COMMUNITY JUSTICE PARISH NEWS THE BABY BOOK Live the change you want to see, PAGE 3 Living the gospel throughout the diocese, PAGE 4 Refl ecting on the gifts of childhood, PAGE 5 A section of the Anglican Journal NEWS • PERSPECTIVE • REFLECTION • FOR A GROWING CHURCH • SEPTEMBER 2009 Sustainability A new day-lily “Niagara's Vision” was developed and permanently named by the Potting Shed nursery in ANDY KALBFLEISCH MISSION STRATEGY COMMITTEE Dunnville at the request of St. Paul's parish. A day doesn’t go by that we don’t hear about sustainability; sustainable forests, sustainable environmental practices, sustainable aquaculture. The other day I was in a restaurant that advertised wines produced with sustainable winegrowing methods. The fact is, talk of sustainability is everywhere and as a result many of us are becoming increasingly anxious and are wondering if it is already too late to save the forests, the environ- ment, the oceans and of course the noble grape. But do we have the same anxiety when it comes to our faith and more specifi cally our faith communities that we so often call ‘our church’? CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PPHOTO:HOTO: AALEXANDERLEXANDER DDARLINGARLING Utterly humbled by mystery MICHAEL BURSLEM ST. GEORGE'S, GUELPH Diocese moves into the future Now that the Anglican Church of North America is a fact on the ground CHRISTOPHER M. GRABIEC of another important movement in which Bishop Michael Bird, not unlike has set aside a good deal of time this fall it may be an appropriate time to access EDITOR Niagara has been deeply involved. We Bishop Bothwell in 1976 has taken to meet with parishes or local clusters of what, or whom, we have lost, and Many Anglicans have had heavy will be celebrating 50 years of changing another huge step in justice. Effective parishes for the specifi c purpose of dis- what led to the schism between them hearts during the past year or two, as lives, changing communities and September 1st 2009 he will give per- cussing our Diocesan Vision which will and us. we watch a number of parishes close changing the world through the work of mission for the blessing of civilly mar- shape our common ministry in the years The one person whom I miss the and a number of parishes depart from the Primate’s World Relief and Develop- ried persons, regardless of gender. This ahead. The vision is to pursue excellence most in our diocese is my former our diocesan family over ideological ment Fund (PWRDF). In this issue of the rite is a means for the church to extend in ministry together. It’s one thing to pastor and friend, Charlie Masters. disagreements. In many ways, it feels Niagara Anglican Archbishop Bothwell affi rmation, support and commitment have a vision; it’s another to live it. The Charlie proved his friendship recently like we can put all that in the past. The points out that historically the Church to those who present themselves seek- bishop as chief pastor in the diocese is at a church supper at an independent future is ahead and the future is bright. was guilty of missionary activity that ing a sign of God’s love in response to asking parishes to invite him to come and church, not Anglican, by inviting my For many years now the diocese was driven by white supremacy. In the the love and commitment they express discuss how they can live the vision and wife and myself at which we were sit- of Niagara has been in the forefront past 50 years our attitudes have changed. for each other and have already affi rmed push the church into a relevant future. ting at a table alone, and just about to of the battle for justice in our society. Through PWRDF, the church presents in a civil ceremony. Obviously, this con- We have experienced much leave to eat at home, to go to sit with In 1976 in one of the most important itself in our world fi lled with serious tinues to be a contentious issue in the suffering and death, but we know from him and Judy. This was after I had moments in the life of our church, needs as compassionate, understanding, world-wide communion of Anglicans. our faith that death is the gateway to been a thorough thorn in his side. John Bothwell, then Bishop of Niag- accepting and generous. We are avail- We are reminded though that histor- life. As we pass through those gates, we ara, ordained the fi rst women to the able as brothers and sisters who care for ically, every move toward justice has see the light of hope, following in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 priesthood. Generations before could those who fi nd themselves in a position always been contentious (think back to footsteps of the Risen Christ. We are all never have imagined this happening. It of