Monthly Archives: April 2021

From the Dean – Why do I tithe?

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It's not up to me to tell another what to do. I’ll always have fingers point at me suggesting that I’m the problem. It's only when I decide that I am, in fact, “the problem” or part of the solution that I’ll make a difference. What I can do is share what I do as an effective way of proclaiming the Gospel and being a disciple.

I always had a coin or two for Sunday School offering! Once I started earning my own, I had to connect the dots a bit ... Mum and Dad didn't stick a quarter in my pocket anymore! My first real encounter with a call to giving came during a meeting with a summer supervisor while in divinity studies. Now, paid by the Church I served, my question to my mentor: "How much should I give?" The appropriate answer, "That's between you and the Lord, my friend." Not much help.

Of course, it's different for me as I rely on the Church for my living. Or is it? I'm paid a "fixed income" every month to use as I choose. I "choose" to keep food in the cupboard and fuel in the car, among many, many other things. Holy orders or not, a buck still only goes so far.

Soon after ordination to the transitional diaconate, my income stabilizing a bit, I pretty much set the approach I've taken ever since. I've never regretted it. I give to God out of the first dollars I receive. It is much easier to decide upfront what my financial commitments are going to be. I tithe.

There seems to be a rampant misunderstanding about that word. "tithe" comes from the word "tenth," so it’s a proportion, that proportion being specifically one-tenth part of the whole. I'm regularly confused by those who claim they "tithe 14%!" Isn’t that a tithe and an offering of 4%? Praise the Lord! God has got to be far more joyous about the four percent than the ten. One is the biblical assumed standard, the other a gift. I also habitually make gifts (offerings) at Christmas, Easter, to PWRDF, at times of special need, and to other causes both inside and outside of the Church.

There seems to be a rampant misunderstanding about that word.

Do I give to the Cancer Society and the Alzheimer's Society and others? You bet. I think it's all good and important work and don't mind being part of it in the least. Do I count it an "offering to God" for the proclamation of the Gospel? No, I don't, because it is not. If I were to do that, my commitment to our Lord would be less than my understanding of the biblical expectation. We twist, turn and squeeze that one, making it far more complicated than it need be. Unlike many issues, Holy Scripture is far from vague on this one. The only way I can assure that I own my money and it doesn't own me is to be willing to consistently put the part that belongs to God where it ought to be.

I can't be in a church pew or stand at the Altar on a Sunday and watch the faith community to which I belong and within which I enjoy the blessing of acceptance and membership, struggle with financial realities and challenges while I give some of my first dollars to another cause. My commitment to supporting the proclamation of the Gospel comes from the first of my earnings while other charities, I'm afraid, get some of my last. Its interesting, though, how I always seem to have some for them too.

Does my church giving matter a hoot to my eternal salvation? I don't think so. If I had to buy myself into the good graces of God, I couldn’t begin to afford it. One-tenth plus, however, is a small price in recognition and thanksgiving for the mountain of blessings I enjoy – a healthy number I experience by way of walking the journey of faith, shoulder to shoulder, laugh to laugh and tear to tear, with others also called to be among the ranks of the baptized.

Am I bragging? No way. I could do much more ... but often don't, and I'm seldom very pleased about that. I am convinced that we all need not be ashamed of witnessing to what good is done for God and for others. We need desperately to share the priorities we hold dear. And maybe that's what its really all about? The financial stresses and strains we experience as members of the Body of Christ, the Church would not exist at all if we just got to it, and take a step toward giving sincere and honest witness and encouragement to one another about the what and why of what we do. It's not up to me to recommend, or even suggest for that matter, what someone else should do. The best I can do is share what I do and rest assured it makes a difference.

Mobile Medical Clinic Goal Reached!

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Bishop Mathias, in red at centre, with Robert Griffin and representatives of the Ho Teaching Hospital. A partnership with the hospital will see them staff the mobile medical clinic.

The Diocese of Fredericton's fundraising campaign for a Mobile Medical Clinic in our Companion Diocese of Ho, Ghana has reached its goal! $100,000 has been raised in the Diocese, and the rest of the $268,000 project cost has come from Rotary.

Thank you to all who contributed. The clinic is on schedule to be in Ghana before the year is out, and any further funds donated will be used to purchase more equipment and supplies.

Read the details on the Diocese website: Ho mobile medical clinic soon to be a reality.

