Dear Friends, it is my privilege to present to you my third Rector’s report to Annual Vestry. August 2010 will mark the third anniversary of my appointment as Rector

Reflection

We meet today to reflect on the past year and God’s graciousness to us, and to look forward into all that 2010 will be for us. 2009 has been a tumultuous year, and 2010 threatens to be no less challenging. In the midst of global economic chaos, political uncertainty in the world and environment, and the disarray of our own personal lives, we have, nonetheless, experienced God’s grace as a Christian community here at Southern Trinity. Perhaps today’s psalm speaks to the focus that has been ours in the midst of all the darkness that the world has thrust, and continues to thrust, into our lives:

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honour; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62:5-8; NRSV)

There are two motivating factors that have driven my vocation: a desire to make God in Jesus Christ known to others, and a deep desire to overcome the obstacles to relationship created by our living in this fast paced, stressed out world. It may be that my role is to express the need, and that together we commit to explore the possibilities and walk the journey.

Highlights

Looking back over the last year: a personal highlight was being present when Terry Gascoyne was presented with the Bishop’s Award for Excellence; a diocesan highlight was our Diocesan Synod where it was acknowledged that we need to move from a substantially maintenance mode to mission, with a new focus on congregational health and life. There have been a number of parish highlights, much of which will be enumerated in the other reports received by Annual Vestry but which include last years’ SALT Series, Via Media, a new chair lift and our Healing Services which are always times of great spiritual comfort. Our participation in the Colchester clean-up was one I’ll never forget.

One such highlight has been our outreach giving, and the phrase “Abundant Generosity” comes to mind. This may not seem to be very spiritual, but I generally find that the financial strength of a parish is directly proportional to its spiritual depth. Further substantial donations were received that have made possible the ongoing emergency support of families for some months through both the Good Samaritan and our own food cupboard overseen by Michele Scott and Ben Bright.

Outreach

Our involvement in outreach and mission during 2010 has also been considerable. We participated once again in giving to the PWRDF, the Salvation Army Toy Drive and Secret Santa. We have continued to provide food parcels to vulnerable families in Colchester and Harrow, and with the rising cost in food last year the cash value of this outreach is sizeable. The Acre of hope was inspirational and there are plans afoot for next year- farmers truly do feed cities and this acre proved we can support our own and from our abundance support missions in Windsor. Our support of Teen Mission, the Downtown Mission and New Song Church’s soup kitchen in addition to the Harrow food Bank and the Ministerial Loonie Lunches has also continued in a low-key, but ongoing, generous contribution of the “necessities” for our community and beyond. I cannot say thank you enough to the ACW of Christ Church, the CLG folks at St. Andrews and the dedicated women and men at St. Alban’s who keep the doors open the lights on and our basements and parish halls filled with their camaraderie and laughter. You are truly appreciated.

Mission

The Gospel reading this morning reminds us of Jesus calling Simon Peter and his brother Andrew into ministry and mission: And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” (Mark 1:17; NRSV). Our support of the Good Samaritan Program headed up by Derek Davis and Dennis Kosowkowsky has continued to provide for the needs of many. Our youth have taken an exciting trip to Hamilton. Our Lay reader team has been involved in many, many projects. John Scott is a tireless worker for raising awareness of Crohns and Colitis in our community and the country; Jane Buttery extends pastoral care, support and home visits to many who are no longer able to come to church; Margaret Newman in addition to maintaining our website also organizes our annual VBS and finally Derek Davis is my right arm (and often my left foot) as all of us cooperate to bring comfort and healing to our community, the good news to our congregations and witness to the love of God in our lives.

Looking ahead

Each year we have had a good balance of new blood infiltrating the ranks of seasoned campaigners. It is with sadness and much appreciation that the Parish bids Jackie Maitre and Kathy Jorhendt farewell as experienced champions of Parish life at the Board level at Christ Church and also Pearl Huber of St. Andrew's .Their contributions over the years have been considerable, and we trust that they will remain involved in other areas of parish life and ministry.

