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ANiC news
ANiC and ACNA events calendar
Sept 15 (Thursday) – Burlington, ON – Archdeacons meeting
Sept 16 (Friday) – Burlington, ON – ANiC Council meeting
Sept 30 - Oct 1 – AMMiC's Two Generations Leadership Conference, Good Shepherd Vancouver
Sept 30 - Oct 1 – New England Clergy and Spouse retreat, Maine, USA
Oct 1 – Southern Ontario regional ANiC women's gathering at Epiphany, Hamilton, ON
Oct 2 –Isaac Fisher is to be ordained a priest & Gianluca John DeMartinis a deacon at Holy Trinity (Marlborough, MA)
Oct 9, 1:30pm– Iris Lau, ordained deacon, The Lantern Church, Calgary
Oct 22 (Saturday) – +Michael Nazir-Ali, Bethel South Asian (Brampton, ON) – English service
Oct 23 (Sunday) – +Michael Nazir-Ali, Bethel South Asian (Brampton, ON) – Urdu service
Oct 25 – Clergy day, Church of the Good Shepherd, Vancouver, BC
Oct 26 – Equipping workshop day, Church of the Good Shepherd, Vancouver, BC
Oct 26-28 – Synod 2016, Church of the Good Shepherd, Vancouver, BC
Dec 17 – Allan Tan ordained a deacon, Good Shepherd Vancouver
June 26-30 (2017) – ACNA Provincial Assembly, Wheaton, IL
Gearing up for Synod 2016, October 25-28 in Vancouver, BC
Synod is just around the corner. If you haven't already, please do register now and book your hotel as spaces will be held only until September 24. Registration for synod closes on October 7.
Good Shepherd Vancouver is kindly hosting us again. The theme this year is from Colossians 4:2-4 – Praying for an open door for the gospel. Speakers include Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali (synod keynote), Archbishop Foley Beach (clergy day and synod preacher) and Canons Phil Ashey and Steven Saul (leading workshop day).
Clergy day – Oct 25 (Tues), 9am – 4:30pm
Equipping workshops – Oct 26 (Wed), 8am – 4:30pm
Synod – October 26,7pm – October 28, 3pm
Observers are warmly invited! If you really want to know what ANiC is about or if you just need to sit under sound Bible teaching and fellowship with Christians from across the continent, do register and come! Vancouver area people are especially encouraged to attend and form friendships with Anglicans from across the 4½ time zones which our diocese spans.
Please visit the ANiC website for an agenda and details on workshops, speakers, accommodation, registration and more.
Volunteers needed –Synod is only possible because of the hard work of wonderful volunteers. We particularly need drivers and choir members. A mass choir is planned. If you are able to help us this year please email Zenia Cheng as soon as possible.
Council vacancies – 8 vacancies on ANiC's council will be filled at synod. If you, or someone you know, would be an asset to council, you'll find information here on qualifications and application.
Workshops will focus on church revitalization, a subject that should deeply interest everyone!
Banquet – Bishop Bill Atwood, of long-time friend of many in ANiC, is now confirmed as the Thursday evening, October 27, banquet speaker.
Bishop Trevor Walters now is on sabbatical until December 9
ANiC's bishops have been taking sabbatical leave by turn. Bishop Trevor is the last and will be away until December 9.
Welcoming a new congregation!
Bishop Charlie Masters welcomed the Rev Cornelius Ali and the congregation of Cornerstone Anglican Church in Regina, Saskatchewan, effective June 1. Cornelius+ and the people of Cornerstone come to ANiC from our sister diocese in the ACNA, CANA, with the blessing of Bishop CANA's Bishop Felix Orji.
Calling all South Okanagan (BC) Anglicans – or wannabe Anglicans
A number of BC Anglicans, from Oliver to Summerland, have begun to meet in Penticton on Wednesday evenings to pray and discern God's will regarding establishing an ANiC parish in the South Okanagan. If you, or someone you know, is seeking a Christ-centred, Spirit-led, Biblical, liturgical church in this area please email Archdeacon Bruce Chamberlayne or call 250-860-9561.
