Afterwards, we moved to our cabins with help from our trusty flashlights, which only added to the excitement of our youth finding their cabins and beds for the night. We awoke to a beautiful morning, very thankful that breakfast was still able to be made and enjoyed by all, even with no power.

The power outage only rejigged our plans slightly and the sessions carried on as if nothing stood in our way. The ages were split into 11-13 year-olds and 14-18 year-olds, all talking about the same topic: “What it means to feel at home.” We all learned about how God wants us to be home in Him, home in our communities, home in our churches, home in our families and home in ourselves.

Our afternoon was filled with excitement on the low ropes and during gym time, mountain biking, team games, skateboarding and chill-out time. With the power restored, our evening sessions had us split into our groups once again with scripture being acted out, stories being told and ending in our small groups to delve deeper into the conversations of “Home.”

The evening ended with an epic game of Flame Battlers – again, ask your youth! The retreat ended with a rousing service of celebration and a sermon telling our youth that fear can drive us away from our home in God. They were tasked with asking themselves what scares them the most and then to “Go and do it!”

We so look forward to our retreat next year and ask that you consider sending your youth to join in all the learning, fun and fellowship!

The post Power outage doesn’t stop youth from recharging appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

The project is part of the diocese’s long-term plan for sharing its properties more widely and building partnerships in local communities. Organizations partnering with the diocese already provide more than 300 affordable housing units on Vancouver Island. Another project now under construction will mean 84 more units of affordable housing for seniors in Saanich, B.C., and another 85 are planned for the same community.

A total of eight projects in the diocese are now awaiting approvals for funding from financial institutions and publicly-supported lenders and grant providers.

The diocese also plans to develop “multi-use community spaces,” with churches, affordable housing and facilities for children’s education all on the same site.

Diocesan Post

The post Affordable housing project approved appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

The winning proposal was made by Rudolf von Beckerath, an organ-making firm based in Hamburg, Germany. The Beckerath-built organ is expected to be useable for 100 years. The next-most-attractive bid to make the cathedral an organ with similar music-making capacity would have cost $100,000 more.

The new instrument will replace the cathedral’s current organ, which failed earlier this year after nearly 50 years of use, and was found to be beyond repair.

During the process of finding a replacement, cathedral leaders decided the new organ should be able to at least match the old one in tonal quality, range and ability to accompany worship. They also agreed it should be cost-effective over its projected life and not impose a financial burden on the church’s existing ministry, and that it would be paid for through fundraising and other freely-given gifts, rather than debt or the church’s general operating budget.

The vestry has approved a campaign to raise the necessary money. A number of fundraising activities have already started, and some generous donations have been made. It’s estimated that the organ will be installed six months from the signing of a contract.

Algoma Anglican

The post Cathedral votes for $258k organ appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

About 200 people attended the vigil, held at the Anglican church of St. John the Evangelist, off Brookside Drive, the street on which the shootings took place. Though organizers said they didn’t know beforehand whether anyone would show up, the church was full for the ceremony. In addition to church leaders were two dozen members of the media.

The Rev. Paul Ranson, rector of the church, opened the service. Bishop David Edwards, of the Diocese of Fredericton invited participants to light candles. “These candles represent the light of our solidarity – with each other, with those who have been greatly affected, and of course God’s solidarity with us,” he said. “That light is hard to see tonight, but as a minister of the Christian gospel, I can say God is here with us.”

The vigil, which also included readings of biblical passages and hymn-singing, was live-streamed by the CBC.

Four people, including two police officers, were killed by gunfire in the parking lot of a Fredericton apartment complex in the early morning of Aug. 10. Matthew Vincent Raymond has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with their deaths.

The New Brunswick Anglican

The post Vigil held for shooting victims appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

Melissa Ritz, who was most recently working as a theological intern and office administrator at Christ Church, Edmonton, arrived at Lambeth Palace in September, where she will spend a total of 10 months with 15 “residential” members of the community. Another 20 “non-residential” participants will live and work outside the palace, but in the London area.

Launched in 2015, the Community of St. Anselm invites Christians aged 20-35 to “spend a year in God’s time,” praying, studying and performing ministry together. The program is named after a medieval Benedictine monk and scholar, and participants in the community must follow a “Rule of Life.”

