Holy Cross Choir with the Reverend Thomas Smith

This photograph, of the Holy Cross Choir with the Reverend Thomas Smith, hangs in the choir room at Eastport.

With the Rector in the photograph the following have been identified:

Norman Bull, Edna Dyke, Mildred Dyke, Alph Hancock, Gordon Hancock, Norman Handcock, Roma Laurell, Margaret LeBlanc, Bill Matchim, Ned Matchim, Betty Moss, Clara Moss, Wilbur Moss, Essie Penney, Harvey Penny, Gordon Penney, Sam Quinton, Baxter Squire, Neville Squire, Rebecca Squire, Eva Turner, Gerald Turner, Martha Turner, Nelson Turner, Rosalie Turner, Sylvia Turner, Ruby White.

This Thanksgiving we celebrate all that members of our choir, over the years, have offered freely and continue to offer in song to the glory of God.

Kenya Mission of Reconciliation - Bishop Eddie & Emma Marsh

Bishop Eddie & Emma Marsh, with others, will be in Kenya for a Mission of Reconciliation, Oct 28 - Dec 3. Please support them with your prayers. And I would encourage all to support them financially on this mission, as they are covering their own expenses.

Your Church Your Parish Workshop & Discussions

This afternoon (Oct 5 - Saturday) we begin a series of workshops and discussions, as we will read Harold Percy's book Your Church Can Thrive. This is one of those unknowns that one approaches with fear and trepidation. One never knows how many will turn up to participate, and you never know the out come. One hopes, and one prays!

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Well a few of us came out to listen to Dean John Watton. Rev'd John stirred us as we prepare to consider the implications of Your Church Can Thrive by Harold Percy.
I am personally looking forward to reading together this book, holding in mind what Rev'd John has pointed out to us, and discovering the implications of discipleship as we “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” what God has in store for us.
Thanks John, we all appreciated your presence, what you brought to our attention, and the manner in which you presented all! Thanks.

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For those of us engaging in these Parish discussions we are now expected to read chapter one by Tuesday/Thursday evening. Enjoy and learn as you read!
Oct 7, Tuesday, eleven of us gathered at St Stephen's Hall, Salvage – Thursday, Oct 9, fourteen of us gathered at the Church of the Resurrection, Sandringham – to work through the implications of chapter one of Your Church Can Thrive.
Two different conversations took place, but for the most part we confined our discussion to chapter one, Thinking About Growth. Of the matters we discussed much of our discussion centred around inviting others, of giving an invitation to explore fellowship with us as a church and with God in Christ.

Rural Ministry and the Changing Community

Rural Ministry and the Changing Community was written by Rockwell C Smith, 1971. Smith was "both a sociologist and a minister."

As I am reading this book I find myself challenged by my assumptions and perspectives, which R C Smith highlights as problems faced by clergy in rural settings. And maybe this can even happen to one who was raised in a rural setting. For the most part so far this appears to be a common sense book. It is still worth a peruse by anyone engaged in rural ministry. Though the volume I borrowed from a library does not appear to have had the privilege of being lent out previously.

Smith in the midst of his book draw particular importance to the book Small Town in Mass Society. (A partial reading is available at Google Books.)

As I read through this text I came across this:

the texture of our lives. Jews and Christians, as well as most of the great religions, reject the division of life into “sacred” and “secular”; they insist that all of life is the area for religious commitment and confrontation.

which is worth recalling in our own journeys of faith.

Regional Demographics of NL

Yesterday we had a Deanery Clericus Meeting. Demographics and what is happening to the communities of the Deanery and Province are significant, effecting the life of all who live in rural NL.
I had recently viewed the report that is linked below. So I sent the following to the clericus for their information and to be aware.


Hello Deanery Colleagues:

After our discussion yesterday I thought I would place this link on to you.
This little booklet of demographics highlight what is happening in our diocese and province.

Take a look at page 27 to see results from the deanery.
Glovertown is -9.4% from 1991-2006 which is the lowest change listed for our area, apart from Gander.
Gambo and Eastport have both declined by -17% while New-Wes-Valley by -23.1%

But all is not down in the Diocese - Clarenville is positive with a growth of 17.9%

So there is hope
Paul of Salvage

Traveling Light / Max Lucado

In one of our Public Libraries I came across Traveling Light by Max Lucado. This book applies Psalm 23 to the American Christian heart, and just maybe it may apply to many other hearts as well. Worth a read and full of stories to stir the heart.

Celtic Way of Evangelism

I recently received The Celtic Way of Evangelism after reading about the book in Harold Percy's book Your Church Can Thrive.

Today I read the preface and chapter one — and it does appear to be a promising read. Evangelism is always a matter for colourful discussion among clerics. Wonder what this book has stirred, or will yet stir.

Chapter One: St Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland, figures hugely in the first chapter. Patrick brings a familiar and friendly spirit of evangelism to Ireland as interpreted by Hunter. An interpretation that appears to be well worth bearing in mind as other consider evangelism and the gospel.

Chapter Two: Contrasts the differences between traditional western monasteries and the monastery communities of Ireland, some that were 3,000 strong. Three items highlight the differences between the traditional West and that of Ireland.
One - he notes that Irish communities were not as rigidly build as other European towns. (see p. 27).
Two - the Irish monasteries were community orientated, rather that orientated toward the individual spirituality.
Three - he presents contemplative prayer as prayer that can be without ceasing, and does not attempt to control the Divine.

Chapter Three: After the death of Patrick the missionary efforts continue. Hunter presents to the reader the missionary efforts of Columba, Aidan, Paulinus. The Synods of Whitby and Autun stand for the Celtic Christian as the enforcement of law from the outside - the Roman way was insisted upon and prevailed, making no allowance for resident culture and understanding. The implications of what Hunter writes for evangelism today is significant.

Chapter Four: The Celtic Christian Community in Formation and Mission. Hunter highlights the differences between the Roman way and the Celtic genre of community and mission.

Missionaries:
- Roman sent out a single missionary or two.
- Celtics go out in teams.


Benedicitne Rule #53

In Chapter Four Hunter gleams much for Recovering Our Past: Celtic and Roman Mission (John Finney, 1996). However, this book by Finney may be hard to acquire. I did not find it at four of the five sources that I checked (Amazon -- Chapters - Google Books - Library of Congress -) Only the British Library listed the book.