Statement on War in the Holy Land / Déclaration sur la guerre en Terre Sainte

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Dear friends, Chers ami/es,

Please find a Statement on War in the Holy Land  by our Primate, Archbishop Linda Nicholls and Bishop Susan Johnson, National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Some of you may have already seen it on Facebook or on anglican.ca. 

The Canadian Companions of Jerusalem help support the many ministries of the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, some of which are collateral damage in this conflict.

Veuillez trouver une Déclaration sur la guerre en Terre Sainte par notre primat, l'archevêque Linda Nicholls et l'évêque Susan Johnson, évêque national de l'Église évangélique luthérienne au Canada. Certains d'entre vous l'ont peut-être déjà vu sur Facebook ou sur anglican.ca.

Les Compagnons canadiens de Jérusalem aident à soutenir les nombreux ministères du diocèse anglican de Jérusalem, dont certains sont des dommages collatéraux de ce conflit.

J’inclus la Déclaration, traduit par DeepL

Dans la peine, l'espoir et la foi,

In grief, hope and faith,

+Mary

8 octobre 2023

Déclaration sur la guerre en Terre Sainte

Samedi, le monde a regardé avec horreur le Hamas lancer un barrage de violence rapide et dévastateur contre Israël. Des roquettes, des attaques de drones, des meurtres de civils et des prises d'otages ont enflammé les tensions qui couvaient depuis longtemps entre Israël et la Palestine. Israël a répondu par des tirs de roquettes incessants et le nombre de morts s'alourdit quotidiennement de part et d’autre.

Nos cœurs sont affligés par la résurgence de la violence qui endeuille les familles palestiniennes et israéliennes. Nous aspirons à la paix et à la sécurité pour le peuple d'Israël qui cherche un endroit sûr où vivre à l'abri de la discrimination, de l'antisémitisme et des pogroms répétés. Nous aspirons à la paix et à la sécurité pour le peuple palestinien qui aspire également à vivre en sécurité, à s'épanouir à l'abri de l'occupation et de la discrimination. Ni l'un ni l'autre n'ont trouvé cette paix dans des schémas répétés de haine et de conflit.

Nous sommes aux côtés de l'archevêque Hosam Naoum (diocèse épiscopal de Jérusalem) et de l'évêque Sani Azar (Église évangélique luthérienne de Jordanie et de Terre sainte) et de leur peuple, priant pour la sécurité de tous ceux qui sont pris au milieu de ce conflit, y compris les visiteurs et les pèlerins. Nous prions pour l'hôpital arabe Al-Ahli à Gaza et l'hôpital Augusta Victoria à Jérusalem, qui s'efforcent de fournir des soins médicaux à tous ceux qui en ont besoin au milieu du chaos.

Nous exhortons le Premier ministre Trudeau et tous les dirigeants internationaux à faire tout ce qui est en leur pouvoir pour obtenir la cessation des hostilités et une paix durable et juste pour Israël et la Palestine.

Face à la douleur et à la violence, nous offrons cette prière…..

Dieu de paix et de justice,

Nos cœurs pleurent lorsque les roquettes tombent en Israël et à Gaza,

Des familles sont endeuillées

Alors que des familles sont endeuillées, que des hommes, des femmes et des enfants sont pris en otage, que la colère et la haine sont à nouveau attisées.

Sur la terre que tu as choisie pour ton peuple et ton Fils, nous prions pour les personnes endeuillées par la violence,

Pour les blessés,

Pour les otages

Que ton amour les entoure et les réconforte.

Nous prions pour la force et la compassion pour tous ceux qui offrent des soins médicaux, en particulier nos partenaires, l'hôpital Al-Ahli Arab et l'hôpital Augusta Victoria.

Nous prions pour l'évêque Sani Azar et l'archevêque Hosam Naoum et tous les chrétiens de Terre Sainte pour leur sécurité et leur leadership en cette période de crise.

Nous prions pour tous les dirigeants d'Israël et de Palestine afin qu'une paix juste et durable soit trouvée.

Au milieu de notre chagrin et de notre douleur, nous avons confiance en ton amour indéfectible pour tous les peuples et pour ta Terre, et nous demandons que ta sagesse prévale, car nous le demandons au nom de Jésus-Christ, qui apporte au monde la paix éternelle.

AMEN.

