St. Francis-in-the-Wood Winter 2011 Newsletter

St. FrancisSt. Francis--inin--thethe--WoodWood Anglican ChurchAnglican Church

Winter Newsletter, 2011Winter Newsletter, 2011Winter Newsletter, 2011

IN THIS EDITION

• Keep Awake! St. Francis Care Ministry • A Call to Conversation • The Advent of a New Associate Priest • Prayer Shawl Ministry • Bethlehem: A Meditation and Advent Reflection • Reflections on the Order of New Westminster • Update on the Legacy Fund • Pub Quizzes and Big Welcomes! • St. Francis at the Powerchair Soccer World

Championships • The Light Within • Beat the Winter Blues Workshops • Easter Seals on Wheels • Advent and Christmas Services at St. Francis and St. Monica

Welcome to the Winter 2011 edition of the St. Francis-in-the-Wood Newsletter!

Inside this issue you’ll find reports and pictures from our recent events; both at St. Francis and f u r t h e r a f i e l d including an article from Rev. Janice Lowell, our new Associate Priest and a report on the World Powerchair Soccer Championships! You can also find out a b o u t w h a t ’ s

happening at St. Francis over Advent

and Christmas. We’re always on the lookout for feedback and contributions! Contact the St. Francis Office:

St. Francis-in-the-Wood 4773 South Piccadilly Road, West Vancouver,

V7W 1J8 604 922 3531; [email protected]

http://www.stfrancisinthewood.ca

St. Francis-in-the-Wood, Winter Newsletter Page 2

2010 Christmas Pageant at St. Francis

KEEP AWAKE! - THE ST. FRANCIS CARE MINISTRY

D uring the joyful season ahead, let us keep awake to the needs of our St.

Francis family. If you become aware of anyone who could use a helping hand, please contact the care ministry:

Mary Ann Sweeny - 925 2682

Jill Coombes - 922 0438 Junior youth group members baking cookies for LUMs

A CALL TO CONVERSATION

I s it time yet? Is it time yet to have that conversation (again) about where we are at and where we are

going? A conversation that inevitably involves us asking ourselves (again) who we are and who we are called to be. Some years ago – would you believe it is as far back as November 2005? – we had a Parish Retreat held at St. Francis where we explored the “seven marks of a healthy church” and measured St. Francis against them to see how we were doing. On the basis of this we set some directions and goals to aim for as we moved forward as a parish in ministry and mission. Is it time yet to do that again? For many reasons, the answer is probably “Yes.” In part this is because having set those directions and goals we moved forward and are now that much further down the road – it is probably time to find another vantage point and take a look around, see where we are at and where we would like to head to next on this journey that we are all on together. Also the make-up of our church has inevitably changed in the past six years – some are no longer with us because they have died or moved away and, a very healthy sign, there are many among us who were not here six years ago and were therefore not part of that conversation. Now is also perhaps a particularly good time to revisit these questions because of the recent arrival of our new associate priest, Janice Lowell, with the new energy and perspectives she brings to us. Janice is also priest-in-charge of St. Monica’s, Horseshoe Bay so it makes sense for us to be having our conversations with the people at both churches as we look to the future. The seven marks of a healthy church that we looked at and measured ourselves against back in 2005 were: 1. A healthy church is

energized by faith 2. A healthy church has an

outward-looking focus 3. A healthy church seeks

to find out what God wants

4. A healthy church faces the cost of change and growth

5. A healthy church operates as a community 6. A healthy church makes room for all 7. A healthy church does a few things and does them well Of these, we chose to focus on four in particular as we moved forward: No. 1 To be energized by faith No. 2 To have an outward looking focus No. 3 To seek to find out what God wants No. 6 To make room for all The work that followed led to many initiatives that permeated every aspect of our life together: Children & Youth and Families Ecumenical Links and Inter-Faith Relations Seniors & Singles Worship Pastoral Care Social Concerns Seeking to Find Out What God Wants This last, “Seeking to find out what God wants” became the keynote that was the driving force behind all of the other initiatives, and really it still is – in asking ourselves where we are at as a Parish and where we should be headed is another way of asking “What is it that God wants us to be and do?” What next? Some of the specific initiatives that we saw come out of the last round of “visioning” include: the setting up

of the Worship Planning Group and the Spirituality & Discipleship Planning Group which led to numerous developments in o u r s e r v i c e s a n d educational programs; the course on World Religions with Harold Rosen and the two follow-up series in which we invited members of other faiths to come and s h a r e w i t h u s i n conversation; the annual Strawberry Tea (!);

Continued overleaf


Rev. Angus Stuart and Rev. Janice Lowell leading the children's talk during Janice’s first Sunday at St. Francis

(photo courtesy of Louise Selby)

the youth Pancake Party on Shrove Tuesday each year; conversation and coordination between Social Concerns, Legacy and other special appeals for outreach at St. Francis. Other things have come and gone – the lay-led Baptism Preparation course; the regularly staffed nursery; “All Age” services – some of these need to be revisited to see what went wrong and how we can do better. Some things have developed more recently and continue to grow such as the ecumenical network of clergy in West Vancouver and the introduction of “Cross Walk” during Holy Week. Some things remain challenges that we continue to struggle with: especially follow-up of people on the margins of our church community. Other things, as I look back on the “Towards A Parish Strategy” report in the 2006 vestry package, we seem to have made little headway with, not necessarily because we “failed” but perhaps because that was not what God wanted – at that time. All of these things – the “successes” and the “failures” – it is worth looking at once more in the spirit of “seeking to find out what God wants.” But perhaps equally if not more important we need to come afresh

to the blank sheet of white paper and begin (again) to re-imagine the church – what is it that God wants us to be and do? Who does God want us to become? Who are we becoming? Let’s think about it. What is the purpose of “the church”? Do we sometimes get the feeling that we are just trying to keep an outdated and failing institution going just for the sake of it and against all the odds? Or do we, can we, catch a glimpse of something more, something that excites us because it somehow connects with the immense spiritual hunger and longing that surrounds us each and everyday, amongst strangers and friends and in the depths of our own hearts too, something that our spiritual-but-not-religious west-coast culture can say “Yes” to? Can we see it? Let’s talk about it. Nothing on the books yet. No dates set. But let’s make 2012 a year of conversation … that leads to vision … that leads to action … transformation … growth.

