The service to mark Earth Day on April 22 was created and led by the Rev. Maria Nightingale, the church’s associate priest and chaplain to seniors, and Youth Minister Lydia Cordie. It was based on the idea of “forest bathing,” suggested by Cathy Robertson, the parish’s environment officer.

A group spanning seven decades in age strolled from the church to Erindale Park, acknowledging the traditional territory of the Huron/Wendat, Seneca and Mississaugas of the Credit River. As red-winged blackbirds trilled, Ms. Cordie began with prayer, then we walked to a spot in the woodland overlooking the Credit River.

Ms. Nightingale led the meditation, guiding us to an awareness of sound, feel, touch, smell and sight. Afterwards, everyone in the circle spoke of what they had noticed – the rushing sound of the river, traffic and passers-by on the path, the feel of sunlight and the breeze on skin, the smell of decaying leaves, the look of bright sunlight, green moss, red sumac panicles, silvery branches, light dancing on the river and a feeling of calm.

We listened to Psalm 148, which speaks of all of creation praising God, and concluded with prayer as we left the park refreshed.

Submitted by Lillian Newbery

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By the next day, nine more Anglican churches on the Yonge Street corridor between North York and Lake Ontario were open for prayers and pastoral care. Soon churches across the city and elsewhere in the diocese were providing space and special services for those dealing with the shock and grief.

“I think the churches have responded remarkably,” said Bishop Kevin Robertson, the area bishop of York-Scarborough, where the tragedy occurred. “People who were hearing the news were in shock and were looking for comfort and peace and some answers. I think they were looking to be together as well.”

In an interview shortly after the tragedy, he said he had talked to many people in the area, including one person who had seen the van drive by. “I’m hearing stories of Anglicans feeling vulnerable and, in some cases, afraid. But there is a strong sense of getting together with other people to pray. Many Anglicans are trying to make sense of what’s happened over the past couple of days by being together in community and making time for prayer and silence.”

The churches in York Mills Deanery organized a prayer walk on April 30 that followed the start of the van driver’s route. The walk began at the Finch subway station and proceeded down to St. George on Yonge, concluding with a vigil at the church. Anglicans also attended a multi-faith service on April 29 at Mel Lastman Square.

The vigil at the Church of the Incarnation on the night of the tragedy was attended by about 20 people, including Bishop Robertson. “It was very beautiful and comforting” said the Rev. Heather Gwynne-Timothy, incumbent. “Bishop Kevin led us in prayers and there was lots of silence for those who had been affected. The church was very beautiful and we all had a candle to hold.”

The vigil included Taize songs, psalms and prayers for the victims and their families, and also for the driver of the van and his family. “It was very poignant, very moving,” said Ms. Gwynne-Timothy.

She said the clergy in the area were devasted by the tragedy but were focussed on supporting others. “It’s hard to put into words how much this shakes you up, but you have to stay grounded so you can help other people cope.”

The vigil had to be held at the Church of the Incarnation because the church closest to the scene of the rampage, St. George on Yonge, was cordoned off as police shut down that part of Yonge Street. St. George’s is located on Yonge Street just two stoplights south of Finch Avenue, near where the killings began.

“We’re right in the midst of it,” said the Rev. Leonard Leader, the priest-in-charge of St. George’s, in an interview on April 25. He said the van had passed in front of the church and killed a pedestrian nearby.

The police barriers outside St. George’s were taken down on April 24 and the church planned to stay open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day for the remainder of the week. The church had received lots of offers of help, especially from clergy. “They’re saying, ‘If I’m needed, please let me know.’ It’s coming from across the diocese.”

Mr. Leader said the church provided space for private prayer, both in the chapel and the main sanctuary. Most people just wanted some time to pray. “Those who have come in so far have been pretty reflective,” he said.

Bishop Robertson visited St. George’s on the following Sunday, joining the church for its two English-speaking services and its Mandarin-speaking service. “It’s an opportunity for us to reclaim the space and try to bring some healing to that community,” he said.

At St. James Cathedral in downtown Toronto, the bell tolled for 10 minutes at noon on April 24-25 for those who had died. At the Church of the Redeemer on the corner of Bloor Street and Avenue Road, people were invited to write prayers and comments in chalk on a wall outside the church. By the end of the day, messages filled the wall and the pavement in front of it.

