BISHOP'S DINNER 2018 - A DELICIOUS WAY TO HELP THOSE IN NEED

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We would like to give you some details about next month’s Bishop’s Annual Dinner.

This year, the dinner will take place at the historic St James Club in downtown Montreal. A beautiful venue, which is close to public transportation, the club boasts delicious, contemporary cuisine from French born Chef Philippe Sarrailh.

The specially selected menu for the evening consists of three choices:

 Soup: Cream of Butternut squash (GF)

*********
Options for Main course:

AAA Canadian Beef Sirloin rubbed with spices and fresh herbs, roasted, creamed veal glaze with Madagascar pepper and cognac (GF)

or

Arctic char, fennel and diced tomatoes velouté with vermouth (GF)

or

Vegetable curry with coconut milk and cashew nuts, organic spelt risotto with herbs

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Dessert: Vanilla Panna Cotta with brownie and mango coulis (GF)

 The dinner is on Thursday, November 15th…registration starts at 5:30, cocktails at 6pm with special guest speaker, former Senator Hugh Segal.

 As always, proceeds from the Bishop’s Dinner go to supporting the work of Mile End Mission, Tyndale St George’s Community Centre and Action Réfugiés.

 To reserve your seat, please email Maria Abate at mabate@montreal.anglican.ca

 We hope you can join us!

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BISHOP'S DINNER 2018

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Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson cordially invites you to the

11th Annual Bishop’s Fundraising Dinner
Proceeds to support the missions of the Diocese

at

Club Saint-James de Montréal (Saint Denis Room)
1145 avenue Union, Montréal QC H3B 3C2

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Guest speaker: The Honorable Hugh D. Segal
Master of Massey College and former Canadian Senator

 

PLEASE OPEN THE ORDER FORM TO REGISTER AND INCLUDE  PAYMENT ETC.

Deadline to register: November 5th

Contact Maria at mariaa@montreal.anglican.ca  or call at 514-843-6577 xt 235 for questions regarding registration/payment/auction items

 

Parking:
Information in the above attachments

 

Handicap/wheelchair access
Elevators inside

 

Silent Auction

Contributions to the silent auction are welcome from you or your employer or both.
Popular items include: gift baskets, décor items, food items, gift certificates, artwork, hockey tickets etc.

 

Bishop's Action Appeal 2018

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Dear Friends,

I am asking for your support for the Bishop’s Action Appeal. I hope that you will be able to join with other people of this Diocese in strengthening an important ministry.

Thanks to your generous response to last year’s appeal, we were able to help the Inuit who are in prison, hospital and day shelters and to move our ministry presence to Epiphany Church in Verdun.  We were also able to give financial support to The Territory of the People in the Central Interior of British Columbia to help communities rebuild in the aftermath of the fires that ravaged the area last year.

This year, we are focusing on another important ministry opportunity. We would like to support students in their final year of preparation for ordination. We have talented and dedicated students in the In-ministry Year at the Montreal Diocesan Theological College, but the course load is such that they cannot have part-time jobs.

Can you help us support people preparing for vocation in the diocese?

Please pray for the work of the church and give as generously as you are able. Call our office at 514-843-6577 to donate or click the button below.

Unless you specify otherwise, half of your donation will go to Giving with Grace which helps the ministries of the Anglican Church of Canada make real transformation in real communities here at home and abroad.

With my thanks, and every blessing,

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Mile End Mission 10th Annual Thanksgiving

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Hello friends,

The Mile End Mission is once again holding our Annual Thanksgiving Benefit Dinner on

Thursday October 25th at the beautiful Restaurant Mythos in our neighbourhood. 

This annual event truly helps us be able to continue offering the many urgently needed programs and services that help improve lives of disadvantaged individual and family members living amongst us.

Your support and that of your parishioners means the world to us. We really hope that you will be able to attend our dinner or provide whatever support you can for this much needed fundraising event. 

I have attached some information regarding the Thanksgiving Benefit Dinner as well as our Mission Possible newsletter and 'We are family' document so that you can learn more about what's going on at the Mission..


Thank you so much for your kind support,


Lou, Lori and all your friends at the Mission


Linda (Lou) Hachey

Directrice/ Director

Mission Communautaire Mile-End/ Mile End Community Mission

99 Bernard O. Montréal, QC   

H2T 2J9
514-274-3401

A NEW OnLine Learning Opportunity!

The Gospel of Luke is a rich, inviting, and expansive description of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. This course offers an overview of some major themes of the Gospel of Luke as well as a close look at the distinctive ways in which Luke understands Jesus. In 2019, the Gospel of Luke will be the main focus of the cycle of Sunday morning readings that many churches use. This course is designed to be an introduction to the Gospel for those who have no prior background or a refresher for those who want to prepare for the coming year. It is meant for lay people and ordained people, for those who will preach sermons in the coming year and those who will listen to them. It is meant for individuals who wish to join the online classroom from the comfort of their own home, or groups that wish to gather to learn together. There is no required reading (except the gospel itself) and no required papers. This is an opportunity to learn, grow, and prepare for another year in the life of the church.

