anglican life october 2015

1OCTOBER 2015

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

A Section of the AnglicAn JournAlanglicanlifeNEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

October 2015

Aye, aye Captain!

Article bySandra OConnor

Photos byRev. Shaun OConnor

For as we explore the Bible, we explore our rela-tionship with God, who then opens the whole world for us to explore. Thus spake Captain James Cook during his address to the open-ing chapel at Mint Brook Boys Camp 2015.

W i t h t h e theme High Seas Expedition, the boys embarked o n a j o u r n e y to experience Gods wonderful love. Along the way they learned that Gods word is true, comfort-ing, surprising, life-changing and for ev-eryone. They got a taste of what some of the earliest Christians experienced in the shape-shifting Bible-times room, which became a

first-century home, a ship, an island and more. No camp is complete without games and there were games aplenty. Group games in the morning reinforced lessons learned; night games provided some adventure and intrigue; the games room was a big hit and always saw a lineup waiting to play Stratego; and free-time games included

everything from water dodge ball to lawn bowling.

There were many oppor-tunities to explore the world God created, as well as the wonder of being created in

his image. As always, the trip up the brook to the rapids where we rafted and swam was enthusiastically enjoyed. Swimming and canoeing were daily staples embarked on with joy, particularly since that week was the first really warm one of the summer. We observed stars galore far from the towns lights using a telescope and the naked eye. Our creativity was explored when we decorated clay pot lighthouses. An obvious nod to our theme, they reminded us to share the light of the Gospel and that Jesus is the light of the world. At our closing chapel, we lit them as each boy shared some way in which he saw or experienced God during the week.

As one might expect, living in close community for a full week was new to many boys. The Quiet Room was a welcome retreat for those needing some per-sonal space. Daily duties, consisting of teams for main-tenance (oddly enough, a very enjoyable task for some was bathroom cleaning), dishes, campfire and chapel, enabled everyone to con-tribute to the life and work of the community. Naturally, conflict arose from time to time, but we were humbled at those times when we saw forgiveness sought and of-fered freely; those experi-ences were moving for the forgiven, the forgiver and those privileged to observe.

Every year, we see boys return to camp and new

ones arrive, and we strive to give them a glimpse of our Lord and the life of Christ in us. Some share positive things that are happening in their lives and faith and others carry loads far too heavy to be left to them alone. Sometimes it is challenging; sometimes it hap-pens very naturally

as we talk, teach and play. But without a doubt, the enormi-ty of the task set before us in working with young people becomes clear with each boy we meet.

Harvest Thanksgiving

The Most Rev. Percy CoffinArchbishopWestern Newfoundland

The Earth is the Lords and all that is in it, the world and all who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1

The more time I spend on the northeast side of Fogo Island these days the more I realize why the cel-ebration of harvest thanksgiving was downplayed. Fertile land would not be a choice description of the landscape. Ours was an existence sustained by the harvest of the sea and we never thought to make the sanctuary look like the stage head. In later years when I arrived in the Parish of Bonne Bay North (Rocky Hr. and Norris Point) I witnessed a full celebration of the essence of the familiar lines of Psalm 24. The opening words of which recognize God the Creator; the following words acknowledge the work of Gods people.

In Bonne Bay the church was decorated as I had never seen a church decorated before: vegeta-bles, jams, etc. of course but there was a display of salt fish and woolen mittens and socks and crafted goods

from the materials of the earth. The produce of the land and sea was one thing but the display bore testament to the skill and labour of Gods people. The display was a transformation of raw materials into practical goods for the welfare of humankind brought into a sacred space as a gesture of thanks to the Holy One who ultimately has ownership. Nature is no accident. Nature is purpose, goodness and morality. There is more to the fruits of creation than meets the eye.

Nature, human life and all, has a beginning, a purpose and an end that belong to the Creator. The whole created order exists for something beyond itself whether it is the eye of a potato or one of Plutos moons. With or without a notion of God our culture holds fast to a sense of purpose and direction essential

to the ideas of the self. The French has a wonderful expression, joie de vivre, for the delight that results from the transformation and endless possibilities that God has put before us. Joie de vivre is joy in everything.

While thanksgiving is common to most religions it is the nature and

essence of Christianity. The central act of worship is thanksgiving; Eucharist is a Greek word for thanks-giving. In this sacrament we have a simple meal of bread and wine; bread from grains, leaven, skill and heat and wine from grapes, fermen-tation, skill and patience. Common elements artfully transformed again into the body and blood of Christ---the Bread of Life. Grafted into his body and made one with him in the waters of baptism we are transformed more and more to his likeness as we partake in the meal of the baptized community. Our purpose, goodness and morality can only be found in and through him.

We are well aware of the cost of doing whatever we will with the created order. Let thanksgiving transform our wills to reflect that of Gods generosity and purpose.

OCTOBER 20152


Creationist or Evolutionist?

