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Dear friends in Christ,
It is less than a week until our 31st BC Christian Ashram Retreat. If you are close enough, I would encourage you to strongly consider joining us for this key time of renewal and discipleship.
Bishop Sandy Greene*, our keynote speaker, just e-mailed me from Kigali, Rwanda where he is attending the provincial House of Bishops meeting. Bishop Sandy commented that he will be giving a series of talks on "God's Healing Presence" for the weekend. He also noted: "Please pray that I am following the Lord's lead on this. My sense is that there may be some who are weary of the battle within and outside the church and need a time of refreshing from the LORD. Pray that he may be glorified in what we do. Grace and Peace in Christ Jesus, +Sandy"
I have had the privilege of meeting Bishop Sandy in person at the last three Anglican Mission in America Winter Conferences, and each time have been deeply impressed by his warm pastoral heart, and his commitment to the healing of the whole person. You will not want to miss this wonderful Retreat.
Yours in God's Healing Waters,
Ed Hird+
http://www.anglicanmissioninamerica.org/amia/index.cfm?ID=DF1ECBB6-6013-4CC2-8829278CB13B8544 *The Rt. Rev. Alexander Maury (Sandy) Greene is Bishop-in-Residence at the Anglican Church of the Spirit, after serving five years as Rector of Christ Episcopal Church. Before coming to Denver he was rector of St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea, Destin, Florida. Sandy's passion in the ministry has been the raising up and mentoring of clergy and lay leaders. He is a graduate of Yale University and the General Theological Seminary. Moreover, he has experienced a lifetime of training in ministry and congregational leadership from a number of clergy and many gifted lay folk in parishes that he has served.
Bishop Greene is also working with emerging Hispanic ministries within the Anglican Mission in the United States and Puerto Rico. He and his wife Georgeanna or "Gigi," are celebrating over thirtyfive years of marriage. They have four sons, three daughters-in-law and a grandson.
1a) http://www.christianashram.org/ 2005 British Columbia Christian Ashram Retreat Thursday July 28th, 2005 (6 pm) to Sunday July 31st, (12 noon) at Camp Alexandra, 2916 McBride Avenue, Crescent Beach (White Rock) Brochure: Click on http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/Ashram%202005%20brochure.pdf Guest Speakers: Bishop Sandy Greene of Colorado (Anglican Mission in America) & Pastor Todd Wiebe, Sutherland Church, North Vancouver To register, phone 604-533-5509 Click on http://members.shaw.ca/bc.christian.ashram/ for more info.
1b) http://ashram.modular.intuisite.com/site/Templates/template4.aspx?tabindex=4&tabid=65
Click on the above weblink to find a Christian Ashram in Canada and the USA
2a) http://www.st-timothy.com/ Ordination Service of:
Rev. Ken Bell and Rev. Dr. David Bowler
*Sunday August 28th 2:30 PM*
*St. Timothy's Anglican Church North Vancouver *
Lynn Valley Rec Centre 3590 Mountain Highway
Bishop TJ Johnston, a Rwandan Bishop on behalf of our five International Anglican Primates, will preside.
Please come and celebrate with us. For any additional information please contact Rev. Ken Bell at 604-908-4659 or kenbell@shaw.ca
2b) http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0507.html Raising Up Timothys (at St. Timothy) an article for the July 2005 Deep Cove Crier One of the greatest privileges in life is to be involved in raising up the emerging generations. What is the point of learning and growing, if we don't pass it on?
2c) http://nsnews.com http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/nsnews016.html Trouble Right Here in River City an article for the July 15th 2005 North Shore News 'Spiritually Speaking' column There are few things that thrill me as much as seeing young people pull together and put on a high-quality school musical.
The Vancouver Alpha Training Conference will be held on Tuesday, August 23rd and Wednesday, August 24th, hosted by Northview Community Church in Abbotsford.
Your support is also appreciated in not only attending the conference but in promoting it to your leaders and personal contacts.
We are excited about the NEW 2 track Alpha Conference offered for the first time in BC!
Track One: For clergy and lay people who would like to start the Alpha Course - a 10 week thought provoking exploration of Christianity in a relaxed, friendly and fun setting
Track Two: For those already running the Alpha Course and who would like to enhance the performance of their course
Register online now at www.alphacanada.org & click on "Conferences"
Questions? Email : vancouver2005@alphacanada.org Local Tel #: 604.851.0220 Toll Free Tel #: 1.877.857.0220
3b) http://www.alphacanada.org/nationalinitiative2005/index.html 40 Day Prayer Blitz, Aug 6--Sept 15
This summer's Alpha Invitation is all about inviting God to change hearts. Alpha teams across Canada will be encouraged to participate in focused prayer activities in support of fall courses. The Alpha Prayer Blitz!
