A compelling opera for the biblically-inclined.
posted on December 15, 2009 in In Song
Composer Ronald Beckett’s opera Ruth (1996) is the first in a trilogy of biblical musical dramas. It has been performed in a number of venues in Ontario, including Central, Brantford, where Beckett is music director. The CD of the opera lasts just over an hour, and is performed by a chorus of Israelites, a chorus of youths, and soloists who portray the characters Ruth, Naomi, Boaz and a Narrator.
A Christmas tale of life, love, and frigid Saskatchewan nights.
posted on December 15, 2009 in Wondering Wanderer
The wind, howling from the heights of the Rockies, lashed tiny snow tornados across the moon-silvered Depression-era prairie. Half a lifetime later, the young man staring into the night would be short and plump, with a fringe of snow-white hair crowning twinkling eyes and a merry smile seeking the next excuse to laugh; but in that frozen hell, laughter seemed ashes of some spiteful dream.
Singing in a non-singing culture.
posted on December 1, 2009 in In Song
Churches are always in need—and sometimes in desperate need—of renewal in their worship arts. Congregational song is one strand in the tapestry of our church life that is dangerously frayed. Part of the problem is that we are not a singing culture.
posted on December 1, 2009 in Wondering Wanderer
With a stack of Kung, Armstrong, Frye and others by my side, I embark on a voyage of biblical exploration. I imagine hearing pitiful screams of tiny angels losing their grip on the crowded heads of pins. Often a phrase will cause me to lift my eyes and gaze out the window. Why didn’t Jesus tell his disciples about the universe his Father created?
Meeting the spiritual needs of the unemployed.
posted on December 1, 2009 in News
An outreach program at Knox, Georgetown, ON
The New Day Drop-In Centre at Knox, Georgetown, Ont., was launched at a January annual meeting when in light of Canada’s economic downturn, session agreed to discuss what it could do to “meet the spiritual and relationship needs of the unemployed in the Georgetown area.”
While there are many government-funded agencies in our community, the co-founders felt that compassion was a missing ingredient. Our response was to create a welcoming, understanding environment where visitors can receive encouragement and interview advice, assistance with action plans to get a job, and direction to the proper agencies.
Of specific interest to us are the recently unemployed who are devastated, angry, totally lost, doubting their self worth and fearing further rejection.
Sandy Ellis, who formerly directed a homeless shelter program, visited local agencies to understand what each one did and to encourage them to send participants to New Day.
A local management consultant was invited to describe the employment environment and how to help job seekers create effective search plans. Ernie Dyck, a local Christian evangelist, gave the volunteers practical instruction for introducing people to the Lord if the opportunity arose.
Our first step was a six-week pilot program where we invited our volunteers, who are familiar with interviewing, hiring and downsizing, to familiarize themselves with their roles, and encouraged congregation members to drop by and discuss the program.
With the enthusiastic support of the congregation, within four weeks we declared the pilot program a success, installed the New Day sign on the church lawn and opened for business.
“It never ceases to amaze us how easily our visitors assimilate with our volunteer group,” Sandy mentioned. “While we often don’t know the outcome of our discussions and support, we do know that some have gone through remarkable transitions.”
We encourage other churches to establish drop-in centres. Helping just one person can make a big difference in his or her life and perhaps in your community. Our churches can indeed make a difference.
posted on December 1, 2009 in News
The first batch of free websites created by the Communications office are now in use by half a dozen congregations and ministries in the Presbyterian church.
The websites, which use WordPress, can be updated with little or no knowledge of website coding languages. The office has also created video tutorials aimed at helping new users understand and update their pages.
“A website is a way for churches to tell their stories,” said Colin Carmichael, associate secretary of Communications. “The only thing it costs is time, and the cost of not having a website is a lot higher than the time it takes to keep one up-to-date. These days, if you don’t have a website, you don’t exist for people looking for a church.”
To find out more, see pccweb.ca. – C.P.
Presbyterians help out PWS&D.
posted on December 1, 2009 in News
PWS&D fundraiser at Glenview, Toronto
An October fundraiser for Presbyterian World Service & Development attracted 140 people and raised $4,752 for the church’s relief and development agency. Ticket sales accounted for just over $3,100 of that total, with a silent auction garnering nearly $1,400 and other donations $175.
