Build a Church Community that Transforms Lives

Too often, churches become just vendors of religious services for do-it-yourself Christians. They may offer a vast array of programs and activities, but they lack the one thing that can truly transform the people who walk through their doors - genuine Christian community.

People are searching for a place where they're accepted just as they are and encouraged to become all they can be. They want to become part of a community that helps connect them to God and other people through bonds of love. God wants that for His people, too. After all, He is a God of relationship, existing in the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Here are some ways you can build a church community that transforms lives:

Understand your church's purpose. Realize that your church doesn't exist simply to help people in their individual faith journeys. It's meant to be a living organism that helps people encounter the living God together and grow closer to Him. Know that God's essence is one of loving relationship because He is a Trinity, and, because He has made people in His image, they're designed to live in relationship as well. Understand that it's crucial for your church to be a strong community to fulfill its purpose.

Realize that if people in your church are to grow into exceptional Christians, they must have an exceptional community to help them do so. Know that the more your church is like God (reflecting His loving relationships), the more its individual souls will become like Christ. Also know that the more your church is the earthly depiction of the divine community, the more the world around you will be drawn to Christ.

Encourage people to avoid the salad bar and share a full meal at the table of faith instead. Although many seekers are tempted to take a salad bar approach to faith - choosing their own individual experiences and activities - they won't ultimately be nourished by that approach. Help them sit down to a shared meal with others at your table of faith, making a full commitment to your community. See the holy meal of Communion as a model of what your church community should be like - believers celebrating together as God uses ordinary elements to reveal His extraordinary presence.

Help people be participants instead of spectators. Present lots of opportunities for everyone in your church to contribute their talents to the congregation's greater good. Encourage them to serve in the ways God leads them, be willing to start new ministries that will help people use their talents, and provide training so people can acquire the skills necessary to do everything that needs to be done - from helping with the worship service to leading home groups. Use sermons to call people to respond to your messages by putting their faith into action.

Make your church as guest-friendly as possible, realizing that you represent Christ to newcomers. Strive to have your church's hospitality reflect God's own. Don't let age or anything else be an obstacle to each member's full participation in the life of your church - make sure young children, the elderly, the disabled, and others are able to contribute their talents in meaningful ways.

Use Scripture to bring about transformation. Let Scripture give you the lens to see God's grace in how He deals with His people. Let it invite you to begin a relationship with God and your brothers and sisters in Christ. Enter into its story of love by responding to God's call, patterning your life on Christ's example. Rely on the Holy Spirit's wisdom to help you live out Scripture. Consider bringing your congregation together once a week to eat dinner together at the church, then study the Bible together in classes geared toward various levels. Encourage your church's members to share their testimonies with each other. Develop Bible reading programs so that your entire congregation can read and study the same biblical passages together. Offer prayer services so people can meditate on particular Scripture verses together and pray about them as a body during the services.

Source: Crosswalk.com
Image Credit: Community Building Resource

NDG Food Depot 2011 Campaign (Video)

NDG Food Drive 2011 from JM'SVIDEOS on Vimeo.

Fall Program at St. Philip's: Ecology and Spirituality

St Philip's Church is proud to announce that its Tuesday evening program for this fall will examine current environmental issues in the context of the Bible and faith. We will look at creation and humanities role as stewards of the natural world. We will then examine our human failings and how that has impacted our environment. Next we will address the theological aspects of repentance and how we can make amends both globally and personally. Finally we will address the all important issue of hope.

Co-facilitators will be our own Fr. Jim Pratt and Richard Matthews. Father Jim formerly practiced corporate law in Boston. Richard is a consultant to business on environmental issues and a widely published author. Richard is also the owner and principle writer of "The Green Market Oracle," an award winning site that is focused on sustainability.

Please consider joining us this fall for what is certain to be a fascinating look at the relationship between faith and the environment. All are welcome to attend.

The series will be located at St. Philip's Church, 3400 Connaught, (corner Sherbrooke) in Montreal West. The program will take place every Tuesday between 8 PM and 9 PM, starting on September 25, and running through November.

If you have any questions please contact the church office at (514) 481-4871.

Ronald Pilgrim's Passion for Fashion

St Philip's own Ronald Pilgrim will be staging a fashion show fund raiser for the church on September 22. I recently had an opportunity to sit with Ron and interview him about his passion for fashion and his love of the church.

Ron began his career as a young boy in his native Barbados. In order to surprise his mom, Ron created his first dress at the tender age of 12. Using his allowance money Ron got a friend to buy the material and using only a needle, thread and his imagination, he made a dress for his younger sister. Ron (or "Rollo" as his younger sister used to pronounce his name) received many accolades from friends and neighbors for his first creation. Everyone who saw it encouraged him to pursue his passion and develop his talents.

When he got older Ron studied tailoring for two years, and then went to work. He recalls his first pay was 2 schillings or just 48 cents. Although Ron worked as a tailor, his recalls that his real passion was always been for women's fashion. He soon followed his dream and dressmaking went from being a hobby to a full time job. Six decades later he is still going strong.

