Ordination

So last night, I served at a friend's ordination to the diaconate. It was actually pretty cool. It was only the second ordination I've been to - much smaller and therefore more intimate than last one I went to.

Two friends were ordained last night - one each from the two Anglican Seminaries in Toronto. Both these two ladies were ordained as transitional deacons, essentially implying that they will become priests within the next year or two. There are also those who are ordained as vocational deacons, because they feel they have discerned a calling to remain deacons in perpetuity.

The dean and students of both colleges were there, and there was an opportunity to socialise with friends afterward.

You know, about 10 or 15 years ago, when all my friends were getting married, I'd occasionally overhear the single bridesmaids at these functions complain, or make complimentary comments while having rather insincere expressions on their faces. I recall kind of mentally rolling my eyes when I'd here this ... Oh come on ... you know what I mean ... you've been doing the same thing since you were 14 and your old auntie was still pinching your cheeks and telling you that you're soooooo cute.

While I would hope that I'm really not that shallow, I can also now understand (in a way) what it feels like to be simultaneously happy for someone and look forward to sharing in their experience.

"It's quiet ... too quiet"

It's been a bit since I've written. The stress of exams is past - I had my last one on Tuesday of this week. I think it went well enough, but can't be sure for a week or two yet, when I'll receive marks.

It's been pretty quiet around here this week. We started our kid at daycare, next door, in anticipation of my summer programme (see below). The centre seems good enough, and the people are friendly, but it seems a bit odd to be at home, and not have anyone else here. I've spent the last few days tidying - almost compulsively. Due to the workload this semester, I haven't paid as much attention as I ought to, and things have slipped. Now that I have nothing else to do, and no kid around the house most of the day .... not much else to do.

Starting this coming Monday, I will be involved in a programme called CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education). It's like a chaplaincy internship at a facility like a hospital or prison. I will be doing my programme at Scarborough Grace Hospital - a few minutes from home. I feel really honoured to have gotten in, considering the competition. There are 15 spots spread across 3 centres in the city. CPE is a compulsory part of my masters degree, and many diocese' require it prior to ordination, so it's a good credit all round.

Anyhow, I'm off for a bit of a walk. Hope everyone is taking advantage of our lovely spring weather.

The Countdown Continues

Ten days ago I posted a list of outstanding assignments until the end of term. The good news is that many of those have been crossed off my list:

1. 1 short paper: this is a group project in its final throes.
2. 1 longer paper: this is essentially completed. I'm submitting it Wednesday, and the only reason is I haven't printed and sealed it yet is just in case of any last minute inspiration. One never knows.
3. 1 day of lectures: these were done last Thursday (April 6th).
4. 2 exams: well ... these are still outstanding, and are scheduled for the morning of April 20th.
   

I do have a meeting this week to evaluate the viability of my internship proposal. I hope to be doing my full time internship starting this fall. I have submitted a proposal and have scheduled a meeting to discuss it with "the powers that be".

A further note: Now that a lot of this stuff is done, I'm down to watching the mailbox for news about my postulancy application. I've been trying (rather desperately) not to think about it, since I've been told not to expect to hear anything until at least the end of April or beginning of May.

"Up ... just up ... really ... I'm okay"

'Morning all. I am not the king of the early risers - especially lately, but at just before 5 this morning ... blink blink blink ... here I am world. So, I got up and plan to make use of the extra 90 minutes to take care of some odd jobs I've been meaning to do - like say study.

"Back in the day" when I actually had a money paying job, that started at 7 a.m., getting up at 5 or 5:30 was a pretty regular thing. I've fallen out of the discipline since I've been a stay-at-home and a student.

It's quiet now ... the coffee pot seems loud.

Off to study.

Post Script ...

By the way ... if anyone is looking for notes for the following courses, please email me specifying whether you'd prefer word or pdf format, and I will email them back to you. The courses are:

1. TRB 1007 HS (Old Testament, Professor J. Course)
2. TRH 2061 HS (Birth of Theology, Dean Neelands)
   
3. TRB 3719 HS (Pauline Ethics, Professor Ann Jervis)

Unofortunately, my notes are less detailed for my online course.

Hi all ...