We're doing the happy dance… of gratitude to God!
Remember back in the spring when Bishop Charlie wrote us all saying ANiC was facing the grim prospect of ending the fiscal year (June 30) with a deficit of $100,000? Well, with hearts overflowing with gratitude to God, we can report that He moved donors to give generously. Instead of a potential deficit, we can now joyfully report that we ended 2015-16 with a small surplus! (Once we have completed the official audit, we'll know exactly where we stand.) Please join us in giving God thanks for His gracious, overflowing provision.
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali visits Bethel South Asian, Brampton, ON
Bethel South Asian Church in Brampton, ON will host Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali for two services immediately prior to his speaking engagement at ANiC's synod in Vancouver. On Saturday, October 22 he will speak in English language service and on Sunday afternoon, October 23, the service will be in Urdu.
Ordinations
On October 2 Deacon Isaac Fisher will be ordained as a priest and Gianluca John DeMartinis will be ordained a deacon by Bishop Charlie Masters at Holy Trinity Anglican in Marlborough, MA. On October 9 at 1:30 pm, Iris Lau, of Good Shepherd Calgary, will be ordained a deacon at The Lantern Church, 1401 – 10th Ave SE, Calgary.
Allan Tan will be ordained a deacon at Good Shepherd Vancouver on December 17.
Congratulations to two newly ordained ANiC priests: the Rev Chris Ley, who serves at St Mathias and St Luke (Vancouver), was ordained by Bishop Stephen Leung on August 21 at Good Shepherd Vancouver; the Rev Danielle Martell, now serving at St Andrew's (Delta), was ordained by Bishop Trevor Walters August 28 at Sojourn Church Vancouver.
AMMiC 2nd Generation conference
Our Asian and Multicultural Ministries (AMMiC) is hosting its fourth conference September 30 – October 1 at Good Shepherd Vancouver. These conference have focused on inter-generational conflicts within Chinese-Canadian churches. The theme of this year's conference is "Honouring Your Parents". See the AMMiC website for information and registration.
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, November 6 (or 13)
This November, millions of Christians worldwide will unite to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Plan now to join in; a wide variety of helpful materials for are available online here and here. This year the focus is on Somalia and Iran.
ANiC bishops respond to Anglican Church of Canada vote
Following the vote by the Anglican Church of Canada in favour of changing the marriage canon to allow same-sex marriages, the bishops of ANiC issued a statement which said the decision was "clearly in contrast to the scriptural teaching of marriage and moves the Anglican Church of Canada apart from the Anglican Communion worldwide" and was done "in defiance of biblically faithful Anglicans worldwide" and showed "evident disdain for the authority of God's Written Word". Our bishops' statement was reported in LifeSiteNews.
Wanted: Robes and Eucharist vessels
Holy Trinity Filipino (Edmonton, AB) is in need of robes for lay readers and eucharist vessels (of any kind). If you can help, please email the Rev Lynette Kent.
Job opening
Minister to children and youth – New Song (Port Perry, ON) is looking for a part-time minister to children and youth. For information, please email Canon Brent Stiller at brent.stiller@sympatico.ca.
Cuba church partnership report
In May, a team from ANiC visited REC churches in Cuba founded by the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC), a sister ACNA diocese. A number of ANiC – and now ACNA – parishes are partnering with these Cuban churches. While in Cuba, the team was able to attend the third synod of the Reformed Episcopal Diocese of Cuba. They write, "All of us agreed it was one of the finest Synods we have experienced… The Cuban church has truly come of age". The team reports that "…the church in Cuba is prevailing against harsh obstacles… Through Moore College extension from Australia, clergy are being educated... Evangelists are being raised up and mission stations are springing up all over Cuba… Clergy are being powerfully led and pastored by Bishop William our Cuban Bishop… Without financial aid clergy would need three jobs to put basics food on the table, leaving no time for the work of ministry and the growth of the church."
