Clergy Notes — Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 21, 2024

Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

‘I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy, in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.’ Philippians 1:3-6

As I bid my farewell as your Rector, I echo these words of St. Paul: my heart is full of thanksgiving for these past nine years which we have shared together as the Body of Christ here at St. James’. It has been a privilege to belong to this vibrant parish with such a rich heritage of faith, and I leave with every confidence that St. James’ will continue to shine brightly with the light and love of Christ in this place. I have not once regretted the decision to come to Canada – and to become Canadian! – and I never cease to wonder at the giftedness, generosity, and diversity of our community.

Thank you all for your welcome to Allan and to me. Thank you for your faithfulness, your encouragement and support, and for your patience and forbearance. I ask forgiveness where I have fallen short, and of those whom I have hurt or offended.

It is invidious and impossible to thank everyone by name. It has been a particular joy to work with fellow-clergy, our strong lay leadership, and the visible and invisible, audible and inaudible, team who works so diligently to make possible our worship, mission and service. God bless you all.

I will let St. Paul have the final word:

‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:4-7

With love, much thanksgiving, and every blessing,
Fr Kevin

Download the Liturgy at Home booklet for Sunday, April 21, 2024

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Clergy Notes — Third Sunday of Easter, April 14, 2024

I have been thinking much these days, about endings, and about grief, and about the paradox of the Christian life, which is not sheltered from any of the messiness of human experience. We are not given an escape from sorrow, but – through God’s grace – it is always touched gently with hope; with joy.

I have been thinking too, about how often we misunderstand God, even as we long for some experience of God that can comfort us or reassure us that all is well. How, when we do not ‘feel’ like praying, or when we are hurting, or when God seems very far away, it is exactly then that God is most near. Again and again in Scripture, we are given examples of this: particularly right now, in Eastertide. In this transitory space, we are gifted story after story about the Resurrection.

Although today we are able to cry out, “Alleluia! Christ is risen!” it is not yet so for the disciples in these stories. For them, it is a time of waiting and uncertainty – they are still feeling lost and afraid and defeated.

The disciples’ sorrow is very real, but so too is the bodily resurrection of Christ, who appears to them again and again, breathing peace upon them, and bidding them touch him – touch his very wounds, as if to say, “the wounds are holy too.” He does not take away their suffering – for some unknown reason, that remains a part of the human experience.

And, alongside the suffering, there is also hope. We have a God who has not abandoned us in the messiness of life: instead, God comes to us right in the middle of it all, and bids us touch the wounds which will touch our own wounds with joy.

Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Mother Amanda

Download the Liturgy at Home booklet for Sunday, April 14, 2024.

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