Rev. Gregory MercerColumnistEver since Darwins theory of

evolution and natural selection there has been an ongoing de-bate between creation and evo-lution. Theologically the dispute centers on the origin of species and the whole of creation. To clarify, a creationist believes that the universe and the origin of life was a specific act of God, according to the Bible, and rejects any scientific theory of evolution. Those who hold this view are often of the Conser-vative Evangelical persuasion. In his book, How to Know God Exists, author Ray Comfort goes to great lengths to prove this point, even quoting world re-nowned scientists who question the whole theory of evolution. Stepping back in time he pulls all the stops including Galileo, Emerson, Darwin himself, and even Albert Einstein who said, I want to know how God created this world. Of particular con-cern for the creationists is the origin of human beings and the rejection of human evolution. Comfort in his book argues that an increasing number of scien-tists, and in particular a growing number of evolutionists argue that Darwinian evolution (the origin of species) is no genuine theory at all. Notably, he says, people like Jerry Bergman, Ph. D., has compiled a list of 3,000 scientists and professors who reject evolution. According to Comfort, Nearly 8 in 10 Amer-icans still are not buying the theory 48 percent said God created humans in the present form Only 13 percent believe in naturalistic evolution.

An Evolutionist, on the other hand, is a person who believes in the theories of evolution and natural selection that naturally occurring differences among offspring lead to evolution of

different species. If God exists, he played no part in the process-es. Some evolutionists argue that faith and science are incompatible. But not all evo-lutionists share this particular view. Many who believe in the theory of evolution are also be-lievers. It is interesting to note that the pope and the Catholic Church have recognized the existence of evolution for many years, with Pope Francis stating the following on the matter: God is not a divine being or a magician, but the Creator who brought everything to life, the pope said. Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve (Wikipedia). Dr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the worlds leading scientists. Dr. Collins is known for mapping the human DNA, the code of life. He is also an atheist turned Christian, a man with an unshak-able faith in God and scripture. In his book, The Language of God, he makes his case for God and for Science. His chapter on Biologos in particular (Science and Faith in Harmony) he states that a growing number of bi-ologists and serious believers accept that God is not limited in space and time and created the whole universe and the natural laws that govern it, including the process of evolution. God chose the elegant mechanism of evolution to create microbes, plants, and animals of all sorts. Most remarkably, God intention-ally chose the same mechanism to give rise to special creatures who would have intelligence, a knowledge of right and wrong, free will, and a desire to seek fellowship with Him.

So what are you a Creation-ist or an Evolutionist? We can be both. Recent polls suggest that a large majority of people 90 percent or more still believe in God, and yet it is rather in-teresting how much trust we place in science, everything from electronics, to weather reports, to medicine. I would encourage you to read chapter 38 of The Book of Sirach, especially verses 1 15 (Medical science and faith in harmony). But I leave you with verse 13 which says, There may come a time when recovery lies in the hands of physicians, for they too pray to the Lord.

Bringing church to our seniors

We love to gather together on Sunday to worship our Father in Heaven. This is not al-ways possible for some people. Violet was once a regular church goer of St. Peters Church in Cartwright, Labrador. She can no longer get out to church so we brought church to her. On Sunday, July 26, 2015, Archdeacon Nellie Thomas and I brought home communion to Violet Dyson and her family at their home in Cartwright. We wor-shipped together and sang praises to the Lord. We were all so blessed to share this time together. Thank you to Violet and her family for welcoming us into their home. Submit-ted by Christine Lynch

3OCTOBER 2015


What is your legacy?

Kevin SmithColumnist

In the September issue of Zoomer Magazine, Viv-ian Vassos wrote that It is said that Buddha could walk at birth. A lotus flower, the symbol of Buddhism, would bloom in his wake.

Jesus left another type of wake. Mike Gantt in an online blog writes that Jesus left a greater inher-itance than any ever left by a human being. He showed us the way to live in this world. It is the way of love, the way of cheerful sacrifice.

What will you leave in your wake?

As I write this I am in a contemplative mood. I sit on my deck in Spreadea-gle, Trinity Bay overlooking the peaceful ocean. It is early morning and the only sounds I hear are that of a tinkling brook, the chirp-ing of birds and a gentle rolling surf.

I wonder what will I leave in my wake?

For the last 15 years I have been encouraging Anglicans all over the prov-ince to ensure that they have their estate in order. That means having a legal will and I also encourage them to consider leaving something in their wills for their church. Some have heeded my advice and their lives and that of their churches have been bless-ed with a planned gift of some sort. Ministries of all kinds from youth to music have been enhanced by their generosity.

Others, Im afraid, have not followed through. Sta-tistics tell us that 50 Per-cent of Canadians do not have a legal will and that only spells trouble for their families who are left after a loved one dies. Case in point: A person I have

known for a long time died recently without a will. She owned a home and prop-erty. In order to deal with it properly, the family now has to go through a legal process so that someone will officially own the home and be able to do whatever they decide with it. With hindsight, Im sure she would have preferred not to have left so much con-fusion in her wake.

On a more positive note, I recently met with an old friend of mine who always answered in the negative whenever I asked him if he and his wife had wills. Sometimes he would tell me so even if I didnt remind him of the impor-tance of one. Well, this last time, he told me with-out being prompted that they were working with a lawyer to finally get their wills established. This is another wonderful aspect of this couples marvelous wake that they are going to leave. We must be thankful for small mercies!

Kevin Smith is a gift planning con-sultant for the Anglican Church of Canada. He can be contacted at 709 739-5667 or by email: [email protected]

Isle aux Morts Confirmation

Confirmation at Holy Spirit Church in Isle Aux Morts. On May 31st the sacrament of Con-firmation took place at Holy Spirit Church in Isle aux Morts. Bishop Don Young officiated in Archbishop Coffins absence. Rev Maryrose Colbourne prepared them for confirmation. It was a lovely service with great fellowship and food following the service. Submitted by Dorothy Rector.

