God of unity and conversion, help us to truly see how this common desire to love, worship and adore you can light our path together within the Church and beyond. By studying your Word, praying in harmony, and living justly, we pray that our love for you grows deeper and bolder every day. We beseech you to help us to realize that we should not keep your love and Good News to ourselves, but share it with all the world.

God of action and justice, help us to bring this sentiment of abundant love and praise for you to the wider world that aches with conflict, hate and greed. A united Church is tantamount to a united and peaceful world. We pray that through our passion for you and your blessed Son, this work of healing will transform the world.   

Gracious God in Your mercy, hear our prayer and help all Christians make these objectives theirs. Amen.

God bless,

Valerie and Stacey

The post A Prayer from the Diocesan Representatives appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

At its November meeting, the AFC Board approved a campaign plan for Say Yes! to Kids 2022, setting a $500,000 goal and introducing an innovative partnership model of fundraising. “Our hope is that this campaign will be both empowering and energizing,” says Dr. Scott Brubacher, Executive Director, “enabling our churches to harness the power of peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising to grow sustainable revenue streams for youth programs, while connecting them with other churches across Canada, as well as diocesan and national ministries, that are growing a brighter future for young people, today.”

Brubacher says that the 2021 campaign and Request for Proposals (RFPs)—where 79 projects received a total of $470,000 in funding—was a valuable learning experience for AFC. “Grant recipients demonstrated a stunning combination of compassion and creative thinking. They also showed us the depth of relationships that exist between churches and their communities.” Brubacher says Say Yes! to Kids will help to provide the resources needed to strengthen these connections and partnerships so the church can “continue to be a catalyst for re-engaging with children and families in a time of pandemic recovery.”

The Very Rev. Peter Wall, AFC’s Gift Consultant, is excited about this campaign’s potential to attract leadership gifts. “There was, and is, a real appetite among donors to support a community-based movement for youth. We believe a national campaign that is strong in its numbers and coordinated in its approach can connect money to mission in a truly transformational way.”

Michelle Hauser, AFC’s Development and Communications Consultant says, “Any Anglican parish in Canada with a vision for outreach to young people is eligible to apply to form a fundraising team and campaign alongside like-minded parishes nationwide from April 1 to June 30.” Hauser says teams will be able to set their own fundraising goals, and they will receive support with communications, case development, and training from AFC throughout the campaign. “Teams will also benefit from an AFC-led leadership giving campaign that will boost their efforts, including matching gifts.”

Those who wish to learn more about Say Yes! to Kids should visit anglicanfoundation.org/say-yes-to-kids to register for an upcoming webinar and download AFC’s campaign FAQs sheet. “I also encourage anyone who has questions to reach out to me directly,” says Hauser, who can be reached at mhauser@anglicanfoundation.org.

The post Say Yes! to Kids 2022: Growing a brighter future, today appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

For children of the Mile End Community Mission – who were already facing so many life challenges and uncertainties due to a daily struggle with poverty – the pandemic seemed to further erode whatever sense of innocence they may have managed to hold onto.

Unable to engage the Mission’s children and families in group activities or outings for the past two years, we’ve missed so many opportunities to get together as a community and help support our young members and families through it all.

As things often unfold at the Mission, however, new possibilities unexpectedly came to us towards the end of last summer. At that time we received an email from Bishop Mary who introduced us to the good folks at the Quebec Lodge Outdoor Center who proposed an exciting opportunity to collaborate on a summer camp project.

The Quebec Lodge Outdoor Centre is a children’s summer camp located on 70 acres of forested land on the shores of Lake Massawippi in the Eastern Townships. The camp has an educational mandate to teach environmental awareness and healthy living. One of the guiding principles of the Quebec Lodge Foundation, which owns the camp, is to ensure that no child is prevented from attending for financial reasons.

For a number of years, we’ve wanted to develop a relationship with an innovative summer camp to send our kids to and we are thrilled to have finally found an enthusiastic partner. As the President of the Quebec Lodge Foundation, Ruth Sheeran, remarked, “We are very excited to be working with the Mile End Mission. It realizes a long-standing goal to bring children from low-income urban areas to the camp. We look forward to developing a constructive partnership.”   

