As I write this, we are on the cusp of another fall in the Diocese. For me, it has been an incredibly busy few months. On page 8, you’ll read about the Anglican Editors’ Association conference which was held in Fredericton, New Brunswick at the end of May into the beginning of June. That conference was special for me because it was held at the very church that I grew up in: Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
In one of those God inspired moments, the main worship services of the conference were held on the Friday and Saturday of the Pentecost ember days. Four times a year, during these “ember days”, we pray for the whole ministry of the church: both those who exercise their ministry through their baptism, as well as those who exercise their ministry through their diaconal, priestly and episcopal vows. In my sermon at the final Eucharist, which took place on the Saturday ember day, I spoke of how my own vocation story started in that very place: I moved away from Fredericton in 1996 thinking that I had a vocation to be a church musician. God did call me to be a church musician, but only called me to it for a short period of time (which does happen in vocations). It would be later that He would reveal to me that I was called to be a priest. Celebrating the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life”, in one of the places that formed me, in one of the places my heart will always live, was a powerful moment, one that I will treasure for the rest of my earthly ministry.
We’re about to enter into a time of discernment in our own diocesan life, a time where we pray for a very specific vocation: for somebody to be called to be the eighth Bishop of Brandon. That work will begin shortly, and I’m sure that the pages of the Mustard Seed over the next few months will reflect that work that we will be doing.
But before we do that work of calling the eighth Bishop of Brandon, we need to pause and give thanks to God for calling Bishop William into our midst for a period of time. I’m sure that I can speak for many of us when I say that this Diocese is incredibly grateful for the work that he has done here. He leaves here after seven years of fruitful ministry, one where the Gospel was preached, disciples made, and saints equipped for the work of ministry. He has very much made his indelible mark on this place.
Fare well, Bishop William. Thank you for all you have done here, and may God bless your ministry in the Diocese of Ontario. Our loss is truly their gain.
Grace and peace,
