Newsletter: August 28th, 2008

I'd give the Chinese Government a gold medal
for pulling off a wonderful Olympic Games.  But when we asked them to piss into a cup and checked their urine for banned substances we came up with this: forced evictions and the demolition of homes prior to the Olympics; the shoddy treatment of migrant workers; the banning of trade unions; a rejection of all applications for demonstrations during the Games; a surge in arrests and detentions, and violations of internet and media freedom.  Too bad we can't give them that gold. They worked so hard to show the world and themselves that one party rule and cutthroat capitalism really rocks.  (Check out Human Rights Watch and CHRD Chinese Human Rights Defenders.)

For Your Church Bulletin:
Here's something worth printing in your church bulletins this fall.
I offer the condensed version here, but you can visit the Alban Institute website for the full version written by Anthony B. Robinson.

Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Churches

1) Elevate mediocrity to a spiritual discipline.

2) Take no risks.

3) Practice the following evangelism strategy:
      “If they want us, they know where to find us.”

4) Blame early and often. Maintaining dysfunction in a congregation is made easier if scapegoats are regularly identified.

5) Always be prepared to make an account of the excuses that are within you.

6) Make it clear to all that the job of the pastor and staff is to keep everyone,   meaning church members, happy.

7) Spend as little money as possible.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Churches

1) Strive for excellence in service to Christ.

2) Cultivate a spirit of innovation and experimentation.
 
3) Take the initiative to build relationships with people and groups in the wider community beyond your congregation.

4) Accept responsibility for mistakes, learn from them, and in all things let grace abound.

5) “Always be prepared to give an account of the hope that is within you.”
(1 Peter 3:15) Look for where the love, energy, and life are flowing and focus on that.

6) Be willing to let people go in order to stay focused on your core mission.

7) Splash it on!  A hospice nurse told the story of bringing an elderly woman home for the final days of her life. Noticing a large bottle of perfume on the woman’s dresser, the nurse asked, “Would you like me to dab a bit of that behind your ears?” “Honey,” said the woman to the nurse, “why don’t you just splash it on?” God loves cheerful givers. So spend money wisely, well, and freely in God’s cause.
 

Lambeth 2008
So what exactly happened at Lambeth 2008? Well, it depends who you ask.  But if you want to visit the official pages you should go here.

For the Canadian spin on things, the Anglican Journal has a lot of well-written articles.

Anglicans Online continue to update their News Centre with links about the Lambeth Conference and its aftermath.

One of the most iconic and ironic items to come out of Lambeth is surely the t-shirt...

"The Lambeth Conference 2008: Holier than thou"

One t-shirt is worth a thousand words!

And there is also the tote bag and the coffee mug
all through the good folks at Anglicans Online.

 

Montreal Diocesan Bookroom will close
on October 31st, 2008

A long-standing Anglican Ministry in Montreal is facing its end. On Friday, October 31, 2008, the Diocesan Bookroom will close its doors for the last time.

This ministry of the Synod of the diocese of Montreal has existed since the 1920s. Competition from discounting chain bookstores, Internet purchasing and the continual diminishing numbers of Anglicans in Montreal make it too costly to continue.

The store manager, Fr. Gregory Nimijean, and the Board of Management made this decision after efforts to make the store better known to church goers did not yield any slowing of the annual decline in sales, nor the increasing losses.

The staff of the Diocesan Book Room thank you for your support and the many moments of grace experienced over the years.

- Peter Denis, Chair DBR Board of Management

Diocese of Montreal News:

The Revd Neil Mancor will be inducted as incumbent of the parish of St George’s, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, on Thursday, September 4th at 7:30pm.

The Revd Patrick Wheeler will be inducted as incumbent of the newly-formed Parish of Verdun/Ville-Émard, (St Aidan with the Redeemer, St Clement, Verdun and All Saints, Verdun), on Sunday, September 14th at St Clement’s, Verdun, at 4 pm.

Welcome to Kimberly (Kim) Northcott who has taken over Barbara McPherson's office and position - Barbara has moved to Archives in replacement of Sophie who has followed her husband to his new job in Jonquière.

