Warm Welcome at Bishop's 2009 New Year Levee
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FEBRUARY 2009 THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN / 1 A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2009 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF FREDERICTON Warm welcome at Bishop’s 2009 New Year levee A cup of chowder took the edge off the chilly day BY ANA WATTS In recent years the bishop has made a point of inviting A warm welcome awaited a lot everyone to join him at the New of cold New Brunswick Year’s Day service in Christ Anglicans at the Bishop’s Levee Church Cathedral at 11 a.m. and on New Year’s Day. This year the followed by the levee. “This year hostess, Bishop Claude Miller’s I think there were at least 75 wife Sharon, added a cup of people at the service,” says Mrs. chowder to the levee menu. Miller. “Quite a good crowd for “Everyone said they loved the such a bitter day.” chowder, it was perfect for such The numbers grew at the a cold, cold day,” says Mrs. levee. Miller. “We served seafood Retired Archbishop Harold chowder and a fish chowder, to Nutter, who was bishop of the accommodate those with Diocese of Fredericton from shellfish allergies. We also had 1971-1989, credits his immediate some delicious pate, cheese, predecessor, Archbishop Harry fruit and, of course there were O’Neil, with introducing the lots of Christmas sweets.” bishop’s levee to this diocese, No matter what the menu or which encompasses all of the the weather, the annual levee province of New Brunswick. held at Cathedral Memorial Hall Archbishop O’Neil was bishop on Church Street, Fredericton, from 1957 until 1971. is a warm and cheerful event. In a Dec. 20, 2008 article in the Fine linen, china and silver, a Fredericton newspaper the Christmas tree and flowers — Daily Gleaner, writer Wilfred this year the flowers were Langmaid quotes Archbishop ANA WATTS wonderful winter white roses Nutter: “When I came to Dorothy Dixon of Christ Church Cathedral serves a cup of chowder to the Rev. Bruce McKenna of the Parish of arranged by Rae Kimm of the Fredericton in 1960 as dean, the New Maryland at the Bishop’s New Year’s Day levee. Cathedral — help to make the big event was the lieutenant- occasion festive. It is an governor’s levee, which was in France. Church of England Archbishop O’Neill spent most levee continues as well, and opportunity for New Brunswick usually at 10 a. m. When Bishop bishops adopted the event as a of his ministry before coming begins just as the bishop’s levee Anglicans, as well as other O’Neill came, he proposed that New Year’s Day tradition. The here as bishop. He added the ends. Many of those who attend members of the community, to he host his own levee in the early custom eventually made its way bishop’s levee to the existing the bishop’s levee move on to Old greet the bishop and each other afternoon.” to some Canadian dioceses, ones hosted by the lieutenant- Government House to meet and and share good wishes for the The history of levees dates at including the Diocese of Huron governor and the military. greet more of their friends and coming year. least from the time of Louis XIV in southern Ontario, where The lieutenant-governor’s neighbours. Amazing Grace project produced amazing results Lenten Bible study created to BY ANA WATTS address needs of this diocese More than a third of the Especially relevant for synod delegates and alternates parishes in the Anglican Church of Canada participated in the All diocesan clergy in parish ministry are encouraged to use Amazing Grace project. Groups a Bible study prepared by Bishop Edward Salmon in their taped themselves singing the parishes during Lent. song and collected a toonie from Bishop Salmon is the retired Bishop of South Carolina each person. They sent their who inspired our diocesan leadership with presentations to tapes to the Amazing Grace the Clergy Conference last August. He is credited with website and sent their money to initiating a spectacular turn-around in his own diocese and the Council of the North — nine has prepared the Bible study for our diocese to address the dioceses of the Canadian struggles and opportunities faced here. It includes a general Church that cover largely introduction to the study outlining some of his observations remote areas where the cost of of our diocese as well as a prayer and reading (following the everything is high. The results Revised Common Lectionary) for each Sunday in Lent. Each are an “amazing” Amazing reading is also accompanied by suggested areas of discussion Grace video and $73,000 for the based on our diocesan situation. council of the north dioceses. Bishop Claude Miller hopes every parish will use the study The Diocese of Fredericton, in the way that best suits