Winter 2023 Archives - Montreal Anglican

Mrs Elizabeth Hutchinson received the Anglican Award of Merit and the Bishop’s Award at a ceremony at Grace Church Arundel on September 10, 2023. Photo by Janet Best.

" data-medium-file="https://montreal.anglicannews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53186566353_7cf93e7153_o-300x213.jpg" data-large-file="https://montreal.anglicannews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53186566353_7cf93e7153_o-1024x727.jpg" /> Mary-Jo Rosenquist at the induction of the Rev Rodney Clark at Christ Church Rawdon, September 24, 2023. Photo by Janet Best.

" data-medium-file="https://montreal.anglicannews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53239989075_1c756a1cd8_o-1-300x194.jpg" data-large-file="https://montreal.anglicannews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53239989075_1c756a1cd8_o-1-1024x664.jpg" /> The Rev Rodney Clark administers communion to Appoline Huruma at his induction service at Christ Church Rawdon September 24, 2023. Photo by Janet Best.

" data-medium-file="https://montreal.anglicannews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53239500371_feb7fb9470_o-300x234.jpg" data-large-file="https://montreal.anglicannews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53239500371_feb7fb9470_o-1024x799.jpg" /> Vanessa Roy gives a thumbs-up at the post-induction celebration of the Rev Rodney Clark at Christ Church Rawdon September 24, 2023. Photo by Janet Best.

" data-medium-file="https://montreal.anglicannews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53239861549_b3fcc302ba_o-300x172.jpg" data-large-file="https://montreal.anglicannews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53239861549_b3fcc302ba_o-1024x588.jpg" />

The post Around the Diocese appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Peter Lekx named Family Ministry Intern at Christ Church Beaurepaire

Joel Amis — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:51:44 +0000

In September Peter Lekx, a graduate of Montreal Diocesan Theological College and a candidate for ordination, began working as Family Ministry Intern at Christ Church Beaurepaire, with a broader mandate of developing and supporting family ministry in the West Island (the Deanery of Pointe-Claire and St. Anne).

Peter is pictured here (centre) with his wife Rebecca, their three children – Pippa, Thomas, and Jonathan – and the Rev. Joel Amis, Incumbent of Christ Church Beaurepaire (right).
Photo supplied.

The post Peter Lekx named Family Ministry Intern at Christ Church Beaurepaire appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Saving Grace: Restoring Grace Anglican Church Sutton

The Anglican Church of Canada — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:46:44 +0000

For nearly 200 years, Grace Church’s building and steeple have been an iconic part of the physical and cultural landscape of the town of Sutton — and the Eastern Townships. However, the decades have been hard on the church’s beautiful historic architecture. Now it’s up to us to take the necessary steps to restore this important historic church.
Severe dry rot threatened the structural integrity of the church’s soaring steeple, requiring it to be removed and restored in 2022, at a cost of over $100,000. The community responded generously and raised all the needed funds.
Now a new roof is desperately needed, as are updates to heating systems, masonry, and interior facilities. The cost of this work is estimated to be $215,000, of which $40,000 has already been raised. Now the remaining $175,000 is urgently needed.
Grace Church is the “digital hub” of our growing Eastern Townships Regional Ministry, whose online presence now reaches over 250 people a week. More still, Grace Church is the oldest still-worshipping Christian congregation in Sutton, with a mission rooted in the town and community it serves.
In addition to Sunday worship, Grace Church engages in life-giving prison ministry and literacy support amongst inmates at the Cowansville federal penitentiary. The church is also involved in refugee sponsorship, addictions recovery, and so much more.
Grace Church is also a beautiful cultural oasis within the town of Sutton, hosting space for musical and theatrical events, recreational activities, and social gatherings.
Your support in this urgent capital project is crucial so that Grace Church can continue to be a meaningful part of Sutton’s physical and cultural fabric, serving the needs of the community with love and grace — saving grace!
Donations can be sent to: Grace Anglican Church
52 Rue Principale S
Sutton, Quebec J0E 2K0
Or www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/grace-anglican-church-sutton-quebec/
All donations are tax deductible. Thank you!

The post Saving Grace: Restoring Grace Anglican Church Sutton appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Deconsecration of St. Martin’s House Church in Otterburn Park

Andy O'Donnell — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:39:33 +0000

St. Martin’s was formed as a parish on April 28, 1958, originally worshiping in the Legion. Their new Church was dedicated January 19th, 1961. The congregation started to worship in the former rectory on June 25, 2011.
During the 2022 annual Vestry meeting, a motion was passed to request permission to sell their building. The Service of Thanksgiving & Deconsecration was held on November 1, 2023.
I would like to express my appreciation for the work and care of the past clergy, lay- readers, wardens, organists and members who supported this church and the community of Otterburn Park.