The aim of this project – which we’ve named A Nature Mission –  is to provide a group of ten to twelve children, aged ten to fourteen, with a wonderful opportunity to spend a week in the country enjoying and learning about nature and the environment at the beautiful Quebec Lodge Outdoor center.

With support from both our own Bishop Mary and Bishop Bruce of Quebec, we submitted a funding application to the Anglican Foundation of Canada’s Say Yes! To kids 2021 call for proposals.

Just before the Christmas holidays, we received confirmation that our project had been accepted for funding and that we would receive $5,000 in the spring!

We are all very grateful for this funding which will cover the cost of camp fees for the children. The Quebec Lodge Foundation will cover the transportation costs, and the Mission will work with the QL Foundation to acquire the necessary supplies through

donations from individuals and businesses (e.g. bathing suits, sunscreen, sleeping bags etc.).

The camp experience is scheduled to take place over the last week two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August, 2022, with groups of two to three children taking part for one week during this four-week time frame.

We are certain that following these past years’ tough lock-downs and restrictions, the children will more than benefit from a week at this camp with its beautiful open spaces from which to explore nature, develop new friendships and create lasting memories.  They will also be able to revel in the freedom, independence and growth that comes from being away from home, probably for the first time in their lives.

Leaving behind all the traffic and noise on their way up to the camp, the children will gradually be able to disarm themselves of the various life challenges and constraints that often limit their curiosity and their sense of self, adventure and fun. It is also hoped that through this experience, the children will come to believe in the great potential their lives have for ongoing growth, change and new opportunities.

On a recent visit to the camp, I decided to remain at the picnic table outside the main hall while others went to check out the lake. As I sat there in silence, taking in nature on this beautiful warm and wind-free day, hundreds of leaves from the surrounding trees suddenly let go simultaneously, falling to the ground all around me.  It was just their time to let go, I thought to myself. In those brief moments under the trees, I felt innocence, I felt wonder. This is my wish this for all the children who will take part in A Nature Mission this summer.

To learn more go to:

www.quebeclodge.org or https://mileendmission.org

The post Innocence and Wonder appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

We will learn about the Indigenous Responsive Program from both Archbishop Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Archbishop of Canada and Lisa Phillips, Executive Director of KORLCC – Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center in Kahnawake. Indigenous Responsive Program Grant funds were applied for, and received by, KORLCC.

Join us to learn more at the upcoming webinar this spring Date to be announced.

As always, you are invited to join us at our monthly meetings happening remotely. Email Ros for more information:

roslyn.macgregor@gmail.com.

For more info and photos:

KORLCC: www.korkahnawake.org/

www. pwrdf.org/indigenousgrants/

“Grants Allocated to Indigenous Partners” on Page 2 of the February issue of PWRDF’s Under the Sun

The post PWRDF Webinar Coming to a Computer Near You! appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Jesus said: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid”. Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “COME!”

So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind; he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, WHY did you doubt?” (Matthew 14: 27-31)

Today many parishioners are riding in their own “boat of security” upon the topsy-turvy seas of Covid19, climate change, international threats of war, and conflict. They hesitate, as Peter did, to attempt to leave their boat in order to “walk closer towards Jesus”.

Perhaps it’s fear of the unknown and untried. However – as all Anglicans should remember – if we do falter when trying something new to enhance our own spiritual beliefs, our Lord Jesus (and your Incumbent) WILL reach out His hand to support you! As Jesus said to Peter “You of little faith, WHY did you doubt?” 

I believe that one way to walk closer to Jesus is to become a Lay Reader, as that has been my experience. If you have ever considered such a calling, or are just curious about the qualifications, responsibilities and process of becoming a Lay Reader, then here are the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE – and most importantly – WHY of this important and fulfilling role in our Diocese;

WHO are our current Diocesan Lay Readers? Well they are:

• Parishioners, from different academic, business, spiritual, cultural and family backgrounds; who over time, began to hear the calling of our Lord Jesus to – Step out of their “boat of security” and venture forth onto “uncertain stormy seas”.

