felix hominum

An event the felix clan will be attending:

What:  Songs for Small and Tall- all ages music & singalong

Where:  St. Margaret’s Anglican Church: 12603 Ellerslie Road

When:  Friday, October 2nd at 7.30 pm.

Bryan Moyer Suderman is a musician in the Mennonite tradition; his music company is called ‘Small Tall Music’, because, as he says, he writes ‘worship songs for small and tall’ – for children and for adults (see his website at http://www.smalltallmusic.com/). Bryan has produced several CDs of songs for Vacation Bible School and Christian Education programs, as well as worship songs, a CD of songs about stewardship, and a new CD based on texts from the prophets. This concert is jointly sponsored between St. Margaret’s Anglican Church and Edmonton First Mennonite Church, and it will be an all-age event. Admission will be by donation at the door, with a suggested donation of $10 per person or $25 per family.

New Bishop for the Anglican Diocese of Athabasca

The Rev. Canon Fraser Lawton, Rector of St. Thomas' Church, Fort McMurray, was elected as Bishop of Athabasca yesterday. Pray for Fraser and the people of the Diocese of Athabasca as they minister together in northern Alberta.

h/t Tim Chesterton

I've met Fraser briefly a few times at clergy events,  & join my prayers with Tim's that he might be supported and led by the Holy Spirit as he takes on this new ministry.

St Tim's Open House & Fun Fair

We had a great time participating in the Laurier community league celebrations last Saturday, and this weekend it is St Tim's turn to host something for our neighbours.  So come out his weekend to the Fun Fair at 8420 - 145 St, just across from Laurier Park.

St Tim's Anglican Church is hosting a neighbourhood fun fair and open house on Saturday, September 19.  The events run from 3:30 to 7:15 pm.  Here are a few of the things happening:

• 3:30-4:00 pm - all ages games in the park
• 4:00-6:00 pm - giant Inflatable jumping zone
• 4:00-5:00 pm - petting zoo for kids & grown ups
• 4:00-6:00 pm - pub zone & East Coast music
• 4:30-6:00 pm - free subs & refreshments - dinner's on us
• 6:15-7:15 pm - variety musical cafe at the Courtyard

Everyone from the neighbourhood & beyond is welcome to attend.

Campus Ministry at the University of Alberta

Sue Oliver is host of The Worship Room,

St Tim's Vacation Bible Camp!! woo hoo!!

St Tim's Vacation Bible Camp (Aug 17-21, ages 3-11) registration and info is available to download:

St Tim's VBC (pdf)

St Tim VBC (MS Word)

vacation bible camp

Woo-hoo

"When in Rome"...  St Tim's vacation bible camps for kids:  ages 3-11
August 17-21.  Email st.tims{at]shawbiz.ca for details/registration

I'm looking forward to a little rhythm work

behind two guys who have been playing jazz for maybe longer than I've been alive.
Saturday June 6:  6-8pm at the St Tim's courtyard - 8420 145 St.  There will also be some wine & cheese...

ERC Inclusive Education Awards

Edmonton Regional Coalition:   Inclusive Education Awards

ERC recognizes teachers and educational teams each year who exemplify best practices in support of quality inclusive educational experiences for children with disabilities.  Nominations are received from any parent and endorsed by a member on staff, in the Edmonton area.  Awards may be presented at school assemblies, staff meetings, etc, and a copy of the award is forwarded to the district’s superintendent and trustee.

Award information and nomination forms can be downloaded from Gateway Association for Community Living’s website . On the home page, click on “ERC News” to access these documents. Please note that the deadline, May 11, 2009, is coming up quickly.

speakeasy - (minor 7 flat 5)

A few of us who actually enjoy playing jazz are planning to get together on a somewhat regular basis for evenings of semi-freestyle jazz and some readings, images, discussion, and beverages.  I'll get some times and places up when they are confirmed.

Sort of like a speakeasy, with Jesus...

Canadian Prayer Book Society AGM...

will be held at St Timothy's Anglican Church on Saturday, May 9, starting at 2 pm.

The meeting will begin with a talk by yours truly.  The title of my talk is "Thanksgiving After Childbirth:  Choosing Sarah in an Age of Options."  I expect that I will post the talk here at some point after the event.

Voices for Habitat for Humanity fundraiser - big thanks

A big thanks to everyone who helped out at the "Voices for Habitat" fundraising concert yesterday evening:  volunteers, donors, musicians, and Tim who did a lot of organizing.  I expect he might have some pics up soon, as I noticed him putting batteries into a camera at one point...