Cormack Church searching for veterans

St. Georges Angli-can Church, Cormack is in the process of expanding its photo display of veterans be-yond 1945 to include our modern day veter-ans. If you know of any Cormack Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces or the RCMP who have served our country since 1945, please send the following:

- Their name and con-tact information(e-mail or postal)

- Branch of service, years served, rank, etc., if known

- 5 x 7 framed uni-formed photo suitable for wall hanging if pos-sible

Thank you for your assistance. Please con-tact one of the follow-ing:

Peggy Sheppard, 4 Pine Ave. Cormack, NL, A8A 2N9. Email: [email protected]

Phone: 709-635-7160

Jean Pinksen, 409 Veterans Dr. Cormack, NL, A8A 2R7. Email: [email protected].

Phone: 709-215-0570

OCTOBER 20154


ANGLICAN LIFE in Newfoundland and Labrador is the newspaper of the Anglican Church in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. A co-operative effort of the three Dioceses in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is publishes ten issues each calendar year with an independent editorial policy.

Anglican Life is a section of the Anglican Journal

Editor:The Venerable Sam Rose8 Croydon StreetParadise, NLA1L 1P7Email: [email protected]

Advertising Rates and other information may be obtained from:Bishop Donald Young34 Fraser Road, Gander, NL, A1V 2E8Phone: (709) 256-7701Email: [email protected] Paid Subscription Rates: Newfoundland and Labrador: $15.00Outside the province: $20.00International: $25.00

New subscriptions, cancellations, & changes of address should be sent to: CirculationThe Anglican Journal (attn. Bev Murphy)80 Hayden Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 3G2 (416) 924-9192 (O) (416) 925-8811 (fax)Email: [email protected]

Each parish is responsible for maintaining its own subscription list - please notify your parish office of any changes. Changes sent to parish offices may take months to take effect. Please also send your updated information to Circulation at the Anglican Journal (above) or to Don Young at 34 Fraser Road, Gander NL A1V 2E8.

Articles and photographs: Send to the Editor (above)

Letters to the Editor: Send to the Editor, Sam Rose (address as above). All letters must include the writers name, address, and telephone number. Telephone numbers will not be published. Anglican Life does not publish letters under nom de plume. Letters should not exceed 300 words (one double spaced typewritten page), and are subject to editing at the discretion of the editor.

These policies were adopted by the Anglican Life Committee.

Layout & Design by: The Editor

Printed and Mailed by:Webnews Printing Inc.8 High Meadow PlaceNorth York, ON, M9L 2Z5

Circulation: 19,500

Position Available: EditorAnglican Life in Newfoundland & Labrador

The Tri-Diocesan Management Committee seeks applications for the position of Edi-tor for Anglican Life in Newfoundland & Labrador.

Anglican Life in Newfoundland and Labrador is the newspaper of the Anglican Church in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. A co-operative effort of the three Dioceses in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is published monthly, except July and August, with an independent editorial policy. The Editor has responsibility for all final decisions pertaining to the design, layout, content and quality of each issue of Angli-can Life. The publishers of Anglican Life are the three Bishops of the Dioceses of East-ern Newfoundland & Labrador, Central Newfoundland, and Western Newfoundland. The Business Manager and Advertising Agent is the Joint Committee Officer.

What are we looking for in an Editor?The Editor of Anglican Life should possess the following qualities:- A personal faith in God and an active relationship with Jesus Christ which is empow-ered by the Holy Spirit.- Be able to provide a prophetic and pastoral voice to the church that encourages its ministry and reflects the breadth and diversity of the church, in particular the Anglican Church in Newfoundland & Labrador.- Be able to share in and take responsibility for the writing of news, features, and editorials that reflect critically and appreciatively on the churchs life, actions, and decisions.- Be able to provide analysis, commentary, and reflection on issues facing the church and the world- Be able to ensure that the newspaper operates at the highest level of professional-ism- Be able to safeguard the editorial independence of Anglican Life- Be able to edit, design, produce, and lead the editorial direction of Anglican Life as a ministry to the church and of the church.

What is expected of the Editor?The Editor of Anglican Life should exhibit the following abilities:- Be responsible for the overall editorial content of Anglican Life- Write editorials at least five times each publishing year (ten issues)- Be responsible for receiving material from parish reporters and keep a log of all received materials- Prepare the layout and design of the paper - Edit material where necessary- Work in conjunction with the Joint Committee Officer in matters of advertising and finances;- Be a liaison with regular columnists and contributors- Meet annually with the Anglican Life Committee to do long term planning around the context and ministry of the paper

Experience and EducationThe Editor of Anglican Life should have the following educational and experience re-quirements:- A relevant Post-Secondary degree (Journalism or Arts) or equivalent- Experience in working with newspapers or magazines- Experience with desktop publishing and related computer applications. The ap-plicant should possess computer skills which include a working knowledge of pub-lishing software (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Adobe Acrobat) as well as have flexibility to work with hard copy articles- Applicant should have some working knowledge and experience in maintaining Anglican Life website and social media pages (Facebook, Twitter)- Applicant is expected to be an active member of an Anglican parish in the Anglican Church to Canada- Knowledge, understanding, and experience of the church (Anglican Church of Can-ada, Anglican Communion, ecumenical)- A lively, personal engagement with matters of faith, life, and social transformation

