Newsletter, February 1st, 2012

Anglican Diocese of Montreal
Check out the new website design and offer your helpful comments and suggestions.

The Rev. Canon Ralph Leavitt will be inducted into the parish of Holy Trinity in Ste. Agathe on Sunday, April 15th, at 4 pm.  Ralph will later become Archdeacon of St. Andrew's. 

The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, the Very Rev'd Paul Kennington has been appointed by Bishop Barry as our new liturgical officer for the Diocese of Montreal.

The Rev'd Stephen Petrie, chaplain at St. Anne's Veterans Hospital has been appointed Ecumenical Officer of the Diocese.

Information Day  for Parish Communicators and Secretaries on Saturday, March 17th at St. Paul's Church in Lachine from 10am to 1 pm.  The new website will be reviewed.

Kairos Canada: Faithful Action for Justice
Fate of Tar Sands Crucial for Climate Justice
KAIROS’ August 2011 paper outlines the key issues in the controversy over both the Gateway and Keystone pipelines.  Both violate the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Canada has signed.

Anglican Videos now available online.
Streaming, download or on YouTube.
Baptism, Healing through Prayer, Sacred Circles, Sexual Misconduct, and more.

Montreal Southwest Community Ministries
“MSCM (Montreal-Southwest Community Ministries) is a non-profit, English-speaking organization, working in accordance with the principles of Restorative Justice for a safe community, through the accompaniment and re-integration of those who have served time in a penitentiary.”   Read the Jan/Feb 2012 Newsletter to find out about the valuable work of MSCM and how you might be involved.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is excited to announce that it is accepting applications for a Youth Study Tour to Nicaragua in May, 2012. Read more...

The Sentinel Program for suicide prevention
La Pommeraie Health and Social Services Centre, in collaboration with the Centre de prévention du suicide Haut-Richelieu, will be offering a free six hour course for suicide prevention in Dunham during the month of February.

The training helps citizens to recognize, refer and accompany people going through a difficult period. People interested in participating in the training are welcomed to contact Christelle Bogosta, liaison agent at 450 263-2220, extension 4488,
or by e-mail at christelle.bogosta@rrsss16.gouv.qc.ca 

A short evaluation questionnaire is required and training dates will be established according to participants' availabilities. The training will be given in French and English and training materials are available in both languages.

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EVENTS IN 2012

PWRDF to host Raging Grannies
On Thursday, February 9th at 12 noon
Fulford Hall, 1444 Union Ave., Montreal, QC

 "We're just a gaggle of grannies – we don't sit on our fannies." The grannies sing about war, escalating military budgets, nuclear pollution, medicare, landmines, fair trade, climate change, GMO foods, toxic pollutants and war toys. Most "gigs" include suggestions for follow up action -- what people can do and who they can write to.  www.raginggranniesmontreal.ca  

Theological Education Sunday - February 12th, 2012

Participate in Theological Education Sunday by supporting Montreal Diocesan Theological College in your prayers;
inviting a student to preach; visiting the College at 3475 University; or visiting online.

View the Word Document for prayers and further resources.
See the poster for Theological Education Sunday.

Upcoming Public Lectures

Monday, February 13th, at 4 pm. 
Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch
"Christianity and Islam: Way Stations on a Journey" 
at the McGill Faculty Club.
3450 McTavish, Montreal.  The Poster.

Tuesday, February 14th at 10 am. 
Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch  
"Have We Been Here Before -
Reflections from History to help us today"
At Presbyterian College, 3495 University.  
See the poster. 

Wednesday, February 15th, 5:30 pm  
Professor Bruce Gordon  "Scripture and Church: Calvin, Servetus, and Castellio"
Faculty of Religious Studies, Birk's Chapel, 3420University, Montreal.
See the poster.

Still Presence Spirituality Centre
at Christ Church in Beaurepaire and Church of the Epiphany in Verdun
January 2012 Winter Newsletter of events.  And the February Update.

Opportunities for meditation, stillness and quiet times together in the presence of God.

Marriage Preparation Workshops 2012

Courses given each month for those preparing for marriage. Enjoy a Friday evening and all-day Saturday together with other couples and two experienced facilitators as you explore the dynamics of marriage and relationships.  Courses take place at St. Paul's Church in Lachine.  The 2012 schedule has now been posted at this link.

Lay Readers' Workshops     
On Saturday, February 25th "Issues in Pastoral Care"
with the Rev. Jennifer Bourque

On Saturday, March 24th, "Eucharist and Social Justice"
with Sr. Margaret Scott

On Saturday, April 21st, "Who was Paul and What
was he Writing about?"  with Dean Ellen Aitken

May 4th to 6th, Lay Reader Retreat
with Dean Louise Peters of ACPI

On Saturday, September 29th, "On Preaching"
with the Rev. Karen Chalk

November 17th: Study Day and Commissioning

Saturday workshops are from 9 am to 2:30 pm
at Montreal Diocesan College, 3475 University.

