anglicanlife

FEBRUARY 2016

February 2016

A Section of the Anglican Journal

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

Welcome To Your New Home!

On December 19th, Bishop Geoffrey Peddle, The Revd Rob Cooke, and the Revd Mark Nichols were at the St. Johns
International Airport to meet the first family of Syrian refugees to Newfoundland and Labrador. Thank you to all who made this
possible.
For More on Syrian Refugees
submitted by the Revd Rob Cooke
See page 5

Photo Copyright: Robert Young Photography

Bishops Message

The Rt. Rev. David Torraville

Bishop

Central Newfoundland

One of the great

privileges of episcopal ministry is that the
bishop experiences not
only the parish and diocese but also the work
and ministry of the national and internation-

al church. One of our

functions is to bring
the local church to the
world and the world to
the local church. Ours
is something of a balancing act and I urge
you to help in maintaining that balance.
Our diocese, and
our parishes and congregations, in Central
Newfoundland, with the
cathedral taking a lead
role are working with
the Town of Gander
and the Association of
New Canadians to bring
Syrian refugee families
to Gander. This is an
important ministry, one
which we as diocese
and congregations are
committed to; however,
we cannot become so
focused on this effort

that it replaces all our

other local and international outreach.
There continue to
be needs in our communities; Food Banks
to support, Breakfast
Programs to assist,
Womens Shelters to
promote and those
countless other outreach ministries which
congregations throughout Newfoundland and
Labrador already lead
and support. These
groups and ministries
continue to need our
volunteer hours, our
financial resources and
our unceasing prayer.
As well, while Syrians
are the latest and the
most immediate victims
of violence there continue to be hundreds of

thousands of refugees
all over the world, who
have been in refugee
camps for years and
sometimes decades;
whose situation has
slipped to the back
pages of newspapers
and off television and
radio altogether. I do
not mean to be insensitive but we cannot
permit the Syrian crisis
to merely be the flavour o f t h e month
until some other tragedy supersedes it in the
public imagination. In a
very real way, let us use
this as a teachable moment and those moved
to action over this crisis
need to remain active
in response to national
and international human
rights and justice con-

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

cerns. Our response to

the refugee crisis should
never become a project
with a beginning a middle and an end. This
needs to become a
lifestyle and our action
in aid of the other,
needs to become a part
of the Christian and
Anglican DNA of every
parishioner, of every
congregation, of every
diocese.
As Jesus and his
family were refugees
in Egypt, fleeing the
violence of a tyrant
please remember
and support those
fleeing the tyranny in
our time.

FEBRUARY 2016

From The Bishop of Athabasca

Clergy and the three Newfoundland and Labrador Bishops with Bishop Lawton at Lavrock

To our sisters and brothers in the Dioceses of Central Newfoundland, Eastern

Newfoundland and Labrador, and Western Newfoundland:
I am very grateful for this opportunity to write to you in the pages of the Anglican Life. The invitation to send this greeting is just one of the
results of a recent visit by five of us from the Diocese of Athabasca in November. We met with about a dozen clergy and the bishops of the three
dioceses in Newfoundland. For some time we had been wanting an opportunity to share together face to face about our common ministry: many
people from Newfoundland have either moved to Northern Alberta or commute here for work. Many of these people have become part of our
congregations, and this was an opportunity to see where they have come from. We truly enjoyed the time we shared together at Lavrock and
touring the St. Johns area. We want to thank our hosts, including those who didnt know we were going to drop in on them! Though we saw only
a small part of the province, we did feel we had a good sense of the place and people.
We appreciated the opportunity to share our experience of receiving parishioners, responding to requests for baptism and marriage preparation, connecting with people working in camps, etc. We also found it very valuable to hear from the perspective of those back home. Our
conversations have led us to several initiatives we hope will help all the dioceses continue to improve our pastoral care for our people. We look
forward to further opportunities to visit the dioceses in Newfoundland and to have visits to the Diocese of Athabasca. We have already committed
to better communication back and forth between parishes in Athabasca and in Newfoundland. More than all of these things, we are so thankful
for the deeper sense of being part of the same family of God.
The Diocese of Athabasca is providing the dioceses in Newfoundland with brochures and contact information for our parishes. We want to
help people to be able to connect with a local congregation for their time in Alberta. We also want to help people know where they can find
someone for pastoral needs. We encourage people who may be visiting the diocese whether Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Peace River, or
any of our parishes to take the opportunity to find out about the local parishes before coming, and to connect while you are here. We would be
so delighted to meet and to worship with you. We also want people to know that we understand many, indeed most, of those away in Alberta
intend to go home again. We want them to know that we would love to be their temporary home while they are here. Gods family is here, waiting
to extend His grace.
Again, we want to say Thank you to Archbishop Coffin, Bishop Peddle, Bishop Torraville and the people and clergy we met. We look forward
to continuing to get to know your part of our family better, and opportunities to welcome you, too.
The Lord be with you,
The Rt. Revd Fraser Lawton,
Bishop of Athabasca

Archbishop Coffin, Bishop Peddle, Bishop Lawton, and Bishop Torraville

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

FEBRUARY 2016

Ordinations

Clergy group photograph from Catherine Shorts ordination

Clergy group photograph from Scott Winsors ordination

Congratulations to Catherine (Kay) Short, who was ordained

Deacon at St. James Church in Port aux Basques on December
8th at 7:00 pm. Clergy visited from surrounding areas and The
Revd Hannah Dicks gave a beautiful homily. A reception was
held in the Memorial Hall with approximately 150 people in
attendance. May God be with Kay as she continues to serve the Lord.
submitted by Lisa Brown

The Revd Scott Winsor was ordained a priest on December

15th at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Normans
Cove. Many clergy from the area were able to attend, and
Archdeacon Sam Rose preached a wonderful homily about
Simon Gibbons, whose commemoration we kept on that
day. May God bless Scott and Judi as they continue in their
ministry in the new parish of The Holy Cross.
submitted by Emily Rowe

Archbishop Percy Coffin and newly ordained Deacon Catherine Short

Archdeacon Sam Rose and newly ordained Priest Scott Winsor

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

FEBRUARY 2016

Eccumenical Service

The congregation

Fr. Laney, Lt. Street, Revd Colbourne, Revd Maki, Lt. Street, and Revd Ritchie

Choirs of the Southwest Coast came together on December 11th for fellowship, song, and prayer. A very large crowd of 231
people attended. The organ was played by the Revd Petten. Following the service, a lunch was held in St. Jamess Memorial
Hall.
submitted by Karen Simon

