When I was twelve, I went to Europe on a school trip. My father was the chaperone and we went to Amsterdam, Paris, and London. I had never seen such grand buildings before, large streets, and crowded cities. I was particularly taken with London and all it had to offer. We went to Westminster Abby, a huge cathedral where kings and queens and famous people had been buried. I remember looking around at the grandiose surroundings and being amazed. I remember thinking to myself, who walked up this aisle? Who listened to the sermons in this building? And who were the great ministers who preached to royalty? At twelve I couldn’t imagine all the possibilities.

Shortly after visiting the Abbey, we went shopping on the streets of London. I was in paradise! So many shops, so much to look at, so much to buy! Just about everything I saw, I wanted to buy. I had no real concept of money at the time and was unaware of the cost of things. Dad quickly reminded me that I had bought many souvenirs already and I couldn’t possibly have it all, yet I continued to look and continued to ask for purchases. Dad was looking for a new pair of shoes so we were spending a little too much time in one place for my liking. I decided to explore the shop next door to the shoe store without my father’s knowledge. As you can imagine, I lost track of where I was and forgot that I was in a very large city. In my excitement, I wandered further until another lovely souvenir caught my attention and I turned to ask my father once again if I could purchase it. But my father wasn’t behind me when I looked around. In fact, my father wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I was alone, in London, without any money and without the knowledge of the name of our hotel. I was lost!

Being twelve, I didn’t realize the gravity of the situation. I didn’t panic. I just knew my father would come find me and all would be well. I knew my father couldn’t be too far away and all I had to do was wait. I believed whole heartedly he would come and keep me safe. I stayed where I was and waited. Of course, in time, dad did come frantically up the street, calling my name. We were reunited and all was well, just as I knew it would be.

Looking back now, I can only imagine what my father must have been thinking. Only the day before, a newspaper in London reported that the body of a 14 year old girl had been found. She had been taken and murdered. The worry on my father’s face when he found me was clearly visible. My father, much like Mary and Joseph probably were, was very relieved to find me unharmed.

When I think of Jesus at the age of twelve and compare my twelve year old experiences, I can see that Jesus knew right from birth that he was meant for greatness. He knew he was the son of God. Mary and Joseph probably knew Jesus was meant for greatness too but parental worry is instinctual and they no doubt had been very frightened for him.

This story is the only one recorded of Jesus during his growing up. The Bible records his birth, his baptism, this day at the temple and then begins again when Jesus was an adult. One story of Jesus’ childhood and what lesson do we learn? I believe this story reminds us of Jesus’ humanity and not his deity. It is sometimes hard to imagine Jesus being the son of God and the son of man. Part of him was just like any other twelve year old boy of his time or mine. He got lost in his excitement and did not think of the consequences of his behaviour. Jesus felt safe because he knew he was the son of God and he believed his parents would keep him safe. His curiosity and thirst for knowledge caused him to stay and listen to the temple elders, forgetting about the very real dangers of wandering off from the protection of his parents. This short glimpse of Jesus as a child reinforces his humanity. I would imagine, at some point in all our lives as children, we all experienced being separated from our parents and we all had faith our parents would rescue us. We all felt at the time there was nothing to worry about. When I read about Jesus as a boy, I feel closer to our Saviour. I feel like we all had a shared experience of being lost and found. Although the story doesn’t show Jesus being in any way concerned about his well being, just knowing both he and I shared a similar experience makes me feel closer to him.

Jesus felt safe in the knowledge his heavenly Father and his earthly parents were always protecting him. We should have that same faith in our heavenly Father. He keeps us safe and protects us from dangers. As long as we have faith in our heavenly Father, we will never be lost. And that is something we believers can always count on.

God bless you all in this new year!
– Melanie Clarke

The post A New Year’s Lesson appeared first on Anglican Life.

This is the last column written by Ronald Clarke for Anglican Life; it appeared in the December 2021 print issue of the paper.

