Jason Higgens, from the musical group Jacob’s Passage, lead the us in lively gospel singing.

The session was considered a great success, and was very appreciated by all.

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Congratulations to Captain Dawe and thank you for how you serve in the CLB, the Church, and the wider community.   

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We are building intergenerational relationships and understanding as this is our second visit. Each were asked what do you enjoy doing? Our youth enjoy dance, hockey, and playing guitar. When the seniors were young, among other things, they enjoyed playing tag, copy house, tiddlywinks, and with dolls. Times have changed!

The young and young at heart had a chance to mingle and chat. The youth band and leaders then enjoyed a supper at a local restaurant for more relationship building among the group. Our parish is blessed to have such a wonderful group of youth. Their kindness and care for others is inspiring.

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The calendar is a recurring Christmas gift I’ve been finding in my stocking for the past several years.

Here at St. John the Evangelist, Topsail, our rector, Canon Jotie Noel, also makes sure that we celebrate each red-letter day on the Church’s calendar.

The day that I am writing this article, Sunday, February 1st, as our congregation gathered together in our place of worship, we were happy to be welcomed to and participate in the annual Christingle service—symbolizing God’s gift to us as the Light of the World, and as an aftermath to the winding down of Advent. Christingle serves as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

At the foot of the altar this morning, with three of our younger members of the congregation participating, Canon Jotie once again used the analogy of an orange as a motif to demonstrate the best gift of all.

Each child displayed an orange, which represented the concept of a circle—round like the world. A candle at the top represented God’s Light. A ribbon around the orange represented the love of God that goes around the world. Toothpicks are a symbol of love pointing in all directions.

The demonstration was greatly enhanced by the involvement of the three children as they joyfully assisted Canon Jotie while he explained the biblical meaning of the multiple components displayed on the table.

After an uplifting service, the Anglican Church Women of our parish invited everyone downstairs to participate in fellowship and food.

A rewarding day was had by all.

The Lord is my light
And my salvation
Whom shall I fear
– Psalm 27

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Over the centuries, the parish has witnessed countless moments of joy, sorrow, and resilience, becoming a cornerstone of communal life in Port de Grave. To commemorate this bicentennial milestone, parishioners and clergy have planned a series of special events, including historical displays, musical performances, and a service of thanksgiving attended by local dignitaries and visitors from across the province. The preacher at the service will be the Most Rev’d Shane Parker, the 15th Primate of the Anglican Church in Canada. The service will be on September 20th at 7pm. Everyone is invited to come, and the clergy are invited to vest. The colour will be red for St. Luke’s Day.

“This anniversary is not only a reflection of our past, but a celebration of the people who have shaped our parish and community,” said the Rev’d Jason Haggstrom, current priest-in-charge of St. Luke’s Parish. “We honour those who came before us and look forward to continuing our mission with faith and compassion.”

The festivities have also highlighted the parish’s church building, which celebrates its centennial this year as well, and the rich traditions of worship and outreach that have defined its legacy. Local historians have shared stories of the parish’s founding families, the impact of the fishing industry, and how faith has woven itself into the fabric of daily life.

As the Anglican Parish of Port de Grave enters its third century, leaders and parishioners alike are hopeful for a future rooted in community and service. The bicentennial serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of the Gospel’s message and the importance of passing on the faith to the generation to come.

Our collect for our bicentennial year:

Almighty Father, we give thanks and praise for guiding this Parish through two centuries of faith, community and service. By your grace, our ancestors built a foundation upon Christ. By your Spirit, we have grown as His Body in love and in worship. Grant that as we celebrate our 200th Anniversary, we be strengthened to serve our neighbours, proclaim your Gospel, and bear steadfast witness to you in our generation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

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(N.T. Wright – Lent for Everyone: Matthew, Year A, 2011)

“Easter is a day to put everything upside down and inside out,” writes Bishop N.T. Wright.

This is Good News! In a time in our history when it seems that those in positions of power are too often misusing authority at the expense of the vulnerable, this gives us hope! But, as Christians, we know that this hope comes at a cost.

The cost is the Cross. Jesus, the very wisdom and power of God, embraced what the world despises: weakness, suffering, and apparent defeat. He stood with the poor and the oppressed. He allowed the powers of this age to do their worst. On Good Friday, it looked as though the strong had triumphed and the upside-down kingdom had been crushed.

Yet on the third day, God overturned everything. The tomb was empty. The crucified one was raised in glory. What the world called foolishness proved wiser than human wisdom. What the world called weakness was stronger than human strength. The last became first, and death itself was put to death.

This is the heart of Easter: resurrection is not the denial of suffering but its transformation. The same God who raised Jesus from the dead is at work even now. Mourning is turned into dancing, despair into hope, and this broken world into the new Creation.

My friends, we are Easter people. We are called to live this upside-down reality in our own time and place. That means following the example of Jesus, who chose service over status, generosity over greed, and love even for those who oppose us. It means standing with the vulnerable, not because we are strong, but because we have met the one whose strength is made perfect in weakness.