Fickle Finger of Fate

Kevin Smith

Columnist

Do you ever wonder

why things have to turn
out the way they do? That
was a question posed by
Nicholas Sparks in his
book, A Walk to Remember and it is a question
that is on my mind as I
write this column today.
I have just visited with
a number of planned
giving donors who love
their Church and have
generously provided for
it in their wills. The ladies
were hale and hearty,
dressed to the nines and
all smiles as I walked into
their rooms.
Problem is: they had
no idea who I was even
though we have known
each other for 15 years
or more.
These vibrant, bright,
intelligent and vivacious
women have been struck
down with Alzheimers
disease a disease of the
brain that causes people

to slowly lose their memory and mental abilities

as they grow old. It is
the most common form
of dementia that usually
starts in late middle age
or in old age, and results
in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and
changes in personality
and mood.
It is so sad to witness the deterioration
of the minds of such
strong and independent
women. These women
exemplified all that was
remarkable in their leadership qualities in their
respective professions.
When I look at these
ladies, I know that they
have stories to tell, if they
could, and feelings to
express, if they were only
able. These experiences,
stories and feelings have
formed them and made
a change in their lives. It
is this collection that has
made them who they are
but thats what makes
the sense of loss more
grievous.
I am reminded about
the comment made
by CNN Chief Political
correspondent, Candy
Crowley, who wrote:
I want to tell you how
much I miss my mother.
Bits of her are still there.
I miss her most when Im
sitting across from her.
A character in Clive
Cuslers book, The Soloman Curse, said, Time

is a thief. It steals our

memory, our hopes and
our strengths, leaving
only the sense theres
never enough of it.
Jarod Kintz clarifies this
by s u g g e s t i n g t h a t
A l z h e i m e r s i s t h e
cleverest thief because
she steals not only from
you, but she steals the
very thing you need to
remember whats been
stolen.
But there is another
side to this tragic situation. Carey Mulligan writes
that Those with dementia are still people and
they have stories and
they are all individuals
and they are all unique.
And they just need to
be interacted with on a
human level.
In conclusion, I quote
from the last four lines of
a poem by Owen Darnell, entitled, Do Not
Ask Me to Remember.
Just remember that I
need you
That the best of me is
gone
Please dont fail to
stand beside me
Love me til my life is
done.

@anglicanlife

Go where life takes you, but plan ahead.

As a free spirit, you rarely look back. But you

should look ahead - especially to protect your
loved ones when youre no longer there.
All it takes is a little preplanning.
Decide now on the funeral options and funding
arrangements that best meet your needs. Youll
lessen the burden for those who are left behind.
To learn more, call the number below. Well send
you a free Wishes and Memories Planning Guide.
Well also provide you with a no-obligation
consultation.
So make your plans, today.
Then follow your path wherever it leads.

FUNERAL HOMES
Kevin Smith is a gift planning consultant for the Anglican Church of
Canada. He can be contacted at
709 739-5667 or by email:
kevinsmith709@gmail.com

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

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FEBRUARY 2016

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Labrador, it is publishes ten issues each calendar year with an
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Syrian Refugees at
St. Marks
Submitted by
The Revd Mark Nichols

In partnership with
the Association for New
Canadians, St. Marks is
co-sponsoring a Syrian
refugee family through
the Blended Visa Office-Referred Program.
Under this program
the Government of Canada will provide up to six
months of income support to the family through
the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP),
while the parish will provide another six months
of income support as
well as start-up costs

associated with housing,

etc. We expect our total
financial commitment to
be between $20,000 and
$25,000 over the twelve
months.
We are also required
to provide social and
emotional support to
the family for a period of
one year as they adjust to
life in Canada. This will
involve things like helping them open a bank
account, transportation,
arranging translators,
and so on. We have a
transition team of twenty
parishioners in place for
this work.

Kids Eat Smart Donation

Submitted by
Janice Brake

The congregation
of Holy Trinity Church,
Meadows, made a generous donation to the
Kids Eat Smart program
at Templeton Academy
in Meadows. This was
done for our Thanksgiving service at our church.
The school was very
pleased with the results
of our endeavor and the
congregation is looking
forward to doing it again
next year or another time
during the school year.

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These policies were adopted by the Anglican Life Committee.

The parish only had

72 hours notice of the
familys arrival in St.
Johns. Thanks to the
incredible work of the
transition team and the
parish community as a
whole, in 48 hours we
secured and furnished a
residence for the family.
Aside from our partnership with the Association for New Canadians,
the parish has received
financial and material
support from outside
the parish community,
as well as much-appreciated assistance from the
local Arabic community.

Effie Manning (secretary, Templeton Academy), Darren

Hayes (vice principal, Templeton Academy), Glenn Dicks
(head volunteer, Kids Eat Smart Programme, Templeton
Academy)

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FEBRUARY 2016

30 Years Ordained for Edward Keeping

Submitted by
Linda Roberts

Ed went on to enter the

Church Army College in
Toronto in 1976. In 1978
he was commissioned
as a Church Army Officer and went on to Port
Elgin, Ontario for his first
posting.
In 1980 Edward
found himself called
back to Newfoundland

Revd Steward Payne

ordained him as Priest
in All Saints, Fortune with
the other two bishops
present.
Revd Keeping has
served in the Parishes
of Ramea, St. Anthony,
Pistolet Bay, Bonne Bay,
Whitbourne; then he
went to Synod Office and

to the chaplaincy at the

hospital.
Presently Revd Edward
is the rector at the Parish of
St. Philip.
Revd K e e p i n g s
Service of Thanksgiving
and Celebration of his
thirtieth Anniversary of
his Ordination to Priesthood was an evening of

Fr. Reuben Hatcher

was the guest preacher
at Revd Keepings ordination on November
27, 1985. Fr. Hatcher
prepared him for confirmation and encouraged
him to be involved in
the youth ministry of the
Parish. Ed continued in
his role of server until the
age of nineteen when
he then decided to pursue his vocation into the
Church Army and later to
the Priesthood.
Fr. Ron Lee introduced
Ed to the Church Army
in Canada after finishing High School, and

to serve in the Parish of

Belleoram for a year as a
Church Army officer. The
following May he went
to the Parish of Fogo as
an assistant to Fr. Neil
Kellett. In October 1980
he was called to the Parish of Kings Cove for a
period of four years. The
last two years he studied
at Memorial and Queens
while he continued his
ministry in the parish.
The Right Revd Mark
Genge ordained Ed as
Deacon in August 1985
at St. Martins Cathedral,
Gander. On November
27th, 1985 the Most

The Revd Edward Keeping with his wardens, Margaret Tucker

and Margaret Sheppard-Boone

Photo Wendy Decker

Photo Wendy Decker

St. Philips Parish Rector, The Reverend Edward

Keeping, recently marked
the 30th Anniversary of
his ordination to the
priesthood, with family,
friends, and parishioners, at a special service
held on Friday, November 27th, 2015 at St Philips Anglican Church.