Kim is our new Human Resources Coordinator. Kim worked with our Executive Archdeacon in the Diocese of Huron.  Kim’s education and training is in Human Resources.  Kim will be in the office Monday to Friday and can be reached at knorthcott@montreal.anglican.ca  


 

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MDTC Tuesday Evening Course
 

 

Mission Shaped
INTRO

Six weeks to rediscover mission
and re-imagine the church

MDTC Tuesday Evening Course
October 14th to November 18th, 2008
at Montreal Diocesan Theological College
3475 University, Montreal, Quebec.  H3A-2A8
                                                Registration  $60

New world, new church? Our world and our lives have changed radically in the last twenty years, but has the church adapted to this change? Do we need a changing church for a changing world? Are new forms of church really possible?  If so, how can they be developed?

 

An inspiring and encouraging course, ideal for individuals, leadership teams, small groups,
mission shaped intro looks at fresh expressions of church through a mix of teaching,
reflection and story.

 

The evenings combine presentations, group activity, film and music clips, worship and prayer.

Session 1: October 14th
Rediscovering Mission and What That Means for the Church.

Session 2: October 21st
Changing World, Changing Church

Session 3: October 28th
Re-imagining Church and Community

Session 4: November 4th
Re-imagining Church and Worship

Session 5: November 11th
Re-imagining Church - Leadership and Discipleship

Session 6: November 18th
Where do we go from here?
 

Presenters: Nick Brotherwood, pastor to emerge, a community of 18-35 year olds.
Tim Smart, director of Lay Education and pastor at Grace Church, Sutton.

Brochure and registration is available here.

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More COURSES  &  EVENTS:

Pre-Retirement Workshop for Clergy
On September 17, 2008, a Pre-retirement Workshop is planned for all clergy who are 55+. Spouses are welcome to attend as are all clergy who have not yet reached 55+.

This will be an opportunity to hear from people such as Judy Robinson who will discuss General Synod pensions and Continuing education funds; information re: government pension plans; retirement moving benefit; maintenance of priestly vocation after retirement; information on tax deferred plans, group medical insurance, wills, etc.

We are not asking for intent to register at this time, but simply giving you notice so that you will be able to set the date aside.

If you have any questions or concerns or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact Janet Griffith.

19th Annual Montreal AWARE Weekend for Women
September 19th to 21st, 2008   Theme: "And All Will Be Well"  from Julian of Norwich
Speaker: Patricia Stokes   Music Team: from Kingston, Ontario.  Chaplain: The Ven. Janet Griffith-Johnson

The Retreat is in the Laurentiens at the beautiful CAMMAC Music Centre, situated on Lac Macdonald.
Visit the website for more details: www.awareconference.org   
 

Reflecting on Lambeth - a morning for clergy
Thursday, September 25th, from 10 am to 12 noon, with lunch.
at Diocesan College, 3473 University, Montreal. 

See the brochure for 2008-2009 dates.
 

Diocese of Montreal - Clergy Conference
Sunday, October 5th to Tuesday, October 7th, at Manoir d'Youville in Chateauguay.
"Resurrection Words - Conversations with the New Testament and with each other."
With Bishop Tom Shaw of the Diocese of Massachusetts and the Rev. Dr. Ellen Aitken,
Dean of the Faculty of Theology, McGill University.
 

CBC 2008 Massey Lectures
Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth.  Lecturer: Margaret Atwood
"Legendary novelist, poet, and essayist Margaret Atwood delivers a surprising look at the topic of debt. In her wide-ranging, entertaining, and imaginative approach to the subject, Atwood proposes that debt is like air - something we take for granted until things go wrong. And then, while gasping for breath, we become very interested in it.

Payback is not about practical debt management or high finance. Rather, it is an investigation into the idea of debt as an ancient and central motif in religion, literature, and the structure of human societies.

Margaret Atwood writes “These are not lectures about how to get out of debt; rather, they’re about the debtor/creditor twinship in the broadest sense – from human sacrifice to pawnshops to revenge. In this light, what we owe and how we pay is a feature of all human societies, and profoundly shapes our shared values and our cultures.”

Lectures given across Canada in October.  (October 20th in Montreal) And then broadcast on CBC Radio Ideas from November 10th to 14th.