I am still out here .. somewhere ... amidst term papers and exam notes. I hope to be a bite more proactive with posts within the next couple of weeks, when term will be over.

For those concerned folk, I have the following outstanding:

1. 1 short paper
2. 1 longer paper
3. 1 day of lectures left
   
4. 2 Exams (1 oral, 1 written)

I am also waiting to hear back from the diocese I applied to, as a postulant. As well, I am trying to finalise my internship arrangements for the fall before the end of this term, so I don't have to worry about it over the summer, when I'll be doing CPE at Scarborough Grace.

Anyhow, as I expect my life to be for the next couple weeks, at least, I have more reading to do.

Peace.

A little old, a little new ...

Today 'my' parish ran it's first confirmation class of the year. For those new to the idea of confirmation, it is a time when people make an opportunity to affirm their belief in the church's teachings and creedal statements.

Traditionally it is done once a year so that one's preparation is complete, and is confirmed, around Easter. Our parish is no exception to this tradition. The priest assigned a text for students to read, and has planned field trips to locations significant to Anglicans in Toronto.

They include the cathedral, the convent of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, Toronto's two Anglican seminaries, the Sea Farer's mission, and a
mission to the homeless.

I find this approach to confirmation to be quite intriguing, because it allows the participants to see the big picture of the church they are joining - it's not just confined to your parish.

As a child I remember that one was not allowed to receive Holy Communion until after confirmation. The idea being that prior to this rite of passage, you simply weren't old enough to "get it", intellectually, or to really comprehend what was going on.

While I'm not always sure that I "get it", I do think it is important for people to understand what they are participating in. I think that in many ways, the "getting it" is part of the faith that one grows into.

For those church traditions who practice infant baptism, having a rite such as confirmation, or catechism, or first communion, is important because it allows a person to mark out the boundaries of their own faith. When one is baptised as an infant, it represents a commitment someone else is making on your behalf, to raise you according to the tenets of their faith. When one is confirmed, it is an affirmation of one's own commitment.

I do not think that baptism is unimportant. I think that it is very important, and I also understand why some people say that it ought to be something someone chooses for himself (herself) rather than be submitted to. I also happen to think that there are some good explanations (which I won't go into here -- don't worry) as to why it can be done for infants.

Anyhow, I hadn't intended to post a dissertation on baptismal theology, but merely an update and a neat approach to something very old.

The picture attached was taken shortly after the first class tour. It faces west along Toronto's Front St., and depicts the city's famous Flatiron building in the foreground, with the city's financial scy scrapers in the mid ground, and the CN Tower off to the back and left of the frame.

With more than a little trepidation ...

I've applied to become a postulant in the Diocese of Toronto. That's right, I mailed it off last Friday.

Postulancy is an application process one goes through, in preparation for ordination. The process can take the better part of 2 years, to complete. That means, if I'm completely successful, I will be ordained to the diaconate (as a deacon) in the spring of 2008.

I say, with trepidation, because Toronto has the reputation for being one of the hardest places to get into. If I don't get into Toronto, I can always apply elsewhere, but there are family connections here in the city, and it would be nice to stay relatively close - especially with children.

So, for those of you with a prayerful bent, I would appreciate your support in this process. For those of you who've agreed to stand as references ... I really do thank you.

Watch this space for further info.

The pundits called it ...

We enter the day with a minority conservative government. Our province of Ontario has gone from 24 to 40 Conservative seats in parliament. Unfortunately for all Canadians a minority government will likely mean another short lived government. With such a close split between the parties, it will be quite difficult for the Conservatives to pass laws, etc.

To all my friends I would offer the following suggestion:
Pray for your (new?) MPP. This is doubly true if you didn't vote for them, because that only goes to show they need the extra help.

Secondly, drop them an email of congratulation, recognising their hard work and efforts in campaigning to be your voice - independent of their political stripe! Again - even if you didn't vote for them, you can still recognise the effort they put into getting where they are.

After all, these are the people you will want to contact, encouraging them to speak your voice in our government, for as long as it lasts.

Well folks - have a good day.

... and this just in ...