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

fellowship and reflection.

Wa r d e n s , M a r g a r e t
Sheppard-Boone and
Margaret Tucker, spoke
about Revd Keepings
ministry within the Parish
of St. Philip and thanked
him for his total commitment, and significant
contributions to the life
of the Parish.
The Revd Keeping
thanked The Revd Ron
Lee (Preacher), the Honorary Assistants, the Deacon, choir members, and
organist, readers, Eucharistic Assistants, and
congregation for their
presence and encouragement throughout
his years of service, and
particularly for their involvement in this joyous celebration. Much
thanks and praise was
given to Fr. Lee and Fr.
Reuben Hatcher for their
unwavering support
throughout this process,
and to Fr. Neil Kellett for
his mentorship. Revd
Ed also extended his
appreciation to his wife
Joyce, daughters Michelle and Lindsay, and
to the Parish of St. Philip.
Refreshments were
served following the
service and Revd Edward Keeping was presented with a 30th Anniversary of Ordination
Cake by the wardens.

FEBRUARY 2016

God is calling

Acts of Prayer
The Revd Everett Hobbs
Columnist

One way of teaching the fundamentals

of prayer is use of the
formula ACTS-adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication. I
follow that pattern in this
article, drawing on the
teaching of Christopher
Bryant.
Baron von Hegel
used to say, religion is
adoration. He is making the point that religion not be confused
with ethics, with doing
your duty, not even with
loving your neighbour.
Rather it regards the reality, goodness and love
of God. William Temple
put it this way: It is not
that conduct is the end
of life and worship helps
it, but that worship is the
end of life and conduct
tests it. Adoration is a
response to what God is
and andeclaration of his
worth. It is telling God
what we believe about
him. St Francis is said to
have prayed the whole
night through: My God
and my all. Adoration
is focusing our whole
attention upon God as
we begin to pray.
Confession is declaring our failure to do
Gods will and purpose.
This failure we call sin.
In the prayer of confession I am not just telling
God what Im like, as
he knows all about me
anyway. I am naming my
sins and acknowledging
my responsibility. I do
this with the expectation
and confidence that God

forgives. But this is more

than listing my individual sins: it requires going
beyond my behaviour
and actions, to know
the sense of sin and my
underlying condition.
A good practice is daily
examination. One such
is the Examen which also
identifies the pluses in
our life. The ground of
sin is our failure to love.
In the prayer of
thanksgiving we name
our blessings and acknowledge our dependence on God. It is
cultivating the habit of
always saying Thank
you. Having a grateful
heart means we are less
likely to take things for
granted. It also gives us
pause to appreciate the
small and ordinary, and
to be satisfied with our
lot. You may find it helpful to use the General
Th a n k s g i v i n g (p.14,
BCP; p.129, BAS)
Supplicationprayer
is asking for something.
There are two forms of
this prayer, petition and
intercession. Petition
is praying my own requests, Petition is asking
God for what I want myself.. I place my needs
and concerns before
God. The Lords Prayer
gives examples: give us
our daily bread; lead
us not in temptation.
Before his death Jesus
prayed that the cup pass
from him.
Intercession is
praying for others,
bringing them before
God. When we pray

for another, we bring

that person through our
faith to Christ. We dont
even need to inform
him about the circumstances, as he already
knows. It maybe helpful
to picture that person
or imagine him/her in
Gods presence. Intercession is not limited to
family and friends,: it can
cover anyone we know
about, including those
who hurt us.
Th o m a s A q u i n a s
gave two reasons for
supplication prayer: To
co-operate with Gods
p ro v i d e n c e , a n d t o
awaken our confidence
in him.Jesus stressed
its importance, Ask and
you shall receive . . . He
tells us to persevere in
prayer and not to lose
heart. However, supplicationis not limited
to expecting God to
intervene. It includes
my role in helping to
bring about what I am
requesting. When I pray
for something, God may
ask me tobe the agent
of bringing it about .
St. Teresa says that we
are the feet, hands, and
mouths of God. There
are two qualities in particular desired in supplication: the prayer is
made with complete
confidence and it is
made in the name of
Christ. Prayer of any
kind is costly: it requires
from me my time, my
commitment and my
whole attention.

Allison Billard
Columnist

Deadlines have a
way of creeping up on
me since I had kids. I
was never a last minute
crammer for exams. My
papers were always written in plenty of time. but
these days, well, lets just
say it often comes down
to the 11th hour and Im
never as far along as I
would like. Thankfully,
my inner voice keeps
track of all the doings,
and I dont miss too
much in spite of myself.
As I write this,
fireworks have been
ongoing most of
the evening. It is New
Years Eve and I think it
suits my thoughts well.
2015 was quite a year,
a lot of ups and downs,
not just for us as individuals but as a global community as well. I think it
is fair to say things have
changed fundamentally,
again, and it will be our
response in the months
ahead of us that will
shape what kind of future there is for us all.
Over the holidays I
watched a movie called

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

Do You Believe? If you

havent seen it I have
to recommend it. The
question is a shortened
version of one of the
first lines of the movie
where one person asks
another Do you believe
in the cross of Christ?
The movie goes on to
show how the lives of
12 strangers intersect
at the cross. I found
it to be a very powerful
film and it really got me
to thinking about the
cross, about the power
of prayer and love and
faith.
As you read this, we
are heading into Lent. I
can hardly even believe
it from where I sit, but
it will be upon us very
shortly. Many of us may
have things in mind that
we will give up, or take
up, or renew, for the 40
days of Lent. There are
definitely a few things
on my list as well. But
the two most important
things any of us can do
are prayer and faithful
action.
We must pray for
guidance, strength, understanding, compassion, mercy, faith and
whatever else you need
to help you to act on
your Christian calling.
What calling you ask?
Yes I heard you ask. THE
calling. Gods calling.
The call to action.
When you see someo n e s u ff e r i n g b e i t
p h y s i c a l l y, emotionally, spiritually and your
heart jumps up and says
lets see what we can do
before your brain even
registers that it should
do something. THAT
calling.
Dont deny it. Dont
doubt it. Trust it. I believe
that God speaks to us in
those moments. There
is always something we
can do, big or small,
recognized or not, to
support those in need.
With Christmas and the
New Year celebration
behind us, and the more
solemn and discerning
season of Lent ahead of
us, it is perhaps a good
time for reflection and
for listening to that voice
inside. What is it telling
you to do? What will you
do about it?