 

Commitment to Education in Belize

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Christ Church Cathedral has a special relationship with the staff and students of St. Hilda’s Anglican School, an elementary school in the rural village of Georgeville. Two hundred children attend the school, ranging between kindergarten and grade 8. Cathedral teams have travelled to Belize five times: in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018. Over 60 Cathedral members ranging in age from 15 to 79 have gone on a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work through organizational support, donations and prayers.

As part of the Cathedral's ongoing financial commitment to St. Hilda's, in 2020 we sent the school $1000 in August and $1000 in December to contribute to ongoing needs for the students and teachers. Although we were unable to do any fundraising in 2020 due to COVID-19, enough funds were available from efforts in 2019 to continue our support for the school.

The money sent to St. Hilda's was helpful in preparing for opening of the school with the restrictions and regulations of COVID-19. They used the funds to purchase cleaning and sanitation supplies, as well as garbage bins, masks, and gloves for teachers. Teachers were also given a stipend to assist with  classroom preparation and arrangements for physical distancing.

According to Ms. Jane, principal of St. Hilda’s, the school typically holds fundraising events throughout the year to help with supplies, but has been unable to do so since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We communicate with Ms. Jane on a regular basis, who recently shared, "I continue to express sincere gratitude to our Friends of St. Hilda’s family. You all have truly blessed us. I keep seeing God working through your sponsorship. When we were at our lowest, that’s when the funds came through. We are truly thankful. Prayers for you all during this time. God’s continued blessing on your ministry."

In addition to support of the elementary school, the Cathedral supports scholarships for selected St. Hilda's graduates. In Belize, the average age at which a child leaves school is 13 years old, because of the prohibitive costs of high school. Unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line. In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed St. Hilda’s students to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education.

Currently, four students attending high school benefit from Cathedral scholarships. $4000 was sent in August 2020 -- $1000 each to four students, which helps to cover the cost of tuition, books and other required materials. The 2020-2021 scholarship students are Edvin Perez Grade 9, Gian Myvette Grade 10, Jenniah Tillett Grade 11, and Joselyn Herrera Grade 12.

Our congregation continues to support and pray for the students and teachers at St. Hilda’s school, past and present.

Read more posts about Belize missions.

Renewal of Vows and Blessing of Oils

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Christ Church Cathedral easily holds 250, but on April 1, Maundy Thursday, about 30 people were present for the Renewal of Vows and Blessing of Oils.

Archbishop David Edwards presided, with Dean Geoffrey Hall assisting. Cheryl Jacobs read the intersessions, while the Rev. Chris Tapera, new rector in the Parish of Bathurst, and Debbie Edwards gave the readings.

Layreaders, one deacon, priests and one bishop renewed their vows during the service. Normally a lunch follows, but with pandemic restrictions in place, no food was served.

During his sermon, David talked of the importance of marking the call of God to ministry.

“Today is in the holiest of weeks, and we gather here to celebrate and remember,” he said. “Some are called to ‘particular and weighty’ roles, though we are share a role.”

...[Continue reading the article on the NB Anglican website]

Originally published in the NB Anglican under the title Small, socially-distanced group gathers for Cathedral service. Articles and photos by Gisele McKnight.

Climate Church – Climate World Book Study

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Climate Church, Climate Wor;ldWhile we’ve been focused on the global pandemic for almost exactly a year now, the urgency of working on climate change has not diminished.  We should be putting as much effort into stopping that as we are into stopping the pandemic. 

Climate change is more than a science issue, it's a spiritual and moral issue too.  Our churches have an important role to play.  While we tend to shy away from discussions of climate in polite society, that is something that author Jim Antal is calling us to change. Join this discussion group to learn more about how to lead or support your community of faith in engaging to make a difference for future generations.

We will talk about ways to engage with this big, scary topic, and how we can take meaningful action – in our social circles, in our workplaces, in our families, and especially in our places of worship.
If you want to get a taste of the type of information and hope that you will encounter in the book, take a listen to Jim Antal interviewed by Laura Hunter, Minister for Justice and Mission at the United Church of Canada on her podcast “Making Hope Visible”

Here are some places you can get Climate Church, Climate World by Jim Antal (prices vary).  Make sure to order yours in time to start the study:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Feel free to bring your lunch. 

This initiative is sponsored by the Anglican Diocesan Environment Network (DEN) of the Diocese of NS and PEI and St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Fredericton NB.