Part 2 Day 6

God does not make mistakes, but he does allow surprises. Today did not go as planned because of the weather, yet it was a good day. This morning we met with people in the church at Highfield, had morning prayer and Tim Horton’s together. The plan was to do a short walk from there to say that we had walked in the area, but as we were about to set out the storm hit, and we decided not to. 

This evening we were back in the parish of Upper Kennebecasis, but this time in Apohaqui. Once again, we were well fed and were able to pray together in the beautiful church here. There is such a sense of the presence of God in the building. It is a true Medley church, so architecturally, has a wonderful flow for adoring worship. 

My time here has led me to consider Bishop Medley and his influence across our province. As a Bishop he must have been extremely dynamic. He pulled a disparate diocese together, which was no easy task. He began a church building program which is unparalleled in our history. He also served as Dean of his new cathedral. He was not always well liked but was certainly a power in the land. 

Not only that, he was someone who understood worship as it was practised in his tradition. He built churches which enable that and had others changed to do so. His buildings may not wholly fit our needs today, but I wish that I had the same sense of how to devise space for worship. He was also a musician and hymn writer. Perhaps we could best describe him as a Victorian polymath. 

Whenever I think of John Medley and I have found myself doing so recently, one reason being I recently deconsecrated one of his churches, I find myself thinking I wonder how I would have done in his time? Yet I am always brought back to the message I shared with the congregation this evening. It is no accident that we are here at this time. God has called us to serve now. We may wish it could be different as we face indifference and even hostility, but God has trusted us with the now. What he asks is that we are faithful to his call with what he has given us to use in the furtherance of his Kingdom. 

David