felix hominum

On Good Friday

I want to do an evening of acoustic blues.

Seriously.

the state of evangelism in the Anglican Church can be explained by this:

can mostly be surmised by this: the Liturgy of the Notices

Funny, and all too true in so many ways.
via Bosco Peters, the naked liturgist.

this sunday at sol cafe

Trashing the Earth, Does God Care?

cafe dabar (10816 Whyte Ave) starting around 4ish.  coffee.  talk. coffee. repeat as necessary.

Our impetus to "care for creation" is grounded (no pun intended) in the first task set for humanity in the garden of Eden.  Like many other things present in our creation as intended by God, the task of "tending" is (like the image of God within us) still present, though tarnished and corrupted.

Choir director/ organist job opening

St. Timothy’s Anglican Church (Edmonton) is seeking a Music Director (choir director/organist) to provide leadership in the musical ministries of the parish and its worship life.  St. Timothy’s has a history of music in the liturgical tradition.

Specifically, the Music Director will work with the parish leadership in planning and evaluating the liturgy season by season.  This will include:

• Rehearsing and directing the church choir of about 15-18 choristers;

• Instrumental accompaniment as appropriate;

• Overseeing the maintenance and care for the church organ and pianos.

St. Timothy’s offers annual scholarships to four choral students who help lead the sections of the choir.  The Music Director leads this program in the selection and oversight of choral students.  The parish has an extensive library of choral sheet music which is managed with a computer database.

Remuneration is monthly and based on an average of ten hours per week from, using the RCCO salary grid as a guideline.  Actual hours will vary with peaks in the Christmas and Easter seasons, and lows at other times.   Interested persons may contact the Rev. Joseph Walker at 483-5506;  st.tims[at]shawbiz.ca, or joe[at]shawbiz.ca.

sol cafe this week

This week, the Sol Cafe will be getting together around 5ish at Cafe Dabar (10816 Whyte Ave) to have a family meeting, led by Winston, one of our regulars. We will be discussing ideas for the future and addressing some of the changes that are in the air.

The readings for this week from the Revised Common Lectionary are:
Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm 33:1-12
Romans 4:13-25
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

General Synod resolution A226 (“fresh new expressions”) gets underway

One of the motions at the last General Synod which almost flew under the radar was a call to have a thorough revision of liturgical texts for use in the Anglican Church of Canada.  Prayer Book traditionalists were concerned that the motion would eliminate the BCP from common use, and replace it with a mishmash of “modern” or “Post modern” liturgies.  In the end, the amended resolution which passed called for Faith Worship and Ministry to come up “fresh new expressions” for use in the Anglican Church of Canada.  Resolution A226 was amended, so that only “contemporary language rites” would be subject to the proposed revisions.  While I applaud the possibility of “fresh new expressions”, I find that, like the case of the rites for the catechumenate, the early drafts of such liturgies (pdf) leave a lot to be desired. 

I think that the Anglican Church can certainly benefit from a critical self examination in the area of liturgy, particularly when it comes to such liturgies as a means of sharing the Gospel with a largely "post Christian" culture. However, I think there could is room for improvement:

“Journeying Beyond:  A Pilgrimage of Exodus after Confirmation”

Rationale for the Rite:

It is well known in Anglican circles that Confirmation, while a significant milestone in forming a life of discipleship, is too often seen as an exit time for many young people from the community of the Church.  Recognizing this to be the case, the Faith Worship and Ministry Committee, following the guidelines of A226 (GS 2007), has developed the following experimental liturgy:  “Journeying Beyond:  A Pilgrimage of Exodus after Confirmation”.  The proposed liturgy would be used with those young people who have undergone Confirmation, but have decided (either at the time of Confirmation or shortly thereafter) to formally disassociate themselves from the Anglican Church of Canada.  It seeks to honour their personal seeking in an authentic way, while at the same time giving shape to a form of return.  In so doing, the spirit of autonomy inherent in a national church is fostered and nurtured in one of its most important constituent member groups: its youth.

