Five grand, brightly coloured sails in white, blue, green, red and yellow billowed through Cathedral Church of All Saints, Halifax, Nova Scotia as the Anglican Church of Canada’s (ACC) 39th General Synod commenced with Opening Worship Service on June 3.
Representing the theme of convention, Feeling the Winds of God — Charting a New Course, the sails provided a stunning visual interpretation of the theme. All 400 delegates to General Synod were processed in at the start of the service, with each Ecclesiastical Province led by a different coloured sail.
Primate Fred Hiltz presided at the service and Bishop Miguel Tamayo of Cuba and Uruguay preached.
In his sermon, Bishop Tamayo spoke on the parallels between the role of delegates and the Gospel of John 15:1-11. Delegates were reminded that, “God is the vine grower and Jesus is the vine. Our roles are to be the branches.”
While pruning may anticipate pain or hurt, said Bishop Tamayo, the end result is that the vine will be more fruitful.
“Our job here seems to be identifying what needs pruning in our lives and letting it go,” he said. “Our job is also to be open to being pruned of that that we would not of thought needed to go. And our job is being open and welcoming to grafting because it will make us stronger.”
Delegates were reminding of the hope in, “this whole business of pruning,” is that there is the promise of fruitfulness and assurance that, “just as Jesus abides in us, we abide in Jesus.”
Reflecting on a number of areas where this could be applied, Bishop Tamayo stressed that, “a topic on our many of our minds these days is about how to be Christians, individually and corporately.” Applying the Gospel text, “separated from Jesus we can’t do anything. He is the vine. We are the branches,” delegates were asked to consider how this applies in their personal and corporate lives as Christians and as a Christian community. What will be chosen to be pruned?
Bishop Tamayo asked the assembly to work on this question and prayed that delegates, “with the help of the Holy Spirit, feeling the winds of God,” bring fresh air to Church life and help the Church to chart a new course.
Over 350 delegates and special guests have come from coast to coast to coast across Canada for this nine day event, which takes place each triennium. Further details and highlights are available online at www.anglican.ca.