Locally Raised Priest (Curate)Training Program

 The Locally Raised Priest Training Program met on the weekend of May 5th, 20112.  A session on spirituality was lead by the Rev. Ann Marie Nicklin and the Ven. Don Byrt lead a session on evangelism.  During the weekend of learning, fellowship and worship, the candidates form a supportive community which assists in their development and training as locally raised clergy.

From left to right: the Ven. Don Byrt, Mr. Chris Luby, Bishop David Irving, Mr. Peter Coolen, Ms. Sharon Buchinski, Ms. Alvena Oryszczyn, Ms. Etta-Marie Green, Mr. Gordon Yarde, Ms. Jan Trost, Mr. Jim Siddons, the Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck.

For more information on the Locally Raised Priest (Curate ) Training Program click here.

Diocesan Gathering "Outside the Walls" At Manitou Springs

 

  You are invited to a diocesan wide gathering called "Outside the Walls",  The event will be held on September 14, 15 and 16, 2012 at Manitou Springs and Mineral Spa.  This will be a time of fellowship, learning, fun and celebration.  Those who stay in a room at the resort have pool access included in their room cost. 

If you are staying off site from the resort, you can access the pool for the price of a ticket  (adult $10.95, adult day pass $14.95, family $29.95 and family day pass $39.95 prices subject to change). 

For a full page version of the information poster below please click here.

For accommodation information and a registration form for "Outside the Walls" please click here.

 

Alleluia Christ is Risen

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb".  John 20:1. 

So begins the story of Easter recorded in John's Gospel.  Others came and saw the empty tomb.  They stayed briefly and then returned to their homes.  Mary alone remained and as she wept beside the tomb, someone came up behind her and called her name.  When she turned she saw Jesus, whom she loved.  She knew Jesus had been killed three days before but now here he was speaking to her.  Since that first Easter morning, Christians have interpreted the meaning of that great event in many different ways.  However, through all the years, the affirmation has remained the same,  the presence of Jesus, the power of Jesus, the love of Jesus lives on and on.  As you celebrate Easter this year, may the risen Christ bring you new hope, new love and new strength to live his risen life.

Lent a Time of Prayer and Self Examination

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and runs for 40 days (not counting Sundays) up to Easter and is a time for Christians to prepare for Easter.  This traditionally means self examination and repentance in order to engage more fully the resurrection life of Christ celebrated on Easter.  Repentance means to turn 180 degrees and to stop walking away from the love of God.  Resistance to God's love and reluctance to allow it to envelop us is sometimes deep rooted.  Indeed the story of Christ's arrest, trial and crucifiction bears testament to the lengths we will go to resist God's love.  Lent is a time to engage our resistance to the light and with God's help, take down the barriers that obstruct the glory of God in our hearts.

 "We Want Barabbas" 

 Honore Daumier (1808-1879)

Epiphany Blessing

The Season of Epiphany is a celebration of God's revelation of Jesus and our experience of Jesus as a revelation in our daily lives.  The ancient story of the Magi being lead to Jesus by a star, put in the sky by God for that purpose, illustrates God's intention to reveal to human consciousness the divine presence.

 

 The Star of Bethlehem by Edward Burnes-Jones

We sometimes say a person has an epiphany when they suddenly "see" something that they had not been aware of before.  The light goes on.  A eureka moment.  The Season of Epiphany is a celebration of our experiences of seeing Jesus in our daily lives in ways and places that are new.  The Epiphany Blessing on the new year is that the Divine Presence will light up in our consciousness over and over again in new ways throught the year and that the year will become a journey of revelation, a journey into new light.