Angus Stuart Rector

FINANCIALS AT A GLANCE Member givings (year to date) are marginally stronger than last year but offset by lower open collections. We are better than budget due to annual givings made at the beginning of the year. Year to date total revenues are basically flat with last year when adjusted for the 2009/2010 accruals. Total church expenses (year to date) have increased over 2010 by $1,084 or 0.5%. This primarily due to increases in our salary costs, utilities and general expenses. The increases are due to: • Cost of living salary increases; • Utilities are up due to increased costs and expiry

of the one time water credit resulting from the broken water main in 2008;

• Maintenance expenditures such as refinishing the hall floor;

• Increased office expenses;

• Reduced allocations (flowers, music and rector)

from our weddings (7 versus 18 in 2010). Overall, our total expenses are better than budget due to substantially reduced ordained ministry costs resulting from the recoveries from St. Monica’s and the delayed hiring of the associate priest from July 1 to November 1. However, our net deficit after Wedding/Funeral recoveries is (1,095) vs. a net surplus of 2010 $10,176 due to reduced number of weddings in the year. This reduced our recoveries by approx. $12,000. In terms of financial durability, our cash resources remain healthy with our Operating Fund balance at $76,460, well above our threshold of $50,000 and the Reserve Fund remains untouched at $32,203.

Terry Joyce, Treasurer


THE ADVENT OF A NEW ASSOCIATE

N ot to take anything away from the BIG Advent, the coming of a new associate to St. Francis has

been a long awaited event. And so here I am! You might be interested in knowing how I came to be here, and more importantly, how I discerned God’s call to ordained ministry. As a young child, I attended Lundy’s Lane United Church in Niagara Falls every week with my grandmother. I loved Sunday School, learning about Jesus, being in church and singing the hymns, and my favourite part was when we had quarterly communion. Grandma always complained that the service was longer then, but there was something indescribably special in partaking of that cube of Wonder Bread and the little “shot glass” of grape juice. Around the age of six, I remember lying in bed one night and crying inconsolably. My mother came and asked what was wrong. I told her that I wanted to die so that I could be with Jesus and Mary. In my child’s mind, I had this vision of my walking down cobble stone streets between the two and holding their hands. I think God was touching me in some special way even then. When we moved to the Chicago area in my early teens, I didn’t attend church for a few years. Then I joined the youth choir of the Community Church, and I loved being back in church. One Good Friday, I asked my parents to drive me to church. Mom came in and sat with me in the quiet, and I wept mournfully for more than an hour. “How could they do this to Jesus?” God’s hand was still upon me. I went to a Lutheran College in Minnesota in the early 70’s. It was a tumultuous time on campuses in the States, and I wanted to be somewhere safe. Those were years of

self-discovery, which focused more on a social life than church. But we were required to take three religion courses, which, to my surprise, I loved. That still, quiet voice was persisting. Following graduation, my life, in Minneapolis, as a young single surrounded by wonderful friends, was filled with a sense of inexplicable longing. Of course, I thought it was for a partner, which in part was true. But I found myself looking for a church. In an unintentional ecumenical journey, I found myself drawn towards a Presbyterian Church. It was here that I was faced with some tough theological dilemmas. I was a good person; I didn’t intentionally hurt anyone; but what was my commitment to God and my life as a Christian? I would describe this as an adult conversion experience – at least a conscious one. The young man I was dating at the time was an Episcopalian, and I attended church with him one Sunday at the cathedral in Minneapolis. This was in 1976; a woman priest presided over the service,

which was an instructional Eucharist with the “new” prayer book. Yes, the Episcopalians had one too! I had found my spiritual home – the liturgy, the critical thinking (not having to check my brains at the door), the Eucharist – every week! I was in heaven. It was later that year that I met my future husband. He had just graduated from G e n e r a l T h e o l o g i c a l Seminary in New York City. Our mutual love for God and God’s church was the initial and abiding attraction. In 1978, shortly after our marriage, I was confirmed by the Bishop of Northern Michigan. Kneeling on the altar steps, in Trinity Episcopal Church, Mackinac Island, I felt fire flow through me as the Bishop laid his hands on my head.