FEBRUARY 2016

Shine our Lights

Nora Sheers

Columnist

The hustle and bustle

of Christmas has come
and gone, the lights are
taken down and everyone
seems a little less hurried,
February is upon us and
already we are midway
into winter. The long winter
days and nights for some
are wearisome and yet for
others it is taking time to
ski with friends or curl up
in a comfy chair in front
of the fireplace to enjoy a
good book you have been
longing to read but hadnt
found the time.
Yet, the month of February would have some of
us folks looking to bears
and groundhogs to predict
how much longer winter will remain with us.
Groundhog Day is celebrated in most of North
America, but of course
we do not have groundhogs in Newfoundland, so
our black bear determines
how many weeks of winter
are left. As folklore would
have it, if a bear sees its
shadow, it goes back to its
lair for another six weeks
and winter continues. It
is also Candlemas day
and for Christians it is a
remembrance of Christs
presentation in the temple. Forty days after the
birth of a Jewish boy, the
custom was to take him to
the temple in Jerusalem to
be presented to God by his
thankful parents.
In pre-Christian times
this day was also known
as the feast of light and
celebrated the increased
warmth of the sun as winter gave way to spring. But
for Christians today it is an
occasion when all candles
used in the church are
gathered and brought forth
to be blessed.
Candles are used in
churches as representation
of the light of Christ and
are lit at most services; they
are lit in our homes on special occasions and add an
elegance and comfort to

How Would You Respond to Bullies?

our dinner table. Candles

are a reminder that Christ
is light, ever present during
our darkest of days. We
refer to Him as the light
of world and on February
7th, there is that brilliance
of light mentioned again
as we remember and celebrate the Transfiguration of
our Lord, when Jesus took
Peter, James and John up
a high mountain by themselves. Christ was transfigured before them. Jesus
face shone like the sun,
and His clothes became as
white as snow.
As I sit and write about
candles and light I am
reminded of a hymn, I
learned as a child Jesus
bids us shine with a clear,
pure light, like a little candle burning in the night.
In this world of darkness,
so let us shine, you in your
small corner, and I in mine.
What a wonderful lesson in
that little hymn, a reminder
to us, we too are lights to
shine in our small corners
of the planet. Whether
it is in my small town of
Cow Head or where ever
we find ourselves at the
moment, there will always
be a neighbour near or far
needing a helping hand
or a ray of hope. I cannot
help think of the plight
of the Syrian refugees or
the neighbours in my own
Parish. There will always be
a dark corner somewhere
needing a little light so lets
shine our lights and make a
difference

Submitted by

Col. J. A. Heffernan

Im sorry that your life is so miserable that you have to try to bring others down, she wrote.
Im sorry that you dont get to know me as a person. I know that Im not the prettiest thing to look
at. I know I have a double chin and I fit in XL clothes. I know I dont have the perfect smile or the
perfect face. But Im sorry for you. Not myself. Im sorry that youll never get the chance to know
the kind of person I am. I may not look ok on the outside. But Im funny, nice, kind, down-to-earth,
not judgmental, accepting, helpful, and Im super easy to talk to. Thats the same for every other
girl on that list that you all put down. Just because we dont look perfect on the outside does not
mean we are ugly. If thats your idea of ugly then I feel sorry for you. Like seriously? Get a life.

Well, thats what L/Sgt. Lynelle

Cantwell, of St. Marks CLB Compay
put on Facebook for her detractors
to read. For some young people being bullied by fellow students could
have far reaching and very serious
consequences. However, this was
not the case in L/Sgt. Cantwells
situation, for she not only stood
up for herself , she stood up for all
her friends who were bullied along
with her. They learned what she
did by her actions, remaining cool,
although hurt, she demonstrated
great courage and leadership. This is
the hallmark of her CLB training and
in other comments Sgt. Cantwell has
said so. When learning of this story,
former deputy chief of police Gary
Browne said you know, this does
not surprise me in the least. The CLB
continues to turn out leaders and
heroes at all levels. She is a credit
to her parents and to the CLB. L/
Sgt. Cantwell, know that you have a
whole CLB regiment singing your
praises and saluting you.
L/Sgt. Cantwell

Kerstin Shutterstock

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

FEBRUARY 2016

Thankful for the

Anglican Church and
Witness

Rev. Canon Gerald Westcott

Columnist

Beginning a new
year, reflecting on the
past and looking forward
to the future, I am aware
of a deep sense of thankfulness to be part of the
Anglican Church and
its witness. Our church
and its leadership has
been on the front lines in
opening the doors, welcoming and sponsoring
Syrian refugee families.
Inspiring inner city work
is being done as our

church has partnered

with Safe Harbour Outreach Project to provide
a new location to operate
their human rights-based
sex worker advocacy
program. Our church
has been doing important work with a new furniture bank called Home
Again. These are only
some of the outreach
and witness of the larger
church in the last year. At
the parish level, there are
uncountable expressions
of outreach, care and
inclusion throughout the
Anglican Church in our
province. Even more than
this, in a global climate
that is charged with fear
and the highlighting and
excluding of what differentiates and separates, I
am thankful to be part of
an Anglican Church that
is seeking to include any
and all inquirers of faith
and deepening life, and
a church that is encouraging understanding,
respect and dialogue

The Cross of Christ as a witness to the whole world

Why
Announcements
Are Important

with every expression of

life affirming faith, ideology and culture. This is
all beautiful and of God.
But the truth remains that
in order for our Anglican
Church to survive on the
margins of society and to
offer effective outreach
and witness to the community and wider world,
we need to go deeper. Jesus never did say
worship me, but he did
say follow me. As we
deepen our awareness
of the gift of Christmas,
that each and every one
of us are incarnations
of God, we will deepen
our consciousness as a
church, as a society, as a
global village, that all are
included, all are loved,
all are adored. Thats the
church that I belong to.
Thats the church I am
thankful for.