Ms. Ritz, who holds a Master of Divinity degree from Wycliffe College in Toronto, says she’s both hopeful and apprehensive about the experience. “I’m introverted and shy and have a tendency to be a hermit, so I’m looking forward to spending time with God and others with a common purpose,” she says. “Benedict encourages finding community and developing one’s self in God that endures wherever you go. I’m terrified to begin this journey, but I look forward to where God takes me next.”

The Messenger

The post Woman joins Lambeth community appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

The post Good News appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

It is clear that our parishes are active in direct outreach ministries, especially in providing food and shelter: 86 per cent of responding parishes either host or collect for a food bank program, and more than half host or contribute to a community meal program; 30 per cent have community vegetable gardens, and over 20 per cent host or contribute to an Out of the Cold program; 60 per cent have engaged in refugee sponsorship over the past two years.

Other forms of outreach include clothing exchanges; ministry to seniors, youth, hospitals and shelters; partnering with local organizations; and raising funds for FaithWorks’ ministries and PWRDF. Half of respondents are involved in five or more forms of direct outreach.

While participation in advocacy activities was generally lower, diocesan efforts to raise awareness and engagement have borne fruit. Fully 90 per cent of responding parishes present the Diocesan Social Justice Vestry Motion at their annual vestries, and one-third are involved in meetings with elected officials on justice issues. Several indicated growing interest in Indigenous justice and reconciliation.

In terms of creation care, many parishes are doing the best they can with aging buildings and limited budgets. The vast majority of parishes (over 85 per cent) participate in low-cost conservation measures such as recycling (especially paper) and keeping lights, appliances, and taps turned off when not in use. Nearly two-thirds use reusable jugs and china rather than plastic bottles and disposable cups. More than 60 per cent have upgraded to energy-efficient lighting and programmable thermostats, while a sizable minority (40-50 per cent) have taken measures such as improving insulation, upgrading heating systems, installing low-flow toilets, using non-toxic cleaning materials, and choosing landscaping that needs less water. Several respondents indicated that they would like to do more in terms of energy and water conservation but lacked funds for upgrades. Participation in a free energy benchmarking program, such as that offered by Faith & the Common Good, could help such parishes prioritize measures that will have the greatest impact for the lowest cost.

Some parishes get creative when it comes to creation care. The Church of the Ascension, Port Perry has partnered with Kawartha Conservation to regenerate Williams Creek, located behind the church property. In this project, professionals have begun removing invasive Japanese knotweed from the creek and volunteers will help replant the banks with native species and reinforce it with boulders to reduce erosion and improve wildlife habitat. Ascension’s property chair, Cliff Moon, a freshwater limnologist, describes it as a very practical way for the church to help “safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”

Most parishes surveyed build awareness of justice issues by bringing social justice and creation care into prayer and preaching, as well as through use of bulletin inserts and other print resources. Nearly half make social or ecological justice the focus of specific Sundays, such as Earth Sunday or National Indigenous Sunday, while 46 per cent hold special events on justice issues. Unsurprisingly, the most common request for support was for print resources such as bulletin inserts, advocacy toolkits, lectionary reflections and prayer resources. However, more than half indicated a desire for diocesan staff to visit their parish to preach or make a presentation on social and ecological justice.

While only 44 per cent of responding parishes have a formal outreach committee, 40 per cent said their whole parish is involved in outreach and advocacy in various ways. Only 18 per cent indicated that the incumbent did most of the work in this area. A small but growing number of parishes are starting green committees as well.

Overall, the survey indicates that parishes in our diocese recognize the importance of outreach, advocacy and creation care. They welcome support from the diocese and are interested in learning from each other. The survey offers a snapshot of a Church on the way, growing in love for, and public witness to, the world around it.

The post Hopeful signs for outreach, environment appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

“It has always been in my heart to somehow recover the contemplative tradition from our Christian past,” says Ms. Passmore. “It’s really about inviting people into quiet prayer, meditation and attending to their inner life with God.”

The centre, located in a room at the church, offers Ignatian and Franciscan spiritual exercises to deepen one’s prayer life, spiritual direction, retreats and programs. There are also plans to create a chapel and a small library. The room was provided with the blessing of the church’s incumbent, the Rev. Canon John Anderson.

“It’s a very warm, creative space for spiritual renewal and refreshment,” says Ms. Passmore. “Our hope is that it will be a centre not just for the St. James community but for all of central Ontario.”

Ms. Passmore runs the centre along with the Rev. Canon Elizabeth Morley, a retired priest who has served in many parishes in the diocese, and Faye Oei, a parishioner and retired lawyer. It opened in September.

