Around the Diocese

Yale considers Anglican identity

By Gail Newell
Christ Church Hope

On All Saints Day, about 50 of the ordinary ‘saints’ of the Yale Deanery spent time with Bishop Michael Ingham thinking about our special identity as Anglican Christians.

Bishop Michael seeded our discussion with the latest information from the Anglican Communion. We looked at portions of the 2004 Windsor Report and the Anglican Way Consultation from Theological Education for the Anglican Communion of Singapore May 2007.

While both of these stimulated good discussion, the TEAC document was particularly helpful as it embodied the Anglican ‘via media’ or middle way in four dimensions.

First, we are formed by scripture, corporately and individually, encountering God’s voice through scripture mediate by reason and tradition. Secondly we are shaped through worship.

Our relationship with God is nurtured in both word and sacrament, a practice implemented over 400 years ago as the middle way between the Protestant emphasis on scripture and Roman Catholic emphasis on sacrament.

Thirdly we are ordered for communion. Our episcopally-led and synodically-governed dioceses and provinces are held together across the world by bonds of affection, which even in these challenging times are still evident in events like the Bishop’s march to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals at the Lambeth Conference this year.

Lastly, we are directed by God’s Mission. This last point especially engendered much dialogue as we related to each other the exciting work the Anglican saints are doing in the Fraser Valley in areas of respectful evangelism, loving service and prophetic ministry.

Of course we concluded a day of words with the sacrament of Eucharist. Many thanks to our Bishop for leading us through a good day filled with reminders of the special contribution Anglicanism makes to Christianity.

The Coming Home Society

By Linda Adams

The Christmas season is fast approaching, and one of its delights is the cards, letters and photographs that begin to arrive in the mail, bringing news from family and friends whom we hold in our hearts but may not often see in the course of a year.

At this time the Coming Home Society would like to send greetings to our Diocesan family, made up of individuals and groups that have supported the women at Young Wolves Lodge over the past year. Your support has literally enabled the doors to stay open and is appreciated more than words can say.

Our Christmas letter to you will be arriving at each of your churches in the Parish Mail that goes out on November 21. It is full of news and pictures that invite you into life at Young Wolves Lodge. From our home to yours, we wish you a Christmas season that is full of the love, joy and peace that you help us to give to each young woman who comes to Young Wolves Lodge.

Pastoral care will continue at St. Andrew’s, Pender Harbour

The people and clergy of St. Hilda’s in Sechelt have offered to provide continuing pastoral care and other asistance to members of the parish of St. Andrew’s, Pender Harbour, which has had to cease offering regular Sunday worship as of the end of last month.

The parish remains open and groups that currently use the church – the Pender Harbour Quilters and Soup & Song – will continue to meet in the hall, the Rev. Robert Korth and the Rev. Celia Howard announced.

“Over a three year period a small group of dedicated people have offered much time and service to each other and to the larger Pender Harbour Community. We are particularly proud of our contributions to the community and grateful for the privilege of serving the Health Centre, Abbeyfield Housing, and the Community Centre, to name a few, by raising funds,” they said.

“However, circumstances have not prevailed” to allow for weekly services, they said.