Bishop Going to St. Paul's
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PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 8 Bishop going Cabaret chases Conference to St. Paul’s blues away affirms all TheTHE NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF TORONTO AnglicanA SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL www.toronto.anglican.ca DECEMBER 2020 christmas message BY BISHOP KEVIN ROBERTSON God is with us hat would Christmas be without traditions? For some families, WChristmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without decorating the tree together, or hanging the mistletoe in the front hall, or leaving two cook- ies and a glass of milk by the fireplace for Santa. As a Church, we also have traditions that we observe “religiously” every year: some parishes host a Christmas fair, or begin Advent with a Service of Lessons and Carols, or collect donations to make Christmas hampers for those in need. It all culminates in the great tradi- tions of Christmas Eve, when we witness the antics of little LIGHT OF HOPE angels and shepherds at the Leah Cyril practices lighting the Advent wreath with her brothers Tarun (centre) and Varun at St. Bede’s in Toronto. A candle will be lit each week during Advent, pageant. Then, after receiving followed by the lighting of the middle candle on Christmas Eve. Advent starts on Dec. 1. PHOTO BY MICHAEL HUDSON Christmas Communion, we dim the lights to sing by candlelight. Maybe there’s even a gentle eant where the story of Jesus’ He did not wait till the world snowfall as we step out into birth will be retold in the famil- was ready, the crisp night air – just like iar way, but with a virtual twist. till men and nations were at JANUARY 1, 2021 the cover of a Christmas card. At a time of year when many peace. Many of us love traditions, and people struggle with sadness He came when the Heavens were at the Cathedral Church of St. James we have some wonderful ones and grief, are there new ways to unsteady, around Christmas. reach out to those who are hurt- and prisoners cried out for This year, Christmas is go- ing and isolated among us? release. ing to look a lot different. The However you adapt your He did not wait for the perfect ongoing pandemic is forcing us Christmas traditions, I encour- time. to celebrate in new ways. It will age you to get creative, not only He came when the need was mean adapting some traditions to keep Jesus at the heart of deep and great. and foregoing others. I know our celebration, but also as a He dined with sinners in all how hard it is to imagine that way of being reminded that the their grime, we won’t be singing carols in a timeless truths of the Christmas turned water into wine. He did packed church this year. I re- story transcend the ebb and not wait cently heard someone quip that flow of our lives, even the crisis till hearts were pure. In joy he the only appropriate carol for of a global pandemic. We rejoice came Please join Bishop Andrew Asbil online this Christmas will be “Silent at the birth of our Saviour to a tarnished world of sin and to offer prayers for the New Year. Night”! whether the time is favourable doubt. Over the coming weeks, I or not. We celebrate the birth in invite you to remake some time of the timeless Son of God To a world like ours, of an- www.toronto.anglican.ca/levee Christmas traditions to fit with through all the changing scenes guished shame our changed world. I know par- of life. he came, and his Light would Festive music and worship at 2 pm ishes that are planning outdoor This year, I am particularly not go out. carol-singing on the church reminded of the poem, “First He came to a world which did with presentations of the steps, ensuring, of course, Coming”, by Madeleine L’Engle. not mesh, Order of the Diocese of Toronto that everyone is masked and She reminds us that God did not to heal its tangles, shield its physically distanced. I know of wait until the world was right or scorn. another parish that is planning ready before coming among us: In the mystery of the Word made a multi-generational Zoom pag- Continued on Page 2 2021 PRIMATE REFLECTS ON YEAR – SEE PAGE 4 2 TheAnglican NEWS December 2020 Bishop Andison going to St. Paul’s St. Paul’s, the and plans to complete a number to become your incumbent and bishops, deployed to regions of ‘I have loved largest Anglican of projects and to set in place a spiritual leader for an exciting new the diocese as area bishops, in church in Canada, transition plan so that the