Archévêque Linda Nicholls, Primat, Église Anglicane du Canada

Susan Johnson Évêque Nationale, Église Luthérienne du Canada

Spiritual Care Awareness Week October 22-28

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Spiritual Care Awareness Week October 22-28

EVERY DAY across Canada spiritual care professionals offer their ministries in health care settings, university and college campuses, corrections facilities, in the Canadian Forces, and in social service settings. Sometimes known as Chaplains or Pastoral Care ministers, these lay people and clergy work to bring the light of Christ, the love of God, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit to many. Theirs is a ‘worldly’ ministry, one that brings the ‘sanctuary’ of church into the daily lives, sufferings, challenges and joys of people in those outside-of-the-church- walls places where those encounters take place. With loving compassion and tender strength, they hold space for the sacred and tend to the presence of grace, often at times of crisis, pain, and confusion.

The Anglican Church of Canada supports a number of chaplaincies, from the Military Ordinariate to Campus Ministry personnel and Anglican Health Care Chaplains; there are many more working in varied contexts across the country.

Especially during Spiritual Care Awareness Week, annually in late October, we encourage dioceses to honour and to offer prayer for those who exercise ministries of spiritual care. We offer our gratitude and call God’s blessings upon their ministries. We thank God for the ways these ministers serve as the hands and feet and heart of Christ in the world that God loves so deeply.

Download the full document from the Anglican Church of Canada

Announcing the Bishop's Action Appeal 2023 / Annonce de l'appel d'action de l'évêque 2023

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A Message from Bishop Mary regarding the Bishop's Action Appeal 2023

Your participation in the Bishop’s Action Appeal is such a blessing to me and to our recipients! Thanks to your generous response to last year’s appeal, we were able to support our local missions; The Mile End Community Mission, Tyndale-St Georges Community Centre and Action Réfugiés Montréal who are helping hundreds of people in our area during an increased time of need. Many of you are familiar with the Sisters of St. John the Divine. A Canadian Anglican order of sisters, they exercise ministries of hospitality and spiritual direction. For over 30 years, the sisters ran St. Michael’s Mission and were quite active at the Church of St. John the Evangelist until 1961. Between 1998 – 2008 they had a hospitality house and mission in St. Lambert. Many sisters continue to have connections with people in our diocese. The Guesthouse at their convent in Toronto is where most of their ministry is now centered and the sisters have launched a capital campaign, called A Home for the Heart, to make some necessary improvements and repairs to the guest facilities and building infrastructure. Their welcoming ministry of prayer, retreats and spiritual direction, of discernment and companionship for ministry, is a valuable resource for our church.

I would be so happy, and so would the Sisters, if our Diocese is able to make a significant and generous contribution to their ministry. Please visit their website to learn more. www.ssjd.ca.

Unless you specify otherwise, half of your donation will go to Giving with Grace which funds projects at the national church level, including The Healing Fund, indigenous ministries, military chaplaincies and more. For more information on Giving with Grace visit www.anglican.ca/giving/.

Thank you for sharing in these ministries!

-Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson

P.S. Gifts of $25 or more are eligible for a tax receipt, which will be issued in February 2024.

Message de l'évêque Mary concernant l'Appel à l'action de l'évêque 2023

Votre participation à l'appel d'action de l'évêque est une telle bénédiction pour moi et pour nos bénéficiaires ! Grâce à votre réponse généreuse à l'appel de l'an dernier, nous avons pu soutenir nos missions locales : la Mission communautaire du Mile End, le Centre communautaire Tyndale-Saint-Georges et Action Réfugiés Montréal, qui viennent en aide à des centaines de personnes de notre région en cette période où les besoins sont de plus en plus grands. Beaucoup d'entre vous connaissent les Sœurs de Saint-Jean le Divin. Cet ordre anglican canadien exerce des ministères d'hospitalité et de direction spirituelle. Pendant plus de 30 ans, les sœurs ont dirigé la mission St. Michael's et ont été très actives à l'église St. John the Evangelist jusqu'en 1961. Entre 1998 et 2008, elles ont eu une maison d'accueil et une mission à Saint-Lambert. De nombreuses sœurs continuent d'entretenir des liens avec des personnes de notre diocèse. Les sœurs ont lancé une campagne d'investissement, appelée A Home for the Heart, afin d'apporter les améliorations et les réparations nécessaires aux installations des hôtes et à l'infrastructure du bâtiment. Leur ministère d'accueil, de prière, de retraite et de direction spirituelle, de discernement et de compagnonnage pour le ministère, est une ressource précieuse pour notre Église.

Je serais très heureux, et les sœurs aussi, si notre diocèse était en mesure d'apporter une contribution significative et généreuse à leur ministère. Visitez leur site web pour en savoir plus. www.ssjd.ca.

