A Letter from the Rector - Fall 2007
August 2007
Dear Friends,
I suppose change is God's way of keeping us supple. When Claire and I visited our son and daughter-in-law in Edmonton, everything had changed – we were now in someone else's home and had to adjust to their adult way of life. When I took the first service the Sunday I returned, there was an eerie silence after the 8:00 a.m. service – no busy 9:15ers arriving – I actually had time to go out for coffee with the 8:00 o'clockers for the first time ever! New buildings in downtown Victoria; new houses across the street with new neighbours moving in, old neighbours next door moving away. Each change is an assumption on God's part that we are up to it – quite a compliment!
Thanks to the hard work of your staff and lay leaders, and to God who graces us with so many possibilities in life, there are many opportunities at St. John's this fall to stay supple. Make good use of them to be fully alive and strong spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically. A full calendar is attached for events and courses happening this fall.
Two events in August:
St. John's is participating in the North Park Neighbourhood Association festival at the park next to Wellburn's on Cook Street, on the afternoon of Saturday, August 18th. St. John's will have coffee and an information booth – we need help getting ready and on the day – speak with Nancy Bailey at 478-9865 or email her at nancy.bailey@telus.net. This is an important opportunity to be known in the neighbourhood – come out and have fun!
Parish camp happens on the Labour Day long weekend at the Diocesan Camp on Thetis Island – everyone, of all ages, comes and does whatever they want – veg out, play games, go for walks, eat, relax. Registration is necessary – forms available at the office.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Now for something completely different... Sue Jenkins has organized a Eucharist which will be accompanied by the music of the band “U2” who have made global warming and the UN Millennium Development Goals a priority. Young people, and the rest of you who want to remain supple, are encouraged to be there. St. John's, 6:00 pm, Friday, September 14th.
Sue is also bringing us Meg Hickling who has received the Order of British Columbia for her work with adults and children regarding sexual health. Adults of all ages and children of all ages will benefit from the two evenings Meg will be with us – September 19th and 20th.
Tristan has arranged three major musical events this fall. October 5th to 7th (Thanksgiving weekend) St. John's is hosting a Celtic Festival. Mary Murphy and friends perform Celtic favorites and lead a sing-along for two hours Friday night. On Saturday there will be classes in River Dance, presentations on Celtic Odes, Tales and Legends, and High Crosses, children will construct a High Cross and a Celtic Arch under Sue Jenkins' leadership, and there will be a Ceilidh in the evening. On Sunday morning before the main service, Jeanette Scott of the Iona Community will introduce the worship style of that community and we will then worship in that style with a liturgy created by Jeanette and Sue Jenkins, with Bishop John Hannen preaching about the connections between the spirituality of the First Nations and that of the Celtic tradition.
The second major musical event will be our own Choristers of St. John the Divine and the St. John Chamber Orchestra performing Pergolesi's "Magnificat" as the musical backbone for our Advent Service of Lessons and Carols.
The third major musical event this fall will be St. John's production of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors", originally telecast annually for 15 years. This one-act opera by Gian-Carlo Menotti tells the story of a young crippled shepherd boy and his mother whose less-than-upright dealings with the three kings, on their way to find the Christ child, lead to their healing. December 6th to 9th. Singers interested in participating in the chorus are invited to audition: contact Jim Harlick 382-5265 or email: farthings@shaw.ca
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
A number of people have asked for a presentation on the course I attended at Portland with Dom Crossan and Marcus Borg. I will give two presentations: one during Parish Camp, and the same repeated on the morning of Saturday, September 8th.
“Progressive Christianity” is a term being used to describe a way of thinking about our faith which moves behind some of the less-helpful traditions we have inherited to re-establish the priority of Jesus' originally challenging and liberating proclamation in a way which connects with contemporary issues, and provides a credible alternative to fundamentalist interpretations. The three-month course “Living the Questions” features weekly videos of leading contemporary theologians such as Marcus Borg and Dom Crossan. Discussion and community are an essential aspect of this course. Harry Eerkes, the former rector of Sooke, will lead this course Wednesday evenings starting September 5th. Registration is required by August 30th - there is a small fee - contact the office.
“Education for Ministry” is a four-year weekly course of study and group discussion introducing contemporary knowledge of the Bible, Christian faith, Church history and contemporary issues. To find out about starting the first year be in touch with Mary Alford at 479-6445 – a number of venues are being offered with a variety of mentors on different days of the week.
Fun stuff!
→ The ever-popular “Guess Who's Coming to Dinner” will be the evening of Saturday, September 22nd – sign up as a mystery host or mystery guest!
→ We will celebrate St. Francis-tide with blessing of animals on Sunday morning October 14th, and will welcome new members that afternoon.
→ For the second year, St. John's will have a float in the Santa parade on Saturday, November 17th – float decoration and participation are great fun – be a shepherd, an angel, or whatever along with El-cam our camel, and Le-viath our whale as we walk the streets of Victoria!
→ So many people found Sarah Donnelly's presentation on personal sabbath a life-changing experience, that we are inviting her back – she will present on how our life is enhanced by personal Sabbath, Friday evening and Saturday, November 23rd and 24th.
→ Can stewardship be fun? Surely you're joking! This year, stewardship will be a lot of fun – Consecration Sunday followed by lunch for the whole congregation – will be Sunday, November 25th – the guest preacher will be Gary Nicolosi, the Congregational Development Facilitator for our diocese.
Things are starting up!
Choir rehearsals begin on September 5th and 6th; Church School starts September 9th; the two youth groups, Plan B and Seekers, start September 10th. VOICE 101- a six-week class open to anyone 15 and up who has wanted to learn to sing, who hasn't sung in a long time and wants to get their voice back into shape: Saturday afternoons 1-2 p.m. beginning September 15th. Senior Singers – Thursdays 11:30 to 1:.00 p.m. starting September 6th - with movie on the fourth Thursday!
WHAT TIME IS CHURCH?
Until the first Sunday of October, we are experimenting with having only two services on Sunday mornings – at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Please use the box at the rear of the church to communicate your comments and suggestions to the Parish Council who meet Tuesday, September 18th to decide whether to make this schedule permanent.
Blessings to you all as we journey in Christ whose gifts keep us supple in so many ways.
Sincerely yours,
Harold Munn
The Rev. Canon Dr. Harold Munn
Rector
