God’s Spirit, we live into the mystery that is the body of Christ.

The post From Camp Songs To The Body of Christ appeared first on Anglican Life.

Rule was followed by The Rev’d J. J. Curling. John Edgar, a parishioner at St. Mary’s who has an extensive knowledge of the history of the parish, described Curling as a “rich young naval officer [who] was moved to become a priest and to use his money and many practical and leadership skills to serve in Newfoundland, but particularly at St. Mary’s.” He also pointed out that J. J. Curling donated his yacht, the Lavrock, to the diocese for use as a church ship.

The leaders that followed these two pioneers continued to build on their foundation—building and extending a church and then building another church when the first one was destroyed by fire. Again, to quote John Edgar, “The successors to Rev’d Rule and Rev’d Curling were no less diligent in getting schools and chapels built throughout the [Bay of Islands]. They were disciples as well. These people did more than administer the sacraments, more than provide spiritual nourishment, they built community, advanced education, and advocated for government services from communications to transportation to welfare and health.” Faithful servants, ordained and lay, have kept ministry alive over the years.

It is this sacred trust that we celebrated throughout the year, with special bulletin covers, mugs, and pens. The mug featured a drawing by Warwick Hewitt, now deceased, which depicted Rule being rowed ashore on his arrival, a drawing which was originally commissioned for the 140th anniversary of the parish. One of the highlights of the celebration year was a dinner on October 22, when once again, the community came together to provide good food, music, and fellowship and to hear messages of congratulations and encouragement from near and far. May we continue to have many more years of ministry, in the love of God, strengthened by God’s Holy Spirit, and through Jesus the Christ who abides in us.

The post A Sacred Trust: 160 Years of Faithful Ministry in Corner Brook appeared first on Anglican Life.

You land in a country that looks so very different from your own, with conditions you have never seen before, and a reality that is many worlds away from yours—people living in Internally Displaced Persons camps, people struggling to afford uniforms in order to send their children to school, people experiencing attacks from neighbouring areas, and the effects of sea water intrusion. Some of the challenges you would recognize: cyclical floods, drought, soil erosion, effects of climate change, and rural-urban migration. At some point, expectations and comparisons disappear and you enter into an experience that gives you an insight into community, community that transcends geography and economic or social status or any other barriers that might exist. It is then that you experience the fullness of our partnerships: communities are taking care of tree nurseries and planting trees, with local businesses and banks purchasing tree seedlings to plant and contributing, communities rallying to support nurseries, and you hear comments like, “we were only able to plant 6000 trees since last year,” “we are custodians of Creation. But Creation is waning, groaning, what with human beings doing what they do.” It is then that you experience the resilience of people who have picked up and moved to dry land to escape floods, keeping goats and building wells in camps and talking about getting the money for school fees for their kids, keeping bees in what seems to be the middle of nowhere, and all of it giving you a sense of hope amidst extremely difficult circumstances. It is then that you experience the ingenuity of folks who operate a Climate Smart Dairy Cooperative, a model farm that avails of technology to be efficient and, as the name says, climate smart and that teaches modern farming techniques to others. You also get to experience the hope that comes when a Self Help Group, which includes many members with disabilities or who have children or other family members with disabilities, helps people access government “disability cards” to avail of services and allow their children to attend school. Hearing people speak about how they no longer have to “hide” their children and how the stigma associated with disabilities is decreasing reminds you of how Jesus taught us to value every human being. You become deeply aware of a connection that stretches across continents, the sense that we are all in this together; there are not givers and receivers but people who are living the call to value the dignity of every human being. How was Kenya? Holy.

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This past June, I was part of a delegation that traveled to Kenya. So many of our partners appreciate the simplicity of the name and how much easier it is to remember (there were still ‘insiders’ who got the acronym mixed up, even toward the end). Yet, the name is much more than an easy-to-remember title. For many years now, our emphasis has been on working with partners, truly coming alongside, walking, discussing, and sharing this journey with others, which follows so very much the example of Jesus walking alongside the disciples on the road to Emmaus. And as we journey together, as we learn from each other and share, we plant seeds of hope. Hope is not wishy-washy thinking; it is one of the three Christian virtues which Paul says will abide and which he says is produced by character, which is in turn produced through suffering and endurance. It is something we need and something we cling to when all else seems lost. “Hope,” said Desmond Tutu, “is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

The “Wild Ride” campaign for 2025 has been launched, and this year, the proceeds go towards solar suitcases. Members of General Synod this past June would have been able to see a demonstration of a solar suitcase. Its premise is simple and a testament to human ingenuity. For families in off-grid parts of Mozambique and Madagascar, nighttime deliveries can be challenging and even dangerous. Connected to a solar panel on the roof of a clinic, the suitcase contains power outlets for portable lights, a headlamp, a fetal Doppler (a hand-held ultrasound used to detect the fetal heartbeat), and cell phone chargers. Medical attendants have the tools they need to support women through labour and delivery, especially at night. Alongside Hope is our new name, but our ministry remains the same—we walk and work alongside each other to bring hope to our hurting world. That says it all.

