2014 may

MAY 2014

ANGLICANLIFE
A Section of the ANGLICaN JOURNaL

A Legacy
that will last
Submitted by Kevin Smith

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

Leave a Legacy
other gift planning instrument to a charity such as the church. In the last 14 years, there has been an increase in awareness about planned giving. I have assisted with or been informed about a number of planned gifts in all three Dioceses with some encouraging results. Parishioners want to support their Church which has sustained them throughout the years. They believe in the essential goodness of their Church and the many worthwhile ministries they maintain in their communities, their province, their country and areas around the globe that require assistance. I am grateful for the continuous support that the ministry of planned giving has received from Anglican Life Editor, Rev. Sam Rose. In this issue we will be highlighting a number of realized bequests that have occurred recently. Some of the stories featured will include Dr. Grace Layman of the Parish of St. Philips who passed away in January of this year and left behind a legacy of generosity towards the church. Doug and Lillian Burry of Mount Pearl wanted to leave something for their parish, Church of the Ascension. We also have a story about legacy giving at the Cathedral in Western Newfoundland. And, as you will read on this page, we have a wonderful testimony about a bequest from Bishop David & Karen Torraville in
Continued on Page 8 Leave a Legacy Month

Bishop David & Karen Torraville

Columnist

Kevin Smith

May is designated as the Leave a Legacy month and the Anglican Church of Canada and its Dioceses have been partners of this initiative. LEAVE A LEGACY encourages people to leave a gift through their will or any
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In a conversation recently with Bishop David Torraville, he informed me that he and Karen had a bequest in their wills for the Church. When I asked him about the nature of the gift, he replied that they had a RRSP which would form the basis of their bequest. Naturally, I was pleased to hear this and even more delighted when he said he would allow me to write about in Anglican Life. I then questioned them about the background for this decision and why they had chosen the church as the beneficiary. This was their first response: Our first introduction to Planned Giving was Anglicans in Mission, thirty three years ago. We were teachers in Clarenville attending St. Marys and what went in the envelope on Sunday was what happened to be lying around Sunday morning as we got ready for Church. The only thing I remember about Anglicans in Mission is that it changed that attitude and we needed to set a goal and plan for our offerings. Ever since then we have tried to increase our offerings regularly as we recognized the blessings in our lives. As we planned our will we recognized that the Church is a central part of our lives and we feel that as we have done in this life we can continue by leaving a bequest. The Torraville decision to leave such a bequest for the Church is founded on the scriptural teachings and their reasons are worthy of repeating. Take nothing with you was the directive given to the disciples as they set out on their ministry! We meet the ultimate goal of becom-

ing eternally bound to our God through death and thus our worldly acquisition of financial assets can be best used to assist the church on earth continues its ministry. Our decision of Planned Giving to the church was to return thanks to God for the life we were given. In my experience, there have not been many gifts of RRSPs or RRIFs but naming the church as beneficiary of the proceeds can provide a significant future gift to the church. It is important to remember, however, that on your death, 100 percent of the proceeds from your RRSP or RRIF is included in your final tax return. Your estate will have to pay taxes on the full amount of your RRSP or RRIF. There are two ways to donate the proceeds of an RRSP or RRIF. First, you can designate the Church as the beneficiary directly with the RRSP or RRIF holder. This is generally the preferred manner, as the gift of the RRSP or RRIF then becomes completely independent of your will and results in a very simple process. Secondly,You can name your estate as the beneficiary of your RRSP or RRIF and leave instructions in your Will to donate all or part of the RRSP or RRIF to your Church. Regardless which way you choose, the Church will benefit and your estate will receive a charitable donation receipt. Thank you Bishop David and Karen who concluded their note with the following: Blessed be thou Lord God of Israel, for all that is in the Heavens and earth is thine, and of thine own have we given thee.
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Letters to the Editor

minded of the risk involved in our continuing abuse of the resources of our planet, as if there were no accountability. Secondly, while I believe with Anglicans in the perfection of Gods Kingdom at the Parousia, I cannot subscribe to the graphic and gory details associated with that event by the writer of the letter. The history of our own time, as well as in the past, records the terrible atrocities perpetrated by human tyrants on their people, but I could not believe now that the God revealed in Jesus the Christ, and who is described in one of Charles Wesleys hymns as pure unbounded love, could ever act so ruthlessly and legalistically as portrayed in the letter. However, I am among those Christians who do not subscribe to the literal understanding of every word recorded in the Holy Bible but recognize that when humans write about the nature of God we are limited to the language of parable, analogy, metaphor and poetry - for God is spirit. Now we all see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. (1 Cor.13:12) Thirdly, on the matter of salvation, Anglicanism teaches that no creature can place God in her or his debt by accumulating good works to their credit in order that we can assume that our eternal destiny is guaranteed. If one could be saved by following the commandments only, then Jesus would have shown us the way and the cross would have been unnecessary. Being good, of itself, is no guarantee of being saved; it is important but salvation always comes to us as Gods gift to each one. That is clear in St. Pauls use of this caveat in his first letter to the Corinthians 9:27b, .lest having preached to others I myself should be disqualified. Finally, I know from experience that as we journey through life our understanding of the faith we believe changes, matures and deepens. For example, I now believe that I understand the faith of my younger days more deeply and very differently; it is much less doctrinal and legalistic and much more focused on life and living in Gods world and also much more inclusive. T. S. Eliot describes this journey in some well known words from Quartet No. 4 entitled Little Gidding: We shall not cease from our exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive at the place where we started and know the place for the first time. The journey has nothing to do with geography but with the maturity of ones faith and understanding. Nonetheless, we are all at different stages of the journey and so must learn to live in community with pluralistic interpretations of doctrine. And even with our different understandings of the content of our faith at the various points of the journey (of which we are more aware in the global village that we have created), we must still remain united in the Love of God and in that love with one another. In my opinion the followers of Jesus the Christ should work hard in deed and word to make the world a better place for all and leave the details of the final judgment to God who is LOVE. May I also add that though I take full responsibility for the contents of this letter, I write with the full support of The Retired Clerics Association of the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador. Yours faithfully, Frank Cluett

may 2014

Leave the details to God

Dear Editor, I write, with respect, and in response to a letter from Mr. Eldridge Thorne which was contained in your January 2014 issue of Anglican Life. The writer refers to two interrelated Christian doctrines, viz., the return of Jesus (the Parousia) and the final judgment, and of how these doctrines are both contained and proclaimed within the Anglican Communion. Firstly, there is no doubt from the New Testament that the first followers of Jesus expected his return to be imminent. It is also clear that when this did not occur within the time frame in which they thought it would, the delay became a matter of critical importance. A study of The Gospel according to St. Luke will reveal the writers concern to ease the anxiety among the followers of Jesus arising from the perceived delay in His return and to accommodate the community of believers to the churchs on-going history. For examples of this motif see St. Luke 19:11, .and because they supposed that the Kingdom of God was to appear immediately; and Acts 1:7, It is not for you to know the time or the seasons.. This is the same question that St. Paul addresses in 1 Thessalonians 4 (one of the passages to which Mr. Thorne refers). St. Paul, who as far as we know had no encounter with the Jesus of history, responds to the question from the teachings which he himself had received from the other disciples and in the context of the knowledge of his time. It is common now within Anglicanism to interpret these teachings as warnings to every generation of Christians about our stewardship of planet earth, of our responsibility to future generations and ultimately to the Creator of all. Mr. Thorne is, therefore, alerting all readers to this important matter both for Christians and all peoples. Further, he does so in an age when we need to be re-

