Godincidences? or Coincidence?

I believe I have written on this before, mentioning that I never believe that "odd" occasions of what is commonly know as "fate" or "coincidence" have no connection with the divine. Three things came about to make me go "huummmm!"

1) Today I met with the Bishop of Fredericton, Claude Miller, my bishop. After our meeting I felt that the epistle reading matched what bishop Claude was saying, "explain" and take time with your parish before moving too quickly. Though Philip baptized quickly, he took the time to explain the faith. The trip would have been over days and maybe even longer. As a pastor this is the calling to spend time with people helping them to see their saviour at work in their lives. The bishop confirmed my reading of the Scripture today... and many other issues which we share.

2) I went to a shopping centre in Fredericton to seek out some clothes with Sherry. While walking around we found a store "Basket Emporium." After going in we saw many pieces that were just perfect with our new home. I wanted to leave after we selected our items but like usual I struck up a conversation with the teller and mentioned where I had just moved from; a worker behind me said, "O yes I know that region I lived in Happy Valley-Goose bay." After a short exchange it became evident that she worked for a company that I had heard of. "Do you know Todd Nadeau?" I said. Well that was the beginning of a great exchange as she worked under him in the north and I know his dad who has been a great friend: our seal skin in the living room was cured by him just weeks ago.

3) So we continued, as in my head I was going "hum," and made our way to Walmart (the cheap yet evil empire of retail). We wandered for ladies shoes... UGH! Earlier I had a call from a new-found friend who is my colleague in the neighboring parish, and a former assistant curate here in my parish. I tried to get back to him but to no avail (he was in town with his daughter having her cast removed). Low and behold there he was! We met and had a half hour chat and made a good friendship even better with the ease and joy of our meeting.

Lots of coincidence eh? Well for me there is something in it all. God meets us where we are at and confirms our faith through actions like these. Whether it is a reading that ends up making deeper sense, or a chance meeting, God is saying you are on the right path and that he is here with us in this O so small world.

What are your Godincidences?

FORWARD... day by day

All in my previous parish will know that I was a big supporter of Forward Movement Publications and of their daily bible study booklet, "Forward Day by Day."

I was overjoyed this week to have received a stack of the little booklets for my current parish of Wicklow, Wilmot, Peel and Aberdeen. It seems that they have been using this for a while as well. Though sometimes the reflections are a bit culturally "American" (examples abound but none come to mind at present; obviously no slight is intended to our southern neighbors), I find the books to be of great theological value and by far better than the simplistic "Daily Bread" (I also encourage this to be used but for Christians coming to faith or early in their spiritual journey). An added bonus is that it follows the two year Anglican Daily Office (not to be confused with the single year BCP Office cycle).

My goodness after all that confusion it is a wonder anyone desires to follow a cycle... yet Forward Movement has made it easy for computer nerds like us, there is an online version of Forward Day by Day. Click the previous and worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness!

PLEASE REMEMBER click on this link daily, or bookmark it, to get the reading of the day, and know that you join many Anglicans, other faithful servants, and most clerics who say, or who have said, that very reading as part of their daily pattern of worship.

Salmon Bay

I mentioned in a previous post of Mr. Frank Keats death. I received pictures today and wished to share a bit of the heritage as seen in this commendation. One picture is of the committal lead by Lay Reader, and theological student, Francie Keats. The other is of Ned Dunns house just down shore.

Wee Theological Humour

If you know me I never send out / forward e-mail of this kind. But for a blog I hoep you forgive me this one indugence. A smattering of stories of children faced with theological issues.

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.

The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".

The teacher asked, " What if Jonah went to hell?"

The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.

She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"

Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."

The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

Back to Normal: Update

Over the past few months the blogs have been varied but mainly about the big move. For the past month things have been decidedly sporadic as minivan woes, ferries, and screwdriver issues have taken me away from my computer. A good indication of how hairy it has been is my laptop still needs to be fixed. I guess Monday it will head off to get that fracture fixed. My hope now is to get back to blogging as information on more than just our family situation. I'll keep on writing about my hobbies as they come up (recently been beating Andrew on the tennis court... I keep yelling to him, "make the fat man run!" Maybe I'll loose some); and other issues surrounding family for those away will come up. The majority of the blogs will end up being more spiritual, as we seek a deeper relationship with the Lord, intentionally looking for God in our lives and in the Church that is obviously in transition at present.