episcopal chapter in your life and ministry.” addition to a diocesan bishop,” he undertook an ex- area can continue to flourish. Writing on behalf of himself and wrote. “Our system is unique in being a tensive interna- “I am profoundly grateful for Bishop Kevin Robertson, the area the Anglican Communion. How do tional search for a having had the opportunity to bishop of York-Scarborough, in other dioceses, of similar size and suffragan new rector before work and worship with you as which St. Paul’s is located, he wrote, complexity, organize themselves? selecting Bishop your area bishop over the past “We look forward to working with What can we learn from them?” Bishop Jenny Andison, who was four years,” she wrote. “Thank our sister in Christ, Bishop Jenny, The ELWG has been meeting bishop’ Andison an associate priest you for the prayerful support and and the people of the parish of St regularly and researching other at the church from gracious encouragement that you Paul’s in the years to come – sharing models and considering possible 2006 to 2013. She will succeed the have given me, showing me the face the good news of Jesus Christ, mak- adaptations to the diocese’s system, BY STUART MANN Rev. Canon Dr. Barry Parker, who of Jesus. My hope is that I have ing disciples and worshipping the he wrote. “I had given the group a is retiring. provided the same to you in equal Triune God in spirit and in truth.” deadline of Ash Wednesday 2021 BISHOP Jenny Andison, the area “I made this decision with a measure. In my new capacity, I look In a pastoral letter to the diocese to make their report and – despite bishop of York-Credit Valley, will strong sense of hope for the future forward to our paths crossing as on Sept. 16, Bishop Asbil wrote these recent developments – I do be the next rector of St. Paul, Bloor to which our Heavenly Father is your colleague in ministry and a about the future of episcopal lead- not want to curtail or rush their Street, effective Feb. 28, 2021. calling me and the people of St. fellow disciple of Jesus Christ, as ership in the diocese, given that work. I look forward to hearing from In a letter to the people of York- Paul’s, but also with gravity and we continue to labour together Bishop Andison is moving to St. them in February 2021 as planned, Credit Valley on Sept. 13, the day genuine sorrow for what I must for the diocese as a whole, for the Paul’s and Bishop Peter Fenty, at which time I will consider their her appointment was announced, lay down as a result,” she wrote. global Anglican Communion, and the area bishop of York-Simcoe, recommendations and share with she wrote, “Although I will be step- “It is an immense privilege to serve above all, for Christ’s kingdom.” is retiring at the end of November. the diocese a way forward.” ping down as the area bishop of as a bishop in Christ’s holy, catho- Bishop Andrew Asbil, the dioc- Several months ago, in anticipa- In the meantime, he assured York-Credit Valley, I will – like lic Church. I have loved being a esan bishop, said he was delighted tion of Bishop Fenty’s retirement, the diocese, and in particular the other bishops who serve in non- suffragan bishop of the Diocese with the appointment. In a letter to he created the Episcopal Lead- areas of York-Simcoe and York- jurisdictional ministries as theolo- of Toronto, and it has been (and the people of St. Paul’s, he wrote, ership Working Group (ELWG). Credit Valley, that the College of gians, heads of seminaries, deans continues to be) such a joy to share “After ably and happily serving as “The College of Bishops system of Bishops is committed to caring of cathedrals, or at the Communion in gospel ministry with the College suffragan bishop of the Diocese of episcopal leadership in the Diocese for every parish. “Over the coming Office – remain a bishop and will of Bishops and all of you in York- Toronto and area bishop of York- of Toronto has been in place for weeks, we will develop a plan for continue to live out my consecra- Credit Valley.” Credit Valley for almost four years, 40 years, and I felt it was time to adequate episcopal coverage in tion vows in this new ministry She will continue in her current she has responded willingly to review whether it makes sense to every area, ready to implement context.” office until the end of February this call from God and the parish continue to have four suffragan as transitions occur.” The light and peace that shone from the manger continues to shine Continued from Page 1 our pain, He sent his only Son.