Background and History:

While the theme of Exodus has firm Scriptural roots in terms of an overall progression to the Promised Land (though not in a terms of a permanent contemporary political entity), it is also recognized that this Exodus was a time of “wandering”.  Indeed, the concept of wandering is an integral part of a mature faith, for without this constant wandering, we cannot follow, even in a geographic sense, the itinerant nature of Jesus’ own wanderings as articulated in the Synoptic Gospels.  Recognizing that, in many cases, late adolescence is a natural time for such wanderings, we seek to encourage young people in their journey away from the Church, trusting that they will return when their own children need baptism, and thus setting in motion the continuous circle of the journey of faith, where both parents and newly baptized can then wander away again, to return at times of infinite transition (eg "funeral").

The Shape of the Rite:

Gathering of the Community:

The Presider should enter from a side door, rather than process via the center aisle.  The newly confirmed should enter from whichever direction they choose.  A large, broken compass may be placed on the altar.

One: "Not all who wander are lost."
All:  "And also with you."

One:  "The universe expands in all directions."
All:    "As does our faith.  There are no boundaries, only frontiers!"

One:  "N., you have been brought to this place through the workings of Mystery.  We, as the community in which you have been nurtured, now set you free.  As Abram left the home of his ancestors, so we set you free to leave this, the home of your spiritual ancestors.  As you grow, you must shed the old skin.  There may come a time when you return:  we may be here, or we may not.  Your journey endures forever."

The Presider then  hands the Traveler a broken compass:
"Receive the signpost of our faith.  Let no direction dictate your footsteps."

The Traveler takes the compass and covers it with a cloth.  The colour of the cloth will be determined by the liturgical season.

Traveler:  "Everyone who seeks will find.  How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again.  It’s always been the same, same old story."

Presider:  The service continues on page 185.

All stand, as the traveler exits by a side door.

Update: The Diocese of Saskatchewan website has an important press release from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

sol cafe service sunday

On Sunday, February 24, the sol cafe will be holding its monthly "service service" where our regular Sunday gathering and worship takes the form of rolling up our sleeves and doing some good. This month we will be meeting at the downtown Salvation Army depot (9618 101A Ave NW) to sort food and do whatever other work needs doing.  meeting at 5pm.  there will be rides available from cafe dabar 5ish

are the catholics on to something with this saturday church thing?

Just thinking...

sol cafe @ salvation army

On Sunday, September 30, the sol cafe will be meeting for one of our regular "service services", where our Sunday gathering and worship takes the form of some work in the community. This month we will be back at the Salvation Army downtown food sorting depot (9618 101A Avenue), processing donations and doing whatever other work they might need done.

If you can join us, please meet at the depot at 5 pm; you'll need to be relatively prompt because the facility will need to be locked once we're inside. If you've never been before or need a lift, we will also have a couple of volunteers at Cafe Dabar at 5 pm to shuttle people over.

further brief thoughts on worship

Following up on this post below, I suggest that since the God whom we worship is revealed to us, so we should turn to revelation (Scripture) to inform our worship.  Two passages come immediately to mind.  First is Paul's statement from Romans - presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, which is our spiritual worship.  Second are the images of worship given to us in the book of Revelations.  There are more images and references to worship, but I want to begin with these two.  It strikes me that Paul is referring, at least in part, to worship as a way of life.  And the images of "heavenly" worship we are given at the end of the New Testament are images of the fullness of worship.

Without allowing Scripture to inform and shape our worship, we run the risk of simply ending up worshiping some form of, well, ourselves.

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

on the ministry of children and fools

Do children have a ministry beyond making the rest of us feel sentimental during church?

We often talk in our church about the "ministry of the baptized", meaning that we believe every baptized member of the church to have a ministry, a vocation.  In the backs of our minds this often becomes "when they grow up and can do real ministry".  But what if children have a real ministry, a real vocation, within the body of Christ now? 

It is a subject which has been on my mind for a while - the ministry of children and fools.  Partly it also comes out of my association with people with intellectual disabilities.  I sense that there are two parts to their ministry (as there are two parts to mine).  First is the broad ministry of presence:  a more complete gathering of the body of Christ.  But I find myself, and sometimes others, seeing their ministry as only a ministry of presence - a passive ministry by which they evoke certain responses or reactions in those around them, in those "regular" members of the Church.  And perhaps for some that is the ministry to which they are called.