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The duration of Earth Hour may be sixty minutes, but it extends to 24 hours, which may be why this year’s theme is “The Biggest Hour for Earth.”

Earth Hour takes place on the last Saturday in March, which in 2025 is March 29, from 8:30–9:30 p.m., wherever you are. Earth Hour began in 2007 as an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which describes it this way:

“Earth Hour is a moment of unity that brings the world together, shines a spotlight on nature loss and the climate crisis, and inspires millions more to act and advocate for urgent change. Each year, we work together to turn a single Earth Hour into thousands and millions of hours of action for our one shared home.”

The site earthhour.org has this to say:

“Can an Hour change the world? Earth Hour invites you to switch off and spend 60 minutes doing something—anything—positive for our planet. Just 60 minutes? Yes, just one hour. It may not seem like much, but the magic happens when you, and those like you in Asia and Africa, North and South America, Oceania and Europe—supporters in over 190 countries and territories—all give an hour for our one home, creating the Biggest Hour for Earth.”

There are many ways to participate in Earth Hour—the simplest being turning off the lights and electronics, lighting a candle, and taking an hour to relax, breathe, talk, socialize—anything, really.

Earth Hour helps raise awareness about what the World Council of Churches calls the climate emergency facing our world. Although there are climate change deniers, the truth is that most people accept and understand that our planet is under threat. We speak of climate change, a climate crisis, and climate justice. Poorer communities are the most vulnerable and the least equipped to deal with the problems associated with climate change. But all communities everywhere are affected by events like wildfires and droughts.

Most of us feel hopeless—we wonder what one person can do, and even if we did know what to do, we despair that it can make a difference. But in 2024, there were 1,567,230 hours given for the Earth—hours spent in activities “off the grid.”

The more people are aware of the crisis facing our planet, the more they are likely to embrace solutions, even difficult or costly ones. And while we may feel powerless, we can all turn off the lights for an hour—it’s a small but tangible way of expressing our concern for our Earth—our home. It’s our way of turning climate crisis into climate hope.

The post Some Light in The Dark appeared first on Anglican Life.

So says Juliet in the Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet, which pretty much describes the message that many have been trying to convey since the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund voted to change its name in October, 2024. “The name has changed,” we say, “but the ministry remains the same.”
The new name, for those who have not heard, is Alongside Hope.
As might be expected, the responses have run the gamut to “Why would they change the name?” to “I love it.”

My own response to changing the name has gone from total opposition, to ambivalence, to acceptance, to advocating for the change. For many years, I would say, especially in children’s stories when I spoke in churches, something like, “it’s a very long name and confusing but what’s important is that it’s how we care for one another in this world.” Which may be a clue as to why we needed to change the name. One of the reasons so often cited was, “when you spend more time explaining the name than you do speaking about what you do, it’s time to change it.”

Whether you agree with the name change or not, it came about as a result of a lengthy process. On the advice of the Strategic Planning Working Group, the board made the decision to create a Task Team, representative of all constituencies. The Task Team met for over two years. Two creative agencies were consulted. There were many conversations and consultations. It quickly emerged that many names we might have liked were taken or otherwise copyrighted. It was also clear that there was no name that made everyone say, “Oh, why didn’t I think of that? That’s the perfect name!”

So far, I realize I have not done much to ‘sell’ the new name. Perhaps there is no real way to sell it. But there is a way to understand why the words ‘alongside’ and ‘hope’ were chosen. Alongside was chosen to speak to what emerged as the central value of the ministry we do—that of partnership. We don’t ‘do’ for others, we walk alongside in partnership. The scripture that truly spoke to us was that of Jesus walking alongside two disciples on the road to Emmaus, disciples who recognized him when he broke bread and blessed it. Jesus accompanies us as we care for one another. Hope was chosen because it is the essence of who we are called to be—people of hope. “There is one body and one Spirit. There is one hope in God’s call to us. One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (from Ephesians 4:4-5). These familiar words come from the service of baptism, a service where we affirm our covenant with God to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbour as ourselves. Which is what we do in the ministry of PWRDF, now Alongside Hope. The name has changed—the ministry has not.

The post New Name, Same Ministry appeared first on Anglican Life.

It is not a list of committees or roles. It is a response to the call of God to love our neighbour as ourselves and to follow Jesus who came, “not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). It is to live as disciples.
In those years in ministry, I have known people who have lived out that call—caring for someone who is sick; looking out for a neighbour who needs help; making that visit or phone call to someone who is lonely. They often do so quietly, not looking for credit or thanks or even affirmation, but as a response to that call to faithful discipleship, a call which is for everyone. In living out that call, there is no hierarchy.

