From Archdeacon Glen’s desk
Hello,
Last evening I attended a very engaging Zoom Quiet Day. The presenter was the Rt. Rev. Susan Bell who currently serves as Bishop of the Diocese of Niagara. It was fitting during this Lenten Ember Season (Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the 1st Sunday of Lent) for her topic to be “Missional Preaching” since the Ember Days were created, in part, to promote prayers for the Mission of the Church. If you are wondering what Mission mightbe let me say that in a nutshell the Mission of the Church is to advance the Mission of God which is to restore the image of God in humanity which was marred through their disobedience and to, through humanity, bring a blessing to all nations and into Creation itself. As partners in that mission each one of us is endowed with something which God will use from within the Body of Christ to bring about this restoration which will be fully realized on the day of Resurrection. We pray for that day to come even as we live within this in-between time. During this interval we can experience the effects of God’s kingdom on earth and share those effects with the people we meet. If you have never contemplated these ideas then this season of Lent may be a good time to explore. If you need some help getting started or would like some resources please let me know. I have some books that I can drop off that may help. I pray that as we continue to walk through this year’s version of the season of Lent our eyes and hearts will be opened anew to the wonder and glory of our God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Glen +
A prayer
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light, look favourably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery. By the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation. Let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.