“More important than the money raised was the interest in the part of the many who gathered,” said PWS&D director Ken Kim, “who will share the energy and excitement around the work of PWS&D with their own congregations.”
The wine and cheese event was held at Glenview, Toronto, and featured harpist Lori Gemmell of the Kitchener/Waterloo Symphony and CBC’s Tom Allen as storyteller. Both are members of Beaches, Toronto. Heather Chappell (program assistant with Stewardship and Education for Mission) and Vince Peets were musical guests.
PWS&D launched an appeal in mid-September, announcing they were projecting a shortfall of nearly half a million dollars in 2009. Not wanting to reduce program support, staff members are hoping to garner last minute donations before the end of the year.
“Historically, PWS&D receives 40-45 per cent of its entire year’s donations in the last quarter of the year,” said senior administrator, Colleen McCue. “We are hopeful that during the upcoming Advent season, people will prayerfully and financially support PWS&D’s life-changing programs.”
Is there anything scarier?
posted on December 1, 2009 in Pop Christianity
Here’s one of my favourite stories.
It appeared in the March 2005 Record in an article on Crieff Hills Community, a retreat centre north of Toronto: “A professor at a Christian college … was curious [about retreats]. The weekend challenged him to the very core of his being. … ‘How could I have been so wrong?’ he asked, and ‘What am I going to tell my wife and my colleagues?’”
That last line cuts into me – I can imagine him sitting down with his family: “So, I had this spiritual awakening and, well, our life and the way we’ve approached everything is all wrong …” There goes the marriage and with that some friends and family; there goes the job and with it financial security. And all because the poor man had a spiritual awakening. Once you’ve been there, you can’t go back. And suddenly in the eyes of your comfortable world, you’re a crazy person.
Spiritual awakenings are killers; and, they happen all the time. Perhaps that’s why, on a very deep level of our psyche we know to avoid them. We layer ourselves with self-justifications, with (in my case) intellectualism, with (in the case of many churches) bureaucracy. We avoid the stuff that can ignite a fire in us. You might remember our May issue this year which carried a survey of the Presbyterian Church by its members which showed we are not big on reading the Bible, prayer or evangelism in general. Perhaps we’re afraid of spiritual awakenings.
Putting a magazine together every month is an organic process: some articles take years to percolate, others just sorta kinda land in our laps. The cover story in the April issue came out of a presbytery’s effort to redefine what it means to be a leader. It was a powerful and emotional process; and presented a new way of thinking. The next month was the national survey with a harrowing portrait of the Canadian Presbyterian Church. Earlier in the year we had a story about the hard work done by chaplains; and then a story on clergy depression. In the fall, an article ostensibly on rural ministry, which challenged the whole church to rethink its polity. In case you’ve forgotten, here’s the challenge: “I can find no clear warrant in scripture for the practice of ordination to Word and Sacrament as we now practice it.”
Amongst other articles over the year, we had two of our leading teachers present a series called Theology 101. Along the way we had other theological articles as well – on how to read the Bible (deeply, carefully, widely), on communion, on the sermon, on looking at Judeo-Christian icons from a Muslim perspective.
I wish I could claim the editorial team designed and planned all these ahead of time. But, I know, it is serendipitous. For example, in the October issue four people – David Webber, Calvin Brown, Roland DeVries, Liz Stark – wrote on similar themes in four different ways. I wish I could claim credit for the happy accident. And, in this organic mixture of articles, I see a portrait of this Presbyterian Church.
I see a body of believers, inching towards a spiritual awakening. Trepidatiously, of course. I can glimpse it clearly in stories of local churches and their community efforts. One of my favourite stories was in March, of St. Andrew’s, Duncan, B.C., which turned an expanse of grass into a community garden. They called it Redemption Gardens, a name that resonates on so many levels.
The congregation calls itself fearless, and you have to be to get your hands dirty with community. One deed morphs into another and the good folks at St. A’s, Duncan, find themselves with a preschool program, an internet café, and free trade initiatives. This is what happens with spiritual awakenings; you start doing church instead of merely being at church. And suddenly, before you know it, you’re an evangelist, because you allowed a person with few resources to grow her own tomatoes.
