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Expressions of Hope

Congregation Shaarey Zedek has been spreading Christmas cheer to its neighbours since the year 2000. At one of the darkest times of the year, in and around the winter solstice, Jewish tradition celebrates the miracle of light during the holiday of Chanukah, which falls on the 25th of the Hebrew

People of Faith Doing Stuff Together

A story is told about a leading liturgical scholar, who was asked about “peace liturgies” during the heyday of the peace movement. This individual responded with something along the lines of “Aren’t all liturgies peace liturgies?” The story may be as much legend as fact, but the insight remains. Is

Hope for the Future at Synod

Although much of Synod was seen under the dark media cloud of the defeat of the Marriage Canon amendment, so much good work was done as well. I left with a sense of hope for the future, and I believe that the Spirit of God was working to make a

So Where is God in all of This?

In July, lay, clerical, and episcopal members from across our entire Canadian Anglican Church gathered in downtown Vancouver, B.C., for seven days to worship, share in Christian community, listen and learn about our common ministry and mission, and make decisions about the future work and priorities of our Church. Much

September Magazine 2019

In September’s issue on People of Faith, We’re looking at examples of people of different faiths working together to achieve a common goal of peace. The Manitoba Mulitfaith Council explores the importance of interfaith relationships. The Jewish Congregation of Shaarey Zedek synagogue explains the reasons behind the annual Christmas dinner they

How Many Loaves Have You? Go and See

We were invited to share a little of what we have learned about healthcare programs between developed and developing nations. The invitation included a few questions to peak our interest. How do these programs work? How do they raise up local communities? How do we avoid the danger of the

Improving Global Health, One Organization at a Time

According to the UNHCR (the United Nations Refugee Agency), 68.5 million people around the world are currently in a situation where they have been forced from their homes. Some are internally displaced, living in their home country; others have had to flee conflict or violence by crossing a border, becoming

Abundant Food for All

This past month, I’ve been getting ready to plant my garden. Seeds have been started, and the garden beds have been cleaned up. I’ve been dreaming about all the delicious, fresh veggies that will feed me all summer long. My spouse and I have also signed up for a CSA,

June Magazine 2019

In June’s issue on Global Health, Zoe Matties from A Rocha takes a look at the problem of food insecurity here in Canada; Janice Biehn, the Communications Coordinator for PWRDF, writes about how relief and development work has changed over the last few decades; and Krista Waring and Pierre Plourde, both

Humans and Humus: In Search of a Christian Ecology

The history of humanity is the history of the adam. God took good dirt (adamah), and from it, fashioned very good humans (adam), Adam and Eve. These humans were free to eat and enjoy God’s creation but were given limits. This history is the history of a creature that could

Prairie and Pasture

Neither one of us grew up on the farm. Both of us, growing up in cities thousands of miles away – Lydia in Winnipeg and Wian in Pretoria South Africa – dabbled as children in urban agriculture ventures. We could have hardly imagined that we were going to end up

From Tree to Tree: An Interview with Elder Velma Orvis

I had the chance to sit down with Elder Velma Orvis and ask her about harvesting medicines. Below is our conversation. – Kyla Neufeld What plants do you harvest for medicines? On the Medicine Wheel we acknowledge four plants. We start in the East with the tobacco. At one time

Community Gardens Remove Fences

God has left fingerprints on every inch of the garden. Anywhere I put my foot, the Creator has already been. He touches me with warm sunshine; I can smell him in the glorious mingled scent of soil, plants, and water; and he inhabits the expanded light feeling in my chest

May Magazine 2019

In this issue on God in the Garden, we’re getting our hands dirty and exploring encounters with our Creator, our communities, our neighbours, and our land. Nora Hogman writes about tending the community gardens at St. Margaret’s, and how they have impacted the neighbourhood. Lydia Carpenter and Wian Prinsloo, from

The Work of Mourning

Pastoral Reflections on Jacques Derrida’s The Work of Mourning. In his beautiful series of reflections on the deaths of his friends and contemporaries (figures such as Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, and Sarah Kofman), Jacques Derrida writes of the work of mourning. It is work of sorts because we must bring

Practising the Sixth Promise

Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth? I will, with God’s help. –The sixth promise of The Baptismal Covenant By far, the most frequent creation care question asked by Anglicans is “What can I do to care

Holy Disruption

Abid Munir is an active member of our congregation, serving on vestry and representing the parish of St. Mary Magdalene at PWRDF meetings in the diocese. On a recent visit to our church, Bishop Geoff asked him to share his story and he agreed. Abid was born in Peshawar, a

CURRENT ISSUE

Generations

We start this month’s issue off with an article from the Rev. Theo Robinson on the resolution at General Synod on Pastoral Liturgies for Journeys for Gender Transition and Affirmation. This article explores the context leading up to the resolution and the good news of the Anglican Church of Canada becoming the first in the worldwide communion of Anglican Churches to have a pastoral liturgy for gender transition.

Next, the Rev. Dixie Bird describes the experiences and teachings shared at Sacred Beginnings. Sacred Beginnings is an embryo of Sacred Circle for youth to learn traditional teachings and get involved in the work being done by Indigenous Anglicans and just had its second gathering in May this year.

The Rev. Alan Hayes reflects on the 1963 Anglican Congress in Toronto which was a turning point in Anglican history and began significant conversations about decolonization and the Anglican Church’s relationship with the British empire. A recent conference marking 60 years since this congress has brought forward reflections on what has changed in the Anglican church in the intervening years.

A note from Refugee Coordinator Marlene Smith invites you to the diocese’s marking of World Refugee Day on June 23rd at Epiphany Indigenous Church. This day is meant as an invitation to “welcome the stranger” and calls us to explore the relationship between moving towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and supporting those displaced by war abroad.

Robyn Sulkko of the PWRDF youth council announces their 12 month Youth to Youth program which provides opportunities for people ages 12-16 to learn about each other’s cultures and build right relationships with each other.

Finally, a parish profile on St. Michael and All Angels’ explores how that community’s unique Anglo-Catholic worship connects with both retired clergy and congregants in their 20s all looking to worship with all the senses in a context outside of the business of daily life.

I hope you enjoy this month’s articles.

 

Read and download the June issue here.

Access a printer-friendly version here.

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