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.

Celebrating Lizzie Mary

Some of us were born into large families. Some of us have numerous relatives.
Lizzie Mary was a lone child – she married Sandy – they had no children.
Yet! They had many children. Almost everyone in the small harbour in which Lizzie Mary, was born and grew up, looked upon her as an Aunt – a dear member of their family.
She was a faithful soul. Her trust in her Saviour was evident in her devotion. Lizzie Mary went to Church when others wouldn't go out doors, and at home her Bible, which she read from daily, was next to her rocker. And she rocked and prayed. A motherly one to all who loved her.

St. Martin's Cathedral 50th

St. Martin's Cathedral, Gander, will celebrate their Fiftieth Anniversary 2009 May 22-24. Congratulations to our Cathedral Parish.

Re-Pitching the Tent

Re-Pitching the Tent, Richard Giles, is a great book in many ways. I have the Revised and Expanded Edition, published in 2000. The Third Edition was published in 2004.
One glaring omission of this book is that microphones and sound are not mentioned in edition published in 2000, and appear to be missing from the 2004 edition as well. If this book is further revised I hope the author includes an audio/visual chapter.
When thinking about worship space - the how and why - this is an excellent resource and worth reading as a reference. Every Archdeacon should have a copy in their office.
Every Vestry should work through, at several points, Appendix J whether they are going to "re-pitching" or not. Appendix J is entitled: A six-week crash course on the design of liturgical space.
An informative and valuable book - but it lacks completely regarding microphones, speakers, and visual presentation considerations - a must chapter for the the twenty-first century.

Preview this book at Google Books.

Celebrating Lurley with Rainbows

Rainbows have always been signs of wonder and hope. Lurley whose life we have recently celebrated lived her life in wonder struggling with restraints that were not her choosing, but she lived faithfully with a glint of joy in her eye.
The celebration of her life was wrapped in rainbows. In the midst of the service her family looked through a large window to behold the colours of a rainbow. As her nephews covered her up a rainbow filled the sky above them. As we gathered at her daughters home a rainbow welcomed all who gathered.
Rainbows give hope, and Lurley has entered into that hope.

Celebrating Pleman - gentle and meek he was a “Christian man.”

A fellow priest said "When your first in a parish and you bury someone their your parishioners. But when you stay awhile you'll be burying your friends." Last week it was certainly a friend who was buried. But Pleman was also a "Christian man." And is how his wife describes him, she says she married a "Christian man." She is very aware of the blessing that they shared together, and their family a rejoicing in the faith of their father. We all mourn the loss of a dear friend, but we rejoice in the gentle faith of Pleman, a "Christian man."