The pews were full at St. James, Orillia on Sept. 27 as Anglicans came together to worship, sing and pray for renewal at the fourth Lift Up Our Hearts service.
Part of the diocese’s Season of Spiritual Renewal, these worship services have brought together Anglicans from all parts of the diocese to share stories of faith, renew their baptismal vows and offer their collective prayers to God.
The congregation was treated to a variety of musical preludes as they arrived. Soloist Christina Bosco, the choir from All Saints, Collingwood, and singer-guitarist Jared Martens performed several diverse pieces before Jeff Campbell took over on the church’s pipe organ and the service began. A trumpeter, a cellist and a pianist rounded out the musical complement.
“It is our great delight and joy to welcome all of you here to this wonderful service,” said Bishop Andrew Asbil to the congregation gathered in the church and online. “Thank you, thank you, Diocese of Toronto, for showing up and being present in praise. Let’s have a really good time.”
After the congregation had heard the story of Jesus calming the Sea of Galilee from the Gospel of Mark, the Rev. Dr. Rob Hurkmans, incumbent of Trinity Church, Streetsville, preached. He explained that the story gives a perfect picture of spiritual renewal through its four parts.
“A crisis, a cry, a command, a confession. Four parts of the story, but also four parts of what spiritual renewal looks like,” he said.
Renewal begins in the middle of a crisis, he began. “Renewal and revival, they never happen when the waters are calm,” he said. “It’s like God uses crises as a wake-up call to get our attention and to remind us that we cannot fix ourselves.”
Then comes the cry to God. The disciples in the boat cry out to Jesus with a desperate prayer.
“We’ve gathered together today to do what? Certainly to be together, certainly to celebrate God, but we also got together today to cry out to God,” said Mr. Hurkmans. “To ask God to do those things that we cannot do for ourselves, in our lives or in our churches.”
The command follows. Jesus commands the wind and the waves to be still. Likewise, in the midst of crisis, a word comes to us from God. Every major renewal throughout history, said Mr. Hurkmans, has been marked by a renewed love for God’s word in the scriptures.
“Renewal depends on us being attentive and being ready to hear what God is saying. And every time we open the bible, God is ready to speak to us,” he said. “Renewal is hearing God’s voice in the middle of the chaos and allowing his word to calm our hearts.”
And finally, a confession of faith. The disciples wonder aloud who this man is, that the wind and sea obey him.
“The disciples haven’t got their Christology all worked out at this point, but one thing they do know: this Jesus is no ordinary rabbi,” said Mr. Hurkmans. “The real goal of renewal is not just about getting calmer waters; it’s about getting a clearer picture of who Jesus is.”
After a hymn, Makayla Clouter, a teen from St. Thomas, Brooklin, spoke about the way God has shaped her life and her faith. She told the congregation about Sloane, her childhood friend, who had Aicardi Syndrome. Ms. Clouter remembered eating lunch alone at school because of her allergies, until Sloane and her mother started sitting with her.
“That small act of kindness meant the world to me. It reminded me that God often shows up through people He places in our lives,” she said.
When Sloane died a few years later, Ms. Clouter found her faith tested, but she said she felt God’s presence at her friend’s funeral.
“I stopped seeing God only in happy times like at retreats or sunsets. I started noticing Him in the harder times too. I learned that His love is limitless. It doesn’t stop when life is hard. It doesn’t stop even at death,” she said.
“I learned that God doesn’t just comfort us. He transforms us. He gives us strength, compassion and faith we wouldn’t have otherwise,” she continued. “So when I think about God, I think about this: A God whose love breaks through our loneliness, our grief, our question, and even our loss.”
The congregation members joined together to renew their baptismal vows before the celebration of the Eucharist. During communion, lay anointers offered prayers and anointing with oil.
Near the end of the service, Bishop Riscylla Shaw, the celebrant, thanked everyone who attended, especially those who had offered their gifts.
“Deepest gratitude to everyone who spoke today, who shared in the service with music and joy, sharing your hearts and your faith as we gather together and worship and praise God and feel renewed. Thanks be to God for that,” she said.
The day ended with conversation, as Anglicans from different parishes met and re-met each other over refreshments.
The final Lift Up Our Hearts service took place on Oct. 25 at St. Paul, Bloor Street.
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