The post Deconsecration of St. Martin’s House Church in Otterburn Park appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Christ Church Beaurepaire Fall Festival attracted over 250 visitors!

Peter Lekx — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:38:40 +0000

As I looked around the room filled with seasonal decorations, the tantalizing smell of homemade chili, fun games, and most importantly, hundreds of visitors, I knew we’d made the right call. What had started as a parish potluck quickly snowballed into a much larger event in the hopes of welcoming guests who might otherwise never walk through the door; what we didn’t know was just how many visitors we would be blessed to receive.
It turns out, when your job is to develop Family Ministries in your local neighbourhoods, parish events may need to change in order to be accessible to today’s busy families.
Most have decided, either consciously or not, that Sunday morning church is not a priority for their families, or even that faith as a whole holds little to no relevance in their daily lives. When you are working with so little to go on, it might take a “go big or go home” attitude simply to get folks in the door!
And so our main cook, activities planner, interior decorator and all-around event cheerleader (who is also my wife) insisted we prepare for hundreds, even when the doubtful among us privately expressed that a few dozen would be a good turnout.
Five massive stock pots of chili were prepared and 40 lbs of potatoes were scrubbed and ready to be turned into loaded baked potatoes. Promises of bread, fruits, salads, and baked goods from our parishioners were eagerly anticipated, with faith that our hard work would pay off – not necessarily in ways we expected, since God so often subverts our expectations, but somehow it would.
And oh, did God ever show up that evening. God was there in the wide-eyed visitors who walked through the doors; God was there next to the bowling alley made from hay bales, butternut squashes, and pumpkins; God was there when friends excitedly said they were putting up more tables because they’d rather welcome more folks than ask others to leave; God was certainly there when the chili was running low, then miraculously lasted to the end of the night .
And for those of us who had worked behind the scenes, never quite sure how it would come off, God was certainly in our hearts as we saw our modest parish hall welcome 250+ visitors who were fed and hopefully nourished by our food and our love.
Yes, it could be argued that events like these are not sustainable either financially or from a volunteer perspective, and the number of guests we receive will not translate directly into more parishioners; and yet, I believe that God takes our offerings both big and small and can move in the strangest of ways.
If guests see our community as a place that will welcome them, feed them and maybe eventually journey together as followers of this amazing Jesus-love that we know, we have fulfilled our mission as Christians. We are all called to hospitality, radical generosity, a willingness to serve and love our neighbours, and to trust in God; He will handle the rest.

The post Christ Church Beaurepaire Fall Festival attracted over 250 visitors! appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Marketing Lunch and Learn Series for Church Leaders

Lee-Ann Matthews — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:37:24 +0000

By now we are aware that marketing is an essential component of growing and engaging not only our congregations, but also reaching out to the wider community. Effective marketing strategies can help to communicate our values and mission, and connect with those who might be curious about our offerings.
For some church leaders, however, the term marketing can be controversial, often stemming from differing perspectives on how faith and religious institutions should be promoted and communicated.
Taking all of this into consideration, we hosted a series of Marketing Lunch & Learn events in October and November where key industry experts were selected to guide and teach us. This was a creative and informative occasion for learning and reflection, delivering deep insights and practical takeaways specific to our unique context.
In the first session we were guided through a process by marketing coach, Jen De Tracey. Each participant made a wheel where we were encouraged to not only document but also to rate our core values and beliefs. This delivered important insights and action steps. With this newfound clarity we acquired the foundation to embark on further marketing endeavors.
The second session was offered by Martha (Matte) Elias Downey who is an author, theologian and holds a PhD in dramatic theology. We explored marketing through the lenses of theology. Dr. Downey then led us in a revelatory storytelling exercise, inviting us to be playful, authentic and human. We discovered how – in learning how to tell our stories – we may better understand how to communicate and leverage marketing strategies.
In the final session we were led by Melissa Matalanis who has an MBA and is a marketing specialist and teacher at Concordia University. Melissa imparted her wisdom and practical hands-on information in the areas of church-specific effective websites and search engine optimization. It was so impactful to receive this training and to receive tools to further our desired outcome of digital marketing success.
You may find the entire three part Lunch and Learn series on our Diocesan website or our YouTube channel under the webinar playlist.
Contact us if you would like to learn more or be a part of future learning opportunities.
lmatthews@montreal.anglican.ca

