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Join us for the following events:

Go and Tell -  (Potluck supper series 5:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m.)

16 Apr.  Thurs.  -  Guest Speaker -  Archdeacon Matt Kieswetter 5:00-7:00 p.m. 
23 Apr. Thurs.  -    Guest Speaker - Rev'd Deacon Stephanie Donaldson. 5:00-7:00 p.m.  
30 Apr.  Thurs.  -  Guest Speaker - Bishop Todd Townshend. 5:00-7:00 p.m.  

Three different speakers share their views and explore Jesus' direction to Mary to Go and Tell.

Join us in these learning opportunities where we come together to find out, discuss new ideas, share insights, and develop understanding in a friendly environment. We start with a Potluck supper at 5:00 p.m.

John 20:17 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb, 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her.
 

Sermon Question for this week:

Having heard about the Resurrection, what will you do as you go forward?

Archdeacon Matt Kieswetter discusses "Go and Tell"
Suggestions for a path forward were explained at this presentation.

How might a downtown church, like St. John's,  embrace the instruction to "Go and Tell" - Archdeacon Matt Kieswetter

[Here are notes taken during this presentation. If there are any inaccuracies, please let me know, and they will be corrected.]

 

Two experiences compared: The Music Store & and a parish
  • In many ways the experience managing a music store facing financial problems highlights similarities in managing a church.
  • Working hard and not seeing results; some relief and extra time gained by using the internet, and Amazon sales; vinyl records are making a comeback; CDs have become an area of interest recently; Downtown  services started to attract members to BCP services.
  • Relationships started to grow.
Observation: It was felt that God was at work.
  • The parish church had problems of a similar nature to the Music store.
  • The congregation was revitalized when the late-train service brought into operation; Nigerian community enlivened the congregation; A church in Waterloo closed and its members joined the congregation.
Observation:  You cannot force evangelism, but you can be open to your neighbours in love and kindness, and this seems to be a good starting point.
 
 
Insights from Author David Fitch:  Faithful Presence
  • David Fitch uses three ‘pictures’ or diagrams to describe parish congregations and the way they view their church for the sake of comparison. Each picture below represents a distinct approach to ‘church’.
  • The question asked of the following options is - Which will work the best for us?
 
1 A large, closed circle containing images of chalice, bread
Traditional church, established, closed and inward looking; church buildings which guard power and influence
2 A porous circle (dotted line) containing an image of a house
Good host to neighbours, house/home churches, Bible study, flexible
3 A half circle not quite containing image of city skyscrapers, apartment blocks, with tiny people at ground level
Church is not a building; Christian people being sent out among people, often into a potentially inhospitable environment like the city square; a church congregation which often faces exhaustion, depletion, not building congregation directly, and often without power and influence.
 
Dietrich Bonhoeffer reference
  • Matt, explored a reference made by Bonhoeffer of where Christ on the Cross was seen, at his time of writing, as representing the presence of God but also where He was viewed as being placed there powerless. The image can be considered in contemporary society’s terms as confirming Christ’s weakness where the Church is not trusted and where, in general, natural credibility in it has been eroded.
  • However, Bonhoeffer suggests an alternative view in which Christ’s vulnerability gives us a clue to moving forward to finding relevance, trust and purpose. This vulnerability, for him is a key to understanding how we should move forward.
 
Daniel Berrigan & William Stringfellow (pacifists, anti-war activists) - a helpful reference point
  • A reading from Stringfellow’s book (1964) was shared. I hope this paraphrase captures the gist: 
  • If I were a bishop I would not consecrate buildings but rather focus on depth of passion and involvement, then there can be a deployment of resources. I would walk the city streets, first hear the city, then scout the land to find 500 Christians and live on whatever means of survival is possible. Then, too, go and knock on every door, but then not as the missionary, but rather I would say – ‘we care for you as God cares for you’. That’s all, and there would be no expectations, but just the announcement.
Observations:
  • Ordinarily, the message would be met with suspicion because of the pervasive suspicion and guile in the world. The importance lies firstly in being out in the city.
  • Second, dispel distrust, by not loading the interaction with expectations. There are echoes of similarities with the Disciples as they began to reach out and spread the gospel.
  • You can never listen and learn enough from your community. It is essential to get a sense of what peoples’ needs are first. Spend time where the people are and with the people first.
  • A church that is fighting for the survival of its current structures, buildings is of no consequence, rather it must start anew and not close the circle (the first picture mentioned earlier) and formulate new responses for its current community.
  • The three ‘pictures’ are not intended to point criticism or judgment, but rather to clarify the options that lie ahead. Each has its own merits, but also consequences. The images are intended to promote discussion in finding solutions.
 
Books referred to and recommended
  1. David Fitch: Faithful Presence 2016
  2. Richard Carter: The City is my Monastery, A contemporary rule of life 2021
  3. Graham Cray: On Mission with Jesus: Changing the Default Setting of the Church 2024

Bible Study with Fr. Tom   (Sundays 9:00 a.m.)

This takes place in the Fireside Room 9:00-10:00 a.m. (before 10:30 a.m. service) each week. We are studying the Gospel Based Discipleship framework from the Anglican Church of Canada.
 

 

"LEADING CHANGE" -  (Potluck supper series 5:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m.)

In the fall, we will follow a 5-week Session from the Kingswood University Learning Platform in Sussex,
New Brunswick.
October 15th, 22nd and 29th, November 5th and 12th.
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