There are now 17 church partnerships between Cuban churches and ACNA churches. Would your parish consider sponsoring a Cuban church? For information see the ANiC website – where you'll find photos, a video, Bishop William's charge to synod, and contact information for the Rev Barclay Mayo who coordinates ANiC's work with the REC Cuban churches. Please continue to pray for the Church in Cuba.
Refugees – St John's Vancouver
St John's Vancouver is helping a young Muslim, Kurdish couple from Iraq and their new-born child who had made their own way to Vancouver. And the church is sponsoring a young, Afghani, Christian family who had to flee to New Delhi because of persecution for their faith.
AMMiC workshop from New Wineskins conference now available
The New Wineskins workshop led by Bishop Stephen and team in April is posted on YouTube. Other missions-related workshop videos are available on the New Wineskins YouTube channel.
Sunday School curriculum available
St Matthew's (Abbotsford, BC) has developed and is happy to freely share its children's ministry curriculum. For more information, see the church website (be sure to scroll to the bottom for helpful links). The comprehensive program is for kindergarten to grade 5 and includes lesson plans, poster, story and life application, and response activities and a take-home paper called "Kingdom News". It is based on the Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm and seeks to highlight the grand narrative of the Bible, in which the stories weave together into the rich tapestry of the history of God's people and the unfolding of the Kingdom of God on earth. It includes both Old and New Testament stories that point to and reveal Christ as the Saviour and Promised Forever King. The lessons are linked to the new ACNA Catechism to ensure that the lessons are structured to include many of the truths of our faith.
Thank you!
The Anglican Relief and Development Fund Canada (ARDFC) raised about $16,000 for Fort McMurray wildfire relief work.
Milestone summer birthdays: Dr Packer turned 90 and +Malcolm Harding turned 80
St John's Vancouver co-hosted a celebration for Canon Dr J I Packer in July, marking his 90th birthday. And Bishop Malcolm Harding celebrated his 80th birthday. Almost nine years ago, before we were even a diocese, Bishop Malcolm joined Bishop Donald Harvey to offer episcopal oversight for ANiC clergy and congregations. That was November 2007, folks… which, of course, means that Synod 2017 will be ANiC's 10th!
ANiC churches in the news
St George's (Burlington, ON) was featured in a local paper for its "Breaking Bread" initiative of bringing in food trucks on Thursday evenings over the summer as a community outreach. The paper reports: "With a rotation of three or four different food trucks each week, grassy picnic areas, crafts for families and sports equipment to encourage pick-up games of basketball and hockey, Breaking Bread officials say that so far the event has attracted 400-500 people each week from all over Burlington and surrounding areas."
St Jude Guelph, ON was mentioned in the local media earlier this summer as an alternative to the Anglican Church of Canada which had just voted in favour of same-sex blessing.
The Montreal Gazette featured ANiC priest David Chapman+ and the ministry he is involved in, associated with Emmaus Montreal, with the homeless and aboriginal people in the urban core.
ANiC authors
Bishop Trevor Walters' recently published book, EAS Syndrome: Healing Burnout in Adults Lacking Parental Affirmation, can be obtained for a 55 per cent discount when quantities of 10 or more are ordered from distributor Midpoint Trade books. For information see the ANiC website.
Parish and regional news
Southern Ontario Women's gathering is planned for Saturday, October 1, 9:30am – 2pm, at Church of the Epiphany in Hamilton. All ANiC women and friends are invited. The Rev Vicky Hedelius will address the topic of God's will for us. The $25 cost includes lunch. Please register by September 16. For more information see the brochure.
Good Shepherd Cantonese (Calgary, AB) – This small congregation, with average Sunday attendance of about 20, is preparing for the baptisms of 3 adults and 4 teens/children and the confirmations of another 5 people on September 18. Praise the Lord! May their number multiply and may they grow in faith in their Lord and in knowledge of His Word.