Over the next months with our new Boards installed we will begin a listening process to better discern where our Parish and our congregations need to develop. The method of appreciative enquiry will build areas of commonality and interest.  I ask that you trust your leadership and fully engage in this process. This is not a short term fix but will become I hope the way we as a Parish communicate effectively with each other so no one feels they have been ignored. We need to emphasise the life affirming actions of our brothers and sisters and reject those actions with tear down our life together. To further our spiritual growth I have added a noon prayer time at St. Andrew’s -starting shortly after noon we come together to pray for our parish and parishioners ourselves and the world please come and join with us in this important ministry. Beginning January 18^th at 7pm we will watch the first of the NOOMA videos and then engage in conversation, discussion and prayer, this series will be 14 weeks long to provide for maximum participation. This is not your grandmother’s Bible study! We will again be having midweek evening services during Lent and the Lenten lunches are going ahead. Ash Wednesday is February 17^th. And so, at least at Board level, it seems we enter a new era. Over the next few years we will work hard to define who we are, our purpose and our values as an Anglican Christian Community in this part of Ontario. The challenge that lies ahead is to define our future: Jim Collins speaks of the importance of a BHAG, a big hairy audacious goal; Stephen Covey speaks of a WIG, a wildly important goal. What is our BHAG, our WIG? We need something that drives us as a Community and impacts on the communities in which we are placed here in Harrow, Colchester and Malden and the surrounding county. I am very sure that God wants us to explore this, yet –I am personally struggling to give this definition. So- much work is to be done. 

Family Life

One of the important briefs of the incoming Board will be to take up the challenge of the Bishop and Diocesan Synod to involve ourselves in “Imagine huron”. We also recognise that the impact of the global economic recession touches us all, and are looking at support for those who may be struggling to meet high levels of debt.

Broad-based parishioner involvement remains a key parish value. Are you involved? If not, why not – what is the cause? It is my expectation that you will participate in parish life, no matter how insignificant your contribution may be. Are you over-involved? Why? It is my expectation that you will constantly and consistently invite others to walk with you in the Parish responsibilities you carry. Proactive face-to-face conversations are the best way forward, and will challenge the perception, that those involved in leadership are over-stretched and over-committed and not listening.

Young People

Paula White, Sunday School coordinator for Christ Church, has resigned in order to focus on her own family, and we need to extend to her both our huge debt of gratitude for the contribution she has made to our young people and children through this ministry. Our young folks continue to receive instruction and are enjoying the programs each congregation has set in place. In addition, our ministry to Teenagers outside of Sunday’s has been given a major injection with the ongoing youth events organized by Jeremy Parsons. He has acknowledged his passion for this ministry and has gathered others around him to give this ministry new life. Our young people’s response is most encouraging. Confirmation Classes start the first Saturday of February and continue until the Deanery Confirmation Service at St. Mary’s, Walkerville.

Thanks

My specific thanks to our outgoing Board members and our wardens for all you have contributed in giving direction to our Parish life during 2009, and to those who in stepping down have created space for new blood.

Thank you to you all! Our parish life would be diminished without your contribution of time talent and resource, however great or small, significant or insignificant; or just by your presence in our midst. The Kingdom of God is built not by the efforts of the individual, but by the collective multiplication of individual actions. I value you all and I thank you.

I especially value the presence of my family Zach, my dad Jack and especially the unfailing support of my husband Ben Bright who has the unenviable job of a clergy spouse. I thank him for taking the helm, raising the main and creating for me the space to just “be”.  I thank Zach for his gift of wonder and enthusiasm for the new and untried and my dad for never assuming I’m un-teachable! I ask your prayers for us as we continue to live and grow among you.

God Bless you into 2010. Rev. Christine+

November 16^th, 200

 Dear Friends in Christ

We are fast approaching the time of year filled with paradox. On one hand we are in the darkest time of the year with days often long with increasing cold; and on the other hand we are preparing to celebrate the birth of the Great Light that burst upon our world 2000 years ago. Nothing has ever been the same after that one momentous event.

At this time of year too, we are invited by the old familiar carols and prayers to gather closer to each other and to the warmth that is our Lord Jesus.

I invite you to “Prepare the way of the Lord” throughout this Advent Season to care for the stranger who may live in darkness; to warmly welcome home those who have been away and to allow the joy-filled music, prayers and fellowship of this season to work its timeless healing.

In this most joyous of seasons, come and celebrate the miracle that is the birth of our Saviour Christ and the promise of a New Year.

Come and be welcomed home.

Dear Friends

  As I look out at the rapidly changing condition of the lake I see clearly a metaphor for who we are as Christians. We are a changeable and   inconsistent people in love with an unchanging, magnificent and impossibly patient God. The one thing we can never do for ourselves is redeem ourselves and for that Jesus was born and Jesus died and rose again in awesome mystery.

Just as we begin to wonder if spring will ever conquer the dark winter, so too can we feel during the season of Lent that the darkness on our own souls will never be healed. But as I have said many times; we stand in darkness but with our faces turned to the ever brightening dawn where all things are revealed in the light which chases away our fears and cleanses us of our sin.

 Lent is the season of giving of oneself-of sacrificial giving; this is reflected in the special services that are offered for you. Please plan to attend one or two you have never experienced before. Our Anglican heritage is our rich liturgy; I invite you to attend and engage in creating this wonderful community.