Applications should include: - A short letter of application, including brief introduction of applicants life experi-ence and Christian faith- A complete curriculum vitae, including at least three references- Sample(s) of a publication(s) created by applicant- Two sample editorials

Please Mail completed applications by October 15, 2015 to: The Rt. Revd Donald Young

Joint Committee34 Fraser Road,

Gander, NL, A1V 2E8 For further questions please contact Bishop Don Young, Joint Committee Officer at [email protected] or phone (709) 256-7701

5OCTOBER 2015


Thanksgiving again

Ron ClarkeColumnist

Recently I attended a large social event with many in attendance. All kinds of people were there, including quite a number of church people.

For a while I just sat and listened. Everyone, it seemed was complain-ing about the weather (it was a cold, cold July day). Our governments were attacked.

International threats, terrorism, uncertain fi-nancial situations, etc., ominously clouds our future, apparently.

Doom and gloom seemed everywhere. But now its October - Time for Thanksgiving.

In this dreadful time is there Nothing to be truly thankful for?? Yes, there certainly is! Lots of things!!

The best news is, and weve said this over and over again, but its still News to the mul-titudes who have not heard, and to all those who do not believe, that we surely must be grate-

ful, truly thankful that, above all, and in the midst of all, we have an omnipotent, all-loving Father God.

Nothing is too dread-ful, or too massive, for Our God to handle. Our Creator Father will some-time, SOON, eliminate all the evil weve engen-dered, and make ALL THINGS NEW, gloriously, everlasting NEW. PER-FECT!

So, in joyful anticipa-tion, let us thank our God TODAY.

Justice Camp to take place in Cuba

Submitted byRev. Bill Mous

The first-ever international Justice Camp will bring together a diverse group of Anglicans in Cuba next May to explore the concept of the common good with an eye towards furthering Gods justice and loving purposes.

Through a week-long pro-gram of directed immersion ex-periences, biblical reflection, wor-ship, and relationship building, participants form friendships and develop skills to become effective social justice leaders within their own local communities. Issues related to food security, economic justice and civic engagement will be featured throughout the camp.

The camps are a tangible ex-pression of our baptismal promis-es, especially as they better equip us to strive for justice and uphold the dignity of every human be-ing, said the Reverend Bill Mous, one of the camps organizers. This

camp will also foster Cuban-Ca-nadian relationships and explore what it means to be the Body of Christ at an international level.

Twenty-five Canadians over the age of 18 will be chosen to participate in the camp alongside 25 Cuban participants. In keeping with the justice camp ethos, efforts will be made to ensure partici-pants reflect the Anglican Church of Canadas diversity. Those inter-ested in learning more about the camp or desiring to submit an

online application can visit www.justicecamp.ca.

There have been seven Jus-tice Camps since the first was hosted in Winnipeg in 2005. This Justice Camp is an innovative joint initiative of the Diocese of Niagara and the Diocese of Cuba which are in a companion diocese rela-tionship, along with The Primates World Relief and Development Fund and the Anglican Church of Canada.

This was a special wel-come given by Confirma-tion candidate Caroline Cumbie at the opening of the Confirmation service at the Parish of St. John the Evangelist, Topsail, Con-ception Bay South:

My name is Caroline Cumbie and I am one of the candidates for Confir-mation this evening.

It gives me great plea-sure to welcome our Bish-op, the Right Reverend Dr. Geoffrey Peddle, Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Lab-rador.

I would also like to wel-come all our family, God-parents, and friends who have come to witness our Confirmation.

On behalf of my fellow Confirmation candidates, I would like to thank our Confirmation teachers for all their wisdom and guid-ance in helping us to pre-pare for this special day. Thank you to Sharon Smith, Lisa Cox, Susan Bonnell and Maxine Reccord.

The purpose of Con-firmation preparation is to ensure that those who are confirmed have a proper understanding of what it

means to live as a disciple of Christ within the life of the Church.

During our Confirma-tion classes we learned about the Ten Command-ments, the Apostles Creed, the Lords Prayer, and the Holy Trinity.

We also learned about the seasons of the Church and the significance of each one.

As we begin our ser-vice, we should all remem-ber that we are servants of God. We have a responsi-bility to be His hands and voice in the world. Thank you.

OCTOBER 20156


Building bridges with AfricaSubmitted by

Bishop David Torraville

In this second reflection on the trip that the Rev. Perry Cooper and I made to Africa in May, I will be sharing some impressions of our time in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania at the Consultation on Compan-ion Diocese Relationships as well as our time with Bishop Francis Loyo of the Diocese of Rokon in South Sudan.

The consultation was funded largely through a grant from the General Syn-ods Ministry Investment Fund and was originally planned for Bujumbura, Burundi. Howev-er, because of the unsettled political situation around elections and the resulting violence in Burundi, the con-sultation was moved to Dar-es-Salaam. As a result the Burundian participants were unable to leave their country and were unable to attend.

