News

“Where the Good Way Lies”

Image by maxim bober   By Jane Barter Each of our parishes embraces reconciliation with Indigenous peoples as a value. However, reconciliation is often imagined to be something symbolic and interpersonal. Perhaps it is a change of understanding in which non-Indigenous people come to see their Indigenous neighbours in a

January Issue: Repentance and Renewal

This month’s issue begins with a reflection on Jesus’ baptism from Bishop Geoffrey Woodcroft. He writes about the support each of us need from the collective body of the church in our lifelong journey of discipleship as we renounce our egos through repentance. In the community catechesis, Jane Barter writes

Repentance Changes Our Lives Together

Image by: Jan Canty   I’ve heard the early part of Acts chapter 2, in which Peter tells the people to repent and be baptized, read many times over the years. The latter part of that chapter, which I’ve heard read less often, tells of the daily lives of the

Reckless Hospitality

Header Image: Daoudi Aissa   By: Bishop Geoffrey Woodcroft Former assistant to the Manitoba Northern Ontario Synod Bishop, Larry Ulrich, told the following story to a gathering of Missional Church disciples: “When I was canvassing for The Heart and Stroke Foundation this year, I was struck by the number of

Hospitality Requires Honesty

Image by Jr Korpa   By: Andrew Rampton As Christendom began to visibly crumble in the middle of the twentieth century, mainline churches began to worry about their future sustainability. The steady maintenance of parishes was no longer assured as attitudes toward institutions like the Church changed dramatically in just

Threaded Back Together: The Joining of St. Chad’s and St. Andrew’s

image by Courtney Smith In late November, I sat down with Rev. Liz Richens to discuss the history that led up to the joining of St. Chad’s and St. Andrew’s, and the ways these communities have chosen to commemorate their individual histories while entering a new chapter as one. This

Moving Beyond the Rhetoric of Christian Hospitality

By: Sunder John Boopalan Let’s begin with a basic recognition: Hospitality is an industry. It is a financially lucrative business model in which professionals are trained to win hearts and wallets with smiles and niceties. It comes of no surprise, of course, that the underlying logic in the hospitality industry

December Issue: Hospitality

In this month’s issue, Bishop Geoffrey Woodcroft writes about Reckless Hospitality that challenges the status quo. While some may question “Why do you risk yourself so boldly? Why do you care?” Woodcroft sees this kind of hospitality as modeled after the way Christ engaged with the world. Sunder John Boopalan’s

Parish Profile: St. Alban’s

Photographer: Leah Nilson Reverend Canon Donna Joy interviewed by Misha Pensato   RLN: How would you describe the St. Alban’s Church community to a stranger? DJ: I would say that St. Alban’s is very committed to nurturing the faith of those who choose to come through meaningful worship. That is

Let Us Give Thanks: Rev. Deacon Penny Cummine

By: The Rev. Canon Donna Joy After careful prayer and discernment, Rev. Deacon Penny Cummine is stepping down from many of her diaconal ministries at St. Alban’s, Kenora including Outreach Committee, Friday Food with Friends, and weekly vesting at worship along with offering a regular Deacon’s Moment. The goal for

The Thelma Wynne Project Continues On…

By: Marlene Pryzner It has been 40 years since the ministry founded by Thelma Wynne was aptly named “The Thelma Wynne Project” by the Women’s Commission of the Anglican Church. Some history and update on this baby layette project seems timely. Mrs. Thelma Wynne was an active Anglican who, following the

2023 Advent + Special Christmas Services

Image: Gareth Harper St. Aidan’s Anglican Church Messy Christmas Saturday, Dec 9, 4 p.m – 6 p.m. A casual and relaxed evening of crafts, food and fellowship, sharing faith and fun! 0 Antiphons with Holy Eucharist Sunday, Dec 10, 8:30 a.m. Nine Lessons and Carols Friday, Dec 15, 7 p.m.

Saints and the Faithfully Departed

Photo Credit: Jacob Bentzinger By: Matthew Bowman “For to thy faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not taken away…” (Preface of the Dead, The English Missal). The Christian tradition I grew up in did not have a well-formed theology of the saints. At best, “saints” was an honorific title

November 2023: All Souls

In this month’s issue, Bishop Geoffery Woodcroft writes about discipleship that extends beyond the walls of church buildings. As the institution of the church changes and is in a period of decline, we must continue to go about our work with grace, carrying out the love of God to all

Parish Profile: St. Matthew’s Anglican Church

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church   How does your church community understand “place”?  We are located in the West End neighbourhood of Winnipeg, Manitoba on Treaty One territory. Our location is significant to our identity as our church has been shaped by our surrounding community.   In the 1950s and 60s

Honouring Legacies of Black Anglicans in the ACC

Header Photo: Maud Slats  This article is a continuation of the feature “Dismantling Anti-Black Racism: An Interview with Black Anglicans of Canada, Diocese of Rupert’s Land Chapter” published in RLN’s September Issue. Interview conducted by: Jude Claude and Misha Pensato   Black Anglican Experiences Given the many instances of anti-blackness

Reconsidering What is Sacred

Image: Jonathan Dyck This reflection was given by pastor and theologian David Driedger as the opening remarks for an event titled Which Violence, Whose Safety? hosted by First Mennonite Church. The event was a non-partisan discussion of the political rhetoric around “violent crime” in the lead up to the recent

CURRENT ISSUE

Jesus Wept

To begin this issue, Rev. Di Panting and the Diocesan Search Committee have provided a brief description of what the role of a bishop is. These are important things to keep in mind as we seek a new leader for this Diocese. Please reflect on these things and keep the Search Committee in your prayers.

Next, Rev. Theo Robinson writes on the hardships of grief, and what our fully divine and fully human saviour, Jesus Christ, can teach us about it. Grief is a difficult but inevitable part of being a person, but as long as we have our faith, we never have to bear it alone.

Following this, Rev. Edmund Laldin explores the relationship between Nehemiah weeping over the state of Jerusalem and Jesus weeping at the death of Lazarus. These events, he says, can inform us about the current state of our Diocese, and how we can proceed towards a hopeful future.

Finally, Zoe Matties examines lament in a time of crisis regarding our planet’s climate. She reminds us that we are God’s creatures and inherently a part of God’s creation. As God’s creation, our faith can be a path to action, and our grief can kindle our hope.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

Peace be with you; I hope you enjoy.

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