The post Marketing Lunch and Learn Series for Church Leaders appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Montreal Dio Commemorates 150 Years of Ministry

Emily Stuchbery — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:36:20 +0000

On Sunday, October 29th, Christ Church Cathedral hosted a special service of Evensong in thanksgiving for 150 years of ministry at Montreal Diocesan Theological College.
The service included the debut of a new hymn for the anniversary entitled “Ascend, O Friends, With Gladness” with text written by The Rev. Canon Giuseppe Gagliano, a member of the Dio Board and a priest in the Diocese of Quebec.
Many stayed for a reception, which included a historical display that explored the college’s history through a lens of ecumenism and mission, and drew attention to key events that shaped Dio into the college we know today.
Montreal Dio was founded in 1873 by Bishop Oxenden of Montreal. At the time, the college was run out of the library at Synod Hall and overseen almost entirely by The Rev. Joseph Lobley who was appointed the first principal of the college.
There have been many changes over the decades, including three different buildings, various models of field education, many ecumenical partnerships, and, of course, the ordination of women, as well as shifting perspective on mission and intercultural relationships, which have slowly transformed the college community.
During his words of commemoration, Principal Jesse Zink noted that “sometimes we look at this history and see the college moving in a direction of openness and generosity faster than the church itself. Other times, the college took steps that seemed to constrain possibility…. This evening therefore we commemorate 150 years of faithfulness, but also of flaws, 150 years of fortitude, but also of failings. It is right, therefore, that we place our focus not on the college itself but on the God whose faithfulness has sustained this work and sustains it to this day.”
The commemorative service of Evensong was a joyful occasion of giving thanks for the blessing of Dio, its legacy, its surrounding community, and its capacity for transformation and innovation by the grace of God. It is with faithfulness, hope, and excitement that we look ahead to the next 150 years.

The post Montreal Dio Commemorates 150 Years of Ministry appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

A Prayer from the Diocesan Representatives The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer – Canada

Valerie Bennett — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:34:48 +0000

Heavenly Father, Creator and Lord of Heaven and Earth, we praise you for your care and protection but most of all for your constant presence with us.

We count it a real privilege to be able to converse with you and to allow ourselves to be guided by your grace, wisdom, and mercy. We know that Jesus has promised that whatever we ask for in his name will be granted to us. It is for this reason that we pray without ceasing not just for our own needs, but for those of others, known and unknown to you our Lord and Savior. We give thanks in every instance for answered prayers, delayed requests, and unexpected outcomes.

Wonderful Counselor, Healer and Prince of Peace, we thank you for being our light and salvation in times of darkness and trouble.

We long for peace in our world, peace in our homes and peace in your hearts. As we anxiously wait for your coming again, we pray for economic stability, for better employment opportunities, for improved housing, for solutions to our environmental woes, for abstinence programs from addiction, for healing, and, especially at this time, for comfort to those who mourn.

Emmanuel, Protector, and Lord of Hope, we ask for your inspiration to help us to witness to others so that they too will experience the awesomeness of your strength and friendship.

Through this Advent season, we pray to you Lord to help us understand the Prophets, announce like Angels, respond like Shepherds and honour like the Magi. These skills will prepare us to do the work to fix your broken kingdom. We beseech you to mold us into healers and peacemakers. We pray that by using these gifts, we will reach the lost and broken-hearted and encourage them towards the incredible joy and comfort that prayer with you can offer.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Valerie and Stacey

The post A Prayer from the Diocesan Representatives The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer – Canada appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Message de l’Avent Décembre 2023

Bertrand Olivier — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:33:22 +0000

J’écris ces lignes au début du mois de novembre, alors que nous continuons à assister au déroulement du conflit entre Israël et le Hamas dans la région du monde appelée Terre sainte – la terre promise des Israélites et le lieu de la naissance de Jésus, ainsi qu’une place importante dans l’Islam. Il est difficile de savoir comment ce conflit évoluera, et nous continuons bien sûr à prier pour la paix dans cette région, pour la sécurité de tous les civils, et en particulier pour la communauté anglicane palestinienne sous la direction de l’archevêque Hosam Naoum.