CHOAT photographer Shutterstock

Cynthia Haines-Turner
Columnist

Recently, as I was
walking to Church, I
was reminding myself
to add something to the
announcements. Which
triggered a memory
of a recent experience
Id had when visiting a
Church while I was away
from NL. That particular
Sunday, the leadership
took great pains to say
that announcements
would be kept to a bare
minimum, if there were
any, as most of them
would be on a handout to be picked up at
the back of the Church
as you left. Then the
priest herself apologized for adding one
or two announcements
to the ones the leaders
of the Parish had already given, prefacing
it by promising that this
would be the last one. I
remember being somewhat bemused since in
all honesty, I have never had a problem with
announcements, nor
with their placement
in the worship service
although I do remember great discussions
in the past about where
they should come - at
the beginning, at the
Offertory or at the end
before the dismissal.
But really, why the big
to-do? Do they really not have a place in
the worship service?
I know there are purists
who would prefer not
to have anything in the
liturgy that is not strictly
worship, (probably the
same people who dont
like to say good morn-

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

ing after the liturgy has

begun) and no doubt
if you are worshiping
at a retreat or in seminary or with one of the
religious orders, then
thats appropriate. But
for Sunday morning, I
think its different. On
Sunday, the community gathers. Part of what
we do when we gather is worship, in fact a
big part of what we do
when we gather is worship. Its where we get
to pray, sing, hear the
Word proclaimed and
uphold one another in
our various ministries
and we build up our
faith community. But
we build community
in other ways as well.
I visit a lot of churches around this country
and one of the ways I
get a feel for a church
community is by listening to and reading
the announcements. At
some churches, those
who are involved in the
different ministries of
the Church will come
forward themselves, so
you get to hear that the
Fair Trade coffee has
arrived from the person who is passionate
about that or you get
to hear about the Sunday School from their
leaders. Theyll tell you
about the plans for the
Fall supper or how you
can donate to PWRDF
and you soon develop
a picture of this community with whom you
have chosen to worship.
At announcement
time in a church you
attend regularly, you
think about how you
can contribute or you
take note of what you
would like to attend and
you build a relationship
with those around you.
Nope, it may not be
included in any liturgical texts you can find,
but the announcement
time is still valuable as
it develops community and contributes to
building us up as the
people of God.

FEBRUARY 2016

10

A Life Worth
Living

The Rev. Gregory Mercer

Columnist

The following is an
excerpt from a recent
meditation of mine.
People sometimes
say to me, I dont have
to go to church to be a
good person. And no
more you dont. You
dont even have to be a
Christian to be a good
person.
In his book Who is
this Man? author John
Ortberg tells the comic story of two brothers
who led miserable lives.
They were self-centered,
money-grubbing,
mean-spirited, i n t o l erant scoundrels.
Then one of them died.
His brother paid the
minister a lot of money
to do the funeral on
one condition that the
minister must call his
dead brother a saint.
So the minister did the
eulogy: I have to tell
you the truth: this man
who died was a liar, a
bully, a cheat, and a
thief. But compared to
his brother he was a
saint.
When we say we
dont have to go to
church to be a good
person, who or what
are we comparing ourself to? Regular church
attenders? Our brother
or sister? Our n e i g h b o u r ? What makes
y o u / me a good person? Is it because we
havent done any harm
to anyone or because we
gave someone a Christmas hamper? I dare to
say if we compare ourselves to people like
Billy Graham or Mother
Theresa we wouldnt
measure up at all, and
they would be the first
to admit that they are
sinners. Jesus demands

From the Editor:

more of us than being a good person.

It has more to do with
a life worth living and
to h a v e c o n f i d e n c e
in the person God
created you/me to
b e . Hence, the life of
the Christian is different.
It is about participating
in the life and activity of
Jesus Christ.
Jesus says to each
and every one of us,
Give me ALL. I dont
want so much of your
time and so much of
your money and so
much of your work: I
want you. Being a good
person at best is only
half-measure and NO
half-measures are any
good. At baptism we
promise with the help
of God to grow into
the full stature of Christ,
i.e., to become FULLY
loving human beings
NOT half-measures.
Christianity is a
hopeful religion because of the saving activity of Jesus Christ.
It is a religion that engages the world by giving hope to people in
desperate situations. It
dares to love even the
unlovable. And that will
happen only if you and
I, as people who desire
to be like Jesus faithful
to our baptismal covenantmake it happen.
Ernest Hemingway
once said, The world is
a fine place and worth
fighting for. Take it one
step further. With all of
its shame, drudgery,
and broken dreams
the world is a beautiful
place, it is Gods creation, and worth saving.
That is only possible by
way of a Saviour, and
a people who truly
believes in him.
The year 2016 will
bring many expectations. But for the Christian the challenges will
be even greater, because
as followers of the one
we proclaim as Saviour,
we are called to move
beyond the expectations of our world to
reflect Gods way of
peace and love. And
that will require of us
more than just being a
good person but a
person who desires to
grow into the full stature
of Christ.

We are blessed in our three Diocese of Newfoundland and Labrador

with many way to pursue theological education. While the three year
Master of Divinity Programme, following a three or four year undergraduate degree is still available, there are many other options for
those who wish to study theology, whether for ordination or not. Distance Education programmes, and local study groups offer solutions
for those unable to leave their homes and jobs in order to study. Im
hoping to highlight some of these options in this and future issues of
Anglican Life. There are so many opportunities out these for us all! I
hope that you find these columns both interesting and helpful as you
continue on your faith journey.
Emily F. Rowe
Editor, Anglican Life