Well, the Mrs. and I are just back from casting our civic duty to the wind. Let's see, I think the predictions are pretty obvious:

• a minority government for sure, meaning a short lived government, with an average life span of approx. 2 yrs.
• if (and this is a considerable if) the polls are correct it'll be a Conservative government, which will be interesting, considering this would be the first time that this Conservative party would take office, since the old Progressive Conservative and Reform parties merged.

I think that the Canadian concept of 'conservative' is a bit skewed. Consider the number of years that many people considered the two words Progressive and Conservative as aptly placed beside each other.

Furthermore, I wonder if those who vote for our recently formed Conservative party are actually casting a vote toward conservation? Are they, or the party they're supporting, truly aiming towards conserving the status quo?

I often ponder a situation I am faced with at the polls, and its one that can border on inspiring pessimism, if I let it. It's more of a conundrum really. I go to the polls, year after year, to exercise my vote, confident in the knowledge that the candidate I vote for will never see the light of office. This does not mean that I think my incumbent is particular bad, or negligent ... in fact ... as an individual, I think he does a fair job ... for a politician. It has more to do with the fact that I can't ethically support his party, so I am forced to vote for the BIG picture, fully expecting that my vote will not mean much, locally.

Of course, when it comes do it, six months from now, when everyone else is complaining, I can throw my arms up, and self-righteously exclaim "Don't blame me ... I didn't vote for 'em!".

Have a good night folks, and don't stay up too late watching the news, it is a school night after all.

Classes resume ...

Yesterday marked the beginning of classes. I am rounding out my electives in both the Bible and History categories by taking two courses in each. For those who've asked I've signed up for:

• Intro to Old Testament (John Course)
• Pauline Ethics (Ann Jervis)
• The Birth of Theology (aka the History of Patristic Theology) (D. Neelands)
• 17th, and 18th C. Evangelical Spirituality

This will also be the first semester that I'm spending so much of my time at my home college. The first three courses are all at Trinity, all on Thursday, and the first two are even in the same room.

More good news is that I've just received an email to interview for my CPE component, which I'm hoping to do at Scarborough Grace, this spring. CPE is, essentially, a chaplaincy internship usually done at either a hospital, jail, or some other institutional environment.

I'll be glad to get it started, because it represents a major component in my education - kind of a milestone, in a way. I'm also kind of crossing my fingers, a bit, because in the entire city of Toronto, there are only 15 spots, spread over 3 centres, for students to take this course, so there's a bit of jockeying to be done.

Well, I suppose I ought to make an effort at getting back to the books, a little, before turning in. The one thing about this time of the semester is that it can seem quite overwhelming ... a lot to do.

G'night.

"What I did on my Christmas Vacation"

Do you remember those essays you wrote in grade school? As our butcher asked me about my vacation, today, I realised it's been a few days since I submitted a posting.

Well, I received a new digital camera as an early Christmas gift, and I'm lovin' it. This was the big coup of the season! (Photos courtesy of the new toy.) Needless to say, there were plenty of opportunities to play, before classes began.

As well, I received the latest installment of the Harry Potter series "The Half-Blood Prince", which I stayed up until 11:30 last night to finish, so that I could be done before classes resume this Thursday. I read it's six hundred pages in slightly over two days, and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure, although the twist ending was somewhat disheartening.

Last but not least, I also received a copy of "For All the Saints", a list of readings and collects for use in the Anglican liturgy. This tome, compiled by my theology professor, Fr. Stephen Reynolds, sets out to provide a brief history, and selected prayers and readings, that commemorate the work of our forefathers in the faith. It's an excellent resource for any [aspiring] clergy person.

There were also gift certificates from kind friends and family, which I am sure will come in handy.

Until next time ...

"In the news today ... Oh Boy!"

We Canadians are in the throes of an election. The current government was a minority, and historically, they are short lived. It is the price we pay for being indecisive and failing to turn out at the polls.

I heard in the news, today, that our Conservative candidate suggested that all major Canadian cities would have an increased military presence. My first reaction was to balk - which surprised me, as I think of myself as a small 'c' conservative. I had visions of Kent State ... free voice vs. 'the man'.

Then I got to thinking ... arguably a dangerous practice ... considering the gun violence plaguing our streets, and our own lack of ability to police ourselves. If we can control it ourselves, without some type of outside intervention, why does it continue? How badly do we want this situation to change and what type of radical alternatives are we willing to consider to make that happen?

