Six dogs, two cats and their parents gathered at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Fredericton, on Oct. 7 for a Blessing of the Animals service. The service, led by the Rev. Canon Elaine Hamilton and Brenda Smith, was punctuated by lots of barks, along with traffic noise, but no one seemed to mind in the least.

Elaine led the short service and choir member Brenda acted as reader. The service began with the song “All things bright and beautiful.” 

Archbishop David Edwards has appointed Archdeacon Cathy Laskey as priest and chaplain to the Saint John Regional and St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Saint John, effective Dec. 1. Cathy has been both the executive and episcopal archdeacon in the Diocesan Synod Office for the past nine years.

Join friends from across the diocese and beyond for a 24-hour Advent breakaway. Our Advent Retreat, Scripture - A Doorway to Advent Hope, Peace, and Action, is open to anyone (Anglican or not) who is looking for a moment to pause and reflect on the true meaning of the season.

Our retreat leader (teacher) is Fr. Bill Brennan. All are welcome - pre-registration is required. Limited space!

Need help entering the Advent season this year? Join the diocesan Advent book study.

We'll be looking at Paula Gooder's, The Meaning is in the Waiting.

The series starts on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, and runs for 4 sessions (until December 20, 2023) and will be held on Wednesday evenings at 6:30PM for 60-90mins. Free to join. Book purchase is required.

Saturday, Nov. 18   St. Augustine’s take out pork loin supper, with vegetables, apple sauce, roll and dessert. Call Art at 506-849-2430 for tickets. $15 per person. Pick-up times are 4:30 p.m; 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Community Christmas craft and vendor fair at St. Andrew's church, 62 Church St., Petitcodiac.  Come find great gifts:  jewellery, Epicure, woodworking, Sentsy, knitting. There will be a canteen with soup, sandwiches, sweets, tea and coffee. Call Kim Chambers (506-756-0245) or Chris Hayes (506-756-2296) for more information. A great place to do some Christmas shopping!

Saturday, Nov. 25, 7 p.m.   The Anglican Parish of St. Stephen invites you to their Christmas concert at Christ Church, 30 Prince William St., St. Stephen. Featuring a variety of talent and a theme of Christmas Near and Far. A free-will offering will support NEAR (We’ve Got Your Back and St. Stephen Food Bank) and FAR (school fees for three children at Bishop McAllister College, Uganda). Income tax receipts available. Light refreshments to follow.

Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 25 & 26, 6-7:30 p.m.   Begin your Christmas season with “A Walk Through Bethlehem” — a live Nativity with animals and people. Music, hot chocolate, cider and cookies too. Hosted by the Parish of Pennfield and taking place at Christ Church, 68 Route 778, Pennfield.

Thursday, Nov. 30, 4:30-6 p.m.   The Anglican Parish of Woodstock presents a Christmas turkey take-out dinner. Adults $16, children 12 and under, $8. Family rate of two adults and two children $40. Tickets are available at St. Luke’s church office, 328-4304. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
To pick up your meal, please drive down Church Street and stop at the end of St Luke’s driveway. We will pass you your dinner for your paid ticket. You do not even need to get out of your car! Take an evening off from cooking.

Saturday, Dec. 2, 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.  Annual Christmas tea hosted by the Anglican Parish of Kingston, at the Kingston Parish Hall. Cost is $12 per person. There will also be a bake table and a Christmas ‘new-to-you’ table. See you there!

Saturday, Dec. 2, 2-3 p.m.  Parish of Hammond River presents Speaker Series: Falls Prevention with guest speaker Pam Wallace PT, at Holy Trinity Church Hall. at 2 Hammond River Rd. Quispamsis. Preventing a fall is key to your health and wellness this winter. Everyone is welcome! Coffee, tea & snacks provided. For more information call 506-647-8170. 

Beacon Cove (formerly Safe Harbour youth shelter in Saint John) is in need of toiletry supplies for its residents. In particular, donations of feminine hygiene products (specifically tampons), large bottles of shampoo, condition and body wash. Donations can be dropped off at the shelter (50 Broad Street, Saint John) during the day — staff are always onsite.

Anglican Foundation

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Since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the world has been watching the unfolding events in the Holy Land with bated breath. How does this affect the pilgrimage Bishop David and I are planning for May 2024? 

Let me try to give a brief update and some context. Nobody has any idea how and when the present hostilities will end. This conflict is more extensive than the usual periodic flareups and will likely last somewhat longer and it may get worse before it gets better. 

The huge civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and renewed Settler violence in the West Bank risk the possibility of this conflict widening into a regional conflict. 

Massive diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent this which I believe will be successful. My best guess is that international pressure will result in some sort of cessation of hostilities in the next month and that the conflict will then end almost as suddenly as it began. 

Israel and Palestine will then pivot from being at war to trying hard to put out the welcome mat to receive tourists and pilgrims that form such an important part of their economies. 

My prayer is that in the aftermath of all this will come some renewed dialogue between the parties seeking a just and permanent settlement of these complex issues. 

I never take my tour groups to, or even near to the Gaza Strip. There are no Biblical sites of interest to Christian Pilgrims there. 

Further, I never take my groups into locations where protests or demonstrations are planned. Each morning on tour I meet over breakfast with the manager of our tour operator and with our local tour guide and we adjust the itinerary as needed. 

In all my tours of the Holy Land, I have never been in a situation where my group was in any danger whatsoever. It will be the same in 2024. 

Just so you know, Bishop David and I are working on a “Plan B.” That would be a fall 2024 pilgrimage —October or early November as a back up plan. Time will tell whether we are able to make our pilgrimage in May 2024 as planned or are delayed until the fall. 

One way or another, “Next Year in Jerusalem!” 

The Rev. Canon Vicars Hodge
Nov. 8, 2023
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