We need to be more like Christians in our churches today

I read with great interest the article in Marchs Issue titled get it straight rectors, I was so impressed I decided to write the Editor about it. This young writer struck many a sensitive note in my mind. I was a regular contributor to the Anglican Churchman for twenty five years and many calls I received spoke of my down to earth way of writing and how much they were enjoyed. In recent years I was discouraged about writing in, as I was told by the Editor its too long, too short, we have so little space etc and yet ,there were people getting space every month and went on and on for pages of non-interesting historical things etc. The Anglican Life is so sparse and so very little into it that it is not interesting and the ordinary person cant get a look in. Much like our churches and the way things are handled. These days. If more parishoners were encouraged to write in their thoughts we could all learn a lot. We dont need priests giving sermons on a regular basis in this paper, and going on and on with their opinions. To me, that is what is keeping a lot of people from church. When a clergy is given a page to talk about his marriage, to me that is not seeds for us all to plant to learn from. Who cares? Its the same way in most churches. The same people read, take up collection, act as greeters and assistants, and newcomers are not invited to join a rota to be part of this. It is a closed shop. When there is only three in a choir, you can be assured that is all they want and if you attempt to join them, you are snubbed and you feel left out. That is why there is only three in that choir. I was thinking that if each parish sent out a survey asking newcomers to tell what they would like to be involved in, if at our Annual meetings, the vestry wasnt already selected beforehand, maybe we could have a selection of different people with different views. A lot of young people would like to be servers as the author of that article in March states, she said she would like rotas done up, regular training classes and make them feel part of the church they love. Maybe we could have the Confirmation candidates leave a few ideas and see what they like and maybe we would see them again. Assuming this gets space in the April issue, and is not completely changed with editing, maybe there is food for thought here and other people might take an interest in writing in to THEIR Anglican Life and therefore make the paper a little interesting. Respectfully, Olive Grunert (known as Olive Harding-Stirling in past issues. My husband and I are members of St. Marks in Shearstown. Thank you

Editors Note: This letter was not received in time for the April issue deadline as requested by the author, therefore it is printed in the May issue.

Letters to the Editor

Send to the Editor, The Revd Sam Rose (addresses on page 4). All letters must include the writers name, address, and telephone number. Telephone numbers will not be published. Anglican Life does not publish letters under nom de plume. Letters should not exceed 300 words (one double spaced typewritten page), and are subject to editing at the discretion of the editor.

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2014 may

Parish Day
with Bishop Torraville

Religion
and society
Submitted by Matthew Barter

Submitted by The Rev. Ray Brett

The Parish of Twillingate held a Parish Lenten Day with Bishop David Torraville on Sunday, March 30, 2014. The parish has a tradition of having one parish worship service together whenever there are five Sundays in a month and as this one fell during the season of Lent, it was decided to invite the Bishop to be with us and to lead us through a day of reflection and worship. The day began in St. Peters Twillingate with a Liturgy of the Word where Bishop David gave two addresses focused on the Gospel for the day: John 9:1-41. The talks were entitled The Pool of Siloam and The Neighbourhood. Bishop David wove his recent expe-

riences of being in the Holy Land with the retelling of this story. He invited people to experience this story for themselves and to live its meaning in their lives. He called us to live into the Kingdom. The day continued in St. Marys, Herring Neck with Holy Eucharist and Bishop Davids third address: The World. The Bishop noted the change and development in the belief of the man born blind; how he went from just knowing Jesus as someone who healed him to recognizing him as a prophet and finally worshipping him as the messiah. He challenged those in attendance to reflect on their own understanding of Jesus and to make a daring commitment of faith, like the formerly blind man.

The services were well attended at both Churches. We would be remiss if we did not mention one of our congregation members present, Mrs. Vivian Kendall, of Twillingate, who had hosted a open house on Wednesday, March 26, in celebration of her 92nd birthday. And we are pleased to tell you that she is not the only active 90 years plus member of our parish. She sets a great example of continued service and spiritual growth. It was great to have Bishop David, a former rector of the Parish, with us for the day. His humour and preaching skills were greatly appreciated. It provided us with an opportunity to come together as a Parish community and to reflect meaningfully on the scriptures as a part of our Lenten discipline.

Society should no longer be influenced by religion. Some people say this, but in reality many do not. Even in the 21st century Canada could be described as having a religiously diverse society. People from many different backgrounds and traditions express themselves daily in terms of their beliefs. At present the province of Quebec is dealing with the issue of public workers wearing religious symbols. Some would say this is a way of making society even for all. While many others say that free expression of ones religious beliefs is an important part of who it is to be Canadian. The reality is that religion is an important part of life for many people. Even people who are not really religious still consider it to be important. We could ask the question, Why does society need religion? I believe that society benefits from religious beliefs. So much so that I would say that we would not survive without them. One reason religion is so important is that it helps us to maintain good order. No one could dispute that most laws that we have today are based upon religious beliefs. Without the influence of religion upon our legal system, our society would be very different today. Even though our laws will continue to change it is very likely that they will still be based on religious beliefs. Another reason society needs religion is that it teaches us to take respon-

sibility for our own lives. Religion teaches us to take care of ourselves. A part of taking care of ourselves is to get a good education and find work to support yourself and your family. The desire to learn and to work is an important part of any society. Religion also considers it to be important to not only take care of yourself, but also to take care of others. It helps us not to be selfish and greedy. There will always be those who seek to better themselves by taking advantage of others. For the most part religious teaching helps keep such feeling in check. Religion can be credited with establishing many institutions we enjoy in Canadian society today such as hospitals and nursing homes. Religion is also responsible for many social programs and setting up schools for all. Religion has helped make Canada what it is today. Finally, religion is all about living for a reason. Religion teaches that we are all a part of a bigger plan and each of us has a part in that plan. It gives people a reason to get up in the morning, to go to school, work, help others and seek a better future. Religion gives us a sense of meaning in our lives. It helps us, as a society, deal with challenges, disasters and conflict. To find comfort as a people in times of difficulty and crisis. To understand that there is something bigger than ourselves helping us and guiding us. Religion can help us be a happier, healthier society.

