Newsletter, May 27th, 2009
Dream Baby Dream
That's
the invitation that Canadian Anglicans are being
offered. To dream about the church you would like
to see in the year 2019. Pretend you're
Martin Luther King and write your "I have a dream"
speech for the Anglican Church and upload it to the
Vision 2019 website. It's free, it's fun.
And you can read what others have written as well as
view their short videos. The emerge community
of Montreal has posted a thoughtful
video here, and the Youth Synod of the Diocese of
Montreal also has
these things to say.
Of course, while producing the video from the Youth
Synod and another one of an
EFM training group in Victoria BC, I couldn't help
but put my mirthful energies into producing two short
satirical pieces. They are not linked into the
official Anglican site (naturally) but can be found
embedded with all the other riff-raff and detritus that
floats inside the YouTube site. My first Vision
2019 piece is directly below. My second rough cut
piece entitled,
Vision 2019 - A Dystopia, can also be viewed on
YouTube. Good luck.
The Challenge of Change
Monday, June 1st, 10 am to 4 pm. at Atelier Loblaws in
LaSalle.
The
deadline for registering is past and
you're feeling foolish, but if you contact
Nick Brotherwood immediately and beg, maybe he will
let you attend.
Following
on the success of last year's "a day for clergy with Ian Mobsby," I am pleased to let you know
that we have a "a day for clergy & lay leaders
with Phil Potter" coming up on Monday June 1st,
from 10.00 am-4.00 pm at Lasalle Atelier Loblaws. The
cost to you of the day will be $10 which includes lunch.
This day is made possible thanks to a generous gift from
one of our parishes. Places are limited, so please
register for this event as soon as possible. More on
Phil Potter.
More information and contact details can be found on the
attached pdf. Please feel free to print it.
News Item:
"The
Diocese of Huron moves toward same-sex
blessings but not nuptial"
Well, I suppose that's progress for some, and not for
others. I wonder if the Lord Almighty is keeping
up with all the Anglican reports, theological
commissions, recommendations, and moratoriums? I
know that I have a hard time keeping track of the latest
hair-splitting rationales and church-splitting maneuvers. Are
there any gay couples left in the Anglican Church who
really want their church to bless their relationship?
Have we not driven most of them away by our reticence to
fully bless them, or do they stay because it's cheaper
than the price of admission to an event at the Just
For Laughs festival in Montreal?
Diocese of Montreal: There will be a final Eucharist for St. Saviour's Church 5845 Upper Lachine Road, in NDG on Wednesday June 3 at 7:30pm, with Bishop Barry Clarke presiding. All are welcome.
An E-Course: Practicing Spirituality with
Quakers
June 1st to July 10th. Cost $24.95 from
the Spirituality and Practice Team
"Quaker spirituality is filled with deep insights into
God, human beings, and the world.
In this new e-course in our popular Practicing
Spirituality e-courses, we will work with many practices
that are part and parcel of this rich tradition. Many of
them speak directly to our present condition..."
Find out
more information.
How Do You
Convey Spirituality to Children?
A workshop with the Rev. Eileen Steele, organized by
Kidstuff
Saturday, June 13th, from 9:30 am to 2 pm
at St.
Clement's Church, 4322 Wellington Street in Verdun.
For further information contact
Jim Catto
Mile End Community Mission
welcomes you to their Open House June 11th to 13th,
2009.
Thursday, June 11th
Church service at 10:30 am
Buffet Lunch from 12 noon to 1 pm
Drop In from 10 am to 3 pm
Friday, June 12th
Art show and activities from 10 am to 3 pm
BBQ with reps from The Alouettes, 12 - 1pm
Rep for M. Amir Khadir, 12 noon to 1 pm.
Cake and Ice Cream with MP Thomas Mulcair, 2:30 - 4 pm.
