st. francis-in-the-wood winter 2010 newsletter

St. FrancisSt. Francis--inin--thethe--WoodWood Anglican ChurchAnglican Church

Winter Newsletter, 2010Winter Newsletter, 2010Winter Newsletter, 2010

IN THIS EDITION • A Reflection for Advent and Christmas • Reports from the Garden Cleanup and the

First Aid Course • Parish Retreat: The Christ Within • A Letter from Guatemala • Clothing Collections • Youth Ministry at St. Francis • Galvanizing Tin into Iron • Scrooge at St. Monica’s • Our Finances… and Our Future • Book Review: Adventures in Solitude • Seven Days in Taiwan • Testament of a Naked Man: A Review and

Encore Recital at Christ Church Cathedral • Advent and Christmas at St. Francis and St. Monica’s

W elcome to the Winter 2010 edition of the St. Francis-in-the-Wood Newsletter!

Inside this issue you’ll find reports and pictures from our recent events; both at St. Francis and further afield including updates from Rev. Em i l i e Sm i t h i n Guatemala and from recent events in the parish. You can also find out about what ’s happening at St. Francis over Advent and Christmas. We’re always on the lookout for feedback and

contributions. Contact the office at:

St. Francis-in-the-Wood 4773 South Piccadilly Road, West Vancouver,

V7W 1J8 604 922 3531; [email protected]

http://www.stfrancisinthewood.ca

St Francis-in-the-Wood, Winter Newsletter

Worship for the Feast of St. Francis, October 2010

FALL GARDEN CLEANUP

T he St. Francis fall garden clean-up day was held on November 6th. Although rain threatened the entire morning, it didn’t actually fall until later in the day, which made for a much more enjoyable experience for all of us. Our party of intrepid gardeners included Nancy and Jerry Powers (whom you can thank for the nicely trimmed hedge at the front porch), Rodney Glynn-Morris, who tackled a huge pile of blackberry brambles at the back, and Alice Hutchinson, Mary Newman, Mike Evans, Derek Goodman and Angus, who tidied the front so beautifully. Many thanks also go to Brian Pomfret for providing the trailer and hauling a huge load of debris to the yard

waste station for us. We fuelled our efforts with Nancy’s delicious pumpkin loaf, and too many donuts. We wel-come anyone interested in helping to keep our yard looking well-tended and hope to see you at the spring clean-up.

Shannon Evans

IT’S ALL IN THE GAME A REFLECTION FOR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

I remember a certain stage of my youth that was consumed with board games; so much so that ever

since I have had little appetite for them, and only rarely can be persuaded, with great reluctance, to partake of such activities; but not so way back then when I was about ten or eleven. Then whole days and even weeks would be taken up with Cluedo, where I quickly learned that who gave answers to other players could be as valuable to me in cracking the murder mystery as any given to me directly.

My favourite though, and the one that took up the most time, was (of course) Monopoly which would be agonizingly played to the very end as player after player was eliminated leaving only two working their way towards the inevitable victory by whoever owned the purple set (Mayfair & Park Lane in the original and best edition), or perhaps the green set (Bond Street, Regent Street & Oxford Street). There was even a board game of Colditz dovetailing with my passion for the TV series and P.R. Reid’s accounts of public schoolboy life in a maximum security German prisoner of war fortress in World War Two. There were others too, some of which I barely remember, others I have forgotten entirely.

Hours, days, even weeks absorbed in these virtual worlds; yet now I don’t think I can remember how any particular game turned out. I do remember the delicious joy in winning, and the bitter tedium of losing; but actually most games were quickly forgotten when they were over and we moved on to something else, or started another game all over

again, of course. But during the course of the game it was all-consuming, and each move, each turn, each

throw of the dice was all important.

It’s a cliché that it’s not the winning or losing that’s important but how you play the game; but it’s also true, and learning how to play games is an important part of growing up and learning how to relate to and live with others. Playing games has a part to play in our growth and formation as humans beings. Of course, I didn’t see that then; I was b l i s s f u l l y u n awa r e ,

absorbed as I was in the game.

It’s a parable. Most things seem to me to be parables – or have the potential to be parables – “The Parable of the Board Game.” But it’s more subtle than simply saying it’s not winning or losing that counts but how you play the game; in other words, yes it’s about playing fair, abiding by the rules, not cheating, not getting in a strop if things don’t go your way – it’s about all of that of course, but it’s about more than

that. There’s a whole deeper level to this parable – most parables have multiple layers. That first layer is about the morality and ethics of how we live our lives, how we play “The Game of Life.” The deeper level that I’m thinking about has to do with the essence of who we are and who we are becoming. In those two or three summers when we played board games from dawn to dusk (so it seems in my hazy memory) and those Christmases round the dining room table on Boxing

Day, the action of the game was the focus of our attention.

