Herbert Leading Women 2019: BLESSED ADVENT & MERRY CHRISTMAS O’Driscoll Breaking through the 3 on Christ’s 7 St. Nicholas stained glass ceiling unwrapped guardian PM# 40069670 4 ANGLICAN JOURNAL Since 1875 anglicanjournal.com @anglicanjournal vol. 145 no. 10 december 2019 ‘You weep before you get to Bethlehem’ Canadian Anglicans visit the city of Christ’s birth in a tension-fraught time By Tali Folkins STAFF WRITER For the past quarter-century, Canon Richard LeSueur, who lectured at St. George’s College in Jerusalem in the early 1990s, has been returning to the Holy Land for one month almost every year to teach or lead pilgrimages. There’s something he often says to groups of westerners when he first guides them into Bethlehem for Christmas: “I can’t show you the Bethlehem you have imagined, because it doesn’t exist.” See BETHLEHEM, p. 8 PHOTO: CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, BETHLEHEM KONOPLYTSKA/SHUTTERSTOCK Amidst rising global conflict, Anglicans work for peace on earth Nuclear disarmament ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Creighton went on to serve as the Anglican a key issue for Project Church of Canada’s representative to Project Ploughshares Ploughshares, the peace research institute of the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC), Matt Gardner from 1987-88 and from 1990-98. And since STAFF WRITER 2018, the Doomsday Clock now stands at The Cold War was at one of its many heights two minutes to midnight. in 1982 when Phyllis Creighton’s essay “The The forward march of the clock suggests Ethics of Death” appeared in Voice from humanity is closer than ever to global PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED the Mountain, a series of reflections from destruction caused by its own technologies. Peter Goodwin (left) led a PWRDF team at the Vancouver Ride for Refuge event— Anglicans on the Ten Commandments. In response, many Christians have sought one of several such rides in Canada through which participants raised funds. In her essay, Creighton described to challenge the weapons and dealers of nuclear policies pursued by the world’s death. Through participation in Project superpowers as resting on “the willingness Ploughshares and activism in their churches PWRDF Ride for Refuge teams raise more to unleash hideous, incalculable poisoning and communities, Canadian Anglicans are of the earth and mutation of the human living out the call of the Marks of Mission than $18,000 for DRC hospital program species—apocalyptic terror.” She warned “to challenge violence of every kind and to that the world stood “more in danger of pursue peace and reconciliation.” Joelle Kidd The latest Ride for Refuge took place war, and annihilation, than at any time At the October meeting of the United STAFF WRITER Oct. 5. PWRDF, which has participated since 1945” and that the Bulletin of Atomic Nations General Assembly, representatives For the sixth consecutive year, riders under since 2014, raised $18,498 for Maison Scientists had recently moved the hands of of Project Ploughshares were present for the the banner of the Primate’s World Relief Dorcas, part of the Panzi Hospital in the its Doomsday Clock from 12 minutes to annual gathering of the First Committee, and Development Fund (PWRDF) hopped Democratic Republic of the Congo. midnight to four. Disarmament and International Security. on their bikes and rode up to 50 km to Ride for Refuge is a non-competitive Much has changed since Creighton’s As a founding member of the CCC, the support victims of sexual and gender-based cycling and walking event that takes place essay was published. The Cold War officially See PEACE, p. 6 violence. See RIDE, p. 2 2 anglican journal • december 2019 Ride teams support victims of gender-based violence Continued from p. 1 since 2014. “There was a call out to the annually in cities across Canada. There are diocesan reps to try and get teams going in 10 km, 25 km or 50 km routes for cyclists their area. When I saw…they’ve got teams and 5 km walking routes for those who going in Hamilton and Toronto, I said, want to participate on foot. Funds raised go ‘We’ve gotta get one going out here!’” towards charities chosen by participating Goodwin says he is inspired by the teams in Canada and around the world. chance to raise money for a good cause, This year, 37 participants rode as well as the camaraderie the ride creates. for PWRDF in six teams in multiple “It’s amazing, you see the same people, cities—Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and once a year…. You ride with your fellow Brampton. There were also some “RIDE Anglicans for the cause, and it’s just a great Anywhere” participants (individuals experience all around.” without teams, in cities with no official