Our Program is great for communities who are looking for a low cost, pre-planned and all-inclusive package that provides churches and communities with an affordable outreach opportunity for families from all income levels. Day Camps are a great way to generate more community involvement and are adaptable to a wide variety of contexts.

     For summer 2023 we are offering “Something to Celebrate!” exploring Parables from the Gospel of Luke. Campers will hear Jesus’ stories of The Two Houses, The Two Neighbours , The One Lost Sheep The One Lost Son and The One Found Son. Each day our program unpacks one of these parables through songs and games, small groups, crafts and liturgical dance all geared to campers of 4-12 years.

CTM offers two different models to meet your needs:

• The Backyard Package is designed for purchase by a church to then be shared via a secure link with registered families. This program includes five 2 ½ hour-long sessions and can be presented at times and days suited to each family from the security of their own homes and backyards.

• The Super Day Camp comprises five units each of which includes 5 hours of activities. Purchase of this package provides you with a detailed Planner taking you through the process of recruiting volunteers, collecting supplies and encouraging the whole church family to be involved, plus access to a “mentor” who will be matched with you and join your set-up and daily debrief meetings via an online platform as well as offering support via text message throughout your Day Camp week,

Both packages include digital copies of all promotional and program materials with the Super Day Camp package also including a comprehensive training video for volunteers.

Whatever your community’s situation, one of these programs can help ensure that the children of your church family and wider community have “Something to Celebrate!” for summer 2023.

Visit the CTM website –  www.crosstalkministries.ca

The post Crosstalk Day Camps 2023 appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

The good news is that it is possible to help the environment, while saving money. And there is some financial support available. Churches across Canada are taking responsibility for their own buildings. They can also show their members how to get involved and how to share the environmental good news with their neighbours.

What is the path? Switch over to electricity but use heat pumps (air-source or geothermal) instead of baseboard heaters or electric furnaces in order to use 3-5 times less electricity. If your church (or home) uses fuel oil, there are significant grants available, because this eliminates large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

The combination of heat pump efficiency, low electricity prices and high, unpredictable oil and gas prices offsets the price of equipment. Loans are often available from the diocese (apply through the vicar general).

Congregations in Ste-Agathe, Greenfield Park, St Jax and the Cathedral have moved to heat pumps, and Dorval installed geothermal heating years ago. Sutton and Rawdon are currently exploring this option.

Electrifying is harder to do for churches with hot water heating; register your church with us as we do case studies and identify options for reducing your GHGs.

Once a congregation changes its furnace (and now benefits from summer air conditioning!), they can expand their impact by helping their members to do the same with their own heating systems. (Even tenants can successfully encourage their landlords to change systems and save money). Then those members have one more reason to interact with their neighbours, as they share good news for the environment and how God’s Good News motivates them to care for God’s creation.

Visit www.netzerochurches.ca.

The post Saving money while helping the environment? Yes, it’s possible! appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Fr Linus will now spend the next two years earning his Bachelor of Theology degree at Montreal Diocesan Theological College, to be better equipped for his work of teaching candidates for ordination.

Fr. Linus has attended some events in the Diocese of Montreal, including Randy Gates’ ordination in Sutton in September. He and the Partnerships Committee are eager to have him visit as many parishes of the Diocese, in as many different regions and contexts, as possible, during his time here.

My own congregation, All Saints by the Lake in Dorval, plans to host Fr. Linus for our patronal festival on All Saints’ Sunday, November 6th.

If you would like Fr. Linus to visit, please contact the Rev’d Michael Robson at 438-969-1312 or mjrmtl@gmail.com to arrange a mutually convenient time.

Thank you for helping to welcome our guest from Masasi.

The post Welcoming Fr Linus Buriani to the Diocese of Montreal appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

In response to these concerns, Christian Direction launched a new initiative against domestic violence – the Christian Québecois Initiative Against Domestic Violence (CQIADA)/l’initiative québecoise chrétienne contre l’abus domestique (IQCCAD).