• Baptized and confirmed Anglicans, over the age of 18, who have been a communicant member of their parish for at least two years; and believe that they have been “Called by God to affirm the Lordship of Jesus Christ”.

• Persons who after initial training, are licensed by the Bishop to lead non-sacramental services, within their own parish; and potentially at other Diocesan churches.

• Persons who under the authority of their Incumbent, are involved in their own parish, and are motivated to serve Christ in a wider capacity as a Lay Leader. Persons who by their actions and life style, demonstrate their Christian faith as set out in the Lay Readers’ Mission Statement:

“We the Lay Readers, licensed by the Bishop of Montreal, believe that we are called by God to affirm the Lordship of Jesus Christ in teaching, preaching and leading Worship services. We exercise this ministry in our parishes and throughout the Diocese. We use our diverse gifts, traditions, cultures and languages to be Lay Leaders within the body of Christ, and in our own daily lives.”

WHAT are examples of Ministerial functions which Lay Readers are called upon to do?

• Reading  the lessons, doing the Intercessions;              

• Leading prayer;

• Officiant (i.e. Leading non-sacramental church services such as Morning or Evening Prayer, Burial of the Dead);

• Assisting ordained clergy during the Eucharist and other sacramental services; chalice bearing;

• Preaching at services;

• Offering ministry to the sick, including in-home, hospital or retirement homes;

• Organizing and maintaining prayer groups, or Bible Study group, or Alpha group, or Sunday School, or Youth group;

• Providing ministry not only in their own parish, but as experienced and appropriate, to other Diocesan parishes according to the temporary or emergency needs.

WHEN might YOU consider the possibilities of at least temporarily stepping out of your “boat of security” to get your feet wet, and initially discern “IF” this important Diocesan Ministry – is appropriate for YOU?  Well how about NOW? – Simply review the following questions:*

     • Are you filled with love for God? For people? For scripture? For the world?

• Do you think you are being called by Christ to be His Disciple? To be in ministry of Lay Readers?

• Are you willing to follow Jesus’ example of listening, valuing, respecting others? Serve in your Parish and local community? Have empathy, awareness of your strengths & weaknesses?

• Are you open to lifelong learning? Reflection and growth?  Working collaboratively and embracing differences? Being a person of integrity & emotional stability? Feedback?

• Can you share God’s story in a way that also encourages others to follow Jesus? Your own faith imaginatively, relevantly and well? God’s love for the world in your Mission?

• Can you grow in faith, and be open to navigating your future, in the company of Christ? By leading collaboratively as part of a team, within your Parish and Diocese?

Now WHERE to go?  Well, if you can answer YES to most, or all of these questions, then here’s where you can begin your next step:

• There’s a one-year “probationary” period for all Lay Readers. So first – you need to approach your own Incumbent, and discuss and discern your potential interest for this calling.

• Afterwards, your Incumbent will review your interest with the Parish Council or senior members, for their comments and concurrence.

• During the above processes, you will also be handed a “First Year (Probationary) Application” – which you need to complete and sign; have signed by your Incumbent and two members of your Parish Council, and by another Clergy member who knows you.

• Thus yourself, your Incumbent, and the Pastor to the Lay Readers, will mutually determine if and how, this new calling would be most beneficial to you, as you begin to cross the stormy waters of your new “walk with Jesus”.   

• As well, there is another “lifeline” available – known as the Lay Readers Association (LRA). Once licensed by the Bishop, you become a member of the LRA. In general, the LRA is there to assist in: a) Deepening member’s  spiritual life, b) Encouraging regular readings of scripture, c) Maintaining effective communication and facilitating interchange of member thoughts and experiences, d) Fostering fellowship, e) Encouraging continuing education – via monthly workshops, annual retreats, and some financial support for outside theological courses. For more details, and access to LRA Resources, kindly visit their website at: http://layreaders.org

Thus, Lay Readers can become much more than just readers – they can become Lay Leaders!