But what if they are called to other, more "active" ministries?  The ministry of prayer comes to mind immediately.  In our tradition, we have certain "intercessors" lead us in prayer each week, leading the "prayers of the people".  What would happen if we discerned and encouraged, say, our children, to lead us publicly in prayer.  And not in some sentimental sense of look-isn't-that-cute - now let's have someone pray whom God will really listen to.  What if those in our midst with disabilities were encouraged in ministry beyond-evoking-feelings-in-us?

Just a thought.  And in case you are wondering who the fools are...

the church as museum

I mean in the good and best sense of the word.

We are hoping that an installation by a local artist might soon be coming to St Tim's.  I got the proposal, looked it over, and I  think the theme and presentation would  be "proclamation" in some good sense of that word.

I hope that the logistics will work out.  On one level, we worship God whom we know is a Creator - and ways in which we reflect or encourage that creativity is part of our call.  I know that there are churches with "theologians in residence" and such things, but I wonder how many churches have "artists in residence"?  Just a thought...

the parish blog of St. Timothy

will be found over here.  In theory, it will be part of the online presence of St. Timothy's Anglican church, with much inspiring stuff, relevant and up to date information for parishioners & links to the local Anglican community.

Or it might gather dust.  We'll see.

Lord, hear our

prayer

holiday reading: An Emergent Manifesto of Hope

I have two choices: mow the lawn or read a book.  So I've picked up the copy of An Emergent Manifesto of Hope (Pagitt & Jones, et al.:  Baker 2007) which has been laying around collecting dust for the last few weeks.  It is a collection of essays by names familiar to those who have been following/practicing the "movement" (for lack of a better word) which has come to have the tag emerging church over the last little while.

Speaking of communities of immense sanity, it's almost time to play some music with the local L'arche gathering.  I think that next time we have an Anglican General Synod, we should elect one of the core members of L'arche to run the program for us.

too good not to share: Stanley Mission

On Sunday, the community of Stanley Mission, pop. 741, presented fifty-one candidates for their annual Confirmation service.  The congregation took motor boats to get to the church, including elders with their walkers.  Nets had been put out in the Churchill River to catch fresh fish for the outdoor feast following the service.

from Dio. Saskatchewan blog
image stolen directly from their site,
without prior episcopal permission for crossing Diocesan blog boundaries, & apologies to
Bishop Burton et al.

you must see the photo album, photo credit:   Kerry Paul

The North is Our Soul.

"never give your heart to an institution,

because it is incapable of returning the favour."

It was something spoken to me almost 2 decades ago.  The priest/professor/confessor who spoke that to me was wise enough to recognize some of the more subtle temptations of the Christian life, especially for those who are "clergy".

The Anglican Church - "throw a tent over it and call it a circus".

Over at the sol cafe site, steve the z left a bit of a comment:

We may even be just that rest stop for the odd Christian traveller. The point in their trip where they find that they're feet hurt from walking around and just want to sit and enjoy a slower moment. Maybe confused by programs and movements in the mainstream Christian world, or just tired, as it is hard work being a Christian in many churches.

Maybe they want to laugh and enjoy the company of believers that will let them be, just be. We let people choose if they come to sol, and choose why they may or may not come again, as best we can without pressure or guilt. We pray, read scripture and do our best to worship, but we do all that as a unique community exposed to the world.

This week the sol will gather at 5ish at Cafe Dabar, and we'll be (somewhat) guided by the readings for the week:

March 18 - Fourth Sunday in Lent
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3; Luke 15:11-32

The gospel reading is the story of the return of the prodigal son, or the story of  the love of the father, or the story of the impatience of the elder brother.  It is also the story of the imagined taste of the scraps in the foreign land, the bitter taste in one's own mouth of the words of confession, the real taste of forgiveness at the Father's table.