Historically a number of Canadian dioceses have had long standing Companion relationships with African Dioceses and while not all Canadian or African dioceses in Companion Relationships were able to attend, a number of dioceses were represented. There were participants from the partnership dioceses of Athabasca and Ibba, in South Sudan; Montreal and Masa-si, in Tanzania; Fredericton and Ho in Ghana and Central Newfoundland and Rokon, in South Sudan. Representatives from Ruperts Land, Edmonton and Quappelle attended but their partners from Burundi and Uganda were unable to attend. Archbishop Fred Hiltz, our primate, members of the National Church staff includ-ing Isaac Kawuki Mukasa and the Rev. John Kafwanka, the Director of Missions from the Anglican Communion Office in London also attended. The Primate, the Most Rev. Ber-nard Ntahoturi from Burundi was to act as our host but as he was unable to attend; Bishop James Alamasi of Masasi, un-dertook those responsibilities and was the celebrant at our final Eucharist.

The objectives of the Con-sultation were to: 1) Meet one another in person and

give thanks to God for our companion relationships. 2) Discuss how our dioceses are engaged in the mission of God. 3) Reflect on what is working well and what is not and why. 4) Grow in mutual understanding and support. 5) Identify opportunities for further collaboration. 6) Share what we are learning about Companion Relationships with the wider Church.

For me the most useful and inspiring element of the consultation was the relation-ship building and while the formal presentations were helpful, the conversations over breakfast, the informal discussions around tea were inspiring. We are people of faith doing our very best, prayerfully, under the guid-ance of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Kingdom of God where we are, to the people in our neighbourhood, whether that neighbourhood be in Juba, South Sudan, Winnipeg, Manitoba or MacCallum, Cen-tral Newfoundland.

On the last day of our visit we attended worship at St. Albans Cathedral, Dar es Salaam. As the service began we were invited to introduce ourselves so we introduced ourselves, saying we were from Cen-tral Newfoundland. When the service ended I was mak-ing my way to the back of the church when a gentleman approached me and asked You are from New-found-land? I said, yes and he responded, I have two daughters liv-ing in St. Johns. It really is a small world and a small church; over elev-en thousand kilo-metres away from home I meet a man with children work-ing and going to university in my neighbour-hood.

There is no doubt that there are profound differences in theological approaches, on a range of issues including sexuality, the role of wom-

en in the church, the role of the church in civil society. They are, however, differences among friends - within family. Free from political posturing and oneupmanship we said prayers for one another, we committed ourselves to sup-porting one another and we found that in the family of Christ hope and joy abound.

The comfort and embrace of the family of God was never clearer to me than in the time Perry and I spent with Bishop Francis Loyo and his associate, Rev. Clement Lujang. These are faithful members of our

family, proclaiming hope and Gods Kingdom in Rokon, South Sudan. They do it with-out a Diocesan Office, without diocesan financial resources, without salary, without even a vehicle to travel the Diocese. Their families support them-selves by subsistence farming. Francis spent many years sep-arated from his family during

the extended civil war; he spent seven months in prison being threatened with execution, but I have never met a person with such exuberant faith, al-ways ready to laugh and to make oth-ers laugh, always ready to proclaim his faith, to pray, to encourage. To be part of a church, part of a family which includes Francis and Clement is an inspi-ration.

Over the years Francis and I have prayed for one an-other and one an-

others families. The Diocese and the Parish of Bonavis-ta has helped Rokon repair some of its churches damaged during the civil war.

Over the past several years we have been inviting Francis

Bishop David Torraville (right) is pictured with some young Anglican members of St. Albans Ca-thedral in Dar es Salaam, Africa. Photo: Perry Cooper.

to Newfoundland and Labra-dor but his visa application has been twice denied. One of the benefits of the conference was to help us network with others who have sponsored episcopal visits from African bishops so hopefully our next application will be more effec-tively crafted; satisfy Canadian Immigration, and will be suc-cessful.

At present the Diocese of Rokon has a fibreglass boat which they can use to fish a tributary of the Nile. They are developing a project to get a small refrigeration truck to transport fish to market in Juba. This is intended to provide an income for the Di-ocese, a market for fishermen and work for a couple of peo-ple transporting and selling the fish. I am hoping with so many historic fishing commu-nities in our Diocese that we can provide some financial assistance to this project and hopefully when Bishop Francis visits he will be able to share this and other dreams he has for the work and ministry of the Church in Rokon.

Please pray for Compan-ion Diocesan relationships around the world and for the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan, the Diocese of Rokon and Bishop Francis.

Bishop Francis Loyo (left) with the Rev. Perry Cooper (right). Photo: Perry Cooper.

7OCTOBER 2015


Parish community gardenSubmitted by

Claudia Yetman-Long

On Sunday, August 16th at the Parish of the Good Shepherd, Mount Pearl, Bishop Geoffrey Peddle held a special blessing for the Community Gardens established by the par-ish. A very dedicated team of parishioners has worked hard to en-hance our community outreach ministry and to make this garden vision a reality. The development of the gardens complements our Labyrinth Park area, and goes hand-in-hand with our weekly Com-munity Caf. The Parish is actively reaching out to the neighbourhood and community around us. The Community Gardens allow us to grow and nurture Gods world for many years to come, and provide us with a meaningful op-portunity to build com-munity partnerships and relationships.

The Parish was suc-cessful in attaining a Health and Wellness Grant from the Pro-vincial Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development which helped offset the start-up costs. At the start of the project the City of Mount Pearl of-fered their Green Team to help with our ven-ture. Working with this talented, motivated and knowledgeable group of young people was a joy and a blessing. Securing these partner-ships at the municipal and provincial levels helped move the proj-ect along quickly to get it established this year. We are grateful for these partnerships.

