Ora et Labora, prayer and work, is the cornerstone phrase and encapsulating spirit of The Rule of St. Benedict. St. Benedict of Nursia (480 – 547 AD) was the founder of a dozen monastic communities in present-day Italy for whom he penned his Rule. Comprising 73 chapters, it has become
One of the most popular books in spirituality at the end of the late 1990s was Holy Longing by Ron Rolheiser, OMI. In it he admits, “It is no easy task to walk this earth and find peace; we are forever restless, dissatisfied, frustrated and aching. Desire is always stronger
“Hey, how’ve you been?” I ask. *Sigh* “BUSY!” they grin back. “Ah yeah, it’s that time of year, isn’t it?” I don’t know if you’ve had this conversation lately, but I find it has become somewhat of cultural script in my circles. We used to all lie and say we
I once looked a humpback whale in the eye. As I sat in the small inflatable dinghy in the Southern Antarctic Ocean, I watched as she gracefully swam towards the boat, her fins flashing white beneath the surface. I held my breath as she swam beneath the zodiac, my heart
In this issue, Dr. Obren Amiesimaka begins by looking at The Rule of St. Benedict and explains what work and prayer are. Ultimately, he says, it is a balance of the two that leads to a healthy spiritual life. Following this, Sr. Mary Coswin writes on how our desires and longings
Today, I helped pack my daughter’s bags for camping. Like countless times before, there was a long list of needed items—both for her and to share with fellow campers: sunscreen, rain gear, water bottles, flashlights, craft supplies, paints, paintbrushes, Bristol board, etc. Together, we dusted off her childhood craft supplies
The Anti-Racism Black Anglican Network hosted its first conference at St. John’s College from August 14 to 17. The conference was a success and had presentations that were both informative and challenging. All the presenters were well prepared, and I was privileged to speak alongside them. There were experts in
You may have noticed over the past year that there has been a resurgence in activity around theological education in the diocese and particularly at St John’s College. Back in 2016, the Synod accepted a report on the future of theological education in Rupert’s Land that made a number of
Welcome to a new season of Rupert’s Land News. We begin this issue with Iain Luke, Prolocutor of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Northern Lights, explaining what an ecclesiastical province is, and how changing the name better represents the land and the people which it contains. Next, Jane Barter examines
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
Photo: Annie Spratt By: Marlene Smith Earlier this year the Primate, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, issued an invitation to dioceses and parishes across the country to mark a Refugee Sunday at some point in the lead up to World Refugee Day (June 20) or at some other time in the
Image by: KaLisa Veer By: Dr. Ebele Felix When we consider the broader framework of worship, there are many diverse and interconnected components that come together to create a meaningful and holistic expression of faith. In this tapestry, there exists a melody that transcends time and space—a song
Image by: Jennifer R. Susan Roe-Finlay RLN: How did you first become a Synod Delegate? SRF: At first [St. Luke’s] just needed someone to be a delegate and I thought I could do that. I’d been in my parish long enough I thought I knew enough. That was in
Image by: Austin Pacheco By: Edmund Laldin One of the definitions of liturgy is the ‘work of the people.’ It simply means that the liturgy is composed for and by the worshipping community to be relevant and representative of their needs, concerns, thanksgivings, and inspiration for the kingdom of
In this issue, Edmund Laldin’s article “Sing a New Song unto the Lord: The Relationship of Music and Liturgy” explores the implications of understanding liturgy as the “work of the people.” He asks important questions about how Anglicans must reflect the full diversity of their congregations through liturgical practice. Next,
Interview with Walter, Jean, Joyce, and The Rev. James Gomez RLN: Could you tell me about the name of your parish? Jean: We used to have an Ascension Day service. Walter: The Bishop would come out and we’d have confirmation that day. Jean: The church was founded in 1884.
Image by Clark Van Der Beken By: Theo Robinson Over the last few years, there has been an increase in attacks on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Certain persons in positions of power have done and said things that encourage homophobic, transphobic, and biphobic actions and attitudes. Quite often, the arguments
While working in healthcare, I attended at one-day workshop on change for chaplains. During the workshop, we discussed the book Guiding Change Journeys by Rebba Chan Allen and incorporated spirituality into its teachings. The memory of this workshop inspired me and led me to creating a workshop at Holy
If there is one thing that all our authors draw attention to, it’s to be attentive. Be attentive to where God is, regardless of whether those places are expected or unexpected. Anil Pinto-Gfroerer reminds us that God is present in conversation, questions, and in the beauty of the created world. Krista Waring and Rev. Deacon Tanis Kolisnyk honour the memory of Elder Rev. Barbara Shoomski by speaking to the many of the ways in which she showed incarnational love to so many who were lucky enough to encounter her. The Right Reverend Rachael Parker reminds us that we are called to be Christians, “little Christs,” and continue the work of Jesus as best as we can. Lastly, Donna Royer reminds us to notice and savour the presence of God whenever we can—in ways big, but more notably, in ways we may deem “small.”