Saturday, June 13th
Pancake Breakfast from 8:30 am to 10 am
Bake Sale, Face Painting, Music, All Day Long
Presentation of Certificates, 1:30-2:30 pm
Art show and activities, 10 am to 3 pm
BBQ, cake and ice cream, 11 am to 2 pm
|
150th
Anniversary of the Synod of the Diocese of Montreal
pdf flyer Diocesan Fun-Day Saturday May 30 from 10am-3:30pm at Fulford Hall. Fun, all-age activities to reflect on the past & present & to look to the future. Includes an interactive activity to help us reflect and act on the Millenium Development Goals. Lunch is included. Please register the numbers of people attending this event by emailing Mark Rogers 150th Synod Diocesan Brunch & Eucharist Sunday June 7, Trinity Sunday pdf in french 11am Diocesan Brunch 1pm Diocesan Eucharist: Guest Speaker: Bishop Mark MacDonald. Theme: Hear What the Spirit is Saying to the Church. Bishop Barry is asking us to forego our mid-morning Sunday worship and come together as a Diocesan family. Diocesan Pilgrimage Saturday, September 26th from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm $10 to go on the bus, which includes supper at Sorel! Registrations will begin as of the June 7. Please check the recently updated website: http://www.montreal.anglican.ca/150/ |
Diocese
of Montreal - Conference Synod 2009
November 12th to 14th "Maintenance versus Mission
Ministry" with the Rev. Dr. Ian Douglas. The
year's Conference Synod will take place at Centre
Antique (6086 Sherbrooke est, Metro Cadillac) The
$35 registration fee includes parking, lunch buffet and
dinner on Thursday, and lunch buffet on Friday, with
coffee, snacks and conference materials. Thursday
from 10 am to 9 pm; Friday from 10 am to 6 pm; and on
Saturday, back at Cathedral Place, from 10 am to 3 pm.
More details to follow.
"Fresh Start" in Montreal
Begins its new season on Saturday, September 19th, 2009.
All laypeople and clergy are invited to join in.
This is an exciting program offered free from our
Diocese/ the National Church which parishes are involved
in across the country. Not only is it highly beneficial
for the health and well-being of your parish, its
components are also very valuable in everyday life
outside of the Church.
For more information see the attached
brochure and
flyer.
You may also contact the following Fresh Start
Facilitators for more information:
Michael Johnson
mjohnson@montreal.anglican.ca
Mark Rogers
mrogers@montreal.anglican.ca
Judy Oatway
judy.oatway@videotron.ca
Frank Dottin
fedottin@yahoo.ca
Christ
Church, Beaurepaire:![]() 455 Church Street, Beaconsfield, QC H9W 3S Tel: 514-697-2204 Click here for the JUNE 2009 newsletter. And visit the web site at www.stillpresence.com Ongoing Meditation Practice Mondays 7:00 - 7:45 pm The format includes a guided meditation, time to discuss our practice, and silent group meditation. Participants are encouraged to discover the form of contemplative prayer that suits them best. Led by: The Rev. Cedric Cobb and the Rev. Michael Johnson. Contemplative Eucharist 1st Fridays 7:00 - 8:00 pm. May 1st Each month, we offer a Eucharistic service that is focused on listening to the presence of God within. Half-Day Retreats: The Seasons of the Spirit Saturdays, 9:00 AM - 12 Noon, June 20th, Sept. 12th, Dec. 19th Everyone is invited to these events being held at Christ Church, Beaurepaire. |
Lay
Reader Workshops in 2009
at MDTC, 3475 University, Montreal. 9:00 am to 2:30 pm.
The Saturday workshops are open to all interested
persons. $10 registration.
For full information, go the the
Lay Readers' Website
Saturday, May 30th. "Pastoral Care by Lay Readers"
The Rev. Michael Johnson
Saturday, Sept. 26th. "Proclaiming the Good News
with a Clear Voice" Carol Hague
Saturday, October 31st. "Preaching the Good News"
Canon Paul Jennings
Saturday, November 28th. Study Day and
Commissioning. Location TBA.
Centering Prayer Workshop with Fr. Thomas Keating
Friday May 29 and Saturday May 30, 2009
A
Centering Prayer workshop with Fr. Thomas Keating,
as part of the activity program of the Conférence
internationale de réflexion et d’action sur Notre Projet
(CIRAN).
The workshop is taking place at the Saint Joseph Oratory
in Montréal.
Fr.
Keating will introduce you to this form of meditation
known as Centering Prayer. In English, with simultaneous
French translation. See
the poster.
To obtain the registration form by telephone:
514-849-3000, ext. 49
Information and registration:
www.our-project.org
« La
mystique démystifiée. Eclairages théologiques,
spirituels et psychologiques sur la contemplation et la
mystique dans la vie chrétienne. »
Colloque international et francophone, organisé par
la Faculté de théologie, en collaboration avec la
Faculté des sciences humaines, de
l’Université Saint-Paul (Ottawa), du 3 juin à 19h00
au 6 juin à 12h30.
pdf
Summer Ecumenical Institute
June 3rd to 5th, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
with Fr. Tom Ryan. The Summer Ecumenical Institute
will function as a stock-taking and a vision-building
exercise for the grassroots ecumenical community in
Canada.
KAIROS GATHERING 2009: The end of the world as
we know it...Thank God!

What:
The KAIROS Gathering
When: June 17-20 2009.