Sauf indication contraire de votre part, la moitié de votre don ira à Giving with Grace qui finance des projets au niveau de l'Église nationale, notamment le Fonds de guérison, les ministères indigènes, les aumôneries militaires et bien d'autres. Pour plus d'informations sur Giving with Grace, consultez le site www.anglican.ca/giving/.

Merci de participer à ces ministères !

P.S. Les dons de 25 $ ou plus donnent droit à un reçu fiscal, qui sera délivré en février 2024.

Holy Eucharist Explained

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Holy Eucharist Explained

Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is the sacrament commended by Christ for his continual remembrance and is our central act of worship. All baptised Christians, including children, are invited to receive Holy communion. The Celebration of Eucharist has two parts, the Word of God and the Holy Communion.

I. The Word of God Entrance Rite

The priests, acolytes (members of the church who assist the priests during services) and choir enter behind the Cross of Christ into the sanctuary as the congregation stands and sings a hymn. The procession reminds us that the People of God, through time and history are moving toward God's Kingdom — following the Cross of Christ, and bringing the Light of the Gospel into all the world.

Collect of the Day

The celebrant (the priest who consecrates the bread and wine at the Eucharist) now leads us in a special prayer. This short prayer is called a Collect because it collects our thoughts to prepare us for the lessons and Gospel. It is different each Sunday and fits with the Church season.

The Lessons

Two lessons from the Holy Bible are read, usually one from the Old Testament (also called Hebrew Scriptures) and one from the New Testament. A lay (a member of the church who is not ordained clergy) minister called a Lector usually reads the lessons.

Between the lessons and the Gospel reading a psalm will be either sung by the choir or read by a Lector, sometimes along with the congregation.

The Holy Gospel

Between the lessons and the reading from the Holy Gospel we sing a song while the Gospel Book is carried into the centre part of the Church. The Gospel is read by a member of the clergy. Wherever we are in the church, we turn to face the gospel book and reader. The Gospel Procession teaches us that it is our responsibility to carry the Good news of Jesus Christ into all the world.

Sermon

A sermon or homily follows the Gospel. It usually explains some of the teachings in the Gospel and other lessons. After the sermon we stand and recite the Nicene Creed, which is an affirmation of our faith. The Nicene Creed states the Church's teaching of God, Father, Son and Holy spirit. The Creed expresses the faith of the whole Church.

Prayers of the People

The prayers consist of two parts: the intercessions and the confession. The intercessions are how we ask for help and give thanks. Together, we pray for the Church, for world leaders, for ourselves, and for the departed.

The Confession

Next we kneel or stand for the confession. We ask God's forgiveness for those things we have done and left undone. We all need God's forgiveness, and we know that he will forgive us when we come to him in faith and love and true repentance. After the confession, the Priest says the words of Absolution, or forgiveness, assuring us that God has forgiven all those who have made a sincere confession of their sins.

The Peace

We greet one another joyfully in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation and in the love of God, exchanging the Peace with one another.

II. The Holy Communion

The Offertory

The bread and wine (a gift of the people) are brought to the altar in preparation for the Communion. We sing a hymn as the collection plates are passed. The bread, wine and money offered at the Altar represent our lives, our work, our recreation, our families and our community. In other words, we offer to God all that we have and all that we do. This is called Stewardship.

The minister of the altar, a priest or a deacon, "sets the table" by laying first a corporal, a white linen cloth, on which are placed a chalice (a cup for the wine) and a paten (a plate for the bread). Next, wine is poured into the chalice and a little water is added. This reminds us of the blood and the water that appeared when Jesus' side was pierced by a spear at the crucifixion. Tradition says that the wine and water together represent both the humanity and the divinity of Jesus, that he is both Man and God, and that we are called to share with him in his risen life.

Before the Eucharist begins, an acolyte pours a little water over the priest's fingers. This reminds us that we should all come to God's altar with clean hands and pure hearts.

The Holy Table or Altar having been prepared, the Eucharist continues with "Lift up your heart" - the "Sursum Corda." This is followed by the "Sanctus", the ancient hymn: "Holy, Holy, Holy," followed by the "Benedictus": "Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord…" reminding us that our Lord does come to us in the Holy Communion, and that he is made known to us in "the breaking of the bread."

The Great Thanksgiving or the Prayer of Consecration

This prayer reminds us of God's love for us, that we turned away form him, and that he sent his son Jesus Christ to share our human nature and to live and die as one of us, so that we might be brought back to God. We are also told of Christ's death on the cross, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world, and we are reminded of the Last Supper and the words Jesus spoke over the bread and the wine. Finally, we ask for the gift of God's Holy Spirit and that we might faithfully receive the precious gift of Christ's Body and Blood in the form of Bread and Wine. This is followed by the Lord's Prayer.