Continued overleaf



But in reality, as I look back not remembering any of the details of any of those games and who won or lost, playing board games was just the back-drop to our lives; our playing and laughing together, our heated disputes and our childhood chatter the vines through which our emerging personhood flowed and flourished.

I’m hesitant to say that life is just a game; that seems to trivialize it and make light of the trials and challenges

that we face, some of which are very great. But I do think it is the case that often what we focus all our attention on, our energy and our time, in reality is only the back-drop to our lives and the people that we are becoming. It’s not so much what we make of our lives and the situations that we face that matter as what our lives and those situations make of us.

Angus Stuart Rector

FIRST AID COURSE

I t was a Saturday like any other Saturday except twenty three of us from St. Francis arrived by 8 am to the church for our signed up First Aid Course. Our leader, Mark Kozlowski hit it off with us from the first moment and we launched into a rigorous, hilarious, serendipitous course lasting over 8 hours. We didn’t know the time had passed! This amazing instructor took us through our paces and played on our foibles, our personalities and our ignorance, making us love and learn from him every inch of the way. The course covered everything from dealing with unconsciousness and heart attacks to severe bleeding, and he made us practice, repeat, laugh and endure in a way which solidified the learning. We worked on models, we worked on one another and on him, and we were admonished, encouraged and remembered by name; he was for us a brilliant teacher. Many people who took the course have asked to go to the next level and many more who wished they had taken the course asked for it to be given again. This can be arranged for next year if enough people say they are interested. We could combine forces with St. Monica’s and that would be super for all of us. If you might like to take Mark’s first aid course next year please let me know soon so I can arrange for this fabulous teacher to come again.

Penny Collett

The Game of Life!

Luigi Galvani (above) and Emma Berton (Below) act as the demonstration models for first aid techniques!

ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-WOOD PARISH RETREAT

THE CHRIST WITHIN

Thursday, January 27 – Sunday, January 30, 2011

Rivendell, Bowen Island

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in the hearts of all who love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

(from St. Patrick’s Breastplate)

You are warmly invited and encouraged to join us for a three-night parish retreat next January at the Rivendell Retreat Centre on Bowen Island.

“The Christ Within” is an opportunity to discover and explore our identity “in Christ” and what this means in discovering our true identity and living our “Great Story.” There will be prayer and meditation, food and sleep, music and worship, conversation and quiet, healing and wholeness.

We’ll gather together during the afternoon on Thursday, January 27 and gradually settle into this warm and inviting space – Rivendell, named after the place in Middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings where “no evil can come.” At 5pm there will be a time of community worship and prayer, for those who have arrived by then, followed by our first meal together.

On the first evening we introduce and begin to explore the themes of the retreat with a meditation on St. Patrick’s Breastplate and some centering prayer. Then we introduce the idea of archetypes by which we get in touch with and tell the “great stories” of our lives.

On the Friday and Saturday we continue to explore these themes with plenty of time and space for prayer and reflection. The retreat will provide both the opportunity for a journey inwards of self-discovery as well as opportunities for creativity in self-expression through art, poetry, journaling, storytelling and good conversation.

Come and share together over the three days and nights as we pray together in word and silence, work together preparing our meals and telling our stories, and rest and relax in one another’s company inside around the fire and outside in the woods.

Places are limited – we have only 15 rooms (whether single or shared) – so you are encouraged to register early. Cost: $250 (a deposit of $50 on registration and the balance due by December 20, 2010) Retreat leaders: Linda Leier, Mary Millerd, Angus Stuart


A LETTER FROM GUATEMALA

L ast fall the Reverend Emilie Smith, a priest of the Diocese of New Westminster, travelled by bus,

train, pick-up truck and burro to Guatemala to work as a Volunteer in Mission in the western highlands of that country. She has now completed the first year of the two-year posting. Emilie worked at first at San Juan Apostol Episcopal church in Chichicastenango, then moved to Santa Cruz del Quiché where she has focused on the building up of the Episcopal community, the founding of Peace House, and the Chapel of the Holy Innocents. El Quiché is one of the regions of Guatemala most gravely affected by the 36-year war that ravaged the Guatemalan people ending in 1996 with the signing of the Peace Accords. Even now, the entire region of the western highlands is marked by extreme poverty and continuing violence. It is also a vibrant and faith-filled community, and the majority Maya-K'iche indigenous people are strong in their continued recovery and the flourishing of their ten-thousand-year-old culture. We received the following letter from Emilie in November as she begins the second year of the two-year project… Dear Friends, High clouds swirled over town today, threatening, but finally floating away. In the park the dancers are going wild, and every once and a while a bomb-firecracker goes off in the sky, knocking me out of my skin, and making me say bad words. It is St. Cecilia's

