IT CAN HAPPEN ALIVE AND FREE LITURGY AND LIFE CAMP ARTABAN Making poverty a thing of the past, PAGE 4 Our youth's challenge at Synod, PAGE 9 The dark side of the Holy Week, PAGE 13 A call to return again, PAGE 16

A section of the Anglican Journal

NEWS • PERSPECTIVE • REFLECTION • FOR A GROWING CHURCH • MARCH 2008 Neither here WELCOMING OUR NEW ARCHDEACON nor there...

surroundings of unrealized potential of our current context. The modern age was ushered in from about the 16th century onwards. Its source of truth came from empirical observation. Science quickly became the new way of knowing and, it was hoped, it would solve all the world's BILL MOUS problems. Democracy, rationalism and DIVINITY STUDENT the scientifi c revolution were some of Have you ever pondered what birth modernity's important movements. must be like? Not from the perspec- Myth and superstition—a hallmark of tive a woman giving birth, as many the pre-modern age—were tested and of you will no doubt have experi- challenged. Human intervention in enced this, but from the perspective the affairs of the world enhanced our of a baby. In the past couple of weeks life expectancy while at the same time I've been pondering it, encouraged made it possible to destroy the world by a colleague after sharing some in a matter of seconds. Personal free- Michael Patterson signs in acceptance of his responsibilities as the new Archdeacon of Niagara at Christ's Church refl ections about where we fi nd the doms and self-determination became Cathedral on the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. MORE PHOTOGRAPHS ON PAGE 19. church today. cemented as values and rights. From a biological perspective, and under normal circumstances, the End of Christendom womb offers a comfortable existence. The post-modern age is still very much The basic necessities of life are pro- in its infancy. Beginning in the latter "What are you giving up for Lent?" vided for and an incredible amount half of the twentieth century, we began of growth occurs within its walls. Yet to see a loss in faith in the reign of sci- there comes a point in time when the ence and reason. Neither solved all our womb begins contractions to expel problems and so, for example, holistic A meditation on mortifi cation its ever-growing baby into a world of approaches to medicine grew in popu- unknowns. This new environment of- larity. There was also an explosion in JOHN BOWEN Paul thought?' He was just a crabby, sweet message of happiness into a fers a place where the baby can grow the information age—how we gathered ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, HAMILTON misogynistic old bachelor... We are miserable anti-life diatribe. and mature in ways it couldn't in the information and communicated that If I say the word "mortifi cation," what followers of Jesus, not of Paul. Let's say fi rst: the idea of "mortify- womb; while at the same time be- information has changed rapidly. Our comes to your mind? Nothing very But there is more of Jesus than we ing" things is not just a weird religious ing a place where business as usual black and white worldview is gradually cheerful, I guess. We say, "I was morti- like to admit in the teaching of Paul. idea. Everybody has experienced this simply cannot continue. From breath- fading into a grey one. No longer should fi ed" when we feel we might die of em- (I think I began to realise this when kind of putting to death. Parents who ing, to feeding, and even communi- one judge the lifestyle choices of others barrassment. A mortician's job sounds as someone pointed out that the Epistle to get up in the night to feed the baby put cation, once out of the comfort of - as there is no longer one mold for liv- though it might well have something to the Romans is fundamentally a com- to death their desire for a good night's the mother's womb, a newborn baby ing one's life. Distrust in institutions, a do with mortifi cation. And then there's mentary on the parable of the runaway sleep. People who give up smoking faces a whole series of opportunities rise in both plurality and spirituality, all that stuff about fl agellation in The son and his older brother.) Paul was put to death their addiction to tobac- and challenges. along with the reevaluation or abandon- DaVinci Code: mortifi cation again. not particularly trying to be original in co. People who work out put to death In a lot of ways, the church is ment of established truths have become So, is there anything Christian his teaching. Like us, he was trying to their preference for sitting in front much like the baby; albeit a baby that hallmarks of this new age. about such a concept? Certainly the come to terms with who Jesus was and of the TV. Now, we know why those is still being born. Slowly, and per- Perhaps even more disconcerting Apostle Paul seems to have thought what he taught. He too was a follower people do these things. But why does haps reluctantly, we're being pushed for the church is that the end of Chris- so: "Put to death, therefore, what- of Jesus. Paul say disciples of Jesus should put from our all too comfortable existence tendom—the alignment of Western ever belongs to your earthly nature," things to death? in the modern age, and into the vast civilization and Christianity by Em- he urges in Colossians 3. That's the Not just a weird religious idea The blunt answer is: Because there unknown region of existence called peror Constantine in the 3rd century - origin of that ugly term, "mortifi - So could this negative kind of talk is stuff in our lives which will kill us un- post-modernity. Like child birth, we're is looming in our future. In fact, many cation." But it sounds so negative! about "putting to death" have come less we kill it fi rst. We like to say "There experiencing a natural, but signifi cant, theologians argue that Christendom Surely Christianity is a religion about from Paul's understanding of Jesus? is good in everyone"—and that is true. development in our existence as a liv- has ended in North American soci- life? Jesus came to bring us "life in Examples are not hard to fi nd. "Cut But—although it's not very popular to ing entity. Given this, perhaps the role ety, except in the minds of many in all its fullness"—not "death in all off your hand, pluck out your eye!" say it—there is also evil in everyone— of the contemporary priest should be the church. its emptiness"! says Jesus. "Take up your cross! Deny and that's harder to swallow. that of a midwife: guiding and ush- Of course, this is Paul. And many yourself!" So this really does originate ering the church into the unfamiliar  CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 would ask, 'do we need to worry what with Jesus. Paul is not turning Jesus'  CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 2 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 PARISH NEWS

Mountain churches Good Friday pilgrimage nearing forty years

SUE CRAWFORD churches remaining who take part—St. information on their organizers and for the event. Mary and I began our Good an eye on us during the walk. I remem- ST. MICHAEL'S, HAMILTON Michael's, Holy Trinity and St. Stephen's helpers. Nancy Griffi n is the main or- Friday walkathons when we attended St. ber in the early years we even had the The -14°C temperatures (with wind and a few faithful from the Church of ganizer with Margaret Worsnop, Helen Augustine's. Sharron Hatoski often joins St. John's Ambulance crew patrolling chill) did not 'freeze' the spirits or pre- the Resurrection. Gregory and Gladys White helping to us if her husband, Ron is unable to walk. the streets for us. vent the 100 or so walkers who braved Margaret Read from St. Stephen's feed the hungry and cold in the parish At St. Michael's our pilgrimage We may not have the numbers of the cold to carry out the annual Moun- remembers a different route in the early hall. Maurice Moss seems to be one of begins with the Good Friday service walkers we had in the "old days" but tain Churches Good Friday Walkathon days of the walk. They walked in a west- their stalwarts who has been walking before we venture out. As we left the those who take part feel that it is a great last year. As I check the date for this erly direction along the mountain brow since the inception of the Good Friday parish hall we were greeted with a wind way to join with friends and family in year's walk we could very defi nitely be to the Bruce Trail as far as Magnolia trek. I know I never miss his tall, up- chill of -14°C as we walked west to- communion with one single purpose sporting the thermal underwear again. Drive and then turned and came back. right fi gure and walking stick. Mau- wards Holy Trinity. Many of us felt that on this our most holy of days. Has our Last year I decided to do some Last year the oldest members from the rice, I believe, is in his 70s and com- it was one of the coldest we had ever purpose or focus changed? I would say probing about the history of the Moun- church to walk were Eve and Al Avon pletes the route in about half the time experienced. For the past three years not. In the early years (at least at St. tain Good Friday Pilgrimage. who are both in their 80s. Margaret feels that most of us take!! Although we do our fi rst stop has been at Cresmount Augustine's) it was to raise money for For over 35 years the mountain the hot snack that St. Stephan's serves not stop at the church of the Resur- Funeral Home who very kindly donate the mortgage. Today we raise money churches have continued their tradition of is the best on the walk but she loves the rection these days, a few people from hot coffee, water and cookies for us. to keep our parishes vibrant, alive and the Good Friday Walkathon. Back in the muffi ns she samples at St. Michael's their church joined the 15 parishioners Doreen Leaney from Cresmount on to enable us to carry out the missions 70s there were six churches who took part (they are all homemade). Those who from Holy Trinity who walked. Upper James and Kimiko Griffi n from and outreach of our churches. I think it in the yearly pilgrimage—St. Timothy's, helped out at St. Stephen's were Pam St. Michael's, as Margaret pointed Holy Trinity warmed our insides with is important for the community to see St. Bartholomew's (now Church of the Middlemiss, George Neale at the sign-in out, serve great muffi ns to the walkers. In the hot drinks. We are very grateful for us out there on Good Friday. AND as Resurrection), St. Augustine's, Holy Trin- desk, Susan Rhodes, Sue Moyland and the kitchen helping last year were Carol Cresmount's support. St. Michael's had long as Mary is still able and willing, I ity, St. Stephen's and St. Michael's . The Sandie Pearce who served the snacks. Foster, Georgina and Bruce Honeysett 30 walkers last year who raised money will be there this year! route back then was over 12-15 miles and In all St. Stephan's had 35 bipeds and 3 with Bill McCaughey at the sign-in desk. for our Outreach Projects as well as for (If anyone in the Diocese has an ex- seemed to take us nearly all day. I can quadrupeds take part on the walk. They Our oldest walker was Mary O'Hanian, the church in general. Our fi nal total act date when this pilgrimage began, I remember one year pushing my infant raised around $3000.00. who walked with her two daughters, collected was around $2000.00. would be most grateful to know. 1970 daughter in her carriage the whole route. Thanks to Janice Ormond at Holy grandson and his friend. I am proud to We would like to thank all the seems to be the date that most people I She is now 36. Today there are only 4 Trinity she was able to supply me with say that Mary is also my walking partner people in the "patrol cars" who keep have spoken with agree.) 150 years of history and we're still making it happen

MIKE MCDEVITT on July 19 and 20. This weekend is our have something of interest to contrib- PEOPLES WARDEN  ST. JAMES, FERGUS actual anniversary. There is an after- ute to our book, give us a call or con- This is a big year in Centre Welling- noon tea—2:00 PM - 4:00 PM at the nect with us via the web site. A limited ton. Fergus is celebrating its 175th church—and of course we will again number of copies will be for sale and year history this and we at St. James hold a "Feast" at the Fergus Legion, orders are being taken in advance. Anglican Church are not far behind with cocktails, a diner, and entertain- If you have, or ever had a connec- with our 150th Anniversary. This year ment followed Sunday by a brunch tion with St. James or if you just want we have planned four events to cele- after the 10:30 AM service. to have some fun and celebrate with us, brate our 150th anniversary. Our fourth and last event will call for tickets. All of these events are A young man starts his dance partner into The fi rst is a Valentines dance to be be a Pork Roast at the church hall open to community. You can always held February 15 at the Fergus Legion. on September 20. Eat in or take get information online or at the church a spin at Saint Luke's Hamilton This event will have a well know live out. This will be a great way to end offi ce by calling 519-843-2141. band, Moonshine, and includes a lunch. our year. Look for more details on I look forward to seeing you at the WALTER RAYBOULD tertainment, and especially the lack of Tickets are available at the church of- this event and all those listed in celebrations this year. Since this is an ST. LUKE'S, HAMILTON alcoholic beverages, give the young a fi ce or at Broderick's in town. the local paper and at our web site eventful year in our history we have Held every month, the Spaghetti Din- great place to meet and have fun in a The second is May 10. We will cele- www.stjamesanglicanfergus.com. produced a brochure and an historic ner and Salsa Dances have been Saint safe environment. brate with our newly elected Bishop of We are also publishing a short his- postcard to mark the occasion. Look Luke's most successful outreaches to These dinner dances are posted on Niagara. This event will also be held at tory of the church, tracing our connec- for these in local shops and the infor- people in the North End of Hamilton. the diocesan website and advertised in the Fergus Legion. We will have some tion with many local families, right mation offi ce. The $5 admission offers a low-cost the local paper. Dinner starts at 6:00 "Highland Entertainment" along with from our connection to the Groves St. James will be busy this year as night-out, and attracts a faithful dance PM and dancing at 7:00 PM, usually some other special musical guests. family of the local hospital fame right in the past. Join us if the spirit moves clientele from as far away as Saint on the last Saturday of the month, un- The third event is the "Celebration up to the many talented and interest- you. You are welcome in our church Paul's Dunnville. Free lessons and an less religious observances preclude Feast of St. James," a weekend event ing people of our parish today. If you any time. See you around town. all-you-can-eat dinner, plus dinner en- them. Everyone is welcome. NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 3 Colleagues on retreat ST. CUTHBERT'S, OAKVILLE » Lutheran Bells

Some clergy from the diocese recently Stuart Pike was installed as a member participated in a fi ve day, silent retreat of the Fellowship of St. John (i.e. an- with spiritual direction at the monastery alogous to an associate of the order) of the Society of St. John the Evangel- while Rod McDowell received a new ist in Boston (Cambridge). SSJE is the FSJ cross since, as a 30 year member oldest religious order for men in the of the FSJ, he had one of the original Anglican Communion. Attending the medallions from the time when there retreat from Niagara were the Rever- was a Canadian congregation based end Kevin Bothwell from St. James in Bracebridge, Ontario. Pictured with in Guelph, the Reverend Canon Stuart the clergy from Niagara are Brothers Celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the bell choir from St. Philips' Lutheran Church in Etobicoke Pike from St. Andrews in Grimsby, the David Allen, Timothy Solverson and visited St. Cuthbert's in Oakville. Combined with the talent and dedication of St. C's choir, they truly made a "Joyful Reverend Rod McDowell (Vocational Bruce Neal, all of whom served as dir- Sound to the Lord." Deacon) from St. Paul's in Fort Erie, ectors for the participants, along with a the Reverend Audrey Conard from St. couple other of the brothers. Informa- Cuthbert's in Oakville and the Rev- tion on retreats at the monastery, which erend Canon Joseph Asselin from St. are open to all people, lay and ordained, Cuthbert's in Oakville. While on retreat, can be found at www.ssje.org. What makes St. George's An archival moment our story a special parish?

KERRY WEBB George's has played host to the for- which is something I never thought I ST. GEORGE'S, GUELPH mer Primate of the Anglican Church could do. This past January will mark my eighth of Canada Andrew Hutchison and was The other infl uential person who year of attending St. George's church one of the fi rst churches visited by our has provided me with support is the in Guelph and it will also mark the own newly-elected Bishop of Niagara rector, Archdeacon Tom Greene. end of its 175 year celebration. Dur- Michael Bird. And of course I can't Since day one Tom has greeted me ing the past year-long celebration St. forget to mention the numerous vis- with a smile and always asked how I George's offered many special events its by the former Bishop of Niagara, was doing. Now this isn't your typical which I hope some of you from the Ralph Spence who always provided lip service you'd expect from a fl ight Niagara dioceses got to attend. Al- both a hilarious, thought provoking attendant. With Tom it's genuine. I though the events were quite wonder- and spiritually moving sermon. know because each Sunday I stand ful, in my opinion it's not what makes I would also like to mention that in line after service is over and watch Saint George so special. Compared to Saint George's church in Guelph was as he greets every one by name and the 175 year history of the church my Bishop Spence's fi rst church as a cur- seems to know exactly what is going time spent there is but a mere blip on ate. This brings me to the one thing on in their life. I see him treat every- the screen, however my experiences that makes Saint George's Church so one equally and with respect. Having there will have life-long effects on me. special and that's the clergy and its such a responsible position within the The fi rst thing that grabbed my atten- people. Since the day I walked through church and in Wellington County he tion is the church itself. It's one of the cloister and entered into the church the always seems to make time for those largest churches in Guelph and with people there have always welcomed who need him. I have written several its Gothic architecture, copper roofed me and my family with a smile and a articles for both the Niagara Anglican steeples and well-groomed landscapes hello. A classic example of fellowship Journal and other Christian news- make it quite inviting. happened to me about a year ago when papers and Tom has always offered Once inside, one can't help but my wife Karen and I were attending words of praise and encouragement. be amazed at the arched ceiling, service with our then six month old There is one conversation I had the beautiful stained glass windows daughter Caitlyn. When it came time with Tom which I'll never forget. It (Christ's ascension at the back of the to take communion we both wanted to happened this winter as I was a side church is my favourite) and the marble attend but didn't know what to do with person during a Sunday morning ser- The rededication of the restored church in its new location at Ball's Falls in 1974. railing fl anking the altar. While sitting our daughter who was sound asleep vice in which southern Ontario was in the pews you are surrounded by Can- in the car seat. Before we could dis- experiencing the worst snow storm of JOHN RATHBONE didn't develop as fast as the Diocese adian history with plaques of names of cuss our predicament a fellow church the year. Tom asked as he did every DIOCESAN ARCHIVIST had hoped and it was closed and sold in fallen local soldiers of World War I to member offered to watch our child as Sunday how was I doing? I replied Have you ever wondered about that 1972. The building is now a Mosque. items donated to the church by families we went up to the altar. This not only good and asked how his drive to church little chapel at Ball's Falls? Let me tell In the meantime the old wooden from the last century. Equally matched happened once, but several times after. was? He looked at me kind of per- you the story... church on Rymal Road was quickly to the sights, are the sounds of Saint This kind of kindness and compassion plexed and said with a chuckle "Kerry, It all started back in 1865 in Han- deteriorating. Vandals had broken in George's with its Casavant pipe organ, comes from the leadership and sup- I live next to the church." I felt like non, when St. George's Anglican and stole three stained glass windows senior choir with 30 members and the port the clergy of St. George's offers to an idiot for being so ignorant, but as I Church, at Highway 53 (now Rymal that were over the Altar of Our Lord, extremely rare 36 bell carillon (only 12 their congregation. saw the smile on Tom's face I knew he Road) at the C.N. railway tracks, just St. George and St. Michael. There was carillons in Canada). Through the years I've met several was somewhat amused and therefore east of Nebo Road was built. a great fear that the vandals would In my short time being a member priests who got their start in ministry it made me feel at easy. Tom Greene The church was constructed of return to burn the building, so it was I've had the privilege of meeting and at St. George's (Christine, Steven and will be retiring from Saint George 'board and batten', costing $800 and offered to the Niagara Peninsula Con- listening to some of today's and this Derek) and with their enthusiasm this May and I know myself and my opened on January 6, 1865. A one acre servative Authority for $1. The build- country's best theologians. Through made me want to become a better fellow church members will miss him cemetery was purchased adjacent to the ing was dismantled and reassembled the adult education committee they've Christian. One of the clergy who has dearly. I'm sure there's dozens of small church and is still used and maintained at Ball's Falls Conservation area. It is had such socially minded keynote helped me immensely on my spiritual churches with their helpful members, to this day. The building served the now part of the collection of old pion- speakers as Archbishop John Bothwell, journey is Reverend Jean Mitchell. beautiful buildings and their own kind community well into the 1960's when a eer buildings and is used from time to Kim Phuc and Craig Keilburger to She helped me with my fear of pub- hearted clergy throughout the Niagara new church was built closer to the city time for weddings. It is no longer part more controversial lecturers as Bishop lic speaking to become a reader on the Diocese, but only one is special to me on Upper Gage Avenue. But this area of the Diocese of Niagara. Spong and Thomas Harpur. Also St. occasional Sunday morning service and that is St. George. 4 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 Making poverty Sacred arts