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ANGLICAN LIFE in Newfoundland and Labrador is the newspaper of the Anglican Church in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. A co-operative effort of the three Dioceses in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is publishes ten issues each calendar year with an independent editorial policy. Anglican Life is a section of the Anglican Journal Editor: The Revd Sam Rose 8 Croydon Street Paradise, NL A1L 1P7 Email: samrose@nl.rogers.com Advertising Rates and other information may be obtained from: Bishop Donald Young 34 Fraser Road, Gander, NL, A1V 2E8 Phone: (709) 256-7701 Email: jointcommittee@nfld.net Subscription Rates: Newfoundland and Labrador: $15.00 Outside the province: $20.00 International: $25.00 New subscriptions, cancellations, & changes of address should be sent to: Circulation The Anglican Journal (attn. Bev Murphy) 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 3G2 (416) 924-9192 (O) (416) 925-8811 (fax) Email: circulation@national.anglican.ca Each parish is responsible for maintaining its own subscription list - please notify your parish office of any changes. Changes sent to parish offices may take months to take effect. Please also send your updated information to Circulation at the Anglican Journal (above) or to Don Young at 34 Fraser Road, Gander NL A1V 2E8. Articles and photographs: Send to the Editor (above) Letters to the Editor: Send to the Editor, Sam Rose (address as above). All letters must include the writers name, address, and telephone number. Telephone numbers will not be published. Anglican Life does not publish letters under nom de plume. Letters should not exceed 300 words (one double spaced typewritten page), and are subject to editing at the discretion of the editor. These policies were adopted by the Anglican Life Committee. Layout & Design by: The Editor Printed and Mailed by: Webnews Printing Inc. 8 High Meadow Place North York, ON, M9L 2Z5

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NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

on the sea
I have just returned from a service to mark 100 years since the Newfoundland Sealing Disaster of March 30, 1914. Religious leaders, along with other leaders of our province gathered to share in a time of prayer and remembrance for the lives lost when 251 Newfoundland sealers perished in two simultaneous disasters. On that day 132 men left the SS Newfoundland to hunt seals and were caught in a sudden snowstorm, with 78 of them losing their lives. The same winter storm is considered responsible for the sinking of another sealing vessel, the SSSouthern Cross, that was returning to Newfoundland from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, claiming 173 passengers and crew. The Great Sealing Disaster has been a tragic part of our history ever since. In the service today I was asked to read a small portion of Psalm 107 (verses 25 and 26): Then he spoke, and a stormy wind arose, which tossed high the waves of the sea. They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths; their hearts melted because of their peril. As I read it, I could not help but think that the person who

For those in peril

wrote these words well over 2000 years ago must have had personal knowledge of being at peril on the ocean and knowing how weak they were in the face of natures fury. Appropriately enough as I write on March 31, as if to remind us of the power of nature on those tragic two days 100 years ago, a strong winter storm is battering our province, forcing everyone to seek shelter and safety at the end of a long and brutal winter. We Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are well acquainted with hardship. Throughout our history we have been at the mercy of sea and sky and land. And yet, that same sea and sky and land has shaped us to become the people we are. We have forged a culture and community distinctive and rich in so many ways. We have survived here because we have looked out for each other in good times and in bad. May we never lose that desire to care for each other and build upon it as we move into the future, taking the very best from our past with us. I end with the prayer for Psalm 107 which speaks of hardship and trial in life

may 2014

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Geoff Peddle

Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador

Bishop

and of the safety given by God at the end of our journey. Please remember the sealers and their families of 1914, and the sealers and their families of 2014, as you pray it today. O God, the divine seeker, you are light to the lost, bread to the hungry, deliverance to the captive, healing to the sick, eternal vision to the dying, and harbour to every soul in peril. Gather the wanderers from every corner of the world into the community of your mercy and grace, that we may eternally praise you for our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. With my every blessing, +Geoff

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St. Peters Anglican Church Women members from Catalina proudly display the quilt they made for Ronald McDonald House. The ACW also reached out to the congregation for some needed supplies for Ronald McDonald House. It was a great success and on March 6th, 2014 they were received by the staff with much enthusiasm. Submitted by Dallas Rogers.

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2014 may

Lectio Divina
Anglican Prayer Fellowship

Martin Luther

The Rev. Everett Hobbs

Columnist

Submitted by The Rev. Brian Candow

The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer for the Diocese of Central Newfoundland recently held a retreat on the practice of Lectio Divina. The retreat was held at the St Catherines Retreat Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor, with Fr. Gerald Westcott of the Parish of the Resurrection, South River, leading as the retreat director. Fr. Gerald began the retreat with the question, What is the objective of the human life? The answer explored was to realize union with God. In order to do this a person must learn to die to their self. Lectio divina is a tool for helping to achieve this end, so that one can de-

clare that which St. Paul testified, It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. Lectio Divina means holy reading and has been practiced in the life of the Church since St. Benedict of Nursia (c.480547), if not before. It involves a method of listening intently to the Word of God in the Scriptures, with the practice of centering prayer and contemplation. With gentle wisdom, experience, and good humour, Fr. Gerald was able to lead the group over several sessions into the practice of Lectio Divina, teaching the art of letting go of thoughts and meditative breathing. He was careful to incorporate this practice within the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

New to most at the Retreat was the use of a prayer bowl (a well loved and simple chime used at most if not all worship services at his home parish). When struck, it emitted a beautiful call to quiet, and as its single-note tone subsided the participants were drawn into silence. The retreat provided new insights into an ancient Christian practice of prayer, meditation, and contemplation. Many were excited by the experience but realized that the fruit of the Lectio Divina method would require devoted and regular practice. However the possibility of union with God and openness to others in the Life of Christ might be sufficient motive for those blessed by the Retreat.

Martin Luther (14831546) is regarded as the catalyst for the 16th century Protestant Reformation in Europe. Although there had been criticism of certain Church teachings and practices for centuries, its proponents were silenced by excommunication, suppression or execution. Luther was the right man at the right time. While Luther s main activities were preaching, writing and engagement with reforms and politics, he remained a pastor concerned with ordinary people. At the heart of all this was prayer. He used to say, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer. He said that we cannot neglect prayer for things which seem more necessary. It reflects the saying,If youre too busy to pray, youre too busy. Without the discipline, we become lax and lazy. Prayer is our most important work and should come first. Any kind of work can become prayer when we give it our full attention and strive for

excellence. Luther was inspired to teach others to pray by Peter the barber. On one visit, Peter asked him, How does one pray? It alerted him to the fact that ordinary people had very little guidance on praying. Luther had been a monk and as such he had spent many hours at prayer. He did not find monastic prayer very helpful and he turned to the Bible for direction. He found a way of prayer that was authentic for him and he began to share this with others. For Peter and others like him, he wrote A Simple Way to Pray for a Good Friend. He wrote other books on prayer and often preached about it. He saw faithful prayer as one of the ways God changes us. Luther related prayer to the teaching of the Church and saw it as foundational to spirituality. In particular our lives should be centred on the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandment and the Creeds. He taught that God takes the initiative in prayer and this is especially so in the Lords Prayer and Psalms where God puts words in our mouths. And we must always let the Holy Spirit be our guide. The fundamentals of Luthers teaching is found in the Smaller Catechism which proved to be a vital teaching tool at the time. His foundation doctrine was Justification by Faith - salvation by grace alone through faith. We are justified by faith alone without the deeds of the law or works. Our theology/beliefs and prayer inform each other. Luther emphasized our relationship with God as father/child. Prayer is the conversation of the dependent and trusting child, who is eager to voice both thanks and requests with the loving Father, who is in turn eager to hear from his children. We are to ask God boldly and with complete confidence that God will answer and give according to our needs. Why should we pray? God commands it. God promises to answer. We need to do it. For Luther the best place to learn to pray was the home. As a family it should be the first business of the morning and last at night. The father is assigned the role of teacher, and the use of the Bible and the Catechism is promoted. Spiritual practices are about living our baptism: each day we need to continue the dying and rising with Christ that began in baptism, living as a child of God. This requires prayer.
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In the valley of Shadow part Three

