The Rector's Message |
Dear Brothers and Sisters I love this autumn season. The wonderful promise of spring when God's Spirit began to move afresh over the frozen face of the natural world has come to ripeness now. My wife was picking a variety of apples off the trees at St. Joseph-du-Lac and the flowers around our church gardens are looking particularly beautiful now in their yellow abundance. (Thanks by the way to our gardeners Bob Belding and Harvey Bronstein and others who have helped to make them such a wonderful picture this year). The season also includes our patronal Festival of St. Michael and All Angels on September 30th. The Festival reminds us that we are never alone that in our journey through life we are assisted and defended by a powerful and glorious order of invisible beings. I have never seen an angel but I do believe that they have helped to keep me safe over the years because I have God's precious promise that he created them for just that purpose: "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone" (Psalm 91 verses 11 and 12). So let's believe and give thanks to God for his Guardian angels. There is another festival close to my heart at this time too October 4 The Feast of St. Francis of Assissi. Here is a saint for our time he is in fact the patron saint of ecologists. His life which was so full of praise to God for this good earth we live in and for all its living creatures has been inspirational to me over the years. Francis shows us how to live in a restored relationship through Christ with our earth community and with the whole of God's creation how to live a simpler life-style so as to safe-guard our earthly inheritance for future generations-and how to challenge the powers that be-that would continue to exploit our world for material gain. I commend the wonderful film of his life "Brother, Son, Sister Moon", to you. St. Michael's Day is also the day when we say farewell to Norma Cheng as she takes her leave of us to begin a new life and a new career in Ottawa. We as a church and I personally are deeply indebted to Norma for all the loving service she has given this church over the years whether it was through the quiet unseen preparation of our church for worship as part of the Altar Guild, or acting as 'nurse' to our young people at youth camp or through her wise, supportive leadership at Parish Council and as my warden, - or organizing the church for a dinner-dance in Kohner Hall Norma was always there to get things done. Thank you Norma for all the countless ways you have served the body of Christ here over the years. You have been a blessing to us all. But my dear brothers and sisters I would be remiss in my duty if closed this letter without calling you to prayer for our Diocesan Synod in Session on 19 and 20 October. A motion has been brought before us to allow priests to bless same-sex marriages (so I am informed though the exact wording has not yet been disclosed). In spite of the fact that our Bishops at General Synod rejected this, in spite of the fact that our Canons clearly define marriage as between a man and a woman for life, in spite of the fact that our fellow Anglicans around the world are united in their opposition to it, - still some are pressing our church for this measure to be adopted. I ask for your concerned prayers for our Bishop and our Diocesan Synod representatives at this time. May you have a joyous Thanksgiving. Do please join us in church to give thanks to God for all his blessings. Yours in Christ, Rev. Tony Harvey |
