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It was our first attempt at gathering for a congregational meeting since COVID-19 made its debut in our midst more than eighteen months ago.

While exercising strict precautions, by not abandoning the face masks and by social distancing, we managed to successfully deal with our annual reports for both 2019 and 2020.

A few days earlier, but not to stretch some acquired freedom, a cautious member of our Anglican Church Women group graciously offered to hold our first ACW get together since March 10th, 2020, at her home.

It was there that we comfortably planned the possibilities for some regular fall activities.

While movement had been practically dormant for over a year, and in an attempt to strengthen our diversified revenue stream, it was unanimously agreed that the parish would endeavour to sponsor a lasagna supper take out on September 25th. We pray it will come to fruition.

For the last two summers it was beyond our control to form the regular human chain in the cemetery in honour of our departed loved ones. But we are trying to remain optimistic that the COVID-19 situation will continue to improve so that we may join in fellowship for this celebration while the weather is still clement.

Also, prior to the pandemic, the highlight of our summer season was the traditional Sunday evening worship and song held at our old and cherished heritage church, still standing majestically. These services were acknowledged not only by our own congregation, but many people from other faiths and parishes, who joined us each Sunday evening to enjoy what we offered in this unique atmosphere.

Needless to anticipate, our congregation remains hopeful that the cancelled flea market and fall fair of 2020 will rise from the ashes this year, as donations from optimistic patrons are pouring in.

These events are all occasions where we have also missed close fellowship with neighbouring parishes.

We prayerfully look forward to our church returning to a beehive of activity, leading up to the fast approaching blessed, holy season of Christmas. In the meantime,

“May the God of patience and comfort grant us to be like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus.”
Romans 15:5

The post High Hopes For The Fall appeared first on Anglican Life.

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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On September 8th, 2021, Bishop John Organ (Western Newfoundland) ordained The Rev’d Vernon Short to the priesthood at the Church of St. Barnabas, Flower’s Cove, NL.

The Rev’d Arthur Kinsella
Ordained Priest

On September 14th, 2021, Bishop John Organ (Western Newfoundland) ordained The Rev’d Arthur Kinsella to the priesthood at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, St. Anthony, NL.

The Rev’d Marie Smith
Ordained Priest

On September 21st, 2021, Bishop John Organ (Western Newfoundland) ordained The Rev’d Marie Smith to the priesthood at St. John the Divine Church, Port Saunders, NL.

The Rev’d Deborah Pantin
Ordained Deacon

On September 21st, 2021, Bishop Cyrus Pitman (retired, Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador) ordained The Rev’d Deborah Pantin to the deaconate at St. Thomas’s Church, St. John’s, NL.

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The Botanical Garden in Cow Head is adjacent to St. Mary’s Anglian Church, and was begun in 2001. It contains 43 flower beds, and is a peaceful and beautiful place to spend some time in prayer and contemplation in this garden beside the sea.

There is no fee to go to the Botanical Garden, but donations are appreciated. For more information, visit their Facebook page, “St. Mary’s Botanical Garden.”

The post Prayer Service Held For The Season of Creation, 2021 appeared first on Anglican Life.

In February of 2020 (just before the COVID-19 lockdown began), the facility was paid off, and, free of debt, was ready to be consecrated. On Sunday, the 26th of September, Bishop Cy (who turned the sod in 2004, and who dedicated the Oratory in 2006) was here, and consecrated the house for the Church of the Resurrection to the Glory of God.

Many people in many ways have made this possible, and we are grateful for their love and commitment to Christ. There continues to be much good and important ministry that happens under the roof of this house for the Church. We are grateful for this house where the Church, in all its different forms, gathers. And we are grateful for the love that we call Christ, that continues to emerge as our shared life.

The post Parish of the Resurrection Has Congregation’s Home–The Oratory–Consecrated appeared first on Anglican Life.

Between COVID-19, aging church congregations, and busy lives, it is becoming harder as time passes to find volunteers who are willing or able to give time to assist with church work. I am so pleased and thankful for the men and women from our declining congregation, who are mostly seniors, who came out and worked with me and my committee to paint, power wash, repair the cement foundation, and clean up the grounds around the building. It was an act of love and pride for our church and community that this work took place.

I, Florence, would like to thank my committee and volunteers who took time out of their busy lives to work on this project. We are so blessed to have you.

The post St. Luke’s, Port de Grave, Fixes Up Church Hall appeared first on Anglican Life.

First, it denies atheism. Atheism is the view that God does not exist.  About ten percent of people worldwide are atheists. But atheists cannot honestly prove that God does not live in any part of the physical universe. Genesis 1:1a states it very clearly that God was in the beginning.  If God was in the beginning, then there was and is a God.

Second, it denies materialism. Materialism is the belief that only physical entities exist. There is no reality beyond the physical. The material universe is all there is. Genesis 1:1a states that God was in the beginning before creation. This sets God apart from creation and apart from the matter of which everything is made. Matter did not always exist.

Third, it denies pantheism. Pantheism is the idea that everything, the entire universe, is God, or is part of God.  God is everything. But Genesis 1:1 tells us that God created the entire universe. If God created matter, then he is separate from it.

The simple statement: “In the beginning God” also suggests at least three positive statements.

First, it suggests to us that God is self-existent. God could not have derived His existence from anything else. He continues to exist independent of everything else. He is the uncaused cause.  He is the source of all things. He is the eternally self-existent being who always was and always will be. The Bible never tries to prove the existence of God. It assumes his existence from the very beginning.

Second, it suggests to us that God is self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency means that God has no needs and therefore depends on no one. God does not depend on oxygen, light, heat, gravity and the laws of nature.  He does not need any created being. He does not need helpers.