Guest Columnist
The Rev. John Watton

may 2014

A Christians journey through cancer

When you are told you have Cancer your world gets very small. You are dealing with the diagnosis. How bad is it? What caused this? What am I going to do? Treatments have to be set up. Schedules need to be dealt with. You decide which people need to know what is going on, and you have to get yourself ready. Your new world is small, but incredibly complicated. Once things are in place and settled down, the spiritual and emotional challenges begin to emerge from the fog; they take shape and look you in the eye. In spite of the common elements, Cancer is a lonely journey because it is not the same for everyone. Some have very treatable illnesses and attain the blessing of a lighter and brighter perspective. Optimism is an essential part of healing for Cancer patients, and when the person who is ill radiates positive energy, it makes most people comfortable. Others have gone deeper into the Valley of the Shadow. The battle is intense, complex and exhausting . The shadows there obscure and challenge the light of faith causing denial, fear, and sadness. Many have died while they were still in the Valley. I almost did. On a spiritual level when safe routines are broken, or sudden change come, people are led (or forced) to a place where two things can happen. One, losing sight of God and faith, or, second, the nurturing of a deeper, more real and Honest relationship with God . Neither of these will happen without a struggle. Our scriptures are filled with images of people struggling: Jacob alone at Peniel wrestling with God; Abraham receiving and giving up the life of his son; Job, challenged by life tragedies; Jesus in Gethsemane. In Psalm 88:18 it says, You caused my friends and loved ones to leave me. Now darkness is my closest friend. I spoke to one of my parishioners in a quiet shared moment at the Cathedral. I said, God had me right where he wanted me; late at night alone and helpless in a bed in a palliative care room after radical chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I told God I was ready to listen. My friend asked What did he say? My response, Absolutely nothing Then I added, Now let me finish. God said nothing. All was dark. But I continued to wait, and in that I became totally honest with whatever was out there . Lying in physical and spiritual darkness I let everything go. As I openly declared my sense of fear, anger, weakness, and helplessness I realized that I was fully acknowledging the presence of some of these things for the first time in my life. In that moment, I was overwhelmed by Gods elusive presence and knew I was closer to God than ever before in my life. Much has been written about these ideas of Luminous Darkness, and Dark Nights of the Soul, and I have experienced them both at different times and at different levels in my life, but never like this. It gave birth to a whole new hope and faith within me. Shortly after that I spoke to my children calmly, and with great peace letting them know that no matter what the outcome, I was going to be just fine. Now, almost four years after as I continue sorting through the collateral damage, I am still discovering and learning to articulate what I have come to call the Giftedness of the Darkness. Cancer changed me forever because I could no longer ignore the questions or the deep call from within, to integrity and courage in seeking the truth. I have come to see that the questions I have asked after my catastrophe are really the same ones I have been asking all along. It has deepened the empathy I have for those who suffer, and has caused me to place even greater importance on the value of the Church as a community of people, bound in faith and authentic love and concern for each other. Recently, I was working through a long, difficult day. Supper time was near and some family and friends were gathering at our place to share a meal. When I arrived at the house two of my grandkids were already there. I had just a few hours, before having leave the rectory and head out again. In my tiredness I wished I could settle in for the evening, hang out with the family, and have an early night. My wife placed my infant grandson in my arms because, I am getting supper, you have to go out again, so make the best of it. I did. Having Trygger in my arms, and Teghan running around demanded my full attention. As I walked and rocked and gurgled and sang to my grandson his big blue eyes began to get heavy. It took about an hour, but he finally fell asleep in my arms. This little meditation emerged from my heart: Long rough days...are best ended when you rock your grandson and he falls asleep in your arms. We pour our hearts out to the world in the hope that the truest words are heard, and the broken ones are forgiven....when a child trusts you enough to let go and sleep...eternity whispers to you and says....all will be well. Thank you Lord.

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2014 may

Holy Spirit Parish

Unit Three news
Submitted by Sarah Sharpe

Unit Three of the Parish of the Holy Spirit is comprised of five churches that include St. Albans in Gooseberry Cove, St. Marys in Hodges Cove, St. Marks in Long Beach, St. Michael and All Angels in Hillview and St. Stephens in Hatchet Cove. Another year has passed and looking back we see many positive happenings in Unit Three. The Annual General Meetings for the churches and the ACWs have all taken place. Several churches have their year-end audited statements submitted to the Parish. Unit Three continues to enjoy monthly worship services which take place the last Sunday of each month. These services are very well attended, and are a real joy, not only for the parishioners but for the clergy as well. There is nothing like a full flock to preach to! If you would like to join us, please call the Rectory at 548-2429 for the dates and times of services. Over the past month the Unit have been very fortunate to have the Rev. Jim Pollard and his beautiful wife Rita as leaders in the church. They are such a blessing and welcome additions. Our Rector, the Rev. Allan Fry, is on leave due to illness and will require time to recuperate. We all wish Rev. Fry a speedy recovery. In November 2013, the Spiritual Arm group, which is comprised of Mrs. Laura Drover (Hodgfacebook.com/anglicanlife

es Cove), Mrs. Bren da Smith (Great Hearts Ease), Mrs. Victoria Norris (Hillview), and The Rev. Myrna Vey (Long

their instruments and talents in hand. We are happy to say some young children and people upwards of 90 years old of-

job. Area ACWs donated baked goods for the sale and food items for a Christmas Hamper which raised additional monies.

Beach) organized a benefit concert to raise funds for World Vision to stock a barn with livestock for a community in need. The group enlisted the tal-

fered their talents to the concert. The event was a beautiful one! There was a full slate of entertainers and the it was presented by Mrs. Lau-

At the end of the evening Laura reported that they had raised $1,900.00 for World Vision and that would go to purchase livestock to fill a barn

ents of area and former residents of Southwest Arm all of whom did not hesitate to come with

ra Drover of Hodges Cove, and emceed by Mr. Ron Thomas, both of whom did a splendid
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and a half. The Spiritual Arm surpassed their goal! Congratulations to all, and thanks to all the

volunteers who donated their time and talents to make this fundraiser the success it was. Also in November the ACW at St. Michael and All Angels at Hillview held a bake sale to raise money for the Philippines flood disaster relief. They happily reported they had raised $490.00 which was given to the Canadian Red Cross which would be doubled when matched by the Federal Government. We con gratulate those two groups for their outreach. S t . A l b a n s Church was the recipient of several gifts this past year they included a beautiful white parament set in memory of Mrs. Doris Spurrell, a lectern hanging in memory of Mr. Rodney Spurrell, and a grass cutter donated in memory of Mrs. Mary Spurrell, and a frontal in memory of our deceased congregational members. We really appreciated those kind donations. A welcome visitor to St. Albans this summer was Mr. Bob Davis who was here visiting and knew our organist was unavailable so when he came to Sunday morning service he pulled up the organ stool and accompanied the choir in a selection of hymns. Thank you Bob, and please come back anytime.
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Dr. Grace Layman

not a miserable offender

may 2014

LEAVE A LEGACY is a national public awareness program designed to encourage people to leave a gift through their will or any other gift planning instrument to a charity or non-profit organization of their choice. LEAVE A LEGACY is a donor-oriented education campaign to raise awareness of the importance of including a charitable gift in the estate planning process. LEAVE A LEGACY is a program of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP-ACPDP). The LEAVE A LEGACY program goal is to raise awareness of the importance of thoughtful, well-planned, tax-preferred gifts and their impact on the quality of life for everyone in our communities.
The late Dr. Grace Layman (1919 - 2014)
Submitted by Kevin Smith

Why your Will is Important

Your will or testament guarantees that your property and assets will be regulated according to your desires. Without a Will, there is no mechanism in place to make a bequest. Below are some steps you should take to ensure that your wishes are granted: Make a detailed list of your assets (financial, real estate, vehicles, jewelery, collectibles, musical instruments, etc.) Make a list of organizations or causes you would like to support including your church. Set up an appointment with your professional advisor (i.e. financial analyst, attorney, or planned giving officer) to discuss your options. Your professional advisor can help you decide which option(s) will work best for you and your family.