How I Became Hooked

on Theological
Education
Marie Smith

Guest Columnist

As a child I would
watch my mother as
she made flowers out
of crpe paper. She
cut out the petals using a heavy paper pattern and with wire and
florist tape, she would
transform these delicate
pieces of paper into
beautiful white lilies,
curling the tips with a
pencil. The church was
brightened up on Easter morning with her
hand-made flowers. It
was beautiful to see! In
smaller communities
in Newfoundland the
church was often the
centre of community
events. I miss that time
and way of life.
It was 2004 when my
faith journey began in
earnest, and I decided
to take part in a course
called Education for
Ministry (EFM). Our
clergy at the time was
promoting this study
course to our congregation, and several people had already taken
some classes and gave
it rave reviews. The
four-year progression
of study begins with
the Old Testament, the
second year covered
The New Testament,
and the third and fourth
years look at the history
of the Church, and its

growth as an institution
throughout the world.
The subject material
gives an excellent understanding of h i s t o r y,
theology, l i t u r g i e s ,
spirituality, ethics and
ecclesiology. I thought
that I would try year
one to see if this was
something that I wanted
to continue. After the
first year, I was hooked.
The course is not a Bible
study as one might think
of a Bible study, and
there isnt an instructor.
There is a person who
mentors and takes care
that we are actually covering the material, and
who guides the classes,
theological discussions,
and reflections.
It was during the second year that I actually
realized that God was
calling me to do and be
more than an occasional reader in church and
a member of the various committees. Late
into the year our EFM
course was interrupted
by the sudden death of
our mentor, Rev. Ross
Rumbolt, a wonderful
teacher and guide. We
did finish the year with
a wonderful substitute
mentor. It was not until
2011 that we were able
to continue and complete the final two years.
My journey was not

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

over, and in the spring

of 2014 myself and two
other past students
of EFM, enrolled in a
course called Diploma
in Theology and Ministry which is offered by
Queens College, but
held in Clarenville, NL.
We decided we could
do this if we shared
the travel and expense.
Even though this is not a
credited course, we feel
it has been a very worthwhile learning experience. It took me a little
longer to feel the pull
to f u r t h e r m y e d u c at i o n i n Theological
studies; I kept resisting
the call because of cost
and personal commitments, however God
kept paving the way.
I am currently taking
courses by correspondence toward the Associate in Theology from
Queens College.
Pursuing a full-time
career in ministry later in
life may seem daunting,
however a new form of
ministry is dawning in
our province and across
the continent. For anyone wanting to become
ordained as a deacon or
even a priest, there are
alternatives to full time
college and degree
programs.

FEBRUARY 2016

11

New and Innovative Programmes Launched at

Queens College
Submitted by
Dr. Carmel Doyle, The Revd Dr. Alex Faseruk, Allison MacGregor, and the Revd Jonathan Rowe

On the eve of its

175th Anniversary year
(1841-2016), Queens
College is a beehive of
activity with existing and
new programs brought
together in a cost
e ff i c i e n t manner. This
flurry of activity attracted
93 students to the College for the Fall Semester
2015, with several new
admissions for the Winter
Semester 2016. While
the existing programs of
Master of Divinity, Master
of Theological Studies,
Bachelor of Theology
by Distance, the Associate in T h e o l o g y, a n d
t h e Diploma in Theology and Ministry have all
showed healthy increases in enrollment, three
n e w p ro g ra m s w e re
brought fully on stream
to provide high quality
theological education to
wide and diverse groups.
The Exploring Faith
program, directed towards Anglican students,
was fully integrated into
the c u r r i c u l u m f o l lowing the appointment
of the Revd Jonathan
Rowe as Director of the
Exploring Faith Program
along with the Revd
Jolene Peters as the Local
Education Facilitator
in Labrador West. The
courses were designed
by the St. Marys Centre
in Wales as a six-year
cohort-based program
of three stages of two
years duration for each of
the Certificate, Diploma
and Degree phases. The
program was originally
brought to our province
by the (then) Ven. Geoff
Peddle (now Bishop of
Eastern Newfoundland
and Labrador) who established two local education groups in 2012, one
in St. Johns/Mount Pearl
and one in Labrador
West. Convocation 2015
witnesses the first graduates of the Exploring
Fa i t h p r o g r a m w i t h
16 Certificates awarded.
Through progression in
the program, students
successfully completing
the program of studies
will be eligible to receive
Diplomas in 2017 and
Degrees in 2019.
In commenting on
the Exploring Faith program, Fr. Rowe points
out that among the enrolled students are some
who are preparing for
ordination, and others
who are seeking to grow

in their faith, and to better equip themselves for

lay ministries. He says,
This program is innovative in that it educates
those preparing for ordained ministries alongside the people they will
be m i n i s t e r i n g w i t h
and to. It also makes
the same quality of education available to lay
people as it does to the
next generation of clergy.
Fr. Rowe further elucidates, The Exploring
Faith program is part
of a trend towards the
d e m o c rat i z at i o n of
theological education:
taking theology out of
the hands of an educated
elite and putting it back
into the hands of the
whole People of God.
While many people may
shy away from theological reflection because
they are not theologians,
this program is based on
the principle that everyone who thinks or talks
about God is engaged
in the work of theology.
Queens College proudly continues to find new
ways to empower and
equip the saints for the
work of ministry within
the Church.
For several years,
Queens College has
attracted many students
from other denominations. These relationships h a v e g r e a t l y
enhanced and enr i c h e d the theological development of the
students over the years,
as well as fostering ecumenism. Two groups approached Queens College for programming directed towards their faith
communities, namely the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Johns and
the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland
and Labrador (PAONL),
neither of which have
theological colleges in
Newfoundland and Labrador. Both groups felt
that Queens had something unique to offer.
The Archdiocese felt
that its laypeople needed education in the areas of Catechesis and
Leadership. Accordingly,
Queens, in consultation
with the Archdiocese,
adapted its existing dip l o m a p ro g ra m i n t o
the Diploma in Theology and Ministry (Roman
Catholic Stream). Much
of the core is common

to Christian education,
but specific components
were added to the program to address the
needs of the Roman Catholic tradition through the
expertise of Q u e e n s
C o l l e g e faculty members Dr. Carmel Doyle
(Program Director and
the Bishop Mullock Chair
for Roman Catholic Studies), Dr. Gerard Whitty, Dr.
Rick Singleton, Dr. Ann
Cody, and Dr. Michelle
Rebidoux. The students
have also been treated
to guest lecturers, such
as Sister Elizabeth Davis,
C.M. (LL.D., Memorial,
Manitoba), former CEO
of the Eastern Health
Care Corporation, who
is currently completing
her Ph.D.
Dr. Doyle reports that
19 people registered
for the inaugural class
of the Diploma in Theology and Ministry (RC
Stream). Most of these
individuals are already
heavily committed to
at least one ministry in
their home parishes. A
few are discerning how
they may serve their
parishes. Some are primarily engaged in the
program for their own
spiritual growth. They
come from over a dozen parishes within the
Archdiocese and range
in age from their 30s to
60s. Their program is
specifically designed to
meet the needs of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese within the general parameters of the
Diploma program. Dr.
Doyle reports, To date
tremendous enthusiasm
has been expressed by
the students who are
enrolled in the program
and they have requested additional courses!
Anne Walsh, Executive
Assistant to the Archbishop, has expressed great
satisfaction with the program. The first graduates
of the Diploma in Theology and Ministry (Roman
Catholic Stream) should
be conferred at Convocation 2017. In terms of
the existing Diploma in
Theology and Ministry
program, 10 individuals
are currently participating i n t h e p r o g r a m
offered at Clarenville.
These students come
from all three Anglican
dioceses, as well as one
from an independent
church. They represent