ELEANOR JOHNSTON spire," like "muse" and "music," con- ST. THOMAS' CHURCH, ST. CATHARINES nect at a profound level of our being. A teenager recently expressed in- The Jewish-Christian-Islamic tradition credulity that I fi nd value in the Choral is one "of the book" that is poetic and a thing of the past Eucharist and a Bible-study group. She metaphorical. To call Jesus "Logos" exclaimed repeatedly, "It's not reason- is to speak in poetical language. And able!" I, in contrast, fi nd it amazing, Jesus is quoted as using numerous letries and cleaning products, insurance, would introduce fi rm targets for poverty when most of our fellow citizens fi nd metaphors to describe himself: "I am transportation, clothing, debt payment, reduction within a year of re-election. no need or motivation to attend church the way and the truth and the life." non-prescription drugs, school expenses, The Premier has appointed Deb at all, that so many of us are called to Such metaphors, meaningless and daycare expenses, unexpected expenses Matthews, Ontario Minister of Children worship Sunday after Sunday. What unreasonable when taken literally, are is totally insuffi cient. The examples are and Youth Services, to be chair of the what Northrop Frye, the great Uni- taken from a 2007 report, The Price of cabinet committee on poverty reduction. versity of Toronto and United Church Eating Well in Halton. The Cabinet Committee on Poverty Re- scholar of the Bible as literature, duction convenes on February 4 to begin These lost sheep are so called "Words with Power." Metaphor, COLLEEN SYM Households on fi xed incomes planning the government's approach. obsessed with their own like all art, has the power to engage us SOCIAL JUSTICE COORDINATOR For a single man, age 24, whose in- A poverty reduction strategy goes at a spiritual level. come is derived from Ontario Works, beyond anti-poverty initiatives that lead rationality or the church's Alternatively, our frequently pale Try this quiz the cost of a nutritious diet ($198.04 per to only marginal improvement in the frosty literalism that they contemporary language and our awk- month) and of typical rent for a bachelor lives of people living in poverty. A suc- ward attempts to be reasonable and 1 Do you have two pairs of strong can't hear the deeper, apartment ($704.00) exceeds his income cessful strategy must lead to structural relevant to the secular majority are shoes? older, truths of its poetry. ($606.70) by $295.34. changes in living conditions. missing something. The worst is an in- 2 Do you have a warm, waterproof For a single mother with a 7-year- It has been announced that the de- secure invitation to prayer, "Let's just coat? old daughter, whose income is derived velopment of a poverty reduction strat- makes Anglican worship sincere and bow our heads for a minute." "Let's?" 3 Do you buy new not second hand from Ontario Works, a nutritious diet egy will include consultations with in- effective, our unreasonable service? "just?" "for a minute?" Compare these clothes? ($248.82) plus rent on a typical 1-bed- terested parties in Ontario. However, First of all, we come to church to diminutives to the assurance of "Come 4 Do you eat meals with meat, chick- room apartment ($869.00) exceeds in- at the time of writing the process and meet with and worship God, believing ye before Him and rejoice!" and "The en, fi sh or a vegetarian equivalent come ($1,260.72) by $142.90. schedule of these consultations was not that where two or three are gathered in Lord is in His holy temple; let all the every second day? For a single man, age 45, whose in- yet available; however, people of faith His name, Jesus is present. Also, we earth keep silence before Him!" The come is derived from the Ontario Dis- need to be alert to opportunities to par- feel that it is our spiritual need and re- old language works better, it seems to 5 Do you have a roast or its equiva- ability Support Program, a nutritious ticipate in those consultations, perhaps quirement to worship regularly; being me, because it invites awe and wor- lent once a week? diet ($183.79) plus rent on a typical in collaboration with other commun- in the presence of God refreshes and ship of a God who is other, sublime, 6 Did you not have to go without 1-bedroom apartment ($869.00) ex- ity groups or networks like the 25 in 5 restores our spiritual wellbeing and re- mighty, holy, a God who is outside our heating in the last year due to a ceeds income ($1,039.12) by $13.67. Poverty Reduction Network. minds us of our ethical priorities. everyday experience but also, more lack of money? For a single woman, age 75, whose The 25 in 5 Network for Poverty But what tells us that we are in the wonderfully, incarnate. The mystery 7 Do you keep your home adequate- income is derived from Old Age Secur- Reduction is a multi-sector network presence of God? Basically, for an of the Trinity and the miracles of love ly warm? ity and Guaranteed Income Supplement, comprised of 100 provincial and To- hour or so, we step out of the every- and life can only be hinted at by art, 8 Do you buy presents for family or a nutritious diet ($128.82) and rent on a ronto-based organizations and individ- day, "reasonable" world (that is itself, pointed to by liturgy, not explained, friends at least once a year? typical 1-bedroom apartment ($869.00) uals working on eliminating poverty. ironically, often quite irrational) and but explained away, by theologians or exceeds income ($1,233.42) by $229.42. The name refl ects the call for a 25 into a spiritual space, a time and place preachers using everyday prose. 9 Do you replace worn out furni- per cent reduction in poverty levels in of sacred ritual. Helping us do this is However, the Book of Alternative ture? Households earning minimum wage Ontario over the next 5 years. Meet- the gift of the sacred arts. Services does celebrate and encour- 10 Do you have family or friends for a For a family of 4 (parents age 35, ing this target and timetable would lift The Choral Eucharist, the central age goodness in poetical sentences meal or drink once a month? boy 12 and girl 7) with one 40-hour 400,000 Ontarians out of poverty. Anglican service, is a ritual removed that move us, at times, to tears. For 11 Have you had a morning, afternoon per week minimum wage earner, the The 25 in 5 Poverty Reduction Net- from our weekday routines. The an- example, the metaphorical Bless- or evening out in the last fortnight cost of a nutritious diet ($527.67) work believes that these key principles cient tradition of the procession sym- ing of a Marriage: "Let their love for for entertainment? plus rent on a typical 3-bedroom unit should guide Ontario's approach: bolizes our entry into another frame each other be a seal upon their hearts, ($1,164.00) leaves $250.20 to cover all If you work full time, you should of reference. The Eucharist, the cen- a mantle about their shoulders, and a Those questions are not really a quiz. other monthly expenses. not be living in poverty. Ontario needs tral focus of the service, is usually crown upon their foreheads." Or the They are questions that are carefully The same family, with two min- to increase the minimum wage, step spoken and sung using the rhythmic rhythmic Commendation of the Fu- selected empirically through survey re- imum-wage earners each working up the enforcement of labour stan- cadences of the archaic Book of Com- neral Service: "Give rest, O Christ, search and statistical testing to separate 30 hours per week, the cost of the dards, and break down barriers based mon Prayer. These words, like the to your servants with your saints, the poor from the non-poor. They are nutritious diet ($527.67) and rent on discrimination. hymns, are highly poetic in their use where sorrow and pain are no more, determinates of poverty, a Deprivation ($1,164.00) leaves 725.92 to cover all Ensure adults and children have real of metaphors. A religious metaphor is neither sighing, but life everlasting." Index. In Ireland people are regarded as other monthly expenses. income security. Bolster the new On- a symbolic comparison ("The Lord is Mourners who seek to avoid spiritual living in poverty if they earn less than tario Child Benefi t and provide adequate my Shepherd" - how unreasonable!) language to not offend non-religious 60 percent of the median income and It's clear that the dilemma whether to systems of support for those who can- that dislocates our rationality and family members eliminate talk of the fail to meet two of the eleven indicators "pay the rent or feed the kids" is still not work full-time. Include policies that moves us into a holy state of mind and hereafter and call the service a "cele- of poverty in the Deprivation Index. present for many people who rely for address the disproportionate impact of spirit. Majestic music stirs our hearts. bration of the life" of the deceased; Poverty excludes people from the their income on Ontario Works, Ontario poverty on racialized communities, ab- Stained glass windows remind us of in the process they avoid dealing life of their society because of a lack Disability Support Program benefi ts or original people, women, persons with our ancient predecessors. All these art with the horrifying grief of losing a of resources. Poverty is not a life the Old Age Security and Guaranteed disabilities and newcomers. forms can take us, for the duration of loved one and being comforted by the style choice. Income Supplement and for those who Make affordable housing and qual- the service, into God's kingdom. promise of resurrection. In the examples below, the amount of work for minimum wage. ity child care top provincial priorities. Although some of us attempt to The refusal to use the sacred arts income that is left, (if any) after paying In the October 2007 Ontario election Ensure that everyone has real access to create an exclusively rational religion derives not only from unsuccessful at- for accommodation and a nutritious diet, campaign, Premier Dalton McGuinty medical and dental care. For more in- and morality by ignoring the power of tempts to attract our contemporaries to cover additional monthly expenses committed to making poverty reduction a formation, visit www.socialplanningto- what lies beyond our consciousness, such as utilities, telephone, laundry, toi- priority of his government, stating that he ronto.org/25in5. for others the words "spirit" and "in-  CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 5

Living in the world–as if The Itinerant Church-goer will return next month. MICHAEL THOMPSON RECTOR  ST. JUDE'S, OAKVILLE

And this is too big for anger, it's too big for blame, we stumble through history so human- ly lame, CONT. FROM PAGE 1 » A meditation on mortifi cation so I bow down my head, say a prayer for us all, Russian novelist Alexander Solzhenit- On the other hand, there are many that we don't fear the Spirit when it syn puts it this way: "The line separ- things that can be put to death only comes to call. ating good and evil passes... through gradually—by starvation, if you like. (Bruce Cockburn, "Postcards from every human heart... Even within It takes time. It takes the strength and Cambodia") hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small the courage of the Holy Spirit to say bridgehead of good is retained; and "No" everyday. And it means cutting Between 1975 and 1978, the Khmer even in the best of all hearts, there re- myself off from the things that feed Rouge revolution, let by Pol Pot, killed mains a small corner of evil." my temptation. between one and three million Cambo- But isn't this a very negative thing The story is told of a little boy dians. The "Killing Fields", nine miles in Christianity, something we should whose father had told him not to go south of Phnom Penh, have become a have moved beyond by this time? in the swimming pool. Later that day, popular tourist destination, and in the A good principle for understanding his father found him by the pool with Phnom Penh, a white marble and glass the Bible is to approach the diffi cult his swimsuit in his hand. "Weren't tower holds the skulls of thousands of stuff from the point-of-view of the you told you couldn't go swimming?" those victims. stuff that is clear. So let's start with asked his father. "I'm not going swim- A lawyer for Ta Mok, one of the what we know. ming," said the boy. "Then why have Khmer Rouge military leaders threat- you got your swimsuit?" "Oh, that's ened with a war crimes trial, threatened Restoring the image of God in case I get tempted." If you know in turn to subpoena Margaret Thatcher, The fi rst and most important thing is you shouldn't go in the pool, don't go Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan and this: Jesus teaches us that God loves near the pool... and certainly don't take three former Secretaries-General of us: three little words but absolutely your swimsuit. the United Nations to answer ques- amazing—enough to change your life, All of us have these things in our tions about their countries' support for enough to change the world. lives that threaten the new life God is the Khmer Rouge. According to Noam And what does God's love mean? trying to grow in us. I'm sure you can Chomsky, a prominent and controver- Simply, that God wants the absolute think of examples from your own life, sial MIT professor, by the time the not something that we decide to do, Then, ankle-deep in the bonescape, best for us. In particular, it means but here are a few that come to my Khmer Rouge took over, Cambodia and while it works most effectively if we can hear, perhaps dimly at fi rst, God wants to shape us into the people mind immediately: was already "pretty much a wreck" as a some monstrously wicked people par- something else—a Spirit who breath- God made us to be, not just as indi- Many of us worry. Indeed, we have result of American bombing during the ticipate, the logic of death does not re- ing Life across and into the bleached viduals but as a community. If you lists of things to worry about. Morti- Vietnam War, and Sydney Schanberg, quire monstrosity. It simply dominates and scattered bones, a Word uttering like, God wants to restore the image of fi cation can mean saying No to those who covered the Cambodian civil war our lives. We defi ne a state in part by Life into the reeking tomb. "Mortal, God in us. worries: putting ourselves in the pres- for the New York Times, has commented its capacity to sustain a local monop- can these bones live?" "O Lord God, That's why God calls us to follow ence of God for a few minutes (what that "we didn't commit it but we, all the oly on the use of violence and deadly you know." "Lazarus, come out." "Un- Jesus. By following Jesus we become some people call "the sacred pause") great powers, provided the engine that force. An election in Kenya is reduced bind, him and let him go." the people God created us to be. God's and trying to see things from God's helped create it." to a contest pitting one side's violence It is not our work, then, to over- purpose is entirely positive. God's ul- point of view. On the fi fth Sunday in Lent, we en- against another. Ballots become irrel- come the power of death, but to refuse timate goal is that the universe should Many churches sell Fair Trade counter three texts that assert the fi nal evant; bullets become decisive. it our obedience. We are frail, bounded be fi lled with joy. coffee. They could get cheaper cof- authority of the one who gives life The logic of death feeds on fear. And creatures, with death in the DNA of Here is where it is not so straight- fee elsewhere, of course. But they over the one who brings death. Deep it depends on our willingness to em- our bodies, and death in the DNA of forward, however. Sometimes the best mortify their desire to save a few in the Lenten shadow, in the discipline brace just about any crackpot idea that our cultures, our societies, our nations. route from A to B is not a straight line. dollars, and help bring life to the of practices that have insisted that we proposes to "do something" to address But though we will suffer death, we Sometimes it means going backwards coffee producers. look deeply into the dark reality of that fear. Between September 11, 2001, will not serve it. And even if we are in order to go forwards. At the end of a Sunday morning death, there we meet this witness of and March 20, 2003, an edifi ce of death afraid, we will not let that fear decide On the one hand, God wants to service, our instinct is to talk to our our ancestors. was founded on the climate of acute for us how we will live. We will hope. nurture the good in us, but on the other friends. But, of course, when there are But we begin, like Ezekiel, in the fear following the attacks on the World The difference between hope and hand, in order to do that, God needs visitors, that natural instinct has to be killing fi elds, in the valley of dry bones, Trade Centre and the Pentagon. Stoking wishful thinking is that wishful thinking to deal with what's wrong in us— put to death, and we try to cultivate up to our knees in the evidence of death's the fear with allegations of weapons of is passive, while hope is active. Hope because in all of us there are weeds something which does not come quite power. Like the dying Kurtz in Con- mass destruction and of cooperation be- joins itself to an action already under- which threaten to overwhelm the good so naturally, at least for us introverts— rad's Heart of Darkness, we utter the tween Saddam Hussein and al Quaeda, way, to a dynamic already in play, to a growth God is nurturing in us. to talk to new people. only words available, "The horror! The American leaders persuaded a nation to kingdom already breaking forth. Hope So how do we kill bad things in horror!" Some part of us wants some support a war based on nothing but fear is an action aligned with the divine in- our lives? Sometimes it can be done Positive change distance between us and these bones, and the promise that invading Iraq would itiative to overcome death. Hope is liv- suddenly, but sometimes it has to be A story about our son Ben—a jazz some monstrous Pol Pot at whose feet "do something" to address that fear. ing in the world as if. As if there were done gradually. In C.S.Lewis' Great trumpeter—helps me get my head we can lay this bonescape. We fi ght off In truth, there is nothing we can do something deeper, truer, somehow more Divorce, for example, there is a man around this whole thing. When he was the gnawing sense that maybe this is about death. On the immediate level of real than death at work in our bodies, in who arrives at the edge of heaven with in his teens, after some years of learn- what we should expect when we give our own mortality and the mortality of our world. As if in Israel, in the prophets, a red lizard on his shoulder. The man ing trumpet, he got a new teacher, who authority to the logic of death. those close to us, we know this, though and in Jesus, God had already acted in a wants to stay but the lizard doesn't. An happened to be one of the top trum- The logic of death brings violence, it is profoundly impolite in most set- way that invites our hope, and gives us angel offers to kill the lizard if the man pet players in Canada. And Mr. Oades war, and hunger. Dominance at every tings to say so. The logic of death is another to serve when death demands wants. The man isn't sure: he thinks the said, "You're doing it all wrong. If level fi nds itself supported by that part of our DNA, built into our bodies. our loyalty. angel would end up killing him and you want to develop in your playing, logic, by the threat of harm to any who It has what seems to be ultimate au- And suddenly, not by going around, not just the lizard. The angel says no: you're going to have to start over, and might challenge or threaten it. And we thority in our lives. And while Ponce or over, or under, not by retreating, not the man would be hurt but he wouldn't relearn your embouchure." are all caught up in it, in the relentless, de Leon once sailed in search of the by closing our eyes and wishing, but die. Only the lizard would die. Did Ben do it? He could have said, pervasive logic of death. We come to Fountain of Youth, and while the air- by acknowledging our helplessness Eventually the man agrees. The "No way, I've spent years playing this perceive one another as unwelcome waves and fi tness centres of the world before death, we fall into the one thing angel reaches out and breaks the way, and I feel comfortable with it. competitors for scarce goods. And, in- resound with promises to "do some- that we can do when there's nothing back of the lizard. But then a strange Don't cramp my style," but he didn't. asmuch as we act on that perception, thing", mostly we know that we will we can do. We can in our lives, in our thing happens: the man turns into a He obeyed the teacher, turned his back we create the very scarcity we fear, by die, and try to make a life that makes homes, in our communities of faith, al- new man—big, beautiful, bright and on the way he'd been playing before, hoarding abundance into excess for sense in the face of that knowledge. low God to shape our lives hopeward. shining—a little like the angel—but and, as a result, he was able to move some and paucity for others. So, too, in the DNA of cultures, We can become a witness to hope, of- even stranger, the lizard turns into a ahead in his playing, way beyond where We perceive the Other as threat, nations, and societies. There is some- fering practices that embody that hope great stallion. Then the man mounts he would have got to any other way. and prepare to meet that threat in what thing inescapable about the authority to all who desire to say "no" to death's the stallion and they ride off into Sometimes it is the same for students seems like the only safe and reason- of death, about its dominant, perva- demand for our loyalty and our fear. deep heaven. of Jesus. Yes, there are positive things able way—by inuring ourselves to re- sive, and resilient capacity to work its The bones stir, are knit together, Jesus asks us to do—but sometimes ality that some young people must die, grim agenda. And as much as that truth vital. Lazarus emerges from the tomb. Stepping away from temptation he asks us to do something that seems or the Other believe that we will sac- is hard for me to admit, let alone utter, And if this so enrages the servants of Lewis, it seems, would agree that there negative, to turn our backs on things rifi ce them –to hold that Other at bay. admitting it and saying it, as we did, death that they serve up the body of are some things that threaten us which we love, things that seems like death Meanwhile, the Other sees us prepar- for example, on Ash Wednesday— Jesus to their ruler, it is only their last, can be dealt with once and for all. His to give up. ing to do violent harm, and approaches "Remember you are dust and to dust most desperate act before another va- story also makes the point very nicely But in fact, it's a death that leads us in the only sane and prudent way— you shall return"—is the necessary cant tomb sets living hope loose forever that the reason we put things to death to life. Good Friday is the only way hostile and armed to the teeth. This is fi rst step in living with hope. in the bonescape. is so that new life can come. to Easter. 6 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 Anglican confession This is my story