The story goes that Grace Layman confronted her parish priest after a service with the Book of Common Prayer and said to him: You may be but I dont consider myself a miserable offender. Well, Im not sure to what area Grace was referring but she surely wasnt a miserable offender when it came to her will and her support of the Church. In fact, she was very generous when it came

to the disposal of her estate. Grace passed away in January after a short period of illness. She was 94 years old. A number of years ago, Grace, a former resident of Fogo Island, purchased three annuities from the Anglican Church of Canada. A gift annuity is defined as an arrangement under which a donor transfers a certain sum to a charity in exchange for fixed, guaranteed payments for the life of the donor. The Anglican Church of Canada is one of a few charities in

Leave a Legacy month of May

Continued from Page 1

Central Newfoundland. You will notice there is a reply box included. Please complete the information required and send it along to me. I will get back to you quickly. Finally a word of thank you to the Rectors and lay leaders who have embraced the ministry of planned giving as another way of supporting our Church. Lets also remember that quote which I have used before by US stewardship writer Herb Mather who suggested that a planned gift is rarely made without an

invitation: Planned giving rarely reaps a harvest unless there are regular, consistent invitations. Notes in bulletins, newsletters, support semi nars, letters and other kinds of reminders so that people know the church is serious about helping them with a planned gift when they are serious about making the planned gift. Kevin Smith is a planned giving consultant with the Anglican Church of Canada. He can be contacted at 709 739-5667 or by email at: kevinsmith709@gmail.com

the country that allows for the purchase of self-insured gift annuities. The Church invests the donated assets and use the earnings on the assets, and the capital if necessary, to make the annuity payments. Whatever portion of the donated assets remains at the death of the annuitant is used for charitable purposes. In Graces case, she designated three areas of support. First, her home parish of St. Philips was named a beneficiary. Secondly, she established a fund with the Diocese to support youth ministry in Labrador. And, thirdly, she wanted Lavrock Camp and Conference Centre to receive some support. Interviewed by a news reporter in 2004 as to why, Grace replied, I wanted to go somewhere and do something good for somebody. There is no doubt about the authenticity of that statement. Bishop Geoff Peddle was delighted to learn about these three annuities saying It is significant that two of the three are for the support of youth ministry. This is an area that is so vitally important for the life of the church and we are grateful for Ms Laymans generosity.

I want to learn more about

Please send me: A free brochure on writing a will A quote on a Gift Plus Annuity Information on other ways of giving I have already remembered my church in my will

Leave a Legacy

Name _______________________________________ Address _____________________________________ ______________________________________________ Postal Code ___________ Telephone ______________ Date of Birth (for annuity quote) If you are Male ________________________________ If you are Female _______________________________

Mail to: Kevin Smith Regional Gift Planning Consultant Anglican Church of Canada 10 Strawberry Marsh Road St. Johns, NL A1B 2V4

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2014 may

Legacy Giving
Submitted by Kevin Smith

alive and well in Corner Brook

The Cathedral of St John the Evangelist is located in the heart of Corner Brooks downtown. The imposing traditional Gothic structure houses a congregation that envisions a bright future. Much of this optimism has been kindled by the congregations understanding of its own need to be mission-oriented and by an infusion of major gifts. The current Dean, the Very Rev. Baxter Park, who arrived in October 2012 says it all began with one very generous parishioner. Shortly after my arrival I was approached by a man who wanted to do something significant to remember his late wife. That couples faith journey had been enhanced by the beautiful music at the cathedral and he wanted to augment the music by giving us an outright gift of $35,000 to purchase a grand piano. In early 2013, the congregation at their Annual Meeting, inspired by that gift, decided to explore the possibility of installing an elevator. For an aging congregation, a $200,000 project may have seemed a little lofty. Still, in Sept we decided to move ahead and we deliberately chose to not consider fundraising. By December, aided by 4 major gifts totaling $101,000, we were able to raise $170,000. Our expectation is that the elevator will be installed and paid for by Easter. In the case of the major gifts, two were memorials remembering former parishioners and two were outright gifts. The other money came from parishioners who gave as they could. All of these gifts, great and small, have contributed to our success. They remind us that we are capable of great things when we work together. There have been many

A Love Story
Submitted by The Rev. David Burrows

Lillian and Doug Burry

At the Parish of the Ascension in Mount Pearl, amid monthly pastoral visits, Holy Communion, conversation and a lunch, the lives of Doug and Lillian were revealed. A simple question was asked. Doug, Lillian, share with me your life, how you love, and why the Ascension is so much a part of your life. Doug took a breath, and shared, Let me tell you a love story. On a train from St. Johns to Cupids, during the Second World War, packed with US Troops, a conductor guided a young lady to her seat. She was guided to an empty seat next to a soldier of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. He was asleep. Sit up young man, there is a lady sitting beside you, said the conductor. Her eyes were beautiful, her smile so inviting. We talked all the way to Cupids. There was an excitement, something special was happening. Before she got off the train, I asked her, Where are you staying in St. Johns? I am staying in a boarding house on Prescott Street, Was her response. Two weeks later a knock came at the door of Lillians room. When she opened the door, there stood a soldier in full uniform. I wish you would have told me you lived at the top of Prescott Street. I started at the bottom as soon as I got back in town. I have been knocking on doors every time I had a free bit of time. Thus began the journey of love as experienced between Doug and Lillian. With each visit, there was a deep love reflected in their life together. This was a love that pervaded their life, through their actions, prayers, their home life, their love for children and grandchildren, their love for church and for the world. Doug and Lillian were deeply devoted to each other. They loved deeply; they loved God deeply. Let me tell you another love story: Doug and Lillian were forever surrounded by the presence of Gods love. They recognized that God loves, cares for his creation, and laments when there is brokenness and hurt in the world. Doug in his faithfulness, served as a parish warden, sang in the choir, and provided faithful prayer, counsel and support to the Ascension parish family. Lillian served as an ACW member, taught many the ins and outs of the Altar Guild, and wrote a number of small booklets about prayer. They believed profoundly that God came, born of a woman, to live and die as one of us. They believed that Christ served to redeem us and offer us life eternal. This is the faith to which they clung; this is the faith in which Doug and Lillian believed so strongly. Because of this belief, Lillian and Doug translated this into prayer, reflection, and action in the world. Their actions reflected their faith, reflected also their great generosity. They knew that the life of faith was rooted in practical living. Their prayers were always partnered with generosity of their resources. They gave knowing that others in the parish had not been blessed with the same wealth. Four years ago they made a decision to give beyond their lives, so that the Parish of the Ascension would benefit long after they had been united with their Saviour - they purchased an annuity with the Anglican Church of Canada. This annuity provided them with a life income while they were alive and upon their passing, the remainder of the principal would be their legacy gift to the Parish of the Ascension. That principal is about to be received by the Parish of the Ascension.
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other grace moments and wonderful gifts. One family, remembering a former organist of the Cathedral, gave a wonderful Belgian cope. A discussion about taking better advantage of our prime location at the intersection of Main and West resulted in an individual giving us $10,000 to purchase a new digital sign. For the congregation the most exciting news came at the annual meeting when we were able to announce that in the midst of all this generosity our regular givings had also grown by over 12%. As the Dean said in his annual report, God is blessing us so that we can be a blessing to others. On the first Sunday of Lent, Dean Park said, Too many churches seem more concerned about survival than mission. We have got to stop being afraid. If God is in it how can the result be anything but victory? The Evil One has planted his seed of doubt again. We are invited

