Jesus Appearing to the Five Hundred by Grant Romney Clawson
May 1- Third Sunday of Easter
Almighty God, you gave your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly living: Give us grace thankfully to receive his inestimable benefits, and daily to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Bishop's Letter
April 27, 2022
Dear People of Kootenay,
Greetings in the name of Christ from the East Kootenays! I am happily out “on the road” meeting people in person here, some of them for the first time in two years. As well as visiting parishes, I have had several individual meetings with retired and active clergy. Such joy and excitement and energy to be meeting together!
Last Friday I met in Trail with the incumbent clergy and the Valhalla Missioner from the West Kootenay Region, and meet with them again tomorrow when I’m back in Trail, to plan a Regional Gathering in early June, as we look at new models and plan for providing ongoing ministry there.
On Saturday I met with the parish of Christ Church in Creston, to discuss their future possibilities as a parish and providing worship leadership in the immediate future.
On Sunday I inducted the Rev. Kevin Arndt as the priest in Christ Church Cranbrook, a joyous occasion to celebrate this new beginning. I enjoyed a barbeque with Kevin, his wife Kristy, their two sons Julian and William.
Monday evening I presided at a eucharist with All Saints Anglican in Kimberley. We called it a grieving service, as they are in the process of selling their building to purchase half of the United Church building as they move to become Kimberley Ecumenical Shared MInistry. It was a poignant evening as they shared stories of the memories of their community over the years. Someone who was baptized there 75 years ago, couples married there, children baptized, married, the funeral of a spouse, singing, fund-raising events, laughter and tears. We symbolically packed a trunk of memories they will carry with them as they move. I felt privileged to hear these treasured stories, as did both a new young member and the Rev. Alwin Maben, the minister in the new shared ministry. The familiar refrain became “it is the people, not the building”. “We carry with us the kindness, the generosity, the hospitality, the fun, the good food, the love of community, our ministries….”. With the confession we let go of any hurts from community life we don’t want to carry anymore. We named our griefs. We sang and shared communion. I was aware throughout of the lament to God that is needed to move through the grief of change and to make space for a new future.
On Tuesday Kathy Davies and I met with the Rev. Alwin Maben, and shared an exquisite lunch of Indian food made by Alwin’s wife Ida. We then met with Alwin and the joint council which has been moving with hard work, enthusiasm and persistence building the structure and covenant for an ecumenical shared ministry with the two congregations. Kathy Davies is the Regional Minister for the Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church. She is an excellent process person, and I enjoy working with her on a team in our shared work of nurturing and supporting Ecumenical Shared Ministries.
We then had a fabulous potluck supper. We each shared with our table group the story of our baptism. Kathy and I then led a workshop looking again at what strengths from the past they want to carry with them into their new church and new mission together. It was an invigorating and encouraging evening. Such a spark of new life!
As I leave for Trail for tomorrow’s meeting for more visioning work, I am filled with gratitude for the courage of the people of Kootenay, who in this challenging time are willing to engage the hard questions of how to be a faithful church in a new way.
May God be with you.
Yours in Christ,
+Lynne