No charge for 1st year lay readers; all others $10 per workshop.
Please bring a bag lunch.

Contact Tim Smart for further information.
Visit the Lay Readers' Website

Christian Ethics:  The real world of love, faith and friendship
presented by the Montreal School of Theology
February 3rd to April 20th, 2012 with the Rev. Roland De Vries

An classroom and online course.
Registration: $325  by January 12th, 2012.
See the poster for further details.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 7:00 PM
at Centennial Theatre, Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec

Former Presidential candidate, civil rights activist Reverend Jackson is an influential voice in American political and social activism. Called “the great unifier,” he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice. Continually challenging America to establish just and humane priorities, he works tirelessly to level the political and economic playing field
for all.

Exploring the Diaconate
with the Rev. Sophie Rolland
See the poster.

All sessions at Fulford Hall, 1444 Union Ave., Montreal

Wednesday, February 29^th, 6pm – 9 pm. 
Session 1: The biblical basis for the Diaconate – models of servanthood in the Old and New Testaments

Saturday, March 3^rd, 9:30 am to 4 pm
Session 2: The role of the diaconate in the history of the church
Session 3: The revival of the Vocational Deacon

Wednesday, March 21^st, 6 pm to 9 pm
Session 4: Towards a theology of service 

For further information, please contact The Rev. Peter Huish
or The Rev. Sophie Rolland

EFM Mentor Training - March 8th to 10th
Montreal Diocesan Theological College

Open to new and returning Education for Ministry Mentors.
(a minimum of 6 registrants, maximum of 10)

EFM is a program of adult Christian education in which students spend 4 years in a group setting (once a week) studying scripture, doing theological reflection, praying together and growing together.

Trained Mentors facilitate the group process.  If you are interested in becoming an
EFM mentor, please contact Tim Smart.

Read more about the EFM program.

Eucharist and Social Justice
Saturday, March 24th, 2012
9 am to 2:30 pm
MDTC, 3475 University, Montreal

Sister Margaret Scott  ( http://srmargaret-aci.com/ )  of Philadelphia will give our March 24th session to Lay Readers at MDTC.  We will also make the session open to other interested persons.  Registration is $10.  Please bring a bag lunch.
Contact Tim Smart to register.

MDTC Tuesday Evening Course
”The Roots of Christian Social Action”
6 Tuesday evenings, from 7:15 pm to 9:15 pm.
at Diocesan College, 3475 University, Montreal.
$50 for all sessions.  $10 per session.


April 10th:  The Biblical Roots of Social Justice, with Jim McDermott  
April 17th:  The Anglican Story, 1848-1940’s with Linden Rogers   
April 24th:  Radicalism in Montreal in the early 20th century, with  Linden Rogers  
May 1st:    Current Movements in the Canadian Anglican Church, with Bp. Barry Clarke
May 8th:    The Quebec Context.  with Bishop Dennis Dennis Drainville  
May 15th:  Justice in the Digital Age, with McGill chaplain Neil Whitehouse

To register, please contact the Rev. Tim Smart. 

        

Christians in a Dangerous Time: Conversations about the Future of the Church
April 20-22, 2011 at All Saints Anglican Church, Vernon, BC.

With guest speakers:  Douglas Todd one of the most highly acclaimed spirituality and ethics writers in North America.  And Brian Walsh, writer, teacher, and campus minister at the University of Toronto.  

Registration is $200.  Accommodation not included.

Sponsored by EFM Canada
(Education for Ministry, Canada)
See the registration form for more details.

Beyond the Secular/Sacred Divide: The Challenge of PostChristendom
With speaker Jeff Fountain, founder of the Shuman Centre for European Studies

April 23-26th, 2012 at Eglise St. Jean Baptiste, 4220 rue Drolet, Montreal

Tour of Greece and Turkey
May 6-21, 2012
Early Christian Christianity:  Pauline Texts and Places"
Department of Theological Studies, Concordia University
Accompanied by:  Dr. Matthew R. Anderson and TA: Sara Terreault,

For more information, please read the poster and full information and application.

Pilgrimage of Trust: Taizé Gathering in Chicago
May 25th to 28th, 2012
with smaller gathering in preparation in many Canadian cities.
Visit the website.

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The lazy river      - by Pamela Dillon

the scarlet bird returns
his mousey mate in tow.
his flash of scarlet
at the crowded feeder
busy birds
in the lightly falling snow.

the black band
of frozen current.
wooden docks
beached on the shore.
patience
is a waiting game.
below this surface of glass
fish still swim
summer memories
bubble to the surface
as hope for the spring
logs jam against the rocks.

groaning
as the surge moves forward
even in the deepest freeze.
nothing stands frozen in time
things move on
we are all headed forward
though resist we try
though resist we must.