And now it's official!

A parent and his friend came to school on Thursday when all the children were away for their long weekend holiday.

This morning (Monday) squeals of excitement could be heard from the grounds of St. Joseph’s Anglican Preschool as the youngsters put their new toy through its paces. Following a Thank You Prayer and a ribbon cutting ceremony the new Preschool Playground was officially opened and user tested. Exchange teacher Bonnie Willey, from Virginia, did the honours with the scissors as the children looked on only a little impatiently. The playground unit is a gift from
St. Joseph’s Day School in Queens, New York and the Volunteers in Mission Program of the Anglican Church of Canada.

It was an exciting day for the three and four year olds as they also met their new teacher who has volunteered to be with us for three weeks with her husband, Wink, while Betty will be in Virginia getting experience at the Day School attached to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk. Bonnie and Wink have been part of missions to St. Joseph’s twice before and it’s great to welcome them back.

It's here!

The Preschool playground set finally arrived today, a two-month early Christmas present! It was mandated by the Ministry of Education but is a gift from St. Joseph’s Parish School in Queens, New York and the Canadian Volunteers in Mission program.

When the truck pulled up we corralled parents bringing their children, and neighbours, 6 or 7 all told, and they wrestled the thing into position on the church grounds, barely squeezing it though the gates.

Another parent has offered to assemble it tomorrow. It has a slide, two swings, a pair of rings and a trapeze bar. Teacher Betty was here long enough to see it arrive but leaves today for her 3-week exchange in Virginia. The children have the next four days off so everything should be in place when they arrive back on Monday.

Yes, but...Please pray!

Informing much of my thinking and prayer these days is the immediate future of St. Joseph’s Parish (Mission). There is a Vision Statement (not yet endorsed by the parishioners) which has all sorts of good intentions, but…

It’s always a temptation to think of oneself as indispensable, but as I look at 2007 here it is difficult to see how ministry will continue. Yes, they have got along without a resident priest before, but then there was more committed and available lay leadership than I see now. It is also true that the church was closed for about 30 years, but no one wants to see that happen again.

The Preschool may provide a lifeline, though in Monkey River there is a very active Anglican primary school and the church next door is rarely opened. Some years ago, now retired Bishop Romero used to make regular visits here, but this is where his family lived at the time.

I do believe that the Anglican Church has a place in Punta Gorda. We may never be a leading denomination here numerically, but in terms of options, stability(?), theology and social conscience we should be here in the capital of Belize’s Toledo District.

At the moment there is no one in sight to take over here. Please pray with me that God will give wisdom to those charged with oversight of the Church in Belize, and that he will raise up “Godly leaders” for his Church here in Punta Gorda.

44th Synod

While I am certainly in second-year-repeat-mode (today was my second Harvest Thanksgiving here at St. Joseph’s) by staying this extra few months there are some completely new experiences to be had. Last week it was our Diocesan Synod, the first for me and the first presided over by Bishop Philip Wright.

It took place in very nice quarters at the Best Western Biltmore Hotel in Belize City and, while the general format was familiar, there were a few noticeable differences from my Toronto experience.

• Everything began with a procession through downtown Belize, including all delegates, acolytes, two bands, schoolchildren and anyone else who wanted to be a part.


• Our places around the central square in the meeting room were pre-selected and with large identifying nameplates. I felt somewhat as if I were at the United Nations. Everyone was within easy reach of a microphone, making participation very easy.


• There were two “charges” by the Bishop, one at the Opening Solemn Evensong in the Cathedral and the second at the opening business session.


• Four guest speakers had been invited to speak to Synod, mostly on socially relevant topics such as The State of the Family in Belize.


• Almost the whole of Synod was taken up with four breakout groups looking, one each, at The Diocese in its Social Context, Growth and Expansion of the Diocese, Youth Ministry and Education, and Stewardship. A facilitator from Virginia made sure we stayed on track.


• Only one afternoon was reserved to receive all the reports and a host of constitutional changes and resolutions. The Financial Statements and Budget were not considered. They are the concern of the smaller Standing Committee, which meets between Synods.

The Diocesan Vision was kept before us:
Through the rich expression of our liturgical and sacramental life,
we will be a place where
God’s love and grace are experienced;
and our people are equipped to exercise their ministry
in the wider society.

Next Sunday we have planned the first service in many years at Big Falls, about 20 miles away, where one large family hopes to start a mission.

Pictures: (Click to enlarge)

• Bishop, Lay Delegate & PIC
• St. Joseph's Display
  

Pastors' Newsletter

We have put together a little one page Newsletter for the United Pastors Fellowship and I thought you might like to see it. (Sorry for the quality of the photographs! I don’t know how else to show it to you. I can double click on the photo to get a large version – probably you can, too.)