Although all the musicians were excellent, I have to say that the final set by Jeremy Spurgeon and Janet Smith brought the house down, or rather up to its feet, and a tear to this writer's eye at one point.

Over $4000 was raised for local Habitat for Humanity projects.  See you next year, same time, same place.

"Voices for Habitat" fundraiser

Voices for Habitat 2009 will take place at
St. Timothy's Anglican Church (corner of 145 St. and 84th Avenue in Edmonton)
on Sunday April 19th.
Doors will open at 6.00 p.m. for a Silent Auction along with a Café and Wine Bar.
The concert will begin at 7.00 p.m.
Tix $10
available at the door, or in advance:  Tix on the Square, Myhre's Music, Acoustic Music Shop

Tim Chesterton has a full list of details for the event at his blog

Writers needed: "Ministry Matters"

From the Anglican Church of Canada facebook group page. 

Writers needed!
Today at 3:22pm
Hello all,

MinistryMatters is a magazine that publishes articles, resources, and information to inspire and support Canadian Anglican leaders in their ministry. This award-winning publication is now moving online, and we’re looking for a few good columnists.

WHAT WE NEED:
-Online columnists would write one 500- to 750-word article each month for a six-month stint. Articles could address a range of topics interesting to Canadian Anglican leaders.

-If readers post comments in response to an article, columnists are expected to keep up with the discussion and throw their two cents in.

WHO WE NEED:
-Canadian Anglicans (especially, but not necessarily, in ordained ministry) who think interesting thoughts and write dazzling prose.

WHAT TO DO NEXT:
-Email a short statement of introduction, three column ideas, and two writing samples to Ali Symons at asymons[at]national.anglican.ca by May 1, 2009.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Editor, MinistryMatters

I know of at least a few local Anglican bloggers (lay & clergy) whose prose is sparkling, so I'm putting this out as a public service announcement.

I would try to submit a sample of my own stuff, but I are not a riter.

As promised (sort of), I'll begin by suggesting a few writers whose work would enhance our national Anglican publications.  First up, I'd like to see a regular column by the Crimson Rambler, whose command of English prose is rivalled by few.  You can actually take pleasure in reading the Rambler's stuff.  It's just that well written.

I really like Holy Week

The whole week is an extended re-telling of the story of redemption.  I feel for those folks who only show up for "church" at Christmas and Easter.  It's like they read the first and last page, and miss the whole story in between.  I suppose part of it is impatience to get to the end of the journey, without actually taking on the journey.  After all, though a journey can be enjoyable, it is also, well, work.

photo: Joe Walker (en route from Petra, Jordan to the Allenby crossing

Here's what we are doing at St Tim's (8420 145 St)

April 9:  Maundy Thursday service @ 7 pm
April 10:  Good Friday service @ 10 am
April 11:  Holy Saturday Great Vigil @ 7 pm
April 12:  Easter Services @ 8:30 & 10 am

Voices for Habitat for Humanity

Concert in support of Habitat for Humanity, featuring:

Martin Kerr
Jeremy Spurgeon
Jay Anthony Willis
Erin Faught & Adam Buttram
The Piatta Forma Choir
& much more

April 19
Cafe/wine bar & Silent Auction at 6
Concert at 7 pm
St Timothy's Anglican Church: 8420 145 St

Tix $10 from
Tix on the Square
Acoustic Music Shop
Myhre's Music
at the door

Proceeds in support of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton

speakeasy

is happening on March 29 at 7pm, 8420 - 145 St.  I'm not entirely certain what it will involve, but here are some of the things I expect:

some Charlie Parker transcribed for guitar, with piano & percussion.

some kind of crunchy stuff under your feet.

some sort of drink.

On Good Friday

I want to do an evening of acoustic blues.

Seriously.

Bruce Dunbar: Eye Candy: at the Common Sense Gallery

Bruce Dunbar: Eye Candy
Solo exhibition of work by long-time Edmonton artist Bruce Dunbar.
Opening Reception with Artist in Attendance
1-4pm, Saturday, February 21, 2009
Common Sense: 10546 - 115 Street, Edmonton Alberta Canada.

via North Edmonton Sculpture Workshop

Theolojazz tonight with Peter Rollins

at Dewey's, on the U of A campus.  The format will be back and forth between Peter and the Elphida Trio.  Starts at 8:30 pm.  If you are looking for parking, use the HUB mall parking lot.  Campus maps here.

My dinner with Peter Rollins

consisted of Thai food, but I think tomorrow someone is going to arrange for some home grown western Canadian bison (sorry to the vegetarians in the crowd).