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Things are getting back to normal. The flu seems to have run it's course. There are only a few more pictures to go up. It's been hot, at least for us. Today we expect 35 C. Only 35! I think a curry is in order as it's cooler in Bangalore, India!!!

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People have been asking me about the kids and how they are adjusting; well just fine. I over heard a conversation between Andrew and Cameron where Andrew was asking if he was "right" that it would be more "fun" here, the answer was an emphatic "yes;" yet there was a catch, Cameron added, "I still miss my friends though." Liam and the boys were out last night and Sherry and I walked Pippa and puppy Guinness. It's been a long slog moving and now we seem to be enjoying the holiday part. The kids are thus fine and relaxed as we are relaxed now.

O How I Wish I Could Swear

Well now you can swear according to the web based "Biblical Curse Generator." It's on the funny side so take those bad words and put them in your pocket for with the use of a computer or handy PDA / Cell, you too can curse in a God permitted way :-) LOL

A Little Big Story

I just recieved an email which made me bawl! It's a story from a little girl whose mom and dad took care of Pippa for a week at a time while Sherry and I were away on business. We fell in love with the Coast, and from this, the Coast fell in love with us. Can anything be more beautiful than this:

One time we had to baby sit Pippa. Pippa came back again but then she went away. That night I cried and cried. I missed pippa a lot. From now on I am going to miss Pippa until she comes home. I hope we are going to P.E.I. then we can go to see Pippa. I wish we could keep Pippa but we can’t. I miss her so much. I hope they come back. I really want to see her. I remember when she used to say my name. She is so cute. I love her so much. Why did she even have to go some where else. I feel like I am going to cry. I miss her so much. I wish she was here right now. I can just see her standing here right now. I wish she lived with us. I love her so much. I wish she was here right now. I can never finish this letter. I wish she never went away in the first place. I can’t finish this story. I can’t stop thinking about Pippa. OH she is so cute. I just looked at pictures about her. I can’t understand why she went away. I really need to go but I don’t want to.

PS. I got my bangs cut.

I miss u Pippa

Love u

The Hard Issues Continue

The Archbishop of Canterbury addressed the Anglican Consultative Council on Monday and marked the significance of our strained communion. After reading his address you can hear his pain that we are broken even from coming to the Lord's Table together. I encourage you to read:

Archbishop William's Address

In Memoriam: Frank Keats

I received the news today that Mr. Frank Keats of St. Paul's River passed from this life into the next. Frank was a longtime resident of Salmon Bay where he had a wonderful store many years ago in a time and a way of life now long forgotten by the young.

When Sherry and I arrived on the Coast we had heard of "Frank's" and yet it took us near a year before we realized that the building we though was for storage was actually the store in St. Paul's (it was litterally only 200 yards away). Once in the store we became near daily shoppers and good friends with the Keats family. Frank was seldom there as Alzheimer's was taking it's grip. When we did see him he was "in his store" and you could see his pride and care.

He will be missed as a part of Salmon Bay and St. Paul's River has died. My love and prayers go out to his wife and children in this time of loss and yet relief from such a difficult illness.

Let Light Perpetual Shine Upon Frank, O Lord.
May He Rest In Peace and Rise In Glory.

In Christ,
Douglas+

... and AFTER

This is a pseudo virtual tour of the main living area:

As you enter:




Down the Hall on your Left:



The living Room from the Hall:



One more time from the otherside:



Maybe a meal?



Come a little closer...



Well for some old friends you may recognize some of the accents but the majority is IKEA... except for that table and chair set. The Table is from Labrador by way of St. Jacobs, Ontario. A long story indeed. We've made it a comfort for all. I may show the guestroom if you ask nicely :-) Blessings; and I hope the wait was worth it ;-)

... Left Hanging

It's been a while hasn't it!!! Eghads high speed is slow ;-) Thanks to my dad for the update.

