Letter from the Rector Fall 2006
My dear friends,
Many of us will have been on travels this summer, others will have been enjoying Victoria's fine weather. I trust that in whatever you have been doing, you have been aware of God's gracious presence renewing relationships or offering growth through the circumstances of our lives.
The church also finds itself challenged by new relationships and new circumstances in our time. “Going to church” is no longer normative in our culture, and the church is occasionally more likely to be in vocal disagreement with society's priorities than it once was. Both of these circumstances can be very disturbing, but they are God's way of leading us to know more deeply than ever who we are. If the church is far less important in the eyes of our society than it once was, we can choose to experience that as failure, or we can experience that as an invitation to re-discover our very soul. If we choose the latter, we will be living in the most exciting time to be a Christian there ever was.
There is a wide variety of events and opportunities this fall at St. John's which provide ways of re-discovering how very important we are and how essential to the whole world is the faith with which we have been entrusted. Take advantage of these opportunities to re-discover your soul and the soul of the church.
Here are some of the highlights at St. John's this fall, roughly in the order they happen (more details are in the enclosed calendar):
Parish Camp is an opportunity on the Labour Day weekend for people of all ages, whether with children or not, to have a wonderfully relaxing time on Thetis Island, to take part in activities or just sit and read. Friday evening through Monday afternoon. Pre-registration is required through the parish office.
Parents of young children meet for a monthly discussion group starting Thursday, September 7th. Contact Sue Jenkins at the church.
Music - choir rehearsals begin on Wednesday, September 13th. Tristan, our organist and choir director, warmly invites anyone in the congregation to speak with him about singing in the choir.
Welcome back corn supper! What's that? Your wardens, bless them, think it's time we did something just for fun - good on them! So at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 15th, just for fun, everyone is invited to a supper of corn and hot dogs in the hall - this is for all ages, seniors to infants, just to enjoy ourselves, to celebrate being us, to reconnect with one another, and meet new friends. You’ll find something like this, just for fun, each month in the fall.
Sunday School starts on Sunday, September 17th at the 9:15 service - classes for all ages of children. There is a children’s program every Sunday until then (except on the Labour Day weekend when all the kids will, of course, be at camp). Our youth groups, Seekers (10-12 years of age, preparing for confirmation) and Plan B (early to mid-teens) will meet Monday evenings starting September 18th. Please speak to Sue Jenkins for more information.
“Spirituality in the home” is a three-evening series to assist parents with how to deepen their children's, and their own, spirituality at home. The observation was made by one parent that 20 minutes once a week in Sunday School simply isn't sufficient for children to develop a spirituality with any depth in today's secular world. This course will provide ways to support parents in their spiritual ministry to their own children. Three Fridays starting September 22nd at 7:00 p.m. Register with Sue Jenkins.
There are three special courses this fall:
“Mark - the journey begins” - a conversation between St. Mark and Dom Crossan about the path of Jesus - the Way of life. Although I am not counting on either St. Mark or Dom Crossan to be present in the body, we will listen to their written words as we explore Jesus’ path for us in our day. This course comes in two 3-session parts. The first part, three Tuesday evenings in the lounge starting September 26th at 7:00 p.m. will look at the early stages in our walk with Jesus. The second part, three Tuesday evenings starting November 7th, will look at the more challenging parts of the path as Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time.
“Secularism and Spirituality: Unexpected Partners?” I will also be offering a four-evening course at the Queenswood Centre, Thursdays starting September 21st at 7:00 p.m. This course will explore how the Christian faith can be in creative dialogue with the secular world. It may be of particular interest to people who are wondering why so many people, especially family members, no longer go to church. Registration is through the Queenswood Centre on line or at 727-3033.
“Anglicanism 101” - Bishop Barry Jenks will offer a course on what Anglicanism is - three Thursday evenings in the lounge starting November 30th at 7:00 p.m.
“Thanksgiving for creation” - a special parish service at 10:30 on October 8th (Thanksgiving Sunday) for all of creation. Blessing of animals, a special eucharist, and roles for people of all ages will lift up our joy in being part of God’s creation, and model the justice towards creation to which God is calling us.
More fun? You have to be kidding! On Friday the 13th? “Line Dancing” with special world-renowned instructor and Fred Astaire dance-alike Tristan Rhodes. In our hall Friday, October 13th. People with three left feet will feel particularly at home, but all will have fun.
The annual John Albert Hall lectures, sponsored by our diocese and the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society are given this year by Dr. Keith Ward. There are four lectures, Tuesday and Thursday evenings two weeks in a row starting October 24th 7:30 p.m. at UVic’s Murray and Anne Fraser Building, Room 159. The lectures will be about Human Freedom in the Old Testament, Sexuality in the New Testament, Justice and Violence in the Koran, and Respect for Life in Buddhist scriptures. Keith Ward is an Anglican priest, professor at Oxford, and one of the world’s leading commentators on Christian belief and doctrine in the context of modern science and the world faith traditions.
Other dates of interest this fall are: Archbishop Hambidge will be our guest preacher on November 5th in the context of our stewardship program. We will commemorate those who have died at an All Souls service 7:00 p.m. November 5th, Remembrance Sunday commemorations will be on Sunday, November 12th with Matins at the 11:00 service, November 18th will be Marketplace, the Advent Family event will be in the hall Friday, December 1st (can we stand all this fun?), the Christmas pageant will be Saturday, December 16th at 3.00 p.m., and the Old-Fashioned Christmas Concert will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, December 30th.
Finally, two recent matters of general interest.
At the request of the City of Victoria and the Victoria Police, St. John’s Parish Council has agreed to offer our crypt (the basement of the church) for overnight shelter for homeless people for an experimental project for about four to six weeks late this summer. Behaviour and adherence to a code of conduct will be strictly enforced by city Police and professionals. Those using the shelter will not be allowed in-and-out privileges and all persons will leave by 6.00 a.m. Because of the police presence we expect a decrease in disruptive behaviour on our property. Government funding for shelters does not begin until the cold wet weather later in the fall, and this is an attempt to find out if providing shelter in the warmer months would be advantageous. All costs of this project will be funded by outside sources.
The altar committee asked for the main altar to remain in the chancel area during July and August to assess what issues would need to be addressed if consideration were to be given to a new location for the altar. The committee, chaired by Bea Holland, is grateful for the comments that have been shared by members of the congregation. The altar will be returned to its former position at the end of August, and during the fall the committee will encourage continuing discussions about the future form of our worship.
I look forward to a stimulating fall as together we open ourselves to God’s call that we be leaders who assist the world to receive his eternal life of justice and love in
our time.
With blessings ,
Harold Munn
The Rev. Canon Dr. Harold Munn
Rector