to practice the theology of Gods abundance rather than human scarcity. With this in mind our church continues a rich ministry of hospitality. Every Summer we sponsor and staff a camp at beautiful Killdevil for families living in some of the poorer neighbourhoods in Corner Brook. Most recently we are working with the other Anglican parishes of the Deanery to begin a once a week free lunch program. We are trying to practice that great Christian truth that it is only in giving that we truly receive. So whats next at the Cathedral? Inspired by a recent bequest from a deceased parishioner we know that we need to do a planned giving campaign. This wonderful women has left us over $80,000. She wanted our vital ministry to continue beyond her lifetime. There are others like her and we need to afford them the opportunity to continue to be a blessing as well.

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10

I was lonely Parish of Marystown

and you visited me

may 2014

images of ministry

Columnist

Ron Clarke

You cant imagine how much your visit means to me an old friend said to me last week. He is over ninety years old, in pretty good physical condition, but blind, and confined to bed in a seniors institution. The dark days are so long he continued. Our discussions about Gods love fill me with joy and new hope. Today there are so many people ill, physically, mentally, and spiritually. They spend their long hours in seniors complexes, in hospitals, or even in their own homes. A friendly visit would delight them. Far too many wait in vain. Many of us do visit, regularly. But, using so much of our time can bring comfort to only a relative few. Visiting the sick, the lonely, the elderly, means some sacrifice for the visitor. We use hours we could spend relaxing, amusing ourselves, walking for exercise, for example. Visiting can cost

us money, especially in places like St. Johns with its gas-guzzling traffic. So, whats in it for the friendly visitor??? Physically, we can walk miles- not along beautiful trails perhaps- but along long corridors. Try climbing the seven-floor stairs at St. Clares Hospital, if you need exercise. Spiritually? Nothing can bring you greater pleasure then bringing a smile to a lonely patient from a faraway outport. And, how about reminding a sick, frightened sufferer, awaiting tomorrows surgery, of the wonderful healing power of Jesus Christ? I have often left my warm comfortable home on a cold or wet afternoon, practically dragging my feet- only to come back two hours later almost walking on air, with a peace that passes all understanding. Hundreds of good people visit the sick and needy, but there are REAL NEEDS for hundreds more! I am writing this in Volunteers Week, in the last week of March, a time when visitors are thanked for their great service. Actually, every week should be Volunteers week. Perhaps then we could significantly increase the numbers. Jesus said that when we care for the sick and needy we visit and care for Him. If we REALLY believe in Jesus, how can we not visit Him in the Homes and Hospitals?

The Childrens Fun Hour in the Parish of Marystown decided to go sliding on the hill next to St. Marys Church. A total of thirty three children, parents and grandparents joined in the fun. After sliding for an hour or so we sat on the church steps and enjoyed hot chocolate and chocolate chip and rice crispy cookies. Submitted by Mary Legge.

On February 7, St. Michael and All Angels ACW held their third annual Outreach Gospel Concert. This year the concert was in support of Stand Against Drugs on the Burin Peninsula. Approximately 120 people came out to support the cause and was blessed with music, singing and great Christian fellowship. Submitted by Mary Legge.

Happy 90th
On February 15th, 2014, Betty Lemoine celebrated her 90th birthday with an open house (pictured right) at St. Davids Anglican Church in Pasadena. Thank you to all who helped organize, brought food andcame out to help her celebrate! Submitted by Colleen Harris

anglicanlife

2014 may

The Rev. Edward Langman

part one
Columnist
David Davis

11

Our Anglican History

church existed on the frontier. In 1769 he visited the Southern Shore which at that time was still nominally Church of England although as correspondence from later missionaries noted, the Protestant population was very meager mainly from the lack of clergy. He visited Renouse, Fermouse and Ferryland for a month preaching and administering the sacraments. In that period he baptized about 50 children, buried 30, from the British Isles and became fixed in Newfoundland for a very long time. In 1762-63, Newfoundland suffered an invasion by French forces. St Johns and the garrison was captured. Mr Langman and everyone else were made prisoners of war. These unfortunates were sent away to New England but St Johns was recaptured soon after by the English. But as in all wars great distress was caused in a short time. Mr Langman lost everything he had, his wife died in childbirth, and Langman had a flux. This was the excessive flow of fluids from the body such as dysentery. Because of the flux, Mr Langman was not sent away with the other prisoners of war. His religious duties were taken over by 3 French priests and an Irish one which added to his woes. In 1764 Mr Langman visited Trinity Bay and on the return voyage to St Johns he intended to visit Harbour Grace as he had promised but the winds were against his ship so he had to carry on to St Johns. At the time he remarked: The people of Harbour Grace and Carbonear and some others have raised a subscription for a new church at Harbour Grace and are finishing it. Does this mean that there was an earlier (before c.1764) church in Harbour Grace? Did they have any cleric or other person to lead the people? Mr Langman is being asked to fill in if he can by visiting Harbour Grace in the mean time. 1765-66 the population of St Johns, not counting the troops in the garrison, was 1059 (136 families). English 445, Irish 614. 20 children could repeat their catechism in the church in summer. In 1767-68 there was a severe decline in trade, a depression. Mr Coughlan who had just become the missionary in Harbour Grace and Carbonear said that if the economy did not improve by next year Newfoundland would be deserted. In 1768 Mr Langman was burnt out: his house and furnishings and in addition the communion plate which was stored in his residence was lost. Mr Langmans house was not rebuilt until 1772.
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Edward Langman was ordained a priest in approximately 1739, he had studied at Balliol College, Oxford University. He was a curate in the County of Devon, England before he came to Newfoundland in 1752. For young men in the church there was always a problem of moving beyond the rank of curate, unless there were family or social connections between the young curate and the ruling families of the area in which their parish was located. Many young curates for this reason looked to the colonies for advancement in their calling. Mr Langman arrived at St Johns on October 31, 1754. He was supported(50 per annum) by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Pasts(SPG), the missionary branch of the Church of England...That year he recorded 100 families in St Johns of these 40 were Church of England, 8 Dissenting Protestant and more than 52 families Roman Catholic. At this time the only other SPG priest in Newfoundland was Mr Lindsay in Trinity. This parish shares its importance with Bonavista and St Johns in being the earliest missions in Newfoundland. In the 1754-55 year there occurred a celebrated murder/assassination in St Johns. William Keen a merchant and Justice of the Peace, originally from America, was killed in his bed by a group of servants and others. The

result of this event was that Mr Langman was appointed to fill Keens place on the list of Justices of the Peace. He hoped to use his new appointment to propagate the gospel. In the latter part of the 1750s there were roughly 1000 persons in St Johns including the soldiers in the garrison. He attempted to work with all the groups: Church of England, dissenters and Irish Roman Cath-

over by Irish fishermen, but the future was to show that it was much too late to look for converts in this area. However, Mr Langman stayed there for a month in the summer. In 1760 he visited many of the harbours to the south of St Johns beside Placentia. He also distributed bibles and asked the SPG for more. The request for more bibles was continuous in frontier settlements in those days as the few literate people in the