Ms. Passmore hopes the centre will be a way for seekers find their way into a church and the Christian faith. “We want to connect with people from all walks of life, to be a presence and to listen to their stories.”

Trained in both the Franciscan and Ignatian spiritual disciplines, Ms. Passmore has extensive experience in guiding and helping people on their faith journeys. She was the coordinator of a Christian storefront ministry in Mississauga for 10 years and served in a leadership role at a retreat centre, providing spiritual direction for individuals and groups. She is a member of St. James, Orillia.

“When I look at my life path, I’ve always enjoyed listening to people’s stories,” she says. “That’s my passion – I just love tending to people’s stories and listening to where God is at work in their lives and where God is calling them to. I find one-on-one and small groups very life-giving.”

The centre is offering two workshops in November. On Nov. 3, the Rev. Sandor Borbely, a former Jesuit priest and the incumbent of St. Thomas, Shanty Bay, will lead a workshop on “Christian Mindfulness.” On Nov. 17, there will be a workshop on relationships featuring “Safe Conversation” techniques. For more information on these and other activities at the centre, visit www.stjamesorillia.com/bulletin-board/centre-for-spiritual-growth.

The post Centre for Spiritual Growth opens in St. James, Orillia appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

Those were the primary talking points for a panel convened Sept. 25 at the Church of the Redeemer, Bloor Street in Toronto. The discussion was part of the church’s “Season of Creation,” a time to celebrate and give thanks to the Creator for the earth and to look at ways to safeguard it.

The three principal speakers were Bishop Mark Macdonald, national Indigenous bishop of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, minister of Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church and a former MPP, and the Very Rev. Dr. Bill Phipps, co-founder of Faith & the Common Good and a former moderator of the United Church of Canada.

Explaining the ancient beliefs of the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island (North America), Bishop Macdonald stressed the fundamental principal of the interconnectedness and interdependence of all creation. “In the great Walk of Life, all life is responsible to the rest of life. We are all relatives,” he said.

In Indigenous culture, he said, that creational kinship lies at the very heart of life, whereas in Western society humanity has become increasingly alienated from the rest of creation, with the adverse consequences to the planet. “This fundamental kinship, sometimes known as Walking the Good Life, does exist in Christianity but it is not taught strongly enough in Christian teaching,” he said.

Dr. DiNovo agreed that the Western cult of individualism has increased humankind’s separateness from the planet, resulting in an existence that is not spiritual but rather cut off from spirit. She took the notion of kinship beyond earth to the galaxy, quoting Carl Sagan’s famous apothegm: “We are made of star stuff,” in that everything on earth was made in the interiors of collapsing stars.

“If we are not to be separate from earth, then our orders are to save the planet,” she said. “There is a prophetic call to do so.”

Dr. Phipps noted that the United Church has changed its creed to include a core commitment to “living with respect in creation.” And rather than being “given” that creation, he said, humankind is actually embedded in it along with all other forms of life and is not, as we arrogantly assume, its pinnacle. “The assault we see on Mother Earth is an assault on ourselves.” He called on society to celebrate and grieve publicly for the planet.

On a political level, Dr. DiNovo reminded the audience that people of faith must speak truth to power. “We have to remind government that we are the true owners of Parliament Hill and Queen’s Park and City Hall and the public servants there work for us. We must make sure they understand their responsibilities.”

Bishop Macdonald said urbanites must first abandon the urban-versus-rural mentality and humbly acknowledge the sacred land on which their cities are built. “This sacred location calls us to the highest moral standards in our relationships to the land and to each other,” he said.

A new truth and reconciliation initiative was suggested by Dr. Phipps, one that would unite people in the healing of the earth by listening to the autochthonous wisdom of Indigenous peoples, “a wisdom that has nurtured the human spirit on this land for thousands of years.”

In a question to the panel from the floor, one audience member expressed frustration with the bewildering number of organizations focused on climate change. She asked how we can consolidate the leadership to galvanize the thousands of voices needed to effect change.

In response, Dr. Phipps pointed to faith communities as the perfect organizing tools. “I want to see our local churches active in this,” he said. “If every church installed solar panels on its roof, that would send a huge message. Why don’t we in every faith community join up with congregations down the road and go down to Queen’s Park and demand action? And if we did that across Canada, things would change just like that.”

The post Speakers urge kinship with creation appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

The post Uxbridge church starts Gay/Straight Alliance appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.