The Breaking of The Bread

At the first Eucharist and in those of the early Church, it was necessary to break the loaves or cakes of bread so that they could be distributed for Communion. For many this breaking of bread has a special meaning: it has become a reminder of the breaking of our Lord's body on the Cross. To symbolize this the celebrants breaks the bread saying "Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." to which the people respond: "Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia."

The Communion of the People

The gifts we gave at the offertory, the bread and the wine, are now returned to us. But because God has accepted them and used them for his purpose, they are changed. They are now for us the Body and Blood of Christ, His Power, Love and His strength.

We believe in the Real Presence of Christ in Holy Communion. All baptised Christians regardless of age are welcome to share with us in this sacred meal. Our custom is to stand at the altar and receive bread in the hand and wine from a common cup. If you wish to receive the bread, please extend your hands. If your wish to receive the wine please assist the chalice bearer by guiding the chalice to your lips.

If you are not baptised but wish to receive a blessing from the priest, please come forward and cross your arms over your chest.

Post-communion Prayer and Dismissal

We say a prayer of thanks as we go out in to the world to do the work that God has called us to do. We are sent on our way with God's blessing today and always. Thanks be to God

Meet the Presenters for the Marketing Lunch & Learn

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Meet the Presenters for the Marketing Lunch & learn for Church Leaders Series

RSVP / Learn more / Join the Facebook event

Friday, October 13th session 1. Jen DeTracey works with leaders who want to discover missing opportunities for strategic growth. She does this through her Elevate Results coaching program and her proven marketing process, the LIFFT® Process. The Elevate Results Coaching Program™ is a one-to-one business coaching program that focuses on tapping into the leader’s professional potential through clarity and momentum to create impactful results. https://www.liftstrategies.com/jen-de-tracey/

Friday, October 20 session 2. Martha (Matte) Elias Downey, PHD is a theologian, author, educator, and life-long learner living in Montreal. She has taught theology in university and ministry settings and was part of the pastoral team of an urban church for nearly 20 years. She also served on the national leadership team of her denomination. You can find her various projects and latest musings at https://mattedowney.wordpress.com/

Friday November 3rd session 3. Melissa Matalanis, holds an MBA and is an experienced marketing expert currently serving as the Marketing Director of Creative Content & Digital at Dorel Home in Montreal, Quebec. In addition to leading strategic initiatives in brand development, she heads the creative marketing department. Melissa is also a dedicated educator at Concordia University's Center for Continuing Education, where she teaches digital marketing courses like search engine marketing and search engine optimization.


NEW! Lunch & Learn Marketing Webinar Series (Marketing Support for Church Leaders)

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Are you interested in learning about how marketing can have a positive impact on your ministry? We are Here to Support YOU!

Are you starting to think about the Advent / Christmas season and how your Church can provide value to your neighbours?

The Anglican Diocese of Montreal is hosting a series of Lunch and Learn webinars with industry experts to assist you.

Save the following dates and RSVP now to get on the list

Join the Facebook event HERE

  • Friday, October 13th noon-1:30

  • Friday October 20th noon-1:30

  • Friday November 3rd noon-1:30

Contact Lee-Ann to RSVP or if you would like to learn more

Details about the Presenters

session 1. Jen DeTracey works with leaders who want to discover missing opportunities for strategic growth.

She does this through her Elevate Results coaching program and her proven marketing process, the LIFFT® Process.

The Elevate Results Coaching Program™ is a one-to-one business coaching program that focuses on tapping into the leader’s professional potential through clarity and momentum to create impactful results. https://www.liftstrategies.com/jen-de-tracey/

session 2. Martha (Matte) Elias Downe, PHD is a theologian, author, educator, and life-long learner living in Montreal. She has taught theology in university and ministry settings and was part of the pastoral team of an urban church for nearly 20 years. She also served on the national leadership team of her denomination. You can find her various projects and latest musings at https://mattedowney.wordpress.com/

session 3. Melissa Matalanis, holds an MBA and is an experienced marketing expert currently serving as the Marketing Director of Creative Content & Digital at Dorel Home in Montreal, Quebec. In addition to leading strategic initiatives in brand development, she heads the creative marketing department. Melissa is also a dedicated educator at Concordia University's Center for Continuing Education, where she teaches digital marketing courses like search engine marketing and search engine optimization.