Can I Even Change?
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SEPTEMBER 2014 THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN / 1 A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2014 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF FREDERICTON He kept a steadfast watch BY ANA WATTS Sublime choral and organ music, including the gentle voices of the Treble Choir. A rockin’ praise group with super soloist (Kath- leen Snow) and keyboardist with lightning fast fingers (Tom Fetter). Guide My Feet with a honky-tonk arrangement. A Swahili hymn … The music of the Choral Evensong Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for Archbishop Claude Miller on Sunday afternoon June 22 touched everyone in some spe- cial way — and that includes the two little boys playing outside the great west doors who danced to the music coming from an outside speaker. They were prob- ably among the few who heard the thunderclaps and saw the rain begin to pour. It was still raining when the many dignitaries and hundreds of New Brunswick Anglicans who filled the cathedral to over- ANA WAT T S flowing headed for Cathedral The quality, diversity and excitement of the music at the Choral Evensong Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for Archbishop Claude Miller Memorial Hall for a reception was outstanding. Above some members of the Cathedral’s Treble Choir with the assistance of Cheryl Jacobs (in back on the right) do their part. with generous and delicious refreshments. Most of them ating initiatives like the Nico- representing the generous gifts to come.” The Primate’s focus, INSIDE were sorry they hadn’t brought demus Project, lay and clerical of New Brunswick Anglicans to however, was on Archbishop their umbrellas. But even the leadership training, Archdea- the Bishop’s Purse, a cheque the Claude’s unfailing dedication to slow walkers didn’t get very wet conry Commission reports and Archbishop immediately passed his flock — to pastoral care. In and the hall festivities continued their implementation, he told on to his delighted wife Sharon. this he echoed John 21: 15-19, with presentations to Archbishop the crowd that much of what Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the second lesson of the service Claude and his wife Sharon, Archbishop Claude had accom- Primate of the Anglican Church read by Sharon Miller — Feed including a detailed presentation plished sounded administrative of Canada and dear friend of my lambs, tend my sheep, feed on the archbishop’s many accom- and temporal as opposed to Archbishop Claude, preached my sheep. “Claude cared for the plishments during his episcopacy. spiritual, but that everything he at this special service. He too young and the old, the rich and Jim Knight, vice-chair of did was done prayerfully, faith- spoke of the Archbishop’s many the poor. He knew his people by Diocesan Council, took on that fully and to build the faith of his accomplishments in the dio- name and acceptance … He kept task with pleasure and aplomb. precious flock. Jim also pre- cese, saying: “He renewed the Follow two-year-old Isaac Ranson to When he had finished enumer- sented the Millers with a cheque ministry of the diocese for years See Archbishop Miller on page 2 pages 6 & 7 for more farewell photos. Can I even change? A connection that matters Bishop elect David To have the truth about your- For decades The New Brunswick Anglican and the Edwards reflects on a self put on public display is not Anglican Journal have been vital communications always comfortable. I am sure links among parishes, dioceses and the national very public future that as the next years go by I will Church. Together, we have shared stories, ideas have to face up to more of this Apparently I have an enormous and opinions from a faith perspective in a way that as I seek to lead and pastor our has helped us put that faith into action. Whether head and a disproportionately diocese. Truth can be a slippery thick neck. These are two of the encouraging a response to human need, educating customer. People speak about about the care of creation, or helping readers dis- things I discovered as I was mea- “your truth” and “my truth.” We sured for some of the clothing I cover new ways to reach out and grow the Church, used to think we knew what it The New Brunswick Anglican and the Anglican will need when I take up the role is, but now it seems to depend of bishop in this diocese. It is not Journal spark compassionate conversations in an upon how we see things rather increasingly secularized world. Please give gener- that I was not aware of this infor- than something which can be mation beforehand, but there is a ously to the Anglican Journal Appeal this year. With Alternatively, you can email [email protected] measured by an outside scale. your help we can keep the conversation going! Please certain feeling of embarrassment That being said, we tend to glican.ca or go to www.canadahelps.org to make when it is announced in a loud fill out and return the enclosed postage paid donor your gift today. voice in the middle of a store. See We have on page 2 reply card or call 416-924-9199, ext 259. 