Mission Sunday - October 19th, 2008
Theme is 'Celebrating the African Church'.
Our new Diocesan Companion Diocese is Masasi, in Tanzania, (and this site also) where the Rev. Mark Rogers is leading a delegation from Montreal during the month of September.  Please find here three bulletin inserts for this year's Mission Sunday celebration.

BAS Eucharist
BCP (1962) Eucharist
BCP Morning Prayer

As last year please feel free to change & adapt the material as best meets your local context. The hymn choices, in particular, are suggestions.


Ecumenical/Bilingual OutMass
"Celebrating the Gifts of Gay and Lesbian People in our Churches and Communities."
Saturday, November 1st, at 3 pm at Grace Church in Sutton,
52 Principale sud, (Route 139).
The Rev. Canon Joyce Sanchez, guest preacher.
Everyone is welcome to participate.  For further information, please contact Tim Smart 

United Theological College - Continuing Education
Workshop with Ched Myers 
November 5 - 7, 2008   "Sabbath Economics - household practices"
Over the past two decades, Ched Myers has worked with several peace and justice organizations and movements.
With Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries, he focuses on building the capacity for biblical literacy, church renewal and
faith-based witness for economic and political justice.

PREACHING WORKSHOP WITH REV. DR. TIM OLSEN
November 7 - 9, 2008
"Preaching to the Non-Poor"

Diocese of Montreal - Stewardship Day
on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 with the Rev. Canon Charles LaFond, Canon for Stewardship and Congregational Development in the Episcopal Church, USA.  (More details to follow in September)

Charles LaFond, priest and monk in the SSJE (Society of Saint John the Evangelist), treats formation around stewardship as a combination of spiritual reflection, conversion of life and the provision of the latest tools being used in the church and non-profit sector to encourage increased giving.  Charles has consulted with more than 20 dioceses and 200 parishes and is currently developing curriculum for small-parish stewardship programs. He is an adjunct professor at Virginia Theological Seminary teaching a winter term in stewardship, fundraising, strategic planning and communications.

All clergy are requested to attend along with 1-3 laypeople from each parish.

2009

Radical Abundance: A Theology of Sustainability
The 2009 Trinity Institute Lectures, January 21st to 23rd.  Web-casting.

"As we rethink how to grow, build, supply, consume, dispose, and recycle everything in our lives, we often fail at partnering with the marginalized and powerless, and thus adversely affect them. Building sustainable communities goes hand-in-hand with thoughtful building of infrastructures and physical spaces. Is there a theological basis for living abundantly while striving for justice and sustainability?"

"In 2009, Trinity Institute will explore sustainability through the lens of liberation theology, which views Jesus not only as redeemer but also liberator of the oppressed. It posits a vision of Christians working together toward social justice by considering all people as full partners in healing our planet and our communities, regardless of their social or economic status. Only in striving for sustainable relationships, rather than accumulating and consuming more for ourselves, can we discover true abundance."
 

A Pilgrimage the Holy Land
Hosted by Bishop Barry Clarke - February 12 - 21, 2009
Come Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Synod of the Diocese of Montreal
TOUR PRICE: $2,069 CAD per person sharing a twin room
Departure from Toronto/Montreal to Tel Aviv on Olympic Airlines via Athens.

Included in your tour:
Meeting/assistance at the airport

- Return transfers to/from the airport
- 8 nights at selected four-star hotels
- Israeli buffet breakfast and dinners daily in the hotels
- 6 full days of sightseeing in Israel
- Half-day tour of Athens including the Acropolis
- Porterage at airport and hotels
- Air-conditioned transportation
- English-speaking licensed tour guide throughout
- All entrance fees to places of interest
- All hotel taxes and service charges
- Your personal travel information kit

 

The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus
with guest speaker Amy-Jill Levine, Professor of NT at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, TN.
April 17th and 18th, 2009 in Montreal. 
Further details will be posted at later date. 

"A self-described 'Yankee Jewish feminist who teaches in a predominantly Protestant divinity school in the buckle of the Bible Belt,' Levine combines historical-critical rigor, literary-critical sensitivity, and a frequent dash of humor with a commitment to eliminating anti-Jewish, sexist, and homophobic theologies."

See the book, The Misunderstood Jew at Amazon 

PWRDF Presents "The Three Cantors"
on Saturday, May 9th, at Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal.
(More information later on.)