Confirmation

At church this weekend my wife and I (and three friends) celebrated our confirmation. It was a really great service. We have such wonderful leaders in the Diocese of Qu'Applle. Our priest, Fr. Allen Doerksen, has been such a formative influence for my wife and I throughout these past 12 months of exploration. And this area is very fortunate to have the very wise (and hilarious) Bishop Gregory at the helm.

It's interesting that after growing up in free-church traditions, such as Mennonite Brethren and Christian & Missionary Alliance, I've really come to feel at home in an Anglican context. Liturgy has a way of gluing itself to your bones. Once it's in you, it's there to stay.

A few funny moments from the morning:

At our rehearsal before the service, we were up at the front, reading through the confirmation liturgy with the Bishop, and I realized I had accidentally turned to the "Ordination of Bishops" section. Woops! A little ahead of myself... I got that straightened out before "showtime"...

Also, after the service concluded, a sweet old lady came over to me, shook my hand and said, "Welcome to the club!" I love old people! They are an inspiring bunch, those who have remained committed to their faith for almost as many decades as there are seasons of Smallville! What better "club" to be part of than one full of these kinds of folks!

During the Bishop's sermon, he noted that "the Church is always one generation away from extinction." One elderly man told us, "It can be discouraging to imagine what will become of the church in the next generation, but when I see young people like you doing this [becoming confirmed], I'm filled with hope."

I doubt I'll ever sign up for ordained ministry, but I'm definitely in for the lay-person long-haul. I'm excited by the need for leadership in the church today, and the great challenges that are sure to come.

It's a good day to be Anglican!

Challenging Words at the Royal Wedding

I'm a big fan of clergy who assertively speak their minds within our increasingly relativistic culture. Two of the clergy who spoke at the Royal wedding, Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Cantebury) and Richard Chartres (Lord Bishop of London and Dean of Her Majesty's Chapels Royal), made strong statements about marriage and the place God holds in people's lives.

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable 

Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, 

Primate of All England and Metropolitan

The Archbishop said this directly before leading the couple through their vows:

"I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful."

The Right Reverend and Right Honourable 

Dr Richard Chartres KCVO, 

Lord Bishop of London and 

Dean of Her Majesty's Chapels Royal

Next, the Lord Bishop of London, who gave the homily, said this about marriage and God's place in the lives of Western people:

"As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We're all incomplete. We all need the love which is secure rather than oppressive. We all need mutual forgiveness in order to thrive. But as we move toward our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us, and can increasingly fill our lives with light. And this leads on to a family life, which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can receive and exchange those gifts, which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit whose fruits are love and joy and peace."

Good and challenging words.

(via http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8479433/Royal-wedding-the-Order-of-Service-in-full.html)

St. Aidan's new internet home

St. Aidan Anglican Church has a new website. Check it out: mjanglican.org.

10 Baptisms Today!

Today, church at The Gathering was truly wonderful. I always greatly enjoy baptismal services -- it's always so encouraging to hear people's stories, and to watch those who care about them come around with encouraging words of edification and scripture. This morning was more memorable than many others I've witnessed. Originally there were five people to be baptised. Interestingly, the first two quoted the same scripture, Acts 22:16, in which Paul asks, "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised, and wash your sins away, calling on his name." Taking this as a cue, Kevin and Sean (pastors) announced to those gathered, "If anyone of you feels led to respond to these words this morning, then, 'What are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised, and wash your sins away, calling on his name'!"

The result was powerful. As the remaining three 'originally scheduled' people were baptised, five more came forward! It was wonderful to see these ten people declare their union with Christ today.

I love these services. Watching each one go under, and resurface anew, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for what God has done through his Messiah for us. What a powerful image Jesus has left us with in baptism, that of entering into his death with him, and rising again.