2 / THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN SEPTEMBER 2014 d i o c e s a n n e w s O R D I N A T I O N You are cordially invited to attend the Consecration of David Edwards as Bishop of the Diocese of Fredericton on Saturday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. at St. Dunstan’s Church Regent Street, Fredericton Reception to follow Christopher Ketch was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Archbishop Claude Miller on June 14 at St. Luke’s Church in Saint John. He worked as youth minister in the Parish of Chatham before attending Wycliffe College and began his ordained ministry as deacon-in-charge of the Parish of Kent at the end of August. Above with Christopher (second from the left) are the Rev. Eileen Irish, rector of St. Luke’s; Archbishop Miller; Archdeacon Geoffrey Hall, the Bishop’s Executive Assistant; Archdeacon Richard McConnell who supervised the Parish of Kent; and the Rev. Gordon Thompson, rector of Chatham. Archbishop Miller serving as Episcopal Administrator Continued from page 1 Anglican Communion, raised committed to respectful dia- by spontaneous ovation. June 26, his 70th birthday. How- a steadfast watch over the Dio- your sights, broadened your logue, and was a man who never The Evensong service at the ever he agreed to an appoint- cese of Fredericton, the Ecclesi- horizons and been with you sought his own renown. And cathedral was the final of three ment as Episcopal Administra- astical Province of Canada, over through it all.” The Primate went when he spoke at the House of opportunities for New Bruns- tor, effective June 27 through the whole church. on to say Archbishop Claude Bishops, which he did judicious- wick Anglicans to say farewell, Sept. 20, when bishop-elect “He has been a champion of nurtured a holy fellowship ly, he was centered and cogent. meet and greet receptions were David Edwards will be conse- the Five Marks of Mission of the of truth and love, was deeply The Primate also spoke glow- held in Miramichi and Saint crated bishop and can officially ingly and tenderly of Sharon. He John earlier in the month. At assume the office. called her a tower of strength all three events the archbishop The metropolitan would We have the responsibility and a woman of great faith, not bestowed The Bishop’s Award usually assume oversight of the to mention lots of fun. of Merit on faithful Anglicans diocese until the consecration When he finished preaching whom he wanted to especially of the new bishop, but because to become more like Jesus he called Archbishop Miller to recognize for their support and Archbishop Claude is the Continued from page 1 the chancel steps, with his crosier, efforts. See them on page 5. metropolitan and his successor, know when our unfortunate Well, first we need to check the sign he is a shepherd. The Archbishop Claude officially Bishop Percy Coffin, has yet to characteristics are exposed. We whether or not the thing we are Primate then asked the congrega- retired as Bishop of Fredericton be consecrated to that position, see them for what they are and concerned about is real. Ask two tion to call out in unison— “Well and Metropolitan of the Eccle- this extraordinary appointment do not like them. Personally, I or three trusted people if they done, good and faithful servant” siastical Province of Canada on was necessary. do not like the fact my flaws are think this is true. If they answer — which they did, accompanied known nor do I like the part of yes, then in my experience we me they represent. need to seek the good charac- How are we to respond to teristic opposite to our bad one. such revelations? We can take If it is anger the opposite is long the view that it is only a matter suffering, if it is gossip then of opinion whether or not our encouragement. At this point we www.anglican.nb.ca can ask God to begin to work in negative traits really exist. On OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE DIOCESE OF FREDERICTON the other hand, if we admit they us to point out when we are do- A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL are true and they are probably ing what we should not. We can damaging to others, ourselves again ask our trusted friends to The Most Rev. Claude Miller Bishop and Publisher or both.