As many of you may remember, the Rev. Canon Vicars Hodge and I were planning a pilgrimage to the Holy Land before conflict broke out in the region in October 2023. 

We have been working on developing a tour for when it seemed possible for pilgrims to return. As you will see from his letter below, Vicars has been advised that people are now returning to the Land of the Holy One.

The Rev. Canon Chris Hayes has been appointed rector of the Parish of Fredericton (Christ Church Parish Church), effective June 1.

He leaves the Parish of Salisbury and Havelock after 14 years, where he has been rector, as well as regional dean for the Deanery of Shediac. 

The Diocesan Synod office is looking for Fredericton-area volunteers to help with the April 18 special session of synod at Christ Church Cathedral.

If you have a few hours that day to assist with such things as set-up and tear-down, hospitality, lunch preparation and clean up, and other tasks, please contact the office: synod@anglican.nb.ca

Christ Church Cathedral, 4:30-6:30 p.m.    Cathedral Memorial Hall, 168 Church St. Fredericton. MENU:  pancakes, sausages, and beans followed by gingerbread with toppings. Coffee and tea will be available. Admission through free-will donation. 

St. Mary York, 4:30-6:30 p.m.  All Saints and St. Mary's are hosting at St. Mary's parish hall, 780 McEvoy St., Fredericton. MENU:  pancakes, sausage, beans and gingerbread. Free will offering at the door.

Trinity Church, 5:30-6:30 p.m.  115 Charlotte Street, Saint John MENU: pancakes, sausages, baked beans and ginger cake. Charlotte Street doors open at 5 p.m. Free-will offering.

St. Paul’s, Hampton, 4:30-6:30 p.m.  486 Kennebecasis River Road, Hampton. MENU: Pancakes, sausage, beans, gingerbread. Donations welcome and appreciated.

St. Luke’s Woodstock, 4-6 p.m.  Our world-famous pancake supper is back! MENU: Pancakes with real maple syrup, sausages, beans, coffee and cakes. Adults, $10, child $5, family $30. Dine in or take out. For takeout, call 506-328-4304.

St. Paul’s, Rothesay   MENU:  pancakes, baked beans, sausages, gingerbread, tea/coffee. $10 adult, $5 child 12 or under, $25 family rate (2 adults + children). All profits go to support the outreach initiatives of our Mission Beyond Committee. Book your ticket online now at stpaulsonthecommon.com/pancakes.

Stone Church, 4:30-6:30 p.m.  87 Carleton St., Saint John. Come and eat with us!

Parish of Portland, 4-6:30 p.m.  Pancake supper at St. Luke’s Church, Main Street in north-end Saint John. Adults $12, children 4 to 10 years $6, and 3 and under free. MENU: pancakes, sausages, baked beans and gingerbread with real whipped cream; tea, coffee or juice.

Parish of Fredericton, 4:30- 6:30 p.m.   Hosted by Christ Church Parish Church, 245 Westmorland St., Fredericton. MENU: beans, sausages and pancakes, including a selection of homemade desserts and hot/cold beverages. Free-will donations appreciated.

Parish of Salisbury and Havelock, 4:30-6:30 p.m.   Hosted by the ACWs of St. John’s in Salisbury and St. Andrew’s in Petitcodiac. Menu: beans, pancakes, sausages, selection of desserts, tea, coffee or juice. Price: $12 for adults; $6 for children under 10; $30 for a family. This event takes place at the Petitcodiac Legion.

Parish of St. Andrews, 4 - 6:30 p.m.  MENU:  beans, sausages and pancakes (plain or blueberry), gingerbread with whipped cream and tea/coffee. Gluten-free options available. All Saints Church Parish Hall, 75 King St., St. Andrews. Admission by donation.

Parish of Stanley, 4:30-6 p.m.  at the rectory in the Parish of Stanley. 

Parish of Kingston, 4:30-6 p.m.  MENU:  pancakes, beans, sausage and gingerbread with whipped cream. Free-will offering at the door. Kingston Parish Hall.

Parishes of Waterford, St. Mark’s & Sussex, 4-6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s, Needle St., Sussex Corner. MENU: pancakes, sausages, beans, cakes. Free-will offering in support of a community cause.

Is your parish holding a Shrove Tuesday supper today?

Why not take some photos and send them in for publication in the NB Anglican?

Send large format photos with a caption and the photographer’s name to gmcknight@diofton.ca

Click here to see all that’s going on!    