It is a call to come home.

where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

sol cafe - dec 3, start of a new year

On Sunday, December 3, 2006, starting around 5ish at Cafe Dabar, the sol cafe will be welcoming in the new Christian year with the Revised Common Lectionary, a shared calendar of Bible readings. There's more information in our food-for-thought section on the RCL, but the beginning readings are as follows:

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36

church dialog box: choose application

You've seen the little box often enough:

It's always asking you to choose an application.

"when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy"

While we were chatting about the place of music in the church last sunday at sol cafe, a few thoughts were rumbling around. That little quote from Job expresses something about "music" as something which, in a way, is built into the structure of creation - what an older generation might have called the music of the spheres.

Second, there was a question raised about "application".  Now there are many, many, many things in the Scriptures which invite us to "application" - to a "doing something about".  The Christian life is an active one.  But it is also a contemplative one.  Sometimes we are not called to choose an application; we are called to a contemplative adoration in the presence of God.  Yes, it's a tricky sort of thing;  and it's open to all sorts of misinterpretation.  But the focus is on God, rather than our activity,

next sol cafe @ Sally Ann

On Sunday November 26, starting 5ish pm, the sol cafe will be having its monthly "service service" where our time of worship and fellowship takes the form of some community action. This month we are back at the Salvation Army to do... well... whatever they need us to do. Meet at the downtown depot (address to come shortly), or if you need a lift, let us know -- we'll have our usual 'shuttle service' from Cafe Dabar.

We will then complete the evening across town at Japanese Bistro Kobe, in Callingwood Mall at the corner of 69th and 177th Street (just south of the west end YMCA). The restaurant is connected to one of our sol cafe irregulars, so we're excited to take in a little 'sol food' of the non-figurative kind. If you can only join us for dinner, we aim to be there around 7 pm.

a few further thoughts on baptism

We had an interesting discussion around baptism a few weeks ago at sol cafe.  One thread is so obvious that it is often overlooked: we don't baptize ourselves.

I mean, it seems pretty obvious, and so taken for granted that we might not see the significance built into that very basic fact.  The Christian life is not something we begin "by ourselves", nor is it something we continue by ourselves.  This dependence upon the act of another at the beginning of the Christian life is significant.  It counters our individualism - my tendency to view my Christian journey as something which "I do", apart from your contribution, influence and participation in it. 

It is a passive sort of thing.  To be baptized is to submit to the action of God working through another.  Even for those who were baptized as believing adults still submit to Christ throughthe actions of others.  Perhaps it was designed that way, so that we could not say that we have no need of other Christians.  I'll mull it over.

sol cafe oct 29

Faith and Hope and Chocolate

On Sunday, October 29, 5ish at Cafe Dabar, the sol cafe will be welcoming a guest chef to our "food for thought" kitchen. Lois is a Child Life Specialist at the Stollery Childrens' Hospital here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She will be sharing a little of what she has learned about Faith and Hope working with kids with cancer...

If you want to know how the chocolate fits in, you'll just have to drop by.

sol cafe & pre modern worship

In the spirit of the the age, you can pick from two un/church events this sunday:

Winston will be leading a bit of discussion around some ideas in the book: "Inside The Organic Church: Learning From Emerging Congregations."    Seems that the sol cafe has its own chapter in this work by Bob Whitesel, Associate Professor in the Department of Graduate Studies in Ministry at Indiana Wesleyan University.  As well,  there wil be some discussion around Matthew 18: 15-20, which I think someone talked about here.

Happens at Cafe Dabar, 5 ish.

So there!!  Google me this, you emerging church, friend of emergent, missional, tall skinny kiwi redneck Albertan, post-modern, candles and celtic prayers and schmancy artsy mystical sit around and drink coffee and call it church.  Sorry, just got carried away for a minute.  Emerging church...must write blog...

On the other hand, a new rector will be inducted at St George's parish (just west of Lister Hall on 87 Ave) this Sunday at 4 pm.  Rev. Emma Vickery has been appointed the new pastor of that congregation.  It promises to be a fine liturgical event, with yours truly preaching on the occasion (send me sermon ideas).  After which duties are completed, I hope to be joining the rest of the crowd at sol.

