Diocesan-led worship begins at St. Matthew’s, Abbotsford after split

Posted by Kendall Harmon

The size of the congregation more than met expectations. Some in attendance were visitors whose homes are not in Abbotsford. The service ended at 8:45am. At this initial service of renewed diocesan worship at St. Matthew’s a post service coffee time in the parish hall had not been planned, but members of the ANiC congregation which use the St. Matthew’s church building had thoughtfully set-up tables for a post service coffee time and had made the kitchen available. 17 of those in attendance at the service did go for breakfast/coffee at a nearby restaurant. Organizing and on-site “Coffee Time” will happen in the near future.

The ANiC leaders representing their community were cordial and cooperative and did an outstanding job of setting up the Parish Hall for worship. The ACoC congregation were not required to replace chairs or re-organize the space. Arrangements for future Sundays may differ. The ANiC leadership agreed to the use of the piano to add a musical component to the worship and that may come to pass in future weeks.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) • Anglican Provinces • Anglican Church of Canada • Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion) • Same-sex blessings • * Christian Life / Church Life • Parish Ministry

4 Comments
Posted August 31, 2010 at 6:41 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Timothy Fountain wrote:

This was ordered by the civil court, if I remember right.  Too bad models like this have not emerged from within our congregations, dioceses and denominations.  The litigation is a disgrace and in many cases congregations simply cease to be.

August 31, 9:19 am | [comment link]
2. Cennydd13 wrote:

All of this aside, the idea of going for ‘coffee and breakfast at a nearby restaurant’ is a good one.  Our folks do that several times a month, and y’know what?  It helps cohesiveness, builds community, and is a great way to welcome newcomers.  Especially when that restaurant has great country-style home cooking!  And when you’re starting a new congregation, making people feel truly welcome is an important thing to remember.

August 31, 9:55 am | [comment link]
3. jamesw wrote:

And how many people attended the service?

The size of the congregation more than met expectations. Some in attendance were visitors whose homes are not in Abbotsford.

Okay, and were those very low expectations, by the way?  After all, I could put up a website asking for donations to the “Send JamesW on a cruise to the Mediterranean” fund.  And after a week, and having absolutely NO donations whatsoever, I could say “the number of donations more than met expectations”.  Because my expectations would have been zero.

That said, I heard that about 20 people showed up, and we learn that “some in attendance were visitors whose homes are not in Abbotsford.”  Diocesan stooges no doubt.  We also learned that

17 of those in attendance at the service did go for breakfast/coffee at a nearby restaurant.

  This then is virtually everyone who was there.  I think it is safe to guess that the breakfast meeting was where this small Fifth Column group could plan how they could maintain the fiction of a DNW congregation in Abbotsford to meet the propaganda and litigation needs of the diocese.

August 31, 2:37 pm | [comment link]
4. centexn wrote:

#2…now that’s what I call hospitality.

August 31, 11:01 pm | [comment link]
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