 

The course meets online on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 to 9pm, beginning on October 23 and ending on November 20. The cost is $75 per connection (or $50 for members of our Corporation). We encourage groups to meet to learn together. If needed, clergy can receive a certificate for continuing education credit.

 

More information is in the attached poster. If you would like to register, please send a note to info@montrealdio.ca to begin the process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to be in touch with me.

 

More information on this course and all other courses on offer from Dio is at www.montrealdio.ca/courses.

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World Homeless Day

A Message From The Reverend Canon Steven Mackison

Dear Friends,

I am writing to invite you and yours to a life celebration service at 12 noon on Wednesday October 10 (World Homeless Day) This will be an opportunity to mourn the loss and celebrate the lives of the many homeless whose lives have gone unmarked and uncelebrated.  Members of the Muslim, Jewish, Anglican, and Indigenous communities will offer prayers and all will be invited to light a candle to remember those who have died. The event will be followed by lunch in the parish hall.

 I have attached the press release and posters for the event for further information and distribution.

 If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 Sincerely yours in Christ,


Steven

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BISHOP'S DINNER! SAVE THE DATE ...

Dear Friends,

Please mark your calendar for the 11th Annual Bishop’s Fundraising Dinner!

DATE: November 15, 2018

VENUE: Club Saint-James de Montréal - 1145 avenue Union, Montréal QC  H3B 3C2  www.stjamesclub.ca

SPEAKER: The Honourable Hugh D. Segal, Master of Massey College and former Canadian Senator

More details to follow along with registration.


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Diocesan Quiet Day on Saturday October 13th

We know that Jesus valued regular opportunities to take time apart, in the midst of a busy and peripatetic public ministry. Retreats and quiet days are part of our community life--and offer support to our personal prayer practice. Coming together in a group, and learning from skilled resource people, help us explore, re-launch, or deepen that vital, regular practice of personal prayer that has nourished centuries of Christians in all parts of our tradition.

We would like to give you the opportunity that Jesus so valued. On Saturday, October 13th the Spiritual Direction Group is sponsoring a Diocesan Quiet Day called REFLECTIONS OF LOVE. The day is planned both as an introduction for new pray-ers and as a refreshment for experienced ones. 

AGENDA:  Themes for the day are (1) Opening the Door to the Quiet (2) Healing of the Heart, and (3) Meditations on Divine Love. Lunch and coffee will be provided; freewill offering; we will conclude by celebrating the Eucharist, led by Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson. Please register at spiritualdirectiongroup@montreal.anglican.ca

(deadline: October 1).

We will gather in Fulford Hall at 9:30, each of the short talks will present material or questions to explore during the subsequent silence, supported by each other in prayer. (Parking is available on Saturdays underneath Cathedral Place (entry from Union just south of De Maisonneuve) at the cost of $8 for the whole day.)

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The day will take place in silence, with recorded music during the mealtime. There will be space to move around; the Cathedral will be available, including its small Chapel containing the Reserved Sacrament; a book table will be provided, and so will art materials and a meditation space.  The day will conclude with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, led by Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson. This will wrap up by 3:30.

LEADERS:  Our Diocesan Spiritual Direction Group was established over twenty years ago, and includes nearly a dozen trained and experienced Directors who have provided individual spiritual direction and led parish and other retreat groups in and beyond our Diocese.

During prayer time, we can seek perspective on urgencies that might seem overwhelming, insight into situations that seem confusing when seen up close, and assurance of God's loving presence under all circumstances. All are welcome.Please join us. 

Learn More

Primate invites the whole church to listen to its heartbeat with Heartbeat of the Church

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NEWS FROM GENERAL SYNOD BY MATT GARDNER

September 2018 marks the 125th anniversary of the General Synod, and to commemorate this milestone, Archbishop Fred Hiltz is inviting Anglicans across the country to form conversation circles, and talk about their relationship with God and the church.
 
The Primate’s initiative is called Heartbeat of the Church, and is slated to run for eight months.

“What I really wanted to do was to give folks an opportunity to talk about their faith and to talk about their church,” Primate Hiltz says.
 
“Heartbeat is designed so that part of the conversation people will have will be an opportunity to talk about what their faith means to them; a time in their life when they felt very close to God; a time in their life when prayer was especially important to them; and a time in their life when they really felt that they were on a kind of growing edge in terms of their faith and commitment.”
 
Conversation format
 
Each conversation circle consists of a group of four or five Anglicans, and may be held at any location.
 
