At face value the Bible is not a guide to good ethical and moral behaviour. It just isn’t. The Bible, in its much-cherished pages, promotes slavery, the treatment of women and children as property, punishments which are far worse than the crimes, genocide, and many more things which most people would consider to be horrible if presented from any other source. And yet we as Christians continue to hold up the Bible and proclaim to everyone who listens that this is the ultimate guide for living a good, righteous, and holy life. We assert that “This is sinful!” or “This is God’s will!” because of the words we read therein. And no one can argue otherwise. Except of course, for the fact that we do often argue otherwise in the case of those passages which we personally disagree with. We make excuses and note exceptions to cover over those things which don’t fit our own ideals and constantly repeat those things which support our own righteousness. Isaac sends away Hagar and Ishmael to die in the desert, but God told him that’s okay, so no harm done. Joshua invades Canaan, slaughtering every man, woman, and child… but they were bad people, so God wanted them all dead. Slavery is okay according to the Bible… oh, wait, never mind, turns out it’s not. Homosexuality… well obviously God hates that, and it must be stamped out. We negotiate with the text all the time to agree with our own ideals and the ideals of our society and then declare that this was always what God meant and anything else is sinful and corrupt. And, as a cleric, I get very tired of it. I don’t see the Bible as a moral text, and I grow increasingly weary of the apologies and negotiations. And so, I hold to just one thing: love God and love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus gave us those words, and with them the wrestling with Scripture stops. I read a passage and ask the question, “Is this an example of loving behaviour toward both God and neighbour?” If not, then I strive not to do it. Because love is the only answer. It’s the only way to make sense of our often contradictory and confusing Scripture; the only way to make sense of a senseless world. And it always works… not just in the Bible, but in all things: movies, TV, politics, and the actions of our daily lives.

Love is the key… the only key. Through it we find the safe path forward, in as much as we ever can in our broken and complicated world. Let us know all things through love, and we grow closer to God each day.

The post Beyond The Moral Mess: Reclaiming Love As The Only Law appeared first on Anglican Life.

Most of us today might not have any knowledge of his prediction, but the expectation has become an overwhelming truism. This progression has allowed individuals to technically expand their horizons globally, but at the same time, it may divert attention from a lifetime of individual customary practices.

I’m not suggesting that this advanced branch of science has somewhat influenced a large number of our citizens to shift interest from regular church service attendance. Neither am I using the same hypothesis to claim that banning prayers from the school curriculum system has a similar negative effect on Christian worship amongst the younger generation.

Then, of course, modifications had to be considered in the church community when COVID-19 hit our environment. That’s when online church services were introduced. Some parishioners became so comfortable using that technique that it prevailed even when churches returned to regular in-house worship.

But the reality, for whatever reason, is obvious: today’s church attendance and support are largely dependent upon a more senior group of parishioners. In the meantime, many prominent and lifelong churches here in Newfoundland have been closed, forced to sell, or combine with others.

Here at St. John the Evangelist, Topsail, and at neighbouring churches, we have so far survived that fate—not solely from the collection plate, but through fundraising efforts such as takeout dinners, flea markets, fairs, and renting our facilities when available.

The situation is not just relevant to our local and community places of worship. The Anglican Journal magazine has been reporting publicly for some time of General Synod’s worries about the future of the churches. The latest Journal news is that the situation has reached emergency levels where they need to make cuts in the size of the church’s governing bodies.

To quote Archbishop Anne Germond, from September’s edition of the Anglican Journal: “We need to act now… transforming these structures is necessary to empower and support parishes in proclaiming and living the gospel.”

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After several years of uncertainty, a diagnosis of young-onset dementia came as a shock. “Since there was no family history, it was so unbelievable,” Gig said. “She was just one year older than me.” Regina’s first concern was how to tell her elderly parents and teenage children about her terminal illness.

Determined to understand the disease, Gig joined the Alzheimer Society’s First Link® Program, connecting with staff and other care partners, including Roseanne Leonard, whose journey resonated deeply. Shirley Lucas, CEO of the Alzheimer Society, explains that First Link’s® Learning Series is a 15-week program designed to help families navigate dementia. The education program includes information about understanding the dementia diagnosis, legal and financial planning, and accessing community care.

Regina quickly turned her diagnosis into advocacy and joined the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s. Additionally, in 2017, she formed her own team—Regina’s Roses—with a vision of unity and awareness. “I want my team to be big, I want us all to have the same colour t-shirt, and I want them to know there are young people with dementia,” she told her family. Her goal was to show that dementia affects people of all ages, and to inspire others to speak up.

