From here.
Announcing Alternate Worship Services in Lowville
On behalf of the parishioners of St. George’s Lowville, I would like to thank our Diocesan family for their support, for their prayers and for their presence with us as we gathered to worship with Bishop Michael Bird last Sunday.
The faithful members of the St. George’s, about 40 people, felt really supported by their Diocesan family. I thought most of the 40 actually were the diocesan family? – ed
Today we had a slight set back in court. The judge ruled that for the next two weeks the building of St. George’s will be solely occupied by the Network Church in Lowville. As a consequence those parishioners who wish to remain loyal to their heritage as Anglicans find themselves homeless. While those evil unAnglican schismatics continue to occupy the building…OK, sorry, sorry – ed.
Plans have been made to worship at the “Old School House” in Lowville Park. It is important that St. George’s continue to do what they have done for 151 years, even if it isn’t in their own building. Anglicans will gather in Lowville and will worship. Yes, and that is exactly what this court ruling will allow the parish of St. George’s to do – in their own building. –Another ed.
The parishioners need your support. We need your prayers and we invite you to join us for worship on Sunday, March 2nd and March 9th.
Please continue to pray for us as we try to come to terms with the courts interim ruling.
Thank you for your continued support.
The Reverend Susan Well, Priest-in-Charge
St. George’s Anglican Church, Lowville
Lovely. I hope somebody goes to the old school house to see how many St. George’s people actually show up there…
Going to the old school house is part of the spin. Saint John’s Campbellville is only 5 minutes away and can handle the “loyalists”. Trying to look like they are out on the street with no where to turn is disenguous. Mind you Saint John’s was part of the 2 point parish that included St George’s under Rev. Masters and is a strongly PrayerBook parish. “Loyal Niagaraians” would be wary of landing in there. Someone might sing the wrong hymn.
I find this move by the diocese particularly interesting. Today the lawyer for the diocese tried to argue that it was important that the “remnant” of St. George’s has the right to worship within their parish, in their community. Going to a neighbouring ACoC building was not the same. If they used a neighbouring Anglican Church they would be implicitly conceding that argument, that is why they are meeting in Lowville.
The other objective I am sure is to show that the ACoC is caring for the parishioners of St. George’s Lowville. Since the church was founded before the diocese of Niagara, and the ACoC the building deed likely has no reference to either of them. I expect that the diocese is trying to demonstrate that it is caring for the parishioners so that it can argue that they are best suited to hold the church building on behalf of the parishioners of St. George’s.
I was surprised to see that there was no reference to holding a service for St. Hilda’s. Has the diocese implicitly abounded the “parishioners who are faithful to the ACoC”, or are there none? Maybe they just haven’t finished organizing such a service?
Time will be the judge
Well, considering that nobody at St. Hilda’s voted against joining the Southern Cone….
One would think that deed searches are going to be heavier than usual on Monday. Ontario, nay Canadian city clerks are going to become well versed in looking up dusty files that may even predate the ACoC. I hope that they all are not on microfilm as having searched for old deeds myself I can tell you the microfilm is really hard to read. The city deed offices have a lot of explaining to do if they have destroyed these historical documents.
And where were these 40 people when only 3 voted against the motion to seek alternative oversight? I suppose the vote might have been closer if it had been held on Christmas or Easter.
How I would love to be in St. George’s Lowville or in St. Hilda’s this coming Sunday, just to take part in what I know will be wonderful, wonderful times of Worship and Praise. However, here I am like many others, way down east wondering who will be threatened or inhibited down our way next. The way things have escalated lately, nothing would surprise me here in St. John’s area.
I thank God that we have 2 Timothy 1:7 as a Scripture to stand on along with so many others, indeed ALL of the Holy Bible.
Gerry
We would love to have you visit St. Hilda’s .
Any time let us know and we will give you our welcome .
I find this all slightly hard to take that these supposed 40 parishoners who are now “homeless” were able to walk away from their church family (St. George’s) due to disagreements of either theology or opposition as to whether or not to split from Niagara and yet for some reason the diocese has nothing but love and saddness for them. Why is it different when Network churches choose to move on also for theological differences? Perhaps if all of these folks had stayed and fought for what they believed in so strongly the outcome wouldn’t have been so overwhelmingly positive and in favor of seperation.
Interesting story to share with you all about my young daugther. Talk of what has been happening in the Diocese has been talked about a lot in our house the past little while, lots of our friends who are not church goers egging us one and explainging these are the reasons they don’t attend church. None the less, my daughter asked me the other night why the church was fighting. I did my best to explain to her without transfering my own disapointment/disgust about the situation. She came right out and said ” sounds like St. George’s and the others are fighting for Jesus” I said yes they are, then she asked me what the Diocese was fighting for? I responded by giving her the best honest answer I could which was “buildings, tradition and control” she turned to me and said “I would rather stand for Jesus”
Sharon J – Thank You – invite noted and accepted, but when, I have no idea.
Blessings.
Sharon J: Do I know you?