The time is NOW for Youth Leaders to stick together!

Following a series of meetings with leaders of children, youth and family ministry in the west island this Fall, hearing so many inspiring stories of perseverance, grit and determination, I wanted to expand the conversation…

So, I invited the Youth Animator form the Anglican Church of Canada to join us!

As a result, youth leaders from across Canada are joining in for this unique opportunity to pray, wonder, listen, discern and reflect on youth ministry during a pandemic.

On Monday, October 26th from 7-8:30 pm

Contact me to register or simply click “going” on the Facebook event link

What is our Congregational Development Coordinator up to these days? Revive, Beyond the Plate & Pew & Beyond

Neil’s Latest Blog…

Resources … Resources … Resources …

When my children were young, one time we found a cocoon. It was so exciting so we watched and waited to see what butterfly emerged. We never did find out, but it was fun to wait and watch. In a way, COVID-19 has forced our churches into a kind of cocoon-like state. Many of our ministries have had to be placed on hold, and continued uncertainty about reopening and the course of the pandemic means we still do not exactly know when we will emerge into the world again. But that does not mean that this time needs to be wasted or seen as lost. Indeed it can be used as a creative opportunity to use the resources available to help our churches face the future and prepare to reopen.

As your congregational development coordinator, I have been actively working to bring together resources that you can use in your faith community in different ways

Here are a few…

Revive: The purpose of the Revive programme is to equip lay leaders to be spiritual leaders. Spread out over three short modules, it looks at prayer, scripture and calling. We currently have three groups meeting and are taking names for a Thursday evening group to start in November. I love, love, love participating in Revive groups and invite you to join. Why? Because at our core, we are spiritual communities centered on our Lord Jesus Christ. Revive helps us deepen that central relationship both individually in our lives and corporately as a people. It does so in a gentle and non-threatening way. This is a vital foundation for our faith communities. We can use all the techniques we want, have all the right social media or beautiful music and the latest resources. If we are not alive as spiritual communities willing to share life and faith and prayer and God and Jesus, then others will sense that. But if we are willing to allow Holy Spirit to breathe through us other will sense that and be drawn to Jesus Christ through us. This is what will encourage your church to flourish. If you are looking for a key resource for your community, begin with Revive.

Beyond the Plate: During the Spring I launched a series of interviews with key practitioners in the whole area of stewardship and fundraising. These are available for you to see and use and I am always here to consulted. This fall I am doing a monthly Zoom conversation on stewardship. In October I will be looking at different ways people can give to your church, to help parishes choose which platform is right for them. In November I will be looking at planned giving. There are many excellent resources available to us in this area, which we have brought together under the Beyond the Plate umbrella.  Even in this time of uncertainly and even fear for the future, there are important building blocks we can put into place to help churches flourish financially. If we ask people in a helpful way and provide opportunities for them to give, any church can encourage financial generosity. One of the core convictions is that financial support tends to follow ministry and mission. In the future, Churches that flourish financially will be those able link their invitation for support to ministry and mission that impacts the community in some way. Which leads me to…

 I am launching a new arena for resources and discussion called Pew and Beyond: Rediscovering Discipleship. In collaboration with my colleague the Rev Lisa Vaughn from the Diocese of Nova Scotia and PEI, Pew and Beyond will bring together resources from across Canada in the form of practitioners and programs to encourage us all to think more and get proactive in the whole area of discipleship and disciple-making; touching the lives of the people in our pews and reaching out to those who are not. In the future, flourishing churches will be those that have discipleship at their core and are willing to reach out beyond themselves. But that does not have to seem daunting. There are many small things we can do that can make a huge difference. So join the conversation: Pew and Beyond.

This is a difficult time for us all. But we do not need to be perplexed.  We can take action, small steps that set us in the direction of flourishing. And who know what that butterfly will look like, when we emerge into the sunlight again.