Ronald Clarke was a columnist for Anglican Life for many years, and his column was always a favourite part of the paper for its readers. We all felt inspired by his example of faith. As he wrote in this column, we need to “block out the noise and focus on God’s Light—his son, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.” We will all miss Ronald Clarke, and we send condolences to his family. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

All over the world, Christians begin preparing for the birth of Christ four Sundays before Christmas Eve. The four Sundays of Advent give Christians a wonderful build up to the most amazing event—the birth of Jesus Christ. Each Sunday during Advent, a candle is lit to represent the light of God coming into the world. With each passing Sunday the light expands, until finally on Christmas Eve, all four Advent candles are lit, and then the Christ candle is lit as well. So much light coming from the candles, representing the light of God coming down to earth and shining for those who believe.

As a child, candles were costly and not used often in our homes. Most light came from kerosene lamps which buzzed and gave off a black smoke when lit. The smell was chemical and not a very pleasant experience, but one that everyone came to get used to. In comparison, the candles that were lit in the church during Advent seemed to just give off a radiant light. There wasn’t a sound or a smell, just a beautiful glow. As a child I felt that glow and looked forward to the Sundays to come and the glow to get brighter. By Christmas Eve, our church seemed to be lit like the day—all from five candles. It was magical when I was a boy, and even now the lighting of the candles during Advent holds a special place in my heart, and it’s part of the Christmas joy I still have.

The light of the world came down to earth that night in the form of the Son of God. God didn’t come to the world in a bolt of lightning to frighten his believers. God sent his son as a baby—a helpless child who needed so much support and care. God’s new Light of the World was a small child, a small spark, which would go on to burn brighter than any star in the heavens. Jesus as a baby was similar to that first candle lit for Advent. Jesus began as a small light, but held within him the hopes of the world. Jesus, as we know, grew to be a man who changed our world and the lives of many millions of Christians around the world. The joy that began with Jesus’ birth spread around the world and continues to light up darkness in our world. Without the hope and joy of the birth of Jesus Christ many people would be in darkness and lost to God’s great and everlasting love.

This year, I would like Christians to think about the Light of the World, especially on Christmas Eve. Try to let go of all the trials and tribulations we have been through lately and focus on that light—which is in everyone’s life—you just need to block out the noise and focus on God’s Light—his son, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Happy Birthday Jesus! We are so glad you were born to lighten our world.

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you this blessed season!

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I found, through teaching, my purpose in life. I loved reading and I quickly realized I had a knack for helping students. I loved seeing the students’ knowledge grow and I was proud of my connection with them. It only took me a couple of months to forget about wanting to be a doctor, and to be honest, I never looked back. I think I was very lucky to have found a career that filled my soul. Teaching didn’t feel like work for me because I received as much from my students as they got from me. The connection I felt with my students was remarkable and even though some days were tougher than others, I never regretted not going to medical school.

I have thousands of former students who I remember very fondly, and even though teaching wasn’t my first love, it quickly became very rewarding. I truly loved teaching and I have often said I would do it again for free if the powers that be would let me! My chosen path for life was the medical field, but obviously it wasn’t God’s plan for me.

Through my teaching I could see that every one one of my students had a path to follow. Not all of them would go to university. Not all of them were academically inclined. Not all of them were successful academically, but all of them had an influence on me. Many students I taught gave me another perspective on life. They affected me, changed me and made me a better person.

I think my experience with my students, in many ways, parallels my experience with my faith. I’ve spent a lifetime reaching out to God and Jesus Christ. I’ve tried to understand the teachings of our Lord and Saviour. I have spent many hours with my fellow Christians trying to live up to God’s expectations for me and my life. I’ve trusted him to guide me through life and help me with my journey here on earth. As I tried to guide my students to be successful, God has guided my life and my deep faith.

As Christians, we need only to allow God to work through us and with us, to find our purpose. God provides the answers we are looking for to enrich our lives. As I often said to my students, just listen and open your mind: have faith and you will flourish!
God bless you all!

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Outside my door are two hanging plants. My daughter gave them to me in the spring for Father’s Day. One of the flowers, in particular, has seemed to die and be reborn several times over the course of the summer. Just when I thought it was dead for good, more tiny orange buds would appear and the hearty little plant would flower yet again! As a matter of fact, the beautiful little flower just now finally seems to be past its life cycle. That little plant gave me so much pleasure and I was in awe of its ability to withstand the ravages of our Newfoundland summer with all the wind and the rain and the heat!