day, and I remember that day last year, and how watching the feathered costumed dancers mocking the Spanish invasion restored me, as I was sad about something or another. Tomorrow is my son Abraham's 23rd birthday, and it hurts to be away. I want to be there, to go out for burgers, and then home for a San Honoré cake. It's the only one I can't quite bake, though I think I did try once, in my wild do-what-ever-you-want Grade 12 home-economics class. Quiché. Home. Peace House. Sometimes peaceful, and sometimes full of anguish. Poverty ever, ever outside the door. Violence too. Quiet here. People come and go, and some are refreshed, and I am grateful that I have been able, with the infinite support of others, to create this space. Lucho the cat is bigger every day, and wilder, sometimes not coming home all night, from what I can tell. The rains came, and left, washing away half of the country, it seems, and corn fields beyond measure. One bus driver was killed and one assistant on the Chichi-Quiché route, truly breaking my heart. The Episcopal Church is tiny, and sometimes it seems forlorn and lost, but there is no doubt that the Holy Spirit is here in the Quiché, breathing life into a shattered people. Up north in Canada, the Anglican Church rumbles and groans, and in its renewal and shedding, ends the Partners in Mission division.

Emilie Smith in the market of Santa Cruz del Quiché

Fruit on the vine at the Peace House in Santa Cruz del Quiché



CLOTHING FOR COVENANT HOUSE AND DRESS FOR SUCCESS

The middle locker in the hall is for the collection of clothing for Covenant House, as well as the Dress for Success program (which seeks to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools) Thank you for the many great donations made to both these organizations in the past. We haven't stopped collecting clothes, so please remember those less fortunate than ourselves when you are thinning out of your closets. Bags of used clothing can be left in the Covenant House locker in the church hall

Mary Ann Sweeny

Dress for Success, Vancouver

I suppose I really am the last Canadian Anglican missionary. What it means, I know, is that any plans of staying in Guatemala longer than fall 2011, have evaporated. That's okay. God is up to something, and I have been His instrument, in some unusual way. Something has happened this past year. I feel like a giant in my learning, and an infant at the same time, at what I have yet to try to understand. Gratitude, patience, consolation, love. These are great gifts that have flourished in my hands this past year. One more year, or not quite, but almost. From last St. Cecilia's Day to this one, everything has changed. From this one to the next, who knows? I know, at least, that I need you in Canada, so that I, in Guatemala, can finish something up, and come home. My faithful and loving support group in Vancouver, that has been there for me in a thousand ways, is committed to raising the remaining funds necessary for the last year of the Guatemala Mission. If you have already helped – Thank you! If you could consider making a donation, we will be most and forever grateful. I promise to bake cookies endlessly when I get home. Much Love, Emilie

To read the past year's story please check out the website: http://vimguatemala.wordpress.com The total cost of the two-year Guatemala Mission project is almost $50,000. So far more than $10,000 has been raised for the second year of the mission. About $18,000 remains to be raised. One time donations are gratefully received, as are monthly gifts. Donations can be made through cheques, credit card or direct deposits – 2010 tax receipts will be issued for contributions received before December 31.

Please make cheques payable to St. Francis-in-the-Wood Anglican Church (4773 South Piccadilly Road, West Vancouver V7W 1J8), with Guatemala Mission in the memo space.

If you have recently made a contribution to the Guatemala Mission, Thank You! Your help is greatly appreciated. STOP PRESS: Emilie Smith will be returning for a short break at Christmas and will be our preacher at the Nine Lessons & Carols Service at 7pm on Sunday, December 19th at which the offering will be dedicated to the Guatemala Mission.

Emilie at the site of the murder of Fr. Aplas (pictured), an American missionary in Guatemala

MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH, AT THE LAKE AND IN THE MALL... YOUTH MINISTRY AT ST. FRANCIS

F or several years, youth ministry at St. Francis has been built around three key elements: fellowship,

discipleship and service. Each fulfills an important role by itself but together they make up the complete ministry of young people at St. Francis, which reaches dozens of individuals each year. Taking a look at what we’ve been doing this term, you can see how these different elements work together to shape the important ministry we do in and around the church. Fellowship takes the form of our Monday drop-ins. Each Monday the church is open for both junior (grades 5 – 7) and senior (grades 8+) youth for a variety of themed nights and activities. Over the past few months these have included exploring the cultures of India and Italy, trying to survive when shipwrecked on desert islands and celebrating Halloween through apple bobbing and bowling with pumpkins! We’ve also had YouLead sessions, where members of the youth

group take charge of the evening. Emily Galvani introduced us to the world of spa treatments, and Mark Galvani took charge when I was away in Taiwan with a night dedicated to the board game Settlers of Catan. Our fellowship has also taken us outside the walls of the church. Firstly for our seniors at the beginning of the term when we joined youth from St. John’s, Squamish and St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale for our annual camping trip. This year set a new record for the amount of rain to be endured (or enjoyed!) over the whole weekend as well as exploring our theme together of starting out our new school years right. Then in November, our junior group headed to Park Royal for The Great Mall Adventure. Having calculated what some of the poorest families in our city earn, our intrepid youth set out to try and complete a week’s shopping on their more limited budget.