Continued overleaf


Welcome for Rev. Janice Lowell at St. Francis, November 2011 (photo courtesy of Louise Selby)

Unfortunately, the marriage was not meant to be, and I moved to Florida with our one-year-old son. I suffered from great guilt over this decision, and as in all of our valley days of darkness, God was there to sustain me. My relationship with God and my church literally saved my life. My church community was my new family, and God helped me co-parent Matthew. His dad moved to Florida, remarried, and Matthew was able to maintain a relationship with his dad, until Marshall’s death in 2007. In 1985, I began to sense a yearning to serve God fulltime. I was an RN, and the work was important but not satisfying. In consultation with my priest, he advised me that I would have to move out of diocese, as our Bishop would not ordain women. Matthew was five years old, a move seemed impossible, and so I focused my ministry on parenting and church activities. In 1999, this yearning came back with a vengeance. I was experiencing anxiety attacks, frustration at work, and on the advice of my spiritual director, went on four-day “vision quest.” A friend owned a condo on a Florida beach, so I spent the time there. I would drum, meditate, pray and take long walks along the beach every morning and evening. Early on, I heard God say, “Janice, I want you to be a priest for me.” During another mediation, I had a vision of standing in the middle of the sanctuary of my church, surrounded by three distinct pillars of light. It was then that I felt that the Trinity had initially ordained me. There is a tradition (from somewhere) that if you find a feather upon your path, you are walking along the pathway God has set out for you. I returned home with a basket full of all kinds of feathers. Upon my return, I consulted with my priest. He was most encouraging and excited. He contacted the Bishop (a new one, who would ordain women) with

my sense of call. The Bishop told him I was too old, and he would not consider me for ordination. I was 47 years old. D e v a s t a t e d , I entered another dark night of the soul. And then, a year or so later, the Bishop changed his mind and said he would meet with me. He laid out a two-year plan of discernment for me, which I completed. I delighted in the two year required course

of study and embraced the group theological reflection. My parish discernment group and parish council recommended me to the Bishop for theological training and ordination. I was called to meet with the Executive Archdeacon, who informed me that “it” was not going to happen for me. I was not given any reason. When I asked him, “What am I supposed to do with this?” (pointing to my heart), he encouraged me to pray and journal. (Not that I hadn’t been doing that for almost twenty years!) In spite of the gut wrenching sobbing, I heard a whisper in my right ear, which then came, out of my mouth. “Maybe I will look at the Anglican Church of Canada.” To which he replied, “I’m sure the Bishop would be willing to write you a recommendation.” Redirection of a journey has surprising outcomes. Once I let go of being a priest in the Episcopal Church, doors began to open. My sister-in-law was a friend of Linda St. Clair, a priest in this diocese. (I had actually had Thanksgiving with Linda and her family in Massachusetts in the late 70’s.) She put me contact with Ron Harrison and I arranged a trip out to meet with him. I had been receiving the catalogue from VST for several years, as I had come across them on line and was intrigued by their theological training. I made a late application, more for the practice than expecting admission. At the meeting with Ron, he said that while the diocese could not promise anything, they would be happy to have me journey with them. When I went to VST to meet with Wendy Fletcher, she informed me that my application had


Vancouver School of Theology

been accepted the week before! In a matter of 6 weeks, I sold my home, quite my job, resettled Matthew in an apartment), and flew to Vancouver to begin my theological training. Twenty minutes from landing at YVR, I began to cry, “What have I done – leaving everyone (including a precious dog and cat) and everything I know?” I have not had one regret since. My experience at VST was more than I could have asked for or imagined, as have been my days of ministry since. I am so pleased to be here with you at St. Francis, and you have all welcomed me so very warmly. I look forward to a blessed time as we journey together in our lives with God.

Janice Lowell Associate Priest


PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

A Prayer Shawl Ministry is an opportunity for people to provide a prayerful gift of a knitted or

crocheted shawl to someone who is in need. It might be someone in the hospital, a care home, a shut-in, someone grieving the loss of a loved one or a person simply experiencing a rough time in their life. It can also be a gift of celebration, such as a wedding, baptism, confirmation or graduation. A small cross is tied to the shawl, along with a prayer. Recipients of these shawls share that they feel the love and arms of the whole congregation around them, supporting them and being with them. It is a very tangible way of being the loving arms of God.

I am wondering if there is a group of people at St. Francis who might be interested in beginning this ministry in the New Year. We could meet monthly at the church, perhaps in the afternoon for one to two hours, knit, have tea, and share conversation. I have many patterns, from novice to experienced. After we have completed a group of shawls, we would bring them into the sanctuary to be blessed during a worship service. The shawls would then be available for people to give to someone in need. If you are interested, please contact me at [email protected] or leave a message for me with Liz in the office. Pending interest, there will be more news to follow!

Janice Lowell

Snow on the stones of the St. Francis Meditation Garden


BETHLEHEM: A MEDITATION

A meditation compiled by Donald Grayston from three sources:

• “O little town of Bethlehem” – a Christmas carol written

in 1868 after an 1865 visit to Bethlehem by Phillips Brooks, later the Episcopal/Anglican bishop of Massachusetts

• “The people of Bethlehem are asking for our help” – an

appeal sent out in December 2010 by The Elders, a group composed of recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize

• “O come, all ye faithful”—Associated Press syndicated

release: shows the apartheid wall to which the Elders refer: it bears a graffito which says “Merry Christmas, World, from Bethlehem Ghetto.”

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Towering walls and militarized fences now encircle Bethlehem, turning the 4,000-year-old city into a virtual prison for its Palestinian

Christian and Muslim citizens. Bethlehem has only three gates to the outside world, all tightly controlled by Israeli occupation forces.

For Christ is born of Mary; and, gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all the earth.

Israel has confiscated almost all the agricultural land in the area for illegal settlements, making it impossible for many Palestinian farmers to continue tending their land. Outside the town, the fields where shepherds once watched their flocks are being filled by Israeli housing blocs and roads barred to the descendants of those shepherds.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given, as love imparts to human hearts the blessings of God’s heaven! No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.

"It is unconscionable that Bethlehem should be allowed to die slowly from strangulation," says South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Bethlehem's residents increasingly are fleeing Israel's confining walls, and soon the city, home to the oldest Christian community in the world, will have little left of its Christian history but the cold stones of empty churches.

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel.