La saison de l’Avent, qui vient de commencer, nous entraîne dans un voyage à travers les grandes prophéties anciennes qui annonçaient la venue du Messie, l’oint de Dieu. Nos chants de l’Avent nous conduisent des ténèbres à la lumière, et notre espoir – comme celui de tous ceux qui attendent dans les ténèbres – est qu’il y ait une démonstration de puissance et de force pour accomplir ces prophéties.

Au lieu de cela, comme nous le savons, Dieu a bouleversé nos attentes humaines et a renversé la pyramide du pouvoir. Jésus le Messie, bien que roi, ne s’est pas avéré être un guerrier doté d’une grande force. Il s’agissait plutôt d’un bébé impuissant né dans l’environnement instable de la Palestine occupée par les Romains. Des signes miraculeux et d’importants visiteurs inattendus ont souligné la naissance de Jésus, qui a été suivie d’un horrible massacre perpétré par un dirigeant déterminé à conserver sa position de pouvoir et d’influence.

Il faudra attendre encore trente ans pour voir Jésus accomplir l’œuvre pour laquelle il a été envoyé – en continuant à remettre en question et à renverser les hypothèses humaines, non pas en gouvernant depuis le haut, mais surtout en guérissant, en enseignant et en réconciliant les personnes confrontées à leur impuissance face au chaos et à l’injustice de leur monde.

Nombreux sont ceux qui, à l’heure actuelle, se sentent impuissants – impuissants face à des conflits mondiaux insolubles qui ne semblent pas avoir de solution en vue ; impuissants à une époque où le changement climatique s’intensifie avec des conséquences qui ne peuvent pas encore être pleinement comprises ; impuissants alors que les gouvernements perdent le contrôle et que les sociétés transnationales semblent régir leur vie et le monde.

Et pourtant, Dieu a confronté le pouvoir à l’impuissance, et en la personne de Jésus – un bébé innocent, devenu plus tard un prédicateur itinérant – il a montré le pouvoir qui découle de l’attention portée au peuple de Dieu. Le pouvoir qui découle du temps passé avec Dieu.

Alors que nous nous préparons à célébrer l’incarnation du Christ, que cette période d’obscurité et de préparation soit pour nous tous l’occasion de demander à Dieu de nous dépouiller du pouvoir que nous pensons avoir aux yeux du monde, et de continuer à nous construire pour devenir aujourd’hui un peuple de réconciliation, de guérison et de paix.

The post Message de l’Avent Décembre 2023 appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Dean’s Advent Message, December 2023

Bertrand Olivier — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:32:24 +0000

I write this in early November, as we continue to see the unfolding of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the area of the world referred to as the Holy Land – the promised land of the Israelites and the place of the birth of Jesus, and a significant place in Islam too. It is hard to know how that conflict will evolve, and of course we continue to pray for peace in that region, for safety for all civilians, and specifically for the Anglican Palestinian community under the leadership of Archbishop Hosam Naoum.

The season of Advent which has just started takes us on a journey through the great ancient prophecies which foretold of the coming of the Messiah, the anointed of God. Our Advent carol services lead us from darkness to light, and our hope – like that of all those who wait in darkness – is that there would be a show of power and strength to fulfil those prophecies.

Instead, as we know, God disrupted our human expectations and turned the pyramid of power upside down. Jesus the Messiah, though a King, turned out not to be a warrior with great strength. Instead, a powerless baby born in the unstable environment of occupied Palestine under Roman occupation. Miraculous signs and significant unexpected visitors highlighted the birth of Jesus, which was followed by a horrifying massacre driven by a ruler hellbent on keeping his position of power and influence.

It would take another thirty years to see Jesus take on the work for which he was sent – by continuing to challenge and subvert human assumptions, not ruling from on high but mostly going about healing, teaching, and reconciling people dealing with their powerlessness in the chaos and injustice of their world.

Many at this time feel powerless – powerless in the face of intractable world conflicts that do not seem to have a solution in sight; powerless at a time of escalating climate change with consequences that cannot yet be fully comprehended; powerless as governments lose control and transnational corporations seem to rule their lives and the world.

And yet – God did face power with powerlessness, and in the person of Jesus – an innocent babe, later an itinerant preacher, he showed the power that comes from attending to God’s people. The power that comes from spending time with God.

As we prepare to celebrate the incarnation of the Christ, may this season of darkness and preparation be for all of us a time to ask God to strip us of the power we think we have in the eyes of the world, and instead continue to build us up into today’s people of reconciliation, healing and peace.

The post Dean’s Advent Message, December 2023 appeared first on Montreal Anglican.