God has chosen humans to fill the earth (Genesis 1:28), and he has given Christians a commission to evangelize the world (Matthew 28:19-20), but he did not have to. God could have done this in other ways. He can do what he alone wants. Humans can count on God. We can rest in God’s self-sufficiency and so work effectively for him. God does work in and through his spiritual children.

Third, it suggests to us that God is eternal. God has no beginning and no end. He was, he is, he will be. He will continue as the eternal God even when history has ended. God created the world with space and time. Before he made the universe, there was no matter. The study of physics tells us that matter and time and space must all occur together: if there is no matter, there can be no space or time either. Thus, before creation, there was no “time”, at least not in the sense of a succession of moments one after another. Also, the God who never was born cannot die. When we abide in God, we are partaking of the eternal.

Our God is not an imaginary God. He is not a god of our own inventions. God was in the beginning. He created matter. He is not in matter or is matter. Also, God is self-existent, self-sufficient, and eternal.

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The theme for Synod 47 was “Welcome to the Future.” Bishop Watton stated that over the past few years, we have certainly been talking about change and what we thought the future would look like. We have been talking about buildings, money, aging congregations, young people who don’t care, and what’s wrong with the world.
It’s time to get focused as one diocesan family, and he can quickly outlined three types of responses that are unfolding in the diocese:

1. We have had to respond in relation to buildings and ministry, because some congregations just can’t carry on.
2. Leaders in our synod office, and throughout the diocese through our committees, have been faithfully looking at diocesan life through practical eyes. We have moved mountains to give our parishes time to keep moving forward and talk about the future.
3. We have responded out of an honest desire to be faithful to the call and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bishop Watton offered thanksgiving to the diocese for all that they have done, in heart, body, and soul. Also, for the grace in following our protocols within the church, and out in the public. But above all, for not giving up.

At the heart of the Bishop’s Charge was his statement that it’s time to listen to the Holy Spirit calling us back into right relationship with Jesus, so that we can, as the Church, be part of “a Jesus shaped response” to what is happening around us. Wherever Jesus went, his purpose was not to form institutions or to put up buildings, but to meet people right where they were, and draw people together in community. Wherever Jesus went, he brought people together. As we move forward, there are going to be all sorts of new and unique questions, and we are going to have some difficult discussions. To those of you who have made some heartbreaking choices, the bishop said that it was, and is, an honour to stand with you and weep with you through them.

Bishop Watton shared that, as diocesan bishop, he must remind the synod that in their parish and diocesan discussions, some of people tend to be protective about their buildings and boundaries. That is understandable. It comes from the years of devotion, proven by what people have given to support the Church and community over the years.

It is also as response, against what communities have lost as our federal and provincial governments have had to adjust finances, health care, administration, and community services. Bishop Watton said that he understands people wanting to preserve their identity and heritage. He was very clear in stating, “We must never place our parish boundaries and buildings, as important as they are, above the needs of proclaiming the Gospel and doing active pastoral ministry.”

“I know that in the midst of change, people who ‘fight for their communities’ seem almost heroic. But they also seem stubborn, unyielding, and narrow in relation to a bigger picture. That is not the witness we need anywhere in the Diocese. We need to be building a Christ shaped Church.”

The Bishop’s Charge was a preamble into a workshop on Saturday which was based around the concept and reality of a “Lean Canvas.”

The idea of the Lean Canvas workshop was to focus on Mission, Resources and Process. The workshop discussion topics related to who is your target group; what are your current problems; who are our people; do we offer a healthy environment; what measurements do we use to gauge success; just to mention a few. Synod concluded with a final question to the parishes: “What are your next steps going to be? The Diocese of Central Newfoundland eager to work with you!

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Without a doubt, having both parents attend church regularly is one of the strongest indicators of whether children and young people will continue to attend church once they are able to “choose for themselves.” These days, however, most Christian families do not have the opportunity to all work together. Both parents might not have come from the same Christian tradition. One parent might not even be a practicing Christian. Either or both parents may have to work on Sundays, since the changing nature of work in the 21st century does not privilege Sunday as a day of rest for everyone.

But even if your family cannot meet such an ideal, it would be a mistake to assume that it is less able to pass on the faith to a new generation. It is not just having the example of parents going to church every Sunday that leads to children continuing to practice their faith. Just as important, perhaps even more important, is the example of people who take their faith seriously, beyond just going to church. Who do children see talking about their faith, putting their faith into action in their everyday lives? Sometimes grandparents have an even better opportunity to set an example for them than their own parents do.

While my own parents certainly took me to church, and talked about what they believed, and made it clear that their faith was an integral part of everyday life, I also saw the example of my grandparents. Every time I spent the night at my grandparents’ house, I would watch in the morning as they sat on the couch after breakfast, read their Bibles, and said their prayers. My own trip to the Holy Lands a few years ago was in part inspired by my other grandfather’s own desire to “walk in the place where Our Saviour walked.’” Many people that I talk to share stories of the influence their own grandparents had on their sense of what it means to be a Christian. If that was the case in previous generations, how much more influence could grandparents have these days, when they are increasingly involved in taking care of grandchildren after school?

If you have started taking it upon yourself to take your grandchildren to church, please don’t do so grudgingly. One thing your grandchildren do not need to see is you fighting with your own children about who should be taking the children to church. In a best case scenario, regular worship should be an opportunity for multiple generations to practice their faith together, rather than a source of strife. Give thanks for the influence and example that you are able to provide. When our faith as Christians is handed down from generation to generation, it can be handed down from grandparents to grandchildren just as much as from parents to children.

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