“A lot of messages were rooted in hope,” said the Rev. David Giffen, incumbent. Hundreds of people visited the church throughout the day, and in the evening, there was a community vigil. Bishop Robertson attended, as did people from some churches in the Yonge Street corridor and elsewhere. “We really just took time to grieve together and to put our hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” said Mr. Giffen.

Archbishop Colin Johnson posted a statement on the diocese’s website and social media just hours after the rampage on April 23. “Tragedy has struck our city today,” he wrote. “I weep for those who have died. I join in prayer for those who are physically injured or suffering emotionally from having witnessed such carnage, and for having lost loved ones. It is hard to comprehend such violence.”

He wrote that on the Sunday before the tragedy, many Christian churches had celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday, recalling Jesus as the one who cares for all his people in times of anguish. “Psalm 23 was read, which includes the verse ‘though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’ In the midst of such trauma, in the fear and confusion, anger and heartache, may we know that God is with us, with mercy and justice, healing and compassion. As the events unfold may we find ways to comfort one another in grief and support each in our resolve to be a community of freedom, unity and peace.” Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, posted a statement as well.

Churches and individuals took to social media soon after the tragedy to express their sorrow and support. The Rev. Chris Harper, the diocese’s Indigenous Native Priest, wrote on Facebook, “With all our prayers ascending, may the peace and love of God our Creator be drawn in to embrace all affected.” Flemingdon Park Ministry, a diocesan outreach in Don Mills, wrote on Facebook: “We are praying today for our fellow Torontonians who have been taken, and those that remain. Today we pray, tomorrow we show the world that our city will not be divided but come together in the face of tragedy.”

Messages of support and encouragement poured in from around the world on social media. Archbishop Francisco de Assis da Silva, Primate of Brazil, said on Twitter: “Prayers raised for consolation and hope to the people of Toronto. Our full solidarity with Canadian brothers and sisters!”

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In 1897, he accepted a position as professor of theology at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. In 1912, he became the third Bishop of British Columbia and was translated to be the Bishop of Ottawa three years later, serving for 24 years, the last six as the Metropolitan of Ontario. It is not unlikely that Bishop Roper was presented with the beautifully embroidered “Roper Cope,” made by the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, when he became the Bishop of Ottawa. The cope was gifted to the parish of St. Thomas upon his retirement from the Diocese of Ottawa in 1939.

In Household of God, A Parish History of St. Thomas’s Church, the late Merrium Clancy notes that, “Whether in the bishop’s day, or after it came to us, the cope became very worn and the stole is now missing, though there is a reference in the 1949 Altar Guild minutes to its being in need of cleaning. The best that we can do now is to try to preserve it so that we can gaze upon it from time to time.” A speculative version of the cope can also be seen worn by Bishop Roper in a fine triptych painted by Suan-Seh Foo, a parishioner, which hangs in the church’s Lady altar.

In the early 1990s, Altar Guild members Doreen Stanton and Donalda McTaggart thought better of the cope than treating it as an archival object to be admired, and set about its restoration. Ms. Stanton obtained samples of cloth from Watts & Co. in London, England and, after a choice was made, sewed a replica. The plan was to transpose the original embroidery from the old cope to the new one. This entailed a vast amount of work since the original embroidery was badly worn and too fine to transpose. A fatal illness prevented Ms. McTaggart from completing the work and eventually in 2015 it was turned over to the diocese’s Ecclesiastical Needlework Committee, supported by the patronage of Margaret Hardacre in honour of her husband Walter.

Many, many hours have gone into producing the current version, under the direction of Louise Reid, by sewer Doreen Stanton, and especially embroiderer Peggy Perkins. As much as possible, the original embroidery and details were retained where repair was possible, or completely renewed. The new braids and cords were custom made, as were other details. Today the new cope, although somewhat different from when it was presented to Bishop Roper in 1915, is a beautiful example of fine needlework and embroidery. The Ecclesiastical Needlework Committee is thrilled with the results and the parish of St. Thomas is privileged to use the cope for years to come in worship to the honour of God.

Submitted by Willem Hart, a member of St. Thomas, Huron Street.

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The club started with eight youth and has steadily grown to 25 students. Every Thursday at 4:30 p.m., Pastor Michele leads a discussion time with the teens about mental health issues or Christian teachings. In the meantime, a new couple who joined the church last spring brought over 10 new people to play ping pong weekly. As a result, St. Christopher’s now has ping pong sessions on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Dozens of people are playing ping pong weekly at St. Christopher’s!