me: "I don't want you to go to hell" I authorities, and paid with their lives, ground, leaving only the outside stone was not smart enough to supply the and the role played by the desert fath- walls standing. It was truly a calam- right reply, except to say "I don't think ers and the monastics, who probably ity, especially watching the glorious so...don't worry". served as trusted confi dants to each baptistery stained glass window blow More recent exposure to the sub- other and to the seekers who came out onto the lawn. To walk the next ject of confesssion has piqued my to them (my guess). Then the Roman day amongst the charred embers of interest beyond the general confes- form of institutionalized confession our beloved church is something that I sion we observe regularly in Christ's with all its rigid requirements of con- will never forget. But under Reverend FRANCEAN CAMPBELLRICH Church Cathedral. Though we are no formity and fi nally, to the fi rst big Philip Jefferson's leadership we ral- CHRIST'S CHURCH CATHEDRAL longer the 'miserable offenders' of the landmark of change, the liberations lied together, redefi ned and rebuilt St All may; some should; none must. Book of Common Prayer, whining that of Martin Luther, and the Reforma- James Church. That great Anglican aphorism—so "there is no health in us", the words tion itself. I think that God was there in the neat, so wise, so just. And how right of the BAS confession fall short, in One thread continues throughout: midst of all the members of the con- for today. How many centuries did it my opinion, of the opportunity of ac- the Seal of the Confessional, binding gregation. Again God strengthened take to evolve? How many martyrs cepting God's gift to us of refl ection, Catholic priests to strict confi denti- my experience with him. died on the way? What role does con- of revelation, and of potential. Nor is it ality, on pain of excommunication, My life since then has been full fession play in our faith today? Only private, or personal, or particular. written into Canon law and upheld of ups and downs, including career in Lent? Always on Sunday? Some- through all denominations, written changes after having a very stable job times? Often? Never? Learning more about confession or not, to this day. And with echoes which ended in a wholesale layoff. Confession seems a bit quaint to To be sure, provision does exist for all on the professions of medicine, RON VICKERS Our family suffered a very serious some of us now. Admission of excess, these shortcomings—but not easily. law, the private press, and simple ST. JAMES, DUNDAS crisis when our daughter Suzanne de- and resolution to give up something Seminaries do offer an introduction to human decency. Born and raised in Hamilton, my fi rst re- veloped cancer at age 36 and for 4 appears to be more at home at New the duties of priest-confessor, but it is collection of church was when I attended years, off and on, my wife, Beth, spent Year's. Ask yourself how many times minimal. Some clergy do offer the ser- Walking in his ways church parades at St Thomas Church as time in B.C. caring for her. It was a you resolved to give up something, vice privately, in retirement, as we have It is not diffi cult, and certainly it is a cub and scout. I soon joined the Sun- time of seemingly never ending battles, and failed. I knew a clergyman once noted in newspapers. More power to of much interest now, to observe the day school, and became involved in the winning some, losing some. When Su- who gave up smoking for Lent; he be- them. But there is already at hand a rich mind and hand of scientists, human- administration end of it. zanne died I thought that the end of our came so irritable that he had to give up resource within our own walls, with a ists, and artists in shaping the role It was not long after that I was in- lives had come too but because of the the idea altogether. little enquiring around. Not always is of confession, so called, even today. vited to become a server. Rising to the loyalty, love and compassion shown Confession used to strike me as a the search immediately fruitful. A few Surely Freud and his followers, Jews rank of head server, it was my job to to us by a group of our church friends fi ctional, romantic notion embellished years back I tested the waters a little. included, had some infl uence in eras- train new servers and it was then that I throughout the 4 years of her illness we largely in literature, and especially Aware that at least one of our diocesan ing the damaging concept of guilt became interested in church activities, were able to weather this storm. in opera. I was limited in my narrow clergy regularly heard confessions, and from an otherwise useful tool in hu- in church doctrine, and its traditional I am of the opinion that God has world to a few persons who ducked into that auricular, or private, confession man health. "Forgive me, Father, for liturgy. My liturgical training was well made me more aware of our fragile church to confess, light a candle, and was available on request, I called one I have sinned"—may happily close founded by the Altar Guild President hold on life. We have had our faith drop a coin in the box, and continue on of them, at random. There was a mo- with the present Anglican wording of Miss. Ellen Reiger. strengthened through God's love and the way to some mundane pursuit. ment of silence. "I'll have to get back to the general confession: "...that we may I enjoyed the fellowship of the through the support of our church you", he said. And didn't. delight in your will and walk in your AYPA (Anglican Young Peoples As- family. We fi nd it easier to talk to Early memory of guilt In time I came to face facts. If I ways..." sociation), especially the conferences. people who are in similarly stressed My earliest memory of sin and guilt was to satisfy my curiosity, let alone Books were not enough. In my My appreciation of church music situations. We are now blessed with involved outright theft. My cousin my needs, I would have to learn more private researches, I talked to people, was fostered by our church organists. It understanding and compassion and Margann and I had ventured the un- about confession, its origins, its his- found they were hesitant at fi rst—not was further enhanced when I met Dr. are able to help others. thinkable. We had stolen something in tory, and why it is treated so half- sure what I was getting at. Prompted Healey Willan and Dr. Charles Peaker. I am not sure if I would do any- Woolworth's. Margann's mother made heartedly now. I hit the books, only to by a few stories of my own, they This interest in church music eventually thing different if I had my life to live her take it back to the manager. I had learn that the word hardly existed over talked. "In England it was called led to my joining the choir at St James over again. If ever I was asked to give simply dropped mine, a celluloid 'cu- the centuries (except in the trivial con- 'popery' she said, but agreed it could under Douglas Brownlee's direction advice (heaven forbid) to someone pie' doll about an inch long, out the texts mentioned earlier). Even now, be a good idea here, properly done. I after I semi-retired as a lay reader. starting out in their new life in Christ, bedroom window, and suffered no pun- the term more commonly used is Rec- was reminded of the quote from James I do not know when God became my fi rst thought would be that they ishment. Correction: the punishment onciliation, Penance, or the Sacrament about talking to each other. Most of real to me; I think it was an ongoing should be willing to see both sides of was acute guilt, owing to absence of of Reconciliation. Very rarely does the all, I was reminded of the words by process. As I took on different church a discussion , whether it is theological, admission, penitence, and forgiveness. terminology suggest the confession of one of our retired senior clergy, who duties as a server, lay reader, warden liturgical, biblical, pertaining to the It remains with me to this day. sin, and almost never, the idea of guilt regularly heard confessions during and choir member, God began to show every day workings of the church, or A lifetime later and I am comforted (Pace, that cupie doll). his active years. He said "The Church himself in many different ways. to moral issues. Be tolerant of other to learn that Anglican confession no What does become clear is that requires no penance." I already knew The fi rst true test was when St person's views. longer exacts penitence. Nor do you over the centuries the custom of con- that the good father always dons his James' became embroiled in a contro- Be ready to accept duties and jobs sit in the little box and speak through fession and the part it has played in stole, and that there are a few prayers. versy over the music. I found myself in the church which you feel you can a screen to a priest, although some the lives of Christians from the hu- Then he added: "...and end with con- in the middle of the fray, warden on accomplish, maybe you might fl oun- Anglo Catholic churches provide it. I man approach of the apostles—the versation." It was like hearing of talk one side and friend on the other. It was der, but be ready to accept failure and am, however, bothered to recall, not all advice to "confess your sins to one between two old friends who trust diffi cult but I am sure that my faith in move on. Enjoy the company of your that long ago, how I was approached another—"James 5:16)" through the each other, with perhaps one of them God stood me in good stead. fellow Christians. Be ready when by a little boy of about ten, the grand- period of the martyrs who refused a bit older, or wiser, or both. To all of The second challenge came soon you notice someone who needs a son of someone I knew, who said to to confess their faith to the Roman which, I say, Amen. after, when St. James burned to the helping hand. Perhaps it is time to change our vocabulary

oxymoron but there is an occasional dren as my son or my daughter rather ers? I think the society around us has Does this mean the person we are re- good news story. If I am honest, it than our son or our daughter. become, to a large extent, a race of ferring to does not have God's grace also helps me to understand that even This seems to be accepted as a nor- hoarders. But as Christians, is it not and we do? Do we even try to horde after what I consider to be a bad day mal way of speaking but it is strange our place to set the example and show the grace of God? I believe if we truly there are others whose day was a lot to walk into a store and a salesperson others we follow a God to whom shar- want to honour our God then we need worse than mine. says, "I will see if I have any." Perhaps ing, while he was with us on earth, to accept all people where they are However there is a trend creeping this is ok if they own the store. was a way of life and it our place to and not where we expect them to be into our way of writing and our way When I offi ciate at a wedding I do likewise? and invite all people into the house of GRAHAME STAP of speaking that I fi nd troubling and say to the couple, "This is the day you I am constantly amazed to hear God and not put the agenda we want to ST. ALBAN THE MARTYR, GLEN WILLIAMS it seems to reinforce the fact that we change your vocabulary." They look at people say 'my church.' Is it not after all cling to the front. After the day is done and it is time are fast becoming a race of people that me with a quizzical expression on their God's church and does God not stand Let us all change our vocabulary to relax, I read the newspaper from excludes others from our lives. It is the faces and I explain that from today on for all people. Perhaps if we change not only with our words but with our cover to cover while sitting in my use of 'I' and 'my' rather than 'we' and instead of my house, my bank account, our vocabulary from 'I' and 'my' to 'we' actions also and show society that favorite chair and having a glass of 'us.' There is a couple at our church, my son or daughter it is our house etc. and 'our' we will come to understand the church can be a place of accept- wine. I know most of you will won- wonderful supportive people, that I You are entering into a state of unity that it is not our place to decide who ance and of sharing, inclusiveness and der how I can relax and read the honestly thought were on their second and in a state of unity you share—you God can have in God's church. understanding. Let us invite others to newspaper; it seems, with all the bad marriages because even when both do not horde to yourself. We even use that terrible saying, share what society cannot offer, the news we get each day, to almost be an were present would refer to their chil- Have we become a race of hoard- "There but for the grace of God go I." love of God which is for all of us. NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 7 Getting to know you The joy of the Lord cannot grow within us; if we recognise and value it, it can grow within us. The Right Reverend Walter Asbil and Mrs. Mavis Asbil Was not Jesus telling us this when he spoke of the man who went on a Former Bishop of Niagara and Spouse journey, leaving his servants behind? Before he left them to their own de- vices, he gave them certain assets. frank; each person dealt with it in their an "endowment fund for ministry, not In Matthew's gospel we read that he own way." Mavis Asbil adds, "Every- for buildings." SUSAN C. HUXFORDWESTALL gave one of his servants fi ve talents, one remained friends." Bishop Walter appreciates the co- ALL SAINTS, HAMILTON to another three and to another just When Bishop Walter became Rector operative effort among St. Catharines A word that I fi nd too seldom used in one (Matt. 25:14-30). In those days a of St. George's, St. Catharines, in Nov- churches on youth ministry. Four religious discussions is "Conscience" "talent" was a sum of money. Today ember 1970, there was "No way!" the churches, two Anglican (St. George's and yet I read of the "God within" and it has taken on a far more signifi cant people chose their priest. Now parish and St. Thomas',) one Presbyterian of the "Christos". What is the Christos, meaning. Each of us is given tal- parochial committees offer consider- and one Baptist, share the salary of a the God within, but the voice of con- ents which may be developed as we FRAN DARLINGTON able input on appointments. Another staff person who leads a good-sized science speaking to us? mature. Some are more gifted than PRIEST  ST. JAMES, GUELPH issue: "...families moved into town group in a wide variety of wonder- Conscience is defi ned as the "mor- others, but we all have abilities that The view from here—to there from outlying parishes where their chil- ful activities, each week in a different al sense of right & wrong" (Concise we may develop when the opportun- The Anglican Church has weathered dren had been receiving communion— church. "Why don't we do that more?" OED). I maintain that "conscience" is ity arises. The gospel story tells us that many challenges and changes, some the priest broke the rules—and others he asks. the voice of God within. We can either two of the servants used their talents to better than others. As one who pas- would say, 'Why can't my child...?' " In He chuckles, "Fifty years ago, a their own profi t and had doubled their tored the Diocese of Niagara for forty 2007, Anglican altars are places of wel- bishop in England said that the ten capital when their master returned. years, as priest and Bishop, the Right come rather than exclusion. busiest people in England were Angli- One of them was lazy and did not Reverend Walter Asbil looks on the Mavis describes a personal issue can clergy, but the ten people who The "hell" that each one use his talent; he buried it and left it, unfolding history of the Church with that arose when she and Bishop Walter do the least were Anglican clergy!" of us must endure can be never to develop. a particular wisdom and compassion. were married: "It irked me that when I Learning that his nephew was entering The end is signifi cant. On the mas- "I don't like the word 'optimism,'" became an Anglican I had to be con- ordained ministry, Bishop Walter's to keep repeating the ter's return the two who had "cashed he says, "but 'hopeful' may be the fi rmed—that really ticked me off! I "grumpy old uncle" commented, "He same mistakes over and in" on their master's benevolence best word." was confi rmed in the United Church." won't have to work hard at that job!" over again. could easily have withheld their profi t Though society's transformation Bishop Walter teases, "That wasn't a Bishop Walter admits, "It's not the and handed back to their master what has led to controversy, Bishop Walter real confi rmation!" Mavis continues, cinch he thought it was." he had given them, keeping for them- identifi es Anglican anchors: "In the "I had gone to Church all my life. I pay attention to that voice or we can selves the profi t that they had gained. middle of Anglican comprehensive- was happy in the United Church!" Liturgical variety a good experi- ignore—deny—it. It will be argued They didn't. They gave the whole lot ness breaking down, we are at our best Then, relenting, "My Father was an ence—even for royalty that "conscience" depends upon soci- back to the master who had given as Anglicans. We easily disagree, but elder, it was dull, awful! Fifty years Regarding varied liturgies offered in ety, upon the culture in which the in- them the opportunity for success at the feel like a family at the altar rail. on, I'm an Anglican, but I would never Niagara, Bishop Walter affi rms, "I'm dividual develops, but does that deny outset. Their master was delighted and Bishop Walter is disturbed by re- have changed but for Walter!" totally supportive! There's no way the voice of God within? Surely in our rewarded them by opening his estate cent developments in the world-wide Mavis comments on another dif- I could go back to only the Book of divided humanity God speaks to us ac- to them. They entered into the joy of Anglican Communion, particularly ference for clergy spouses: "At. St. Common Prayer. That doesn't mean cording to our limited understanding? their lord. actions by dissenting clergy in Niag- George's, we followed Ed and Isobel we cast it away; it's not passé for every- If God speaks to us in language that What happened to the man who ara and by other bishops toward them: Downey. She did so many things in that body. I'm glad it's still around, but I'm we can understand, surely it follows that received just one talent? On his mas- "It's a breakdown of our comprehen- Church—then I came along and didn't glad I don't have to take it out every His voice will be heard in the context of ter's return he showed no appreciation siveness and not necessary. do all that!" Many clergy spouses have Sunday. (The service on page 230 of our own surroundings, of our culture? of the trust that had been extended to "In the last fi ve or ten years, lots of also made that choice. the B.A.S.) is different. The leader Should it be surprising that God speaks, him. He simply handed back what had things have broken our understanding. used to get up and mumble, now lead- and has spoken in the past, to different been given him to use. Notice that he Positions have hardened; then it's hard "It's not a cinch!" ers are alive, the whole thing seems cultures in different parts of the world? knew that his master was "a hard man, to get things together again. I'm not On the closing of Anglican churches: alive." Echoing a frequent Anglican Why should He have spoken in identi- reaping where you did not sow", so he blaming anyone, but edges that were "I had to do some, but (Bishop Spen- plaint, he adds, "I lament Evensong, cal terms to the Ancient Egyptians, the had decided not to go along with the fuzzy are now clear. I'm still quite ce) has had to do many. Some may be but if we offer it, nobody comes!" Babylonians, the Hebrews, the Greeks, game, although he knew his master's hopeful about what is happening in legitimate, there may be some more to Bishop Walter describes St. the Aryan invaders of India and Eur- character and recognised that his mas- the parishes. Hopefulness is elusive, happen, but maybe we're getting close George's popular monthly Celtic ser- ope, the Chinese? The answer is that he ter expected him to use his talent. He but there's a sense of people struggling to not having to (do that)." For ex- vice, with bodhran (Irish drum), vio- didn't and he hasn't. handed back the one talent that he had with their faith." ample, Bishop Walter points out that lin and accordion: "The words are Let us go back to the beginning, been given, saying, in effect, "You al- "We don't need ten (Anglican Church- simple, from Iona (a primary Celtic for that, according to the Bible, is God ways expect us to use our abilities for Hopefulness, fi fty years on es in St. Catharines), but it will work centre in Scotland). Attendance goes (Genesis 1:1). Let us assume that, after your benefi t. OK then. Here's what you Since he was ordained priest on itself through." up (on those Sundays.) Sophie Wessex a lot of experimenting with differ- gave me at the start. It was yours to December 18, 1957, "The Church A parish church may become a (spouse of Prince Edward) came, and ent forms of life, God decided to ex- start with; I'm just giving it back to the has changed considerably, from being "chapel of ease," rather than close. people-in-the-know said we should periment with humans. A convenient owner. Besides, you're a hard master." totally priest-driven to involvement of Reviving this ancient designation of- do only BCP, but she was absolutely axiom of science is that "Nature abhors In other words, No.3 did the usual: he the people. Parishes are still pretty de- fers another way "to maintain trad- thrilled!" a vacuum", then, using our God-given blamed his master for his own fault. pendent on clergy, (but) there's much itional worship, to keep a parish vi- Bishop Walter sees all these as intelligence, we may assume that God He says in effect "If you hadn't been more acceptance of what it means to able rather than rely on money," as "heartening signs that this stuff is go- does not appreciate nothingness. He or such a hard master, I would have done be baptised. People live out their bap- local clergy may offer services there, ing on, in most, though not all, congre- She—or perhaps He and She—creat- differently". When one's conscience tism in ways that were not there fi fty without the appointment of a specifi c gations." He offers thoughts on today's ed humanity as a challenge (remember hits a person, that person may well try years ago." parish priest. Church and its future: "I am deeply that we are using our assumed God- to squirm out of the situation—it's hu- Bishop-in-Residence at St. George's Bishop Walter emphasises the im- grateful for the ministry of Ralph given intelligence). The Bible tells us man nature. Church, St. Catharines, Bishop Walter portance of episcopal and congrega- Spence. It's not been an easy ten years, that God breathed into the dust that He Now let us put this tale in a con- describes that parish as an example of tional discernment on parish leader- but he's done a great piece of creative had formed and "man became a liv- temporary context, as it affects you hopefulness: "There's a really good ship: "If they have the right leader with work, and he's kept his sense of hu- ing being" (Genesis 2:7). The Hebrew and me. Is it not that we enter God's atmosphere. It's a happy place; wor- the right gifts at the right time, a parish mour. We'll be very well blessed in the word for "breath" is ruach, which may world with certain abilities, abilities ship is lively and creative with Val (the is not likely to close. When it works, ministry of Michael Bird (the Right be interpreted as breath, wind or spirit. that we call "talents"? For what do we Reverend Valerie Kerr, Assistant Priest) it really works! It's too bad we're still Reverend Michael Bird, co-adjutor In any case, God gave part of Him/ enter God's world? and Rob (the Reverend Canon Rob so dependent on clergy leadership. Bishop of Niagara). We're also blessed Herself to humanity—life, breath, the This is the eternal question—"Why Fead, Rector). (If) a school principal, who (sets) the in having Fred (The Most Reverend "Holy Spirit". Is it unreasonable to as- was I born?". If we believe in God as "For example, a study group at St. tone, is poor or lazy, the school doesn't Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican sume that God wants the return of that our Creator, then we must assume George's attracts up to seventy-fi ve go well; it's the same in a parish. The Church of Canada) as Primate. He's Spirit one day? The Bible tells us that some purpose for life. What is that pur- people. They're even looking at the catalyst in the business is still the par- a really good person, keeps his feet "Then shall the dust return to the earth pose? Does the story that we have just Creed; that's not exciting, but most ish priest. Some clergy don't see it that on the ground, has a listening ear— as it was and the spirit shall return to recalled tell us? If we recognise God as people want to learn... Most people way; one clergy in the Diocese has people like him!" God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). our Creator, do we not also recognise are content with anything but a literal- nothing to do with fi nances. I don't Nothing that we have assumed to Him/Her as Master? If, as Christians, ist (interpretation). They're prepared understand that. You have to accept Changes for Bishop Walter this point is contrary to Holy Scripture we can accept the ancient Creed that to wrestle with it. Lots of people are the whole condition; you can't just and Mavis as it is accepted by Jews, Christians "Jesus is Lord", do we not recognise seeking a non-threatening opportun- pick and choose. Since Bishop Walter's retirement in and Moslems. Let our assumptions that we are bound to follow his teach- ity, where they can ask any question "People need a sense of real stew- 1997, life has changed for the episco- continue. Part of God's spirit resides ings? May we not conclude that God without feeling stupid. (We) had two ardship, not making (them) feel guilty, pal couple. He smiles, "I have a little in humanity, in other words, in each has put us in His world to do His work sessions on same-sex blessings, with but simply saying, 'Here's the need,' thing here and there, (but) it's mostly one of us. God has given us freewill, for Him? Are we required to do the about sixty or seventy people, and a making it an integral part of life. If it Mavis on the calendar. the ability to use that Spirit as we will. reaping where He has not sown? wonderful atmosphere: no applause, is, the money fl ows." Bishop Walter We are free to use or abuse it. If we just listen to each other. It was open, is working with Canon Fead to create  CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 deny it, we abuse it; if we ignore it, it  CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 8 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 "THE END OF THE WORLD" Is it coming soon?

real reasons for the Pope's removal. The Great chasms of that kind have oc- are out of joint". There could be a fi nal palling and threatening human history story is fascinating, and raises the ques- curred for example: cataclysm, Armageddon, and Christ may become, God remains in ultimate tion, "How literally are we to believe in About 450 A.D., when the Roman will come again in glory to judge the control. the end of the world?" Empire fell to the barbarians. living and the dead, as the creeds and Even if we can't fully understand Herbert O'Driscoll has pointed out About 1000 A.D., when the "Dark the apocalyptic passages in the New God's Plans, we may be sure that how that we live in "an age of apocalypse," Ages" gave way to medieval times. Testament suggest. we respond to God in daily life does a time of "special insight." And what Many people feel that the Protest- But there is another view which make a difference! causes the insights of an 'apocalyptic ant Reformation was that kind of is also soundly rooted in Holy Scrip- Still, Father Andrew Greeley of- JOHN BOTHWELL age' is often disturbing; usually a ser- event too. ture and often is not recognized. It fers a word of caution: "A healthy RETIRED ARCHBISHOP OF NIAGARA ies of events that shatter people, re- It seems to be happening again to- suggests that the Second Coming infusion of Old Testament 'saving Some years ago, Morris West's novel, lationships, and cherished traditions. day, in the opinion of many, including may refer to Christ's continuing pres- remnant theology', and the seeming The Clowns of God, told the story of a Dr. O'Driscoll writes, "...if you could Dr. O'Driscoll , and me too. We live ence in human history through the failure of the Lord of the New Tes- Pope who saw a vision about the end take a time-machine and fl y over the in a time of apocalypse! Holy Spirit, who offers us strength tament at his crucifi xion, ought to be of the world. He is not a fanatic, just a last two thousand years of Western In times like this, confusion gains and assistance, but also invites our suffi cient grounds to-day, for vigor- compassionate man who is convinced History, you would look down and see momentum, people begin to wonder participation in humanity's con- ous effort, with very modest expecta- that the pressures of power politics and very varied territory: if the end of human history might be tinuing struggle towards maturity tions. Realism and modest expecta- the international "arms race" soon will Rolling country-side, the times of close at hand, and fundamentalists and fulfi llment. tions do not mean either cynicism lead to the destruction of the world; so peace and consensus. point to all the Biblical passages which In my opinion, the second view is or despair, but rather, modest hopes, he wants to issue a warning. Also, some 'desert times' and some predict cataclysmic "signs", some of more realistic, but many might dis- hard work, and leaving the outcome However, the Cardinals in the Curia 'rocky times.' which seem to be occurring to-day. pute this, and we could debate this for in God's hands. feared that he may be mentally disturbed But every now and then, you would So what are serious Christians to hours, for the true answer is known People with modest hopes may not or lost his faith, and anyway, that any at- see a great chasm—times when his- believe? There are various opinions only to God. It is important to remem- radiate starry-eyed idealism, but nei- tempt to warn people would cause panic. tory seemed bisected, and a generation about the end of the world, but they ber, however, that beneath all our dif- ther are they likely to give up in dis- So good Pope Gregory is forced to ab- seemed to end. Then, on the other side fall into two main categories: ferent opinions, virtually all Christians couragement. And on occasion, they dicate,- and there is no public explana- of the cleft, life begins again for a new The most literal one holds that his- share these three convictions: may even fi nd themselves surprised, tion, except ill health. Then, however, a generation, unconnected apparently, tory could indeed end dramatically, That evil and tragedies will con- when the returns far exceed their mod- personal friend sets out to investigate the with anything that had gone before." and perhaps soon, because "the times tinue in the future. No matter how ap- est expectations."

