DECEMBER 2017 THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN / 1 Installation of Mission to Community A ministry to the Metropolitan Seafarers Treasure grieving pet Page 7 meets Page 9 owners Page 8 Page 14 A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL DECEMBER 2017 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF FREDERICTON Diocesan Synod: It’s all about mission BY GIsele MCKNIGHT new staff members. Nicole Chouinard is the financial and If you were to choose a theme administrative assistant. Allyson word the sum up the 136th Caldwell is the half-time assis- Diocesan Synod, it would be tant to the director of youth and missional. intergenerational ministries. The day-long synod was held Ecumenical guests included Nov. 4 at Christ Church (Par- the Rev. Lisa Vaughn, the par- ish) Church in Fredericton, ish vitality coordinator in the with 75 clergy and 149 laity in Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia attendance, plus several guests and Prince Edward Island; the and observers. Many noted this Rev. Richard Bowley, president synod was more youthful in of the Maritime Conference of appearance. Last year’s move the United Church of Canada to encourage parishes to send and pastor at St. Paul’s United in a third delegate — between the Fredericton; the Rev. Ralph Wei- ages of 16-35 — has resulted in a gold, eastern synod representa- younger synod membership. tive of the Evangelical Lutheran In this program synod, the Church of Canada and of the main part of the day was spent New Denmark Lutheran Parish; discussing mission, using the and Andrew Scollick, director book, and accompanying video, of vocations and recruitment at Surprise the World: The Five Atlantic School of Theology in Habits of Highly Missional Halifax. People, by Michael Frost. The DOROTHY SHEPHARD PHOTO The Rev. Christopher Ketch, acronym BELLS forms the crux The 136th Diocesan Synod saw 75 clergy and 149 laity members, plus observers and guests, gather to learn a volunteer firefighter with the of the book and the five habits: how to be more missional. It was held Nov. 4 at Christ Church (Parish) Church in Fredericton. Beersville Fire Department, Bless, Eat, Listen, Learn, Sent. co-ordinated first aid for the day Threshold Ministries’ national and identified all first aid volun- director Shawn Branch was the Frost book to take home. See the od with these words: “I would pointed recording secretary of teers present. As the new Safe facilitator as the five habits were BELLS story for more on this, like to begin by acknowledging the 136th Diocesan Synod. Bish- Church officer, Ben Bourque illustrated, first via video from which also includes a presenta- that the land on which we gather op David thanked Canon Leo noted the location of fire extin- the author, and then by short tion by Hockey Ministries Inter- is the traditional unceded terri- Martin for 13 years of service to guishers and exits, and outlined interviews with five people illus- national leader Bruce Smith. tory of the Wolastoqiyik (Mali- Diocesan Council and Diocesan the exit plan in case of emergen- trating the five aspects. Delegate Bishop David Edwards seet) and Mi’kmaq peoples.” Synod as recording secretary. packages included the Michael opened the 136th Diocesan Syn- The Rev. David Peer was ap- The bishop introduced two Synod continued on page 5 BELLS program was the highlight of diocesan synod By Gisele McKnight and interviewing five parishio- verse of the hymn Lift High The on your knees and ask God ‘who the Edmundston region, a city ners whose mission illustrated Cross. do you want me to bless’ — peo- with its fair share of drug abuse, The best part of the 136th Dioc- points from the book Surprise B for BLESS: Frost explained ple from church, non-Christians alcoholism and family violence. esan Synod, according to many the World: The Five Habits of the value of blessing, and sug- from work and anyone from “The church leadership gives participant surveys, was the Highly Missional People, by gested a prayer to ask God which either category,” said Frost in the me the opportunity to speak to BELLS program presented by six Michael Frost. Each member of three people to bless each week. video. “I can’t tell you the impact speakers through the main part synod was given a copy of the An act of kindness, like mowing this will have. It binds you to the Bells continued on page 4 of the day. book to take home and share someone’s lawn; a gift of food, people you are blessing.” Diocesan Synod was held with their parish. cash or something else; and Dawn Mary Baker, a