Where: University of Waterloo, Ontario
What: A four day gathering of justice and peace-focused
worship, work, play, workshops, music, conversation,
learning and networking.
We are also hosting a pre-event for YOUTH 18-30 on June
17th.
A fun-filled opportunity to explore issues that you are
concerned about, connect with youth from across the
country, and mobilize for change!
Who: YOU! And 499 other creative people from a wide
range of communities coast to coast to coast, with
resource people from around the world.
Why? To learn, pray, act, reflect, and build community
for education and action together with the many
communities that make up KAIROS.
Poverty Justice
Camp 2009 - "Finding Abundance"
Justice Camp 2009 will be hosted August 9-15, 2009 by
the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Focused on the topic of poverty, which will be reflected
upon in the light of biblical study and prayer, Poverty
Justice Camp will be based at the University of King's
College in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the opening and
closing days of the camp, with immersion experiences
taking place throughout Nova Scotia and Prince Edward
Island.
Diocese of Montreal - Stewardship Days
October 16th and 17th, 2009 at Fulford Hall, 1444
Union Avenue.
Friday evening and all day Saturday.
"Fear Factor: A seminar facing the biology and
spirituality of fear in the context of an economic
downturn."
with Canon Charles Lafond.
Trinity Institute 2010
Building an Ethical Economy: Theology and the
Marketplace

January 27-29, 2010 at Trinity Church, New York
With Rowan Williams, the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury,
and Sir Partha Dasgupta and Kathryn Tanner.
With unprecedented economic challenges all around us,
what role does theology have in defining a new economy?
Surely the market will be shaped by stricter regulation,
but beyond those mechanisms, lay and clergy have an
opportunity to create an ethical economy that serves
humanity and builds community.
At Trinity Institute’s 2010 Conference, we will bring
together leading theologians and economists to talk
about the relationship between economics and Christian
belief and action.
The Perfect Black Blazer by Bobbi Lurie, from Letter from the Lawn.
The head nurse
called to say
Mom threw a potted plant,
smashed the TV set, banged
her head against the wall.
When I got there I saw the deep
bruise on her forehead.
She could barely speak so we sat
mute for some minutes.
I watched her slide to the side
of the couch as she scratched
her arms, pulled at her hair.
I needed to bring her back
so I told the story of
our Saturday excursions,
searching for the perfect
black blazer.
I exaggerated
the futility of finding
something immaculate like that,
something slim-fitting and neat,
able to match any pair of pants
or skirt we wore.
We never found it
of course but kept searching
as we watched other women
more glamorous than we were.
When I asked if she
remembered that, she laughed
and said, "oh yes."
I looked around the room
into the distant faces,
haunted hair, blank stares.
"Time for lunch," a nurse yelled.
I walked Mom to her chair,
watched the aides tie
bibs around the residents’ necks,
leaned to kiss
Mom gently good-bye on her cheek,
trying not to notice
she no longer smelled like
my mother.
She had taken on the scent
of the urine-ammonia halls
and the talc caked heavy
on her body.
I walked out, then felt
something strange
like a voice without words
tell me to return so I ran
quickly back
to where she sat, her hands
on her lap.
They were the same hands,
so I squeezed them tight,
kissed her for a second time.
Only this time I hugged
her close,
inhaled deep,
took her all in.
Montreal Diocesan
Theological College
3475 University
Montreal, Quebec
H3A-2A8
Tim Smart
tel: 514-849-4437
May 1st, 2009
March 25th, 2009
Feb. 27th, 2009
Jan. 26th, 2009
Send me an
email to
include information about an educational event in your parish in
the next newsletter.
St Bendict's Table
in Winnipeg
This fall our Clergy Conference Leaders will be Jamie
Howison and Gord Johnson from St. Benedict's. They
will also be offering an evening for laity on September
29th.
GEEZ Magazine
A Canadian magazine with spunk garners
a number of awards including best spiritual coverage from
UTNE magazine.
Canadian Centre for
Ecumenism
located in Montreal and assisting
parishes and individuals in making ecumenical and interfaith
connections.
Bill Moyers Journal
Shahan Mufti and Juan Cole give another perspective on
what's going on inside Pakistan. Watch the video or read the
transcript.
Seven Jewish Children
Read the short, but controversial play that has evoked a
strong response
No Room for Bigots
The New Internationalist Magazine
includes an article by Haroon Siddiqui which makes Canada
sound like a pretty good place to be living.
Sojourners Magazine
"What if the bible's Ruth came to
America today?" by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of the
Shalom Centre
Are you a Gastrosexual?
From American Pulblic Media, and The
Splendid Table. "Men who use their culinary skills to
impress their friends and potential love interests."