WHY? Do you perhaps sense Jesus is beckoning you to “COME” and join the Lay Ministry? If so, then why not “come into the water”, as other Lay Readers have? Remember, Jesus said to his disciples – “TRUST in ME – I shall always be at YOUR side”.  So – if you need to – take your time to decide, think about it, pray about it, then take a few breaths and don’t worry about calming the storm – Jesus will take care of that! 

Once you think that you are ready, take that first step and discuss with your incumbent about what you are sensing, and your need for guidance. Then when you start entering the waters of the Diocesan Lay Reader ministry following Jesus’ calling, you will most likely discover that you are NOT sinking at all, as you walk hand in hand with our Lord!

[*Reference 1]:  Church of England – Ministry Council – Reader/LLM (Reader) – Discernment Framework – April 2021.

The post Why YOU might want to consider the Ministry of a Diocesan Lay Reader appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Last spring we were approached by a local organization, Bread and Beyond, to help them provide sandwiches to seven shelters on the island.  With the help of our parishioners and our community we have been providing from 350 to over 400 sandwiches/ week to this organization.

Bread and Beyond contacted us again in November to ask if we could collect winter attire for the men and women who live on the streets.  The results were amazing. We collected dozens of coats, boots, back packs, hats, gloves, etc. to give a little bit of comfort and warmth to those enduring our harsh winter outside.

We held two online bake sales; a harvest bake sale in October and country Christmas sale in December.

Due to the success of our sales and donations from our community, we were able to give generously to more than fourteen local families, including dozens of children. We supplied them with food gift cards, stockings filled with treats and small gifts and new boots. In addition, the ladies in our community made hats, gloves, scarves, and slippers for these families.

We sent gifts, hygienic bags, crocs, boots, knitted items, winter attire and stockings to the Women’s and Men’s shelters in our community. Recently we discovered that there is another homeless shelter located just down the street so we will help them in the future as well.

On Christmas day the Rodney family from St. Paul’s – plus many of their friends – made and delivered 46 Christmas dinners and goody bags to those in the area who were alone at Christmas.

We have been very busy with our frozen meal program.  We supply (for a small price to cover costs) meals by the week to those who are unable to cook for themselves.  A small group of ladies from St. Paul’s and the community faithfully make and freeze meals that are picked up or delivered weekly.  Since the start of the pandemic we have increased our clients threefold.

Because we would not be able to do all of this as a small parish we created a new organization, Community Outreach Group which includes St. Paul’s and all of the generous people of our community.

The Bible says that the Lord will provide and He has sure done that for so many through the help of so many. God is good…all the time.

We are so blessed here at St. Paul’s and are so grateful to our community for all they want to do to help those in need. It does indeed take a community.

The post It Takes a Community appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

In the summer of 2019, we began the process of re-imagining our property. We envisioned a welcoming space with food-to share vegetable and herb beds, fruit trees and bushes and a pollinator garden.

Within a few months, thanks to community connections, the first raised bed had been constructed and we had an overall plan for the property on the west side of the Memorial Hall.

In 2020, as we continued to implement our master plan, we were approached with the possibility of creating a pocket forest on the east side of the hall.

Pocket or mini forests are densely planted small “forests” designed to copy the attributes of a large, wooded area, but in an urban setting.

These forests are a small step in the fight against climate change. They not only provide food and shelter for birds and animals; they can also help reduce city heat and reduce flooding after heavy rainfalls.

For St. Philips, this interesting project would allow us to continue both the “greening” of the property and our involvement with the community.

After discussions with P3Permaculture’s, Graham Calder and various members of the wider community, we decided to move forward; on the weekend of October 23-24, in collaboration with Incredible Edibles and The Depot Community Food Centre, St. Philip’s hosted a Pocket Forest workshop.

Armed with Graham’s list of what was needed, we scrounged large cardboard boxes from recycling piles and found several sources of wood chips.

Calls for donations of plants and small trees were made on Facebook pages. The response from fellow gardeners was amazing. Among other things, we received two good sized pear trees, apricot, peach and elderberry seedings, raspberry canes, gooseberry, goji and red currant bushes, daylilies, and numerous ground covers.