The event also allows PWRDF to Ride for Refuge event). raise money for partner organizations The Panzi Hospital, according to without taking on any of the logistic and Jeanine Cudmore, PWRDF development administrative costs, which are managed program coordinator, was founded in 1999 through Ride for Refuge. by Dr. Denis Mukwege “as a response to PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED Around eight or nine people joined the the devastating war that surrounded his The Toronto team stands with their bikes. A total of 37 participants on six teams PWRDF Vancouver team this year and community” in the Democratic Republic of rode for PWRDF this year. raised more than $6,000, Goodwin says. the Congo. The hospital provides medical Ride for Refuge has raised more than $12 care for women and girls who are survivors 60% of women treated at Panzi Hospital are violence and their dependent children. The million since its founding in 2004, according of sexual and gender-based violence, in an unable to return home afterwards—whether program also offers training in literacy, to the organization’s corporate social area that still experiences armed conflict. because of the extent of their injuries, business, job skills and micro-lending to responsibility and development associate, Mukwege won the Nobel Peace Prize for continuing danger or stigma attached help the women launch micro-enterprises. Liam Good. This year, rides were held in his work in 2018. to victims of sexual violence. The safe Peter Goodwin, PWRDF representative 22 cities across Canada, in addition to sites Maison Dorcas was started in 2008, home provides housing, meals and access for the diocese of New Westminster, has chosen by independent “RIDE Anywhere” following realizations that up to 40% to to therapeutic care to victims of sexual organized PWRDF’s Vancouver ride team teams, with more than 6,500 participants. g PWRDF PWRDF 2020 Canadian B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y of The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund WorldA N G L I C A N C H U R C H O F C A N A D A Gifts • F A L L 2 0 1 9 Church Calendar 1 improve On sale community now! health with 2 5 Only build resilience clean water support Indigenous to climate change in communities $ vulnerable areas in Canada 5 (plus tax) Light and Darkness The 2020 Canadian Church Calendar presents images and texts that explore the light that begins 3 4 and ends the day. How beautiful it is that light can reduce hunger with affirm every woman’s right go through our eyes to our souls, that Jesus can agricultural supplies to a healthy pregnancy and safe birth move like light into our centre. and livestock Preview online: anglican.ca/calendar The World of Gifts is your opportunity of a lifetime. Take your opportunity today at pwrdf.org/worldofgifts. 80 Hayden St. Toronto, ON M4Y 3G2 Tel: 416-924-9192 Phone: 1-800-263-2664 • Fax: 1-800-461-8575 or 1-866-308-7973 PO Box 9855 Woodslee Ave., Paris, ON N3L 3E5 Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.parasource.com Website: www.pwrdf.org @pwrdfcan @pwrdf @pwrdf_justgeneration anglican journal • december 2019 3 GOODWILL TO ALL4 A legendary figure with contemporary relevance Matt Gardner further popularized in the 1930s through STAFF WRITER advertisements for Coca-Cola. While the feast day for Nicholas falls HE NAME OF St. Nicholas is commonly associated with the near the start of Advent, Flynn calls the Christmas season, but popular date largely a coincidence. He suggests that Timagination is likely to picture him less as a perceptions of Nicholas were more likely influenced by Advent rather than the other saint wearing bishop’s robes and more as a way around, due to the prominence of plump, jolly man in a bright red suit. contemporary Christmas culture. Santa Claus is commonly known as “old “These days, you wouldn’t know that Saint Nick,” and the modern idea of him [Nicholas] was a bishop,” Flynn says. “There was influenced in part by the legendary 5 The Dutch are some places, like in the Netherlands figure of St. Nicholas. But in Christian cultural still, where on Dec. 6 there is a Santa Claus, denominations around the world, Nicholas representation a St. Nicholas, who goes around, he’s still of Myra remains one of the most widely of St. Nicholas, dressed in bishop’s robes and so forth. venerated saints, known as the patron saint Sinterklaas, That’s disappeared from the contemporary of sailors, merchants, students and children, was a mythical Santa Claus phenomenon, so in a way, among other groups. figure said to fill it’s too bad that that’s been obscured by Within the Anglican Church of Canada, children’s shoes more sentimental and frankly commercial Nicholas is the patron saint of the Anglican with treats.