For the past two summers churches in Canada have sent "An Invitation to the Nation" through a combination of national billboard advertising, lawn signs, church banners, community events and personal invitations. The campaigns have resulted in more and younger guests, many with little or no church background.
Alpha's National Initiative 2005 includes some of the previous elements, but the main focus this year is Prayer.
A three minute video to publicize this year's initiative and to inspire churches to pray with renewed focus has been filmed in conjunction with NOW TV. A shorter version will be distributed as a public service announcement to TV stations across the country.
Churches will again be able to order banners, lawn signs and car stickers and to continue to promote public awareness of Alpha through community events and local purchase of billboard and transit shelter advertisements.
However, the main thrust of the National Initiative 2005 will be an admission of complete dependence on God. Ideas to initiate a variety of exciting prayer activities are included throughout these National Initiative pages.
Nicky Gumbel will launch the Prayer Blitz on August 6th at the Alpha Conference in Toronto and is scheduled to appear on 100 Huntley Street the week of August 3rd. The Prayer Blitz will culminate with a nation wide prayer party September 15th just as Alpha courses start again in the fall.
To join this Canada wide Prayer Blitz, begin today by selecting your prayer blitz activities. Join forces with your Alpha Leadership to set your local plan in motion! Click here for a list of prayer blitz activities http://www.alphacanada.org/nationalinitiative2005/ideas.html .
4) http://www.watchmen.org/OneHeart/ The One Heart Gathering In less than a week, thousands of believers, from Canada and many other nations, will gather in Quebec City for the One Heart gathering. We are no longer taking pre-registrations for the One Heart Gathering Walk in registrations will be available on site at the Convention Center on Thursday July 28th from 10 am onward. Please note: the office is now closed as we prepare for the gathering. In the case of an emergency please leave voicemails as we will be checking these regularly
July 28-31, 2005 members of the body of Christ from many denominations, ages, ethnos, and regions of Canada will gather together in Quebec City for the One Heart Gathering. They will be joined there by delegations of believers from many nations of the world.
The One Heart Invitation A Marriage is Coming to Canada! Part 1 http://www.watchmen.org/News/OneHeart-vision1.asp Part 2 http://www.watchmen.org/News/OneHeart-vision2.asp One Heart is about God's heart - about preparing a unified body in submission to one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The One Heart Vision - Stream Large Video http://www.watchmen.org/RM/oneheartL.ram | Stream Small Video http://www.watchmen.org/RM/oneheartS.ram David Demian explains the vision for One Heart. Includes a music video of "For the Sake of Your Glory" by Heather Clark.
There is a wedding coming to Canada! Jim Goll In June 2004, Jim Goll gave this prophetic word about the significance of the union of French and English in Canada as a precursor to birthing a new apostolic era.
Click here to hear this prophetic word (requires Real Player) http://www.watchmen.org/RM/JimGoll.ram Click here to read a transcript of this prophetic word. http://www.watchmen.org/OneHeart/JimGoll.asp Jim Goll A marriage is coming, a marriage is coming, a marriage is coming into Canada. And in this case, the bride and the groom are England and France. And the bride and groom are not going to have a divorce but the bride and groom are going to be married.
And the Lord will take the redemptive gifts of the French mystics of old and the prophetic anointing that was on the Huguenots. And He is going to wed it with the regal understanding and the teacher anointing upon the English. And the word and the spirit shall be wedded together.
And I had one vision before I came here. And the prairie grass fires are going to burn again.
There was an outpouring of the spirit. There were some twins that the anointing fell on - it was a parable and we didn't know it. And I am giving you an after the fact interpretation of what God birthed somewhere, not far away from here. Somewhere not far away from here the Holy Spirit fell on some twins. And I am here to tell you that God is going to fall upon the twins of the English and French. The English and the French inheritance.
And they shall not repel, but there shall be a union. There shall be a joining of the redemptive giftings of the English and French. And it shall be mingled and brought together in this nation. There is going to be something different is going to happen and the spirit of adoption shall come upon the nation. And there is going to be a birthing that is going to happen in the church and the offspring that is going to come is going to carry the mystical and the teaching, the school of the word and the school of the spirit brought together to bring about a new apostolic era. A new apostolic opportunity because we have the privilege of writing history before the throne of the Almighty.