Besides being a great outreach opportunity, we wondered how we could channel this enthusiasm for an even greater good. We decided to use the momentum to both strengthen our church’s team spirit and to raise money for a great cause – FaithWorks. As there are 18 organizations under the FaithWorks umbrella, we made it our goal to try to have an 18-hour ping pong relay marathon. Once the idea was shared with the leaders, everyone got excited about making it happen and an organizing committee set two goals: raise $6,000 for FaithWorks and have 60 people participate in the relay.

All the players endeavoured to find sponsors, and in our church announcements we urged parishioners, “If you are not playing, please sponsor someone to play.” The response was extremely positive.

We started each of the two marathon relay days (March 22 and 24) with a prayer to remember the ministries of all 18 FaithWorks’ organizations. There was tremendous energy in the room. Then the games began. Some came to play for an hour, others for six hours. By the end of the first day, we had raised $2,950 with 53 players. By the 12th hour of the second day, we were edging close to our target of $6,000. By the end of the 18^th hour, we had surpassed our target and reached $8,812. Donations continued to flow and at the end, we raised $9,002 for FaithWorks. Over 60 players contributed to the project!

Parishioners not only had a great time playing but also had opportunities for fellowship with new and potential church members from the community. One person has started to join our Thursday YEAH (outreach) club. We thank God for all these blessings. As Paul says in Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

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These were theoretical questions for me until two years ago. But they gained urgency with the arrival of our first grandchild – female, Ojibwe and living on a First Nations reserve – born amid the upsurge in nuclear rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, and finding out that my own country was selling military equipment to Saudi Arabia. What sort of a world would she inherit? What could my single voice do to change any of this? These questions paralyzed me.

But reading Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk and mystic, gave me hope. I found in his writings the ancient Christian wisdom of non-violence and peacemaking, restated in a modern key. Hope led to dreaming, and sharing those dreams led to collaborative action.

Our collective dreaming became Voices for Peace, a conference on peace held at the Cardinal Flahiff Centre in Toronto on April 28. The Church of the Redeemer, The Henri Nouwen Society, Citizens for Public Justice, and the Basilian Centre for Peace and Justice brought together a team of new and seasoned advocates for contemplative practices and active resistance. More than 125 people from across Ontario and as far away as Amsterdam and Los Angeles came to explore our Christian heritage of peacemaking, loving enemies, and non-violent resistance to evil.

There were two keynote speakers: Jim Forest and Shad Kabango. On the surface, it appeared an unlikely pairing – a 76-year-old writer and lifelong peace activist and a 35-year-old Juno award-winning hip hop artist and broadcaster. But their messages provided both counterpoint and harmony for the day.

Mr. Forest’s presentation focused not on theory but on the lived wisdom distilled from his friendships with Dorothy Day, Henri Nouwen, Daniel Berrigan and Thomas Merton. Each lived peacemaking in a different way. A fundamental principle for Mr. Forest is the need to disarm our own hearts, to bring into the light of day our own violent and aggressive tendencies, before attempting to disarm the hearts of our enemies. Compassion, love of enemies, and non-violent encounter were emphasized. We need first to see the humanity of our “enemy” because disarmament occurs not when we defeat our enemy in debate, but when we win their hearts.

Shad spoke on the intersection of art and peacemaking. He, too, emphasized the personal. Music and film are storytelling. Both arts offer deeply personal stories, but as they are offered those stories become social, assisting us in crossing our lines of human separation. Music maker at heart, he could not resist translating the fourth verse of “Remember to Remember” into spoken word poetry.

Newcomers to activism were able to take a small first step and sign a petition against nuclear weapons. Connections were made with Project Plowshares and Christian Peacemaker Teams. Books were purchased and friendships formed.

Voices for Peace closed with song and prayer. Music lifted to the heights of the chapel, perhaps to the heavens. As we sang, I realized I was finding my voice, and that we were finding our voices, for peace. And with the psalmist, “our sound has gone out into all lands/and their message to the ends of the earth.”