In the days and weeks ahead, may you know the presence of the Risen Christ who meets us in the ordinary and the unexpected. May the joy of his resurrection fill you with new life and send you out as witnesses to the new thing God is doing.

Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

In the days and weeks ahead, may you know the presence of the Risen Christ who meets us in the ordinary and the unexpected. May the joy of his resurrection fill you with new life and send you out as witnesses to the new thing God is doing.

Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

+ Samuel, Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador

The post Inside Out and Upside Down: The Radical Logic of Easter appeared first on Anglican Life.

I have seen, and worked alongside, and worshipped with many priests since my beginning here in 1957. Each one empowered their own special gifts that I’m sure enhanced and developed our church’s faith immensely. I have joyfully said many hellos, and reluctantly uttered as many goodbyes.

But today, I will concentrate on the present, with my thoughts and feelings confined to our current priest: Canon Jotie Noel. Canon Jotie will be retiring this year, not just from our parish but also from thirty-seven years of ordained ministry.

During a recent Sunday morning sermon, Canon Jotie addressed the congregation announcing his plans. His delivery was a recap or celebration of those years: not just his time with us, but also in recognition of the other parishes who were also blessed by the gift he had portrayed, beginning in Labrador. It was very emotional and difficult for those present to maintain composure while listening to the depth of Canon Jotie’s sincerity that he espoused.

Canon Jotie was and is special. No matter how serious the discourse, he always managed to inject some humour, which enhanced and made the delivery more interesting, often implying that God had a sense of humour. To quote from the wisdom of the late Canon George Earle: “For church life to be lived at its richest, humour must not be confined to the secular, but must permeate the Spiritual.”

Canon Jotie encouraged freedom of speech: to be a listener, not just a deliverer. This meant that any topic or problem could be discussed without prejudice. Canon Jotie will be deeply missed and leaves very big shoes to fill. As his departure marks the culmination of one journey, we wish him and his wife Pauline many happy retirement years on the trip they are now about to embark upon. When one door shuts, another opens.

He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
– Proverbs 16:20

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We were also pleased to welcome members of the Foxtrap/Upper Gullies C.L.B. Company, who helped us process around the church. Before officiating at the annual service celebrating the Confession of St. Peter, Bishop Sam Rose made time to meet with our confirmation class. We estimate the congregation for the service was well over 100 people.

A special highlight of this event was when Parker Butler, age 12, sang a stirring rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” Parker is the great-grandson of lifelong parishioner Edna Warford.

We thank God for this wonderful time together.

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I remember a funny episode of the cartoon ‘The Simpsons’ where Homer ignores his car’s flashing check engine light by taping over it, only for the engine to fail spectacularly moments later.

Our spiritual lives are like a vehicle’s check engine indicator. Just as a car’s dashboard lights up when something is not working correctly, our spiritual lives may also have warning signs or signals when something is not right. These warning signs can be feelings of spiritual emptiness, or a sense of disconnection from God and others. Lent is a good time for us to check our spiritual engines.

Spiritual renewal means deepening our relationship with God and strengthening our commitment to following Christ. This can be done through regular practices such as prayer, meditation, worship, Bible study, and service to others. Spiritual renewal is particularly emphasized during the season of Lent, which is an intentional time of preparation for Easter. This might mean attending Lenten worship, participating in our online Lenten reflections, or volunteering at local food banks or outreach projects.  It is about taking on something extra in your spiritual practice to help focus and strengthen your discipleship.

Lent helps us refocus on the ‘why’ of all we do and are as Christians. Before we can do anything in the Church, the first step is to look at ourselves and ask: How is my relationship with God? In other words, ‘Do I love Jesus, and how do I show Jesus’ love in my own life?’ These are personal questions, but ones that are so important.

We are all called to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, but while our faith is deeply personal, we are called to share it outwardly. As Christians, we can embrace our personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ and renew our baptismal faith regularly. When we do so—when we become active participants with God—we see our churches and communities transformed into inclusive, supportive, and non-judgmental centres of God’s love and grace. As Anglicans, we are called to follow the example of Christ and to seek to live out his teachings in our daily lives (see, for example, Matthew 25:35-40 on caring for those in need). This means being faithful to God and one another, and showing love and compassion to those in need. It also means being willing to confront the sin and injustice in our lives and the world around us. This is about deepening our relationships with others within the Church and those on the margins.

When that pesky check engine light comes on in our vehicle, we know we will eventually have to take it to the garage to get it fixed. Our spiritual check engine light is no different. We can do this spiritual check-up during this Lenten season by looking at what we are called to be and to do as baptized Christians. If a core value is deepening our relationship with God and one another, then this needs to be at the very centre of the life and ministry of every Christian.

So, if your spiritual check engine light is flashing, I invite you to use this Lent as a tune-up for your faith. Let us look honestly at our spiritual lives, and we may go deeper with God and one another.

Lenten blessings,

Bishop Sam Rose

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