So far I'm on dialup with only 5 hours to use for a month while my highspeed modem was fried in the storm. Since many in NB lost their phone lines our highspeed problem is minor and deemed as whining (at least that's how we feel by the treatment we have had: BOOO "ALIANT")!

Meanwhile... the flu has hit hard. Liam had two days where he must have lost 1/4 of his weight in fluid. He's on the mend now but not at all himself. Pippa was sitting in the car a couple of days ago and she just throw-up. What followed is not fit for family reading :-) YUK... two days so far of horrible, pitiful YUK! Poor Pippa Pie!!!!!!!

Well you got left hanging with "Before" so here comes "After"

lightning struck

lightning struck

The Painter's telephone line is down. Lightning struck it on Saturday, after severe thunder storms and even a tornado in northern carlton county. Douglas+ hopes to be back on line within the week. Love and God Bless, his dad.

Pictures "Before"

Here's some images of our move and of today's pool adventure at the neighbors...

Farewell Picture

I just checked the mail and received this, and many others, from Kate Nadeau. It's hard to believe it was under a week ago. Featured is the gift from St. Paul's of a "Bakeapple Quilt."

High Speed Woes

Yes we are all alive! :-)

Sorry to all for our delay in writing but as the title says... Finally it seems as if we are connected and up and running. More like running into boxes.

The drive after the ferry was filled with statements such as, "Pippa, put on your belt." "Pippa, please, put on your belt." "Put on you belt NOW." And the best retort of all, "Will you stop screaming in the car when I'm passing at 145km!" As you can tell it was a long and scream filled trip.

We arrived safe with boxes upon boxes to get out. It was a tough day followed by a rough night. The next day was not much better as we finally saw the enormity of what was needed. We spent the morning doing the IKEA dance with the toolset and realized that one piece was not what we wanted and that two others had problems size wise (if you haven't seen IKEA it's a big showroom followed by 4 story bins of boxed items seen in the showroom; if my explanation seems bazaar you should see IKEA).

That afternoon we went and picked up Andrew. He arrived but without a bag. It was yet another bump in an already bumpy road (reminds me of the road to Old Fort after the grater has been by). But on the positive side it made room for a big shopping in Fredericton.

The next day it was shopping in Woodstock and today in the villages of Florenceville and Bristol. We're shoped out!!!! Mattresses and dressers for the boys arrived today and beds will come in a week. The internet package arrived today as well but couldn't be activated until after 8:00pm, yet my computer wouldn't read the disk. So I had to jimmi the kid's computer disk drive to the main PC and that did the trick: 'cause here I be :-p

The parish is great and there has been a steady stream of visitors to the rectory. A couple came over from Juniper (30 mins away) today, and yesterday after the Bible Study at the church women from Florenceville and Bristol came over for a visit. Each time wonderful backed goods have come our way and my waist, I fear, is going to get wider and wider.

I'll blog more in the coming days of the adventure as it unfolds.

Many blessings to all

A Turn of the Page

The purser has just announced that we have a half an hour before we dock in North Sydney. The crossing was calm and we all slept which is quite a miracle... six hours! Great we feel refreshed and redy to get on the road.

Yesterday was filled with tears and screams, some from leaving, most from Pippa not wanting to wear her seatbelt! O my she has a temper! :-(

The parish got something special for the boys at Walmart yesterday in Corner Brook (with some of the gift that was offered to us as a family...). I can't say what it is but it has made the drive so much easier ;-)

There is a blank page to write on now. Our last chapter was filled with story of adventure, tears, humour and love. I hate to disappoint you, but the story I'm afraid will be much the same :-) Yet take heart gentle readers, it is bound to filled with different stories yet all with the same author: me? No, Our Lord and Saviour.

Blessings to old friends and greetings to new... O the fun we're going to have!!!

Many Tears

That day did come after all... my last services. Roxanne and David's wedding was a delight and meant so very much to Sherry and I as friends have been made for life along with many friends we took for granted. We received a Chalice from Brador which was blessed by Archdeacon Clark and then used in my final celebration of the Eucharist in the parish. A wonderful gift from a great congregation.