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 » Neither here nor there...

With the umbilical cord cut, the dom to post-Christendom and modern Ancaster, for example, "Heart's Open sensation rather than affi liation. It's a A new and transformed people church is now free from conforming to post-modern won't happen over- in Christ's Love", St. James & St. shift from coming to church because In Niagara, I think we live mostly as to the way of society and better able to night. History has shown that such Brendan's "Sharing Life", or Christ you're Anglican and want to hear the if we're still in the womb, although conform to the way of Jesus. transitions generally take centuries Church Deer Park in Toronto diocese 'holy hum' to coming to church be- more and more our churches and Nevertheless, the church still and not years. Thus it is highly un- "There's Life Here". In better refl ect- cause you're fully engaged, with all people are realizing that the contrac- plays a role for many in our soci- likely that any one reading this article ing their faith to the world, these your senses, in the liturgy. tions have started and we're head- ety who have no connection to the will actually live to see a fully realized communities are proclaiming to their Complementing this idea is the ing into a new world. We're nei- church. There is still a 'memory' of post-modern church. communities that the church continues growing trend of liturgical divers- ther here nor there, but someplace Christendom in all but perhaps our to have a purpose in the living out of ifi cation. Many churches now offer in between. most recent generation. This senti- A new brand God's reign! alternative services in addition to the One of the themes Bishop Ralph mentality can most frequently be Even so, there is little doubt that the Going hand in hand with brand- stalwart BCP and BAS services in the has repeatedly told divinity students observed at baptisms, funerals and journey from this age to the next has ing, is an increased effort to market morning. One only has to glance at at our gatherings is that the church he marriages for people unconnected begun in many of our churches. For the church. With the You Mean More the special liturgies section of the dio- was ordained into is most certainly with the church, but whose ingrained the most part we're not sure what the campaign, the diocese took out ads cesan website to see the wide array of not the church from which he'll retire. memories—or the memories of their next thing is, or even what it might in community newspapers, put spots services being offered in our churches Isn't that an exciting thing to hear? families—tell them that this is what look like, so we're trying to do a on the radio, and developed a web today. There's everything from jazz Even with all the potential pitfalls, they need to do, even if they don't little bit of everything. Two of the page for people to fi nd out how they vespers to prayers for justice and to be amidst a period of change and know why. characteristic elements of the posi- mean more! At St. James in Dundas, peace, from choral evensong to messy to have the grace to discern God's Rodney Clapp, in his book A Pecu- tive responses to this transition are a this attempt at marketing has recently church, and from Taizé night prayers vision for humanity in the next mil- liar People, bluntly assesses our situa- move by the church to re-brand and taken the form of a Facebook ad for to sacred circle dancing. lennia is simply awesome! Our work tion in this way: "Christians feel use- market itself and to adopt a 'designer our Third @ Four service. Finding In doing so, we've moved from the is to reclaim our sense of who we less because the church feels useless. religion' mentality. new ways of reaching out to people modern notion of one-size fi ts all, to are as a distinct entity from the state And the church feels useless because One doesn't need to look far to see with new brands and new marketing a very post-modern notion that values and in the same way growing into it keeps on trying to perform Constan- evidence of branding in our diocese. strategies seems one way we're pro- custom-tailoring to fi t one's needs. In something more than the sponsor of tinians duties in a world that is no long The "You Mean More" campaign claiming Christianity version 2.0. many ways this is a time of experi- Western civilization. Constantinian." That is to say, we've during Advent is a perfect example mentation; trying to discern who and In many ways this may be an ex- moved from the era of Christendom, of how we are attempting to re-brand Liturgical diversifi cation where God is calling us to be. If we tended Lenten journey in the wilder- which Emperor Constantine ushered ourselves from the lingering images Another way many churches are re- are to take this task seriously, we'll ness for the church; but with God's in nearly two millennia ago, to a world implanted in the minds of many who sponding to the emerging realities of likely fail more often that we succeed; grace, we'll emerge from that journey which no longer needs the church to have long been dissatisfi ed with a life in the twenty-fi rst century is by but with each attempt, we'll gain a bet- as a new and transformed people, en- raise good citizens. modern church. Parishes have sought adopting a 'designer religion' mental- ter understanding of our purpose as tering into the long sought after Prom- Yet this transition from Christen- to brand themselves too. St. John's ity. Our liturgies increasingly value agents in God's mission. ised Land.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 » Sacred Arts by presenting "reasonable" liturgies. pingstone to the spiritual sense, the tian, visit the House of the Interpreter crossed or they stand silent during this valid ways, works of sacred art, rit- There is also the Puritanical impulse subject of meditation. Scripture has on his way through life to the Celestial part of the service. Soon they feel so ual re-enactments of our central mys- in our tradition: an uncomfortable sus- spiritual meaning when its literal or City. It seems to me that each Chris- confl icted that they leave the church. teries. Our use of words, music and picion that art is egotistical perform- historical sense is interpreted on one tian should interpret the Bible in his or We lose people when we insist that images that are metaphorical, multi- ance, papist idolatry. This attitude be- of three levels: the allegorical (seeing her own experience and respect others' the Nicene Creed is literally true and faceted and majestic moves us into comes destructive when it rejects the the New Testament allusion to an Old differing interpretations. imply or pronounce that people who sacred presence. But when we nar- eloquence, poetry and beauty that can Testament passage), the moral (see- Inevitably, we struggle with the don't agree are heretics. row the interpretation of our beliefs be vehicles of inspiration. ing the moral application of a pas- recitation of the Nicene Creed, one I have known many friends leave to the literalistic and when we fi xate Further, the theological legacy of sage) and the anagogical (seeing the of the Anglican Church's central trad- the church, driven out by exclusivist on modern relevance in the style of 17th century Puritanism is the funda- spiritual message of a passage). The itions. There are those who blithely sermons or simply unable to reconcile our worship, we easily become judg- mentalist simplifi cation that enables a fundamentalist's insistence on one recite it, weekly, without giving its fourth-century creeds with their 21st mental and frustrated. This is the face believer to criticize and exclude any- literal reading is a more recent and meaning a second thought. Of those century common sense. These lost of Christianity that our non-churched one disagreeing with his or her liturgy limiting aberration. who do concern themselves with the sheep are so obsessed with their own contemporaries reject as "unreason- or theology. We often forget that early A great exception to the narrow importance of what they profess, some rationality or the church's frosty lit- able" while they tragically dismiss as Christians interpreted the Bible from mold of Puritanism was John Bunyan, focus on interpreting its spiritual mean- eralism that they can't hear the deeper, well the great gifts of our church's lit- different perspectives. Thomas Aqui- the Puritan preacher whose very popu- ing. Some believe it literally. Others older, truths of its poetry. urgies that take us beyond the ration- nas, for example, specifi ed that the lar metaphorical story, "The Pilgrim's feel pressured to believe it literally but Our religious services can and al, the great traditions that connect literal sense of Scripture is the step- Progress," has his protagonist, Chris- can't; they recite it with their fi ngers should be, in many profound and us to God. NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 9 Alive and free

CHRIS GRABIEC and comfort could not be a blessing EDITOR from God. Why would God choose "If a person happens to be 36 years old, me and leave out the person who was as I happen to be, and some great truth sleeping on the street? My wealth and stands before the door of his life, some comfort was and is, simply the luck of great opportunity to stand up for that the draw. The homeless person was which is right and that which is just, not so lucky and I feel that God weeps and he (or she) refuses to stand up be- as a result. cause he wants to live a little longer and I've always thought of myself as he is afraid his home will get bombed, someone who is somewhat prophetic or he is afraid that he will lose his job, and able to speak out about what is right or he is afraid that he will get shot, ...he and just. Some days, I look at myself may go on and live until he's 80, and now and realize that my prophetic role the cessation of breathing in his life is is pretty pathetic as I continue to enjoy merely the belated announcement of an comfort daily and stop so infrequently earlier death of the spirit. to think about the poor and more im- "We die when we refuse to stand portantly to act on their behalf. up for that which is right. We die Whether it is fear or some form of when we refuse to take a stand for that apathy that causes us to be complacent which is true. So we are going to stand about this world and its inhabitants, up right here... letting the world know the important thing is that we are ceas- that we are determined to be free." ing to live, by the moment. Our apathy (Martin Luther King Jr.) or fear only announces the death of our spirits. At our last synod, the young folks in our Thousands of children starve daily. church challenged us to make some very Thousands die of AIDS in Africa and signifi cant changes to our lifestyles in- in other nations. Hundreds of poor dividually and as a church community. folks wander the streets of Hamilton The motion suggested that each parish and other cities. Tens of thousands of needed to fi nd ways of identifying lev- senior aged people live on minimum els of green house gas emission and to and our planet's well being. Thanks to who spend most of their days working was a sinking feeling in the pit of my incomes and can barely afford food on reduce them by fi fteen percent. Many of St. Christopher's for taking the lead and with the poor in our local society. Bob stomach. It was the image; the picture their plates. I am thankful to the youth, us are so very proud of them for speak- to any other parish that has started an Hudson is another one who cares for of affl uence, environmental irrespon- to places like St. Christopher's, to our ing up fearlessly and calling the adult aggressive journey toward living out the another kind of need—the sea-farers sibility and our (my) failure to solve Social Justice folks and others who re- world around them to change and con- commitment that we made at synod. at the Port Authority of Hamilton. I'm the problems of poverty and homeless- mind us that if we want to truly live, version. But herein lays the problem. Recently our social justice chair, sure there are other stories that can ness in the world around us. I couldn't and to truly be free, then we need to Have any of us taken this challenge ser- Colleen Sym, has been working with be told and maybe a few names that help but wonder if anyone (myself in- stand up and be counted. We need to iously? That's a question that can only others in the diocese, making visits I have left out. However, I don't think cluded) truly cared? There was some- be people of action who care for the be answered by each and every one of (scheduled by appointment) to many that the folks who really work for and thing in the image that was calling me world, our environment and for all of us. It's not only about our church build- of the members of provincial parlia- on behalf of the poor and who are will- to make changes within myself and to the world inhabitants. ings, but it's about our own homes—our ment in our diocese. She and the others ing to stand up for them really care do whatever I could to help some of The words of Martin Luther King own lives. As members of the Church in go there with one purpose in mind: about acknowledgement as much as the poor folks in society that simply ring out in my head: "We may go on Niagara—have we started this journey stating that the Anglican Diocese of they a care about doing the right thing cannot help themselves. and live until we are 80 or more, and toward saving the world that has been Niagara is concerned about affordable in our world. Most of my life has been privileged. the cessation of breathing in our lives entrusted to us by our God and Creator? housing for those who are in need. In The other day, I was having dinner I grew up wanting for nothing. There will merely be the belated announce- This is not about next year—it's about the face of all the arguments: "They're in a small restaurant on James Street was always food, shelter, warmth, re- ment of an earlier death of the spirit." now, are we doing anything at all? lazy", "they should get a job", "they're North in Hamilton. There was a large creation, toys, spending money and The will of the God that you and I St. Christopher's in Burlington is always taking advantage of the system" stretch-limousine outside of our cath- everything else that I needed. I went know is for us to live fully, in concert making some changes. Their newsletter and worse, our social justice group is edral and it was running to keep it to university and into the seminary and with everything and everyone that advertises their Lenten Journey: "Tak- simply taking the stand that we need af- warm. It was there for a long while. then into rectories that were palatial. God has created—including the poor ing out the Garbage: A spiritual Ecol- fordable housing for those who do not While it sat there we watched people Everything has always been taken care and homeless in our world. ogy in Living". The theme is centered have the means for anything else. that looked like they were either of. I used to thank God for blessing I guess if I really want to "live" and on the fact that there is a clear relation- There are people in our diocese, homeless or pretty close to walking me—until one day I realized that noth- to be "free" then I have some standing ship between our spiritual well being like Sue-Ann Ward and Wendy Roy, by the cathedral. I can only say there ing could be more absurd. My wealth up to do!

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MARTHA TATARNIC amazing how effortlessly the two stor- PRIEST, ST. JUDE'S, OAKVILLE ies can fl ip-fl op back and forth through I was driving to band practice the other the human conscience, each trading off night—I play French Horn in a local with the other for its turn in the sun. concert band—and I caught myself It's also amazing that as fl uid as these thinking, oh man, I hope I can make it stories are, the idea of a different sort of through the evening without making a story presents itself as a vague impos- fool of myself. Because I have so little sibility, if it presents itself at all. time to practice, this wasn't the fi rst time Yet, as Christians, we do tell the a thought like this has wandered through world of another story. Not the tale my head. Increasingly, one of my main of human conceit, of 'I'm okay, you're goals at these Wednesday evening re- okay, aren't we all just swell'. Nor the hearsals is to escape notice, to not wreck tale of human defeat, of being de- the music everyone else is making so stroyed by all of the ways in which we beautifully, to sink into the background. aren't good enough. It is instead a nar- A memory quickly followed on the rative on our human calling to be co- heels of this thought. A memory that it creators with God in the work of love. hasn't always been this way. That there And as we are partway through the was a long period of time in which I season of Lent, we realize that we must would walk into a similar band prac- not only tell the world of this story, we tice thinking I am The Bomb. I would must also tell ourselves, because even hope to get noticed. I would want as Christians fi nd it all too easy to for- many high, exposed parts as possible. get. We tell it. We tell it again. Again. I would assume it was my God-given Again. Again. It bears repeating. right to play fi rst horn, to lead the sec- It needs repeating. Repeating. Re- Front: Barbara Jean Lick, Maggie Armstrong. Middle: Clare Macaulay-Newcombe, Josh Morrison, Todd Miles, Rev. tion, to claim the solos. I knew what I penting. Turning. Turning again. Mike Deed (Staff). Back: Dave Wright, Alicia Archbell, Jade Hayward, Rosie Hopkins, Mac Armstrong, Vanessa was doing. I had confi dence to spare. Rundle, Jamie Barnes (Staff), Joyce Wilton (Staff). Beloved creatures of God Self-fulfi lling prophecies We tell it and we repeat it and we re- ALICIA ARCHBELL saw clips from movies and discussed were around and in the nature found— It was surprising, remembering myself pent and we turn. We try to turn. We try ST. ELIZABETH'S, BURLINGTON where the characters journeyed. They in Hamilton of all places. as this person. I had gotten so used to fi x- because we believe that wild and ludi- If one was to walk into the Unity Re- explored their faith journey, their life That weekend God was found in ating on avoiding negative attention that crous hope that there is a place to turn treat Center in Hamilton during the journey and the little side journeys many different places along the jour- I had forgotten that I ever used to adopt to. That the stories that bind us are not weekend of February 1-3, 2008 and that happen, too. They walked around ney. God was found in the joy people any other stance. Stealthily, smoothly, the only stories, that human imprison- wander their way up to the 2nd and the Upper James area at the top of the found when they successfully used the without my even noticing it, my under- ment is not the last word. Because we 3rd fl oors, one might be confused. One mountain access and tried to see God. "well-used" elevator and in the laugh- standing of who I am has done a com- know that even Jesus had to confront would see 11 delegates and three staff They had maps and designated places ter while the participants made crafts. plete one-eighty, a new story slipping those demons, had to stare down the members on a journey. This journey is to go and so they journeyed to them. God was found in the silence during itself into my subconscious and impos- one who offered to show Jesus to the not a trip from point A straight to point Though actual fi gures of Jesus solo time where the participants had ing itself on me as if it has always been entire world as powerful, magical, self- B; rather it is a journey of the experi- were found in a wedding boutique, time to refl ect on the journeys they are there, as if the other story never existed. suffi cient, special. Because we remem- ence in between. As the 14 people who most people found God on the journey on, and God was found in the singing One moment I'm walking into practice ber how Jesus raised holy hell through- attended SpiritQuest this year found between those places. God was found that everyone did always. While the busting at the seams to prove how good out his ministry by pricking pins in the out, everything is a journey. in the tracks in the snow, in the snow participants and staff discussed and I am, the next moment I'm walking into over-infl ated egos of the self-satisfi ed, They heard about Jacob's journey angels and in tobogganing. God was prayed about journeying, it was all a practice hoping against hope that I can and by meanwhile refusing to see the in life and where he saw God. They also found in the awesome sights that part of the journey. avoid disclosing how bad I am. disenfranchised, devalued, dismissed Here is an observation about the men and women who abounded in fi rst stories we tell about ourselves: they tend century Palestine as anything less than to be self-fulfi lling prophecies. When I beloved creatures of God. play these days, I am cautious, I follow others, I don't trust my instincts, I hesi- Creating space in our lives Time: A signifi cant word tate, and that hesitation wreaks havoc In Lent, we are invited to engage in- on my phrases, my entries, my rhythm, tentionally in the hard work of re-cen- my accuracy. When I used to play, I tering our lives around this alternative friends to University/Seminary con- asked, "What is time. No one asks me? played boldly, I believed that I could not story. Maybe we take on works of char- temporaries to Family, as well as with And I know. But if a person should re- so much hit the notes as allow them to ity, acts of generosity, so that we might just 'old-time' friends. quest me to tell him, I cannot." Rejoice, soar out of me, and my confi dence gave experience—not just pay lip-service "Time" is a signifi cant word in therefore, in the Mystery of Time and weight to my playing, anchored it with to—the intrinsic worth and dignity our Christian vocabulary. "Now is the Life. The English poet, Steve Turner, the qualities I believed I possessed. of every human being. Maybe we are Time" is an admonition from Saint wrote: "These are the good old days. The more that I tell myself the story more mindful of the resources that we Paul that asks us to be aware of the Just wait and see." that I'm not very good, the more I don't use, taking care to curb our consump- meaning of our lives, not in a preoccu- Time is God's Gift. You cannot alter play well, and therefore, the more in- tion, to live more simply, so that we IAN DINGWALL pation with the past nor with the fu- it to your liking. You cannot control it grained that story becomes. The more I might remember our responsibility in RETIRED ARCHDEACON OF NIAGARA ture. Our Time is now. Whatever is our for your pleasure. You can't extend it. tell myself the story that my enormous caring for God's creation and not sim- Dorothy (my wife) and I have recently past or future times, the present mo- But we can use it. In the midst of our ego is justifi ed because I rock, the more ply using it as a means of feeding our returned from a three week stay in ment is what is most important. Time we are embraced always in God's my ego gets the fuel it needs to keep insatiable appetites. Maybe we create Vancouver. love. Our Time may be running out but chugging out these grand illusions. space in our lives for prayer, contem- Having left Vancouver for Niagara Think on three different ways of the Good News is that God is Eternal plation, family, friendship, solitude, in 1972, we have visited there infre- looking at Time: (Timeless) and we are part of God. Walking a tightrope so that we might learn again to know quently (usually either on church busi- Time is always changing. And, as There's a curiously attractive little Here is another observation: whether ourselves as people who are built to ness or for specifi c family times such Time changes, so do we. Time sees piece of poetry inscribed on a clock in inhabiting the story of conceit or the receive and make known God's love. as funerals et al). changes or growth in our personalities, Chester Cathedral. There's one little bit story of inadequacy, each makes the Maybe we intentionally spend time This time, though, it was simply perceptions and perspectives about life. of it that worries me. It is the words of ego walk a precarious tightrope, each with the Gospel, with the story of pleasure and we were blessed in that We cannot alter that fact by pretending the fi nal line. In speaking of Salvation has its way of grinding on the soul. Jesus, a poor homeless man who was friends were holidaying in New Zea- it isn't so. We need simply to acknow- it says, "...saved my soul..." which for When you're on top, the stakes are born into, lived, and died, in disrepute, land and allowed us to live in their ledge and accept. In knowing ourselves me is misleading because Salvation is high and the fall is terrifying. I can and who nonetheless refused with beautiful, comfortable home in North and attempting to understand existence a Journey which is never completed— attest to just how hard, how shatter- every fi bre of his being to refrain from Vancouver just below the snow cov- accepting change (not without scrutiny, at least in our life Times. ingly hard, the thump at the bottom is showing us the face of the living God ered Mount Seymour. though!) is important. when you inevitably fi nd yourself out in all that he said and did. Vancouver is such a gorgeous city Time is unfathomable. It is Mystery. "When, as a child, I laughed and wept, of mojo and a long shot away from Maybe this Lent I'll see how that although I know I could not deceive That's life, after all, l and we should not Time crept. measuring up. Being at the bottom is other story might play out at Wednes- you into believing we had 21 days of be dismayed by that truth. Some are When, as a youth, I dreamed and easier, at least there is nowhere to fall. day night rehearsals, look for a way beautiful sunshine. Don't go to Van- driven by fear to either ignore Mys- talked, Time walked. But surely this life is not about safely through the swaggering and the fear. couver if you dislike rain! tery or to explain it away. That, in my When I became a full-grown man, keeping our voices choked, our spirits Maybe it's simple, even if it's not easy. In refl ecting on our most enjoy- view, is not the biblical take on things. Time ran. inhibited, our personhoods stunted. Maybe there is a witness, a metaphor, able time on the West Coast, the word We need to be aware of Mystery and And later, as I older grew, Time fl ew. Ironically, the two stories go hand in in fi nding grace to go to band practice, "Time" has provided much to con- celebrate its essence as we realize that Soon I shall fi nd, while traveling on, hand. If you want to tango with your play my instrument, and, along with sider. We spent a great deal of time there is always, inside and outside of Time gone. ego, it is almost certainly guaranteed fi fty other people for two hours, par- during our Vancouver visit renewing ourselves, the unknowable. It was the Will Christ have saved my soul by that you will experience each story at ticipate in creating something beauti- long-time friendships—from AYPA great theologian, S. Augustine, who then? Amen" one time or another, and frankly, it's ful. Making music. NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 11