ADVENT REFLECTION

B ethlehem. A little town in an out-of-the-way place, and yet famous throughout the world and

remembered each year as the birthplace of the Christ, the saviour of the world. As each Christmas comes around it always seems to me that on that night time slows down and stops; and the illusion that we call time collapses so that then is now, and now … is then. And the stage on which this time-collapse takes place is Bethlehem. Bethlehem becomes for us a gateway to the past into history and a window on eternity.

We first hear of Bethlehem in the story of the patriarchs when Jacob, the son of Isaac the son of Abraham, Jacob the one who struggled with life and became Israel, buried the wife he loved, Rachel with the beautiful eyes, on the road to Ephrathah at a place called Bethlehem. The name Bethlehem literally means “House of Bread”; and I can imagine a tiny settlement built around a bakery - “The House of Bread.” We then hear little more of Bethlehem – mentioned only in passing once in the Book of Joshua (who fit de

Battle of Jericho), and a handful of times in the Book of Judges – until we come to the Book of Ruth which tells the story of how (what we would call today) a Palestinian woman from Moab, who had married the son of an Israelite couple, came to live in their hometown. By now her husband had died, and her mother-in-law Naomi was a widow too. They could have gone each to their own people – as Naomi had suggested – yet the bonds of love had grown such that this “Palestinian” woman Ruth was able to say to her Israelite mother-in-law:

“Where you go, I will go; where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Ruth 1:16

The artificial boundaries that kept one people separate from another disappeared; the illusion of separateness melted, as Ruth unknowing stepped into the stream of God’s unfolding story of salvation. And so Ruth comes to Naomi’s hometown Bethlehem, and by-and-by she meets a local man Boaz, falls in love and gets married. They had a son and named him Obed who in turn became the father of Jesse, and Jesse had eight sons, the youngest of whom was called David who became the King of Israel. His great-grandmother was the Palestinian woman from Moab called Ruth, and Bethlehem became known as the “City of David.” And from the root of Jesse a shoot shall come. David was the greatest of the Kings of Israel, the one against whom all others were measured; he was the paradigm of kingship and of what it meant to be the messiah of God – the one anointed by God. After him kings arose and passed away; some were good and wise – like Solomon, David’s son with Bathsheba – others not so great. Prophets arose and denounced the corruption and weakness in the political leadership of Israel, and many paid the price. Calamity came upon Israel and the trauma of exile; a wound on the psyche of the nation from which it would never recover; the land was desolate, empty and plundered, and the people sold into slavery. Into this darkness and despair came words of hope; and somehow at the heart of it lay the little

town of Bethlehem:

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Micah 5:2

This is a place where not only the fortunes of the people of Israel were to be found, but of the healing of the nations, and the joy of the whole earth. In this place was to be found the hopes and fears of all the years down through history where people have been divided one from another. In this place where the Palestinian woman came with her Jewish mother-in-law to build a new life; in this place surrounded by walls of fear and hatred, suspicion and resentment, groaning like a woman in labour; in this place, seemingly outside time and space, but somehow at the heart of it, lies the answer of all human longing, for peace (and security), for justice (and mercy).

And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of all the earth;

and he shall be the one of peace. Micah 5:4

Israel longs for security; Palestinians demand justice; all desire peace. But there can be no peace without justice, and without justice there can be no security. And so it goes; walled around with a wall. Israel and Palestine seem not only to be the key to wider peace among the nations of the world – solve the Middle East crisis and many other problems disappear – but Israel and Palestine also represent the challenge and the opportunity to humanity to break down the dividing walls of hostility and provide a birthplace for a new humanity to be born; for the image of God to be born anew in each human heart and reflected in each human face. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord… feed his flock with the bread of life, the

bread of salvation from the House of Bread – Bethlehem.

Angus Stuart

From a sermon preached on

November 27th 2011, at the Advent

Carol Service


THOUGHTS ON THE ORDER OF NEW WESTMINSTER In 2009, the Order of New Westminster was created as a way to recognize long-term volunteer service from lay persons to the life of the diocese. Since its inception, six members of St. Francis-in-the-Wood have been inducted into the Order during annual services at Christ Church Cathedral; Babs Ferguson, Bob & Diana Hutchinson, Jack Croll, Ellen Westcott and, most recently, Joan Mann. In this article, Kathleen Glynn Morris reflects on both the Order and the very special individuals from our parish family who are members of it.

W hen I first heard of the concept, I was rather hesitant;

there are so many extraordinary people in every parish, how can only a one or two be selected? But then, do we honour none? There are those among us who truly inspire, and acknowledging them elevates us all. Rodney and I have been coming to St. Francis since 1979 when we first moved to West Vancouver after the rash decision to buy a house with no permanent job. We were young and newly married. Michael Ingham was the new rector. He too was young and at that time, unmarried. Over the years I have had the extraordinary pleasure and privilege to be part of an ever changing community that has unchanging core values and commitments to compassion, kindness, interest, caring to its own community but also to the wider neighbourhood and global community. It is a lso an admirab le community where I have felt safe to respectfully intellectually challenge thoughts and seek new interpretations. In the course of our only too human attempts to live a life inspired by Jesus Christ, I have been tremendously

inspired by those I have had the opportunity to share part of life’s path. And, oh my, has there ever been some good fun along the way. So this all means that I know at St. Francis all of the recipients of The Order of the Diocese of New Westminster. Not well, but well enough to admire them all. While I have no idea of all their accomplishments and contributions to St. Francis, I

thought I would flesh out a little these remarkable people with some of my own random thoughts and perspectives. First Joan. She lives in my neighbourhood. Trevor Fisher (last Rector) used to say that there was an inverse relationship between the distance one lived from St. Francis and the time one arrived. The GM’s were usually last having just followed the Manns! Joan (and Don) were always there and quietly supportive in anyway possible. I don’t think that she missed one of the concerts held in The Third Sunday at Three Community Concerts series over the 5 years. Maybe one, but I doubt it. To bolster numbers she would invite someone for lunch beforehand. It meant the world. And then she and Don were there to help Kevin