Paul Pynkoski is a member of Church of the Redeemer, Bloor Street, and was one of the organizers of Voices for Peace. He facilitates literature and film discussions at Church of the Redeemer’s drop-In program for those who are homeless or at risk. Jim Forest’s speech is available at http://jimandnancyforest.com/2018/04/becoming-peacemakers/ and Shad’s spoken word poetry is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NBp2wwN5Is

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I have been retired for over 20 years. In the church, I am one of many on the “Greeter” crew. I also try to help publicize the church by supplying photos and stories about events to the newspaper. My other voluntary jobs include volunteering with the Canada Revenue Agency by preparing tax returns for low income Canadians. Last year, volunteers across Canada prepared 700,000 free tax returns. I also volunteer with the Peterborough Police Department on their Community Policing Committee. We monitor drivers for speeding and organize bike rodeos for local youth.

My wife and I returned to Belize in April for a week to celebrate my birthday and to assist a family that has fallen on challenging times. The father, Eduardo Diaz, was an electrician until one day when he came in touch with an electrical wire that blew off his hands and feet. He now supports his family by selling popcorn on the street. Our local hardware store held a fundraiser for Eduardo and purchased a popcorn popper, like the ones used in theaters. In addition, one of our congregation has donated a set of stainless steel pots for the Diaz family. The majority of people in Belize use aluminum pots rather than stainless steel because of their affordability. We brought these items on our trip, plus many other items for schools such as flip flops, soccer shoes, chalk and books.

To make it clear, I have done nothing in Belize alone. All the efforts have been because of the tremendous support I have received from St. John’s congregation, my tolerant wife and understanding adult children. I tell them I am spending their inheritance in Belize.

I began volunteering in developing countries after trying to help with rebuilding projects in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. immigration officers delayed my entry to such an extent that that unpleasant experience dissuaded me from every trying to help there again. Then I helped each winter in Ecuador, Panama and Guatemala. Each of these countries are Spanish-speaking and I struggled with their language; I felt embarrassed in not being able to talk to them in their own language in their country. Then I discovered Belize, formerly British Honduras, a British protectorate since the early 1600s. To me it was obvious that one of the major problems in Belize was that they imported the majority of their food, even though they had the climate and soils to be self-sufficient in food production. My efforts, and those of other like-minded people such as Bev Hilditch, have purchased, supplied and planted fruit trees to help Belizeans become self sufficient by growing some of their own food. In addition, funds have been raised in Canada through auctions and dinners to supply food to school lunch programs there. Initially, I also supported a priest who was attempting to acclimatize superior chicken breeds that would survive in the tropical heat.

The Belize Project has raised sufficient funds now to support 10 students with tuition fees so they can attend high school. High school fees represent 30 per cent of a labourer’s income. The primary source of local jobs in the Dangriga area of Belize is orchard work which includes orange, lime, banana and coconut orchards. In the case of the Diaz family, the new popcorn popper will permit Eduardo to make additional volumes of popcorn and thereby make a difference for his family.

I was born in a snowbank and raised out of a suitcase. I have lived in 14 different houses, beginning in Finland, Sweden, the U.S. and Canada. My career was with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, where I was invited to go to new positions throughout the province. I enjoy helping people solve their personal problems and consequently after retirement I worked with the Ontario Human Rights Commission investigating harassment and discrimination complaints, resolving the complaint and closing the files.

My volunteerism probably stems from my father, now deceased, who would go and volunteer on any works at the drop of a hat. My sister possessed a similar trait and she put a lot of effort into helping immigrants settle in Canada. Before she passed on, she immigrated to Ecuador and helped people by starting a school and raising chickens.

Five years from now I would like to enjoy distributing the proceeds of a lottery – if I won – in Belize by establishing a long-term education scholarship that would help students pull themselves up by their bootstraps to a better life through education. I would also enjoy helping additional volunteers come to Belize and experience the local life, and to help the volunteers lend their helping hands to one of the many projects that are crying for help.

My understanding of the Bible is very limited, but I like the King James’s version that says, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you: do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” The parallel Buddhist version is, “Each day try to do one good thing. If you can’t accomplish that, at least try to avoid doing anything bad towards others.” I am not perfect, but I aim for that each day.

To learn more about the Belize Project, including volunteer and fundraising opportunities, contact Mr. Harjula at andyharjula@gmail.com or at 705-277-1825.

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Since becoming Executive Director in December 2017, I have started working with many of the plan’s working groups to help establish clear deliverables and frameworks for the strategic focus areas identified in the plan. It is heartening to see the level of commitment and collaboration on the part of volunteers and staff to enable our diocese to fulfill its mission to build healthy, missional Anglican communities that engage faithfully with the world and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Governance and Decision-Making Working Group is making substantial progress in identifying models of governance that will streamline and facilitate the decision-making process.