(Above) Getting close to nature at the September camping trip to Alice Lake!

(Above) Bowling with pumpkins for Halloween at St. Francis

(Left) Detailing plans for an escape from a desert island...

Both junior and senior youth also have their own discipleship groups. For juniors, that’s what we do on Sunday mornings during the 10am service. We’ve been going beyond the regular Sunday School teaching to talk about how the Bible passages we encounter in church each week impact our own lives at home and in school. The senior youth study group, Ignite, meanwhile has been tackling a set of questions they posed themselves. Early in the term, youth group members submitted the questions they wanted to explore and from that list we constructed the term’s schedule. Already we have explored whether God is a man, woman, both or neither. And what the difference is between Christian denominations. By Christmas we’ll also have asked how we can live a life of faith without empirical proof, and what’s happening in the Old Testament. Service has, for many years, been linked closely to the work of the Lutheran Urban Missions Society (LUMs) in the downtown eastside. That relationship has continued to flourish this term as more youth group members have spent a Saturday morning (or more!) working to prepare and serve a meal, as well

as to get to know many of the faces from the neighbourhood LUMs ministers to. Youth group members could be found helping to negotiate prices for buying fruit for the meal in October, and then lugging the boxes of it up the alleyways of the DTES to bring it to the site of the meal. LUMs is a mission which is rooted in worship. Each month we prepare for the serving of meals by taking part in a Eucharist service together beforehand. The act of sharing the Eucharist is an act of preparation for meal service. Worship links all the facets of the youth group together. Whether that be a meditation service on the shore of Alice Lake, or the ministry of the youth band who gather to worship together and share their gifts with the congregation at St. Francis by leading worship at one of the morning services approximately once a month. We’ve had a strong start to the new academic year and I’m looking forward to building on that after Christmas, especially as we continue to find new opportunities for fellowship, discipleship and service amongst our young people!

Phil Colvin

(Above) Emily leading a discussion on spa techniques and practices during one of our YouLead sessions

(Below) Careful financial planning going on during The Great Mall Adventure


GALVANIZING TIN INTO “IRON” TAKING PART IN IRONMAN This summer, St. Francis parishioner Scott Dean took part in the annual Ironman event in Penticton, BC; one of the toughest tests of endurance for an athlete. Here Scott explains the preparation, participation in and the rewards of taking the Ironman challenge

T he alarm sounds off at 3:30am on the final Sunday of August. The day of reckoning is here.

The training and preparations are complete. There is no dress rehearsal for this “Tinman” – only the “big show” remains and it’s all about experiencing the “Wizard of Awes.” The stage for Ironman Canada is set in Penticton, B.C., the renown summer resort town located between two beautiful lakes in the scenic south Okanagan Valley, the heart of wine country. In its 28th year as Canada’s grand daddy of triathlons, Ironman Canada is amongst the most popular and challenging in the world drawing athletes from 37 countries from the ages of 18 to 80 and from elite Ironman professionals to the recreational tri-athletes of all shapes and sizes from all walks of life. All participants aspire to complete the ultimate endurance event: 3.8 km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km marathon. Each leg must be completed in succession prior to the midnight cut-off. Nutrition is the 4th discipline where proper hydration and fuel intake throughout the day is critical. For instance, my 4am blended breakfast smoothie and the day’s planned liquid nourishment of some 4,000 calories and 7 to 8 litres of fluid will be vital during the following 16 hours. Make no bones about it. Ironman is a selfish pursuit but it is self against nature, self against man, and self against self. To understand this is to understand the discipline, stamina, and focus to persevere in order to see the Iron Journey through to fruition – the means to the end. In the year of Ironman the typical athlete will train on average 16-23 hrs per week for 8 months and fend off untold adversity just for an opportunity to line up at the start line. In Ironman there are no guarantees except the offer of humble pie for those who do not heed to what the body’s limits cannot exceed. The weather is the wild card as athletes prepare themselves for a myriad of conditions from strong winds and rain to extreme heat. On this day heat would not be a factor but staying warm would be