Only three hours later I had my final service in St. Paul's where over 60 came out to celebrate my (our... the family has been a big part) ministry. Old Fort and St. Paul's was well represented. Sherry balled through the service and I did only slightly better.

It really hit at the exchange of the "Peace." For myself it is one of the most intimate moments of the service where we don't say "hi," but "I love you" and "I forgive you." Ultimately we say, "God's Peace;" we are able to be reconciled because he loves us and died for us... as the Gospel reading for the feast day of John XXIII stated, we are sanctified through Christ's sanctification of himself (John 17). Well I just started to cry out loud as greeted each parishioner in the name of Christ. The Eucharist was no better as half way through I couldn't hold it in anymore.

The dinner was lovely and all seemed to have a good time. The camera was left behind for the wedding and then it seemed to die (yes, I know, I know, yet another broken electronic piece). Before it did we took this picture:



We received lovely cards with some help for the trip; a wonderfully large basket of fruit and cookies and whatall; two amazing quilts that speak not only of the talent & time but of the coast itself; and many handmade "vamps" (ie: socks and slippers) among other personal gifts.

It was an eveing of love; a day of love. No it was four years of love and commitment. I bless them for blessing my wife, family and myself.

We love you St. Clement's East, we're not too far :-)

Last Day & Green Day

It's a bright sunny day here in the Parish of St. Clement's East, yet the picture is dark though. Of course that's because of the brightness of the sun and the speed and apature of the camera, but I'd like to think it's because this is our last day.

It's bright and reminds me of those great days of ministry and mission here in the parish. It's bright and reminds us of wonderful days when the kids played out in the sand, rocks and bay; yes that bay, where they swam in 10 C weather. It's bright and reminds us of our baby girl, a coaster through and through.

It's dark for this is our last day here in our home these past 4 years. It's dark out of sadness for leaving friends and God Parents behind. It's dark for the emptiness a pastor's departure brings.

But it is indeed glorious-bright for new ministry that awaits for both our family and our old and new parish. The Lord has been good to us all, he has made his presence known and we are his.

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A song came on the car CD player yesterday which I forgot I had, Green Day's, "Time of Your Life." It's no great theological work but sums up some feelings:

Another turning point;
a fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrist;
directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test
and don't ask why.

It's not a question
but a lesson learned in time.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs
and still frames in your mind.

Hang it on a shelf
In good health and good time.

Tattoos of memories
and dead skin on trial.

For what it's worth,
it was worth all the while.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

Left Behind, Left Ahead

God answered our prayers. He said, "This Van is too dangerous to go with you, it's staying on the Coast, Bye!"

So the minivan stays, unfixed, with an unknown condition, causing it to caught, stall and still with the fuel & speedometer panel dead; it's "left behind."

The ensuing problems are enormous. In the long term Sherry has no vehicle and hence can't just get up and go shopping or visit her mom when I'm on the road visiting and working. It also means we have no family vehicle as the car is insufficient: someone will always be "left behind." In the short term it's a nightmare come true.

1) We left behind a TV, DVD player, satellite receiver, 19" CRT Computer, several boxes of extremely important family documents, 4 expensive board games, clothes, many CD's, our dog and a number of liturgical vestments and a pottery communion set, not to mention hundreds of other nic-naks: all fine for two vehicles not for a small Hyundai Accent.

2) We have one too many passengers and so Andrew, our eldest, at thirteen, needs a way to Florenceville. Our options are very limited.

3) What in part 1 do we mail, what can we fit in the car, and what can we afford to leave behind... Considering this is all the most important stuff we chose to keep with us for this final leg of the move.