Anyway, Peter arrived safe and sound and the temperature here in Edmonton was a balmy 5 degrees today.  There was a point at which I thought we might be in an Arctic cold front, with dips down to -30 or so.  But apparently the weather patterns pushed all the cold air masses away from us and over toward Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  To which I say: simply shows where divine favours lay...

I'm looking forward to things starting up tomorrow (schedule here).  There were 5 of us at dinner tonight:  Peter, Darrel Muth, Eric Ohlman, Jim Robertson & me (I thought putting a hyperlink to my own blog would be superfluous, instead, I just talked about myself for the rest of the sentence). 

Wide and varied conversation;  some covering of last minute details, some personal introductions, some discussion of the various ways in which we relate to God and one another, some talk of Jean Vanier's notion of "community of the heart".  With that in mind, I was reminded of what an odd placement of things.  Earlier in the day I'm looking at a text for teaching math to people with Down Syndrome, and later in the evening I'm thinking about the relationship between faith and postmodernity.  But it's all there in a previous post on Aquinas and Bonaventure (at least in embyo form).  Anyway, all this is to say that we need to examine and form our faith communities in ways which connect people to God and to one another which engages the whole person.  I'll say more about that when I know more about it.

And on a further note, while I've had the invitation to sit in with the Elphida trio for Friday evening's theolojazz, I've yet to decide. It's pretty tempting, though.  I recently adjusted the Seymour Duncan pickups on the archtop...

just confirmed Epsilon for an evening

and who or what is Epsilon?

Epsilon is a contemporary vocal ensemble consisting of five members with extensive backgrounds in jazz, classical, and choral music.

their website, their facebook

Sunday March 15th at 7PM, at our place: 8420 - 145 street
more details to follow

Peter Rollins in Edmonton - a brief summary

Events Listing: (note that there are 5 separate venues).  Remember that this is an unconference - no registration, fees or paperwork.  Just show up and participate.

Worship & Ministry in a Postmodern Age
Thursday February 5th, 10 am - 12 pm
St George's Church, 11733 – 87th Avenue
An interactive education event for Clergy & Ministry Workers

Faith in a Postmodern Age: An Open Conversation
Thursday February 5th, 1:30 - 3:30 pm
St George's Church, 11733 – 87th Avenue
Public talk & discussion with Dr Peter Rollins (open to all)

Beyond Belief Towards Practice:
Thursday February 5, 7:30 pm
Taylor University College and Seminary
11525 23 Avenue
Stencel Hall in the seminary building
A free public lecture by Peter Rollins: A Postmodern Church Beyond Belief

Beyond Belief Towards Experience and Practice:
Friday February 6, 8:30 pm
Dewey's Lounge University of Alberta
Located at North Power Plant (Behind Dentistry/Pharmacy Building)
Jazz (Elphida Trio), conversation, and Q&A with Peter Rollins

Beyond Belief Towards Experience:
Saturday February 7, 10:00 am
Taylor University College and Seminary
College Chapel
11525 23 Avenue
A free public lecture by Peter Rollins: Worship for a Church Beyond Belief

Beyond Belief Towards Revelation:
Saturday February 7, 7:00 pm.
St. Paul's Anglican Church, 10127 - 145 Street
An alternative worship experience with Interface Worship & Peter Rollins

Beyond Belief Towards Community and Experience:
Sunday February 8, 10:00 am
Urban Bridge Church
Meets at the Royal Alberta Museum Theatre 12845 102 Avenue NW
Worship, conversation, and Q&A with Peter Rollins

btw, there is an article on the events in the Edmonton Journal here

Geez magazine - the Daringly Awkward Sermon Contest

Winnipeg, Canada –– Geez magazine is bringing the stodgy old pulpit back from the brink of cultural oblivion with a sermon contest of holy mischief.

The dark, wooden bulwark of yesteryear has little currency today, but what if the pulpit was torn from its moorings and planted closer to the action? What if it was available to anyone who wished the voices of spiritual authority would say less about other-worldly glory and more about the spiritual side of the big issues of our times?

Building on last year’s “30 Sermons You’d Never Hear in Church” contest,” Geez magazine’s 2009 Daringly Awkward Sermon Contest is ushering in a new and – make no mistake – decidedly different era of proclamation.

“The world needs bold voices of spiritual depth,” says Geez publisher Aiden Enns. “But maybe the message can have an element of holy mischief, a smirk instead of a furrowed brow, and, at the same time, more connection to the pressing issues of the day.”

