THOUGHTS FOR VISION 2019
Here are my thoughts for Vision 2019:
Where my Parish is now:
The Parish of St. Paul’s, Nanaimo, BC is very busy. We are a downtown parish, with a predominantly older congregation, but we do a lot in our community besides offering a welcoming and caring place for worship, Bible study, Christian education, for both young and adult. We have a very active “Reaching Out” committee that is involved both locally with the Food Banks, Women’s Shelter, etc., and in the wider world with a foster child. These are financed by donations and by fund-raising events from time to time. Our door is open every weekday morning and those in need in the city know where to come for help. We have an active “Fun, Food and Fellowship” committee that puts on dinners for fellowship at odd times during the year and even organizes visits to other parishes occasionally. There is an active Altar Guild who look after preparation for the services, and decorating the church for festivals, and a number of other committees to look after the usual necessities, such as Building and Grounds, Stewardship, Education, etc., which report to the Parish Council. There is an ad hoc committee planning for our 150th Anniversary in 2011.
The clergy and some of the laity conduct services in the various care homes in the city, and there is an active hospital visiting done by both clergy and laity. In addition, we have supported two assistant curates in the past four years, who have gone on to ministries of their own. We are incredibly blessed by a very able and caring rector, who is the Regional Archdeacon, and who deserves a lot of credit, as do the number of parishioners who contribute their time and talents to our many activities.
We have an average attendance of about 150 each Sunday, with an 8 am Book of Common Prayer Communion and a 10:30 Book of Alternative Services Eucharist,. with the exception of the 5th Sunday, when the books are reversed. The 10:30 service includes a children’s story at the beginning and the children then go to Sunday School and come back for Communion later. We also have Choral Evensong (BCP) on the 2nd and 4th Sunday evenings, and a mid-week Eucharist (BCP) each Wednesday at 11 am. So both official liturgies are used regularly.
Because we are an older congregation, we have lost a number of parishioners who have gone to the Lord, but we seem to replace them with newcomers, mainly retirees from colder parts of Canada, and the number of baptisms, both infant and “of Riper Years” has increased in the past several years, as has the weddings.
Because of the changing demographics of the city, the Parish of St. James the Apostle was recently amalgamated with St. Paul’s, and we have welcomed a number of these people, who are beginning to take an active role in the parish.
In spite of all our activity in the parish, our finances are not the best. We have hovered on the edge of deficit most of the last few years, and ended last year with a deficit of under $500. We are presently in a debt position which we commonly are at this time of year, so hopefully will pull out of it as we have in the past. We are certainly not alone in the diocese in this respect.
This is just a snapshot of where we are today.
Where do I wish it to be in 2019?
I would pray that it will still be an active parish, and growing, although since I am a widow now in my eighties, it is doubtful that I shall be around to see it. I sincerely hope that it will still be using the traditional Book of Common Prayer, as authorized by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada in 1962, which is our Heritage, or perhaps a more recent edition, as long as the Theology in it, which I grew up with, remains essentially the same. To me it is a much more meaningful template for living a truly Christian Life, for we approach God in worship with Reverence and Humility, which I personally find largely lacking in the BAS. I recognize that there are many good things about the BAS, but as hard as I have tried, I still am not able to worship in the same way as with the BCP. I am hopeful that the revision of the BAS which was authorized at the last General Synod may suit me better.
As is obvious, these are my own personal thoughts and feelings. I certainly pray that the church will continue to welcome all people, as we have been doing, without judging their lifestyle or anything else about them, but not being afraid to say what we believe to be right and wrong according to God’s rules, not man’s.
Yours in Christ,
Patricia R.