Twenty or so people signed up for the workshop, although not everyone came for both sessions. Due to Covid restrictions we had to meet outside.

During the first session, Graham explained the benefits and philosophy behind the concept of pocket forests.

The next afternoon we got to work, wetting and peeling tape from flattened cardboard boxes, digging a trench from the side of the Hall out to the forest site, moving the mound of wood chips, layering the cardboard and wood chips and, finally, planting the pear trees and many other edible/flowering plants.

The trench, which was later filled with wood chips, will help collect and store some of the water coming from the roof when it rains. From there it will seep slowly into the rest of the garden. In theory, once established, this space should not need to be watered.

Once the pocket forest was finished, we had many leftover plants. With the remaining cardboard and woodchips, two guilds (fruit tree seedlings surrounded by plants which will grow to varying heights and bloom at different times) were created in a sheltered area near the church.

If you have questions about the pocket forest, community garden or future workshops, email Anne at anne.johnston.williams@gmail.com

The post New Growth appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Now imagine you are a girl between the ages of ten to fourteen. What do you think she sees when she looks in a mirror? Do you think she sees all her potential; how beautiful God has made her?

A young girl’s world is full of tension; she feels the pressure of balancing home life with friends, while trying to understand who she is and who she wants to be. All this while trying to discern the expectations of society.

Statistics show girls are struggling to find their footing. According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation:

• 36% of sixth grade girls say they are self-confident, but by grade ten this plummets to 14%.

• 12% of girls aged twelve to nineteen say they have had a major depressive episode.

• Suicide remains the third-leading cause of death for girls aged ten to fourteen.

• According to The Canadian Association of Women in Sport, the majority of girls quit sports by the age of fourteen due to poor body image, lack of self-esteem and self-confidence.

To help address these issues, last fall Phoenix Community Projects provided a program called Play Like a Girl. Sixteen girls in grades five and six participated in weekly workshops that explored the themes of boundaries, self-esteem, communication skills, problem solving and goal setting.

To support the learning goals, each workshop was paired with a sport that exemplified each lesson. For example, self-defence was paired with boundaries, and Rugby with the theme of facing challenges. Participants also tried a paralympic sport called goalball which supported the lesson of perspective and active listening.

The purpose of this program was for participants to find new interests, nurture their love for themselves and develop resources to use in their continued journey in the sporting world as well as in their lives. It has also provided a safe space for girls to have fun and be themselves.

Engaging in community service or outreach is not an easy task. It takes a great deal of work, commitment, patience, resources and – most of all – partnership. Often, when parishes reach out to the community it is with the hope that it will attract new parishioners and sustainability. This is not the purpose of community outreach. Community service is just that – SERVICE – not what we can get, but what we give.

In any new initiative, it can be difficult to know where to begin. An easy formula to remember is SOAR.

S-Strengths

When initiating an outreach project, it is important to start from a place of strength. What is your church good at? What does your church community enjoy doing? Does your church possess talents for food/hospitality, age specific programs (children, youth, seniors), pastoral care, advocacy? By starting from a place of strength a church is truly sharing the best of themselves.

O-Obstacles

In the same manner churches must discern what obstacles they routinely face in their endeavors? Do you have in-fighting, uncommitted volunteers, volunteer exhaustion, communication issues? What are those things that create challenges or even sabotage your efforts?

A-Assess

It is critical to understand what is already taking place within your local community. By doing so you will see where the support gaps are. At the same time many community organizations are already doing a great deal. By understanding what is available within our communities, instead of starting new projects, we can support local initiatives.

R-Relationships

Community partners are the most essential element to any initiative. They possess knowledge of our communities, know the best approaches and can help guide initiatives to success.

The success of Play Like a Girl was due to the support of Phoenix’s community partners. Funding was provided by the Women in Sports fund of the Canadian Association of Women in Sports. A venue was provided by St. Margret’s of Antioch Church in St. Hubert. Workshops and sports training were provided by Alpha Contact, Goalball Referee Association, Celtic Junior Rugby Association of the Montérégie and VTMTL Wing Chung Kung Fu. Finally, the program was promoted through the Canadian Learning Centres.

