Rector's 2015 Christmas Letter - Joy to the World!

Christmas is a celebration of God who is constantly surprising us. The Messiah comes, not as an earthly ruler, not as a mighty warrior, but as a child in a manger. The witnesses are not the priests and leaders of the Jewish nation, but poor shepherds and a few wandering foreigners. Jesus' whole earthly life was a series of acts which defied expectations and caught people - both his followers and his enemies - off guard.

God continues to surprise us. Sometimes those surprises are positive, even miraculous, and we rejoice in them. Other times those surprises upset carefully crafted plans.

Warden's 2015 Christmas Letter

Dear Friends, Christmas is coming and for many of us this is a hectic time, but the season of Advent reminds us what we are really waiting and preparing for. Throughout the Advent season we anticipate the arrival of Christ. During this period, our Scripture readings focus us on God's promise of salvation and the fulfillment of this promise in Jesus Christ.

Give Local Give Canadian this Christmas: Make a Donation to the Anglican Foundation

The spirit of giving is alive and well at the Anglican Foundation of Canada this holiday season. We invite impact donating, which means we put your dollars to work directly right here in Canada. This Christmas, when you’re thinking about what to give, AFC invites you to consider a gift that will make a real difference for Canadians: ensuring that children eat a nutritious breakfast before school and receive quality homework coaching after school, providing care for seniors, and allowing you to participate in immediate aid and relief in times of disaster or calamity in Canada.

Show love to your country this Christmas through the Anglican Foundation of Canada.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Advent Resources for 2015

The Anglican Church of Canada has put together a page that serves as the hub of information and resources to help you celebrate the season of Advent through to Christmas.

AdventWord 2015 – A Global Advent Calendar. Participate in the Anglican Communion’s Global Advent Calendar. Live into the season of Advent as we anticipate the coming of Christ, the fulfillment of our deepest desires and longings. Respond to a daily meditation with images and prayers that speak to your heart and be part of a global Advent Calendar that brings us together in communion.

Video Explaining Advent

Not quite sure about the relationship between Advent and Christmas? Check out this two-minute video that describes why we celebrate Advent and wait to celebrate Christmas.

And beginning November 27th (the First Sunday of Advent,) visit bustedhalo.com/advent for the Busted Halo Advent Surprise Calendar for daily jolts of wisdom and microChallenges that will give your Advent more meaning, as well as give you a chance to win prizes, including an iPad2!

New Evangelical Church Plant for Downtown Montreal

“It is with great joy that the Anglican Diocese of Montreal hopes to ‘plant’ a new church congregation into the historic Montreal-centre parish building of St James the Apostle in 2016. Our aim is to reach young, urban professional and multicultural individuals and families through a modern Anglican form of worship and evangelism. This pilot project is part of our exploration into what 21st Century church will look like in Montreal”, says Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.

In his Bishop’s Charge of 2014 entitled Called to Grow former Bishop of Montreal Barry Clarke underlined the need to prayerfully hold together the tensions of joining in the Mission of God, managing over $300 million of challenging real estate and doing so within a radically changing environment of leadership and discipleship. In its 2010-2015 Mission Action Plan, the Diocese of Montreal repeated a need to work towards the planting of vital churches.