Now that fall has come, many of the luscious green trees are now red, orange, and yellow. Leaves are falling all over everyone’s gardens and what I marvelled at this summer now is becoming bare and stark-looking by comparison. In some ways, it makes me a little sad to see everything turn and fade because I will miss the colour until it returns next spring.

The glory of nature is marvellous and miraculous! As the seasons change I am reminded of the power of God who created this world for us to live in. God has given us such beauty no matter what the season! We are here on earth for a relatively short period. In our busy lives, I think we sometimes forget to admire the world around us and appreciate what God has provided.

For Thanksgiving this year, maybe we can all stop to admire the beauty of the world around us  and take a few minutes to give thanks to Our Father in Heaven.

Remember the old hymn;

“All things bright and beautiful, 
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, 
The Lord God made them all!”

God bless you!

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This September, although I’m no longer teaching, is giving me some of the same familiar feelings I had from those teaching days. The pandemic in Newfoundland and Labrador seems to be slowing down due to so many people getting fully vaccinated, and people being vigilant when congregating with others. I find myself hopeful for the first time in a long time that our routines will become more normal and possibly back to pre-pandemic days! 

Even though I’m in my 90s, I still try to maintain an active lifestyle. I go to physiotherapy every two weeks to try and keep my muscles as strong as possible. As long as the weather cooperates, I try and walk around my house to keep my muscles moving so I am as mobile as I can be these days. My muscles need the extra work so I can be as independent as possible with daily living activities. When I was younger, I could rely on muscle memory to get out of bed and walk from place to place. Nowadays, it seems more of a concentrated effort to move from place to place and my memory requires prodding at times! 

The one routine of my daily life that has never changed is my devotion to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Even though I haven’t been inside a physical church building since this pandemic started, every day begins with prayer and ends with prayer. Every day ends with a Bible reading and The Grace. Every Sunday has included a church service, watched online. On most Sundays, several services are watched from several churches, as Sunday has always remained the day set aside for Our Lord in my family. My place of worship has become my kitchen table but my love of God and his Son is just as deep and committed as it has always been in my life. With the restrictions of the pandemic lessening, I am hoping to once again walk into my favourite church and greet all the many friends I have so sorely missed in the time we have been apart! 

This pandemic has changed many of our routines and maybe we have replaced some of our activities for others during the pandemic. Like me, I hope and pray that you will return to your physical churches, freely and without concern now. Our physical churches are the places we gather to share the love of Our Lord. It is a place of comfort and a place of family! If there is one thing I have learned from COVID-19, it is that being together creates the comfort, strength, and hope we all need to survive; and our church homes bring us together to reinforce the love of Jesus Christ and His Father!

Begin this “work” year with a return not only to local businesses but to local churches to renew the togetherness and strength we need to go forward! God Bless you all!

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Because of the longer days, June meant more time with everyone in the family. My mother had more time to work on her chores which often meant I could spend time with her during the day. She worked so hard and had so many responsibilities! She washed clothes, hung them out, tended the vegetable garden, fed the animals, spread the fish, made the meals, cleaned the house, and watched over me as well! It seemed like mom never stopped moving.

Most of the day, my father was out in boat so I didn’t see his daily activities as much. I know he was always gone when the sun came up and he wouldn’t return to the house until dusk. Sometimes I would see him returning to the stage with a load of fish, but as soon as he unloaded and split the fish, he was back out on the water. Even though I loved for June to come, I’m not sure the adults appreciated the change as much as I did. They all seemed to get busier during the summer months. 