as cool stormy and windy weather fraught with intermittent showers and hail would pose a challenge that would have more than a few people wish they could click their heels together and say “there’s no place like home.” Swim Prior to the 7am start, the southern shore of Okanagan Lake is transformed as thousands of volunteers, families and friends converge in anticipation of the excitement and thrill of the world’s largest Ironman mass swim start. The march of some 2800 penguins begins as athletes line up along the shore eagerly awaiting the firing of the cannon to signal the start of the long journey ahead with the most nerve racking part of the day: taking the plunge into the human “washing machine.” The boom of artillery sees the lake come alive with a sea of arms and legs to the sound of energetic music, bag pipes and animated cheers from the encouraging and supportive crowd. The first swimmer will emerge within about 45min while the remaining masses have 2 hours and 20 minutes to meet the cut-off in order to continue with the bike leg.


The start of the swimming leg of Ironman

Bike The event is supported by more than 5,000 volunteers and thousands of spectators who line the course through Penticton and numerous other communities through which the bike course meanders. Scenic lake side riding and cruising south through wine country and Canada’s only desert mark the highlights during the first 65 kms. A variety of undulating terrain and two mountain climbs dominate the next 85 kms. Athletes then rejoice at the crest of the final climb but must maintain focus and remain alert as they make a speedy descent back to the valley. Mental preparations for the marathon take shape while boisterous crowds cheer on and welcome them back to town en route to the lakeside transition after upto 9 hours and 180kms in the saddle. The first pro rider will return after about 4 ½ hours while the rest of the field has until 5:30pm or about 8hrs after the swim cut-off to complete in order to continue on with the marathon.

Run The emergence of the runners again stirs up the typically sleepy community of 35,000 in Penticton swollen to more than 60,000 strong with the influx of friends and families and Iron fanatics. The spirit and

energy of the people are the lifeblood that spawns the breeding ground for the exchange of inspiration by the athletes for encouragement and support from onlookers. This radiates an infectious energy and enthusiasm that persists throughout the day. Athletes feed off this lift especially as they exchange their bikes for their runners and head out from transition through town and along picturesque Skaha Lake on the out-and- back 42.2km marathon course. After you have already been exposed to the elements for 8 to 14 hours, it’s the final 21 kms in an Ironman that either make you or potentially break you. You will find out in hurry whether you paced yourself well during the day. All the training, the sacrifices, and the obstacles that have been overcome along the journey to this point is now counting down 1 by 1 from T-minus 21 to the final crescendo anticipated at the finish. At some point though the pain will ensue and the ability to endure and to move forward reigns supreme. Finish While the winner finishes in about 8 1/2 hrs only a short while later, the steady stream of athletes will sprint, stride, glide, prance, dance, or roll across the


Crossing the finish line!

Scott on his biking leg by Skaha Lake

finish line in celebration. From 8pm to 12am the finishing area really comes alive as the crowd celebrates the personal victory with each athlete as they break through the finishing tape crossing the line to the promised land of Ironman glory. This is a rewarding promise kept that serves as a most memorable personal moment of sheer jubilation and exhilaration that is the high of finish line highs. As the final minutes and seconds pass leading up to the 17 hour midnight cut-off the support and cheers for late finishers builds and culminates into a climax welcoming the final official finisher to the line at 5 seconds before midnight. The cheers for this Ironman are even more powerful than for the race winners because of the intensity and sheer release of energy, spirit and inspiration of the moment in this the final celebration of the night. This was especially so in this case because the final finisher had just completed his 27th consecutive Ironman Canada. Every finisher goes home a winner from Ironman Canada – a truly awesome experience!

Re-cycled Iron Beginning at 6am the next day, the exhausted, weary and newly enthused line up for hours for the opportunity to sign up for next year’s event as either new Ironman Apprentices who set their sights upon high or as seasoned “Iron-Journey-men” who set out to re-live the experience, and so the cycle repeats. The Ironman Life is Simple – Swim, Bike, Run, Eat, Sleep! …but it still takes a whole lot of heart and courage while some would debate if the brain really even factors into the equation! In the end I finished the event in 12 hrs and 32 mins (Swim 1:07; Bike 6:38; Run 4:20) with 25mins in transition for a manicure and peticure including a 5 min suspect drafting penalty 150kms into the bike.

Scott Dean

Scott with his finisher’s medal!