Just a bit of fodder for the mind.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Okay Everyone ... this is going to be a quick post ....

Merry CHRISTmas ... Please remember who we're celebrating.

Peace!

A history of Christmas ...

Many of my readers (... oh the presumptions!!!!) already know that the Christmas holiday grew out of the Christian celebration of Jesus' birthday. Whether this event actually occurred on December 25th is rather beside the point - the issue is that a date was chosen to commemorate the event.

I thought I'd take a little opportunity to enlighten my presumed readers on the history of Christmas being celebrated on the 25th of December. What you might not know is that Christmas Day celebrations (formally "The Celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord") grew out of the celebration of "the Epiphany of Our Lord". The celebration of which is on January 6th, and celebrates the arrival of the Wise Men from the East arriving to worship Jesus as the Christ. What many celebrate as Advent (the penitential season of four Sundays before Christmas) was added even after Christmas.

The celebration of Easter pre-dated Christmas by approximately four centuries! That's right, the early church saw Jesus' death and resurrection as more important/worthy of celebration than His incarnate birth.

So then, what we now celebrate as Christmas, the early church merely presumed. For if it weren't for Jesus birth there would be no celebration of His crucifixion (and more importantly His resurrection) at Easter.

All this is not to diminish the celebration of Jesus coming into the world - a truly magnificent event. However, I hope that by attaching a bit of history, we can see that the celebration of Jesus birth ought not to be an isolated event. Look forward to Easter - which is the purpose behind Christmas.

I wonder if the best Christmas gift could be to wish someone a Happy Easter?

How many sleeps to go?

Are we there yet? Is it soup yet, mom? How long til Christmas?

As we crawl towards Christmas, I remember how long the holiday used to take to "get here" when we were young. It seems as though we were taunted by toy departments from about mid October.

Starting four weeks before Christmas, with the season of Advent, we would run home from shool each day to open the next window in our Advent Calendar. Some years, each day would be rewarded with a choclate treat, but usually just a pretty little picture.

A couple of weeks before "The Big Day", dad would treat us to a hot chocolate, in Simpson's cafeteria (long gone now, kids) while mom finished shopping. This would involve having abandoned our station wagon at a suburban subway station, and fought the crowds, and subway to get downtown. As suburban kids, this trip was a rare gem.

On the fateful day, when Christmas had finally arrived, we would wake early, after having wrestled with our excitement all night. We would run into our parents bedroom and beg to open something! Of course, we would be told to wait until after breakfast, which always seemed to involve an interminably long cup of tea.

The point is ... all these little things were ways to mark time, to look forward to something bigger, like a flat stone skipping across a calm lake, toward a big splash. But you see, it all had a point. Mom & Pop would say it taught us patience, but I hardly recall being patient about any of it. I do know that it built up toward something.

As I spend the day with my two year old, keeping her in from the bluster, recovering from a cold, I feel that sense of expectation returning, after a long time. I wait for my wife to come home from a hard day, I wait for gatherings with friends and family. Sometimes it's nerve racking, but feels somehow right as well.

As adults, I wonder if this expectant waiting has been replaced with something else ... something manic, frantic, shopping in an attempt to fill ... to fill something, either in us or in others.

Trinity College, Lady Chapel

This well lit, cozy, side chapel is the place where many students (yours included) have had the opportunity to test their homiletic prowess.

Smaller than the main chapel, most of the midweek Eucharist and Offices (prayer services) are conducted here.

Chapel Entrance

Side entrance to the Trinity Chapel:
This is the entrance to Trinity College's main chapel, from Hoskin Ave. Frankly this portal is seldom used, but I thought it was picturesque. Hmmm.... there's a comment in there somewhere ... seldom used portals ... picturesque ... go and ponder my friends.

Greetings!

Greetings all! Well ... the madness has begun! For some time I've been contemplating a personal website, of some sort. But to what end? The answer may lie in my choice of monichers - The Digital Gnome - a small voice in a large, and sometimes wild place.

For one thing, I'm an amateur photographer, looking for a place to display some of my better "work", realising that email attachments can become both cumbersome and annoying.

For another, the blog provides a place for other forms of expression. Let's wander down the path, and see where it leads.