I have been reporting on the summer camping season at Camp Medley for a decade now, and this is my last summer before I retire.

With that in mind, I tried to come up with a story idea that would be a bit different from what I’ve been doing all these years.

My two best ideas, which came to me in the night, were these:
1.    Job shadow the cook and learn what it takes to put together a meal for 70 people.
2.    Learn how to kayak.

The Diocesan Synod welcomes Jonathan DesRoches as the new diocesan manager of communications. Jonathan begins today, Sept. 1 and replaces Gisele McKnight, who is retiring the end of September.  Please give Jonathan a warm welcome to the Diocese.

Archbishop David Edwards has appointed the Rev. Canon Bruce Glencross as diocesan Wardens of Layreaders, effective Sept. 1, for a two-year term.

God willing, Archbishop David intends to ordain deacons Rick Cunningham, Dr. J. F., Rob Pitman and Virginia (Ginny) Wilmhoff to the priesthood and Ellen Kelly, Samuel Landry and Tyler Joseph McKenna to the (transitional) diaconate. 

Clergy, postulants, ministry students and layreaders are invited to vest and process - please RSVP here.

A light reception at Cathedral Memorial Hall will follow the service.

All are welcome to attend and join the celebration. The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend.

Camp Medley's A Place Where Everyone Belongs matching gift campaign has raised more than $63,000 in just a few weeks toward the new accessible pool and facilities project.

We're especially grateful to the Parish of Sussex for its generous five-year pledge of $50,000, demonstrating how churches can help build Camp Medley's future for generations to come.

Thanks to the generosity of the J.T. Clark Family Foundation, every eligible gift designated to the project between now and Dec. 31 helps unlock a $375,000 matching commitment.

Thank you to everyone who has already supported the campaign through your gifts and prayers. If your parish, family, or organization has not yet participated, we invite you to consider joining us in creating a place where everyone belongs.

To learn more or make a gift, visit https://campmedley.ca/donate/campaign/

Zoom link  |  Recordings Playlist (YouTube)

Synod staff members are pleased to offer 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 from 12:10 - 12:55 pm and will be recorded.

• Returning in September!

Come for worship, fellowship and some fun!

Sept. 9, Theme – “Standing on the promises of God"

9-10 am: registration and social time with tea, coffee, biscuits and fruit

10 am – church service

Lunch provided

Afternoon activities 

Fun mystery auction

Services at Kings Landing Historical Settlement take place at the Prince William School near the main entrance this summer.

Evening Prayer services will be held there each Sunday at 2 p.m. because of infrastructure upgrades that have closed the other side of the village, including St. Mark’s Chapel of Ease. 

Visitors and officiating clergy should come in the main entrance. As always, there is no admission fee to attend the service. Any questions should be sent to Canon Walter Williams at goodolpadre@hotmail.ca.  

For those wanting to lead a service, consult the sign-up sheet here.   
Sept. 6 and Sept. 20 are still open.

Directions: take Route 2 (Trans-Canada Highway) to exit 253 and follow the signs. Or for a scenic drive, take Route 102 along the beautiful St. John River and follow the signs. Kings Landing is about 20 minutes up river from Fredericton. 

For a story on the first dementia workshop, held in February, click here. 

Godly Play is pleased to offer three consecutive days for training rather than spreading it over two weekends, at the request of participants.  

There are a limited number of bursaries available to send a second person from a congregation or parish. The value of the bursary is the full cost of registration.  

Please contact the Rev. Canon Cathy Laskey (claskey at diofton dot ca) to request the bursary or if you would like to learn more about Godly Play.

For further information, visit https://www.godlyplay.ca/

How do we faithfully fund ministry in a changing world?

Join us Nov. 20–21 in Kitchener-Waterloo, ON for practical learning and honest conversation about stewardship, generosity and sustainable ministry.

Many churches are facing changing giving patterns, tight budgets and big questions about the future. We aren’t going to simply tweak our way out of these challenges. This conference will offer practical ideas you can use now, along with fresh approaches to bring back to your congregation and leadership team.

Hear from Grace Pomroy on stewardship, generosity and faithful leadership, and Paul Nazareth, whose humour and decades of experience in Canadian philanthropy will help us think about stewardship through the lens of people, relationships and community.

Workshops and breakout sessions will feature other stewardship and faith leaders, including Lori Guenther Reesor and Gillian Doucet Campbell.

Early Bird registration ends Sept. 25, and group rates are available. Bring a few people from your church and return home ready to put what you’ve learned into practice.

Learn more and register here. (https://presbyterian.ca/stewardship/events/funding-ministry-into-the-future/)

The Diocese of Islands and Inlets (coastal BC) will host a national event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Priesting of Women in Canada this Nov. 24-25 in Victoria.

Programming and a celebratory Eucharist will be held on these days. The Eucharist on Nov. 25 will be livestreamed.

The deadline to register is Oct. 12. There is money for bursaries that has generously been made available through grants from the Anglican Church of Canada and The Anglican Foundation of Canada. 

Successful bursary applicants will be notified 30 Sept. 30.

There is a registration fee is $210.

All information, including program, accommodations and bursaries, can be found at this link.