St. Francis-in-the-Wood

ANNUAL VESRY MEETING

Sunday 13th February, 2011

Following 10am Eucharist

OUR FINANCES… … AND FUTURE PLANS

T hose who were at the

Annual Vestry Meeting back in February will remember that we began the year with some f i n a n c i a l challenges. A number of our p a r i s h i o ne r s had e i t he r moved o r , sadly, died du r i ng t he course of 2009; others of us had been adversely affected by the global economic recession resulting in some re-evaluation and re-ordering in our priorities and spending patterns. The upshot was that the projected level of giving from parishioners of St. Francis for 2010 was estimated to be about $30,000 lower than it was in 2009. A flexible budget was therefore approved that allowed for a deficit for the year of just over $18,000 which would be funded from a risk reserve that had been built up and totaled at that time almost $32,000. Vestry also approved the diversion into the operating fund of wedding receipts and rental income from Tiddlycove Montessori pre-school from the Heritage Fund (a fund for log-term capital items) and Social Concerns which previously split such net income 50/50; this measure would provide an estimated extra $12,000 to meet the budget. These two measures were intended to enable us to make ends meet for this year but do not of course address the potential on-going shortfall of $30,000 in member giving in subsequent years. It was agreed that measures should be taken that would bridge this gap

w i t h a combination of lasting cut-backs in spending and the generation of additional income from m e m b e r giving and fund- ra is ing initiatives. So as we approach the end of the year and begin to plan

for next year, how are we doing? The short answer is: not bad at all. There is no room for complacency by any means but financial figures have shown a gradual improvement as we have moved through the year such that in September we were able to restore the allocation of revenue from pre-school rent and weddings to Social Concerns. Economies have been made in our ordained ministry costs through the partnership with St. Monica’s, Horseshoe Bay who have made regular payments to St. Francis. Economies have also been made in our maintenance

costs and other areas. In terms of our income, it is lower than in 2009 but not by as much as we had anticipated. Although at the end of October year-to-date receipts were lower than the same point in 2009 by almost $10,000, they were $9,000 better than our budgeted negative figure of $19,000. This better than forecast figure together with the cost-savings and a very successful auction of promises last month (that raised more than $13,000) puts us in a stronger position than expected as we approach 2011. It is unlikely that we will have a deficit this year, and therefore we will not have to draw on reserves as we had envisaged at the start of the year.


So where does this leave us as we look ahead to 2011 and make plans for next year’s budget and our ministry at St. Francis? Whilst there are no grounds for complacency, and tight prudent fiscal management

will continue, there are grounds for cautious optimism and warrant to revisit the plans for a curate or associate minister to work with our rector that had to be put on hold at the end of last year. Parish Council recently mandated the Wardens, Rector and Treasurer to put together a budget for 2011 that includes such an appointment at some point during the year. This appointment requires some judicious use of our, so far, unused reserves and a modest increase in our income of approximately 3% per annum for us to break even in three years.

Ian McBeath. Rector’s Warden Penny Collett, People’s Warden Mark Ballard, Deputy Warden

BOOK REVIEW ADVENTURES IN SOLITUDE by Grant Lawrence Harbour Publishing Company, 2010 ISBN 978-1-55017-514-1 Subtitled “What Not To Wear to a Nude Potluck and

o ther s to r ies f rom Desolation Sound,” CBC broadcaster, and former lead singer of Canadian psycho-punk rock band The Smugglers, Grant Lawrence shares stories of summers at the family c a b i n s i t u a t e d i n Desolation Sound Marine P r o v i n c i a l P a r k . Interweaved with his accounts from childhood and later adult life (after a ten year hiatus) Lawrence reflects on the story of

Captain George Vancouver’s first voyage into the sound and shares tales of the various colourful characters who make up the history and heritage of this area. From first to last I was absolutely captivated by this book and savoured every moment, wishing only for it to continue and longing to go explore this, so far for

me, uncharted paradise. Lawrence has a very light touch in his storytelling, drawing the reader right in to whatever situation he is relating, and at whatever stage in life he is talking about. When he is a child, you are with him as a child, sharing his frustration and his wonder, growing with him through the rebellious teenage years, and then returning with him in adult life to see Desolation in a whole new way, as if for the first time. There is plenty of material here for those of us with fertile minds and spirits to appreciate the many parables that lurk just below the surface of the text. There are numerous laugh-out-loud moments in the book but always accompanied by a perceptive appreciation for human frailty and fallibility, including his own. The writing is truly confessional in the best possible sense. I was particularly moved by Lawrence’s references and unfolding account of his relationship with his father, and I found myself identifying with both father and son. This is definitely my “Book of the Year” and I thoroughly recommend it to all and sundry – treat yourself, and get it as a gift for family and friends; you won’t be disappointed. But be warned: some scenes contain very strong language and/or nudity!