LEFT: Rebuilt crypt, used for worship while the Frauenkirche was being rebuilt. RIGHT: The Frauenkirche was rebuilt using the remains and individual stones of original church (dark stones).

MIRACLE IN DRESDEN The rebuilding of the Frauenkirche

GEOFFREY PURDELLLEWIS but skeletons of buildings, includ- was then East Germany. Shortly after sands, and the wall dividing East and than 8,500 stones were salvaged from ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, HAMILTON ing the Frauenkirche, and huge piles the end of World War II, residents of West Germany toppled, opening the the original church and approximately I visited Dresden and the Frauenkir- of rubble which obliterated what had Dresden began salvaging unique stone way to the reunifi cation of Germany. 3,800 reused in the reconstruction. The che—Church of Our Lady—while once been streets. Photographs taken fragments from the Frauenkirche and After the reunifi cation of Germany, bronze statue of reformer and theolo- on holiday last summer and marveled at the time showed temporary narrow numbering them for future use in re- efforts were revived to reconstruct the gian Martin Luther, which survived at this huge church in the centre of gauge railroad tracks laid in the streets construction. Popular sentiment dis- Frauenkirche and the project gathered the bombings, was restored and again Dresden, built of new sandstone inter- with little trains being used to clear couraged the authorities from clearing momentum. Hundreds of architects, stands in front of the church. spersed with blocks of age and heat the great mass of rubble, so huge was away the ruins for a car park. The heap art historians and engineers sorted The rebuilding was completed in darkened sandstone. All day, crowds it. The eight interior sandstone pillars of ruins was conserved as a war me- the thousands of stones, identifying 2005, one year earlier than originally were standing, patiently and quietly, supporting the colossal dome held up morial within the inner city of Dres- and labeling each for reuse in the new planned and consecrated on Sunday, outside the church waiting to go in. long enough for the evacuation of 300 den, as a direct counterpart to the ruins structure, and others worked to raise October 30, one day before Reforma- And why? The best analogy is that the people who had sought shelter in the of Coventry Cathedral, which was de- money in Germany and around the tion Day. Frauenkirche is to Germany what St. church crypt, before succumbing to stroyed by German bombing in 1940 world. Rebuilding the Frauenkirche The rebuilding of the Frauenkirche Paul's Cathedral is to England. And the heat generated by some 650,000 and also serves as a war memorial cost US$217 million. Using original has stirred many and complex emo- inside? The church was full of people incendiary bombs that were dropped in England. plans used by builder Georg Bähr in tions. To me it is a monument to God sitting in the pews praying, meditat- on the city. The dome fi nally collapsed In 1982, the ruins began to be the the 1720s, reconstruction fi nally began and his saving grace. No one imagined ing, thinking, and admiring the mag- at 10 a.m. on 15 February. The pillars site of a peace movement combined in January 1993. in 1945 what would happen in 2005 nifi cently rebuilt baroque interior. glowed bright red and exploded; the with popular peaceful protests against The foundation stone was laid in and what the intervening history would In 1945, as World War II was com- outer walls shattered and nearly 6,000 the East German regime. On the anni- 1994 and the crypt was completed in be. Yet in God's time the Frauenkirche ing to its close and the eastern and tons of stone plunged to earth, pene- versary of the bombing, 400 Dresden- 1996, and around this time was used has been rebuilt- with worldwide sup- western Allies were fast advancing on trating the massive fl oor as it fell. ers came to the ruins in silence with once again for worship. The inner cu- port - and is used for worship again. Germany, the centre of Dresden was The building vanished from Dres- fl owers and candles, part of a growing pola was completed in 2000. As far heavily bombed over February 13 to den's skyline, and the blackened East German civil rights movement. By as possible, the church—except for Geoffrey Purdell-Lewis is a member of 15—waves of bombing over some stones would lie in wait in a pile in the 1989, the number of protesters in Dres- its dome—was rebuilt using original St. John the Evangelist, Hamilton and two and a half days. This resulted in centre of the city for the next 45 years den, Leipzig and other parts of East material and plans. Of the millions visited Dresden and the Frauenkirche— its total destruction, leaving nothing as Communist rule enveloped what Germany had increased to tens of thou- of stones used in the rebuilding, more albeit too briefl y—in July, 2007. Journey to the mountaintop

JASPER GOLDBERG cast out by the community that was today's world, we allow the attacker to This is not just a struggle for mem- listening. The Anglican Communion OUR SAVIOUR, MILL VALLEY supposed to be our home. We are told harm our beloved God, and in our neg- bers of the gay and lesbian commun- divided will not stand, but the "fi erce Every year at advent we hear the story that the split is our doing, that we are to ligence we are guilty. It is not enough ity. I am not gay, but I owe it to my urgency of now" demands us to stand of John the Baptist, crying out in the blame for this schism. And in fact, we to stand on the sidelines, and hope that family members and friends who are up. We cannot compromise with what wilderness that something great is are. It was our decision to consecrate a someday things will be better. We must gays and lesbians to take a stand. I we know is wrong. Forget your fears, coming. We hear also of how crazy he gay bishop, to elect a female presiding make our stand for those that society owe it to the individuals who fought disregard the prevailing opinions, re- was, how so few people listened, but bishop, and to insist that it is our right considers "outcasts" if we are to be and sacrifi ced for the Goldberg family member Christ and join us on the jour- we know now that he was right. Some- to do these things. But let's be proud of worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. during the dark years of Nazism. I owe ney to the Mountaintop. thing wonderful was indeed com- that. Any communion that would not It is not easy to take a stand on it to all who have taken stands in the ing. That something was a someone, allow us to recognize the equality of so divisive an issue. In our fractured past. I owe it to Jesus himself, who This article was found on Bishop Jesus of Nazareth, who would go on God's children is not a communion we world, I would much rather advocate gave everything for each and every Mark Handley's (Episcopal Diocese to preach a message of love and equal- should be a part of. unity and reconciliation. Only one one of us. of California) blog and submitted by ity, echoing John's call to lower every We see in the stories of Jesus' min- glance at the newspapers is enough to The wilderness is never an easy Christyn Perkons. Bishop Handley mountain and fi ll in every valley. We istries to the prisoners, the lepers and remind me that this world is defi ned place to be, but let us not despair as descripes Jasper: "Jasper is a high call ourselves Christians because we the outcasts of society in his day a mes- by East vs. West, Shia vs. Sunni, red the Anglican Communion leaves us. school student and member of Our dedicate ourselves to loving and serv- sage that no one is below the love of vs. blue. I do not want to support split- Someday, those who understand the Saviour, Mill Valley, where I heard him ing all that God has blessed. God. We are all God's children, and we ting the world yet another way. But absolute equality of human life will be eloquently participate along the line Today, we are that voice in the wil- know that what we do unto the least of this is not a division on ethnic, reli- more numerous than the stars. In the of the post below regarding the heart derness, crying out for the earth to be the people of God, we do unto God. gious or political differences. This is meantime, it is up to us to proclaim of the episcopal church and our place made fl at so that every human being Every time that we allow an injustice liberty vs. inequality. This is right vs. the bold message of Jesus, Lincoln, in the Anglican communion. I was may walk on equal ground. We are to be perpetrated against a gay man or wrong, and there can be no reconcilia- Martin Luther King Jr., and Harvey deeply moved by what he had to say, shunned by "mainstream" Anglicans, a lesbian woman, the marginalized of tion with wrong. Milk, even if it seems that no one is and by his commitment." 12 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 Muslim or Christian? A NEOS Journey Is it possible to be both?

novels to introduce the Muslim reader an ever shrinking world, where we to Christ. He became involved in the meet each other every day. Christine publishing business, initially an evan- Mallouhi has written on this in her gelical one, where he was taken under book, Make Peace with Islam, pub- the wing of a friend, Hugh Thomas, an lished by InterVarsity Press. There has Englishman. His fi rst steps in the Chris- been so much hostility, bred by ignor- tian faith were with evangelicals, even ance of one another, that there are hurt studying at Fuller Seminary, where he feelings on both sides. He suggests MICHAEL BURSLEM met his wife, Christine, an Australian. that both should show kindness and ST. GEORGE'S GUELPH Gradually, however, he began to feel so respect to each other. These qualities Is it possible for a Muslim to be a fol- out of place in the West and that he had are sadly lacking in the Middle East, lower of Christ, and yet remain within betrayed his culture and his fellow Arabs even among Christians. In an article his Muslim culture? I expect, that, de- that he re-adopted their customs, even to in a recent The Chronicle Review en- pending on the stage in our faith pil- carrying Muslim prayer beads and go- titled "A Clash of Obstinate Cultures" grimage, many in our churches would ing fearlessly into the mosques to teach by Nina C. Ayoub (www.chronicle. say, "No way!" A few would say, "May about Christ. Naturally there has been com/weekly/v54/i20/20b01701.htm) be," and fewer still say, "Yes." I have opposition, and his travels throughout she shows that there had been antag- given, at different stages of my life, all the Middle East and North Africa, as far onism from the start between the 19th three answers. Since reading, Pilgrims west as Morocco, have resembled the century American Protestant mission- of Christ on the Muslim Road, by journeyings of Paul. He has also had his aries in Lebanon and the Maronites, Paul-Gordon Chandler (published last share of prison; once for 19 days on a a Lebanese branch of the church in year by Cowley Publications) I'm now cement fl oor in solitary confi nement in a communion with the Church of Rome. certainly convinced that it's possible. Syrian gaol, with his only companion a There is still enmity between evangel- Perhaps I was prepared for it by fi rst rat. This experience, more than anything ical churches and the Roman Catholic spending my early childhood in the else that has occurred in his life, drew and eastern indigenous churches. This West Indies and Iran; then being mar- him ever closer to his master, Christ. is shameful. ried to an Arab Christian, and later by There has likewise been a clash of reading, some 30 years ago, E. Stanley He claims Christ fulfi lls Islam obstinate cultures between Christian- Jones' The Christ of the Indian Road, He identifi es himself now as a Sufi ity and Islam, and it's high time that the after which I said "Maybe, but I would mystic, following Christ within Islam, demonizing of the other stop. Mallou- like to see the evidence," and more re- not outside. He differentiates between hi disapproves of Christians (Brother cently books of Robert Capon Farrar, Christ and Christianity, as Ghandi did, Andrew presumably) breaking the law who teaches that Christ's Atonement and he challenges Christians to take the by smuggling Bibles into Arab coun- Sonya Bolek, Children and Youth Ministry Director, St. John's Port Dalhousie, has a universal application. Chandler Sermon on the Mount more seriously. tries, and making friends with Arabs, displays her NEOS Youth Ministry Certifi cate; the result of six NEOS week- provides the evidence that I needed. He says that we preach peace, but prac- only with the intent to convert them to end courses. The book is about the faith journey tice war. He has therefore steered away Christianity. He says that friendships of Mazhar Mallouhi, a leading Arab from any Western "church," and now should certainly be made, but with no SONYA BOLEK I'd promised my daughters I'd novelist and story teller. He was born publishes through Muslim publish- ulterior motive; no strings attached. CHILD & YOUTH DIRECTOR  ST. JOHN'S, PORT DALHOUSIE bring them something back, but had in Syria in 1935, into a Muslim family. ing houses, rather than Christian. But If he wishes to speak to a young Back in April of 2005, I began a pro- no idea what a treasured fi nd I would His early teaching of the Koran was in- wherever he goes, he goes fi rst to meet person about Christ, he fi rst asks per- gram called NEOS, which is Greek make! I came away from that week- fl uenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, the Imam of the mosque, and there he mission from the parent, so that every- for 'youth'. NEOS is a Youth Ministry end with new friends, and a sense whom he found too legalistic. He was, gathers people around him to teach thing be above reproach. He suggests Training Certifi cate program offered of spiritual renewal that is always however, fascinated by the character about his lord and master. There are that we should learn from each other, through Five Oaks in Paris, Ontario. greatly needed. Since then I have Isa, Jesus, about whom the Koran says some aspects of Islam that he no longer fi rst by accepting one another's hos- When I began my position as Youth completed the two required week- much, and later began to read the Gos- practices; the prayer postures (he pre- pitality, then developing friendship. Worker in 2003, to cover for a mater- ends; Nuts & Bolts of Youth Min- pels to discover still more about him. fers to pray walking), the Shahada, (the Arab hospitality is famous, to which I nity leave, I had no idea how much istry-an excellent resource for any He didn't just read them, but devoured Islamic creed, "There is no God but can attest, but it should be reciprocat- I would love the work. Thankfully, I that work with youth, and Beyond them, and then the whole Bible, many God, and Muhammad is his prophet." ed. Kindness is the hallmark of both was able to stay on; however, I'd had Bowling, which gave me some great times over; and increasingly he fell in He encourages his followers to write faiths. If we need to talk 'religion', we no formal training other than what ideas for ministry along with games love with this Jesus. their own Shahada.) and the Hajj, (the should talk only after a friendship is I'd learned from motherhood... which and fun activities. Pastoral Care pilgrimage to Mecca.) Since two of well developed, not about the differen- could be the greatest training of all. and Programming with Youth were Created shock waves these are two of the fi ve cardinal points ces between the Koran and the Bible, When I saw the NEOS program among the others in my six required He was also infl uenced by the life of Ma- of Islam, is he a true Muslim? Whether nor between Islam and Christianity, being offered in a brochure, I was training weekends, and I graduated hatma Ghandi, whom some have termed he is, or not, he has been accepted as but only about Isa or Jesus. What is intrigued. The fi rst weekend offered this weekend during the Ministry the most Christ like man in India, and such by many prominent Muslims. He so diffi cult about inviting a Muslim that year was called, 'Soul Tending with the Whole Youth: From White- being a voracious reader, by Ghandi's claims that Christ fulfi lls Islam. neighbour in for a cup of tea and make for Youth Ministry', I'd always felt a bread Programs to Whole Grain friend E. Stanley Jones's book, referred him, or her, our friend? calling towards retreat, and this to me Ministry program. to above, by Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom Bible has been hi-jacked by the west Paul-Gordon Chandler is an Amer- sounded like just what I needed, to The NEOS program is an excellent, of God is within You and Dostoevsky's Being unable, for political reasons, ican Episcopal priest, who grew up in learn to tend my own spirit so I could resourceful and inspiring training, with The Brothers Karamazov. Finally, while rather than his faith, to live in Syria, Senegal, West Africa, and is very fam- then tend to the young ones that I excellent and unique leadership, won- serving in the Syrian army on the Go- he is now living, once again, in Beirut. iliar with, and respects, Muslims. He worked with. The weekend was won- derful music and worship times and I'd lan Heights, he took the step to give his Besides writing seven novels to present has served the church in Tunisia, and derful, we (a group of 20+) experi- recommend it to any youth leaders in whole life to Christ. This created such Christ to Muslims, he has also written is currently rector of St. John's, Maadi, enced unique and youthful worship, our Diocese. Though Five Oaks is the shock waves in his home commun- commentaries to two of the Gospels, where we have met him. There are many moments during which you'd United Church Education and Retreat ity that his uncle tried to cut his throat, Luke and John, and the Book of the only 215 pages, and it's an easy book see tears in the eyes of participants, centre, there have been others from but somehow desisted, so that he is still Acts, which he considers the Christian to read. It's well annotated with notes, including my own. our Anglican Diocese and our ideas alive, but has a scar to show for it. equivalent of the Hadith, the sayings of but the one drawback is that it's not We shared our meaningful mo- and presence were always welcomed Chandler explained that he had the prophet, and to Genesis. His driv- indexed. The book was recommended ments through the creation of a small and honoured. brought shame to his community by ing passion is to see the scriptures put to me by Dr. Cornelis Hulsman of tapestry, we walked a labyrinth, we I'm proud to have completed this declaring that he would follow Christ, into Muslim hands in a form that they the Arab West Report, who is also shared our experience with our small journey with the support of my par- not that they were so opposed to Christ, can readily understand. He claims that concerned about relations between groups and we had personal time to ish, St. John's in Port Dalhousie, and per se, but because Christianity in the the Bible is a Middle Eastern book, but Christians and Muslims. It reminds us experience the sacred grounds upon my rector Canon Gordon Kinkley who Arab countries carries a lot of baggage, has been hijacked by the West, where that the proof of our faith lies, not in which Five Oaks stands. The Five Oaks constantly makes me feel as though I being associated with the Crusades, we worship the book rather than its au- our orthodoxy, a word much bandied motto or slogan is "A sacred place to really am making a great difference. I in the last two centuries by European thor. We also pray to Jesus more than to about these days, but in our likeness seek God in the heart of all life"; being now look forward to my future journey Colonialism, and most recently with the Father. Muslims pray to the Father, to Christ. I think it a vitally import- there for a weekend really allows you into Spiritual Direction and Labyrinth the planting of a Zionist state in Arab once they know him, through Jesus. ant book for our post 9/11 age, and it to feel the spirit of God within. Many Facilitator Training, and the benefi ts land. Because of all this, Mallouhi had should be read by every Christian who participants that shared this journey that it will bring to my ministry with to leave Syria for Beirut. Showing kindness and respect wants to know more about relations with me will remember when I awoke children, youth and families. Though to each other between Christians and Muslims, early on the Sunday morning to go for I'll always be on the watch for another Preaching peace, but practicing war But this book isn't so much about which I trust every Anglican does. If a hike, I came rushing into the dining great NEOS program-because even In Beirut, because he was such a gifted Mallouhi as it is about how Christians not on our own shelves, it should be in hall with two beautiful deer antlers the graduates come back to Five Oaks story teller and writer, he began to write and Muslims should live together in all our church libraries. which I'd found on my hike. for more! NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 13 The other dark side of Holy Week