Rather than dive into a ministry project, The Christian Direction team, following the advice of the director of a Montréal women’s shelter, sought to first determine a baseline understanding of the issue, particularly how it intersects with the church in Québec. Consequently, the initiative determined to launch a research project which would explore the research question: “What are the experiences of domestic abuse of survivors in the church,  and what are the attitudes of laypeople, and leaders in Christian faith communities in Quebec towards this issue?”

The objective of the project is to produce a report that will suggest actionable ways to change the narrative for Christian survivors of domestic violence in Québec, and lead to the development of ministry response(s).

The Rapha Project is a study on experiences of domestic abuse among christians and the response of the church in Quebec. The project is named “Rapha,” which means healing in Hebrew. The goal of this project is to reveal the ways that domestic violence has impacted Christians in Québec and to reveal the experiences of survivors in particular. We are convinced that to reveal is to begin to heal, and we know that our God is Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals.

“… for I am the Lord who heals you” – Exodus 15:26

Project Values

In developing this research project, our team has been committed to several core values: expertise, academic rigour, ethical oversight, as well as trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches.

In developing this research project, it was essential that we build a team of local experts to inform the work and assist in creating the research. Our project lead, Jenna Smith, has years of experience in community engagement and network development, and used these skills to create an advisory committee of local experts to inform the project.

Emily Simunic was hired as the coordinator and researcher of the project to ensure that the study is academically rigorous and able to meet the standards expected by university researchers and peer-reviewed publications.

An essential component of academic rigour is acquiring ethical approval and oversight from an ethics board. The first stage of the Rapha project — a survey for churchgoers in Québec — has received ethics approval from the Community Research Ethics Office (CREO), a non-profit which provides ethics oversight for community organizations creating research. For the second phase of the project we will be looking at university ethics boards for approval.

When projects involve vulnerable populations, such as domestic violence survivors, it is vital that all work be trauma-informed and survivor-centered. A trauma-informed approach seeks to minimize harm and reduce the risk of re-traumatization of survivors and victims of domestic abuse who participate in our research.

Christian Direction has a long history in community development and community-led processes and projects. We are very mindful of the importance of agency and voice amongst people who are in situations of vulnerability. It is for this reason that we strive towards a survivor-informed practice, which means that survivors are multi-faceted partners in Rapha Quebec. This includes meaningful input from a diverse community of survivors at all stages of a program or project, including development, implementation, and evaluation.

The Research

The Rapha study is a mixed-methodology project with three stages: a survey of churchgoers, interviews with survivors, and focus groups with church leaders. We are currently in the first stage of our research, which is a survey for churchgoing adults in Québec. The survey is open to all practicing (or formerly practicing) Christians in Québec who are over 18 years old, regardless of their experience with domestic violence.

Survey Objectives

1.  Identify the beliefs and attitudes of Québec Christians and churches with regard to domestic abuse.

2.  Determine whether domestic violence is a problem currently being experienced within Christian communities and churches in Québec.

3.  Understand why victims do or do not disclose their experiences of domestic abuse to other churchgoers or church leaders, and to reveal how the church has responded to such disclosures of domestic abuse.

We invite you to answer the survey online via www.direction.ca/rapha or to email rapha@direction.ca to request a paper copy of the survey.

Supporting the Project

There are many other ways to support the Rapha project: share the story of how domestic violence has touched your life, become a project ambassador & encourage your community to respond to the survey, or support us in prayer or financially.

The post Rapha Québec Research Project appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

An event-based model is an effective way of making connections, deepening relationships and strengthening the fabric of ministry. As our culture continues to change, we must respond and adapt.

An expression of hospitality is not only a creative and meaningful way to connect, express love and deepen bonds; it is also a crucial tenet of our faith. Hospitality is a transformational Christian practice and extends all the way back to the book of Genesis. Hosting events in a spirit of hospitality gives us tangible opportunities to express our mission, share our faith and extend the borders of Christian community.