Since then, Regina’s Roses has walked every year, with family and friends rallying under her banner. For Gig, continuing the team’s efforts is about transforming hardship into hope. “Jeannie would be proud that we didn’t give in and become angry,” she said.

Regina’s legacy is one of courage and compassion—encouraging others to seek support, breaking the stigma around dementia, and advocating for dementia-friendly workplaces and health care settings. “There’s still a lot of stigma associated with a dementia diagnosis,” Gig said. “We need to change that.”

Through her advocacy, Regina showed that even in the face of a devastating illness, it’s possible to move forward with purpose—and to inspire a community to do the same. Her story reminds us that dementia doesn’t discriminate by age, and that awareness, education, and compassion are powerful tools for change.

Now it’s our turn to carry that torch.

Whether you’re a care partner, a friend, a business owner, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, the Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador is here to help. Their free educational sessions, support programs, and community initiatives are designed to empower, inform, and connect.

Join the movement. Break the stigma. Be part of the solution.

As a Church newspaper with many older readers, I recognise the importance of education when it comes to the realities of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. While this article is not directly related to the ministry of the Church, when I was asked if I would consider including it in this issue, I spoke with the Anglican Joint Committee officer, and we both agreed that it is valuable information for our community. Understanding dementia not only helps us support those who may be living with the disease, but also fosters compassion, awareness, and preparedness within our congregations and families.

– Emily F. Rowe
Editor, Anglican Life

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Bishop John was elected Bishop in 2016, but has been painting for 25 years. “I started painting when my wife encouraged me to ‘stop talking about trying to paint, and try it!’” he says.

Most of his paintings are done in oils and acrylics, but Bishop John also uses water colour techniques of pulling colours from berries and grass, and even did a painting that incorporated mud from the River Jordan.

For Alongside Hope’s Christmas cards, Bishop John offered up several options, all widely liked by staff. The two selected images are titled It Happened in Bethlehem and Winter Light. Both images call to mind the everlasting light of Jesus.

“It Happened in Bethlehem is one of a series that has much to do with my relationship with people before and after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem,” he says. “On one hand this painting represents light and hope in the sky over Bethlehem. Bethlehem is of course in the background as there was no room in the inn. On the other side, it represents (in a very deep way for me these days) explosions of violence that push grace into shadow.”

Winter Light is a “mental composite painting,” says Bishop John. “In central Newfoundland there are several small farming communities. These are beautiful spots, some inland, some by the sea. What you see here are both places. I carry them in my heart.”

Bishop John’s subject matter ranges from Newfoundland seasides dotted with colourful dories, to local wildlife and still life. “I choose a wide variety of colours, and pay attention to value and tone. Colour then can come alive and speak through the eye then into the imagination and hopefully…the heart.

“I constantly explore new genres and types of painting and paint in as many styles as I can. My art comes from places and people that have affected and still affect me. Peaceful, frantic, light, dark, heartbreaking, inspiring and hopeful. Some [images are] painted with confidence, others with a tentative heart; just like life where each story, tear, laugh and encounter contains beauty, truth, challenge and possibility.”

You can view and purchase Bishop John’s paintings online at newfolkart.ca. He has participated in four public exhibits with each one selling out. Money raised from these sales has been primarily given to charity and outreach. Proceeds from the sales of Alongside Hope’s Christmas cards will support families and communities around the world in need.  Support the work, and spread the word!

To order your cards, visit the Alongside Hope’s website at: alongsidehope.org/Christmascards2025.

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Some people like math and numbers, and some don’t. Numbers, however, can tell a story of what an organization values and accomplishes. They can reveal the scope, effectiveness, and vision of a charitable organization like Alongside Hope (formerly called PWRDF).

Magnitude of Alongside Hope Ministry

Statistics of Alongside Hope’s work listed in its 2024-2025 annual report reveal the extent of the organization’s work. In that fiscal year, Alongside Hope

• worked with partners in 30 countries internationally and in Canada on 53 projects

• improved the lives of 288,292 direct participants through training and by providing access to resources such as clean water

Number of Direct Participants

Direct participants who benefited from Alongside Hope partnerships included:

• 342 Indigenous midwives in Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador were supported to improve health service delivery and reduce maternal mortality

• 593 adolescents in Zambia attended weekly group meetings focused on safe sexual behaviours, alcohol and drug abuse, and children’s rights

• 5,015 families in Cuba received training to increase their resilience to natural disasters

• 18,205 patients have been treated at Gaza’s Al Ahli Hospital since the beginning of the current conflict

• The Ecclesiastical province of BC/Yukon received a $50,000 grant to respond to wildfire emergencies

Effectiveness of Programs

While the sheer number of participants is impressive, the 2024 report for Charity Intelligence Canada also cites the effectiveness of individual programs.