The Table (Victoria, BC) is asking pray that God would provide $60K in external support for its threechurch plants - North, South, and Peninsula. Church leaders have an audacious long-term vision that includes a leadership/missionary development centre, and greater marketplace involvement addressing issues of too few jobs, high housing costs and consequent transience. A prayer vigil was held in early June seeking God's direction.
Immanuel (Vancouver, BC) has created an excellent video portraying its ministry to its community in east Vancouver. It was shown at the ACNA Provincial Assembly at the end of June.
St Matthias and St Luke (Vancouver, BC) is seeking to reach young families in its increasingly youthful and hip community just east of Main Street by launching three new Gospel outreach initiatives this fall: 1) an English language Sunday 4pm service, named OffMain Service using the Common Worship liturgy; 2) a relationship-building, drop-in ministry for the young mothers and their small children who frequent the park across the street; and 3) an Alpha course. You can learn more read more about these initiative on the church website.
SMSL celebrated her 19th anniversary on June 26. God has truly blessed the Parish over the last 19 years and we look forward to new outreach initiatives to bring Christ's Gospel to the community. Here's a YouTube video on our Anniversary Celebration BBQ, July 26. It was an outreach BBQ and many from the neighborhood came to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine and the delicious food: https://youtu.be/wm398xzrSYg
The DVD of the SMSL fundraising concert, "Behold His Glory", is now available for a donation of $10 or more. All proceeds go to the church's building fund to support relocation to a permanent home. You can see a special trailer here.
St John's Vancouver – June 26th confirmation service was a joyous occasion for our church family. We were grateful to have Bishop Trevor Walters present with us and to hear the beautiful music performed by The Marcus Mosely Chorale. Congratulations to all 11 that were confirmed!
St Luke's (Pembroke, ON) reports its VBS was a "smashing success as our 'Faith Built on the Rock' brought 45 kids ages 3-12". The church is now planning an outreach block party for the community with a barbeque and games on September 24. In July, the church offered defibrillator and CPR training as part of its Safe Church activities.
St Jude (Guelph, ON) has a new website… andis moving to a new venue, a former church building in downtown Guelph now owned by the Guelph Black Heritage Society. So, effective September 11, a 3:30pm Bible Study followed by a 4:30pm worship service will be held at Heritage Hall, 83 Essex Street, Guelph.
Faith (Limoges, ON) found creative ways to bless its community and build connections over the summer, handing out juice boxes and freezies in park attached to the community centre where the congregation meets. Please pray for this church as it's is currently without a rector.
Blackburn Hamlet (Blackburn, Ottawa, ON) is ministering to a Congolese refugee family with great needs which is proving a challenge for this small congregation.
Eternal Hope (Carleton Place, ON) participated in a community bazaar in early August with a tent where people were given cold bottled water and church information cards, and by offering entertainment and face painting.
Messiah (Ottawa, ON) is proudly sporting a new website.
Ryle Theological Seminary (Ottawa, ON) begins classes September 12, offering six courses on Mondays and Wednesdays. Register now at the schools new website: www.ryleseminary.ca. Or email for information.
Got parish news? Let the rest of us know about it! Email Marilyn.
Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) news
2016 Anglican Family Symposium, Sept 28-30, Fairfax, Virginia
This second annual ACNA family conference is coming up quickly. The conference will build on last year's, which can be viewed on the Anglican Family website, with a focus on what the Bible says about the family. It will address questions such as: What does the Bible have to say about raising children in the faith? How can the Church support families as units of discipleship and mission? How do families fit into God's plan of redemption? Register now.
Anglican Family is a working group of the Anglican Church of North America Committee on Catechesis, is dedicated to the renewal of families for the flourishing of church and society through the resourcing of clergy, lay leaders, and parents in the work of faith formation.
Church planters boot camp, October 17-20, Fairfax, Virginia
Leaders actively involved in church planting, or interested in becoming church planters, should consider attending the Titus Institute for Church Planting's Church Planters Boot Camp at Church of the Apostles in Fairfax, Virginia. The four days of intensive training sessions will explore the principles and best practices needed to launch a church. More information is on the ACNA website.
