This Sunday is Pentecost

Hello to All:

This Sunday is Pentecost, when we celebrate the "birthday" of the Church.

We look forward to celebrating this day as a Parish as we gather at Holy Cross 10 am Sunday.

The "Open Offering" will be received, and given to Holy Cross School in Belize.
We are the companion diocese for the Diocese of Belize.

Coffee, tea and muffins will be served in the hall following the service.
So if you have some muffins, or raisin buns, to share bring them along.
Come along - bring a friend - share a muffin.

--
May the Risen Lord give you Joy!

Fr Paul C Thoms

Anglican Parish of Salvage
http://parishofsalvage.googlepages.com/

A wise old owl

A wise old owl lived in an oak,
The more he saw the less he spoke.
The less he spoke the more he heard;
Why can’t we all be like that bird?

Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury's Reflections on Pentecost

Bad Vicar - That Mitchell and Webb Look

Is this your friendly neighbourhood rector?



How to welcome newcomers, or anyone to church, not!

Called to Serve by Max de Pree

What is the Rector reading now? Called to Serve by Max de Pree, is what he's reading presently.

The book is a series of "letters" written by Max to his friend Verley (Dr. Verley Sangster is the president of the Center for Urban Theological Studies in Philadelphia). The letters address issues and matters related to those who volunteer their energy, money, and time, on non-profit boards.

While at a government sponsored workshop for non-profit organizations at Gander the Rector was introduced to the writing on Mr de Pree. "Image that."

For those who serve on a vestry, parish council, or executive committe, this is a helpful read. The big plus of this book is that it is short, it won't take you all month to read. While there are ten chapters the book is only 91 pages.

The book discusses and effective board, tensions with a board, the role of the chair, and why members are on a board.

This is a helpful book to read, if one has not read anything else in this area. Mr de Pree's insights are worth considering. His questions are likely to stir some thought. Through his experience sitting on various boards he know the questions to ask - he knows the time that can be wasted - he knows how effective, or ineffective a board can be! If you read this book, and I hope some of you do, note the questions and make a note of your own answers.

While to book is written for those who sit on boards, of colleges, etc., most that Max de Pree writes is applicable to the urban and rural non-profit boards and parish councils and vestries.

About mission statements, de Pree favours fuller mission statements over shorter one generally.

Here's a quote from the chapter entitled A Chairperson’s Guide:

Well, Verley, these are some thoughts concerning guidelines for chairpersons and for those who will be chairpersons in the future. It’s interesting how much of this is just horse sense and how most of it is relational rather than technical.

One chapter is entitled What the Board Owes the President. Which he writes of in terms of the "mandate, trust, space, and care."

The Rector recommends Called to Serve for wardens, secretaries, and any serving on executive committee.

WWW links: The book is listed with Google-Books and Open-Library. It can be purchased through Amazon, Chapters, or Eerdmanns. But I borrowed it from a public library, and have to return it soon.

Gift Giving Catalogues

Every year we receive gift giving catalogues from non-profit organizations. The Anglican Church of Canada has announced that the ACC will “launch” a similar catalogue in 2010. The announcement is as follows, and is to be commended.

Anglican gift catalogue to be launched in 2010
Marites N. Sison - staff writer - Apr 22, 2009

The Anglican Church of Canada will launch a gift catalogue next year as part of a fundraising program that will allow donors to select items for their own purchase or designate them as gifts for recipients.

Archdeacon Michael Pollesel, general secretary of the Anglican Church of Canada, told the house of bishops that the catalogue would benefit the Anglican Appeal, the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, the Anglican Journal Appeal, the Anglican Foundation, and Council of the North.

“It’s something to look forward to,” said Archdeacon Pollesel, adding that staff responsible for catalogue are crafting creative ideas for it.

The gift catalogue system has been an increasingly popular fundraising tool for not-for-profit corporations, which taps into a growing number of people’s desire for alternative gifts in lieu of the usual material things.

Many individuals look for ways to give a gift without giving another dust collector. Hopefully this will give Anglicans an opportunity to give such gifts, as we continue to learn what it is to give to the “Giver.”
All our ACWs sponsor a child through a non-profit organization, as well, a number of families as sponsor a child. It has recently been acknowledged that children were also being supported as they received an education in residential schools, and this as early as the 1920s. (Read the article at the Anglican Journal)

Trust in God - an Ecumenical Theme

We have just concluded our Ecumenical Lenten Services for 2009. Throughout Lent Trust in God has been a consistent theme that was expressed by the clergy.
Rev'd Betty Harbin summarized it quite clearly:

We are here tonight and we gather as disciples of Jesus and to reflect on what it means to let go of the branch. In one way or another our readings and reflections for these ecumenical worship services this year have been about trust. Father Dino spoke about the trust he placed in God in coming to Canada to minister to the flock in this part of God’s kingdom. Captain Karen spoke about looking up at the stars, as Abraham did, to reflect on God’s promises. Rev’d Paul Vardy talked about trust when he told us about his son’s swimming lessons and the lessons he himself learned through this experience. Father Paul Thoms spoke about trusting God to the extent that we are even able to get angry with him at times. In these Tuesday night ecumenical services we have listened to God’s love song, calling us to trust him and calling us bring others to this relationship of trust. The name of the love song is the covenant and the words are: I will be your God and you shall be my people.

Now we prepare to move towards the Cross on our Lenten journey, into Easter and the joy of Resurrection.