Z a k r e s k y w i t h accommodation, letting him use their guest house. I have no idea how many she and Don helped out similarly. I was always intrigued by her membership (with Don) in the Jane Austen Club as she is an avid and curious reader; she is a fascinating renaissance lady. I admire her daily swim in the summer time across the Cove, and used to love seeing the

Mann sailboat moor temporarily at the dock. I love Joan’s flower arrangements. I love their wildness and

Joan Mann (above) and Jack Croll (below) being received into the Order of New Westminster (all photos in this article

courtesy of Randy Murray)


her sense of colour; my favourite being one Easter she did a small bouquet for down on the rocks with p i n k a n d p u r p l e Hellebores and pink heather. The beauty of it had me transf ixed. Whatever function that is happening over the years, there she is participating with joy and enthusiasm in whatever way is needed to make the function a success. And Jack (Croll). What I think of first about Jack is his dignity. He is a gentleman first and foremost, and I admire that. Secondly, he and Sheila are a dynamic combo. Thoughtful, astute and compassionate, I remember Jack’s involvement in the expansion of the church hall/lounge. At that time, I was busy with the four kids and not as aware of what was happening in the church, but I remember Jack as being one of those with a pivotal role. He was part of a group of parishioners who made it happen and today we are so grateful. He has taken on the task of parish Treasurer, among others, which is not without its frustrations and challenges, I am learning to understand! I also know that he can be counted on to take Vestry meetings seriously, and to ask the questions that require clarity. Clearly he is thorough, has read the materials and his expertise has helped keep St. Francis on a good financial foundation. Jack and Sheila are also always there to not only participate, but to help out. Jack could be counted on to simply show up for any clean up. Ellen Westcott and her husband Ron came from the same neck of the woods as Rodney - Liverpool. I remember first meeting them, and there seemed to be quite a growing contingent from across the pond. Rodney, Michael, the Westcotts. Ron had been a well known soccer star. Ellen it seems to me has always been involved in the details, the little things that make any organization work. Always keen to help where help is needed, and today what I find remarkable is that

t he re she i s o n Thursdays, each week, rain or shine, folding the Sunday Order of Service and putting in the inserts - after taking the bus from home and walking down the hill. Ellen is 93. For years she coordinated the Chalice Administrators and still keeps an eye out that everyone is in place. If it is my turn, she looks around to make sure I am there.

I first met Babs when she was still Babs Millerd. Babs is a rock. Solid and dependable. I love her constancy: her hanging fish earrings, her ziploc bag of Scotch mints that endeared to all, especially children, her calmness and completely magical smile. I love her art and her paintings of St. Francis, especially the Lych Gate, are seminal for me. Under very challenging circumstances, Babs is grace, kindness and faith under pressure. What I will always remember about Babs, forever, is her comment at a gathering of Confirmation students and sponsors at St. Francis. We were all in a circle and each person was asked, in sequence, what they did well. I have no memory of what anyone said, including myself. Babs, who was one of the last to speak said: “ I love well”. If life is an apprenticeship, then we all have had the opportunity

to learn from a master. Babs Millerd Ferguson loves very well. Bob and Jack are birds of a feather to me. They are such gentlemen when gentlemen sadly seem to be something out of fashion. Bob, over the 30 some years I have been there, has simply aways been part of those who ensured that St. Francis worked. I believe that he is an engineer and has construction as his background, so he was the right man to have when there was talk of expansion. The combination of Alan Hart (architect), Bob and the extraordinary talent in the parish to drive the project forward is remarkable. We should put up some before and after photos really so that people can see the old kitchen at the west end of the hall.

Ellen Westcott receives her medal from Archdeacon Ron Harrison

Babs Ferguson with Bishop Michael


Not one to stay still, Bob has participated on Parish Council longer than I can remember. I remember when Bishop Michael asked if the Hutchinsons would help out with St. Clare-in-the-Cove. It was quite a sacrifice for them to leave the St. Francis community. Both he and Diana are emblematic of honour and duty to me. Diana. I have been interested in politics over the years and so was doubly interested in the hard work, expertise, sacrifice and dedication that Diana made. Politics can be a demanding mistress. Diana was always one of those to whom the church, in a quandary, would seek an opinion. She has a wonderful perspective, and the years that we were together on Parish Council allowed me to appreciate her counsel. My favourite memory of Diana though is a piece of advice she gave me many years ago. I was telling her that I had (and still do) great difficulty in praying. I become unfocused. I get quite a lot of mind chatter, including things such as what I will make for dinner! I find it frustrating to be so unsuccessful in reigning my wayward thoughts. Diana suggested to me that I hold the image of the plain wooden cross

which is in the wall above the St. Francis window in my mind, and then talk to God. Today, when ever things are yet again out of control in my mind, I go to the cross and it acts as a wonderful barrier. It was quite a gift. I have been thinking about Diana and Bob, Babs and Ellen, and Jack and Joan and what it is that they have in common. Life in a Parish is similar to the human lives that comprise it. There are ups and downs, good times and tough times. What Diana and Bob, Babs, Ellen, Jack and Joan have in common is their unwavering commitment to our community and to the work God calls us to do, and in so doing they have not hidden their talents under a bushel but shared them with us all.

These remarkable parishioners have touched most of us in ways we may never know. I am delighted that they have been awarded The Order of the Diocese of New Westminster. They honour us all.

