PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 12 Service laments Cleanup removes Church bells toll gun violence racist graffiti to mark Armistice TheTHE NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF TORONTO AnglicanA SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL www.toronto.anglican.ca JANUARY 2019 We are in a moment in between Bishop Andrew Asbil, the dio- wheels, because down, look up. Watch where cese’s coadjutor bishop, gave this they can give you’re going. Keep pedaling. Now Charge to Synod on Nov. 9. He you confidence pedal faster. Don’t look down, will become the Bishop of Toronto when you don’t look up. Keep moving.” on Jan. 1, succeeding Archbishop quite have your We just kept moving with Colin Johnson, who is retiring. balance, and they speed and more speed, and can help you before I knew it there was a little ride and keep nudge, and I thought he was still BY BISHOP ANDREW ASBIL upright when there, and it was only when I you’re kind of Bishop Andrew looked back and noticed him far o you remember the first tipping over, and Asbil behind that I wiped out. But you time you learned how you can navigate know, it didn’t matter, because to ride a bicycle? If your tight corners. But with time, you I’d caught for that little moment Dexperience was anything realize that there are limitations that I’d taken flight, just for a like mine, it happens in stages. I when you have training wheels moment. first learned in the 1960s, when on. While you can out-speed the It feels like I have training banana seats and big handlebars little kids on the tricycle, you wheels on again as I’ve been and streamers were all the rage. can’t quite keep up with the big learning how to ride and pedal That was not my bike. I had a kids. alongside this diocese of 183 hand-me-down from my older And then comes that fateful parishes with 230 congregations brother. It was red with chipped day when the training wheels that stretch over a huge area, paint and a white seat and bent come off. I remember that day that are diverse in their liturgi- fenders. It was so uncool, and like it was yesterday – my father cal and theological expression, Synod brings Anglicans from across the diocese together on Nov. 9-10 in what made it even more uncool holding me up, and I leaning into from low to high and everything Richmond Hill. From above: youth members of Synod and youth leaders gather was that it had training wheels him, hoping that he wouldn’t in between, from the small town for a picture; Synod members discuss proposed changes to the marriage canon; on it. let me go. And then as I tried in the crossroads to the inner Archbishop Johnson is hugged by his wife Ellen after addressing Synod for the Now, there are some things to curb my fear, he encouraged city to the suburbs – and as last time as its chair. For full coverage, see pages 5-10. PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HUDSON that are good about training me with words like, “Don’t look Continued on Page 7 A WEDDING TO REMEMBER – SEE PAGE 2 2 TheAnglican NEWS January 2019 Service remembers victims of gun violence in Toronto A service of lament to remember the victim Ernest Modekwe, shared priest-in-charge of the Ghana- victims of gun violence in Toronto his journey of grief. ian Anglican Church of Toronto. was held at the Ghanaian Anglican In addition to comforting the Through their ministries, both Church of Toronto on Nov. 3. “It families and loved ones of the shoot- continue to support families and was a meaningful service for those ing victims, the service called for friends impacted by gun violence. who attended, including grieving action to address gun violence, On July 13, they officiated at the parents who received support and calling it a public health crisis that funeral service for Mr. Modekwe, encouragement,” said the Rev. Jac- is threatening the well-being of 28, who was killed on Queen Street; queline Daley, one of the organizers Toronto. The Rev. Sky Starr, pas- more than 300 young people at- and the interim priest-in-charge of tor and executive director of Out tended the funeral. “The majority St. Margaret, New Toronto. of Bounds, a charity that provides participated in Holy Communion, The service remembered 45 vic- grief and trauma support in the food to strengthen them for the tims who had died and 154 who had GTA, provided practical strategies journey of grief,” said Ms. Daley. been injured from gun violence in to support grieving families. “This is a very urgent and im- the city as of Nov. 3. One parent, The service was led by Ms. Da- portant work of the Church that Okwi Modekwe, father of shooting ley and the Rev. Kenneth Korsah, needs attention.” Church pitches in for couple’s wedding MEMBERS of St. Peter, Erindale of their dreams. and the surrounding community While preparing the couple for pitched in on Nov. 4 to give a young the baptism of their baby, the Rev. couple of the parish the wedding Canon Jennifer Reid learned that they weren’t married because they couldn’t afford a wedding. When Friday 1st Feb. at 6 p.m. asked what sort of wedding they wanted, they said a small, simple Holy Communion (BCP) Children create a flower arch for the plus light supper at 6.40 one with 10-15 people present. bride at St. Peter, Erindale. PHOTO and feature talk at 7: Canon Reid felt the church might COURTESY OF ST. PETER’S be able to help. She offered to marry WOMEN the couple during the baptism ser- couple at a local inn with dinner INTERPRETERS vice, which was planned for 9:15 and breakfast included. A local a.m. on Sunday, between the 8 a.m. hairdresser did the bride’s hair Banners are draped across pews at St. Barnabas, Chester. PHOTO BY HELEN TAYLOR OF THE BIBLE and 11 a.m. services. After a night in the church before the service. Dr. Marion Taylor to think about it, the couple said Children from the church school (Professor of Old Testament they’d love to do it. created a flower arch for the bride at U of T’s Wycliffe College) A number of parishioners vol- as she walked down the aisle. Church displays banners discusses the greatest unteered their time and talents Not only was their baby bap- adventure of her life: for the wedding. One parishioner tized, but so was the husband-to- her recent research on served as the Master of Ceremonies be. Then they were married, with in wake of attacks the many brilliant women for the reception afterwards, while a small reception in the church who interpreted the Bible. another parishioner baked the cake. hall afterwards. “It was the whole St. Barnabas, Chester hosted the July. They were created to share St. Olave’s Church Parishioners decorated the church, community coming together to lift Toronto Love Quilt Project on Nov. messages of hope, peace and love. Bloor and Windermere brought punch and champagne up this young couple,” says Canon 11. The project is an art installation Quilters around the world were 416-769-5686 stolaves.ca and even booked a room for the Reid. “It was a gift of community.” of colourful banners measuring 24 invited to take part. This was the feet by 6 inches. The banners were banners’ first showing in the Dan- designed to support the many peo- forth area. They were draped over ple who suffered shock, heartache the pews, which made it easy for YOUR ANGLICAN CEMETERIES & and grief after the van attack in visitors to view. North York in April and the mass CREMATORIUMS IN THE G.T.A. shooting on Danforth Avenue in Submitted by Helen Taylor (NON-DENOMINATIONAL, NON-PROFIT) All invited to Bishop’s Levee, presentation of Order THE annual Bishop’s Levee will be There will be Choral Evensong at held on Jan. 1 at St. James Cathe- 3:30 p.m. with presentations of the dral. 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