Take your pick.

ed:  because of the vast all-encommpassing nature of this blog post, the Technorati tags associated with the content of this post  will cover only a fraction of the relevant, conversational, liturgical and forward thinking ideas which need to be addressed...

a different kind of vampire freak

The First Church of the Living Dead

sol cafe - Sally Ann Sunday

This Sunday, October 1, 2006, starting around 5ish, the sol cafe will be holding it's monthly "service" service, where we meet out in the community and do a little work as worship (although the fellowship is never far behind!).

This month we will be helping out at the Salvation Army, where in the past we've sorted food for food hampers. This time, we might be doing something different, but we'll be meeting at the same place -- Salvation Army depot:  9618 - 101A Avenue.

Also as in the past, we will have someone at Cafe Dabar (10816 Whyte Ave)
to gather any stragglers or passersby looking for the sol cafe. Or e-mail us if you have any questions.

tradition with imagination

It just seemed appropriate given our discussion at sol cafe last evening.

What is "tradition"?  And how do I "hand on" to another what is of value?  It is another one of those words which sometimes stagger under the weight of baggage.

Sometimes we create tradition on a smaller scale;  in our own family we have a few traditions which we've established as part of celebrating who our kids are in Christ.   Maybe they will keep the rituals we've devised, or maybe they will abandon them when they have their own families.  But I hope that they will carry on the tradition  of celebrating our life in God, in whatever form they choose.

I sometimes think of tradition in its best sense as an awareness and connection with our spiritual heritage - knowing our roots. 

Those few who follow this blog on a regular basis know that Mrs. Felix and some of the kids spent a few weeks vacationing in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, earlier this summer.  It is a well-known local joke in Cape Breton that every conversation between strangers begins with the phrase "What's yer fahther's name?"  I am told that in Newfoundland there is another sort of greeting.  They don't ask a person "Where are you from?"  Instead they ask "Where do you belong?"

An awareness of our roots has some bearing on the direction of our growth.

At about this time of day I usually have something caffeine based, a ritual which has become traditional, and in which I must engage...

Image found via ron, taken by jonny , who has a body of work on flickr

sol cafe September 10

sol cafe will be meeting at 5 (ish) this sunday at cafe dabar.  more to follow.

conversations with David Fitch,

A few conversations for the locals to partake of this week:

David Fitch, along with Jim Litteral, Stan King, Randy Hein:  Thursday, July 6th from 7:30pm at the Providence Renewal Center, which can be found via this map.  I think this should be an interesting evening.  (no charge)

"Dr. David E. Fitch was recently appointed as the Betty R. Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Fitch served as Affiliate Professor of Christian Ethics at Northern Seminary. He is also the founding pastor of Life on the Vine Christian Community, an “emerging church” model within the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Long Grove, IL. "

Also, on Tuesday July 4 at "7:30 ish" at Cafe Dabar, via the sol cafe:

Phil Wright is a pastor and "lead church planter" with Exchange Community Church in Winnipeg, a "new church plant in Winnipeg's ecclectic Exchange District" (or so says their website!). His church is located in an historic area of Winnipeg, meets in a converted restaurant, and is attracting a "wonderfully diverse group, mostly artists and students and young families"

Just drop by - no rsvp

And to round it all out, just thought I'd let you know that I celebrated this morning from the BCP with the altar pushed right up against the wall...  I'm gonna get medieval on ya....
 

sol cafe this week

is happening, but I don't know what we are doing, so I should find out  by asking people in the know.

and remember you have all summer to drop by the sculpture from Rob, Ryan,  and that other guy

it's up at the Royal Alberta Museum - a cohort from sol was there for the opening reception, and I think we need at least one more meander some afternoon.

and ps - leva was nuts during the Australia - Italy game.  Antonio & company were sweating...

Anthony Packwood music

Pre-script:  if you're looking the the DVCode discussion, it's actually over here.

Reminder for the locals:  Anthony Packwood & friends are doing some stuff at St Paul's church this Saturday at 7:30.  Drop by to catch some tunes.  Hang out.  Help babysit my kids. 

Anthony is a musician hailing from Calgary who is up here for the weekend.  He is also a blogger.