For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.    (1 Corinthians 1:18–24)

The cross is the tree of my eternal salvation nourishing and delighting me. I take root in its roots, I am extended in its branches, I am delighted by its dew, I am fertilized by its spirit as by a delightful breeze. The cross is my nourishment when I am hungry, my fountain when I am thirsty, my covering when I am stripped, for my leaves are no longer fig leaves, but the breath of life. This is my safeguard when I fear God, my support when I falter, my prize when I enter combat, and my trophy when I triumph. This is my narrow path, my steep way. This is the ladder of Jacob, the way of angels, at the summit of which the Lord is truly established. This is my tree, wide as the firmament, which extends from earth to the heavens; it is the pillar of the universe, the support of the whole world. . . .

—Anonymous third-century sermon
[“The Paschal History,” The Paschal Mystery: Ancient Liturgies and Patristic Texts, ed. A. Hamman OFM (Staten Island, NY: Alba House, 1969), 64-65.]

Come and join us at the Dean’s Forum, 9 a.m. in the narthex, for conversation about the Cross.  All welcome.

SAD NEWS for the Anglican Church of Canada:

Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord.
And let light perpetual shine upon him.

Friends:

Earlier today, the Anglican Church of Canada lost its Director of Communications and Information Resources and long-time staff member, Sam Carriere. Included below is a section of of the letter Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate, sent to General Synod staff:

It is with much sadness and also much relief that I inform you that our colleague and dear friend Sam Carriere died peacefully at home in the early morning hours of Sunday August 10th. Sam seemed to know his journey would be ending soon and he was very much at peace. As we commend him into the loving arms of Our Lord I ask your prayers for Linda [spouse] who has taken such good care of Sam in these last eight months.

As we were very much a part of Sam’s extended family and circle of close friends it was his wish that a memorial service be held in the Chapel of the Holy Apostles at Church House. That will likely take place in early September. As arrangements are made I will inform you.

In the Peace of Christ

+Fred

“When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ ”  (Matthew 14:14-18)

Sunday Summer Schedule continues at the Cathedral:  Sung Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. with Coffee & Koinonia to follow in the narthex. Come one, come all; Christ is the host, Christ the Feast, all are welcome!

It is with deepest sadness that we say goodbye to our wonderful wife, mother and gran, Fran Sutton. Predeceased by her parents Victor and Lucy, and older brothers, Eric and Jim, she will be deeply missed by husband Bob, son Lloyd, daughter Elaine (Tim Kelly), grandson Riley Sutton, Riley’s mother Andrea Newsom, sisters-in-law Leila Rooke, Hazel Sutton and in-laws Dick and Mary-Lou Sutton, all extended family, friends and special friends Carol and Ron Craig and Bev and Frank Kostiuk.

Fran was born in 1924 on the Rooke farm outside Saltcoats, SK. She was one of the last of a generation of farm kids who went to school on horseback. Moving to Winnipeg, MB after high school, she began her career with the Great West Life Company. Concurrently she joined the parish and the choir of St. John’s Cathedral Anglican Church where she met Bob (who sang bass). Sparks flew across the choir stalls and Bob and Fran married on June 3, 1950

Family life began with the arrival of Lloyd in 1955 and Elaine in 1957 and Fran dedicated herself to being the best mom in the world. Always there with a smile, encouragement, a laugh or advice, she truly loved being a mother. A woman of broad interests, she also enjoyed gardening, oil painting, piano playing, games, needlework and especially her activities with her women’s groups. She had a life-long dedication to the church and her faith was ever present in her day-to-day life.

The family would like to thank the Grace Hospice staff and volunteers for the loving care she received during the last 20 months of her life, to her wonderful Oncologist, Dr. Pat Harris and special thanks to Dean Paul Johnson for his spiritual support and love. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John’s Cathedral, 135 Anderson Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2W 5M9, or to the Grace Hospice through the Grace Hospital Foundation, 300 Booth Drive, Winnipeg, MB R3J 3M7.

The funeral will take place at St. John’s Cathedral, with The Very Rev. Paul N. Johnson presiding, at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 28, with interment to follow in the Cathedral Churchyard.  A light lunch will be served in the John West Hall.

As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on June 25, 2014

NO DEAN’S FORUM

10:30 a.m. Sung Eucharist for Trinity Sunday

Noon or so… Coffee, tea, and koinonia… Christian community

3 p.m. Ordination Service – God willing the following will be ordained priests in the Church of God, within The Anglican Church of Canada:

Allison Christine Chubb
Helen Wanda Holbrook
Kara Dawn Mandryk
Steven Glenn Scribner
Lissa May Wray Beal

Presider: Bishop Don Phillips
Preacher: The Rev. Helen Kennedy
Host: The Very Rev. Paul N. Johnson

Reception to follow in the John West Hall.