the deep desire of committed laypeople to be of

service to the Gospel and
the Church.
While Queens College
has had several highly
qualified Pentecostal
students complete its
programs over the years,
it was in the Spring of
2015 that PAONL approached Queens about
delivering a locally based
program of studies for
Pentecostal students
instead of having to leave
Newfoundland and Labrador to attend more
expensive and inconvenient programs on the
mainland, given their
previous experience
of the high quality programs taught at Queens.
Through negotiations the
Master of Theology (M.
Th.) was developed for
those candidates holding
a Bachelor of Theology
(B.Th.), and the Master
of Theological Studies
M.T.S. (Pentecostal Studies) was also launched.
The M.Th. can also be
taken by Queens B.Th.
graduates who wish to
enhance their qualifications to a masters level in
order to pursue doctoral
studies or for additional edification and empowerment in ministry.
The M.T.S. (Pentecostal
Studies) is a local degree
program which is able
to lead towards ordination as a Pentecostal
pastor. In order to gain
credentials, aspirants for
ordination must complete five courses in Pentecostalism, cross-listed
at Queens from Tyndale
University College. The
existing M.T.S. program
remains in place and has
several registrants actively pursuing the degree.
In Fall 2015, the Revd
Dr. Brad Noel (Assistant
Professor of Christian
Ministries at Tyndale)
was appointed as Director of the Institute for
Pe n t e c o s t a l S t u d i e s
(non-stipendiary) and
Allison MacGregor was
appointed as the Academic Advisor for Pentecostal Studies. She reports that the PAONL is
very pleased with the
development of an academic relationship with
Queens. As of December
2015, seven Pentecostal
students were enrolled at
Queens College with the
anticipation of more applicants in the New Year.

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

Ms. MacGregor says, We

look forward with great
anticipation to Spring
Convocation 2016, as the
first two PAONL students
will graduate! The quality
of the faculty and the ideal location of the college,
in addition to the willingness of the administration
to help meet the academic needs of current and future PAONL clergy, foster
an environment in which
we believe our students
can thrive. Its a beautiful
image of the true and
timeless church to see
Christian denominations
working and learning
together, maintaining
distinctive differences,
yet celebrating common
faith. May this ecumenical
partnership prove to be
fruitful and ultimately
serve the missio dei!
At Convocation 2015,
the Convocation speaker,
the Ven. Bruce Myers, the
Coordinator of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relationships of the Anglican
Church of Canada, lauded Queens not only for
its vision in ecumenism,
but also for its ability to
bring so many programs
to fruition within a small,
but dynamic theological college. Archdeacon
Myers, following Convocation, has been elected
Bishop of Quebec with his
Consecration scheduled for
May 5, 2016.
In addition to the Roman
Catholic and Pentecostal
students, Queens also has
Lutheran, Moravian, and
United Church students,
as well as an Orthodox
m i s s i o n c h u rc h t h a t
uses the Queens College Chapel for celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
Dr. Faseruk notes that
Queens is c o m m i tt e d
to be a Spirit-filled,
Christ-centered theological college firmly
root e d i n t h e A ng li c a n t r a d i t i o n able to
serve the theological
needs of other denominations in ecumenical
partnerships as envisioned by the Anglican
Church of Ca n a d a .
Queens College at the
end of the Fall Semester
had 54 Anglican students
and was actively tracking
34 students who are aspirants to Holy Orders
in various stages of discernment. The College
has seven Anglican clergy
and one Anglican layperson on Faculty.

FEBRUARY 2016

12

Coronation frontal and Abraham

Family Fair Linen on display

Photo Janine Sheppard

Article by
Mrs. Joyce King

The Cathedral Altar Guild acknowledges the donation by Bill

and Jessie Abraham of a family-owned fair linen cloth, beautifully
embroidered, and a small Altar Frontal that once belonged to
Bishop Abraham, our Diocesan Bishop from 1942-1955.
The fair linen cloth and frontal were used by Bishop Abraham
for his private Altar at his summer home in Brooklyn, Bonavista
Bay.
For Advent the Cathedral used both the linen and frontal on our
Lady Chapel Altar. The blue and gold frontal has a special history.
It was made from a piece of decorative material with crowns
in the design. The material had been part of the decorations
in Westminster Abbey for the coronation of George VI in May
1937. Extra materials and fixtures were sold after the coronation
for keepsakes when Bishop Abraham bought it for future use.
We were happy to display this piece of history and appreciate
Coronation Frontal on display in the Lady Chapel.
the gift entrusted to our care.

Queens College Hosts Public Lecture

Article and Photographs by

The Revd Rob Cooke

On November 22 Queens College

hosted a public lecture at the Guvnor
Pub entitled Desperately Seeking Jesus:
Finding Jesus In A Post-Christian World. The
lectures were given by students Lisa Payne
and Elizabeth Scammell-Reynolds as
part of the requirements for the Biblical
Studies course Portraits of Jesus, which is
facilitated by the Revd Robert Cooke.
The lectures focused on the spirituality
of Jesus and the pedagogy, psychology
and sociology of Jesus. There were 30
people in attendance and the lectures
were followed by a question and answer
period moderated by the Revd Robert
Cooke.

Lisa Payne

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

Elizabeth Scammell-Reynolds

Photo Janine Sheppard

Close-up photograph of the Coronation frontal, donated by the Abraham

family to the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, St. Johns

FEBRUARY 2016

13

From the Parish of

Bonavista
Submitted by

The Revd Shaun OConner

Co

m
r
i
nf

n
o
i
t
a

Two Christmas Elves visited the church during the Confirmation

On December 20th, a couple of elves visited

the Parish of Bonavista in order to explain
Confirmation. Bishop Torraville connected the
sacrament of Confirmation with the Christmas
by talking about how we must bring the baby
home, when it comes to our faith in Jesus
Christ. Also, the parish made a presentation
to Bishop Torraville of a donation to the
Diocesan Syrian Refugee Fund.
The Confirmation Class from The Parish of Bonavista, 2015.