Kathleen Glynn Morris

Bob Hutchinson

Diana Hutchinson


UPDATE FROM THE LEGACY FUND

Y ou will recall from Legacy Sunday and from the last Newsletter that the Fund had recently made a

donation to Hollyburn Family Services of $10,000 (with another $10,000 pledged for next year). This is specifically for a new Education Bursary for the youth who are able to move on from time at the Safe House and move into Transition Homes. On 30th November I had the pleasure of representing the Trustees of the Fund in attending the Official Opening of the two new Transition homes by Mayor Richard Walton of District of North Vancouver.

As you will see from these photos the homes are very sunny and have been well renovated. They are situated in a g r e a t neighbourhood so that the young people will definitely feel that they are ‘home’ when they walk through the front door. The new leather and dining room furnishings will surely give them a sense of pride and achievement in being part of the life enhancing “Life Success Programme’. The St. Francis-in-the-Wood Education Bursary will contribute to that ‘Life Success’. The first residents moved in on Monday 5th December. The Trustees were recently pleased to be able to donate $10,000 to LUMS (Lutheran Urban Mission Society) to support the work they do in Vancouver’s Eastside areas for marginalized communities. As with many other organisations they have been going through tough times financially and so this donation will enable them to move into 2012 and plan for

much needed support programmes. We have committed to a further donation later in 2012, which is to be matched by other supporters of the work of LUMS. We have made the final payment of $10,000, which was pledged to the Lions Gate Foundation North Shore Hospice Fund. The total given over the last six years to this building Fund has been $100,000. It is great to have the Building now in use for our local Community.

If you would like to know more about the Legacy Fund then do give me a call, or visit the St. Francis website if you would like to know more about the organisations

w e h a v e supported. Marilyn McBeath On behalf of the

Legacy Fund trustees


(Above and left) The North Shore Transition

homes (photos courtesy of Marilyn McBeath)

PUB QUIZZES AND BIG WELCOMES!

A s the winds kick up and leaves fly around us we immediately think of warm friendships, hot

toddies and tasty food. Well St. Francis has had it all this season at several wonderful events!

Our Pub Quiz N ig h t was another great success with “bangers and m a s h ” f o r d i n n e r , followed by c a k e a n d coffee. Thanks t o I a n M c B e a t h , hundreds of questions kept

everyone on their toes and their brains in overdrive. My grateful thanks to all those who brought mashed potatoes and a SPECIAL THANK YOU to Christine

Stuart and Fiona Galvani who completely took over after a sudden change in plans. V e r y m u c h appreciated! S u n d a y 2 0 t h November was another special day for St. Francis w h e n w e welcomed Janice Lowell; our new Associate Priest. We welcome you, Janice, and I’m sure you will have many fun times with us. Christmas is always a lovely time at St. Francis so please note dates and times of all our special services (listed on the back page of this newsletter.) New Year promises to bring a lot more events and they will be listed as dates are finalized. Thank you everyone for your help and support over this last year! Merry Christmas and God’s Blessings,

Louise Selby

(Above) Pub Quiz Night (Right) Abundance from the Harvest Thanksgiving Service in

October 2011

ONCE IN A LIFETIME ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-WOOD AT THE 2011 POWERCHAIR SOCCER WORLD CUP

In our Easter 2011 Newsletter, Luke Galvani wrote about the Powerchair Soccer World Cup, which took place this November in Paris, France. Both Luke and Keith Knight (a member of our St. Francis Young Adults ministry) were selected for Team Canada and, thanks to the generous donations of St. Francis parishioners, were both able to attend the tournament. Here, both Keith and Luke reflect on their incredible experience in Paris.

I started playing Powerchair Football when I was 5 years old, and it has been one of the most important

things in my life ever since. I’m a very competitive person so even at a young age; I wanted to compete with the best in the world. Sadly, it took 19 years for this to happen because of how young the sport is internationally, but it was truly worth the wait. Last year, my dream was about to come true as I began training to be a part of Canada’s first National Team. After a year of extensive training, we left late October to go to Paris, France for the FIPFA World Cup. The flight was dreadfully long, and for most of us, flying is quite painful, but a little pain wasn’t going to stop us! Luckily, Air Canada took good care of us and our wheelchairs, so when we arrived in Paris, our chairs were in good shape. My most memorable experience

at the airport in Paris was the fact that they had armed military personal there. It was very different seeing assault rifles rather than handguns. I think this was the moment that I realized we were in a completely different part of the world. We spent the next week training at a segregated school for the disabled just outside of Paris in the city of Vaucresson. The lodging was reminiscent of being at camp again because each room had four people in them, and as a result, hilarity ensued. Despite the joking and fun, we were there to train and prepare for the coming tournament. Our schedule was as demanding as possible to get us acclimatized and

ready for the pressure of the tournament. We played in a number of scrimmages against the U.S. Team and learned more in those few days than we had learned the previous year. On one of our last days at the school, we had the opportunity to visit the Eiffel Tower. As many know, the biggest benefit of being in a wheelchair was getting to skip lines, and oh boy, I’m glad we got to skip the line at the Eiffel Tower! Unfortunately, wheelchairs can’t go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but the view on the floor we went to was spectacular. On each side of the tower, you see something completely different but equally amazing.