New trial marriage and burial liturgies & church calendars approved
The ACNA College of Bishops approved new working texts for liturgical use in the Church: Holy Matrimony and the Burial of the Dead. In addition, two calendars were also were approved: an overall calendar of the Church Year and a calendar of Holy Days and Commemorations. Read more on the ACNA website.
ACNA Council and House of Bishops meetings
The 2016 ACNA Provincial Council took place in June in South Carolina. Videos are posted here. A live blog of the event captures highlights here.
If you wish to better understand the structure of ACNA you can see an info-graphic on the ACNA's Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic's website.
Archbishop Foley Beach's address served as a sort of "state of the union" report. Do read or listen to the full address, especially the second half where he challenges ACNA churches and members to be repenting, reconciling, reproducing and relentlessly compassionate. He also reported:
A complete ACNA Book of Common Prayer is anticipated in 2019. The College of Bishops approved working texts for Holy Matrimony and Burial of the Dead. Adding to the growing collection of liturgical texts and resources.
Two new ACNA dioceses were added as a result of PEARUSA – a Rwandan missionary initiative – moving fully to ACNA with the encouragement of the Rwandan Archbishop and House of Bishops. Previously they held "dual citizenship". Other existing dioceses rationalized overlapping jurisdictions and merged.
Growing numbers – Archbishop Beach reported that "After 6 years as a Province, we have almost a thousand churches, over 111,000 members, over 1700 clergy, 29 dioceses, plus the Jurisdiction for the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy, [and] 51 bishops. We have over 350 missionaries serving in cross-cultural ministry around the world through the Global Anglican Mission Partners, and we have hundreds of parishes engaged in Matthew 25 kinds of ministry to the poor and neglected people in our communities."
Regarding the Matthew 25 initiative, he reported that an anonymous donor will match up to $1-million in donations to ACNA congregations' Matthew 25 initiatives to serve the poor and marginalized in their communities. He characterized this ministry – to the disenfranchised, invisible, abused, abusers, addicted, lonely, isolated, hungry, homeless, abandoned, prisoners, elderly, and immigrant – as "Relentless Compassion".
He reported that the (independent) Diocese of South Carolina under Bishop Mark Lawrence is actively considering joining the ACNA.
Ecumenical relationships are growing with the Orthodox Church in America and the Russian Orthodox Church, the Missouri Synod Lutheran and Canadian Lutheran Church and the Free Church of England. He said, "To use the terminology of the His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill, of the Russian Orthodox Church, we are part of a "new ecumenism" which is spreading through the Christian Church. With so many Churches abandoning Scriptural and Historical theology and morality, those who are keeping to the Apostolic Faith are finding each other and building partnerships."
Anglican Communion – He noted that the agreements made at the January 2016 Primates meeting "…have not been honored… [and] unbiblical theological and moral viruses of Western Churches and the secular culture continue to spread and divide the Church. The revisionist agenda is well-funded, and there is a strategic effort on their part to target under-resourced Provinces of the Anglican Communion." However, since ACNA is a full partner in GAFCon and, as of last October, and a partner province with the Global South, ACNA is in Full Communion with the vast majority of Anglicans around the world.
ACNA Diocese of San Joaquin denied properties
In July, the California Supreme Court "slammed the door shut by denying review of the abysmally egregious decision" by a lower court writes canon lawyer Alan Haley. The court provided no opinion, just a one-sentence order. You can also read Bishop Eric Menees' letter. In Anglican Unscripted, commentator Kevin Kallsen and Alan Haley discuss this and the two diocesan cases awaiting verdict – South Carolina and Fort Worth.
ACNA people news
Three bishops were welcomed by the ACNA College of Bishops in June: the Rt Rev David Bryan, in his new role as suffragan bishop, Diocese of the Carolinas; The Rt Rev TJ Johnston, reinstated to the College as assisting bishop, Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others, and The Rt Rev Jim Hobby, who was installed just days ago as diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Bishop Menees, of the Diocese of San Joaquin, confirmed that the elderly couple who died tragically in the June in the Erskine, California wildfire was Father Byron and Gladys McKaig. You can read the news story here.