In our quest to continually become better stewards of our human and property resources, we are pleased to report that by year’s end we will present recommendations from our Remuneration Working Group that address remuneration concerns of our clergy that reflect our values.

Our Property Working Group is focused on helping us to better track, manage and leverage our real estate resources. By mid-summer, we will have a comprehensive inventory of all our real estate holdings, a project we undertook last year with N. Barry Lyons Consultants. In January of 2018, a Request for Proposal was put out to market for engineering consulting services to assist us with a diocese-wide building condition assessment project. We are currently in the procurement phase of the engagement and are pleased to report that we have received positive responses from some of the country’s most pre-eminent engineering consulting firms. This phase of work will end with the Request for Award, at which juncture we will evaluate the cost and commence rollout subject to Diocesan Council approval.

Feedback from the Engagement Survey, already completed, together with additional input from our clergy and senior staff at the Diocesan Centre, will help to inform and corroborate the work of the Trust and Culture Working Group as it seeks ways to build a more collaborative and trusting culture in our diocese.

The Innovation Based on Evidence Working Group is working on defining clear deliverables that will enable the diocese to mitigate risk through adoption of best practices with respect to how data will be used to measure outcomes for continuous improvement.

Our Leadership and Formation Working Group is in the early stages of defining deliverables that will enable us to develop the clerical and lay leaders who will lead our transformation efforts. The diocesan Postulancy Committee has reviewed its procedures for the identification of candidates for ordination and their formation.

We plan to bring recommendations from our working groups to our next Regular Session of Synod in November 2018.

The work of the strategic plan is often challenging but also immensely rewarding. I truly feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with the College of Bishops, talented diocesan staff and our dedicated volunteers to help implement our strategic plan.

I wish to thank you for welcoming me to the Diocese of Toronto as you have, and for your willingness and support to drive the positive change the implementation of our strategic plan will have in transforming our future by balancing our call to action for a bold vision, while maintaining our trust in Christ’s faithfulness to his Church and honouring our rich heritage.

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There are two temptations that commonly arise during election campaigns. One is to cast our votes for those whose platforms appeal to our self-interest, without considering the impact those policies will have on those who are in greater need than ourselves. Many politicians directly pitch their platforms to those whose principal motivation is “what’s in it for me.” This can lead to the second temptation, which is to become cynical or apathetic about the process and decide not to vote.

Both these temptations represent an abdication of our responsibility as Christians to love our neighbours as ourselves. To vote only for those who benefit us, or to leave the choosing of those in government to others, squanders one of the chief opportunities our society affords us for contributing to the common good. It also fails to take advantage of the greatest form of influence we have over our political leaders.

Anglicans have a long history of contributing to and engaging in the public sphere. Many public institutions – hospitals, schools and universities, libraries and social service agencies – were originally founded by Anglicans. Today, we continue to serve our neighbours through outreach programs at the parish and diocesan level. But Anglicans have also had a long history of using our voices to amplify the concerns of those in need, and for pressing for long-term, systemic changes that address social injustices.

Scripture calls us to seek the welfare of the communities in which God has placed us (Jeremiah 29:7) and to speak out and judge righteously on behalf of those in need (Prov. 31:8-9). In the same vein, our baptismal covenant calls us to “seek and serve Christ in all persons,” to “respect the dignity of every human being” and to “strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation.” These are values that we should carry with us at all times, including into the voting booth.

Before election day, take the time to learn about the various parties’ platforms. Ask what their impact is likely to be on those who are most vulnerable, and on the natural environment that sustains us. Share your concerns with candidates who come to call, with friends, family members, neighbours and fellow parishioners. Don’t forget to pray for those who will be elected, that they be given a spirit of wisdom and compassion to exercise their responsibilities for the good of all.

Finally, get out and vote! Whether or not your preferred party or candidate is elected, you have registered your interest in the life and future of the province – and of your community. At the same time, remember that, as important as it is, voting in an election is only one aspect of the ongoing work of civic engagement. Continue to pray for the government and other elected representatives, continue to learn about the issues that arise, and continue to speak up and to act for the building up of our common life.

The Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario has prepared an election backgrounder on housing and income security, with suggested questions for candidates. Visit www.province-ontario.anglican.ca/elections.

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