Bishop David’s Easter Message Today we live in the midst of a world of selfish independence. As a human race we chose to reject God, rejecting Jesus the gift of God. We have chosen to live a life of independence. Every day we listen to bad news. We are at war with ourselves, our beliefs and a world system which bullies any who will not … Continue reading Why the Cross?
By Archdeacon Alexander Pryor Sometimes churches close. That’s always a sad situation: sad for those last few members (usually tired, overwhelmed, and facing burn-out), sad for the community as a whole, and sad for the wider church as we carry out our mission to bring the Gospel to every community. Sometimes churches reopen. Sometimes all it takes is a new lay leader, or perhaps a new minister, … Continue reading Praying for Church Planting
By Archdeacon Alexander Pryor Every few years, someone comes out with a shiny new “church growth strategy”. Maybe it was replacing the organ with a rock band, then it was putting away the sound doctrine of the Prayer Book for something a little easier to digest. We run programs to get people in the door, maybe we even use the community hall to host a … Continue reading God’s Church Growth plan.
“It feels different here.” This is the comment our eldest son made when he returned to the Arctic. We asked, ”Different how.” He said, “It feels good.” This is the feeling I have as I travel throughout the Arctic. There is a special feeling, it is hard to explain because I have been blessed to travel many of the world’s continents, yet in the Arctic … Continue reading I Feel the Winds of God Today
Yesterday I sat with Rev. Loasie Kuniliusee. He told me, “When speaking to Inuit they just want to hear what comes from the Bible. They know what the Bible says, so only speak from the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.” Wise words from a seasoned minister. The night before we had a retirement celebration for Loasie’s many years of ministry. Is … Continue reading Weekly Update: Ministry is like Building a House
Friends, we need to stir up the spirit within us. Let me explain. We have a body with its needs for food, drink, warmth, cleansing, and the like. We have a mind, our soul, emotions and thoughts to reason, think, and meditate as we choose to make decisions such as, “I will or I will not.” We have to protect our minds from being captured … Continue reading Weekly Update: Stir up the Spirit!
Stop…Be Still. Over the years, when we have found ourselves in times of great difficulty, we have been learning to stop leaning to our own understanding, to be still, and seek God’s advice, wisdom and direction. On August the 7th, Rita and I were feeling relieved to be back in Yellowknife after a 22,000-kilometer round trip to Newfoundland: glad to be home and back … Continue reading Bishop David’s Message: Let’s Replace the 53
By Archdeacon Pryor Every year, each diocese that receives support from the Council of The North is asked to give an account to the “Grants Allocation Committee” of how the money was spent. This “GAC Report” (certainly an unfortunate-sounding name!) includes a number of questions as we show our stewardship of a shrinking amount of support from General Synod for Northern ministry. In the 70s … Continue reading We’re trusting the God who Provides!
By Bishop David Parsons First, we need a full measure of faith in Jesus – the Bread of Life and the Living Water. He has called us to be His disciples who do not turn back. As the church, we need to know that God loves the world and still loves the world. People are hungry to understanding the mysteries of life. They want to … Continue reading What’s the recipe for the next century of Arctic Ministry?
Reflections from his holiday by Bishop David Parsons. Bishop David is currently travelling across Canada with his wife, Rita, as they visit family and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. He will attend General Synod in Calgary, and then return to the office at the beginning of August. Bishop David offers a reflection on retirement, as he considers reaching mandatory retirement age for bishops in June 2025. … Continue reading Retirement or a New Ministry?
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