Clergy Notes — July 7, 2019
Greetings friends, thank you for inquiries about the food drive collection to benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and the boxes. You will find them in the baptistery and a box in the Narthex for individual donations this Sunday.
The coming week will be a busy one for our diocese as the General Synod approaches and we prepare to host people from across Canada. There will be visitors at Solemn Mass at St. James’ on Sunday 14th, and we will be showing the video about the Street Outreach ministry afterwards.
The 42nd General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada will be held from July 10-16, 2019 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia in the Diocese of New Westminster. The theme of the synod is “I Have Called You By Name” (Isaiah 43:1).
There will be the election of a new Primate, with five candidates nominated. As you know the two major things up for discussion for this Synod are the Motion for Second Reading of Amendment to Canon XXI (On Marriage in the Church) and the Amendments to Canon XXII (National Indigenous Ministry).
So what does all this mean? Well, we’ve got a lot to pray about. We have differing views about how these votes should go and who should be elected. One of the things I love about the Anglican Church is that there is room for discussion and room for all people. That also means that there is room to value and respect people who are hurting and who feel excluded, regardless of who “wins.”
This week let’s pray that the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth and wisdom will be upon all the delegates, staff and volunteers, that once the eve of July 16th comes, unity and consolation will be present so we can move forward together as the Church of Christ, not as political opponents, or “winners” and “losers.”
Let’s pray for all and welcome all in the days to come. May God’s will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
Mother Lucy