Gathering Details: The who, what, where, when, why of everything you need to know to attend One Heart. http://www.watchmen.org/OneHeart/details.asp Background Articles: Restoring Honour to the French http://www.watchmen.org/News/restoring-honor.asp Healing Canada's Wounds: The Courtship http://www.watchmen.org/News/healing-the-courtship.asp
p.s. from Ed+: Two summers ago, I had the privilege of traveling in a 'La Danse' Tour http://ladanse.ca/ across Canada by bus for 3 & ½ weeks with 270 Francophone and Anglophone believers, seeking reconciliation for our nation of Canada. The 'One Heart' Conference in Quebec City is the culmination of this courtship process between Francophones and Anglophones in Canada. If you can't be there in person, please be sure to hold this key event up in your prayers, that our nation may be one in Christ Jesus. Feel free to check out some articles on francophone/anglophone reconciliation that I wrote as a result of the 'La Danse' tour
http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0307.htm God Keep Our Land Glorious & Free http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0309.htm Our Home & Native Land http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/nsnews010.html The 400th Anniversary of Samuel de Champlain & Sieur de Monts http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/nsnews010F.html Le 400ième anniversaire de Samuel de Champlain et Sieur de Monts http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0312.html Samuel & Helene de Champlain: a 400-year old Canadian Couple http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0312F.html Samuel et Hélène de Champlain: un vieux couple canadien de 400 ans. http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/nsnews011.html Louis Riel: Canadian Patriot? http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0403.html The Passion of Louis Riel http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0403f.html 'La passion de Louis Riel' http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/nsnews011f.html Louis Riel: Patriote Canadien ?
5a) http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jul/05072005.html LifeSiteNews.com Wednesday July 20, 2005 Canadian Evangelical Christians React to Homosexual 'Marriage' Law - We "Cannot Accept"
OTTAWA, July 20, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) is deeply saddened by the passage of Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act, and its implications for family and religious freedom in Canada. "Today our government has chosen to redefine the foundational institution of our society," says Bruce Clemenger, president of the EFC. "The consequences of this massive social experiment have not been fully examined or understood."
"With the passage of this legislation, the government has reconfigured marriage as a primarily adult-centered institution, and surrendered its ability to champion the rights of children to know and be raised by a mother and a father," says Clemenger.
By reason of faith, conscience, practice and teaching, the EFC cannot accept this new definition of marriage," says Clemenger. "Evangelical pastors and congregations will continue to celebrate and promote marriage as the exclusive and enduring union of one man and one woman."
"Further, we will continue to use the language of husband and wife and promote marriage as the real and symbolic affirmation of, and commitment to, the child's right to know and experience a mother and a father."
The EFC has been working to preserve the historic definition of marriage, both in the courts and before Parliament, for over a decade.
"The unique, distinct nature of heterosexual marriage is no longer recognized in our law and public policy, but we will continue to promote and teach the biblical understanding of marriage in our families and churches."
The EFC's director of law and public policy, Janet Epp Buckingham, says, "There is little doubt that religious freedom will be compromised by this change in the definition of marriage. The amendments to the bill will provide some measure of protection for religious freedom, but they are not sufficient and cannot address the consequences of this legislation in areas of provincial responsibility."
Since marriage is primarily a religious institution with civil and social consequences, it is inevitable that conflicts will arise. Buckingham says, "Despite the very real threats to freedom of conscience and religion, we will not allow fear of recrimination or prosecution to dictate what our faith community believes and teaches in this regard. Marriage was not created by the state but was recognized by the state for certain purposes. Therefore, it cannot be changed by the state."
Buckingham says, "The EFC will continue to press for the freedom to dissent from the new legal definition of marriage and its consequences, and work to ensure the provinces and territories enact legislation to protect freedom of religion and conscience in this regard."
5b) http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jul/05072006.html CATHOLIC BISHOPS RESPOND TO THE NEW ANTI-FAMILY LAW LifeSiteNews.com Wednesday July 20, 2005 Catholic Bishops on Gay 'Marriage' Law - "Catholics are to Continue to Oppose It"
OTTAWA, July 20, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) reacted to the enactment of the Canadian law allowing homosexual 'marriage' saying "Catholics are to continue to oppose it, and to ensure that all provincial and territorial regulations on the solemnization of marriages provide full protection for freedom of conscience and religion, as guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms."
The CCCB praised Canadians of all faiths and of none who defended the "universal definition of marriage". However it had other words for Catholic politicians who supported the legislation.
