page 3 page 7 page 10 Bees help priest York-Credit Valley Long drought over make connections holds town hall for baseball team TheTHE NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF TORONTO AnglicanA SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL www.toronto.anglican.ca NOVEMBER 2017 I am enormously grateful to God BY ARCHBISHOP COLIN JOHNSON the resources we have been given, and the new opportunities we are afforded to n Sept. 21, I informed the mem- share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. bers of Diocesan Council that, Over the past decade and a half, we after many months of prayerful have done some remarkable things: de- Odiscernment, I am asking dioce- veloped a growing team of high-capacity san Synod to concur with my request for diocesan volunteers to work as coaches the election of a coadjutor bishop for the and facilitators with parishes; completed diocese in the middle of next year. I will a very successful Our Faith-Our Hope: step down from my role as the Metro- Re-imagine Church campaign to resource politan of Ontario at the next Provincial our ministry; intentionally focused on be- Synod in October 2018 and concurrently ing missional as a diocese; increased our as Bishop of Moosonee. More impor- commitment to intercultural ministry; tantly for our diocese, I plan to retire as and renewed our witness to social justice Bishop of Toronto at the end of Decem- both in our advocacy work and our direct ber 2018. The Bishop of Ottawa, who is compassionate service. There have been the next senior bishop of the province, is many challenges that we have faced now in receipt of my letter of resignation. together, including declining numbers A coadjutor bishop is elected by Synod and closing churches. But we have also to assist the diocesan bishop prior to his named and faced our challenges squarely retirement and to succeed the diocesan in the context of our Christian faith. We bishop immediately upon the diocesan’s have a new strategic plan, aptly named retirement. Growing in Christ, to direct us in the I have now served the Diocese of next few years. Toronto for over 40 years of ordained I am enormously grateful to God for ministry. It has been one of the greatest the privilege of serving and leading this privileges of my life, and it has not been diocese, and especially for the oppor- an easy or quick decision to bring it to tunity to work and minister with such a conclusion. By the time I retire, I will gifted and generous people as you. I am have passed my 66th birthday and have Archbishop Colin and Ellen Johnson at the opening of an exhibit of books and manuscripts from not retired yet! There is still much to do, served as bishop for over 15 years, with the Reformation on Oct. 4 at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto. and I look forward to continuing to work an additional 12 years in the Bishop’s Of- Archbishop Johnson will be retiring as Bishop of Toronto at the end of December 2018. PHoto BY faithfully over the next year to reach our fice as the executive assistant and arch- MICHAEL HUDSON goals. deacon to my esteemed mentor and pre- May I ask for your prayers for our dio- decessor, Archbishop Terence Finlay. In people of God how to be a faithful pastor the tremendous richness of our diversity, cese, and especially for Ellen and me, as each of the three parishes I served before and priest. There is so much that I am the remarkably gifted clergy and strong we prepare for this transition. May God that, I learned more and more from the thankful to God for in this great diocese: faithfulness of our laity, the breadth of bless and keep you in his love. Cupboard connects church, homeless BY DIANA SWIFT the Credit River, set up an outdoor pantry stocked with non-perishable IN a new twist on a neighbourhood food and beverage items. “Take service that usually provides food what you need. Give what you can” for the mind, an updated version is urges the slogan on the cupboard’s providing food for the body. signboard. The Little Deacon’s Cupboard at The 24/7 al fresco foodbank is St. Peter, Erindale has repurposed the brainchild of the church’s in- the free book exchange depot to get cumbent, the Rev. Canon Jennifer much-needed food into the hands Reid, who modelled it on similar of people in need – in a discreet initiatives at churches in the south- and confidential way. It has also ern United States. “People in the become a joint communication neighbourhood can take food as project between the middle-class they need it without coming in to NEW ADVENTURE parish and homeless people