The person I spent most of the summer time with was my grandfather. He no longer went out in boat but instead helped more on land. I remember him spreading fish and turning it over. It was mostly my grandfather that I fished with during the summer. Every day we would go in to the ponds looking for a meal of trout. Fresh trout was a nice change to codfish when the weather turned warm. My grandfather could always find enough trout for a meal and he also could tell a Bible story which seemed to go with the fishing experience. My favourite Bible story grandfather told was about the lost sheep. Grandfather said no matter what the issue was, the shepherd had to go looking for the lost sheep. He said the shepherd was responsible for all his animals, every last one and it didn’t matter how long it took for the shepherd to look for his lost sheep, that one sheep was worth looking for! Every sheep was as important as all the rest. Grandfather would then go on to explain how Jesus loved his people like the shepherd loved his sheep. Each and every one was just as important as the rest. Grandfather said every Christian has the same importance in the eyes of Jesus and his Father. God the Father didn’t have favourites, everyone who believed in him was a part of his flock and no matter what, he would look for them and after them, as long as they believed!

My grandfather was a simple man with very little formal education, but he was a true Christian and every fishing trip we went on together during those warm summer days was a lesson about the love our Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, have for each and every one of us! The warm summer days often take us all out of our routines and without our routines, we sometimes forget about the most important principles we have: Jesus loves us and we owe it to ourselves and him not to forget him in the longer warm summer days! Enjoy your holidays from work but don’t take holidays from our Lord and Saviour!

God Bless you all!

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With the rebirth and renewal of nature every year, I am reminded of the resilience of humanity as well. This year, as you all know, has been an exhausting challenge for us all to say the least! For a year now, we have been stuck in our homes, afraid to interact with people, afraid to go too far, and afraid to catch this very deadly virus! Essentially, we have all been in hibernation, waiting for the day to come when we have gained control of this coronavirus. Finally, the vaccines are being distributed, and soon—hopefully very soon—we will be able to interact with one another the way we used to, greeting each other with a hug and a handshake instead of six feet apart. We have shown plenty of resilience with the struggle over this virus! A renewal of our relationships with distant friends is surely on the horizon!

The rebirth and renewal of nature also connects for me with the rebirth of our Lord and Saviour. Jesus’ ascension into heaven signifies a renewed assurance that we too, will follow Jesus into heaven one day! When I witness a tiny flower emerging from the soil, automatically my mind goes to the miracle of Jesus rising from the dead! He sacrificed his life for us! He chose death so that one day we could rise to be with him and our Father in heaven! He saved us all! Each Easter renews my commitment that one day we will all see our Father in heaven.

All of the rebirth and renewal of nature around me has also led me to consider the wonderful life I have lived! I turn 92 this month. I have lived a very fulfilling life thus far. In my teaching career, I made hundreds and hundreds of friends. I watched former students blossom and grow into very productive community members and I am proud of the people they have all become! I have raised four children, have six grandchildren and one great grandchild. Watching them grow and blossom has been the greatest pleasure of my life. God the Father and his son Jesus Christ have more than blessed me in my life and I thank them each and every day for such gifts!

I know that this difficult year has left many of us feeling down and hopeless but I want you to look around you and see the resilience of nature growing around you. If these little creatures can push through the harshness around, then you too, with God’s help, can push through all this uncertainty. With the coming of nature’s triumphant return, return to your faith. Remember Christ’s sacrifice for us and renew your belief in his ability to see you through the toughest of times to bring you into the light again! Have faith, my friends! God is good!

God Bless you all!

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The sunrise service always began with the hymn, “Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!” That hymn was sung with such emotion, it always brought a tear to my eyes. After the long forty days and nights that Jesus spent in the desert, and the tortuous week of being judged and tormented, and the crucifixion itself, Jesus was finally free of his mortal body and was at last seated on his throne with his Father. His death and resurrection led to his greatest reward! Jesus had sacrificed everything for us! All his suffering ended in triumph!

Easter Sunday spent together with our family inspired us to celebrate all that our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ, did for the whole world! His resurrection meant that we too, would be able to spend eternity with God the Father. Jesus died so that we could be free! The risen Lord means that we can break the bonds of death and ascend into heaven! 

This year, as with last year, we are unable to spend it together in the comfort of our church buildings. However, that “special feeling” that was created by our sunrise service is still attainable at home! Maybe we could get out of bed early on Easter Sunday this year to witness the risen Lord with the rising of the sun! Let’s all sing “Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!” in our houses and celebrate the joy that the resurrection brings to each and every Christian! Our circumstances don’t allow us to celebrate together this Easter, but our belief and commitment to our Lord and saviour hasn’t changed! Jesus Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! May his strength guide and protect you all your days!

