I Will Make All Things New

I wrote last week about the three pillars of Anglicanism on which their faith rests; scripture, reason and tradition.  The tradition was front and centre last Sunday as St. James Anglican Church here in Parkhill celebrated its 150th anniversary. 

Our Bishop, Bp Linda Nicholls was present for the occasion and preached a sermon in which she spoke of the Anglican strength of tradition and the long tradition of St. James in this community and the lasting impact that St. James has had on those who have been part of this community in the past as well as the present.  However, there is the tension between the strength of tradition and the danger of pining for the golden era of the past.  In reflecting on this, the passage from the book of Revelation came to mind, “Behold, I am making all things new.”  (Rev. 21:5). 

There is much in Anglicanism which we can continue to draw on not least of which are the three pillars that I opened with.  We are able to use our God given intellect to consider how tradition can be a foundation on which we move forward.  We can use our intellect to understand scripture and use it to consider how God is speaking to us today just as God spoke to the people of God in those times. 

Most importantly, we need to discern how God is speaking to us in new ways today through the Holy Spirit.  God may be leading us Anglicans and all God’s people to places where we have not considered going before to meet the challenges of today.  We can use scripture and tradition to ground our understanding of where God is leading us.  As an example, when we consider who our neighbours are in the commandment love your neighbour, it includes not just those like us or those who we may want to love but also whose who do not resemble us.  It may be the immigrant from far away countries.  It may also be the Samaritans in your life who seem to be completely opposed to all you stand for.  That is indeed a mountain which can seem to be impossible to climb.

Jesus has come to make all things new the possibilities are endless and will be wonderful if we are open to meet them.

Blessings on your journey.

A Time of Spiritual Renewal in Huron

As reported in the Huron Church News (June 2016), in her address to Synod Bishop Linda Nicholls declared that there are no “quick fixes” for our diocese or the church.  She declared that, “We do need spiritual wisdom and revelation.  My prayer is that God will provide that wisdom as we come to know him as we pay attention to our own spiritual lives”.

To put this in action Bishop Linda encouraged each person in the room and by implication every Anglican in Huron, “to commit to one new way of deepening your knowledge of Christ this year!”  Bishop Linda suggested ways of doing this such as joining a bible study, participating in an Education for Ministry group, and going on retreat.  Bishop Linda also suggested that people find a spiritual director.  It is my experience that many people in Huron are not familiar with spiritual directors and spiritual direction.  I thought it would be helpful to some readers to provide an introduction to the practice of spiritual direction which I hope will encourage people to explore this spiritual practice as a way of enhancing their experience of God.

First I will share with you a bit about my background which is relevant.  I am an Anglican priest in Huron who retired from full-time parish ministry a few years ago.  I am a graduate of the spiritual direction program offered by the Haden Institute through the Mount Carmel Spirituality Centre in Niagara Falls completing the program in 2013.  Through the auspices of the Rev. Canon Todd Townshend, Dean of Theology at Huron University College and working with Rev. Canon Greg Smith, Director of Field Education, Worship, Community & Formation I have been offering spiritual direction to students in the faculty of theology beginning first as part of training and continuing once I completed the program.  I also work with lay and ordained people outside the Huron College context.

With that let me give you some information about spiritual direction and spiritual directors. A spiritual director is somewhat misnamed as a spiritual director doesn’t actually direct. It is the Holy Spirit—the third person in the room who directs the session.  A spiritual director is a companion on your journey as you deepen your relationship with God.  Here are some of the things which a spiritual director/companion may help you with on you journey:

·         Identify and trust your own experiences of God recognizing God’s unending love for you

·                        Acting with continued integrity and participation in your religious tradition

·                         Integrate spirituality into your daily life

·                         Discern and then make difficult choices

·                         Share your hopes,  your struggles and your losses

·                         Develop a sensitivity for justice and the concerns for the poor and compassion for those you               meet in everyday life

Most important thing in your journey is LOVE.  The spiritual companion can help you to understand and appreciate how the love of God in Jesus Christ can be recognized mire fully and shared with others. 

As St. Paul tells us there are many members but one body.  Each of us will have different ways in which we are open to the Holy Spirit. A spiritual companion can help you to identify the ways in which God through the Holy Spirit is active in your life and how you can be open to deepening and expanding your experience of the divine.   Blessings of you journey.