ACA October 2018 Newsletter:
1.Calgary Conference--still room for you!
2.Report from RadVo in Dallas, TX
3.Food for Thought from Dr. Peter Armstrong
4.Invitation from Voice of the Martyrs Canada
5.Become an ACA Partner!
6.Prayer for the Church Universal |
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Last chance to Register for Calgary Conference!
Our ACA/Engage Seminar is fast approaching, and there is still room for more. We are looking forward to a day of prayer, encouragement and teaching, all centred on our ACA theme of "Deepening Biblical Faith in the Anglican Church of Canada." If you, or someone you know, is interested in attending the Engage portion of the day (which will run concurrently to the ACA portion, and in the same building), please do let us know as soon as possible. The Engage leaders do have some funds available to help anyone for whom travel or registration costs are a barrier. For more information on the Seminar, go to http://www.anglicancommunionalliance.ca/events/. You can also email Julie Moser (Engage leader) directly at julie.moser@sasktel.net to inquire about funding. See you there!
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Report from RadVo Conference in Dallas
 Some of the Canadians in attendance at RadVo. Photo by Orvin Lao; Used with Permission from Lao Brothers Photography.
In late Sept., a number of Canadians travelled to Dallas, TX to participate in RadVo, a conference on "Discerning a 21st Century Call to the Ancient Order of Priesthood."
I have been hearing very positive reports from this event. One bishop commented that it was particularly encouraging to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury directly address the Communion Partner bishops in this way:
"I’m so grateful for this conference, and I’m so grateful for the Communion Partners and Gracious Restraint Churches – because you have continued to be fully part of our wounded Communion, with its many struggles, over serious matters. But your full communion with Canterbury is a model for all of recognising that we are one by vocation not by choice; that we belong to one another because of God’s sovereign and gracious action, not because we choose to be one."
Later in this same Evensong sermon, the Archbishop reflected on the role of the Church in the world: "....As children of light we know that the world is broken, and that the church always and everywhere is full of sinners; but also that the darkness cannot overcome the light we bear, nor indeed the Church that holds it."
He went on to describe the radical nature of our Christian vocation: "To be caught up in such a radical and ancient vocation will have one more privilege – that of suffering. Jesus speaks of that. It will be rejected...The world does not want transformation. People feel no need of rebirth if that means that they must release their hold on their politics, their worldview, their aspirations, and take hold of what Christ gives.
"That then is our task. To inspire the forsaking of all things to gain heaven. To offer the possibility that the cacophony of this world’s sorrows and sins might be replaced by the harmonies of hope of life. It will cost all. It is the greatest and most eternal adventure that is. Enter it and you will suffer, you will struggle and will wonder. Yet you will be held by the everlasting arms, and the eternal God will be your refuge.
"You will be transformed, and as that happens by the grace of God, we together – people of God, the whole people of God – will transform the world round. Not through power and persuasion, but as children of light, through the light of Jesus."
Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. Justin Welby, in a contemplative moment during Evensong. Photo by Orvin Lao; Used with permission from Lao Brothers Photography.
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Food for Thought from Dr. Peter Armstrong
In this excerpt (taken from a sermon preached on Pentecost 3, 2018), we are reminded again of our radical vocation, bringing healing and light to a world that does not know its own need.
"If we observe the news, there seem to be a lot of problems in the world: There are inter- political economic issues and health care issues and social challenges and education issues. There are wars and environmental challenges. There is poverty. Since I began this sermon, 7 children have either starved to death, or they have succumbed to death because a lack of nutrition made them susceptible to fatal diseases... Yes, there are a lot of problems in the world! A lot of smart people have tried hard to figure out the solution: More taxation! Less taxation! More voters! A better political system! More efficient transportation of goods!... My friends, I want solutions at least as much as anyone else... But I strongly suspect that people are trying to address the symptoms, rather that the underlying disease...
Most of my time is spend working within the Church family, among Christians... But I also try to carve time to spend with people who don’t know about Christ’s love, who are presently sheep who do not yet know their Good Shepherd, nor do they belong the flock. (I hope this is a model for us all – spend time with Christians for strength and accountability, but make genuine friendships outside the Christian community, so that the world may know the transforming news of the gospel!...)
I won’t identify the person by name, because my prayer is that one day he will come and sit on one of these pews. But someone I chat with often asks me to bless his lottery tickets. (I never do.) About a month ago, he said to me, 'Peter, people need to have something to hope for!' And I told him, 'I completely agree with you. Humanity needs hope... But is our true hope to be found in winning a lottery? No!...' Those lottery tickets
for him are an impoverished substitute, an idol... He identifies the issue – the universal need for hope... But he fails to see that hope is not to be found by the size of our bank account, but by recognizing the enormity of the mercy and love which God offers to our lives through his Son Jesus Christ...
So we see that key to getting the cure is to correctly identify the illness... In John 5: 6, the Lord Jesus asked the paralytic if he wanted to be well... It’s a great question: Do we want to be made well?... Then we need to identify the illness before we can get the cure..."
The Rev. Dr. Armstrong serves at St. Brice's in North Bay, ON (Diocese of Algoma) and also serves as an ACA Board member.
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Voice of the Martyrs tour dates in western Canada
You may remember that in a recent Newsletter I shared information about Voice of the Martyrs and their cross-Canada tour. The director, Jo Phillips, has just sent information on their tour dates for BC and Alberta. Please consider attending one of these events. As Christians, we are inevitably at odds with the culture around us; however, perhaps we are feeling that pressure more strongly than in the past, especially as we see the struggles even within our Church. The stories of Christian courage in the face of extreme persecution can be a great encouragement to us, as well as reminding us to pray without ceasing for our brothers and sisters who suffer.
 
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5. Become an ACA Partner!
We are encouraging all ACA supporters (new and old) to sign our document endorsing the Montreal Declaration and declaring their support for ACA's aims. We are also asking you to prayerfully consider supporting us through Pre-Authorized Giving, which is the most reliable means of maintaining this ministry.
We love hearing from you! Please contact us by email: anglicancommunionalliance@gmail.com or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnglicanCommunionAlliance/ and visit our website: www.anglicancommunionalliance.ca/.
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