Fourteen garden plots were built. Some are elevated to allow for easier accessibility. Two plots are designated for our caf ministry, and

one is designated for our children to have their own mini-plots to develop. One plot is assigned for parish or community groups. The remaining plots were available on a first come, first-served ba-

A new Parish community garden in Mount Pearl was blessed by Bishop Geoff Peddle (left) and the Rector of the Parish of the Good Shepherd, Archdeacon Charlene Taylor (right). Photo: Claudia Yetman-Long.

sis to any individual or family in the area who wanted to develop one and all were very quick-ly adopted. A waiting list was immediately established.

One of the goals is to make this venture

one for all ages, and one where all ages can work and grow togeth-er. Throughout the de-velopment to set up the gardens, young people worked side-by-side with older people to clear the land, make

and fi l l the garden boxes, and complete the masonry work nec-essary for the elevat-ed plots. Parents and grandparents tend gar-dens with their children and grandchildren. It has truly become an in-ter-generational project and a joy to witness.

The gardens are lo-cated behind our church building on Richard Nolan Drive, by our beautiful Labyrinth Park area. The Labyrinth next to the gardens is always open for all to use, and is a wonderful place to find peace, to meditate, and to pray. The Laby-rinth and Community Gardens are adjacent to the Mount Pearl walk-ing trail system that runs behind Church of the Good Shepherd. For more information about the Community Gar-dens, please feel free to contact the church at [email protected] or 747-1022.

There are fourteen raised plant beds for use in the park adjacent to the Church. Some of the vegetables grown will be used at the Good Shepherds weekly Cafe ministry. Photo: Claudia Yetman-Long.

OCTOBER 20158


Backpacking with the saints

Rev. Canon Gerald WestcottColumnistNewfoundland and Lab-

rador has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. So this past summer I was more intentional in getting out on our trails and enjoying our wilderness.

My daughter and I hiked along the East Coast Trail from Flat Rock to Torbay (arriving just in time for Sunday service at St. Nicholas). My son and I backpacked from the Goulds to Bay Bulls, and spent the night near the famous Spout. He and I also backpacked from Trepassey to St. Marys through the Avalon Wilderness Area, spending the night at the be-

ginning of Peters River. These were wonderful ex-

periences of being present to my family, exercising my body, and soaking in phenomenal Newfoundland scenery.

I did two more significant wilderness excursions this summer, but with an added objective: to backpack in soli-tude with a saint! I was inspired to try this after reading Belden Lanes Backpacking with the Saints: Wilderness Hiking as Spiritual Practice.

My first solo hike with a spiritual master was into Dun-phys Pond in Terra Nova Park. The bear pole to hang food from and the clawed up bear box at the site were somewhat unsettling. After getting my camp set up, I took my journal and Thich Nhat Hanhs book The Miracle of Mindfulness, and made my way to the side of the pond. The deep silence of the forest was incredible. It was only interrupted by the

occasional song from a loon. Hanhs book is a simple

instruction on how to watch our breath as a form of meditation. So Im watching my breathing, surrounded in deep silence and thick forest, not a soul around for milesand I cant get the thought of a bear stum-bling across me in my little tent out of my mind. So much for mindfulness! I packed up and left!

My next attempt at solo backpacking was from Bri-gus South (on the Southern Shore) to Roaring Cove. This was a beautiful experience of being alone with God in the wilderness. I brought Thomas Merton with me and his book Thoughts in Solitude. After

the sun went down, and I set-tled into my sleeping bag, Mer-ton was a great companion for my meditation into the night. With the sounds of the sea roar-ing, the river rushing, the cool and expansive night air on my face, Merton, and the creation around me, reminded me of my own smallness in God, yet my absolute oneness with God and all of creation.

Backpacking with the saints has opened new doors for me to experience God in creation.

New stained glass window dedicated

Pictured above are the Rev. MaryRose Colbourne, Rev. Dun-can Granter, The Ven. John Me-ade, and Lay Minister Alonzo Hurley at the dedication of a new stained glass panel at Holy Spir-it Church, Isle aux Morts on July 26th, 2015. This panel was dedi-cated to the Glory of God and in memory of departed loved ones of Holy Spirit Church. Submit-ted by Dorothy Rector.

9OCTOBER 2015


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Serenity and Thanksgiving

Allison BillardColumnist

God, grant me the se-renity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. - Reinhold Niebuhr

I think the serenity prayer above, is a great one to keep in mind this time of year. Why Thanks-giving you ask?

Sure it may seem an odd fit. Thanksgiving is a won-derful time of year where we focus on all the blessings in our lives and thank God for our health and happi-ness. At least thats the idea.

I dont know about you, but for me that is a struggle some days. Parenthood is hard. The doubt, the fear, the constant second guess-ing yourself and your deci-sions. Raising kids is hard. I was not blessed with a great deal of patience and I have still not managed to devel-op as much as I would like. I often find myself regretting raising my voice or getting angry about something that really didnt matter. It is hard to always see the big pic-ture, to always remember to pick my battles and that kids will be kids. At least for me it is hard.