Happy, happy Easter my friends!

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As a young man, my path took me into teaching. I began at 17 in Ireland’s Eye, a small community in Trinity Bay. In those days, a teacher was almost revered! Members of the community came to me with everything that had to be read and written. I had to register births, deaths, weddings, and everything governmental. Along with all government dealings, I was responsible for the weekly church services when the minister was busy in another community. Usually the minister managed to get to the community about once a month. So three Sundays a month it was my responsibility. I was teacher, lawyer, minister, and everything in between at 17 years old! Through the grace of God, I managed to do my best in all areas. At the time I wasn’t sure I was doing everything adequately, but looking back now, I’m proud of the job I did in that community. I certainly worked hard on Ireland’s Eye, and I enjoyed every minute getting to know all the people who lived there. When I would go home for the summer, my grandfather would ask me how I was doing, and I was happy to report that things were going well. I was working hard and praising my God!

Several years later, I moved to Kelligrews, C.B.S. It was there that I met my wife and had my children. Vera and I raised four children: three boys and one girl. We taught them to be kind and hard working. We taught them to love God and to include God in their everyday life. All four children became successful adults with successful lives! Vera and I attribute this success to loving our God and including him in our lives every day. As a family, we attended church regularly, and prayers were said every night. Watching my children growing, I was reminded of my grandfather. He was now passed on so I could only hope he was looking down on me from heaven and approving of how Vera and I were raising our family to be hard workers and loving our God.

Eventually, Vera and I ended up moving to St. John’s and it’s here where I spent the majority of my life. We are now grandparents and great-grandparents! In many ways it seems hard to believe that all this time has passed and I’m this old! In St. John’s I’ve been a teacher, a Sunday school teacher, a lay reader, a member of the Lion’s Club, a friendly visitor, a volunteer, a university professor. I’ve tried to work hard, to take care of my family and to praise my God.

My life is filled with family and friends and faith! Even though this year has been a really strange one, the pandemic has certainly helped me to focus on what’s really important in my life. All of the experiences in my life have led me to this point in my life where I feel the most grateful and the most blessed!

As you are reading this, we are in the season of Lent in the church calendar. Lent asks us to focus on the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the desert looking back over his life and what was ahead for him. I imagine he reminisced about his childhood, his youth and his life to that moment. Take some time during this Holy season to look back over your life and reflect on your relationships with your family and your God.

God bless you all.

The post Looking Back appeared first on Anglican Life.

Five year old Billy had just finished the Lord’s Prayer at his mother’s knee the other night when he asked her, “What does God the Father look like?”

Puzzled, his mother found him a picture in an old illustrated Bible.

“He looks older than grandpa,” Billy stated. “And he doesn’t look friendly like grandpa. And does God ever smile?”

The picture Billy saw was the traditional one found in most Bibles and religious places. But is that image really what God looks like?

Nobody has ever seen God, Jesus stated. So the traditional image portrays what so many people only presumed what God the Father looks like.

Jesus also said that if we had seen him we have seen the Father. So, then, can we assume that the Father looks like a first-century, Middle Eastern male, as Jesus was?

Yes we can—when, and if, he wants to appear that way.

But, unlike Jesus, who is both human and divine (God and man), God the Father is not human. He is a spirit. So, he can, if he desires, take any form he wants to.

In a very interesting book I read, God assumes the form of a lovable, middle-aged, African-American woman—a guise entirely appropriate for that particular occasion.

Far fetched, you ask? Maybe.

While we can only guess what God looks like in our current life, there are so many things we surely know about him.

God is LOVE.

God loves each one of us personally!

Our Abba Father loves us every singe moment of our lives.

Our Father is omnipotent—able to do and and all things. Nothing is too big for God. He is a God of miracles!

How wonderfully encouraging believing in and utterly trusting, our Abba, our Father! No matter how devastating the situation may be!
And, when we eventually meet him face to face, surely we shall be overwhelmed by his magnificence, and be totally enveloped in his charm!
And, of course, we shall all feel like we’ve known him all our lives! Alleluia!

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