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 25:31-46, we are told that when Jesus returns he will ask us how we have treated those who are in need. If you’re not familiar with the passage, it’s well worth taking a few minutes to read the whole passage.

At its May meeting, Vestry voted in favour of a motion for this parish to gather food regularly for Winnipeg Harvest. The severity of the past winter and the increasing number of Winnipeggers who need help to feed themselves and their families have Winnipeg Harvest struggling to keep its shelves stocked. The food gathered by Winnipeg Harvest is distributed to families throughout Winnipeg via its network of some 120 volunteer food banks located in churches, community centres, schools, universities, and more.

Many of those families include children, and they rely on Winnipeg Harvest and its network of neighbourhood food banks to stretch their meagre food budgets. We hope that you will join your fellow parishioners in gathering non-perishable food items to help to stock Harvest’s depleted shelves. As you are able, you are invited to bring at least one of the following items: canned fish (tuna or salmon, packed in water), canned meat (ham, chicken, turkey), canned fruit (packed in its own juice),canned vegetables, canned stew, canned chili, canned brown beans, peanut butter (the less added sugar the better), baby food and infant cereal, wholegrain pasta, packaged brown, converted or parboiled rice, canned spaghetti sauce or tomatoes, high fibre/non-sugary cereals (like oatmeal, Shredded Wheat, Weetabix, Red River cereal, Cream of Wheat),and canned soups (particularly lentil, pea or vegetable soups). Look for the boxes and sign in the narthex.

For more information, contact the Matthew 25 Project co-ordinator Ted Ash at ted.ash@shaw.ca

Oh, just one more thing, why not give thanks for the food which you are privileged to eat, every day, each bite, and every sip of clean, safe water? We’ve earned it, we might be tempted to say, but the truth is different: All is gift from God’s gracious hand. God has given enough for all to share in God’s generosity and abundance. To paraphrase a follower of Jesus who was not a Christian, Mahatma Gandhi, there is enough for the need of all, but not enough for the greed of all. So, what else can we say?

Thanks be to God!

It is with profound sadness that the family announces the very sudden passing of Patrick St Clair Jordan on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at age 83. Left to cherish his memory are; son Curt (Joan), daughter Jo-Anne (Don), grandchildren Chris (Pam), Sean (Maureen), Jennifer (Dustin), Bryan (Chantale) and Tanya. Great-grandchildren Erin, Nicole, Jessica (Jesse), Devon, Ashley, Tori, Marissa, Kyren, Kaden, Brody, Taylor and Alaina. Great-great- grandchildren Zachary, Zoey and Jasmine. Dad was predeceased by his son Allen in 1977, wife Wilma in 1999 and his parents Ken and Margaret and sister Alice. Dad was born in Winnipeg on December 14, 1930. He served with the Merchant Navy and then the Winnipeg Grenadiers from 1953 to 1955. While working as a milkman he met George Love who was the Chief of the North Kildonan Police Department and he offered Dad a job. Dad enlisted on January 15, 1956 and retired on October 21, 1989. Dad loved his time as a policeman and loved to tell stories about his time on the force to whoever would listen. Dad enjoyed meeting his fellow retired police officers for breakfast at the legion and to spend time swapping stories with them. Until the passing of Mom in 1999 Dad loved to travel in their motor home from one end of Canada to the other and numerous trips to Disney World, taking their children, grandchildren family and friends along for the ride. Dad was proud to be a member of the Canadian Merchant Navy and at one time served as the Director of the Manitoba Branch and National Vice President West. Dad will always be remembered for his willingness to always be there for family and lend a hand. He always enjoyed family dinners, but would never turn down the opportunity to dine at one of his favourite restaurants and especially to take a car ride to the Half Moon for a hot dog. According to Dad’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no formal funeral. There will be a private family gathering for the interment at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, a donation may be made in Dad’s memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 200- 310 Broadway Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3C0S6 or a charity of your choice.

0.6 per cent of the world’s 2.2 billion Christians live in the Middle East and North Africa; they make up 4 per cent of the region’s total population, down 20 per cent from a century ago.

93 per cent of the population of the Middle East and North Africa is Muslim; 1.6 per cent is Jewish.

80 per cent of Christians in Israel are Arab-born.

84 per cent of Christian Arabs live in northern Israel, including Haifa.

161,000 Christians, who are permanent residents of Israel, constitute 2.1 per cent of the entire population.

9.5 per cent reside in Jerusalem.

38.8 per cent of non-Christian Arabs live in the Tel Aviv district.

34.4 per cent of non-Christians reside in northern Israel and in Haifa.

22,400 Christians live in Nazareth.

11,900 Christians live in Jerusalem.

3,400 non-Arab Christians live in Haifa.

3,100 non-Arab Christians live in Tel Aviv.

2,900 non-Arab Christians live in Jerusalem.

10.3 per cent of Christians living in Israel are age 65 and older.

Source:  Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life; Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, 2013