And that tomato is a direct by-product of a baby born in a manger 2,000 years ago! Put that way, I fear a spiritual awakening coming.
posted on December 1, 2009 in People & Places
Robert and Marie Bates have served Zion, Sunnidale Corners, Ont., as elders for a combined 50 years. Robert since 1970 (24 years as clerk of session) and Marie since 1988. They were surprised with a barbeque and presented with gifts, including some cash for a mission of their choice.
posted on December 1, 2009 in People & Places
John Haskill turned 100 on July 2nd. He’s seen here with his St. Paul’s, Port Hope, Ont., elder Bryan Sherry looking at some of the birthday cards he recieved.
posted on December 1, 2009 in Letters
Re Rooted and Grounded, September
If the Christian community (and society in general) wants well-functioning youth – and therefore, eventually healthy adults – we need to establish a progressive governmental act that would see high school education curriculums include mandatory courses on child psychology and rearing that would commence in, perhaps, grade 10.
Unfortunately, many people refuse to think before they act and are procreating without enough time available to spend with their young offspring, as well as without enough appropriate child-rearing knowledge. Thus, dysfunctional offspring – and perhaps future violent bullies, racists and even violent criminals – are being created.
Such education should be instituted, especially considering the fact that a child is vulnerable to dysfunctional thought processes in later years because of even a seemingly small flaw in rearing during his/her first six years of life.
posted on December 1, 2009 in News
Elizabeth Brewer joined the Ministry and Church Vocations office on Nov. 3, replacing Jeffrey Crawford as program manager. An elder and administrator at Runnymede, Toronto,
Brewer is currently completing a master’s degree in religious education at Knox College, which she intends to finish in May. Crawford left
the position this summer to work as youth consultant for the Synod of Central, North-eastern Ontario and Bermuda. – C.P.
posted on December 1, 2009 in Benediction
posted on December 1, 2009 in People & Places
The Mission, Outreach and Evangelism team at St. Andrew’s, Lethbridge, managed every aspect of its mandate by taking on a special project to raise food and funds for two local food banks, Lethbridge Food and the Interfaith Food Bank. They collected 277 kilograms of food, and $1,583.16 in cash; and then matched it to raise the total value to $4,384. The food and money was distributed evenly between the two food banks. From left: Bob Epp, Rev. Hugh Jack and Gary Van Voorst all from St Andrew’s; Mandy DeCecco-Kolebaba receiving the cheque for the Lethbridge Food Bank, and Terry Basaraba also from St Andrew’s. On our website, visiting the Interfaith Food Bank.
Left to right: Rev .Hugh Jack, Terry Basaraba from St Andrew’s, Danielle McIntyre receiving the cheque for the Interfaith Food Bank, and Bob Epp and Gary Van Voorst,also from St. Andrew’s.
posted on December 1, 2009 in News
ENI – A Muslim group that opposes the maintenance in Canada of Shariah, part of Islamic law, is calling on the federal government to ban the wearing of the burqa in public, saying it “marginalises women.”
In addition to the burqa, a shroud that covers the entire body with only a mesh screen for the eyes, the Muslim Canadian Congress is also calling for a ban on the niqab, a head and face covering that allows only a slit for the eyes.
“In Canada we recognise the equality of men and women,” said Farzana Hassan, a spokesperson for the MCC. “We want to recognise gender equality as an absolute. The burqa marginalises women.”
The issue is also one of public safety said Hassan, noting that, “To cover your face is to conceal your identity.”
The Canadian Islamic Congress meanwhile, argued that the right to wear the garments is protected by Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
posted on December 1, 2009 in News
“We know there’s a cycle of poverty, and to break the cycle of poverty education is key,” said Rev. Thomas Kim, minister at University, Toronto.
Free music lessons for children and youth in Toronto’s Jane and Finch corridor are the newest addition to the church’s educational programs. In the fall term, 22 children took part in two violin classes; piano and trumpet classes were accepting applications. Instrument “rentals” are provided free of charge.