After an opening prayer, each member of the circle is invited to answer a few questions about their experiences of prayer, encounters with God, and times in which they felt close to Jesus. One person then reads aloud the gospel passage, John 15:12-17. Members reflect on this scripture and answer these three questions:

  • Describe a time when our church made your heart glad;

  • Describe a time when our church made your heart ache; and

  • Describe a time when our church gave you hope.

The conversation circle concludes with members composing a heartfelt prayer for the church, praying together, and exchanging the Peace.
 
The format for Heartbeat of the Church emerged from discussions between the Primate and close colleagues. These included staff members of General Synod, as well as Dean Shane Parker, who is from the Diocese of Ottawa, and has been serving as the project coordinator for this initiative.
 
Over a number of meetings and conversations, the group steadily refined their approach to realizing the Primate’s vision.
 
“This was an exercise of hearing one another’s voices,” Dean Parker said. “It was not a strategic planning exercise; it wasn’t a program to be implemented. It was really an opportunity to create some space for people to reflect on what it means to be an Anglican, what it means to be in mission, what it means to be a people of prayer.”
 
“The main thing we wanted to do was to have people speak from their hearts,” he added. “We didn’t want this to be a head exercise. We wanted it to be a heart exercise.”
 
Pilot project experiences
 
From May 15-23, six pretest conversation circles met for a run-through of the Heartbeat format in Ottawa and Smiths Falls. The pretest included 27 participants between the ages of 15 and 87 with a roughly equal divide between men and women, representing a range of backgrounds including Indigenous and non-Indigenous, members of the LGBTQ community, and different levels of experience within the church.
 
Reactions from participants were universally positive, with only minor tweaks suggested in terms of style and format. The general consensus was that the conversation circle was an enjoyable experience and provided an ideal format for meaningful and thought-provoking discussion.
 
Maya McDonald, a recent University of Ottawa graduate currently serving as a cathedral council member at Christ Church Cathedral, participated in one of the Ottawa pretests. She appreciated the fruitful discussion on different social issues confronting the church, such as same-sex marriage and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
 
“I think it really renewed my spirit for the church,” McDonald, 25, said of her own conversation circle.
 
“We really had to talk through some of those more difficult issues and try to figure out, well, why is this not working for everyone? It really gave us hope for our own little piece of the church—but also hope that if it’s something that we can do at a table between four people, that we can do this with virtually anyone and bring the spirit of Anglicanism to others.”
 
“We can say that the doors of the church are open, and people will choose to or not choose to enter those doors,” she added. “But Heartbeat really makes it possible to have those conversations anywhere. Although we have that conversation within the church walls, I totally think it’s possible to have those conversations outside and really make it more [about] being Anglican, versus just performing and doing Anglicanism.”
 
Noel Platte from Julian of Norwich Anglican Church in Ottawa, a member of the Council of General Synod from 2013-2016, said that participating in the Heartbeat of the Church pilot project helped him “appreciate the discerning power of prayer”, relating past experiences to his own hopes and dreams for the church.
 
“My own prayer for the church was hopeful,” said Platte, 30. “While not blind to the challenges we will face, I feel like the church is well-poised to cultivate and empower Anglicans to be among the hands and feet of God in the world. I am inspired by the faithful lives of Anglicans across the land, and the difference each and every one of us is making.
 
“I am encouraged by the consistent outpouring of generosity and the loving service offered by our church to the wider world. I am excited to witness the movements toward an Indigenous Anglican Church. And I am appreciative of the servant leadership offered by our diocesan, provincial, and national governance structures. […] Grounding this heartfelt prayer in Scripture helped me to anchor myself to those first principles of my faith, and to hold fast to God’s love for me and the world.”
 
Speaking from the heart
 
Conversation circle guides for Heartbeat of the Church are available online for easy download and printing. Participants are also encouraged to upload their circle’s prayer online.
 
Results of the conversations will be presented at the 42nd General Synod in July 2019, in Vancouver B.C.
 
This upcoming General Synod will take place at a transitional period for the church as Archbishop Hiltz will be stepping down and the synod will be looking to elect a new Primate. The gathering will also mark the first phase of discussion on how the church will approach its strategic planning post-Vision 2019.
 
Though the nature of those experiences may vary, the Primate hopes that Anglicans will deeply and truthfully express their feelings about the church and its ministry.
 
“What I’m hoping is that people are going to speak from the heart … that we’re going to really get some heartfelt expressions of moments when [people thought], ‘Wow, I am really proud to be an Anglican’, or ‘I am just so frustrated with our church’, or ‘I am so heartbroken’, or ‘You know what? What I see happening on this particular front makes me feel really hopeful as an Anglican, and I want to belong to this church.’”

Read the Primate's letter on the Heartbeat of the Church.