Obviously "2" has been the hardest and we have had only hours to decide. Literally five mins before we had to leave we decided to put Andrew on the planes to Montreal and his grandparents. This is his schedule today (keep him in prayer please):

304 DHC6 09:20 YBX 09:45 YIF
304 DHC6 09:50 YIF 10:00 ZLT
304 DHC6 10:05 ZLT 10:15 ZTB
304 DHC6 10:20 ZTB 10:30 YHR
304 DHC6 10:35 YHR 10:55 ZGS
8325 BECH19D 14:00 ZGS 14:20 YGV
8325 BECH19D 14:35 YGV 15:25 YZV
8319 Dhc8 18:55 YZV 20:30 YQB
8319 Dhc8 20:50 YQB 21:35 YUL

It's quite a day for him. He leaves Blanc Sablon at 9:20 AM and travels on a "Twin Otter" to St. Augustin, La Tabbatier, Whale Head, Chevery (YHR if you're following above) and then La Romaine. He stops for 3 hours in the middle of no where and then gets on the "Beech" to Havre St. Pierre and Sept Iles. He gets off for another 3 hours, goes through security and goes on the "Dash 8" to Baie Commeau, Quebec City and finally Montreal: arriving at 9:35 PM. Twelve hour day for a 13 year old, alone and "left ahead." Next week Sherry and I, God Willing, will travel the 8 hours from Florenceville to Montreal to see my mom and dad and retrieve our big boy.

We got home yesterday both stressed and physically ill over this big glitch in our move, but...

Yesterday I ran into a man I spoke to when the minivan began acting up. I told him our woes, and he said everything was for a reason. He relayed some stories of God's will and His time, as did I as well. He finally said, "at least it's only a $3400 loss; it's not like my brother who holds the hand of his wife, waiting for her to die." Count our blessings and take each day as it comes. What did our Lord say?

do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? .... 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?

Matthew 6:25,27

Van on Aptly Named Hill

You may think I'm jesting but I am not! There has been no verdict in the on going trouble with our minivan. What seems clear is that the machine is flooding and it is not the computer. The panel continues to be "dead" yet since this was the case all winter long the mechanics believe the two problems are unrelated.

Jim's mechanic, Steve, seems to believe that a wiring problem may just be "it" and that it's simply not worth an expensive fix. Perry, our regular mechanic, who was amazingly kind enough to drive out with me to Forteau and use his Plymouth Voyager '96 computer as a test in mine (which proved it wasn't the $839.00 computer that we almost bought blind in desperation), said that it is fixable but it will take time... something we don't have as we are due to leave on Sunday.

The facts are clear this is not only a dangerous machine with no odometer or fuel gauge, it doesn't want to go anywhere, it just keeps stalling and flooding. The minivan may be beyond help, or it may follow us on the ferry a month from now: who knows?

What we ask is for prayers that we make a wise decision on how to proceed in this very stressful time only exacerbated by this minivan.

Anglican Prayer Beads

I often wonder about senendipity and coincidence. As a Christian I chalk them up to our Lord's presence and Grace. It may not be clear at first why I mention this but read on.

Recently I was in Halifax and at their Anglican Book Room my eye was led to a display of Anglican Prayer Beads. Now if you have read my spiel on the "pastor" link you will be aware that I grew up broad church-evangelical and later attended a very high-church; of course as any Anglican would, after all this exposure, I settling into the "media": the middle. Knowing full well that I am always keen on spiritual aids that draw us closer to the Holy Trinity and into a deeper prayer life, I picked two sets up; one for me and one as a gift.

They came with two very lovely plastified cards with a history and description of "Anglican" beads and the method, as it were; and the other card with four prayers drawn from the Office, Celtic Prayer, Julian of Norwich and the Trisagion. Once home I entered into this form of prayer. I found it very helpful and "Celtic" in it's cyclic approach. I left my beads on the table and carried on with my day.

When I got back into my bedroom...



Isn't Pippa a dear, she must have tried to pray and got all caught up ;-) ripping her way out! Eghads I was upset. Not only was my set gone... I'm missing two days (two beads of red), the gift of the blue set was utterly destroyed! My, oh my, I forgot the "terrible twos," obviously it was my fault for leaving them down.

Well once again isn't it odd how God just flashes things before our eyes. Low and behold I went on the Diocesan site today and what was this week's headline: "Formation through preparation at St. John'’s, Oromocto." And it was about praying the beads with children. Check out the site I later found:

Anglicanbeads

I encourage you to further investigate this discipline of prayer and if you have small children avoid the breakable coloured glass beads and go for the simple rope and wood; serves me right for being so bourgeois.