self" this most defi nitely would be it. divine. Unsatisfi ed with this response, Each year at Transfi guration, dur- ing on from this, if this were our ap- Unfailingly, at this time of year, I am however, I questioned the speaker ing Holy Week, we fi nd a way to proach to the bible, perhaps I would unable to shake off what has become further, referencing our liturgies and make what is unacceptable more ac- be more comfortable with those not a recurring twinge of guilt brought on our scriptures which, I suggested, de- ceptable, what is unpalatable more so holy parts being read in church. by my conversion. pict the very opposite; proclaiming, palatable. We emphasize our recog- However, week by week and year by Small wonder... As the calendar instead, that because Jesus is divine, nition that the crucifi xion is not just year, most of us do anything but cri- moves closer to the events of the cruci- there is something unique about him, something that happened a little over tique scripture. Instead, we refer to fi xion and the resurrection, the readings and not just about him but also about two thousand years ago in fi rst cen- the bible as the Word of the Lord, we NISSA BASBAUM from the gospels—most particularly the religion of those who follow him. tury Jerusalem, but something that rise for the proclamation of the gospel RECTOR  TRANSFIGURATION, ST. CATHARINES John's gospel—become increasingly The response to this second ques- has continued and still continues to and we barely raise an eyebrow at the I have been a Christian for 30 years. more hideous in their depiction of the tion was brief—what we say in our happen in the world today. We pro- passages which proclaim a rather ex- It is now so long ago that many of Jewish people in the time of Jesus. liturgies is done in the context of the claim that the crucifi xion of Jesus is clusionary and supremacist theology. the moments leading up to the day I Yes, if one reads the texts carefully, Christian community, expressing what not unique and somehow worse than Yes, sometimes we interpret these pas- as John Dominic Crossan and Marcus we believe as followers of Jesus. What other human atrocities that have been sages, but only sometimes, and even Borg suggest in their book, The Last I heard in this response was that as carried out over the centuries; rather, when we do this we are careful to say Week, it becomes clear that the refer- long as we say things about Jesus in that the crucifi xion exemplifi es the that we are interpreting rather than If liturgy is intended to be ences to "the Jews" are references to the context of our own liturgy, it is an horror of all this carnage. Yet, even critiquing them because, somehow it symbolic of what is our true the Jewish authorities in consort with expression of ourselves as Christians as we do this we continue to read the seems untoward or unseemly to cri- experience, then we can't the Roman offi cials. No different than rather than an expression of what we passages as they always have been tique anything that is written in these what we experience in our own day think others are also to believe. While read; the very passages that many sacred texts. be doing one thing inside and age, it is usually those who are in I did not pursue the point any further, theologians and historians regard as Always at this time of year, I can't the church and saying an- power who wield the words and the feeling discretion was the better part of having, in the fi rst place, provoked help but ask myself, "What are we do- other thing outside of it. weapons, rather than the average cit- valour, I found myself left still unsatis- many of these same atrocities. ing?" And worse still, "What am I—a izen who is just trying to make it from fi ed; in fact, perhaps more unsatisfi ed A little while ago, my son asked me if Jew by birth—doing?" In the Book of one day to the next. Yet, other than a than before I had asked the question. I thought we should be able to judge the Common Prayer, the infamous Good was baptized are a distant memory. few academics, and a few priests and For me, the answer was a cop-out. actions of previous generations based on Friday petition in which people prayed On occasion, I fi nd myself pondering laypeople who read these academics, If liturgy is intended to be symbolic our 21st century morals and ethics. My for God's mercy "upon his ancient whether or not I have regrets about who actually studies the texts that of what is our true experience, then response was a qualifi ed yes, believing people the Jews" and by consequence my decision to convert from Judaism. carefully? What, I wonder, do aver- we can't be doing one thing inside the as I do that if we don't make these judge- for their conversion was removed from More often than not, the answer to age church-goers pick up from these church and saying another thing out- ments we probably will never change. the liturgy when later generations this question is no. Honesty, however, readings as they sit in the pews during side of it. Yet, in my encounters with However, I also suggested that I am began to recognize the harm and the prevents me from suggesting this is al- the week before Easter and hear them many in the institution this is precisely not in favour of banning such things as error of maintaining this prayer in our ways the case. proclaimed year after year? I wonder what we do. Whether it is history or the writings of these earlier generations worship. In similar fashion, it is time Over the years, the hardest thing this because each time I hear them, I tradition or a fear of critiquing either simply because they express things with we stopped repeating, proclaiming and to swallow has been the historical ani- cringe at what seems to be their un- one of these things, we continue to which we are no longer comfortable; for defending things simply because they mosity between Christians and Jews; equivocally racist overtones. mouth words in worship and read pas- example, because of its anti-Semitism, are written in scripture. There is noth- the seemingly inherent anti-Semitism About a year ago, I was a partici- sages from scripture which at best, William Shakespeare's, The Merchant ing godly about references to the devil in the church and in the church's gos- pant in a conference in which, during are archaic and meaningless and at of Venice. as the source of Jewish lineage (John's pels—writings revered by followers a question and answer time, someone worst, depict some rather unsavoury I do think we should be read- gospel) or the infamous line from Mat- of Jesus. Speaking as a Jew (which asked the guest speaker about Chris- things. When we do this, we end up in ing literature, listening to music and thew's gospel, "His blood be on us and in many ways I will always be), the tian exclusivism and his own attitude the place in which I fi nd myself each studying art even as it expresses racist, on our children." Not only are these most diffi cult moments for me in the toward other religions. The response year as we wind down from Lent and sexist and hetero-sexist attitudes with kinds of references not benign; in fact, Christian calendar are the latter days was a perfectly reasonable one; Chris- rev up for Holy Week—possessing a which we no longer agree. We should they are dangerously malignant. of Lent, and then Holy Week, culmin- tianity is not the only truth for all terrible uneasiness as I read and hear be doing this with a view to critiquing We all know that there is a dark ating with the crucifi xion on Good Fri- people but the truth for those who call passages from scripture that contain it from the perspective of our present- side to Holy Week. How many of us day. If there is any one time in the year themselves Christian, one of a number an unholy and unacceptable attitude day values, thereby giving us a chance are aware or even care that there is that I fi nd myself "in confl ict with my- of different roads which leads us to the towards Jewish people. to learn from our mistakes. Follow- also this other dark side? Loyalties: Matthew 10:32-42

ROGER HARRIS us before God. If not then Jesus will This unfortunately does not apply to that giving our lives for Him is not an questioning tenets of a faith which has ANGLICAN FELLOWSHIP OF PRAYER deny knowing us. all family members, and the result can option should the necessity arise, for remained unchanged for millennia. Or The picture that comes to mind when be varying degrees of division between denying Him to save ones own life by individuals seeking to enlighten us we think of Jesus, is one of gentleness, Freedom to choose family members, and friends and ac- will give cause to lose life everlasting, to the fact that Jesus came to guide us of wisdom, of comfort, and of love. In verse 34, Jesus spells out an under- quaintances who are welcome to the but to lose ones life for His sake is the in anything that we want to do, and So when we read these words from lying element of His ministry here on hospitality extended in the home. open door to everlasting life. that there is a new age out there which Matthew, it does seem at fi rst glance earth. He knew that His teaching would In verse 37 Jesus tells us what His Jesus moves on in verses 40-42 through our own self suffi ciency is to be out of character with His na- cause division, and that this division expectations are. For those whose faith to enlighten us once more. This time there for the taking. ture. Knowing that Jesus always tells would also give cause to bloodshed. and belief are focused directly on God, He tells us about the rewards that we Mankind has known Jesus for two the truth, gives to an understanding He was not looking only at His present Jesus demands that allegiance which can expect when we bind ourselves to thousand years. He is the same now as of what He is saying, to see what His time, but was facing a future that would is not compromised by dilution from Him. The important message that He He was then. Why are we now trying expectations are and be ready to lay last until His return. He could see by another source. To care for someone or is giving us is that it is all about receiv- to change someone who has been our down defenses that will guard against the reaction of the Pharisees and lead- something more than He, reduces His ing, and that the reception of our wit- cornerstone for thousands of years, any compromise to the relationship ers of His time, that by mankind's very importance, and as Jesus is the Son of ness by others is to receive Him, and whose divinity and manifestation in that we have with Him. own nature there would be divided ac- God, this in turn reduces the importance to receive Him is to receive the Father. the fl esh is unquestionable? In verses 32-33, Jesus is very ex- ceptance of Himself and the message of God. Jesus is letting us know that all Our rewards will not be the same for In the light of what is happening in plicit in that we should acknowledge that He had come to give. relationships with others take second each of us, as we are individuals in the the world today, the name of Jesus is Him for who He is. Frequently, we In verses 35-36 Jesus then goes on place to Him, and second place to God. sight of God. We all serve in different becoming diluted, and as time moves read or see evidence of a dilution to provide enlightenment as to where ways, and it is this difference, which on, of less and less consequence to of His divinity by reference to that these divisions will be found. In his ex- Taking up his cross will designate the manner in which mankind. In these present times pray- which may have happened in the amples, we see that although they are To most of us, the ties of family are a we will be rewarded, and will be com- er becomes increasingly necessary to fl esh. We can own or disown Jesus, set in the confi nes of the family circle, very strong bond, and at times can pro- mensurate with the acknowledgement counteract the pressures that are being if we disown Him then whatever our in verse 36 He tells us that we can also vide a great deal of soul searching and we give Him. placed on God's Church. For it is in thoughts or actions are, they are of no fi nd enemies under our own roof. As heartache when divisions arise within this communication that distance from matter. If we decide to own Him, then much as we love family members, out- it. We are saddled with a burden, and Prayer is increasingly necessary God is eliminated, and unity is main- our relationship is one of total belief side of inherited characteristics, each there is the natural inclination to ad- There is so much going on in the tained through a common understand- in His deity and purity in the fl esh of us has been given a God given free- dress this in favor of those we love, in world today that is aimed at diluting ing of what God desires. and in the Spirit. This is the acknow- dom to choose our way in life. We can an effort to lighten the load. In verse and reducing the deity and divinity We need to pray for the present, we ledgement that Jesus demands, and choose whatever direction or content 38-39 Jesus tells us that we have to of Jesus. Much of it is insidious and need to pray for the future, and we need if we believe and express this, when that will give us the greatest satisfac- reconcile ourselves to Him whatever manifests itself by word and action— to pray for a continued loving commit- the time comes for our presentation tion, and a part of the choices that we the outcome, and take up this cross what could be called 'low key' Some ment to, and acceptance of the Lord before God, Jesus will be there to have—if not the most important, is an however burdensome and follow in come from places such as entertain- Jesus, that transcends everyone and be our intercessor and acknowledge unequivocal belief and faith in God. His footsteps. Jesus is also explicit in ment and media, creating doubt and everything else. He expects no more. 14 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 SHOOT, READY, AIM » Who moved the stone?

HOLLIS HISCOCK Hopkins described the burial of Jesus RETIRED PRIEST  BURLINGTON Christ in his Epiphany hymn 'We three SHOOT - The photograph kings of orient are'. He based his con- A hush of excited anticipation and ad- clusion on the Gospels of Matthew venture enveloped the forty adults as (27:60) and Mark (15:46) who reported we descended the rough wooden stair- that Joseph of Arimathea, after placing case. Leaving the dazzling, Nazareth Jesus' body in the tomb, ROLLED A mid-day sun behind us, we entered an GREAT STONE TO THE DOOR OF underground, cavernous two thousand THE TOMB. year old 'village'. The other two Gospel writers do We prayed in its ancient Christian not mention the stone being rolled chapel; we walked through houses as into place on Friday, but both Luke our guide indicated the inhabitants' (24:1-2) and John (20:1) stated that living, dining and sleeping quarters; when the women arrived on Easter and then we strolled 'outside the vil- morning they discovered the stone had lage' and stood before the fi nal resting been rolled away from the tomb. Sim- places of those who had died. ple logic dictates that if it was rolled There, we were guided through a away from the entrance, then it had to two metre high opening into a small be rolled into place at the burial. sitting area where relatives and friends Matthew (27:62-63) recorded could spend time with their 'departed in his Gospel that Pilate positioned loved ones'. From there we could ac- guards around Jesus' tomb to prevent cess three or four family tombs, carved the body from being stolen during the from solid rock. three day period. What galvanized our attention All four Gospels, with varying de- was the massive round stone leaning tails, documented the women coming against the rocky opening. It reminded to the garden early on the morning me of grinding stones used years ago to of the third day and fi nding the stone sharpen knives and other instruments, rolled away and the tomb empty. sonally accept the Biblical account of or as we say to each other in our mod- manner, and ask questions like "what but much larger, taller then the 200 Only Matthew (28:1-2) offered a what some call 'the miracle of Easter'. ern liturgies—ALLELUIA! CHRIST is sealed away in my life from which cm (80 inches) red bearded, American solution to the mystery. He wrote that The book, still in print, was re- IS RISEN! THE LORD IS RISEN IN- I need to be resurrected?", or "what theological student standing nearby. an angel, whose arrival was heralded quired reading for us theological stu- DEED! ALLELUIA! stones do I need to roll away to help We took turns photographing this by a great earthquake, 'descended from dents in the 1960's, and the question me in my quest for wholeness of body, round stone, which probably was sim- heaven and came and rolled away the has often been posed and explored in AIM - Questions and actions for you mind and spirit?". If you need assist- ilar to the one used at Jesus' burial. We stone and sat upon it'. many Easter sermons. Obtain a copy of Who moved the ance contact your priest, counsellor or know Jesus was not buried in Naza- In 1930, a lawyer, Frank Morison, Who moved the stone? The answer stone? by Frank Morison and experi- another professional. reth, but we assume that round stones sought to answer the question 'Who may be as elusive as a butterfl y. Yet ence his spiritual awakening. Hollis would appreciate your feed- were often used to seal the entrance to moved the stone?' for himself. This it may be captured in the hearts and Read the accounts of the resurrec- back on this series. tombs, so they could be easily rolled question had intrigued and puzzled minds of millions of Christians who tion in all four Gospels, seeking your to provide access or to close the tomb. scholars since that history changing gather in a myriad of worship settings own answers to the timeless question— The Reverend Hollis Hiscock, a retired moment occurred. Morison began his every Easter morning. There they echo WHO MOVED THE STONE?—and priest, lives in Burlington. He is available READY - Words behind the photo search hoping to discredit the Resur- the words spoken by the 'young man' ask why it is relevant in your own to do multimedia presentations on spiri- 'Sealed in the stone cold tomb' is how rection of Jesus Christ as a myth. (Mark 16:6) or the 'angel' (Matthew spiritual development. tuality, the Bible and the Christian Faith. the19th century hymn writer John However, his research led him to per- 28:6) that 'he is not here, he has risen', Think of the 'stone' in a fi gurative What do you mean by that?

will probably be a pretty dull shift. The communication skills. I recall years easier to misinterpret something that The winter 2008 edition of Con- buzzer sounds loudly. The voice of an ago, sitting in a church basement be- has (or hasn't) been said. I am living gregations (published by the Alban Englishman in distress comes across ing laboriously practicing a rudimen- that reality at the present moment be- Institute), is all about "Narrative Lead- the air: "May Day! May Day!" Labori- tary communication exercise under cause we are in transition at the Dioc- ership". In the article "The Problem ously, the young German struggles to the guidance of the late Reverend Ron esan Resource Centre. It is a tumultu- Trap" by Larry Peers, he reminds us translate his response into English: Owston, formerly of the Hamilton ous time for Bishop Michael Bird and of the wisdom of Margaret Wheatley "This is the German Coast Guard". The Pastoral Counselling Centre. One of us for Archdeacon Michael Patterson, as in her book Turning to One Another English voice on the other end calls out: would make a statement, and our part- they take on new roles, and absorb a (published by San Francisco: Berrett- MARNI NANCEKIVELL "Help us! We're sinking!" At fi rst you ners would "check out" what we heard multitude of new information. Oth- Koehler). In the book, she reminds us CANON, DIRECTOR OF TRANSITIONAL MINISTRY see the young German struggling to by replying: "By that do you mean...?" ers of us are "along for the ride" with of the "power of conversation and the About a year ago, I heard something on discern how he is going to get more in- By the end of the day, the phrase had them, and there are many daily opera- role of leaders in creating the kinds the CBC while driving along the high- formation from this panicked English- become a bit of a joke of course, but tional questions that can not easily be of conversations that can promote way that made me laugh so hard that I man in distress. Finally, the course of the learning itself was signifi cant, and addressed because of the weight and deep change." had to pull over. When I got home to action becomes apparent. Moving clos- has remained with me over the years. number of their other responsibilities. Margaret J. Wheatley in Turning to my computer, the fi rst thing that I did er to the mike, the trainee asks: "What Having spent some twenty years As Bishop Bird and Archdeacon Pat- One Another writes, "There is no pow- was to search for it myself on YouTube. are you 'sinking" about?' (Do I need to of my life in ordained ministry, I am terson are wise people and good pas- er greater than a community discover- tell you that this is really an advertise- aware that when one has a group of tors, there are systems already in place ing what it cares about. Ask. 'What's ment for Berlitz language school?) people who come from diverse back- that will correct this diffi cult "bridge possible?' not 'What's wrong?' Keep What one means, and what some- grounds, miscommunication is a real moment". We will meet together short- asking... Be brave enough to start a Healthy communication one else hears are often two realities possibility. In our own families, subtle ly as a whole staff, and some of these conversation that matters." is particularly at risk in held in tension. Wise people who need communication patterns exist that we unavoidable issues will be resolved. Every conversation in the Chris- to be clear about human communi- take for granted. If I arrive home from In fact, any uneasy moment, in fam- tian community should matter. Some- certain moments in our cation—from mothers to teachers to grocery shopping, and call my daugh- ily or in a parish, can provide an op- times, however, we are tripped up communal life. At a time of clergy and beyond know how impor- ter upstairs, she already knows that I portunity for "crossed" or inaccurate along the way, by a lack of clarity transition, when anxiety is tant it is to communicate clearly. Early am likely to ask her to bring in some communication. Assumptions are made, between people. particularly high. last week while sitting in the family of the groceries. But if I ask someone and sometimes are not checked out with When I fi nd myself part of diffi - room, I asked of my husband: "Where to do something in a parish, it may be others. Worse case scenarios are some- cult and complicated communication did that white mouse come from? that someone doesn't understand "why" times spun aloud, and somehow become webs, I stop myself and ask: "Where is Entitled "the German coast guard train- Shrugging, my husband responded: they're being asked to do something "facts" that are passed from one person God in this moment, in this situation?" ee", it portrayed a young man who ap- "I don't know. It probably is a toy specifi c unless I am very careful in ex- to another. Something that is a remote When I do that, I frequently am able peared to be taking his fi rst shift alone that belongs to one of the cats." "No", plaining why I am asking "them" to do possibility becomes an infl ated certainty to step back, and get a fuller picture of monitoring the coast guard station. His I replied. "I meant the one that has it. Others may witness my request of in the minds of some. For example, I whatever is unfolding. supervisor reminds him of this button M-i-c-r-o-s-o-f-t written on it." someone else, and wonder why "they" have heard concerns articulated in par- That is, in fact my Lenten discipline and that speaker. Slapping the newbie We learn clear communication in a weren't asked to do it, and so it goes. ishes many times over the years that: for this year. If you see me with a far on the back, the supervisor grabbed his variety of ways. We learn to communi- Healthy communication is particu- "the Bishop is going to close us when away look in my eyes, it may be one of coffee and left. The greenhorn swiv- cate, to offer and receive information larly at risk in certain moments in our he visits next month". Not once has that the many times I am stopping through- eled in his chair, getting used to his in our families, from our earliest days. communal life. At a time of transition, fear been borne out in the conversations out the day and asking: "Where is God new environment, settling in for what Sometimes, we have to practice our when anxiety is particularly high, it is in which I have been part. in this moment"? NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 15 Easter, here we come