Angus Stuart


SEVEN DAYS IN TAIWAN

L ife is full of unexpected opportunities… At the beginning of November, Bishop Michael Ingham

invited me to join him on a trip to our partner diocese of Taiwan. Despite being on the other side of the Pacific, Taiwan is actually a part of the Episcopal Church of the United States and the Diocese of New Westminster has maintained a partnership relationship with them for over a decade. The purpose of Bishop Michael’s trip was to sign an extension of the partnership agreement between our two dioceses, and to help lead their annual clergy retreat taking place in the southern city of Kaoishung. Last year their Bishop, David Lai, had joined us in Vancouver to be the guest speaker at our annual diocesan Synod. At that event, he had spoken to youth delegates and invited them to come visit Taiwan in the near future. The purpose of my trip to Taiwan was to begin doing the groundwork to make this vision a reality in coming years. Our visit began in Taipei where, after a mixup with hotel bookings (apparently there are places where episcopal titles don’t get you everything) we ended up staying in the guest rooms at the diocese itself. I took the opportunity to explore Taipei; a city which is quickly becoming one of the most crowded in Asia.

Although most of Taiwan primarily speaks Mandarin Chinese, it was interesting to discover that Taipei is quickly becoming anglicised (which includes a bizarre phenomena where street names will be translated differently depending on which city block you’re standing!) Taiwan hasn’t embraced the concept of out of town malls; instead it’s got a convenience store on every corner. Apparently Taipei now has the greatest per capita numbers of 7-11 stores anywhere in the world! The official part of our visit began at St. John’s Cathedral, Taipei for the signing of the new partnership diocese agreement. I had been warned that Taiwanese services were a little longer than their Canadian counterparts. I soon discovered why; after the sermon there was suddenly a crowd up at the altar. It appeared they were waiting for a blessing, but it transpired that they were actually there to be baptized. And then, just when that excitement died down, another crowd formed around the bishops to be confirmed! The signing ceremony itself followed along with prayers; which Bishop Michael remarked has a great significance in both dioceses as we pray for each other’s parishes each week in our regular prayer cycles. I got a chance to meet some of the youth at the Cathedral service. Since there aren’t many native English speakers in Taiwan, those with English language skills still find it difficult to converse since they rarely get the practice. However, we were able to compare notes on typical lifestyles of Taiwanese and Canadian high schoolers. With a big emphasis on academic achievement and commitment to a multitude of extra curricular sport and musical activities, there were a lot of points of crossover.


The Freedom Square, National Theatre and National Concert Hall in Central Taipei

Phil Colvin with Rev. Herbert, an Episcopal priest from the USA working in Taiwan, at a VIP movie theatre!

The next stage of our journey was to join clergy at their retreat in the southern city of Kaoishung. After a night’s stopover at the beautiful Sun Moon Lake, in a hotel which looked and smelled like a Canadian log cabin, we arrived at the very beautiful Grand Hotel. Although the Episcopal Church in Taiwan is a much smaller force than in US or Canada (most people follow Eastern belief systems) the retreat was still a very lively affair between the fourteen clergy from around Taiwan. Some of the sessions were conducted solely in Mandarin, which gave the English speaking contingent the chance to explore some of the local sights (I noticed a driving range nearby which might be a clue to where Bishop Michael went!) but many were carefully translated by some of the bilingual speakers at the retreat. A lot of the questions and discussions raised were very familiar to those we deal with in the Canadian church. How do we engage congregations in worship? How can we adapt liturgy to speak to those who have never connected with it before? Bishop Michael led sessions on the role of ordained clergy, as well as leading the Taiwanese clergy through the subject of human sexuality which, although a familiar topic here in the Diocese of New Westminster, is a conversation

which really hasn’t gotten started yet in the church of Taiwan. However, it was clear from life in Taipei that a cosmopolitan culture is quickly emerging. I led a discussion about youth ministry which also provoked some interesting responses. I asked the Taiwanese clergy to tell me what life is like for young people in Taiwan. There were some good observations, but also a lot of trepidation and silence. I let them know that’s often the same response I get with both clergy and parishes in Canada! It’s okay to admit we may not actually know certain groups of people in our congregations very well – our challenge is to go and spend time with them and begin to understand the world how they see it. It was an encouraging discussion we had because, as we then began to swap ideas for a youth visit in 2011, we did so from the perspective of youth ministry rather than just what we, as adults and leaders, might want to see. After our return to Taipei we had enough time for a visit to the legendary Shilin night market. It was another encounter between typical Taiwanese life, with its multitude of amazing food stalls, and the growing international impact on the country thanks to the high end fashion stalls whose owners were insulted at the mere question of whether anything on their shelves might be fake! In all, it was a fascinating experience of both the traditions of Taiwan and the quickly changing face of the country. And it hopefully will provide an exciting opportunity for youth ministry between our two dioceses next year, as Canadian youth travel to Taiwan to engage with young people there and explore what it means to live in a truly multicultural world.

