May 4 Blog

Today marked the start of a series of “regular working days”. Morning Prayer began at 7am and was followed by Holy Eucharist. The Celebrant was Thabo Makoba the Primate of Southern Africa, so we had a Eucharistic Prayer from South Africa and liturgical music from Jamaica. (The musicians decided we had to have a choir practice tonight to get the rhythms corrected!) After breakfast, we had Bible Study in our small groups. The passage this morning was Mark 1:1-15. The presenter focused on the “immediately” phrases and asked, “What do you have to do immediately for the sake of the Gospel?” The other focus question was “What do you think is the connection between the two points in the Gospel where Mark uses the word ‘torn’? What does this mean to you?” (Check out Mark 15:38)

There was a prayer at the end of the Bible Study.

“God of passion and power,

Insistent and immediate,

Challenging, compelling us with your story’s breathless beginning,

Walk with us into the wilderness

To hear your voice where silence reigns.

Give us insight, the wisdom beyond all seeing.

So may we look upon heavens torn open

And know that the time of good news for all creation

Is always now.”

Following Bible Study, we had a plenary presentation on An Anglican Covenant. Retired Archbishop Drexel Gomez made a very clear presentation on how the Covenant idea came to be and how the Covenant Design Group has worked through several drafts to arrive at the current Ridley Cambridge draft. (www.anglicancommunion.org) that was followed by a discussion in our discernment group where many questions, as well as positive comments, were received.

After lunch, we had two opportunities to learn more about the work of the Anglican Networks. I chose the Inter Anglican Youth Network first. I learned that our very part-time national youth networker is not on their list! How can that be!? People in many parts of the world are interested to learn more about Ask & Imagine. The Diocese of Recife in Brazil has a program called Youth Encounter Christ which is the twin of our Teens Encounter Christ. This could be the basis for a brilliant exchange if we could learn some Portuguese!!!

After Tea, I attended the Anglican Refugee and Migrants Network presentation. I heard about millions of refugees stranded in various parts of Africa and how church congregations are trying to minister to them. I heard about developed countries, like ours; steadily make it more difficult for refugees to come in. I heard about the awful working conditions for migrant workers. I know that we have migrant workers in NS and I hope that they are not treated as ‘less than human”-a phrase heard this afternoon. We joined together for Evening Prayer at 6pm. Following supper, we broke into groups – lay, clergy, bishops-to talk among ourselves. It is a joy to sit and talk with so many people, lay and ordained, who love God and love our Anglican Church.

So what is your Good news Story about Jesus of Nazareth?

I pray that your week will go well.

+Sue