gelical Lutheran Church in America common liturgical lives as we mark observances, can provide us with great during the Easter season! has given to the Church. We have con- Palm Sunday, Maundy (Holy) Thurs- opportunities to share ecumenically. We are so fortunate, as members of sulted both with the local Bishops— day, Good Friday, and Easter Day. We Other services such as Tenebrae and the church catholic, not only to have from two Episcopal dioceses and one share common liturgical patterns and The Way of the Cross which many rites, rituals, ceremonies, seasonal Lutheran synod—and with the local emphases; we hear virtually identical communities also keep during Holy celebrations, and so much richness in LECC committee—an exciting group scripture passages, as keep many simi- Week, can also make meaningful wor- our worship, but also to share those of clergy and laity strongly commit- lar rituals and rites. ship experiences for our communities values, that rhythm, those special ted to putting 'legs' onto 'Called to It is a time which provides us with and for others whom we may care to days and times, those ceremonies with PETER WALL Common Mission'—the American opportunities to be creative with our invite to share with us. so many of our sisters and brothers DEAN AND RECTOR  CHRIST'S CHURCH CATHEDRAL agreement which mirrors The Wat- services; to allow ourselves to try of other churches and communions. I am writing this from the idyllic sur- erloo Declaration of 2001, which some new and different things, to Easter is a "season" Just as we focus in our ecumenical roundings of St. Paul's College, the initiated our full communion relation- bend time a little, as the odd but in- Let us also remember that Easter is and full-communion relationships on headquarters of the Paulist Fathers in ship with the Evangelical Lutheran credibly satisfying rhythm of Holy a season not simply a day. For seven those things which unite us and not Washington, DC. I am here attending Church in Canada. Week demands. It is a time to use weeks we keep this great Feast of Eas- on those things which divide us, so meetings of the 'LECC'—that is the signs and symbols—water, fi re, dark- ter—singing those wonderful hymns we should focus in our own church, Lutheran Episcopal Coordinating Using rich symbols ness, emptiness, brilliance, bells, vest- and marking our liturgies with all particularly this Lent and Eastertide, Committee, the group which does for As we move through these days of ments, silence, exultation—all in ways sorts of Easter moments—triumphant on those many things about which the American Lutherans and Episco- Lent, with their moving Sunday litur- that call us out of our Lenten fast and alleluias, special vestments and decor, we agree rather than on those very palians what the Joint Anglican Lu- gies, and approach that great week we into the glories of Easter. It can be a perhaps using a new Easter hymn each few (but sharp) things upon which theran Commission, of which I am the call Holy, it is good to remember that time for us to come together with our week of the season, maintaining our we disagree. Anglican Co-Chair, does for Canadian we share so much in common with our local partners and friends to share lit- Easter decorations and fl owers for as So, in all the creativity which we Lutherans and Anglicans. ecumenical brothers and sisters and urgies— the wonderful and moving long as we can; lighting at each service will use in crafting meaningful and ap- The meetings are invigorating and that it is at no time more apparent than service of the Washing of Feet and (and keeping in a prominent place) propriate liturgies for Holy Week, The informative—the Americans are facing during the days leading up to Easter. the Institution of the Lord's Supper the great Easter (Paschal) Candle. We Triduum and Eastertide, let us remem- many of the same challenges in their Those of us who are part of catholic on Maundy Thursday, the Solemn often do a superb job of having 'extra' ber both to invite and to welcome our full-communion agreement which we and liturgical churches (we Angli- Liturgy of Good Friday, and the most things in our parishes—study groups, brothers and sisters of other churches are, as well as acknowledging the great cans, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, glorious and sensuous Great Vigil of bible study, etc.—during Lent. With and other denominations to join with gift which full-communion between the Orthodox churches, and others) Easter—each of these, taking place Lent so quickly upon us, perhaps this us! Happy Holy Week... Happy Eas- The Episcopal Church and the Evan- all have a heightened sense of our outside of our regular Sunday morning year we should do some 'extra' things ter! Alleluia!

Godly Play Workshop The eff ortless life Children & Family Ministries, Hamilton March 28, 5:00 PM - March 29, 7:00 PM ($125.00) It is also a great message in a world fortless because it is done in support — or — of haves and have-nots to keep those of her larger life purpose. March 28, 5:00 PM - March 30, 12:00 PM ($140.00) without, in line. Make no mistake! The effortless As the years pass I am eternally life requires disciplined practices. Godly Play, a Christian education method developed from Montessori, grateful for the wisdom that sage and Herein lays the paradox. It is the focus focuses on telling the key stories of the Bible and engaging children aware individuals have shared with of attention in the choices we make, in refl ection about those stories. Godly Play must be learned from the me. I have been blessed to have many each day and every moment. To learn inside out. This workshop, co-hosted by the Diocese of Niagara, the enlightened teachers throughout my this well and lead an effortless life can LINDA MOORE life. And I know there is great know- happen in an instant or take a lifetime. Diocese of Huron and the United Church of Canada, will allow partici- CENTRE FOR LEADERSHIP AND HUMAN VALUES ledge of which I know nothing. So If I choose to be physically fi t so that pants to experience Godly Play stories, create Godly Play storytelling For too long many of us have existed much of ancient knowing that could I can carry out my life purpose I need materials, and learn how to set up and manage a Godly Play classroom. believing that living a good life takes assist us today has been lost. However, to exercise my body. Some days I wake You will enhance your storytelling skills and achieve greater clarity what I am discovering is that we have up and for a moment, while unaware, I about the foundations of Godly Play. All learning will take place in a created beliefs about our lives that don't want to do it. However, the mo- prayerful atmosphere with creative, experienced Godly Play trainers, simply are not true. ment I remember why I am doing it, I and participants will leave spiritually refreshed. A signifi cant bursary is We can choose to see our All the great spiritual and meta- can choose to make it effortless. available to participants from parishes in Niagara (max of 3 per parish). physical teachers throughout the ages, I have been in more than one job circumstances as a victim This weekend event takes place at L'Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill. including Jesus and Buddha have which was hard and diffi cult because of life or see the opportu- taught about "the effortless life". The it was not the work that I was born to Local billets are available. nity in the moment. essence of this way of being is based do. Even though I was a single mom in a few powerful principles all related I chose more than once to quit and to our own thoughts. We simply need pursue what I love. There were many work. What if it isn't true? What if our to become aware of them. apparently harsh consequences to that lives are meant to be effortless? We always have a choice in how choice. And because I remained fo- When we pray, we are not to pray for ourselves alone. We It is time that we explored together we view our immediate circumstances cused on my search for meaningful do not say, "My Father, who art in heaven" or, "Give me this our perspectives on living. and in how we respond. We can choose work, I dealt with the consequences daily bread"; we do not ask for our own trespasses alone to Most of us have been taught that we to see our circumstances as a victim of from a totally different perspective and be forgiven; and when we pray that we may be delivered will be successful by working hard. To life or see the opportunity in the mo- the process felt effortless and "right". from evil, we are not praying for ourselves either. get what we want we need to be ten- ment. The daughter of a dear friend For those of us blessed to be doing acious and persistent. We need to sac- of mine is such a woman. Anne has the work we were born to do, each day Our prayer is for the general good, for common good. rifi ce on the short term for long term suffered an excruciatingly painful, de- may be full of activities and yet there When we pray for all God's people, because they and we gain. We buy the story that we cannot bilitating illness for thirteen years. De- is a magical fl ow that makes the tasks be "happy" all the time. We believe spite all of her struggles Anne chooses again feel effortless. are not one. that there are many parts of life that to be as fully present as is possible in In each instance it is in our thoughts we must simply tolerate because "it is all her close relationships, especially that the effortlessness appears. It re- Cyprian of Carthage just the way it is". I say hog wash! with her son and husband. It is the lov- quires rigorous "noticing" and aware- Third century I am not sure when or how the idea ing that is "effortless". ness to stop those thoughts that create arose that we have to work hard and Knowing our purpose for our exist- the sense that life is hard or unfair. It settle for less than the optimum life. ence and following it creates an effort- takes discipline not to judge self or It appears in writings that go back as less life. I have a friend, George who is others. It requires intention not to take far as 3000 years and further. And it a natural teacher of art and music. He things personally or assume we under- still doesn't make it true. I can only has no formal credentials for his work stand a situation. It is this fi erce atten- imagine that if I was doing my best to and is sought after by literally hundreds tion, each and every moment, to being lead an unruly tribe of individuals in of people to share his knowledge and fully aware, that expands our sense of desert conditions that needed to herd, wisdom. He gets little pay for this and the effortless life. hunt and gather, I would have created for him it is still effortless because he is The effortless life is more than some sort of message to keep them doing what he was born to do. possible, it is ours to embrace. You in line too. If I was a wealthy land- Another friend of mine, June gets can be joyful, fulfi lled and alive! It is owner with serfs on my land I would up each morning at 4:00 AM to medi- simply a matter of choice. What do also want them to buy this nonsense! tate and do her yoga. For her it is ef- you choose? 16 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 Camp Artaban: A call to return again!

will. In 1937 and '38, he repeated this of serving others. The Camp's name, that Artaban was no place for luxuries. Always at the end of campfi re, in Greenwood near Toronto. In 1939, based on Henry Van Dyke's The Story Was it this Spartan setting that affected campers and leaders joined hands and Camp Artaban was held at a location of the Other Wise Man, chronicles the people so deeply? sang "Day is Done", "Now the Light near Ancaster village. In 1940 the story of a wealthy magi, seeking the has gone away" and then closed with camp was held on Lake Erie where Lord among the poor for thirty years. The soil of sacrifi ce prayer. Perhaps it was the stillness of for the fi rst time a girls' session was As Artaban lies dying, feeling his life Some people say that Artaban's real the night, and the visible unity of all included. Then, in 1941, the property a failure for not fi nding Jesus, he hears centre was the chapel. Every morning sizes and shapes, all classes and con- in Ancaster, located beside Canterbury from heaven a voice telling him that all the camp worshipped together in ditions of the human race standing SUSAN ANGI LITTLE Hills, was purchased. by serving others, he has indeed found an outdoor setting, lovingly furnished together, joining hands in relationship ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, HAMILTON For over 25 years, improvements and served the Lord. with benches and the hardest kneelers with one another and, more import- Does the name of "Camp Artaban" to the property and program drew chil- in Christendom. The focal point, how- antly, in relationship with God. Or spark a memory or two? Do you rec- dren, teens and adults to a place where At its centre was relationships ever, was a massive stone altar whose maybe it was simply the settling of the ognize the white haired man in this they could escape from the routines of What was it about camp that changed sides were decorated with stones from dew on their shoulders that made this picture as Padre Holmes, the founder city life and focus on the bonds that lives like this? Most people say that at World War I and II battlefi elds and moment a 'holy' one. Whatever it was, of the camp? bind them together with one another the centre of the Artaban experience underneath the altar was soil from the it had a profound effect on people's and with God. was the set of relationships formed battlefi elds where Canadians had sac- lives forever. Our camping days have spent their The last camping season occurred from the family-like unit of the hut, rifi ced their lives. happy course in 1966. By the mid 60s, society's where a leader along with a senior It was at this place that each camp The campfi re still burns: The fi re has vanished in the velvet night, ethos had begun to change from the camper led the campers in regimented began and ended, with each hut bury- Reunion details ...But camping days will once 50s. The growing diffi culty in getting activities each day. Competition and ing their last will and testament to For many, the campfi re still burns and again return volunteers and the rising competition its associated values of good sports- summarize what they had learned calls to the depth of their being to re- And we'll return again to Artaban. from more mobile families prevented manship and fair play were at the heart about Christian living during their turn to the holiness and the sanctity of a the camp from opening in 1967. Sold of each day's activities. Sports played time together and what they exhorted life lived in relationship with others and Camp changed lives and created to the Hamilton Wentworth Con- throughout the day provided outlets the next group of campers to focus on God. For some who want to get together life-long friendships servation Authority, it has remained for energy and developed skills in kids that might make their experience a again, there is going to be a reunion. So goes the song that concluded the primarily untouched in offering a at a time when minor sports leagues greater one together. On Saturday, May 10, 2008 at the two week camping session of girls natural habitat for people to enjoy on and community centres were not yet Church of St. John the Evangelist, camps at Camp Artaban, During the the Bruce Trail that runs through it, thriving. For girls' camps, the after- The visible unity of the campfi re Hamilton, people affected by Camp 1940s and 50s, Artaban fl ourished in although currently the property itself noons encouraged the development Others say that Artaban's true centre Artaban are invited to gather from offering to children and teenagers a resides in private hands. of skills in arts and crafts, while boys' was the campfi re. Each night, the huts 1:00-4:00 PM. There will be displays strong Christian camping experience camps just stuck to crafts. gathered to hear the results of their of memorabilia and space for people that changed lives and created life-long The priority in life of serving others Swimming was an event in and of it- endeavours of the day: the highest to add just for the afternoon their own friendships. How did this happen? For many, the fact that the Camp no self. In a pool fed by a spring fed stream, score for huts or tables would cause pictures, badges, candlesticks or such. longer runs is not a problem. Unlike the icy cold waters had no concrete bot- the campers from the winning hut to For the cost of a toonie, people can An experiment in living what the song says, former campers do tom: imagine the stress of the lifeguards, erupt into their cheer and stamp on spend the afternoon rekindling friend- In 1936, the Venerable Archdeacon not have to "return again to Artaban". watching for campers! Yikes! the dry dusty ground, wildly hug- ships and connecting with others. A.T.F. Holmes, (Padre Holmes) de- For them it doesn't matter that Artaban In the days before running water ging each other in their triumph. Each Refreshments will be served. Please cided to run an experimental camp no longer exists in the physical realm. in the washrooms, there were kybos, night, too, the campers who had not contact Dave McKay at 905-522-6218 near Markham with a group of Jewish What does exist, however, are the liv- the ultra environmentally-friendly been the 'winners', got to sing a variety to register. If you know someone who and Christian boys, aimed at bringing ing memories of how Camp changed toilet. When a gently zephyr blew the of songs, some of which today would once attended, please contact them or them together under canvas to learn lives and still calls forth from the still- wrong way, into the hut area instead of be dubbed, 'politically incorrect'! Such send their name along to this number. how to work together to establish good ness of the night the priority in life toward the forest, the campers knew were the times in the 40s and 50s.

Niagaraag Cursillo www.niagaracursillo.orgwww NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 17 The Niagara Anglican

The offi cial publication of the Anglican Original sin after Darwin Diocese of Niagara is published ten times a year from September to June by The Dunham Group in Hamilton, Ontario. if we could continue our involuntary strong. He did not say that the fl esh was is a licence to sin. Conditions without symbiotic relationship. Our desire for sinful. How could it be since the Word affection lead to crushing guilt. St. Paul Editor: Christopher Grabiec such a world is a projection of our ear- became fl esh? (Jn 1:14-18) The adven- knew this and described God's condi- ly memory. After birth, we live with ture and drama of life is only possible tions (the Law) as being a "curse." (Gal Phone: 905-312-8444 (ext. 101) a persistent gap between satisfaction because our nature is "made perfect in 3:10-14) Without affection, the Law and its source. It is God, who created weakness." (2 Cor 12:9) It is also more kills. A good parent supplies affection us with this gap. The scientifi c investi- scripturally faithful and helps St. Au- with correction. Jesus assured us that Advertising: Ted Manning gation of human origins has shown us gustine with his perplexity. God is a good parent. Without this in- COLIN C. M. CAMPBELL that no single human being or group God created us for chosen relation- sight, our desire to please God leads Phone: 905-680-0615 ST. HILDA'S, BURLINGTON caused it by a primeval sin. ships. The capacity to love is caught directly to neurosis. Neurosis is person- "For all have sinned and come short Fortunately, there is another way from our nature. The capability to love is al pain, not personal sin. However, bio- of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23) All in which to understand original per- taught by our nurture. Our mother is the logical systems are involuntary. They Publishers Advisory Board means everyone. In this uncompromis- fection. God created us with a na- fi rst object of our love. A loving mother often urge us to seek relief from pain ing text, St. Paul states the doctrine of ture, which would fi nd fulfi llment in is affectionate. A wise mother with- in destructive ways and so persuade us Pam Claridge original sin and implies its corollary: loving relationships. We choose such draws affection, when it is necessary to to commit personal sin. St. Augustine Phone: 519-941-6804 the universal necessity of salvation. He relationships. Imposed relations are teach her child the difference between relieved his neuroses by sexual addic- believed that all people try to be happy tyranny. Babies in the womb have no right and wrong. Conditional affection tion. St. Paul and Martin Luther did it Geoff rey Purdell-Lewis and fail. Since God is perfect, this im- choice. They have to be happy. Since is the way by which nurture shapes na- by religious addiction (a warning to Phone: 905-628-4176 plies that it is not his fault. God must they are not adults, this symbiosis is ture. Unconditional affection is as bad as us, that we should be careful to discern not a deprivation. Adults, however, unconditional neglect, since it teaches the origin of religious enthusiasm!). must exercise choice in order to fi nd a child that it can do as it likes. With Pleasers do it by demanding that others Charles Stirling fulfi llment. To fear the risks involved good conditioning, a child becomes make them happy. Although neuroses Phone: 905-383-1088 The desires to control, de- is a deprivation. Drunks and drug ad- self-directed, lives as a free agent in the produce false guilt, the means of reliev- mand, cajole, manipulate, dicts live in the self-imposed tyranny world and can make itself happy. ing it leads to real guilt. Carol Summers: of loveless relationships with people, There is a harmful form of condi- The doctrine of original sin ex- and withdraw come from Phone: 905-772-5641 and a symbiotic relationship with the tional love. It occurs when a mother presses the belief that no one receives a refusal to risk living as a bottle and the needle. Free relation- teaches a child to meet her needs for perfect conditional affection. To a free, creative adult. ships require a gap between our satis- affection, instead of its own, using the greater or lesser extent, all suffer Staff faction and its source, when that source rationalization that "Mother knows from neuroses and relieve them in is another person. She must choose to best." Mother-direction becomes destructive ways. In Christ, affec- Design/layout: Kayn Leduc not only have created us with a perfect appreciate his overtures and choose other-direction, instead of self-dir- tion and correction promise healing. Proofreading: Bryan Stopps nature, but have placed us in a world, to make him happy. A relationship of ection. For the rest of her life, such Paul expressed it this way: "Unhappy which was perfectly suited for that na- mutual symbiotic dependence is not a a person will depend on someone to man that I am! Who shall deliver Submissions ture's happiness. This raises the obvious free relationship because there are no tell her what to do. She will not know me from this body of death? I thank question: If everything was so perfect in choices. The great St. Augustine, who how to live as a free agent in the world God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" We welcome letters from our readers. All Paradise, how could human beings have was also a recovering sexaholic, seems or how to make herself happy. Good (Rom 7:24, 25) Luther wrote of his submissions must include the full name and been tempted to sin? Darwin showed to have had some diffi culty with non- conditional love teaches a person how conversion that he felt as if he had contact information of the author. The news- us that the perfect world imagined by symbiotic relationships. The way in fi nd her happiness by making others been reborn and "entered through paper reserves the right to edit submissions. traditional theologians, such as St. Au- which he conceived Adam's relation- happy. Bad conditional love teaches open gates into Paradise itself." St. Submissions must be received one month gustine, never existed. This creates the ship with God led him to ponder why a child how to please others at the Augustine observed, "You have made prior to the newspapers publication date. challenge of recovering the doctrine of Adam would want to sin, since he was expense of her own happiness. Pleas- us for yourself and our hearts are rest- original sin, after Darwin. This article already fulfi lled. ers expect a reward for their efforts. less until they fi nd their rest in you." Subscriptions will formulate an explanation, which Those who fear freedom refuse to When they do not receive it, they con- This article's version of original sin is is compatible with Scripture, reason, grow in the nature which God gave trol, demand, cajole, manipulate, and not Pelagian or semi-Pelagian, since Yearly subscriptions cost $15.00. For new sub- tradition, and science. them. The desires to control, demand, withdraw. The more they try to please, our healing still completely depends scriptions or to make changes to your existing A wrong direction, taken by cajole, manipulate, and withdraw come the unhappier they become. The un- on grace. It is not in confl ict with subscription, please contact your parish. many infl uential Western theologians from a refusal to risk living as a free, happier they become, the less they are Genesis 3 or Romans 5, the chapters (though not Eastern), arose from the creative adult. The gap between our able to please. Eventually, tired of the usually quoted as foundational for way in which they conceived original satisfaction and its source may seem a emotional bombardment, their family the doctrine. Not only does it have perfection. It resonated with our desire curse or a blessing. God gave it to us as and friends melt away, leaving them the advantage of being in complete The Diocese of Niagara for a perfect world. There was such a a blessing, but in the form of a weak- bewildered and alone. agreement with the fi ndings of mod- The Diocese lies at the western end of Lake time for us all. It was when we were ness, through which it was possible Good nurture consists of giving ern psychology and anthropology, it in our mother's womb. Birth means for sin to enter. Jesus reminded us that the right kind of conditional affection. shows that God created us to enjoy Ontario, and is defi ned roughly by the Niagara leaving bliss and experiencing pain. our nature, the fl esh, was weak (Matt Both conditions and affection are ne- excitement and adventure, which the Escarpment from the Niagara River in the east The world would seem to be better, 26:41) but that the Spirit could make it cessary. Affection without conditions traditional description does not. to the Dundas Valley in the West and north to Shelburne, Mt. Forest and Orangeville.