• programmes in Guatemala resulted in improved food security for 375 Tzeltal Indigenous families, with half of the families achieving self-sufficiency in producing grain, vegetables, and fruit

• the Goat Seed project in East Africa improved the retention rate of community health workers to 97%

Doubling Alongside Hope’s Fundraising Efforts

Alongside Hope has long had ways of doubling donations, often through an anonymous donor. Two recent examples are matching of donations up to $250,000 for the Resilience Fund (in light of substantive USAID cuts) until June 30, 2025, and matching of donations up to $150,000 for the recent Solar Suitcase project until October 31, 2025.

Doubling Your Tax credits: Two Tax Advantages for One Gift

Alongside Hope also welcomes legacy gifts and reminds donors of two tax advantages when they donate stocks or mutual funds: first, you don’t pay taxes on the capital gains, plus, you receive a charitable receipt. For further information, contact planned.giving@alongsidehope.org.

The Power of One

Big numbers in and of themselves don’t necessarily change the world for the better. Contributions by a single individual can also make a significant difference: e.g., the two paintings by Bishop John Watton of Central Newfoundland, for this year’s Alongside Hope Christmas cards. It Happened in Bethlehem represents light and hope, but also the violence that pushes grace into the shadows, while Winter Light recalls the beauty of farming in Central Newfoundland. And if the postal workers’ strike is over by the time you read this, there will still be time to send these cards to family and friends.

The post Do Numbers Matter? appeared first on Anglican Life.

Pictured at the top of this page are: Verger Sharon Stuckey, Church Wardens Cindy Marshall and Laura Cowan, The Rev’d Gail Dick, Her Honour, His Honour, The Rev’d Dr. Robert Rolands, Lloyd Penney, ADeC, Maj. Heather Constantine

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This year, in preparing to preach, I kept thinking about the patronage of St. Michael and All Angels in my life. I cannot think of a time in my life where I have not been influenced by St. Michael and All Angels. It goes back to the day of my baptism. I was baptized at St. Peter’s (Upper Gullies), Conception Bay South. Yet one of my godfathers was a parishioner of the former St. Michael and All Angels in St. John’s. For the benefit of the parishioners of that former parish in St. John’s; my godfather was the late Mr. Cecil Andrews, better known to me as Mr. Cec. He told me stories of how as a young boy he attended worship when the parish was located on Casey Street. He told me of how his mother, who being widowed at an early age and having to send some of her children to the “Church of England Orphanage,” did all she could do to provide for her young family. Mr. Cec’s mother would wash the surplices of the choir, servers, and clergy twice a year—Christmas and Easter—at the price paid to her by the parish, two cents per surplice. This, of course, was back in the day when washing was done in a galvanized wash tub, a bar of Sunlight soap, and a scrubbing board. I remember the stories of how Mr. Cec sang in the choir in the Casey Street location. When Mr. Cec passed from this life to the life everlasting, his requiem was held at St. Michael and All Angels, then on St. Claire Avenue, in 2008. The late Fr. Chris Snow gave me the privilege of being the Eucharistic Assistant at the funeral.

Fast forward to my own ordained ministry. In 2012, when I was appointed to the Parish of Southeast Labrador, one of the congregations under my care was the congregation in Charlottetown. The name of the congregation in Charlottetown was and still is St. Michael and All Angels. In 2014, I moved to the Parish of Rose Blanche. The congregation in Rose Blanche is St. Michael and All Angels. In coming to Deer Lake in 2021, the name of the congregation in Deer Lake is St. Michael and All Angels. It is certainly a lot to think about and, whether it was when I was writing my sermon for that day or writing this article, words cannot express the thoughts and feelings that I have in becoming aware of the fact that St. Michael and All Angels has had such an impact on my spiritual journey.

May we each think about the places and people that form us in our spiritual journey. I am certain that if we all think about such things, we will come to the realization that there are places and saints, in the past and in the present, which shape our spiritual journey. May St. Michael and All Angels protect each and every single one of us.

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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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