Weekend cook wanted

Farraline Home is currently seeking a reliable and compassionate weekend cook to join our team ASAP. Shifts are Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please email farralinehome@rogers.com

Please share this with others who might be interested!

.............................................................................

Church Organist vacancy

HALF-DAY WORKSHOP FOR PARISHES

Angela King, MTS, ARCT(Pedagogy), is a dementia care and education specialist, a Positive Approach to Care® Certified Independent Trainer and a Positive Approach to Care® Certified Independent Consultant.  Angela is also a CASC/ACSS Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner and is based in Saint John. 

A Spirit‑Centered Approach to Dementia Care
Angela offers a fresh, compassionate perspective on dementia support, shaped by her background in clinical Spiritual Care and inspired by Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care® philosophy.

This program highlights the four core values that strengthen meaningful relationships in dementia care: authenticity, empowerment, compassion, and curiosity.

Participants will explore the essential dimensions of human spirituality:

• Relationship with Self
• Relationship with Others
• Relationship with the Natural World
• Relationship with a Higher Power or a God of one’s own understanding

Zoom link  |  Recordings Playlist (YouTube)

Synod staff members are pleased to begin offering the Synod Commons - a regular open forum online for clergy, parish lay officers and staff, and others who are interested.

Session topics will be announced in advance. Each session will typically include a presentation and time for questions (on the topic and if time, on any topic). Sessions will be held on first and fourth Tuesdays from 12:10 - 12:55 pm and will be recorded.

• February 24: Synod grants (new date)
• March 3: Canadian Bible Society
• March 24: Parish annual returns and forms (new date)
• April 7: CRA responsibilities with Treasurer Philip Shepherdson
• April 28: Safe Church with Synod Personnel Officer Ben Bourque

Past Commons Sessions

February 3: Parish Annual Meetings

An overview of parish annual meetings and the annual report presented by the diocesan chancellor, Canon David Bell. For further reference, Canon David provides a written summary on conducting annual meetings on the Parish Annual Meeting resources page.

January 20: Decisions around Christ Church Cathedral

At the November 29 meeting of the Diocesan Council, it was agreed that a special session of Diocesan Synod would be called after Easter (now set as April 18) to discuss the future of Christ Church Cathedral, given the mounting costs of necessary repairs. In this edition, Archbishop David discusses the issues before the Cathedral congregation and synod regarding this building and the known options before us. This is a preamble to Greater Chapter meetings which will take place in each archdeaconry in March and which will be open to all Anglicans.

December 2: Small Parish, Big Impact

Canon Shawn Branch, Director of Mission & Ministry, chats with Cleo Cyr from the Parish of Hammond River about how this small parish is making a big difference in its local community and what we can all learn from their journey. The conversation also highlights how Shawn gets to come alongside parishes like Hammond River as they listen, dream, and respond to what God is doing in their midst.

Thinking about Lent? Join the diocesan Lenten book study.

We'll look at Fleming Rutledge's The Seven Last Words from the Cross.

About the book: Rutledge links the sayings from the cross with contemporary events and concerns, but also incorporates recent biblical scholarship and modern questions about the death of Christ. 

Walk, volunteer or support a walker to help the homeless and hurting in New Brunswick.  Check out this national fundraiser and/or the location nearest you at https://cnoy.org/

Teams from our diocese:

(click on the team name to support the team or a member)

Anglican Energy, the Synod office team  is walking in Fredericton to support the John Howard Society 

'Simply Loved' Kids Club, an Anglican team in Sussex, is walking in support of the Sussex Sharing Club.

All Saints St. Andrews parish team is walking in St. Andrews to support Neighbourhood Works.

Ridgewood Veterans Wing, Saint John, led by the Rev. Ginny Wilmhoff, will benefit Outflow Ministries.

Let us know about your church or deanery based team.

A special session of Diocesan Synod to discuss the future of Christ Church Cathedral, given the mounting costs of necessary repairs. 

Archdeaconry Greater Chapter meetings

Please note that these Greater Chapter meetings are open to all parish members in each archdeaconry

Chatham - March 24 @ 6:00 pm, St. George's, Bathurst
Fredericton - March 11 @ 6:30 pm, Cathedral Memorial Hall
Kingston and the Kennebecasis - March 26 @ 7:00 pm, St. Paul's, Hampton
Moncton - March 19 @ 7:00 pm, St. John the Baptist, Riverview
Saint John - March 12 @ 6:00 pm, location tba
St. Andrews - March 18, time and location tba
Woodstock - March 10 @ 5:00 pm, St Luke, Woodstock

For more information, please refer to the synod session page.