Sunday School students making Christmas ornaments, which were sold in order to raise
money for a Syrian refugee family in Central Diocese.

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

FEBRUARY 2016

14

Bishops Leve on New Years Day

Article and photographs by
Emily Rowe

Bishop Peddle hosted a New Years Day Leve on

January 1st at St Thomass Parish Hall, St. Johns.
In addition to the Bishop, his wife Kathy and their
son Adam were there to greet the members of
the Diocese who came by for a lovely time of fellowship and good wishes for the New Year. Also
present were Archdeacon Sam and Mrs Rose,
and The Revd Greg and Mrs Mercer (rector of St.
Thomass).

Dinner Theatre Fun

The St. Augustines Church Stewardship Committee in Margaree- Fox Roost hosted its 11th annual
dinner theatre on November 7th and 14th. It was
two great nights of fellowship, performances, and
great meals. A big thank you to all who were involved or who helped in any way including those
in the surrounding community!
submitted by Karen Simon
above: Bernice Sweet, Shirley Osmond, Julie Seymour, Jeanette Billard,
and Karen Simon

left: Back Row L-R: Millred Park, Shirley Osmond. Marie Farrell, Mary
Carter, Rowena Doyle, Lorna Lafosse, Bernice Billard, Karen Simon
middle row: Jessie Meade, Jeanette Billard, Judy Seymour, Lorena
Kendall, Mary Carroll
Front row: Dave Osmond
Missing: Maggie Seymour

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

FEBRUARY 2016

15

P.W.R.D.F. In Western Newfoundland

Submitted by

Mona Edwards

Fairtrade not to be confused with free trade:

At Western NLs ACW Diocesan conference at Killdevil Camp
in September, 2015, Mona Edwards, Diocesan coordinator for
PWRDF, and her cohorts performed a Fairtrade presentation.
Fairtrade is a way of doing business, based on the principles of
fairness and decency, giving farmers/harvesters the best price for
their product.
When you buy products with the Fairtrade Mark, you support
farmers and workers as they work to improve their lives and their
communities. The Mark means that the Fairtrade ingredients
in the product have been produced by small-scale farmer
organizations or plantations that meet Fairtrade social, economic
and environmental standards. The standards include protection
of workers rights and the environment, payment of the Fairtrade
Minimum Price and an additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in
business or community projects.
PWRDF and the Anglican Church support Fairtrade!

Communications
With God

Ron Clarke

Columnist

Yes, there are still millions of us who believe in

God, yes, millions!
Those of us who believe in God know that
we have a sure way to
communicate with our
loving God/Father, that
sure way, of course, is
prayer.
But, does God really
answer our prayers?? Yes
and no!
God answers our
prayers most often when
we pray for the RIGHT
things, things that are
good for us.
But, very often we
pray for things that are
NOT good for us. Like
children, we sometimes
want things that are definitely NOT good for us.
When that occurs,
our loving God, who really knows, will not grant

our wishes. He thereby

saves us from harm. The
sincere Christian accepts
Gods will, above his/her
own.
And, prayers to
God do NOT have to
be formal, or fancy, or
long-winded! God always knows our needs
before we pray.
Sometimes, in times
of emergency a prayer
may consist of a sudden
sentence, maybe not
even spoken aloud. Such
a thing occurred to me
not long ago.
I was driving on the
ever-dangerous Trans
Canada Highway. Heavy
rain had just filled the
deep ruts with water.
Suddenly, on a steep
curve, we hydroplaned.
I lost control completely.
Off the pavement I saw a
steep bank, rolling about
300 feet down into the

woods. Oh my God I
exclaimed.
I felt my vehicle tipping toward the edge. A
roll-over would surely kill
meand the three others
with me: my wife, my son
and my grandson!
But, at the tilt, I felt a
force push my van back
upright. The force was
Gods answer to my sudden, very sincere prayer.
What else could it
be? Nothing else could
upright my van. There
was no powerful wind
gust, nothing but the
love of God!
God didnt answer
my prayer because I am
especially HOLY!
He would do the
same for any true believer.
And, we all should
know that prayer is not
designed only for special times. Prayer, personal communication
with Our Heavenly Father, should be a part of
our lives at any, and all,
times.
And, we should not
pray only when we are in
trouble.
Our chats with our
Father should be a part
of our good times; giving thanks, for example.
M o re t h i n g s a re
wrought by prayer than
this world dreams of. So,
pray often! Our Father is
surely listening- ALL THE
TIME! And, He dearly
loves to take special care
of us!

Please Support P.W.R.D.F.

Christos Georghiou from Shutterstock

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador

FEBRUARY 2016

16

Successful Mitten Tree from Burgeo

Article and Photographs Submitted by
Maxine Dicks

The Outreach Committee of Burgeo has

been busy this year with another successful
mitten tree project. This is an annual
project during which the congregation of
St. John the Evangelist Church of Burgeo
donates knitted items (mitts, socks, hats,
sweaters, scarves, etc.) to the Mitten
Tree. The tree is put up during Advent,
and the collected items are then sent to
The Salvation Army in Stephenville, The
Salvation Army Transition House, and The
Red Cross in Corner Brook. The items
are then given out to needy families for
Christmas. This year we collected a total of
347 knitted items.
In photo from left to right: Juanita Hatcher, Hilda Baggs, Mary Bowdridge, Ruth Spencer
(Outreach Chair), Jessie Matthews, Elaine Taylor, Rose Young, Audrey Dicks.

St. Michaels Holds Annual

Holly Tea
Article and photographs by
Emily Rowe

The Parish of St. Michael and All Angels, St. Johns, held its
Holly Tea on December 5th, 2015. Tea, coffee, and light
refreshments were served. Live music was provided, and
the Tea was visited by Mummers, and by Mrs. Claus and
her elves. Thanks to all who helped make the Holly Tea a
success.

anglicanlife

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

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my donation of support:
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Live music from Christopher Martin and Mose Spurrell with singing elves

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Elves: Luke, Sarah, Frances, Benjamin, and William, with Mrs. Claus (Betty Hillier)

anglicanlife in Newfoundland&Labrador