Sadly, it seems at times, the reality is that in our churches, those of us who have chosen to live out that call through ordination are someway more engaged in “real” ministry. Which is a perspective that comes from the society around us rather than from what is modelled by scripture and by Jesus himself. It is also not helpful in developing community. Jesus surrounded himself with ordinary people: people from various cultural groups and with different backgrounds. He didn’t seek out only those who were from an elite class. He created a community of faithful witnesses to share the good news he proclaimed and gave us a model to follow, a model of a community where each person is valued.
In our communities, we live out our baptismal covenant as we strive to continue in the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, resist evil, proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ, seek and serve Christ in all person, strive for justice and peace, respect the dignity of every human being and safeguard the integrity of God’s creation. We do that together, both lay and ordained, no one more important that the other. “For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9.

The post Reflecting on a Lifelong Call To Serve appeared first on Anglican Life.

Linda has a lifetime of ministry and service in the Church—ordained a deacon in 1985, priest in 1986, she served as a parish priest for almost twenty years in the Diocese of Toronto, as the Coordinator for Dialogue for Ethics, Interfaith Relations and Congregational Development with the General Synod, Area Bishop of Trent-Durham in the Diocese of Toronto and Bishop of the Diocese of Huron. She participated in ecumenical dialogue with the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission III and in the Canadian Anglican Roman Catholic Dialogue. She was the first woman to be elected Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and only the second woman to be elected primate in the Anglican Communion.

As we say farewell to a faithful Primate, I want to add my voice to the many who have expressed their appreciation.
I met Linda when I served on the Partners in Mission Committee and our paths crossed many times since then, including when she came to Pasadena to lead a parish retreat. Most recently, I worked with her as co-chair of the Planning and Agenda Team for the first four years of her primacy. I have found her to be a thoughtful, committed servant of God, passionate about caring for God’s people and furthering God’s mission.
You can see that in her pastoral response to Anglicans across the country as we struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic, when she wrote “During this difficult time of the pandemic, I want you to be assured that I am committed to supporting our diocesan and parish leadership and would be happy to accept invitations to worship (preach or participate), simply attend a coffee hour, study group, youth group, confirmation class or share in other online gatherings during our isolation!” I know that she didn’t just ‘say’ she was open to invitations, she accepted those invitations, being present electronically to people when they most needed the encouragement.
I watched her raise money for the Ride for Refuge of the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund as she took requests and played and sang favourite hymns, combining her love for music with her commitment to PWRDF.
I have been aware of the many relationships she has cultivated internationally as she as been present and participated in that arena in such a way that makes us Canadian Anglicans proud. As in the time when she visited a PWRDF project in Kenya between other international commitments.
It has been an honour for me to have been along for part of Linda’s journey, to have been enriched by her ministry and again, I add my voice to the many who wish her joy as she continues in God’s service, albeit in a different forum.

The post Farewell and Thank You For Your Leadership to Archbishop Linda Nicholls appeared first on Anglican Life.

Of course, it’s about so much more that those outward trappings. It also has some of the most exciting and dramatic stories in scripture. This year, we get the story of the dry bones from Ezekiel to go along with the story from Acts. Stories of wind and the rattling of bones coming together with the vivid image of flesh and sinews appearing on them and eventually the spirit, enlivening them. Then in Acts, stories of wind and fire and people speaking in different languages but yet understanding each other.

And yet, it’s a celebration about more than life being breathed into dispirited people—the people in the time of Ezekiel and the people in Acts.

At the same time as we know that it’s more, there is no way to really describe what that “more” is when it comes to the Spirit. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” John 3:8.

What I understand from this is that we can’t control the Spirit but what I know is that we can feel it. Although that feeling may not come in ways that we expect. I remember years ago, being in Vancouver for Pentecost Sunday and attending a charismatic Anglican Church. I went expecting great things, maybe even a powerful outpouring of the Spirit that would be life altering. Whatever I expected, it didn’t happen. I often smile when I remember that. I smile because I was confusing the power of the Spirit with outward manifestations, with something tangible. When the most powerful manifestations of the Spirit that I have experienced have been those that were almost imperceptible at the time. A moment of peace when life is hectic and crazy. A letting go of hurts in a way that brings peace—at least for a few minutes. Experiencing the love of family and friends. Being with my grandchildren. In other words, moments when I experience love.

The red stole I wear at Pentecost was made for me by a friend. The various shades and hues of red in it are beautiful. It is not symmetrical and it is reversible, with both sides different. I know that she made it like that because she felt it reflected me in some way. I am not entirely certain how it is she sees me, except that I know the stole was made with love, as were the other stoles that she made me in the various liturgical colours of the church year. It is a visible reminder to me of love.

The very real spirit of love is what Jesus promises us. Pentecost reminds us of the power of love in our lives and that is worth celebrating!

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