Once our week of training ended, we headed to our residence where we’d be staying for the World Cup. My favourite part of our new residence was the fact that all of the teams but France were staying there. It was like we were attending a UN meeting with all of the different nationalities in the building. I was

St Francis-in-the-Wood, Winter Newsletter Page 14

Team Canada in front of the Eiffel Tower

Stained glass windows at Notre Dame Cathedral

especially pleased with meeting people from the Japanese delegation. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Japanese culture since they visited Vancouver roughly 16 years ago. In fact, the pres ident of Japanese Powerchair Football was at the W o r l d C u p , a n d h e remembered me from back then! The start of the World Cup had me enthralled with excitement as we entered with our delegation for the opening ceremonies. The opening ceremonies are usually dreadfully long and have a number of speeches, but I enjoyed the experience because as I looked around the venue, I saw people from around the world and right along with them were my friends, my teammates. To be a part of something so grand was an honour, but I was more honoured to be among the amazing group of athletes that made up Team Canada. No matter the outcome of the next few days, I was happy to be there with my friends. Our first day of competition we played against two teams that were in the same situation as us; it was their first time at the World Cup. Luckily for us, we had gained a lot of knowledge the last week or so from playing with the US Team daily. This knowledge led us to two victories, but the Australian team was very skilled. They had us on the ropes for most of the game, but our defense was used to a far more aggressive attack, so we held them off to take a 1-0 win. The next day wasn’t as favourable to us, but Luke and I played our best game of the tournament against the home team, France. France placed 2nd at the last World Cup and was one of the favourites in the tournament, but we shocked everyone when they looked to the scoreboard 18 minutes into the game, and France had just now scored their first goal. We ended up losing 3-0 to France and again later to Belgium, but I was proud of how I played. Holding a powerhouse team such as France to 3-0 is a feat that no one expected from such a young team as ours, but we worked for it and did amazingly!

The last day of the competition we were playing against Japan for 5th and 6th place, but we decided to try something different this game to see if we could generate some offense. I switched from being in goal to a forward position in hopes that I could do something to get us a few on the scoreboard. Ultimately, our plans backfired, and we let in 4 goals in the first period, so I went back into goal in the 2nd period and held the game to 5-0. This loss had us a bit deflated, but it was a good lesson for the next time. Don’t change what is working for you! The same day, we had our closing ceremonies and banquet dinner. The dinner was a lot of fun because

everyone was celebrating the wondrous experience that they

had just partaken in. It also served as a time for the trading of our gear! I enjoyed this very much because I traded a few of my things for the team jackets of both the Austrian and Japanese goalies. It was also very sad to think about the next day when everyone would be leaving to return home. We were all so accustomed to having everyone around to chat and laugh with. It was very hard to say good bye! All in all, the experience was life changing! I’m way more motivated to see Canada do better at the next World Cup in 4 years. I’ve gained more friends from around the World, which is neat because I can randomly contact them if I’m ever in England, Japan, France, Australia, Ireland, etc.!

Keith Knight

On the night of October 24th I don’t think I slept a minute, Paris was the only thing on my mind. Next thing I knew it was 5:30 am and the team was at the airport. Once my electric wheelchair was taken from me at the YVR airport

Continued overleaf

St Francis-in-the-Wood, Fall Newsletter Page 15

The arena for the World Cup games

I knew that it was going to be a tough day of travel but it was simply what I signed on for. Both flights were long and I doubt I even slept a total of three hours the entire way, if I did it was with my head planted into the television screen in front of me that was the most comfortable position I could find! (Sounds comfy eh?) This would have been luxury for some. We touched down at 7:30 am Paris time and we were all pretty tired but knew we had to move on to the school that we would be staying at. I understood that we were staying at a college in Vaucresson but was oblivious to the fact that it actually meant school in French so it was a lot smaller than expected. We were all looking forward to pulling out our electronic devices until we were told that there was no wi-fi but a terrible dial up connection. I finally accepted that this wasn’t so bad until I discovered that the French keyboards weren’t QWERTY and that since it was a school Facebook was blocked. My hopes of blogging and updating people were ruined and I’m really glad that they were. A few of my friends who have represented Canada in other sports gave me the advice that it is far better to live in the moment and be immersed in all the amazing things happening around you instead of worrying about taking photos and trying to relive the experiences so I really took that advice to heart. Before we knew it the day had gone by and we were in the gym trying to practice, it was honestly the worst thing I have ever seen and it ended very quickly, you thought seeing Rick Mercer trying to play was terrible, he would have loved to have seen this! The next week went by in a blur and it really hit home that I was going to be representing my country the night of the opening ceremony. All the teams arrived at the Halle Georges Carpentier, the two thousand seat gymnasium that we would be playing in,

around 4 p.m. Many of the teams except France decided to go into the practice gym feet away from the actual venue and our team wanted to get a group shot of ourselves clad in our fancy new uniforms that were paid for by our three very gracious sponsors. Obviously Japan thought we looked nice because before we knew it they were in the photo as well. Then every team wanted to get a picture with the others but France was nowhere in sight and England wasn’t very interested either, I guess the second and third place teams could act as they wished. Then all ten teams lined up for the opening ceremony and Canada’s first ever World Cup had begun!