Bishop of Niagara: Michael A. Bird National Anglican Youth Ministry Forum planned for June Phone: 905-527-1316

planned such that it will offer formation, AdministrativeAdministrative Assistant:Assistan Alison D'Atri networking and training for those who Phone: 905-527-1316 (ext.(ex 310) are new to youth ministry and those who have many years' experience. With a var- iety of exceptional guest speakers and ExecutiveExecutive Offi cer:cer: workshop leaders, it's an opportunity for GGenerationeneration MichMichaela Patterson a huge re-energizing of youth ministries across the country. Phone:Phone: 9905-527-131605-527-1316 JUDY STEERS ANYONE in ministry with youth COORDINATOR  YOUTH INITIATIVES 22008008 can come to Generation 2008—ap- Generation 2008 will welcome lay plications are available through the Empower Renew Equip ProgramProgram DepartDepartmentment people, clergy, parish youth leaders, National Anglican Youth Website— ChristynChristyn PerPerkonskons youth ministry staff, camp staff, chap- generation.anglican.ca, or from your Phone:Phone: 905-527905-527-1316-1316 (ex(ext. 460) lains—anyone whose ministry puts diocesan youth ministry coordinator June 10-15, 2008 them in contact with youth and young or diocesan program offi ce. Huron University College, London, Ontario adults. Organizers anticipate close to The fee for the fi ve-day event is Joyce Wilton 200 people from all parts of the coun- $375.00 which includes accommoda- Phone: 905-527-1316 (ext. 430) try to attend. Is it an academic forum? tion, meals, workshops, plenary ses- A learning experience? An opportun- sions, resource CD and evening socials. encourage participation from right Anglican Church of Canada,and Just- ity for spiritual renewal? A conference In order to facilitate participa- across the country. Generation—The youth initiative of Contact the Diocese featuring engaging experiential work- tion from every diocese three people If you are interested in being a the PWRDF. shops? All of the above! from each diocese will have confer- subsidized participant, contact your More information about Genera- Cathedral Place How often have you been to a train- ence fees paid for and their travel Synod offi ce. tion 2008 can be found on the National 252 James St. North ing event that you feel is geared towards will be through a subsidized, sliding Generation 2008 is organized Anglican Youth Website, generation. Hamilton, ON L8R 2L3 people at a different level of experi- scale travel pool. It's called the 'Three and presented by Huron University anglican.ca, or by calling 519-438- Phone: 905-527-1316 ence than yourself? This event has been for Free' option and is intended to College—Faculty of Theology, The 7224 (ext. 280). Website: www.niagara.anglican.ca 18 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 EVENTS Church, not Church Inc. Family Movie Matinee Maundy Thursday St. Paul's Anglican Church, Shelburne St. Luke, Palermo An afternoon of fun family time with Please join us in the Parish Hall for a pot Church budgeting from a non-business perspective popcorn and snacks. Our feature fi lm luck dinner. Everyone is welcome! will be The Miracle Maker. March 20, 6:00 PM new priest arrived, the parish council called to do, and it shouldn't have im- March 1, 1:30 PM decided to tell the priest that they were portance beyond that. I do advocate Maundy Thursday going to eliminate the housing allow- parishes making the break-even point Quest for the Historical Jesus St. Peter, Hamilton ance from the parish budget to work of course, since a church that is fore- Grace Church, St. Catharines Come join us for pot luck supper at 6:30 on saving money. It was only after the closed is one that can't help anyone. Using pictures and resources gathered PM at Church of St. Peter followed by a priest told them that this would force Making cuts to a budget to balance in Israel, we'll explore together the cul- family walk through some stations of them to leave the parish right away it is never easy, but many parishes will ture and times in which Jesus lived to the cross. that they relented. The Parish Council take a business approach to this, rather help us better understand the events Cost: Pot luck contribution JOSHUA MORRISON cared so much about brining in more than one that prioritizes doing the work leading up to, and surrounding, Jesus' March 20, 2008 - 6:30pm CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION money that they would have made the we are here to do. What to cut will come death, ultimately preparing us for the The budget. It might be the biggest life of their priest extremely diffi cult. down to the choices and priorities of the joy of Easter. Sunday Sunrise Service sticking point in any parish. People Guerilla civil wars over budget parishioners, but why do we cut pro- March 14, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM St. Peter, Hamilton bicker, argue, politic and fi ght over the politics in parishes only serve to hurt grams when we have investments sitting Come and join us for a Sunrise service at budget. Divisions grow in the parish everyone. When parishes pit them- in a bank collecting dust? Yes, in busi- Youth Dance Dieppe Park, Beach Blvd, Hamilton. for the month leading up to vestry. It's selves against the clergy or the council ness you might leave those alone to con- St. David's Parish, Welland March 23, 7:00 AM a brutal time, and in my many years of or the wardens, they are essentially tinue maturing, but it's money that can Dances are held every other Friday for church involvement I have seen some paralyzing the workings of the church, be used for our purpose, and again, in the those in grades 5-8. Pizza and pop will Fashion Show nasty budget confl icts happen in par- and suddenly outreach, charity work church money should just be a means to be available. St. Paul's, Caledonia ishes and on the diocesan level. and social events grind to a halt or are an end. Why do we try to eliminate jobs Cost: $5.00 per person Come see the new fashion line for I will preface the rest of this article tainted by politics. in the church when perhaps we could March 14, 7:00 PM - 10 PM Spring/Summer at McKinnon Park Sec- by saying that I am not a business- I do understand why it is important fi nd other ways around getting rid of our ondary School. person. I'm not a number whiz, I've to have people who understand money full time priest or youth worker who give Roast Beef Dinner March 26, 2008 never taken a business class at school. I and commerce help with the budget in more to the church through their labour St. John the Evangelist, Winona don't have the gift of fi nancial acumen. a parish, but I think that far too often and gifts then possessions do? This will include a Special Auction Flea Market & Rummage Sale But since the church is not a business, we forget that a parish is not a busi- Though the clergy, wardens and par- so bring your loonies as that is what St. Columba, St. Catharines I will continue with some observations ness. The point of capitalist business ish treasurer are generally called "the you will use to bid on items. St. Pat- Gently used items and clothing off ered for and refl ections on what I've seen. is to turn a profi t, and that's not what corporation", I think this is an unfortu- rick's will be the theme so wear sale. Now this is where you will fi nd some I understand that in our modern we're here for. No parish should be nate refl ection of how we have come to something green. real attic treasures at bargain prices! capitalist world, a parish does have to looking to have a fi nal revenue fi g- see parish fi nances. Thinking and living Cost: $15.00 per person March 29, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM make sure that they don't go under fi - ure higher than $0, or the break even the way the capitalist society outside our March 15, 6:00 PM nancially. That is common sense. But point. If we have money left over, then doors does distracts us from how we Dinner Theatre the extremes some parishes go to over we haven't devoted ourselves entirely could use our resources innovatively to Pasta Supper All Saints, Hamilton trying to turn a profi t are, in my view, to doing God's work. We still have re- do the Lord's work as best we can and St. David's Parish, Welland Youth for Christ presents the play entirely un-Christian. sources we can give to those who need often causes rifts and political divides Enjoy real Italian meatballs, pasta, salad, "Neighbours." Come and enjoy a spa- The fi rst time I witnessed a terrible it, or use to improve programs we're within our parishes. In a world where rolls, cookies, tea and coff ee. Eat-in or ghetti dinner with all the fi xings and circumstance around the budget was running in our own parish. Though so- so many things pull against the church take-out available. All welcome on the homemade desserts. It will be an enjoy- when a small parish hired a new priest ciety exalts money beyond much else from the outside, perhaps this is one third Thursday of every month. able evening for one and all. with a young family. The priest was in life, for our purposes it should be area where we can change our ways and Cost: Adults $8, children 3-10 $3.50, Cost: Adults $10.00, Children $5.00, perfect for the parish, and was excited just a means to an end. It is the means make ourselves stronger against all of Children under 3 free Family $25.00 to begin work there. Then, when the to which we can do the work we are the outside factors that divide us. March 20, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM March 29, 5:00 PM PEOPLE IN THE NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 » The joy of the Lord If we look at this world today, it them. Some of those who have the tal- To what conclusion may we come? The Reverend Canon Richard Roke- submitted his intention to retire from should appear obvious that much ent will recognise the failure of others Has James Redfi eld (The Tenth Insight) by has been appointed interim pastor full time ministry and St. George's is going on that is the result of hu- to develop their God-given gifts and hit the nail on the head when he sug- at St. David and St. Patrick's Church, Church, Guelph, effective July 1. man mismanagement and not God's will encourage them to do so. Others gests that God sends us into His fi eld Guelph, beginning March 1. fault. Of course, the cynic will say will ignore the failure of their fellow- (the world) to do His work and that, The Venerable Richard Berryman "Why does God (if there is one) let workers to pull their weight and will when we die, we simply return whence The Reverend Jeff Ward has submit- has been appointed honorary assistant it happen?" But God didn't let it hap- just get on with their own tasks. In the we came and have to account for our ted his resignation from St. Simon's, at St. Andrew's Church, Grimsby, ef- pen. As always, humanity brought it end, will we not all have to stand be- conduct? The "hell" that each one of us Oakville, and will begin his new min- fective January 1. upon themselves. fore our Maker and report on how we must endure can be to keep repeating istry as Rector of St. Luke's Church, In other words, we are the servants have used His talents? Does a loving the same mistakes over and over again. Palermo, beginning April 1. Our sympathy to the bereaved family in God's estate; we indeed have to reap God send the failure to "Hell"? Not The "heaven" that we may attain is that of Margaret Bamford, who died on Janu- where the Master has not sown and we according to the story that Jesus told. of a clear conscience and the satisfac- Bishop Spence has appointed fi ve ary 22. Margaret worked for many years are given talents with which to do the We may assume that No.3 was left in tion of a job well done. We have ful- new Canons of Christ's Church Cath- at the Synod Offi ce on Victoria Avenue, work. Some of us will develop those the estate to do a better job next time fi lled our purpose in life; we have done edral: Ian Chadwick, Audrey Conard, Hamilton. talents, others will neglect them, others while the conscientious workers re- our duty in God's domain and can enter Darcey Lazerte, David Long and Jean will not even realise that they have ceived their reward. into the Joy of our Lord. Mitchell. The Service of Installation Sympathy to the Reverend Howard will be held on Sunday, February Gorle and Mrs. Donna Gorle on the 17 during a Service of Evensong at death of Donna's father, Tom Laing, Christ's Church Cathedral, starting at on January 30. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 » Getting to know you 4:00 PM Birthday wishes are sent to Bishop The Venerable Thomas Greene has Ralph Spence on March 10! It's a wonderful freedom not to have based on parish archives, (includ- "The Church is like a house with that little book with you." Mavis adds, ing) original letters from Bishop a huge attic. We put something away, "We've switched! I'm out, he's in. I Strachan in the 1840s—fascinating! then two or three generations later go play bridge and am out for lunch at I've given the fi rst copy to Bishop up and fi nd it again, bring it down least four times a week." Bishop Wal- Michael Bird." again, and it's a treasure again." ter affectionately adds the almost ir- Perhaps the saying, "No pain, no resistible "out to lunch? Where do we go from here? gain" is applicable to the Church's "At St. George's, I putter at things, Invited to offer advice for all who journey, but there is comfort in the occasionally a Sunday liturgy. As struggle with the challenges of this old prayer for God's protection that Bishop, I was Celebrant so often; every time, Bishop Walter says thought- "we who are wearied by the changes time I turned around, somebody said I fully, "There's a fractious spirit about, and chances of this life may rest in had to! Every so often I have a Sun- but there's been worse. Preserve the your eternal changelessness." Bishop day to stay home and sit with Mavis." tradition and pioneer; that seems to Walter's quiet but immovable faith in Mavis grins, "Now you don't have to meet what parishes are about, and the unchanging love of God for all be chief cook and bottle washer!" it's certainly what our Cathedral is creation has enriched his life and the But Bishop Walter does not merely about, not as a fossil but launching life of this Diocese of Niagara. He has "sit." Over three years, he has re- out, falling on your whatever but try- never been consigned to the Diocesan searched and wrote a history of St. ing something. We've got a richness, attic, but remains a treasure among us, George's Church. "It's 370 pages, a long story. and we are blessed. NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 19 WELCOMING OUR NEW ARCHDEACON 20 NIAGARA ANGLICAN MARCH 2008 Outreach in the Name of Christ endowment fund

KAREN NOWICKI To provide transitional housing for fam- Christ's Church Cathedral, Hamilton partnered with the George Street in their community. This unique gar- DIOCESAN RESOURCE CENTRE ilies that fi nd themselves in fi nancial dif- Jamesville Community Centre (HARRRP) Residential Care Facility and set up a dening venture allows parish members The Diocesan Division of Outreach com- fi culty and/or an abusive situation. The A not for profi t corporation called the program to help the developmentally to contribute their time and energy to mittee announces that the following objective is to give families a place that Hamilton Association for Residential and challenged who reside in the George helping others. Outreach initiatives in the community they can call home for a period of up to Recreational Redevelopment Programs Street facility. have received grants from the Survive three months. During this time help will (HARRRP) was developed by parishioners St. Paul's Anglican Church, Hamilton & Thrive Outreach Endowment Fund. be given to establish a permanent resi- and friends of Christ's Church Cathedral. The Bridge - Youth at Risk The Coff eehouse Project These approved grants total $58,269. dence and fi nancial help given to help HARRRP undertook the task of creating Ministry Program This project will be a regular gathering families stand on their own. This project a community centre with and for North- Community Worker for people who are looking for a com- Bethlehem Projects of Niagara is supported by ten local churches. West End Hamilton neighbours housed This program is designed to provide munity to explore their creativity and Bethlehem Projects of Niagara's New in the same building as St. Mary's Catho- programs for the male youth cur- spirituality but who might not be com- Aff ordable Supportive Housing Project The Bridge Prison Ministry lic Elementary School. Funding was used rently incarcerated in the Hamilton fortable in a traditional church setting. To build 40 aff ordable, supportive apart- Youth at Risk Ministry Program to subsidize part of the cost of a full time -Wentworth Detention Center. The Monthly coff eehouses will feature local ments on James Street in St. Catharines To provide volunteer programs that paid staff person who ensures that pro- programs, while spiritual in nature, are musicians and poets, open-mike nights, for people of moderate to low income, might "bridge" the gap between in- gram partners and user groups have what also designed to be very practical and discussions and speakers on topics of including those with specifi c needs; stitutions and the street. The goal is to they need to provide quality recreational, personally supportive. The programs social justice and spirituality. This will such as people with disabilities, vic- provide programs for the youth incar- social, educational, and cultural activities are intended to assist the young boys be a safe space for community and spir- tims of violence and the homeless. The cerated in the Hamilton-Wentworth De- and opportunities for our neighbours in to deal with their real-life issues, off er itual exploration. housing project will provide a safe, af- tention Center. These programs might the City of Hamilton. opportunities to build skills, develop fordable and pleasant environment for better help them deal with their issues, their sense of self worth, grow in faith The Survive & Thrive Outreach Endow- tenants and most importantly, a coordi- off er opportunities to build skills, de- St. Peters Anglican Church, Hamilton and to hopefully feel a part of and be- ment was established to provide funds nated support service will be available velop self worth, grow in faith, and to Pete's Place come contributing members of the to parishes wishing seed money for to assist people with the transition to hopefully feel a part of and become con- Pete's Place is an after school drop-in community. This program will off er the NEW parish-based outreach initiatives greater personal independence. tributing members of the community. program, in east central Hamilton. This skills needed for youth to re-integrate and NEW projects from affi liated histor- The Bridge Support Group will address is a place where inner city youth who back into the community. The fund- ical diocesan outreach ministries. The McMaster Campus Ministries critical youth at risk issues, and included have been displaced from their family ing assisted in the hiring of a part-time goal of any long-term projects should Hymn Festival for Chaplaincy Outreach will be an Art from the Heart program home environment and are attending community worker that will be able to be for them to become self-sustaining The program consists of choir anthems, and The Bridge Library program. secondary school can come to seek assist the youth when they return to by the end of the grant period. A plan congregational singing, and a mass an- homework assistance, emotional en- the community. for future fi nancing will be required on them sung by choirs from the greater Christ's Church Cathedral, Hamilton couragement and lifestyle support from initial applications, as well as a prog- Hamilton area. Prayers, readings and Jamesville Neighbourhood volunteer teen mentors. The goal of the Church of the Transfi guration, ress report by April 30 of subsequent refl ections will be off ered in-between Revitalization Project project is to plan, develop and deliver a St. Catharines grant years. the music. The goals and objectives are To create housing, a recreational facility, teen-led community-focused outreach Vegetable Garden Project to increase awareness of the role of the green space, and increased parking in project that will assist students at risk This project created a vegetable gar- All grants will be determined by June Ecumenical Chaplaincy in the McMas- the Jamesville/Beasley neighbourhood of academic failure due to homeless- den on the church property that is 484 30 in each calendar year. The 2008 ap- ter and wider communities and to help in the north end of Hamilton. The goal is ness or other poverty related issues. The square feet. It will become a focal point plication deadline is Wednesday, April secure the future of the Chaplaincy by to build relationships among members of program is also to train and develop a for both the current members of the 30, 2008. highlighting the ministry and the op- the community, revitalize the Jamesville group of community-minded youth parish and for the parish to reach out portunities for services and support. neighbourhood in Hamilton, provide af- who wish to volunteer in a meaningful to non-members. The goal is to provide To download an application form go fordable housing, increase recreational way to be successful Teen Mentors. fresh produce for needy people and to www.niagara.anglican.ca/outreach/ St. Alban the Martyr, Glen Williams opportunities for children, youth, and organizations in St. Catharines and will general.cfm. For more information con- Transitional Housing Project in Conjunction adults, create employment opportunities All Saints Anglican Church, Hamilton give members of the parish the oppor- tact Karen Nowicki at 905-527-1316 with Halton Hills Community Support and and encourage neighbourhood gentrifi - George Street Residential Care Facility tunity to participate in a project which (ext. 380). Information (HHCSI). cation while living out the Gospel. The parish of All Saints, Hamilton helps to support those less fortunate

A celebration of New Ministry and Seating of the Bishop

The Right Reverend Michael A. Bird as Bishop of Niagara

Sunday March 2 at 4:00 PM Christ's Church Cathedral

Unfortunately due to limited seating we will be issuing tickets for this event, HOWEVER, the following parishes will show the live webcast of the installation in their parish centres:

St. Thomas, St. Catharines St. John’s, Port Dalhousie (Refreshments will follow) St. Paul’s, Shelburne (Wine and cheese to follow) St. Luke’s Burlington

A recording of the service will be available online after the webcast.

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