living our regular Wednesday morning Othman and Khadija Barghoud and their children, a Syrian refugee family who came to Canada with the help of St. in a nearby park. food bank, the Deacon’s Cupboard,” John, Bowmanville, ride the bus to a pow wow at Curve Lake First Nation near Peterborough. The trip was organized by This past June, parishioners she explains. “It preserves their St. Saviour, Orono as part of its reconciliation efforts with Indigenous peoples. For story, see Page 9. PHoto BY THE REV. of St. Peter’s, located in an idyllic AUGUSto NUNEZ Mississauga neighbourhood along Continued on Page 2 GOING ON A DIG – SEE PAGE 12 2 TheAnglican NEWS November 2017 Anonymous author pens note of gratitude You’re Continued from Page 1 privacy and anonymity. I’ve never seen anyone taking food, but I invited on sometimes see people putting food in.” The cupboard was built at the a journey bottom of the church’s hill by the St. Peter’s Phantoms, a group of THIS Lent, Archbishop Colin handy volunteers who quietly re- Johnson invites you to unite with pair things written on a fix-it list, him and your fellow Christians in explains parishioner John Bros. a journey of prayer through the The cupboard’s design and building words of St. John the Evangelist. was coordinated by Doug Duncan, Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of a retired banker with a gift for John, created by the Society of St. carpentry, and its sign was painted John the Evangelist (SSJE) and by Peter Pook, a parishioner and Virginia Theological Seminary, is local artist. a springboard and a framework The cupboard soon morphed to immerse yourself in scripture beyond its practical purpose into St. Peter’s outdoor cupboard has led to communications between the church and people living in nearby parks. PHOTO over six weeks. a dialogue between St. Peter’s and BY MICHAEL HUDSON In a short daily video, an SSJE homeless people living in wooded Brother will comment on a verse enclaves of nearby Erindale Park and former churchwarden Allison derwear for both genders, cutlery, these ideas with them yet because from St. John, share facets of his and Sawmill Valley Trail. This Gray, who left a small notebook for and can openers. “And we’ve just we don’t want to scare them off,” own relationship with Jesus and exchange was sparked by a hand- listing needed items. “Later another added a few hooks on the posts so says Ms. Gray. suggest possibilities for further written note of gratitude penned spokesperson named Diana joined people can hang blankets, hats, “There’s just so much energy reflection. At the start of each by a mysterious cupboard user the conversation, reminding us that scarves, and mitts,” says Mr. Bros. emerging around what we can do week, participants are prompted known only as “J.” there are also homeless women Now enthusiasm is mushroom- to help,” says Canon Reid. “It’s re- to pray for a particular grace; at J, who always ends his notes with living in the parks,” says Ms. Gray. ing beyond the cupboard itself, ally snowballing – all starting with the end of each week, an inviting “and I pray for this help to be there Thanks to J’s and Diana’s notes with parishioners discussing the that first communication from J.” question helps them translate for all of us brothers and sisters left in the cupboard, the parish has possibility converting a janitor’s Although she has never seen that grace into daily life. always,” started a process of com- expanded provisions to include closet into a shower room for their any homeless people in the park, Copies of the prayer journal munication through parishioner fresh water, toiletries, socks, un- homeless neighbours and installing she’s thinking of asking Parks and will be available for $2 each at the a washer and dryer for the home- Recreation employees to take her Resources Booth at the upcoming less people. “We haven’t broached to meet some of them. “I wonder diocesan Synod, held on Nov. 24-25. if that might lead to a larger con- In private devotions, study groups St. JOHN’S CEMETERY versation about social justice and and online, participants can focus Anglican Parish of St. JOHN’S CHURCH, East Orangeville CHRISTMAS help me make the congregation on the words of John, renew their Because each life is important enough to remember … BAKE SALE & understand why these people are acquaintance with the crucified having to live in the park.” and risen Messiah, and deepen Located in spectacular Hockley Valley with pioneer graves LUNCH ROOM At the least, Mr. Duncan hopes their understanding of God’s Saturday, Nov. 25th, 2017 dating from 1812, St.