being less fortunate than we are. This the ordination of women priests!). Our being called to an ever-deepening faith was a great moment in our history and diocesan celebration will take place at St. bishop has courage and conviction in that will enable us to move forward Ice cream for breakfast a great moment for the cause of justice John’s Church in Ancaster on Saturday this matter and is exhibiting strong and in justice, in love and in excellence in in our society and in our church. September 26th at 1:30 pm. More details much needed leadership. ministry. Our Church, in the Diocese of ELEANOR JOHNSTON On September 26th we are reminded are available on the diocesan website. In addition to the above, Bishop Bird Niagara is alive and well! ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH, ST. CATHARINES While my husband and I focused on the arrival of our second child, my mother came to our home to take care of our fi rstborn. We expected effi - Infl uences on Christian faith today ciency and got what looked like chaos. As a parent she had seemed strict and the world reaffi rmed its conservative theology both England and the Netherlands inevitably right; as a grandmother she The Ecumenical movement and began to expand overseas. In so began to follow businessmen into the seemed simply indulgent. We knew The Enlightenment in 18th C Europe doing, it became the fi rst institution colonies, although the Pilgrim Fathers she wouldn’t stoop to bribing our two- The growth of fundamentalism of any kind to operate on an inter- and Mothers who came to North Amer- year-old or undercutting us, but when The emergence of 'New Age' faiths national scale. ica were in a sense, refugees. Later in my husband reported that our daugh- Roman Catholics from France, the 19th C, Protestant expansion gained ter expected ice cream for breakfast Missionary Expansion and the Spain and Portugal launched missions enormous momentum though the work and that my mother had casually said JOHN BOTHWELL Ecumenical Movement developed into North and South America, Africa of William Carey in India until 1834, that, yes, they had each enjoyed a cone RETIRED ARCHBISHOP OF NIAGARA in tandem and Asia—while Protestants and Angli- David Livingstone in Africa until 1873 the morning before, we were totally In the last two or three centuries, fi ve In the 17th Century, before the wars cans were still consolidating them- and still later Albert Schweitzer early in confused. major developments have changed our of religion which followed the Ref- selves in Europe; and only in the 18th the 20th C. understanding of the Christian Faith: ormation were over, the Roman Century did the non-Roman Churches CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 Missionary expansion throughout Catholic Church renewed itself, begin to catch up. Missionaries from CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 2 NIAGARA ANGLICAN SEPTEMBER 2009 100-plus years at Church of the Epiphany in Oakville weather, to participate in the already day evenings. The Bronte Anglican tion, opened its door to a committed established local Baptist and Method- Mission was then established under Anglican community. ist churches. the mother church of St. Jude’s and Needless to say, many changes One man, John Wilson, became an later of St. Luke’s, Palermo. Once have occurred since then. In 1962, inspirational trailblazer for his neigh- again, Mr. Wilson’s generosity and Bronte and Oakville amalgamated to bours. Born in 1856 in England’s leadership knew no bounds. In 1929, become the Town of Oakville, Trafal- Lake District, Mr. Wilson immi- he donated the land at the corner of gar Road was renamed Bronte Road grated to Oakville with his young Trafalgar and Sovereign Roads to and a new Church of the Epiphany was bride, Martha and younger brother, the Niagara Synod. Much planning constructed in 1956 to accommodate Isaac in 1884. John and Isaac were went into the meetings taken in turns a growing congregation with further greatly infl uenced by their mother at members’ homes where they drew additions being built in 1969 and 1993. who exemplifi ed a life of service upon one another’s strengths and But no matter how many changes occur in the home and in the church and talents. Frank Sullivan, for one, was in the life of the Church of the Epiph- school communities. While elected the local carpenter hired to build the any, one thing remains constant: the as a member of the Advisory Council church, while another, Harold Ells spirit in and of our community! 2009 at St. Jude’s (as well as contributing was the local banker who offered to was the year we thought we would be substantially to the purchase of the handle the fi nances.