The classes are the newest facet of the church’s Reaching Up ministry, which began as an after school homework club for grades four to eight and a tutoring program for high school students. This fall, 22 students were registered in the homework section.
The Jane and Finch area is home to many single parent, low income, or recent immigrant families.
No major promotion was necessary, said Kim. Students found out about the program through word of mouth and local schools, with many teachers recommending it to their students. – C.P.
Brick, mortar, dollars and sense
posted on December 1, 2009 in Features
Architects Baird Sampson Neuert designed a sleek, modern look for the new Knox, Waterloo, Ont., shown here as it will look illuminated at night.
Buildings decay and become old-fashioned – this is a challenge facing all churches. Many congregations, regardless their history, are wondering whether to renovate or rebuild. They face many practical considerations; however, the relationship that parishioners have with their buildings is the most important.
“When you think that our approach to worship has shifted, our approach to education has shifted, even our understanding of mission has shifted; and yet, there is a wall – literally – when it comes to our buildings,” said Rev. Lynne Donovan, minister at St. Andrew’s, Picton, Ont. “The bricks and mortar get in the way.”
Community space
Donovan’s congregation of about 80 households is getting ready to make a decision about its building. A $70,000 renewal and renovation proposal – made possible thanks to a bequest – is part of St. Andrew’s overall vision of church renewal. Remodelling the sanctuary to reflect that vision is critical to its success. The updated space will support not only the worshipping community, but also the congregation’s vision to connect with the surrounding community, all the while reducing the congregation’s carbon footprint. Adding skylights to let in more natural light, extending the chancel to create a performance space, and replacing the pews with chairs so the space is completely flexible, are among the major elements in the proposal, which the congregation will discuss after Christmas.
If the congregation decides to go ahead with the plans, Donovan – who, although excited and optimistic, realizes that people often have strong emotional ties to their buildings that can hamper change – hopes the work will be completed by next summer.
“Our architecture and pews limit us, so we want those limits gone,” said Donovan. “The sanctuary speaks volumes about who we are and where we’re going.
“I think that paint, light, architecture and pews will be one of the conversations at the heart of whether or not churches go forward or move into oblivion. They’re symbols of the kind of people we’re prepared to be.”
West exterior
Rev. Dr. Ralph Kendall, the former general manager of the Presbyterian Church Building Corporation, has written a guide on church renovations. He recalls a visit to a church in Montreal. “Outside, the neighbourhood was full of children from the Caribbean. It was an active area, with lots of life. When I went inside, the people I was meeting with said they were having trouble attracting students for the highland dancing classes they were holding.
“You have to find out who is in your congregation. What is your purpose? What programs does the church have that allows it to have the full use of the facility? What the final result will be flows directly from knowing why you’re there. For example, would you build a large gymnasium for young people when there are few families in the congregation or in the surrounding neighbourhood?”
Riverdale, Toronto, for example, saw what was happening to the churches around it, and decided to take on a major renovation by converting the sanctuary into condominiums. The church’s basement became the condo’s parking garage and the former church hall is now the sanctuary.
That incident to Kendall shows that in looking around at the neighbourhood where they live, congregations start “thinking outside the box” that is their physical plant. There’s more to a church than a building.
While the national church has few resources for congregations looking to remodel, the Presbyterian Church Building Corporation – which operates independently from the national church – can provide some guidance. The corporation exists to provide financial assistance to build a new church, or repair or expand an existing one. Loans are guaranteed through a funding arrangement with the Royal Bank of Canada.
Each application must include a land and building appraisal, a land survey, environmental assessment, and financial statements. The application then goes to the corporation’s executive committee for approval.
The corporation also works with the committee on church architecture to assist congregations in navigating through the myriad of architectural details that arise when a construction project is undertaken.
Committee members include architects who are conversant with building codes and the language that planning departments use, and they have experience in building not only churches but other buildings as well. All plans are supposed to come before the committee to receive guidance and advice, and project applications go to the committee for approval.
The sanctuary
Architect Walter Moffat, of the firm Black & Moffat in Toronto, is the committee chair. He was the architect on a multimillion-dollar atrium project at St. Paul’s Anglican on Bloor Street, Toronto.
