Formations
“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”
Acts 2:2-4
In the story of Pentecost, the disciples’ experience of being filled with God’s Spirit is seamlessly continuous with their outward activity in the world. Crowds draw near as the disciples’ experience with the Spirit throws them into dialogue with others, at once being formed in the Spirit, and constituting outward formations. It is the image of the experience of formation in the Spirit, and the effects of this shaping on social formations, which inspires this month’s issue of the Rupert’s Land News.
This month’s issue opens with a reflection on a Seven Sacred Teachings event held at St. Peter’s in which Elder Mike Monias and 1JustCity’s Indigenous Cultural Programmer, John McKay, led the parish in learning about the Seven Sacred Teachings, and deeply impacted all gathered.
Next, several articles spotlight the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), and the Diocese of Rupert’s Land’s involvement in PWRDF work. Included is a review of the PWRDF conference held in May, which featured the Director of Relief, Development and Protection at Church World Service Africa, Mary Obiero. Then, R. Susan Smandych is interviewed about her work as the PWRDF diocesan representative for Rupert’s Land and the value of PWRDF in assisting Anglicans in living out our Five Marks of Mission. This is followed by a report from Colin Dorrian on Anglican Grow Hope and the impact the program is having on individuals near and far. Included are photos from May’s beautiful Rogation Service in celebration of Grow Hope, held in Pembina Valley, Manitoba.
Finally, this month’s issue includes a compiled list of resources related to the reporting of sexual misconduct experienced within the church. Links to these resources are also available on RLN’s website.