its particular situation, and stresses the Anglican Church of Canada Piper Ed Ferris and dancers enhanced Amazing Grace Sunday in Prince William. that synod delegates and alternates are especially and even far-flung parts of the encouraged to attend. Anglican Communion in the Canadian North and prisons, college chapels, youth The study is available on the diocesan web site http:// participated in the Amazing showed the world an amazing gatherings, and wherever anglican.nb.ca. There is a link to the study in the What’s New Grace project, raised money in church. Anglicans met over the last six menu that runs down the left side of the web page. support of the Anglican Church “Across Canada in churches, See “Amazing” on page 2 Get the news first at http://anglican.nb.ca While you’re there, subscribe to E News and get the news delivered to your in-box each week Click on the News button at the top of the page and choose E News from the drop-down menu 2 / THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN FEBRUARY 2009 N E W S B R I E F S C O M M E N T A R Y Appointed to executive We don’t always speak the same language, Colonel John Fletcher, Canon Fletcher Pastor to the Anglican Military served in Ordinariate of Canada and the Parish even when we all speak English Canadian Forces Director of of Chaplain Services, was recently Hammond BY ROBERT SMITH saying to her, “Did not our panoply of brilliant linguists named to the executive of the River in the Lord say ‘This is my body?’” who immersed themselves in ecumenical and inter-faith late 1980s as he Bible itself has to use “Yes,” Lady Jane replied, the Scriptures in their original Military Chaplain Branch. In an assistant words to convey its “but did he not also say ‘I am tongues and produced the this position he is one of only curate and Tideas, but how can we be the door?’” translations that are the very three chaplain colonels who then as sure that we are all reading the When does figurative basis of all things in the advise the Brigadier General priest-in- same thing? The liturgies use language become literal? How Anglican Church. They are the who is the Chaplain General. A charge. He now lives near words in an attempt to bring much of Sacred Scripture is to sources of all our prayer books, New Brunswick native, Padre Ottawa. the mysteries of the faith to be taken literally? And how and, indeed, much of our the human level of much figuratively? It is an English literature. understanding. But are we all extremely difficult issue, and From my perspective “Bible- hearing the same thing? Can we all must adopt “the based” is a code word that is Scholarsihp applications invited we accept the premise behind patience and comfort of Thy meant to show a division in the “and the peace of God which Children of diocesan clergy Applications are considered holy Word” and take the time Church, not a unity. The fact passes all understanding” and enrolled in secondary education according to financial and make the effort to “digest” that many people using the admit that many things in programs are reminded the circumstances, scholastic the Scriptures. word are ill-trained to use it “these holy mysteries” may application deadline for the record, extracurricular Words can so easily lead to only makes it more divisive. defy understanding? Humility annual Mabel Dean bursary is activities and community misunderstanding. Words Let us step back from such may be a required Christian May 31. The $1,000 award is involvement, residence and translated from ancient superficial differences. Honest virtue. based on financial need and chosen area of study. languages must be dealt with scholars can come to very Trying to tie mysteries academic standing, preference is Further information and carefully. Bible scholarship different conclusions, but we down to pedestrian language given to recent high school applications for these and other must be the handmaiden of must hear them out, take the can have odd consequences. graduates. sources of financial assistance biblical interpretation. Bible back from the literalists Some years ago I saw a movie Students enrolled in post- are found on the diocesan The Anglican Church is and put it where it belongs — about Lady Jane Gray, queen secondary agriculture programs website http://anglican.nb.ca. Bible-based — all parts of it. front and centre in the whole for nine days, then overthrown and/or residents of the Parish of Click on the “Admin” button in When we consider the church. by Mary’s supporters. There Stanley are encouraged to apply the top menu and choose tremendous impact of Wycliffe, was the possibility that if she for Scott Clarkson bursary for Financial Assistance from its Coverdale, Donne, Cranmer, converted to the Roman students of agriculture.