That being said, I have been blessed with two wonderful, healthy, clever, spirited, independent little boys. My little family is part of a thriving, active faith community. We have a nice place to live, and two cars to take us where we need to go. Theres always food on the table, and hot water to bathe in. The boys have more toys than they can play with, and plenty of

clothes to wear.But as I can count my

blessings, it is just as easy to name the worries and concerns I carry around each day. The economy, as I write this, is not doing so great with a very low price of oil. The environment is in very real danger and there are people starving all over the world, including in our great nation. And dear God it is election season and the politicians are out in droves demanding your vote. It is easy to get wrapped up in all the negativity.

So this thanksgiving I pray that we all worry less about the things we cannot change, support the causes that are important to us (if youre looking for one, the environment needs you) count our blessings. We must thank God for all that we have and ask for his help and guidance to make his world a better place. Simple right? Maybe not, but Im going to give it a try, will you join me?

All Saints Church in Foxtrap has a Youth Ministry that is definitely alive and well. June 29th to July 3rd, 2015 was a week of fun and learning during a very successful VBS called Ever-est, Conquering Challenges with Gods Mighty Power. There were 68 children ages 3 - 12 in attendance with approx. 35 seasoned and new junior helpers ages 12 - 93. The energy and love overflowed through the bible stories, music, videos, games and the great snacks. On Wednesday, we acknowledged Memorial Day and Canadas birthday with prayers by Rev. Margaret, singing O Canada in English and French as well as having a picnic lunch by the flag pole on the church lawn. This year, as our mission, we recognized the challenges the people in Nepal and Everest area are facing because of the devastating earthquakes. Our daily givings were forwarded to the Primates World Relief to help in their work in Nepal. Our week ended with a beautiful church service and family fun time with hot dogs, cake and games in the Parish Hall. Great end to a great week. Submitted by Sandra Taylor.

The Parish of Isle aux Morts/Margaree & Fox Roost held a picnic at Cheesemens Park on Sunday, June 14th. It was a lovely day with lots of food and great company. A big thank you to the staff at Cheesemens Park for all of their help. Submitted by Karen Simon.

OCTOBER 201510


The privilege of listening

Cynthia Haines-TurnerColumnistIts been just over two

years since I was elected to the office of Deputy Proloc-utor in the Anglican Church of Canada during which time the position has be-come more defined for me. In many ways, it is a listen-ing role - listening to the concerns of our Church, listening to differing points of view and making sure those points of view are heard. Listening is not al-ways a role that comes naturally in a Church that values action and results and industry. But it brings great dividends.

Take, for example, when I attend the Sacred Circle which met in Port Elgin from August 16-22. Sacred Circle is a national gathering of Indigenous Anglicans for prayer, wor-ship, discernment, and de-cision-making. I was there as an observer (in place of the Prolocutor who had a previous commitment) and knew from the beginning that I was there to listen only. I have had experience with intentional listening when we have engaged in the discussion of serious issues as a Church but in those instances, I always knew that I would have my chance to speak. As well as being an observer to the Sacred Circle, I was given a job as a listener in one of the talking circles. At the end of each session, I would reflect back to the group what I had heard to make sure I recorded accu-rately what had been said. I admit that there were moments when I wanted to enter the discussion, to make a counterpoint or

to provide information or background - in short to have my say. But that was not my role.

It was a deeply moving experience. I heard stories of deep sorrow and great pain. I heard the stories of residential schools, stories which need to be told and re-told - each one as indi-vidual as the person telling it. I was reminded once again, that we have much to answer for. Even in those rare cases where there was no actual abuse, there was still the violence of taking children from their homes to place them in schools.

But those were not the only stories I heard. I also heard stories of love, hope, faith, joy and yes, even of forgiveness. As someone who loves this Anglican Church of Canada and who has spent most of my life in service to it, I am grate-ful for that forgiveness, grateful that we are given the opportunity to work towards reconciliation with indigenous peoples, grate-ful that in spite of our past, we have received this gift of grace. That does not even begin to let us off the hook, not for a second. But it does hold out the possi-bility of a different future for all of us - one that is spoken of in the Covenant of 1994.* My hope is that, through the grace of God, we will show the same gen-erosity of spirit as we have been shown when we work towards establishing that truly indigenous church within the Anglican Church of Canada.

*www.anglican.ca/im/foundational-documents/covenant/

St. Philips plan ahead

Article byTodd Martin

Photos byL.G. Roberts

Reverend Edward Keeping welcomed everyone in atten-dance at the Parish of St. Philips Annual General Meeting and gave thanks to God for His continual presence in our lives and in our mutual ministry and for the guidance of the Spirit as together we plan for the future life of our parish. He then gave praise and thanksgiving for loved ones, friends and parish-ioners who have passed away in 2014.

Reverend Keeping reported our parish having completed a 500 packet visitation to new residents in the area offering them an opportunity to join our church community and worship with us. In helping our people grow spiritually and responsively towards their baptismal ministry, Rev. Keep-ing was also pleased with the work we have done in the area of teaching around our Mission Statement and the section in our weekly bulletin From the Rectors Desk, Sunday school; Confirmation classes; outreach

and fellowship; and the overall dedication and faithfulness to the ministry to which we have all been called in this parish.

Our Rector reported having received a financial contribution from a parishioner for the sole purpose of Cemetery Mainte-nance & upkeep. In light of the continued work required in our cemetery and planning for future expansion, Rev. Keeping suggested we as a group give careful consideration to contrib-uting to this fund. Our people then had some time to reflect on matters of concern regarding the operation and maintenance of our church property.