Church of England Cathedral, St. Johns, 1871 (drawing)

Image published in Canadian Illustrated News, April 1, 1871. From Charles de Volpi, Newfoundland: a Pictorial Record (Sherbrooke, Quebec: Longman Canada Limited, 1972) 117.

olics. In 1759 Mr Langman went to Placentia, the former French capital of Newfoundland which had been taken

communities could be used as lay readers in churches without priests or more likely, to do readings in private houses which is where the

and had 30 communicants. In 1761 he comments that he tried to visit the people to the south of St Johns and intends to visit the places to the north of St Johns the next year. A new church was almost finished in St Johns, and he did get to visit Bay Bulls and Witless Bay for 10 days. To demonstrate the feeling in those days between the various religious denominations see the following quotation for that years report ..., as they(Roman Catholics) are in the rest of the Harbors and Bays of this Island, where the few Protestants here, are in Danger of their lives; so that, were they not somewhat restrained by the Fear of the Civil Power, there would be no tolerable living in the Island. These sentiments were carried over

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12

The Truth
shall set us free
does reconciliation matter to me? I know it does matter. It matters to me that the Truth and Reconciliation Hearings have been taking place for nearly four years; that our Church has been a participant in those hearings officially as part of the Residential Schools agreement and in other ways as well; that I saw, on social media, pictures of our Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Esther Wesley and Bishop Jane Alexander of Edmonton participating in the Anglican Expression of Reconciliation in Edmonton; that faithful Anglicans have been present to hear and witness to the stories of residential schools survivors and that Anglicans across this country have upheld, and continue to uphold, the journey of reconciliation in prayer. And it matters to me that the hearings are not the end of the journey but merely part of it. Why? Why when the residential schools were operated kilometres away from where I live and in another time? The answer is found partly in scripture - If one member suffers, all suffer together with it - and also found in the fact that, while the residential schools are now closed and the policy of assimilation a thing of the past, their shameful legacy lives on. So while I dont feel I know what reconciliation is, I do know that 2014 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Indigenous Covenant, something I will celebrate as I continue to be grateful that, in spite of history and past wrongs, indigenous people still want to be part of a self-determining community within The Anglican Church of Canada. And maybe thats what reconciliation does look like.

Many Years
of music ministry

may 2014

Cynthia Haines-Turner

Columnist

As I write this, the final hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is taking place in Edmonton. It is on the news - TV, print and online - and on social media and available in live streaming on the computer. So much attention, but to what end? Justice Murray Sinclair, chair of the Commission asks the question, what is reconciliation? - a question that will be addressed by the Primates Commission on Discovery, Reconciliation and Justice and a question that is asked to each of us individually. I find myself having difficulty addressing that question. Im not even sure it is a question for me, because, truth be told, I was not forcibly taken from my home and placed in a school hundreds or thousands of kilometres away from my family, where I wasnt allowed to speak my own language or know anything about my own culture. I was not separated from my siblings and put in a setting where I did not understand the language or where I was not shown affection or even worse, where I faced abuse in many forms, as if the forcible removal from my home were not abuse enough. Nor did I have the experience of having my children taken from me to go through all that. So what reconciliation means to me seems a little irrelevant. Which leads me to wonder if perhaps the question isnt rather Why

On February 2, 2014, there was a special service held at St. James Church, Pools Island in recognition of Nina Burry who has been playing the organ for 50 years. Shebegan playingat the age of 14 at a baptismal service on February 2, 1964. She has been very faithful since that time and has missed very few services. Thanks Nina for being such a vital part of our church. She was presented with many gifts and a potluck supper was served after the service. Bishop David Torraville presided at the service. Submitted by Lloyd and Emma Gale.

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2014 may

St. Giles Church

God
W h e n B a d Th i n g s Happen to Good People is a 1978 book by Harold Kushner, a Jewish rabbi. Kushner addresses in the book one of the principal problems of why a good, all loving, all powerful God would allow suffering, pain and evil. It is the same question Job and his friends debated over 3000 years ago and continue to be a topic of profound heartache to this day. People want to be believe in an all loving, all powerful God but are unable to reconcile that when things go wrong. Where is God when it hurts? Where is God in my suffering? It is the nagging conundrum, why? Why is there so much evil in the world? According to Philip Yancy many older books on this subject and written by people like Aquinas, Luther, Augustine, and others, ungrudgingly accept pain and suffering as Gods agents. These authors do not question God actions; they merely try to justify them. However, it is never, ever that simple. For those who have experienced tragedy or any kind of immense pain and suffering of sorts, this kind of rational thought about God is not enough. As a result people sometimes refine their thoughts about Gods love and power. That is to say, God is either one or the other but cannot be both. Justify yourself God, they shout out in anger. In my own personal experience I have discovered that logic does not cut it. Reading and researching this topic have satisfied some of my questions but by far I just end up with more questions. As a priest and pastor ministering to people in difficult times is never easy, especially when a young person looks at you with teary eyes, angry and fearful, and says, I dont want to die! Why is God doing this to me? Suffering puts a lot of things into perspective. For starters it teaches humility and patience. Suffering helps distinguish between

13

and suffering

The Rev. Greg Mercer

Fox Roost kids

On March 4 2014 The St. Giles Anglican Church in Garnish, Parish of Marystown held their annual Shrove Tuesday pancake, bean and mustard salad supper. The weather was poor during the day but did not stop the faithful from attending. Their was about sixty in attendance plus 15 take-outs to the community and shut-ins. A big thank you to all who supported the ACW and to all the ACW members for their hard work. Submitted by Robyn Toal

Columnist

The congregation was treated to a beautiful service and performance by the Sunday School Children in Fox Roost. A big thank you to Maggie Seymour who did a wonderful job with the children (Front to back - left side): Emma Osmond, Emma Stone, Tanner Billard & Katelyn Dominie. (Middle row): Ashley Ingram and Tyson Meade. (Front to back - right side): Mia Baird, Sophie Vautier, Sarah Sweet, Abby Tobin, Devon Hodder. Submitted by Karen Simon.
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necessities and luxuries. People who suffer know their priorities. Moreover, those who suffer quickly discover how lonely it can be and how much we need and depend on each other. Suffering accelerates spiritual maturity, it is the great equalizer, i.e., it brings us to a point where we may realize our urgent need for redemption; to be at peace. And for the dying, it is the moment when they realize how much they need God even if God seems beyond reason. Th e s e e m i n g ly u nbridgeable chasm between a loving God and the evidential problem of evil is far beyond the scope of this short essay. Suffice it to say for now that what started with Job and his friends, and their quest for answers to Jobs suffering in the context of a loving and just God, ended with Jesus Christ. It was at Calvary that God suffered a part of himself for the sake of humanity. The Christians final hope, the Resurrection and its victory over death brought a decisive new word to the vocabulary of pain and suffering: TEMPORARY. Whatever anguish we feel now will not last. If there was ever any doubt in an all loving, all powerful God we need not look any further than the Cross of Calvary.