Phil Colvin


Bishops Michael and David signing the new partnership agreement

Lanterns in a Buddhist temple in Taipei


TESTAMENT OF A NAKED MAN

P robably most of the readers of this newsletter saw the invitation to come to a production

entitled “Testament of a Naked Man,” to be held where? In the Church of St. Francis-in-the-Wood, actually! As a title, it was a grabber, and just a little bit mischievous, doubtless in the interests of increasing attendance for a good cause! Further reading indicated that it was to be a recitation from memory of the 16-chapter Gospel According to St Mark by the rector of said church, a certain Angus Stuart. So who was the naked man of the title? I will swear in court that Angus wore an alb during the entire performance. In fact, the title refers to a curious pair of verses in the gospel, in the passage describing the arrest of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (14:51-52). Among those following was a young man with nothing on but a linen cloth. They tried to seize him; but he slipped out of the linen cloth and ran away naked. The scholars tell us that this may be an oblique reference to the author of the gospel himself, whom we know by the name of Mark. If so, its presence is somewhat analogous to those works of Renaissance art in which the artist includes a semi-concealed “signature”—written or graphic—to indicate that the work is his. But back to the performance. Did he actually do it? Did he actually recite the entire gospel of Mark from memory? Yes, he did, he really did. It was a tour de force (Angus now being a Canadian citizen, I venture to describe his performance in words belonging to our

other official language.) In a word, it was marvelous. I didn’t detect any errors or omissions, not indeed that I was expecting any. The long recitation was interspersed by two interludes during which music was played. This was a very good idea, since it gave the audience a kind of breathing space, a chance to assimilate something of what they had heard and to ready themselves for the next section. The performance evoked for me something of what Greek drama in its ancient performance was said to do - namely, that the audience, already knowing the plot, was especially interested in how this particular dramatist was going to treat it - and each gospel-writer does give a different slant on the Great Story. All of us in the church do know that story; and

Angus’s performance gave us the opportunity to hear it as a whole, rather than via the little morsels (pericopes is the technical term for them) that we hear on Sunday mornings. After congratulating Angus, I made a suggestion to him in regard to future performances. I suggested that audience members be supplied in the program with a blank sheet of paper on which they could write questions or comments that occur to them as they watch and listen. What made me think of this were Jesus’ reported comments about divorce (Mark 10:1-12), which sound very harsh to our ears, but which made sense at that time in that culture, and were in fact a statement of support for women who could be divorced for the slightest reason. (It’s my own practice, whenever such a passage occurs, to provide context even if I’m not preaching on it, in case there is a divorced person or couple in church for the first time - something which has actually happened in my experience.) Then he or a panel or whoever could respond to the questions - probably not immediately afterwards, but either on another occasion, or perhaps online. Altogether, it was a memorable evening. I look forward with anticipation to Matthew, Luke and John.

Don Grayston

For those who missed the performance, or who want to see and hear it again, the Testament of a Naked

Man will be presented at Christ Church Cathedral on February 18th 2010, in aid of Rev. Emilie Smith and the Guatemala Mission. More information opposite!

Angus Stuart during the “Testament of a Naked Man”

Friday, February 18, 2011

7pm CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL

690 Burrard Street Vancouver

TICKETS $20/$15 Proceeds in aid of the Guatemala Mission

Call: 604-922-3531 e-mail: [email protected]

Photo: Sound II - a scultpture by Antony Gormley; Winchester Cathedral. Photograph by Roger Twigg used with kind permission.


Advent and

Christmas 2010 at st. francis-in-the-wood

and st. monica’s, horseshoe bay St. Francis, 4773, South Piccadilly Road Tel: 604-922-3531 E-mail: [email protected]

Sunday December 5th

7pm Advent Carols by Candlelight

followed by mulled wine and mince pies

Sunday December 12th

10am Children’s Christmas Pageant


7pm Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight

Preacher: Rev. Emilie Smith

Friday December 24th

4pm Family Communion Around the Crib

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Angus Stuart

9pm Community Carols Preacher: Rev. Dr. Donald Grayston

11pm Midnight Mass

Preacher: Rev. Dr. John Kessel

Saturday December 25th

10am Family Eucharist


St. Monica’s, 6404, Wellington Street, Horseshoe Bay Tel: 604-921-9112 E-mail: [email protected]

Saturday December 11th

2pm Scrooge - Matinee

6pm Scrooge - Evening Performance


4pm Scrooge - Afternoon Performance

Friday December 24th

6.30pm Community Carols and Communion


st. francis-in-the-wood winter 2010 newsletter

Documents

st francis

advent christmas

francis galvanizing

wood newsletter

winter newsletter page

i e sm i t h i n guatemala

christmas reports

fall garden cleanup