Although he has come a long way since then, for Ron it has never been about the money. Ron is happy doing what he loves and despite his very modest rates, Ron has made a good living from his creations.

Ever since he was a little boy Ron always went to church. He has fond memories of Sunday School. In fact Ron loved church so much that he would attend both morning and evening services. In describing his experience at St. Philip's he says that he was "well received from the beginning." He went on to say the church has brought "peace to my world"

One of Ron's greatest influences was his mother. "She was a great influence and very supportive," As Ron explained, the elders would point their fingers at him and say "Ma Pilly, has raised you right." She sure has Ron and we are proud to have you as a member of our congregation.

The fashion show is a momentous occasion for Ron, please come and help him celebrate what he describes as "his dream come true."

Ronald Pilgrim Creations will be on show on September 22nd in the Memorial Hall at 5 PM. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres are included. Tickets are available at the office ($25) (514) 481-4871. For more information or to reserve your ticket contact Ronald at 514 524 1085.

Proceeds go to St. Philip's Anglican Church.

Outreach at St. Philip's Church

NDG Food Depot

St. Philip's partners with the NDG Food Depot/Dépôt Alimentaire NDG, a community group aimed at alleviating hunger and building community in NDG and surrounding neighbourhoods. Our annual spring community yard sale raises up to $1000 for the Food Depot. On the first Saturday of December, the Food Depot has a community-wide door-to-door food collection, which brings in enough canned goods and staples to last until the summer. St. Philip`s serves as the drop-off and sorting center for the collection in Montreal West and western NDG. As the collection teams drop off carloads of food, about 30 volunteers sort it and pack it in boxes and plastic crates. About 160 cases of canned goods are stored in St. Philip`s basement, and transferred to the Food Depot as needed. Several SPC members also volunteer at the Food Depot. Seniors St. Philip`s maintains an active ministry to our older members, and those who, because of impaired mobility or illness, are unable to attend regularly. The pastoral care team sends out regular cards and a short newsletter to shut-ins. Fr. Pratt regularly takes communion to those who are unable to come to church, and visits members in hospitals and long-term care facilities. The Pastoral Telephone Care Network, a team of volunteers, regularly contact shut-ins by phone to update them on events around the church, or just to chat, and alert clergy to any immediate or serious pastoral needs.  

Mile End Community Mission

Our annual White Gift Sunday in early December collects toys and gifts for the annual Christmas party at Mile End Community Mission, which serves residents of the Mile End neighbourhood.  

St. Michael`s Mission

The women of St. Philip`s hold an annual mission day, coming together to talk or to listen to a guest speaker, while collecting toiletries and winter clothing for the clients of St. Michael`s Mission, which serves the homeless population of downtown Montreal. Also, the vegetables and fruits which decorate the church for our Harvest Festival are then donated to the soup kitchen at St. Michael`s.

Module du Nord Québecois

St. Philip`s participates with several other parishes in chaplaincy at the Module du nord québecois. The MNQ operates a hostel for residents of Nunavik who come to Montreal for medical treatment, and a rotation of clergy provide weekly worship, as the majority are Anglicans.

Scouts

St. Philip`s partners with the Montreal West Scout Group to host an annual blood drive.

Stewardship Gifts & Resources Café: Learning and Skill-building for Parish Stewardship

The Diocese of Montreal's Stewardship Council presents Stewardship Gifts & Resources Café. This event is a day of sharing, learning and skill-building for parish stewardship.

When: Saturday, September 8, from 9 am to 4 pm

Where: St Barnabas Anglican Church, Pierrefonds, 12301 rue Colin, Pierrefonds.

Registration: $10 per person

For more information and registration contact Nicki Hronjak at (514) 843-6577, #244

Rev James B Pratt "The Right Person at the Right Place"

Here is an excerpt from an article published in the Montreal Anglican in April 2009. Rev. James B. Pratt (Father Jim) is a blessing to St Philip's Church and this is evident to all who take the time to know him.
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Rev. James B. Pratt was inducted as the new incumbent of St. Philip’s Church in Montreal West on March 5 [2009] and welcomed as a member of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Montreal five days later.

Mr. Pratt, who previously practiced law in the Boston area for some years, specializing in real estate, had been in charge of the rural Parish of Cow Head in the Diocese of Western Newfoundland since 2002, the year of his ordination as deacon and later priest.

He has been active in various committees of the Western Newfoundland diocese and regional and national bodies, as well as community and health-care organisations.

Preaching at his induction, Rev. Canon Alan Perry of St. Barnabas Church in Pierrefonds recalled a number of discussions on various issues with Mr. Pratt at church gatherings.

The canon praised the judgement and “mature piety” of the new incumbent and said he is “the right person in the right place at the right time.”

Mr. Pratt said he is coming to the Montreal diocese to seek a new challenge, and because he married recently and an urban area has some advantages for the couple.

He is clerical secretary of the Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada – made up of the dioceses in Quebec and Atlantic Canada – and as such became an ex officio member of the Diocesan Council, the governing body of the Montreal diocese between synods, on his arrival in the diocese.