"Unfortunately, there are also some Catholics who have promoted the redefinition of marriage, including politicians who have voted in its favour," said the CCCB. "In this regard, they are in dissent from the teaching of the Church as enunciated by the Holy Father and the Bishops. This is a serious and problematic matter."
The bishops note that the debate over the redefinition of marriage "is far from over" and "will be a significant issue in the upcoming federal election."
The CCCB revealed that the Roman and Eastern Catholic Bishops of Canada will be studying the immediate ramifications of new law. "Pastors and all the faithful can be assured there will be further reflections by this Conference and from individual Bishops to assist in the ongoing defence of marriage and family life."
6) http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/aroundtheweb/ http://theage.com.au/articles/2005/07/20/1121539032256.html?oneclick=true Mormons challenge apostate scientist By Linda Morris, The Age Newspaper, Australia July 21, 2005 A molecular biologist with the CSIRO is facing possible ex-communication from the Mormon Church after writing a book challenging its central teachings.
Simon Southerton was raised a believer but abandoned the church in 1998 when he could not reconcile his faith with scientific research.
Last year he published a rebuttal of the Book of Mormon teachings that Native American and Polynesian ancestors came from ancient Israelite tribes who had migrated to the Americas centuries before Christ.
In Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church, Dr Southerton challenged the church to declare the Mormon scriptural text an "inspired fictional story".
"The DNA evidence we have today clearly shows that Native Americans and Polynesians are both descended from Asian ancestors," he said.
"Greater than 7000 Native Americans have been DNA tested and greater than 99 per cent of their DNA came from Asia."
Last week the Canberra-based Dr Southerton was summoned to appear before a church disciplinary council on July 31. AdvertisementAdvertisement
He has not been charged with heresy, but the lesser charge of adultery for which he could be disciplined or expelled.
"It's very odd for the church to snoop on somebody who has not been in church for seven years and hasn't had visitors from the church during that time and to call them to the disciplinary council," Dr Southerton said.
"This leads me to suspect that the motivation is my widely known apostasy.
"If that is the case why isn't the church addressing the much more serious charge?"
The religion, which has its headquarters in Utah in the United States, claims more than 100,000 followers in Australia.
A church spokeswoman, Jenny Harkness, referred questions on DNA to the church's official website, which claimed attacks on the veracity of the Book of Mormon based on DNA evidence were ill considered.
Nothing in the Book of Mormon precluded migration into the Americas by peoples of Asiatic origin, it said.
Ms Harkness said the church was a voluntary association and membership came by "obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel".
Church disciplinary councils could require counselling, limit participation in church activities such as praying in church meetings or in extreme cases, loss of membership.
Resignation was an option, Dr Southerton said, but if the church did not "feel pressure from the outside world", the church would not see any reason to face the flaws in their teachings.
7) http://acicanada.ca/node/30 Pender Congregation Purchases Land for New Church Submitted by bamayo on July 12, 2005 - 8:41pm. In an unanimous decision, the membership of Christ The Redeemer Anglican Church, Pender Harbour British Columbia, one of the founding ACiC (Anglican Communion in Canada) congregations, voted on Monday, July 12th, to purchase a 1 acre property in Madeira Park BC on which they hope to build their future sanctuary and ministry centre. This small congregation of 120 were evicted from their buildings 6 weeks ago by the Diocese of New Westminster and have taken up temporary Sunday residence in a Pender Harbour performance facility. Their Senior Pastor, the Rev. Barclay Mayo, reports that almost half of the cost of the property has already been pledged, as well as monthly amounts in excess of tithes, that are sufficient to cover the remaining mortgage. Another donor has provided interest free monies to cover the mortgage. "It is clear that God has his hand in this", said Mayo, "Even before we had handed over the keys to the other buildings, God had begun to stir people's hearts to look to the future." The congregation asks for your prayers as they seek creative ways to raise the needed funds to begin building.
8) http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/ Bishop Smith of Connecticut inhibits Hansen 13th July 2005 Bishop Smith of Connecticut, USA, has inhibited Mark Hansen, the rector of St John's Bristol, removing him from office despite the full support of his wardens and vestry. In a move being described as "Kremlinesque" and "Egregious", the locks on the church have been smashed and replaced, the Rector's personal pastoral files have been raided and the church website has also been removed with the domain redirecting to the diocese site. More Coverage on the Connecticut Six Blog, click on http://www.ctsix.org/index.cfm
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