The Daringly Awkward Sermon Contest invites entries that explore the aspects of social change that make us squirm, things like privilege, right-wing relatives, the drunk stranger in the back pew, guilt feelings, or litter in the poor part of town. Constructing a more fair and compassionate world involves awkward people, pauses and topics, and we want to find the wisdom in the awkwardness.

The Geez pulpit is set up and waiting for activists, anarchists, atheists and good old-fashioned Christians to step up and confront or comfort, pontificate or confess, urge or encourage.

The top three sermons will receive $400 each. The winners, plus a selection of other entries, will be published in the Spring 2009 issue of Geez. Deadline for entries is February 28, 2009. Word limit is 800.

Submissions can be sent to contest[at]geezmagazine.org or Geez Contest, 400 Edmonton Street, Winnipeg MB R3B 2M2, Canada. See entry forms at geezmagazine.org

Geez is a quarterly magazine of spirit and social action. It is aimed at over-churched, out-churched and perhaps even unchurchable souls on the North American fringes of faith. In its three years of existence it has been nominated for three Utne Independent Press Awards and won Magazine of the Year at both Canada’s Western Magazine Awards and the Canadian Church Press Awards.

I have a few ideas for submissions in the works.  Any suggestions?

3rd Annual Vital Church Planting Conference

I went to this last year & found it excellent:

Vital Church Planting 2009

We would like to invite you to the Third Annual Conference on Anglican Church Planting. It will take place at St. Paul’s Bloor Street in Toronto, from Tuesday February 17 until Thursday 19, 2009.

This conference will seek to build on the foundations laid by the previous two conferences. In 2007, over sixty attended from all over the country, including four or five bishops; in 2008, over eighty, including six bishops, attended. We expect over 100 this year.

In 2008, the speaker from the UK, George Lings, spoke a lot about Fresh Expressions, the creative grassroots church planting movement over there. Then, in May, Bishop Graham Cray of Maidstone UK was in Ontario, and again told stories of the diversity and vitality of fresh expressions of church. There was also a Fresh Expressions self-select session at Lambeth, and maybe you were able to attend and learn for yourself what this is all about.

In light of this, it seemed right to invite other leaders and practitioners of Fresh Expressions to come as our plenary speakers. They are:

The Rev. Paul Bayes is the National Mission and Evangelism Adviser to the Archbishops' Council. Paul has extensive experience of parish life, evangelism, church planting and developing different forms of new congregations. The National Mission and Evangelism Adviser has two main roles: to help equip the Church of England in the work of evangelism and to advise and assist in the missionary development of both parish congregations and fresh expressions of Church.

The Rev. Canon Phil Potter is Director of Pioneer Ministry for the Diocese of Liverpool. Phil has been a leading figure developing Cell Church nationally, and the church he led for twenty years has developed several exciting pioneer projects, including the very successful Kings Table café. He is author of two books, "The Challenge of Cell Church" and "The Challenge of Change--Shaping Change and Changing the Shape of Church."

One addition we are making to the program this year is a "track" of three workshop slots especially for bishops and other diocesan officers, to address the particular issues that face diocesan leaders in moving towards church planting and other fresh expressions of church.

We would like to invite you personally to attend the conference. Book your registration before January 16th and save, full details may be found on the conference website: www.vitalchurchplanting.com. If you have any questions please contact Jennipher by phone at (905)833-8327 or by email at ysimcoe[at]toronto.anglican.ca.

We look forward to seeing you in February!
 
Warmest greetings, in Christ,
 
The Vital Church Planting Conference Team

Peter Rollins: Faith in a post modern world

Faith in a Postmodern World:  an open conversation
Thursday Feb 5, 1:30 pm
St George's church on the U of A Campus;  11733 - 87 Ave

Beyond Belief Towards Practice:
Thursday February 5, 7:30 pm
Taylor University College and Seminary
11525 23 Avenue
Stencel Hall in the seminary building
A free public lecture by Peter Rollins:  

Beyond Belief Towards Experience and Practice:
Friday February 6, 8:30 pm
Dewey’s Lounge University of Alberta
Located at North Power Plant (Behind Dentistry/Pharmacy Building)
Jazz (Elphida Trio), conversation, and Q&A with Peter Rollins

Beyond Belief Towards Experience:
Saturday February 7, 10:00 am
Taylor University College and Seminary
Stencel Hall in the seminary building
11525 23 Avenue
A free public lecture by Peter Rollins: Worship for a Church Beyond Belief

Beyond Belief Towards Revelation:
Saturday February 7, 7:00 pm.
St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 10127 - 145 Street
An alternative worship experience with Interface Worship & Peter Rollins

Beyond Belief Towards Community and Experience:
Sunday February 8, 10:00 am
Urban Bridge Church
Meets at the Royal Alberta Museum Theatre 12845 102 Avenue NW
Worship, conversation, and Q&A with Peter Rollins

Poster Download in PDF (big)

facebook event

when you run out of birthday ideas for your wife,

just give her a sonnet

Upon Meeting a Lady by the River

Too long I’ve sat beside this stream
Content to watch her waters flow,
While drought diminished summer’s dream
Of currents filled with melting snow.