Announcing the Bishop's Action Appeal 2020

“I am asking for your support with the Bishop’s Action Appeal 2020”

— Bishop Mary Irwin Gibson

Our local missions need your support As you might know, the pandemic has adversely affected the financial situation of the diocese. Yet, we are committed to ...

Mission Standing Committee Shifts its focus to homelessness

A Report from the Standing Committee on Mission
The impact of COVID-19 on services to our local homeless population.

In the Greater Montreal area, there are many missions and outreach organizations either directly related to the Diocese or supported by various parishes. The Mission Standing Committee conducted an informal survey of some of those centres. We are committed to being a resource to you for information on how the church and church members can support these and other outreach organizations.

For the most part we have concentrated on “day centres” recognizing as we do, the vital role and services they provide to this vulnerable population. Our conversations focused on the impact the pandemic is having on their clients and the ability of the centres to meet those needs. You can find the report here.

To find out more about homelessness click here.

Learn more about the Mission Committee...

Announcing Domenic Ruso as Synod Speaker 2020

Our Synod speaker is Domenic Ruso, PhD the founding pastor of 180 Church in Laval. Born and raised in Montreal, Dom's early faith experiences came from going to a Roman Catholic Church and later experiencing an added understanding of his faith within a Protestant context. Having ministered in other provinces and returned to found a Church, Domenic has a thorough understanding of the challenges of faith community in the Quebec context.

Domenic completed an M.A. in Early Church Studies at Concordia University and most recently finished his PhD in Historical Theology under the supervision of Dr. David Neelands, Trinity College, University of Toronto, with a focus on Hermeneutical themes and the writings of Richard Hooker. He thus has a deep grasp of Anglicanism and is ideally positioned to help us navigate our way through the challenging missional context in which we find ourselves. Dom regularly partners with different churches who have a deep love for the province of Quebec and a desire to reach people for Christ.

Learn more about Synod 2020

Photos from Recent Ordination to the Diaconate

Congratulations to Debrah Mae Galt, B.Th.and Susan Mona-Marie Searle B.A., M.A., Dip.Min. on their recent ordination to the Diaconate

Introducing the environmental film "The Seed"

"The Seed" is six-and-a-half-minute film that takes us on an allegorical journey through a fallen world. This simple yet authentic parable reflects the serious reality of the climate crisis and environmental degradation without succumbing to futility or despair.

Watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=343250426769513

For theological questions and further resources https://www.montreal.anglican.ca/latest-news/2020/9/23/a-new-resource-for-the-season-of-creation

An Opportunity for Leaders of Children, Youth & Family Ministry

An Opportunity for Leaders of Children, Youth & Family Ministry

Calling all children, youth and family ministry peeps! You are invited to be a part of a conversation with the Animator for Youth Ministries at The Anglican Church of Canada.
Ask questions, share ideas and listen to other leaders as we navigate the uncharted territory of ministry during a pandemic.
To register, click "going" on the FB event or email lmatthews@montreal.anglican.ca

Monday, October 26th 2020 7pm EST What to expect?

• A spirit of encouragement and hope but honest and real

• Ideas to implement and adapt to your unique context

• Inspiration for your ministry to keep you motivated

• Peer support from other practitioners who are navigating the same challenges

Register HERE

View the Webinar on Faith Formation & Community for Church Leaders HERE

The final installment in The Anglican Diocese of Montreal's 3 part webinar series supporting digital ministry for Church leaders, took place on Friday, Octob...

A Celebration of Ministry: Ordination to the Diaconate Debrah Mae Galt, B.Th.

A Celebration of Ministry: Ordination to the Diaconate Debrah Mae Galt, B.Th.

God willing, Friday, October 2nd, celebrating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, at 7pm at the St. Barnabas Church, Pierrefonds, QC, Bishop Mary Irwin Gibson intends to ordain Debrah Mae Galt, B.Th., to the vocational diaconate. As restrictions during this pandemic limit the number of people present for in-person worship, you are invited to join us on line on our Diocesan YouTube channel to celebrate this ordination.