Jesus invites us to walk with Him into our full person- hood as God has made us- don’t hold back, give all to Jesus as he has given to us even unto death.

Joy immeasurable has broken upon the world and our response can only be joy, gratitude and praise. I urge you to invite others to one of our services to share this message of love to the world. Maybe find the person who used to sit in the pew in front or behind you and reconnect with them, ask if they need a ride to one of the services a visit from me or if they would like a visit from one of our Pastoral Team.

Easter is the season of rebirth and renewal, giving and growth and in the sacrifice of giving we are assured that life is eternal and love is immortal and we need never again be alone.

May the Joy and Love of this season of Easter fill you with the knowledge that God has always and will always love you.

Happy Easter!

Dear Friends in Christ,

Advent has provided a time to focus on and remember that God dwells right here with us. I find it especially challenging to stop still and remember I’m supposed to be waiting and participating quietly in this “little lent!” This is especially hard when I’m dodging traffic and shoppers on my own way to the store.

It’s easy to get swallowed up by anxiety or discouragement, knowing that we are unable to do all the planning and preparations we would like to do before Christmas comes.

I draw inspiration and encouragement when I recognize the acts of kindness that occur spontaneously in our community because we are reminded that our relationships are to mirror our Emmanuel - our God with us. If I can only to pause for a moment; I can recognize the presence of God in the joy, love, care, concern, and peace of those around me.

We also need to be aware of how God is present in those who have very little joy or peace in their lives because of physical, mental condition, financial deprivation or the violence of their personal lives. It is here that we meet Christ. Busyness can dull our awareness of the presence of Emmanuel God with us.

Let us listen for the voice of God, and what God would have us be. This year alone in our parish community we delivered 7 Christmas hampers and were able to deliver much needed emergency help to families who need a finacial bridge to better times.

This year let us also take steps to grow your faith in God, a faith that will enable you to expect the unexpected. Begining in Lent I will offer an 8 week course- a follow-up to the “Alpha” courses that you may have heard of. We must be more than hearers of he word we must also be active witnesses to the Birth, Life, death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Our life in Christ challenges us to listen to God in prayer. If we listen to God, through prayer and try to be open I believe we can trust that we will make good decisions as we together work through our dreams for this community of faith. To this end I have invited Diocsean staff to come and lead our Boards of Management in a day of visioning and retreat. This will help put thier ministry in perspective and strengthen our spiritual leaders. This will be a time to reflect on our past and plan for the future.

God is with us if only we can slow down long enough to see.

Peace and Joy to you this Wondrous Season,

Reverend Christine+

Dear Friends,

I cannot believe 3 months have gone by with no letter! We have had a very eventful Fall so far. Beginning the first Sunday in Sept. with a special Eucharist to celebrate St. Aidan at Christ Church, the an amazing Harpist who witnessed and played beautiful and haunting Paraguayan music at St. Andrew's and of course our Parish-wide confirmation held at St. Alban's with Bishop Bob presiding, to this passed Sunday the Blessing of the Pets. Meat pies have been made (with more to come I hope) and Sunday schools have started.

Our buildings to have all be getting some attention too, St. Alban's got a new roof, St. Andrew's is now actively pursuing accessibility options and Christ Church has ordered a new sign to replace the old.

Our youth initiative to serve the needy in Windsor on Oct. 4th was a huge success many many thanks to the ACW who's generosity produced (along with many others) amazing amounts of food delivered to New Song Church. Thanks to Derek for driving it all into the city and to Carol Quick who stepped in at the last minute  to shepherd the folks to New Song. Other obligations kept me away but Oct.11th Jeremy Parson's is heading back to help,so if you like me missed the first trip consider volunteering Oct. 11th. I will definitely be their!

I am excited about what the rest of this year holds in store and I hope you will come and check out some of the events. A family supports all members and I would encourage you to attend as many of the events you can possibly fit in. Our parish can be a safe place an exciting place and the best place to explore our faith.

As we enter the time of cool nights and brilliant colour, please remember to invite back into the warmth of our community those folks you haven't seen in the pews in a while. We are called to care for our brothers and sisters and part of that could simply be to just make a phone call and invite them back home. The care nurture we show through our ministries is the drawing card,and the love we have been shown by Christ must be reflected in your courage by reaching out to those who may have been hurt, may have got "too busy" or perhaps personal or family troubles have prevented them from coming to church. This is your chance to live out the command - the call Jesus has placed on your life to love one another as He has loved you. Just take a chance and reach out in love to someone you would love to see in church.