“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”—Romans 8:18 The tribulations of the past and present intermingled with hope for the future at Sacred Circle on Thursday, Aug. 19, as a new generation of Indigenous Anglicans stepped forward … Continued
More than most Anglican gatherings, Sacred Circle is characterized by the ever-present role of music. The sheer joy and enthusiasm of participants is matched only by the frequency and variety of the songs. Throughout each day, agenda items are bookended by musical segues led by either National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald playing guitar or … Continued
The value of listening was an important lesson drawn from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, the Commission argued, required listening to the stories of those who endured the intergenerational trauma of the Indian residential school system. For non-Indigenous members of the Anglican Church of Canada, a similar … Continued
Gathered outside in the early morning hours, a circle of onlookers watched as volunteers rubbed spindles into fireboards, trying to produce enough friction to create an ember. For young men in the Diné tradition, building a fire from scratch remains a rite of passage. The hard work of sparking a blaze without the aid of … Continued
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canon, delivers a sermon during the opening Eucharist service of the eighth national Anglican Indigenous Sacred Circle on Aug. 17, 2015. A judgement against Israel, a psalm of penitence, and an invitation to a gospel way of living, that’s what we have in the Readings for … Continued
More than three decades ago, the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada came close to a full structural merger, the result of which would have been known as the Church of Christ in Canada. The planned organic union never came about. Yet despite some rough patches in the fallout after the … Continued
Progress that has been made by Indigenous Anglicans towards self-determination will be evident by the very nature of the discussion when the eighth national Anglican Indigenous Sacred Circle meets later in August. “The next phase of self-determination will be the heart and focus of it,” National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald said of the meeting, … Continued
Echoing principles laid out in the Marks of Mission, the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) is offering five one-time grants of $10,000 each for new community service or outreach projects that involve interfaith collaboration. Requests for proposals are due Sept. 1, 2015. The grants are part of a new tradition for the Foundation, which beginning … Continued
The wildfires across Western Canada devastated huge swathes of forest and drove thousands of people from their homes. But as a result, residents from diverse backgrounds united to meet the challenge. While fires are still burning, the immediate crisis is over and evacuees are now returning to their homes. Saskatchewan Anglican Bishop Michael Hawkins said … Continued
A new ecumenical resource is offering an alternative way for small groups and congregations to lead worshippers in the singing of hymns and spiritual songs. Sing Hallelujah! is a video hymnal comprised of a five-volume DVD set. In each video, musicians perform well-known traditional and contemporary hymns while lyrics scroll in large letters along the bottom … Continued
A special exhibit on the legacy of Indian residential schools is open to the public daily throughout July and August at St. James Cathedral in Toronto. The display includes a range of artifacts related to the residential schools and the history of missionaries to Indigenous communities throughout Canada. Many of the items are from the … Continued
The Anglican Church of Canada has officially unveiled its new website, providing a mobile-friendly format that makes it easier to find resources. The revamped Anglican.ca, which follows months of active development, builds on the successes of the former church website while taking into account changing trends—specifically, the increasing number of users who access the website … Continued
The Anglican Church of Canada’s annual report for 2014 is now available online and can be viewed at http://ww2.anglican.ca/annualreport. Produced by Resources for Mission in consultation with the Communications and Information Resources department, the report offers donors and church members valuable information on the activity of General Synod ministries from January to December 2014. Financial … Continued
The Kingston-based Anglican Diocese of Ontario has lent its support to a fund set up by the Kingston branch of the Christian Cultural Association of South Asians (CCASA). The fund will provide bursaries for children orphaned by the 2013 church bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan. The twin suicide bomb attack took place as worshippers left a … Continued
The Anglican Church of Canada has maintained a full communion partnership since 2001 with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). Anglican representatives including Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, were in attendance at the ELCIC’s national convention in Edmonton, Alta. from July 9-12. The following article was originally published on the ELCIC website … Continued