Through this model, we are afforded the privilege of building relationships and connections, not only with our neighbours, but to strangers and those who are marginalized and vulnerable. This act of service is, in fact, fundamental to our call. But, it demands a lot of us as we must sometimes go outside of our comfort zone, perhaps finding hidden skills and talents. This also means bumping up against the tension of trying new things, making mistakes and managing the disappointment and even shame of rejection or failure.

An event-based model is not transactional: there are no expectations of attendees such as fund raising, conversion or membership. We aren’t recruiting Anglicans, volunteers, disciples or members of Sunday School. All of these things may be an outcome of course, but they are not the primary objective. When we host events in ministry, let’s view this through the lens of sheer generosity: we are giving a gift, and there are no strings attached.

Here are some of the things you will need:

Time: carve out a generous window of opportunity, likely forfeiting or delaying some aspects of your existing ministry, perhaps put book club, bake sale, or altar guild meetings etc. on hold. This may seem impossible or even daunting but your community will understand and be grateful if you articulate your vision with clarity and purpose. “I am planning an event this fall that will benefit our parish and I will need to withdraw from a few commitments in order to make this happen.”

Energy: Visualize the project and gather up the gumption to execute. You will need stamina and focus. Surround yourself with supporters and stay attuned to their energy. Like an athlete training for their sport, you will need to find ways of building up your reserves and being ready to give it all you’ve got. Whatever gives you vitality, do that!

Passion: Your emotional connection to this event is the spark that will propel you to the finish line. Tap into and listen to that voice, follow and express it creatively through writing, blogs and sermons, with doodles and however and whenever you can. Your Passion is contagious and will attract supporters to the project and will influence the outcome.

Grit: Prepare yourself for a season of hard work, courage and resilience. There will inevitably be pitfalls, naysayers and unexpected demands. You will make mistakes, face challenges and hardships. Don’t let this deter you. Get up and try again. You haven’t gotten this far in your ministry without overcoming obstacles. Successful events don’t happen by luck or circumstances but are a direct result of perseverance and determination.

Faith: Each of us is called to our roles in ministry for a different reason. Pray on and trust your guiding principle. You don’t need me to tell you but it bears mentioning now that your faith in God is your highest force and from where your ultimate strength and conviction is derived.

Wonder & Curiosity: Approaching event planning with wonder and curiosity implies we are open and available. From here, we aren’t preoccupied with winning or losing. We are in the moment, with an open mindset and a desire to learn and expand. Growth is a guaranteed outcome and there is no “losing” from this perspective. Assuming an experimental posture means that there is something to gain regardless of the perceived success of your event.

Do you have what it takes? Of course you do! You have already been honing these skills in your leadership. A call to preach, lead, teach, and serve in Christian leadership requires all of these qualities and more.

The post Event-based ministry appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

The service will be presented in the traditional style of King’s College, Cambridge. The choir, conducted and accompanied by music directors Matthieu Latreille and Francine Nguyen-Savaria, will present Christmas carols and motets. The congregation is also invited to join in singing some all-time favourites.

For more than a decade, the Lessons and Carols were combined with a Sunday morning service during the Advent season at Saint Barnabas. After the breaks of 2020 and 2021 imposed by the pandemic, the music directors—who began their duties in March 2022—are taking this new start as an opportunity to offer the Festival of Lessons and Carols in its original form.

The service includes carols and Bible readings. The opening carol is always “Once in Royal David’s City,” and the first verse is traditionally sung by a soloist.

Events like this not only celebrate the spirit of the season, but allow us to take part in a beautiful tradition. It is also how some younger choristers become familiar with traditional carols that they have not heard before. “The idea of Christmas magic and enchantment is somewhat clichéd and overrated. And yet, the magic happens during the Festival of Lessons and Carols. Whether we believe in God or not, the Nativity story, and the music it inspired are always moving. In California, this service made us forget that there were flowers and palm trees outside!” says music director Matthieu Latreille.