Meandering curves of gentle grace
Betray the Spring which gave her rise.
The Sun’s reflecting on her face
Bids me approach with lowered eyes.

I will not cross her at the ford,
No shallow waters shall I tread.
Nor bridge across, like some high lord
Who spray and stones and wave will dread.

Her deepest waters I will test
Though there I drown; I’ll find my rest.

happy birthday, Mrs Felix

Ryan McCourt @ Common Sense Gallery

Get out of the house this weekend:

Ryan McCourt: Sculpture in Our Time
Clement Greenberg: a centenary celebration

Common Sense
10546-115 Street, Edmonton

7:00pm, Friday, January 16, 2009

exhibition runs until February 1, 2009

via the North Edmonton Sculpture Workshop

Faith in a Postmodern World with Peter Rollins

Faith in a Postmodern World with Dr. Peter Rollins. 

The Anglican Diocese of Edmonton is partnering with Taylor University College & Seminary, Urban Bridge Church (P.A.O.C.), and Interface Worship, in bringing Peter Rollins to Edmonton for a series of events. As an author, public speaker, working philosopher, creator of theo-dramas, and founder of the experimental collective Ikon, Dr. Rollins is an innovative and important voice for emerging Christianity.

"Here in pregnant bud is the rose, the emerging new configuration, of a Christianity that is neither Roman nor Protestant, neither Eastern nor monastic; but rather is the re-formation of all of them. Here, in pregnant bud, is third-millennium Christendom." —Phyllis Tickle, author of "The Divine Hours TM" series, and "The Great Emergence", commenting on Rollin's book, "How (Not) to Speak of God"

Peter Rollins' blog is here and his homepage is here.

Free public events include the following:

Beyond Belief Towards Practice:
Thursday February 5, 7:30 pm
Taylor University College and Seminary
11525 23 Avenue
Stencel Hall in the seminary building
A free public lecture by Peter Rollins: A Postmodern Church Beyond Belief

Beyond Belief Towards Experience and Practice:
Friday February 6, 7:00 pm
Dewey's Lounge University of Alberta
Located at  North Power Plant (Behind Dentistry/Pharmacy Building)
Jazz (Elphida Trio), conversation, and Q&A with Peter Rollins

Beyond Belief Towards Experience:
Saturday February 7, 10:00 am
Taylor University College and Seminary
Stencel Hall in the seminary building
11525 23 Avenue
A free public lecture by Peter Rollins: Worship for a Church Beyond Belief

Beyond Belief Towards Revelation:
Saturday February 7, 7:00 pm.
St. Paul's Anglican Church, 10127 - 145 Street
An alternative worship experience with Interface Worship & Peter Rollins

Beyond Belief Towards Community and Experience:
Sunday February 8, 10:00 am
Urban Bridge Church
Meets at the Royal Alberta Museum Theatre 12845 102 Avenue NW
Worship, conversation, and Q&A with Peter Rollins

For information:
Beyond.Belief.in.Edmonton[at]gmail.com (e-mail)

Itsbeyondbelief - event blog

...and speaking of conferences

a rough sketch of Pete Rollins' events in Edmonton

Here is a rough at-a-glance.  I'll updating and adding more specifics as things are finalized:

5th Feb Thursday evening - free public lecture at Taylor
6th Feb Friday evening  - Theolojazz - alternating sets of jazz (Elphida Trio) and Pete - probably at Dewey’s (on the U of A campus), there may be a small cover or maybe free
7th Feb Sat. am - (probably) a session at Taylor
7th Feb. Sat - evening - Interface Worship alt. worship event with Pete at St. Paul’s Anglican
8th Feb. Sunday am:  Sunday morning worship service with Pete at Urban Bridge Church.

There may be a Thursday daytime event added.

Event blog here

minus 29 degrees. 
but the backyard rink is awesome.

Peter Rollins coming to Edmonton

According to his speaking schedule, he will be here Feb 4-9. His blog is here.

You can get a glimpse of his writings here.  I'll say a bit more when I have a minute.  I'm currently working on a few other projects, and I have to go shovel snow...