Giotto, The Raising of Lazarus, 1306

March 30, 2022

Dear People of the Diocese of Kootenay, 

Greetings in the name of Christ.   

This week, as we follow the Canadian delegations of Indigenous Peoples who are in Rome to speak to the Pope about their suffering as survivors of Residential Schools and as we follow tentative talks between Russia and Ukraine in the midst of such destruction and fear, we pray for peace.  We long for Peace.  We know that before there is true Peace and Healing there must be Justice, restorative justice.   For lasting peace and healing, there must be movement, concrete action, towards Reconciliation.  This is the transformation we pray for on a personal level in Lent, but also what we pray for the world:  repentance, turning away from destruction, turning toward God’s way of fairness, wholeness and love.  

In the Epistle last Sunday, in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, (2 Corinthians 5:16-21) Paul reminds us that in Christ we are reconciled to God and, astoundingly, he says that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. I have been wondering how we live out that amazingly high calling, in our relationships, in our communities, in our society.    The “ministry of reconciliation” is a way of living out the path of Jesus, of self-giving love.  What is our ministry of reconciliation? 

I am aware of several parishes in the Diocese that read out loud every Sunday at worship one of the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This seems a commendable practice to keep our “ministry of reconciliation” in front of us as a community.   We, as the Anglican Church of Canada, signed on to those calls to Action, knowing that apology for the harm of Residential schools is only the beginning.   As we pray for the Indigenous Delegations and the Pope this week, I invite you to reread those Calls to Action.  Numbers 55-61 are for the Churches.  All of them are for all of us!

The Primate’s Commission: A First Look at The TRC 94 Calls to Action 

What is our ministry of reconciliation?

I commend to you the following prayers for peace and for reconciliation. 

Yours in Christ,

            

            +Lynne   

God of new, hopeful beginnings,

Grant to us all on our tiny planet, 

a fresh vision of what we can accomplish if we would move beyond anger, violence, oppression and fear

and discover pathways of value, love and respect. 

Help us be like Jesus; 

determined to respect the dignity of all people, 

and to share every scrap of bread with our neighbour.

Hear the cry of our hearts for innocents in Russia and the Ukraine, 

and for those who dwell in other oppressed lands of the world.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Amen.

 -John Watton

God of peace and justice,

we pray for the people of Ukraine today.

We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.

We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,

that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.

We pray for those with power over war and peace,

for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.

Above all, we pray for all your precious children,

at risk and in fear, that you would protect them.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace,

Amen.

-The Most Rev. Justin Welby

Archbishop of Canterbury

Creator God, 

from you every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 

You have rooted and grounded us in your covenant love, 

and empowered us by your Spirit to speak the truth in love, 

and to walk in your way towards justice and wholeness. 

Mercifully grant that your people, journeying together in partnership, 

may be strengthened and guided to help one another 

to grow into the full stature of Christ, 

who is our light and our life. Amen. 

March 31- WECAN Meeting

April 2- Travel to Toronto

April 3-4 ACPO National Committee

April 4 to 8- National House of Bishops in Niagara Falls

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April 12 (5pm) - Eucharist in Holy Week: Bishop to Preside

April 14 (7pm) - Maundy Thursday Holy Communion: Bishop to Preside 

April 15 (10am) - Good Friday: Bishop to Preach, Diocesan Office Closed

April 17 (8am) - Easter Sunday Holy Communion: Bishop to Preside

April 17 (10am) - Easter Sunday Holy Communion: Bishop to Preside

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April 23- Christ Church Creston Workshop

April 24- Christ Church Cranbrook- Induction for Rev. Kevin Arndt

Bishop Lynne is inviting all retired clergy and spouses/partners living in the South, Central & North Okanagan Regions of the Diocese to gather for Eucharist, lunch and conversation on Friday, May 6. The gathering will begin at 10:30am at the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael and All Angels in Kelowna. There is no charge for the event, but for catering purposes those who wish to attend are requested to RSVP to Michael Karabelas by Sunday, May 2 by phone (250-764-2718) or email karabelas@telus.net