Our treasurer, Ms. Debbie Collis then presented the Finan-cial Statement and Proposed Budget for the upcoming year. Our parishioners reviewed and pondered points of interest that may require more consideration within the coming year.

All committees reported having a very successful year with much appreciation for the hard work, dedication and commitment of all its members.

Before the election of new members of vestry, Reverend Keeping proceeded to congrat-ulate and thank those who have

served three years as members of vestry. After the election he welcomed the newly elected 2015 Vestry Members: Carol Bartlett, Ernest Jones, Cathy Parsons and Karen Puglisevich and thank them for offering themselves for this ministry and encourage the new vestry to work together to have another successful year in the life of the church in this community.

As is the custom of past years, the Reverend presented Certificates of Appreciation to the following people for their past years service and hard work on behalf of God and the people of the Parish of St. Philip: Canon Shirley Gosse, Reverend Russell Osmond, Canon Don Morgan, Nina Martin-Sheppard, Chesley Barfitt, Larry Bradley, George Sharpe, Cecile Bradbury, Ruth Hiscock and Harvey Hiscock.

Reverend Keeping thanked everyone for his/her faithful-ness, support, encouragement and work. He is looking forward to the year ahead, journeying together to build Gods King-dom in this part of his vineyard. He prays that our church will not only continue to flourish, but may be inspired to share the love of God with all.

11OCTOBER 2015


Church Health Check - part 4

Rev. Everett HobbsColumnist

In this final section on a report about the Church of England we look at various remedies to heal an ailing Church. What kind of Church would we like? What is a healthy Church?

There has always been change in society but until the 19th century it was very slow. And then it sped up. Since the 1980s change has been so rapid we can hardly keep up with it . Combined with this change , we are more in touch with the widespread diversity found in other cultures and religions. The Church needs to deal with two realities: a changing world and an ailing Church , which in turn affect each other. Here are some pro-posals from the study: they range widely and are not specific.

What causes the Church to decline? What causes the Church to grow? God wants the Church to grow: our job is to collaborate with him. Two kinds of growth - in holiness and in service to oth-ers. Churches that emphasize the Holy Spirit are the ones currently seeing numerical growth. If we keep repeating the message of decline, our outlook becomes negative. Churches intentionally seeking growth usually do. In-spired and committed leadership is important but a collaborate effort more effective. Need for di-ocesan strategy and parish mission plans. Reaching new generation essential, with a greater focus on children and youth. Learning from churches that are growing, while recognizing that what works there may not work here. Encouraging local initiative.

Priority of glorifying God and following Jesus, rather than nu-merical growth. The Church exists to be the Body of Christ. Quality of Church life as much as numbers?

Need for compelling vision

with clear goals and a strategy to achieve them. Simpler structures, clear lines of accountability and responsibility at all levels. Decision making that is representative, nur-turing local initiatives and aiming for consensus, Balancing the slow-ness of decision making with desire for rapid change. A blending of top down with bottom up, ensuring that the local is involved in decision making. Using skills, expertise, research and trends in culture as they become available.

Enabling members to do new things: taking risks and making mistakes. Transformation of the system by reform and renewal. To embrace change, the diversity and complications of modern living. To recognize the value of diversity with respect for other faiths. To focus on what unites, than what divides. To removes what hinders and ob-structs - we can be prisoners of our past, especially in holding on to our buildings and possessions. To adapt and change is critical if the Church is to grow.

To be a community where peo-ple on the outside can find God. To combine evangelism and social action. Importance of hospitality, welcoming everyone, providing care and service as needed. Seek-ing the input of all members.

Less emphasis on projects, programs, individual efforts, and more on Jesus. Letting go of build-ings or finding new uses. Churches as centres of worship, education, evangelism, prophecy. Knowing our mission and being faithful to it.

Difference between predict-ing the future (often negative) and imagining the future (more hopeful) Seek out those who are searching for truth, community and spiritual concerns. Present Christ crucified and risen, love the world around us and share our vision.

To do nothing is not an option: it will only allow the Church to die. Listen to Paul: God gives the growth, but a Paul has to plant, and an Apollos water. Today we are Paul and Apollos.

Parsons Pond recognizes lay leadership

Submitted byRev. Terry Rose

The 7:00 pm ser-vice of Holy Eucharist on Sunday June 28th, at St. Peters Church Parsons Pond, was a very special and spirit filled service. It was during this service, that Rev. Terry Rose held a relicensing of the parishs Lay Lead-ership. During the ser-vice, appreciation and thanks of gratitude were bestowed upon the lay leadership in the parish for their

continuous commit-ment, and dedica-tion to their ministry and that of the par-ish. Also following the service there was a social time, so that the congregation could offer personal con-gratulations to each of the lay leadership per-sons for their devoted ministry to the parish.

It is because of the dedication and com-mitment of these peo-ple that the parish is able to live a vibrant and prayerful minis-try in service to those

they are called to serve in their midst.

Pic tured above (front row - left to right): Marie Rose, Nancy Brown, Marion Parsons. (Back row): Rev. Terry, Karen Ben-nett, Laura Caines, Nora Shears & Sadie Bennett

OCTOBER 201512


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