With the multiple incidents of racial violence in the US, especially the latest incident in Dallas, the ACNA website reports that two ACNA clergy used an innovative means to bring to grief-stricken Dallas residents the message of peace and reconciliation through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Resources for ministry
Sharpen your preaching
On Thursday, October 13, Heritage College & Seminary (175 Holiday Inn Drive, Cambridge, ON) is offering its annual full-day, highly affordable, Heritage Preaching Lecture. This year's guest speaker is esteemed theologian and preacher, D A Carson. Seats are filling fast. See the Seminar website for more information and to register. The subject is Apocalyptic Literature. Join us for a day that will sharpen you in your ability to preach the Word.
A second opportunity to hone your preaching skills, Preaching Lab 21, is on October 4 in Burlington, ON and webcast across Canada. More information is here.
Evangelism
Is your parish considering how to engage in evangelism? The Christianity Explored course – based on the Gospel of Mark – is a highly recommended starting point. Read why here.
And now the team that created Christianity Explored has just released a new video series – Life Explored which, according to Andrew Symes, "is centred around six short films, beautifully produced and acted to the highest professional standard – depicting stories… [which] pull back the mask, to reveal what is going on inside us, including more sinister forms of idolatry, by inviting people to ask questions... What drives us? Whom or what do we serve? Even as Christians we can have a wrong view of God as someone who delivers what we think we really want, rather than the Lord towards whom our inner beings should be uniquely oriented."
The Gospel Coalition Canada is launching
Learn all about the who, the why, the what, and the how on the original TGC website. ANiC's George Sinclair+, who leads our Biblically Grounded priority, is a founding council member.
Loving children and families
The new primate of Kenya used his first major address to push for child evangelism, Anglican Ink reported. He considers it key to reforming society. "Building moral character began in childhood, the archbishop said, announcing that he was proposing a campaign to evangelize the youngest members of society. The Anglican Church has come up with a programme that aims to inculcate good morals and Christian faith to children from ages 0-6 years since we have discovered this is the most neglected age group. And these formative years are very important in shaping the future of the child," Archbishop Sapit said."
Church websites
Does your church website measure up? One web expert says websites are the new church front door. Common errors include: making it hard to find service times, address, contact information and how to give online; not being clear about your beliefs; having out dated information; using poor or copyrighted images; not providing photos of church staff or leadership; failing to give parents information on youth and children's ministries. Read the full article.
Protect yourself online
Tim Challies discusses steps you should take to protect yourself and your ministry online.
Retaining youth
"Warm is the new cool!" A Huffington Post article based on research conducted by the Fuller Youth Institute, says "Young people are drawn to churches that are more like family rooms than theatres, and that invite young people not just to share beliefs, but to share life." It is about a sense of belonging, personal relationships, hospitality. "…today's young people are ravenous for community."
Resources for Christian Living
39 Articles
Canon Phil Ashey continues his series of short videos on the 39 Articles with
Article 28 On the Lord's Supper. You can watch part 1… Part 2 …Part 3 … Part 4 and Part 5.
J C Ryle
St George's Burlington marks the 200th anniversary of renowned Anglican theologian J C Ryle's birth by posting 10 greats quotes from him. Two are copies below.
Culture of death
Addressing the recent movie "Me Before You", an 11-year-old wheelchair athlete exposes our increasingly warped, euthanasia-embracing culture of death and asks Hollywood, "Why do you think I should want to die?"
Transgenderism
What does the Bible say? Pastor and author Kevin De Young, writing on The Gospel Coalition website, searches Scripture to see what it says about transgenderism.
Soul food
Just for fun
I told my friend she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.
www.mikeysFunnies.com
Thoughts from J C Ryle
"There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have enough-a cheap Christianity which offends nobody, and requires no sacrifice-which costs nothing, and is worth nothing."
"Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just. Such a God is an idol of your own."
And now a Word from our Sponsor
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:11 ESV
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