This Festival of Lessons and Carols holds a special place in the music directors’ hearts. They confess that this service is what first attracted them to the Anglican Church, and something they have been dreaming of doing ever since they have discovered it. They have successfully presented several editions of this event at Saint Ambrose Episcopal Church in Claremont, California, and Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church in Belleville, Ontario.

They are delighted to offer this service in their home province of Quebec. They hope for a revival of this unique Anglican tradition on the South Shore of Montreal. “For the first time in our careers, we are offering a fully bilingual version of the Lessons and Carols,” explains Francine Nguyen-Savaria. “We worked to find a French translation of the Bible that matched the King James version in style and language, in addition to ensuring that the carols would be meaningful in a universal way. We are quite pleased with the outcome. It is beautiful to be able to make this Anglican tradition live in our multicultural metropolitan area.” 

The post Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in Saint-Lambert celebrates the season appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

The post Ecumenical Service in Esperanto at Christ Church Cathedral appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

While tolling the bell here at St. James the Apostle in Stanbridge East – one of the eleven churches in the fledgling Eastern Townships Regional Ministry – it quickly became apparent that the rope which pulls the bell’s funeral hammer (resulting in a single tolling of the bell, as opposed to the joyful CLANG CLANG CLANG of a Sunday morning) was dislodged somewhere up in the tower. On the next sunny day, the local village stonemason and I went up to investigate.

It should be noted that while I am utterly terrified of heights, I am a firm believer that one needs to grapple with one’s fears if one is ever to overcome them — besides that, the stonemason’s riotous shouts upon reaching the top of the tower made me reluctant to miss this unique opportunity. “Father Tyson,” he shouted in his northern England accent, “you’ve got to come up and see this!  The view is amazing!”

So, I strapped myself into a safety harness and began my ascent up the outside of the tower, muttering the Hail Mary and various other less-than-Christian prayers under my breath.

Indeed, the bird’s eye view of the village from high above the trees was stunning.  But, even more amazing was the interior of the bell tower walls, which were carved with the names of the many brave (and foolish?) men and women from the area who had climbed the tower over the decades.

The earliest name we found was from 1905. There were the names of several people whom I knew from around the village, and others whom I had recently buried. Then, I found a familiar name carved in neat capital letters by one of the windows: “FR. PETER HANNEN, 14TH RECTOR OF THIS CHURCH, 1966.”

Archdeacon Hannen had led my diaconal pre-ordination retreat in this very church back in 2019, and had been rector of the parish and, back in the 60’s, lived in the very rectory that I now call home. I found a nail and carved my own name underneath his: “FR. TYSON ROSBERG, ASSOCIATE PRIEST, 2022.”

I felt a surprising connection with this region that God has called me into — a sort of holy communion with the past faithful of this place, infused not upon the bread and wine of the altar, but carved into the walls of the tower.   

Much has changed in the life of our rural churches since the 1960’s. Yet, much remains the same. We continue to gather in faithful discipleship and prayer, growing together, in communion with that “great a cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us (Hebrews 12:1)!

The post An Unexpected Connection: My Adventure up a Bell Tower appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

In the workshop, entitled “Mapping the Ground We Stand On” we learned, shared and reflected on historical facts that were new to us, such as the Doctrine of Discovery which the Europeans used to justify claiming land in North America. We learned that there were nearly 800 different tribes in Canada when Europeans first arrived. The Land was definitely not empty. It was a hard but enlightening afternoon.

I would like to thank Pastor Randy Barrington, Ali Boyle, and Roberto Rubio from the Village Church of the Nazarene for their collaboration as well as PWRDF facilitators Karen Luyendyk and Audrey Lawrence, for their help in planning the event and Ohontsakehte Montour who opened, participated in and closed the workshop.

And I would like to thank all the other participants who were willing to take a risk, be vulnerable, see the past differently, form new relationships and who now plan to share this knowledge with others.

The post Mapping the ground we stand on appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

The post St James Ormstown now accessible to everyone appeared first on Montreal Anglican.