It felt really incredible the next day when all of our athletes were together in the locker room preparing for our first game and being motivated by Captain Keith, this experience I can still recall very vividly. Next thing we knew the game was on against Ireland and we were all very surprised at how loud the atmosphere was, I’ve never played in front of so many enthusiastic fans so this alone was something to marvel at. We went on to win the game 3-0 and later on won 1-0 in a nail biter against Australia to be tied for the same number of points after the first day with only the United States and France who would go on to place 1st and 3rd respectively. We all knew that the

tournament had just begun and that this record wasn’t likely to last but it was a really great feeling to be on top of the world, even if it was for less than twenty-four hours. The next day we played France and they thought that they were going to blow us right out of the water. Unfortunately for them a win wasn’t going to come as easily as they hoped and we managed to hold them off for 18 minutes. This was one of the most difficult games I’ve ever played in and our 3-0 loss actually managed to turn some heads, it showed that no team

could be underestimated even if

Luke and Luigi Galvani

Keith Knight (3rd from right) and other members of Team Canada on the Eiffel Tower


it was their first showing on the world stage. Then we took on Belgium and lost to them with the same score of 3-0, the outcome was really no surprise but we gave it our all and that’s all that matters. On the last day of the tournament we would compete against Japan for 5th place. It ended up that putting our captain and keeper on offense was a mistake and before we knew it the score was 4-0 at the half. The coaches decided that the best decision was to put our game changer back into goal and Japan only managed to get one past him. At this point it hit me that I had taken our games too seriously and that the World Cup was not going to be ours, ultimately I had forgotten to enjoy myself and was really caught up in my rolE as a team leader. For the rest of the game I started looking around me at all the roaring fans and started to really feed off the crowd, I was in Paris representing my country and I had everything to be thankful for, we lost but finishing with a smile on my face was truly the next best thing.

Looking back now we all accomplished something that most able-bodied people could only ever dream of, we represented our country on the world stage and it is an experience that is almost indescribable and that I will cherish forever. Many of us are only hungry for more and I will be putting in another four years to try and take our country to the top.

The whole time that I was in Europe I always

caught myself thinking about all the hard work that we had put in and all the people that had invested their time and money to make it a reality. Through the support and generosity of the entire congregation of St. Francis one of my biggest dreams became a reality and the experiences will only last for a lifetime.

Luke Galvani

You can see the segment Rick Mercer filmed with Luke, Keith and the rest of the Canadian Powersoccer

team by visiting http://www.youtube.com and searching for “Rick Plays Powerchair Football”

Team Canada with Rick Mercer (centre) during filming of their Rick Mercer Report segment in North Vancouver

THE LIGHT WITHIN

Candle burning bright Speaks to me of sacred things

Bringing light to a darkened night Easing the tangled heart strings

Winn Watts

(written in February 2011 during the St. Francis retreat at Rivendell on Bowen Island)


Candlelit service at the St. Francis youth Alice Lake camping trip

EASTER SEALS ON WHEELS

I n late April, I along with one of my best friends,

Sam Wade are going to d e p a r t o n a n o t h e r adventure. We will walk, or roll in my case, over 40 km a day, on a 600 km journey from Camp Shawnigan, to Camp Squamish, to Camp Winfield to raise money for B.C. Easter Seals Camps for Children with Mental and Physical Disabilities. We plan to raise $5000 in a project called Easter Seals on Wheels – Camp Connect. Easter Seals on Wheels was founded in November, 2010 by Sam Wade and Brian Tong. Together they rode their bicycles over 3000 km from Vancouver, B.C. to Tijuana, Mexico and raised $8000 for the same amazing organization. Sam is no stranger to long travels and in the same year also cycled across Canada to raise money for Prostate Cancer. I was first introduced to the B.C. Easter Seals camping program 8 years ago through my friend Ryan Barclay who insisted that it was the best camp for him to truly be himself. I’ve been going since then and was a camper for five summers. In 2008 I was very privileged to have met Sam who was one of the programmers and I have formed a very strong friendship with him. It was during that year at camp that I realized that if these great people could have an impact in the lives of others why couldn’t I? Since I discovered that I could in fact make a difference and I have been volunteering with Easter Seals the past two summers. Over that time I have gained a very strong appreciation for the staff that always go out of their way to give the kids the best week

possible. As a child these staff really gave me the confidence that I would need to truly find myself and to try and take the most out of my life despite the fact that I had a disability. This first hand experience of the good will of others has helped turn me into the person I am today. Embarking on this trip is going to require a lot of determination and a lot of planning. It is a challenge that we are up for; but we know it won’t happen

without the kindness of others. Our efforts will pay for at least two kids to spend a week at camp and to truly be themselves. It is a week that the kids look forward to all year round and gives families the break that they often need. It means the world to me that I can pay forward all the generosity and kindness that I have experienced and give kids an experience that they will truly never forget. I never thought that I would have this ability and have truly embraced it for all that its worth. I have no way of truly describing the friendship that Sam and I share, he sees that I desire to help others and he has always pushed me to pursue my dreams, this is

my trip and I am truly thankful that he is willing to help me make this a reality. Without Easter Seals I wouldn’t have met such an inspiring person who I am now proud to call my friend, I hope that my efforts will have a lasting impact on the lives of others as well.

Luke Galvani

To find out more about Luke’s trip, and to help give kids the camp

experience of a lifetime, visit:

http://www.eastersealscamps.ca/easter-seals-wheels


Luke with Rob Ellis - one of his sponsors for the Easter Seals on Wheels challenge!

Sam Wade

Advent and

Christmas 2011 at st. francis-in-the-wood

and st. monica’s, horseshoe bay

St. Francis, 4773 South Piccadilly Road

Tel: 604-922-3531 E-mail: [email protected]

Sunday November 27th

7pm Advent Carols by Candlelight

followed by mulled wine and mince pies

Sunday December 11th

10am Children’s Christmas Pageant


7pm Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight

Saturday December 24th

4pm Family Communion Around the Crib

A Christmas celebration for all the family

9pm Community Carols

11pm Midnight Mass


10am Family Eucharist

St. Monica’s, 6404 Wellington Street, Horseshoe Bay

Tel: 604-921-9112 E-mail: [email protected]

Saturday December 24th

7pm Community Carols and

Communion


10am Lessons and Carols for

Christmas Day

St. Francis-in-the-Wood Winter 2011 Newsletter

Documents

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