“This church had extensive buildings and property but nothing was connected,” said Moffat. “For example, to get from the sanctuary to the hall for coffee hour, you had to go up and down steps and outside. It was becoming a struggle to attract people to the church and it was because of the building. But now, everything is connected and the church has a future.”
Moffat said there are several things a congregation must consider before beginning a renovation project. First, they must devise a building program that is “flexible, accessible, functional and secure,” as well as welcoming.
“They should have a realistic vision and fit the scope to the budget, but with respect for some ambitious thinking,” continued Moffat, “and hire an architect who designs well; not simply someone who has done lots of church work.”
The proposed new look of Knox's big, bright sanctuary.
Ion Grumeza, an American church restoration planner, took his experiences in this field and wrote This Old Church: The Indispensable Guide for Restoring Church Buildings. It’s a small book packing heaps of wisdom on everything from the planning process to hiring contractors to the factors that will make or break any of these projects – the make-up of the building committee, the personalities this type of project will attract, and how to manage them.
Such resources are certainly needed, as when a project isn’t considered realistically before work is begun, things can derail quickly. St. Paul’s, Glace Bay, N.S., first started discussing the future of its building back in 1984. According to the church’s Wikipedia page, “concerns about structural integrity, repair costs, and functionality were raised as the congregation struggled with the choice of trying to correct the problems in the existing structure or move to a new building.” In 1991, they decided to start anew. An architect was hired, and two years later, construction began.
But due to construction problems and financial issues, expenses quickly surpassed the budget and before long, a $1.1-million debt was incurred. The congregation was given permission by General Assembly to canvass the Presbyterian Church for funds, and over a half million dollars was raised. St. Paul’s, in turn, paid $600,000 towards its loan, and in 2005, the debt was paid in full.
Since then however, work has had to be done on the roof due to flawed building plans, and the sanctuary is still incomplete. Despite so many challenges, Rev. Mike Henderson remains optimistic.
“Nothing is impossible with God. The situation here seemed hopeless, but God worked through the congregation, through Presbyterians across the country and through members of our community of all denominations to make the impossible a reality,” he said.
Henderson has learned a valuable lesson through the ordeal – and thinks other churches can learn from it as well. “Don’t lose your identity in the project,” he said. “You are a people of God, together with Christ. This is our identity; not a debt, or a building, or a new bell tower.”
posted on December 1, 2009 in Letters
Re How Does Jesus Save, September
Dr. John Vissers is a creative teacher and successfully lifts out the church’s answer to this question over the centuries. As he does so, both the question and the responses are in straightforward enough terms that they can be understood.
The subtitutionary theory is explained, then critiqued. Like other theories it is only one model for understanding. The theory dates back at least to the 12th century, and probably even as far back as the fourth. A number of texts can be cited to show that some biblical writers may even have had an understanding something like this. Of course, there are many pictures in the Bible, leading us to openness and imagination in how we articulate this stuff. There are a thousand questions of the spirit out there; I’m not hearing people ask, How Does Jesus Save?
I wonder how seriously such a theory can be taken in the 21st century and whether its promulgation might not do more distorting than clarifying for contemporary minds. We now understand that we developed over the years by a process of evolution. Descriptions of Jesus’ work that ignore this factor are difficult to incorporate into the experience of today’s world.
Four theories of Jesus’ work are presented as a kind of supermarket of choices by which we can mix and match from the God-understanding of past ages. It was helpful once, so people said, but is it helpful now? Does the subtitutionary theory have any bearing on present reality? Perhaps it is time to move on with a new framing of how Jesus makes a difference in our lives, lest he be consigned to the museum.
posted on December 1, 2009 in People & Places
The tag line on the bulletin for St. Andrew’s, Welland, Ont., is “Improving Your Love Life.” And it sure looks that way; from years of steady submissions to People and Places, and from these few images here, it is obvious this is a congregation that marries fun with faith. For their 175th anniversary celebration in May they had a Victorian Tea. The two women are Lori Sinclair and Lori Hayes-Root. Sinclair is seen again with her husband Pastor Guy Sinclair, and Osvaldson Surin from the Church School. They also held sanctuary tours to view the stained glass windows.