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14

Confirmation
not graduation
my mother certainly never felt that after confirmation I was free from the need to attend church. I may have had the option of going or not, perhaps we had an unspoken agreement that as I got older (and Saturday nights got a little more exciting) I could elect to stay home on Sunday morning, particularly if she was going to the 8:30 service. But never was I done with church and worship. And I thank her for that. For we are never done. Christian formation does not end with confirmation. In reality it is just the beginning. It is an important step for every Christian, to come before their bishop and commit themselves to Christ. It demonstrates a mature commitment. But we must always work to grow in faith, to learn from Scripture and to live as Jesus would have us live. As Christians, as members of a particular congregation, we owe it to those being confirmed to continue to demonstrate our commitment to them, to each other, and most importantly to God. We must show them that we are never done with worship, that we always need to love and support each other, that we, as a community, continue to need each other just as much as we need God. We need to dispel the association that confirmation is graduation from church. We need to continue to find ways for everyone to be an active part of our Christian ministry. As my mother did for me I hope to do for others. Will you join me?

Fortune Servers

may 2014

Columnist

Allison Billard

Spring always feels like the end of something. I think the feeling comes from all the years spent in the education system. Spring meant that classes would soon be done for the summer, it was a time of preparation for papers and exams, and then later for graduation and good byes. All the time that I have spent in the church, working with youth, as a youth myself, I always get to thinking about confirmation. While many parishes do not have confirmation in the spring, I have always had the association. My own confirmation was early in June the year I finished sixth grade. Then, as now, many looked on confirmation the same way, as graduation. It was a completion of some kind. We were graduating from the Sunday school program once and for all. For many that meant that they would no longer be obligated (by their parents? by God? I never really understood that) to go to church every week. I probably felt the same way, I dont really remember. What I do know, is that

Servers from All Saints Church in Fortune gathered to enjoy pizza and training. We have ten servers, ages 12 to 19, who started serving after their Confirmation, and there are two adult servers. Ten of which attended the supper and training at Fortune in February. It was a wonderful time of fun and fellowship that was enjoyed by all. The training was a success and the practice encouraged the youth to have confidence in their first-rate serving abilities. Over the past five years we have had several servers who have graduated and moved for college or university. We prepare two training sessions a year and give them an opportunity to attend the Servers camp at Mint Brook Camp in the Spring or Fall. Submitted by Beverly Buffett.

Gander Quilt

The ladies of the St. Martins Cathedral Sewing Circle have lovingly made quilts and blankets to be donated to Cara Transition House in Gander, in the near future. This thirteen bed shelter was opened in 1991 as a safe haven for women and children who are fleeing violence. Along with many other charities and causes, the ladies of St. Martins have made several donations to Cara House over the years. These women spend many hours cheerfully using their talent and often their own resources to create beautiful items to bless those in need, both locally and globally. The congregation of St. Martins and people of Gander often make donations of materials to help them with their faithful work. They truly are the hands and feet of Christ and they give endlessly with cheerful hearts. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Submitted by Stella Walsh

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Recovering
hidden headstones

15

Keeping Lent
after Lent ends
St. Benedict tells us in his Rule for communities that the life of a brother or sister ought always to be a Lenten observance. Lenten spiritual practices are life giving disciplines that should not end when the liturgical season of Lent ends. On the first Sunday of Lent, and every day of our lives as we sit in silence to encounter the Living God, we follow Jesus into our own inner wilderness and know that there is more to who we are than our small and shallow egos. Our ego consciousness is actually our false self. Our truest self, made in the image of God, is so much larger and spacious than our egos, and is just beneath the surface of ego consciousness. To go deeper and discover our true self should be a daily journey into our inner wilderness. On the second Sunday of Lent, and every day of our lives, we are called to follow Jesus up the Mount of Transfiguration. Like the inner wilderness, this spiritual mountain is also within us. As we mature and makeprogress in this inner journey, we come torealize that all scriptures are fulfilled in Jesus. We see Jesus as hetruly is: Christ who is Risen and Alive. Thisrealization changes us. We share in Christs suffering, but we also share in Christs Risen

Submitted by Eileen Matthews

A group of volunteers organized by the Heritage New Perlican committee and St. Augustines Church Vestry worked on the oldest known Anglican cemetery called St. Marks on Scotts Hill, New Perlican on a beautiful morning, June 22nd, 2013. They came with their whipper snippers, chain saws and rakes to clean up and then search for headstones which have been grown over for many years. Unfortunately this has happened to the cemetery due to the lack of funds and a declining Anglican congregation. It was a surprising day for all 12 people who showed up as we uncovered 14 headstones and the plan is to go back again in the fall and hopefully uncover more. This cemetery was designated a Municipal Heritage site in July, 2013 by the Heritage Committee and the town in agreement with St. Augustines Church Ves-

try. Heritage New Perlican plans to erect a Post/Chain fence around 2 or 3 sides of the cemetery once the headstone project is fin ished and eventually when funds allow, they will erect a sign there with the name of those buried there. There are many people buried there without headstones

as you can easily see the rocks used to denote the head and foot of graves in rows. The group of volunteers were Lorraine LaFitte, Felix St. George, David MacDonald, Ruth Walker, Lorraine and Max Warren, Paul Stockham, Melanie & Randy Tucker, Sheila

Piercey, Gail Snook and Eileen Matthews. We were fortunate to have Lisa Wilson with us from Heritage Foundation N & L and Melanie Tucker who works with The Rooms and has a summer place here and her roots are based in this community. Lisa Wilson is heavily involved with this type of work with the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and had been out on a previous occasion giving us advice on how to handle the old headstones in that cemetery. Lisa Wilson, who has been involved with cemetery work such as this with Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland & Labrador, commented that this is only the second cemetery where she has seen footstones. The group went back in the fall and continued clean up and hopes to start again this spring.

The Rev. Gerald Westcott

Columnist

life. Daily changed on this holy mountain, we come down to serve the world that is hurting and suffering all around us. On the third Sunday of Lent, and every day of our lives, we meet Jesus and the woman of Samaria at the well. Christ offers Living Water to all people, regardless of gender, religion, culture, language, your past, your present. As we are changed in the Lenten pilgrimage, dying to our ego self, and surrendering to the larger, deeper Well of Life that is within all human beings, we will find ourselves becoming more compassionate and accepting of ourselves, and with others who also struggle and suffer. This life giving water is a Divine Spring that is again within us to discover and live out of. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, and every day of our lives, we meet the blind man who wants to see. He knows there is more life beyond his blindness. We need to come to that empty and shallow place in our journey where we say to ourselves there has to be more to life than this! We are ona journey from spiritual blindness to spiritual sight. And like the blind man, the more we encounter the living Christ deep within us, the more clearly we will see Life in all its fullness. In Lent, and every day of our lives, the Church leads us on a journey deeper into Christ. Christ who, when we get our little ego out of the way, rises from within.
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Celebrating

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