member Nov. 4 at Christ Church (Parish) The acronym ELLSB forms words of affirmation, like iden- of the Parish of Madawaska, dis- More Diocesan Church. the crux of the book and the five tifying something in someone cussed her mission to illustrate Threshold Ministries’ national habits: Bless, Eat, Listen, Learn, you value or want to encourage blessing. A retired nurse, she Synod coverage on director Shawn Branch facili- Sent. Between each of the five comprise the B is blessing. shares her experience, skills and pages 2, 4, 5, and 6 tated BELLS, introducing videos parts, synod members sang a “Every Monday morning, get compassion with the women of 2 / THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN DECEMBER 2017 1 3 6 th d i o c e s a n s y n o d cese who spoke were articulate I feel more and more a part of focus of the daylong synod. In it Bishop David says, “This and deeply committed to Christ the great whole of our diocese, Then, of course, the trag- leads us into a direction which Reaction and His Gospel. and less and less as an isolated edy the next day in Sutherland is very risky for us. We will be Our Synod this year pre- island. Shawn Branch’s presen- Springs, Texas, where over looking outwards rather than pared us for a path forward that tation, enabling the stories of two dozen people died in their inwards. to synod could assist bringing about the many other people and minis- Sunday morning worship service We will not be concentrating Kingdom of God in our various tries, had a powerful impact on puts a new twist on what the on what is good for us but what parts of New Brunswick. It was me. Bishop described as the R-I-S-K is the best for others. We will The Rev. Shirley Noseworthy, a privilege to be a member of That, combined with the en- involved in living a life of faith. be making a difference in the Parish of Woodstock Synod this year. couragement of Michael Frost’s In a world so often filled with communities where we live with It was the best synod I have at- book, could contain a key to the acts of hate and violence, how the intention of seeing people tended! I was greatly inspired by Rob Pitman, Threshold Minis- fuller expression of the Christian much more important it be- enter into communion with God the five passionate speakers who tries parish evangelist, Parish faith, perhaps how it is meant comes for us to cling to Matthew through Jesus the Son.” shared how they are living out of Portland to be. 22:35-40 and demonstrate to Do you know why this the five habits of highly mis- It is very exciting to see Bishop This is what I think about others that we love the Lord our sounds a bit familiar? It is sional people! Edwards and the Synod commit- post Synod; this is what I tell God with heart, soul, and mind, exactly what our Vision State- I am very thankful to have tee steering us towards a more others when they ask about the and also our neighbours as our- ment says! I came away from Michael Frost’s book “Surprise mission-minded diocese. meeting. This, I believe, is what I selves. Yes Tina Turner, love has Synod gratified that our parish is the World” that we will be using At Synod we learned about will continue to think about. EVERYTHING to do with it ! well on the way to understand- in our parish this Easter. It will the BELLS approach to mission ing how to be highly missional be exciting to see how this guide that Michael Frost wrote about Jason A. Smith, chair of YIG Kathy Asch, Parish of Wood- people. will transform our congregation in his book, Surprise the World: (Youth & Intergenerational stock to be missional people, following The Five Habits of Highly Mis- Ministries team) The 136th Synod of the Diocese Chase McLean, Parish of the simple and “doable” BELLS sional People. This book lays I have been to a few synods of Fredericton was the third Wicklow, Wilmot, Peel and program! out a blueprint for us to follow and this was very different from Synod for me, and the best! Aberdeen Thank you to the organizing based on Jesus’s teachings and the others. I enjoyed the practi- Mid-morning we were singing: The 136th session of Synod was committee and all the par- how he conducted His ministry cal aspect to it with the mission “Lift high the cross, the love once again a good experience. I ticipants for such an enriching 2,000 years ago. His teachings series. I hope the parishes decide of Christ proclaim. Till all the was privileged to attend and have Synod! God is good! and example still holds true to do the mission series. world, adore his sacred name” the opportunity of seeing how the today.