Community service is not a one-organization responsibility. We cannot do it alone. It is only by understanding our strengths, obstacles, assessments and relationships that we can SOAR together. If your parish is interested in community outreach, Phoenix Community Projects can support you in this process.

Finally, this month, Play Like a Girl will again be offered on Sundays 3pm-5pm at St Margret’s Church in St Hubert. Go to www.phoenixprograms.ca.

The post Play Like a Girl appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

And yet, this tiny piece of protection, the obstacle, is our means of introduction. The prelude to what has become our new face of perseverance that motivates us to repeat again and again what we have been called to say as appointed prophets to the nations. JEREMIAH 1:5

The mask has brought a form of solidarity within struggling community groups, groping for the new normal, in finding ways of outreach we all took for granted.

The mask has forced us to embrace new forms of media allowing our speech to be heard but also reciprocally, for us to hear the needs and to embrace and rally around our neighbours. We then become aware of the need to open our churches up to them, to support them with an attitude of mission, thereby allowing them to see the signs, the miracles of our faith in what can be done, to see the realty of what was always there behind the mask.

During these two years of the pandemic that began with our shutdown on March 15 2020, St-Barnabas has flourished with many opportunities even if in other areas we have become dormant.

When we lose one of our senses, the other complimentary senses must become stronger to compensate. When our speech is muffled, our hearing and sense of love and ingenuity become stronger. Our active out-reach allows us to see the partnerships on our doorsteps.

Whether we gather distanced or via Zoom, we must continue to plan for the days to come, to indeed ready the house of the Lord to be prepared to welcome and nourish the nations within our communities.

During the pandemic we have increased to four congregations from two. We have two community choirs now in addition to our community orchestra, the Scouts, Meals on Wheels, and we host a Karate class helping those with autism. We recently partnered out a portion of our office space to Table de concertation des groupes de femmes de la Montérégie, individuals dedicated to helping others in need.

Miraculously, with the hiring of two new vergers we took these opportunities  during the lockdowns to refurbish our premises, preparing a better environment for worship and for our community partners to work safely and comfortably.   

The post Speaking through the mask… appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

The five year grant of $1-million (USD) will help the Montreal School of Theology in its ongoing work of preparing pastoral leaders to face the new and ever-changing challenges of ministry in our contemporary world.

The grant is part of the Lilly Endowment’s three-phase Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, which is designed to support theological colleges in Canada and the United States as they face the many challenges of preparing church leaders for the church and world of today and tomorrow.

“This is a huge vote of confidence in theological education in Montreal,” said Dio principal Jesse Zink. “This was a very competitive process involving hundreds of theological schools across the U.S. and Canada. We’re grateful that Lilly has recognized the value of what we do here and given us the means to continue to expand our programs in new ways to serve the needs of our changing church.”

MST’s grant proposal focused on three main areas.

First, MST will launch the Montreal Mission Internship, a program that Dio has offered at times in the past. (See page one.) MMI is a summer service-learning program that allows young people to discern a vocation to lay and ordained ministry while serving others in community.

Second, MST will thoroughly revise its field education program. Under the leadership of a new Director of Field Education, MST will develop new ways of training future clergy to ensure that their field education experiences prepare them for the kind of ministry they will engage in in coming decades.

Finally, MST will launch a new mentoring program for clergy who are new to ministry. This is based on a program that The Presbyterian College has offered in the past. Each of these programs will be ecumenical in nature and focused on providing leaders in the church with opportunities for contextual engagement, reflective learning, and growth as a pastoral leader.

Roland De Vries, principal of The Presbyterian College and Director of MST, said, “This grant will enable MST to pursue its renewed mission with creativity and with strengthened institutional capacities—particularly in engagement with our unique and dynamic context of Montreal. This project and supporting grant represent a profoundly hopeful moment as MST and its constituent colleges creatively reimagine theological education.”

Across North America, 84 other theological schools are receiving a total of $82 million in grants through this second phase of Lilly’s Pathways Initiative.

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