All Saints Anglican Church, Waterloo
400 Northfield Dr W N2L 0A6 Waterloo, ON, Canada

Robert Machray First Primate of All Canada, 1904 Commemoration 10 March Robert Machray became the first primate of the Anglican Church of Canada in 1893, and as we honour his life and service we also commemorate the formation of our Church as a united and independent member in the Anglican communion. Machray was a Scot, born and raised as a Presbyterian. From an early age he showed great talent as a mathematician, and after studies in the university of his native Aberdeen... he went south on a scholarship to Cambridge University. It was there that he became an Anglican. Granted a fellowship, then ordained priest, he seemed to be slated for the career of an academic clergyman. But in 1865, much to his surprise, he was chosen to become the second bishop of Rupert’s Land. He arrived at Winnipeg in August of the same year. Machray’s diocese included much of the Arctic as well as the Canadian prairies. He set himself two long-range goals: first, to nurture higher education in Manitoba; and second, to divide Rupert’s Land into smaller diocesan units which would be better able to serve Anglican settlers and carry out missionary work. One of his first acts as bishop was to call a clergy conference, which he patiently developed into a full-fledged synod; in time, as Machray’s wider plans matured, this body became the basis for a provincial synod. Under his leadership, the western synods led the way in calling for unification of the Anglican Church in Canada. This movement bore fruit in 1893, when the first General Synod of our Church met at Toronto. Machray was elected primate at this seminal gathering. He remained primate, as well as archbishop of Rupert’s Land, until his death in 1904. Machray was a tireless worker with a genius for organization; it may be no surprise that he liked to relax by solving mathematical puzzles. But he also possessed a generous heart and was able to work well with a wide variety of people. His vision, integrity, and practical wisdom make him one of the true founders of our Church in this nation. See more

Gregory of Nyssa Bishop, Teacher of the Faith, c. 395 Memorial 9 March In the fourth century, a Greek-speaking family in Asia Minor produced a whole clan of saints. One member of this family was Basil the Great, whom we commemorate on January second. Today we commemorate his younger brother Gregory, who became bishop of Nyssa. Gregory did not start out by following in his brother’s footsteps. On the contrary, he seems to have felt oppressed by the sanctity which surrounde...d him at home and chose to pursue a career as a lawyer and teacher of rhetoric. But in the year 371 his older brother pushed him into becoming the bishop of a small town called Nyssa. Before long Gregory’s enemies trumped up a charge of embezzlement against him, and he fled from his diocese. Their perjury was eventually exposed, and he returned to Nyssa in triumph. In the meantime, he had suffered two bereavements. His brother Basil died, leaving Gregory regretful over the history of their strained relations. Soon afterwards, his older sister Macrina also died. But before her death, while Gregory was nursing her, brother and sister had long conversations about the Christian faith and how Christians should live. These conversations had such an influence upon Gregory that ever afterwards he called Macrina my teacher. Gregory came out of these experiences with a new sense of purpose. He took up his pen to continue the theological work which his brother had left unfinished, and he began to emerge as a spiritual teacher in his own right. Gregory lived in a mountainous part of Asia Minor, and he envisaged the Christian’s life with God as if it were a journey up one of these crags. In his view, however, the ascent never ended, because the human movement towards God must be as infinite as the divine goodness which made it possible. This vision, expressed in Greek prose of remarkable beauty, has nourished the spirituality of Eastern Orthodoxy ever since. See more

On International women's day, we pray, Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Sophia) Like, Eve, Miriam, Deborah, and Esther, send us out to witness to your on-going revelation.... Like Sarah, Elizabeth, Martha, and Lydia, send us out to extend your love and hospitality to all. Like Rachel, Ruth, Mary, and Mary Magdalene, send us out to be bearers of the image of God. Like Hagar, Tamar, the Samaritan Woman, and Lois, send us out to be workers of your great commission. Amen.

Edward King Bishop of Lincoln, Educator and Pastor, 1910 Commemoration 8 March Today we celebrate the ministry of Edward King, a pastor, educator, and bishop in the Church of England who died in 1910. King spent most of his priesthood teaching in institutions of higher learning. For fifteen years he worked at Cuddesdon College, one of the first places in the Anglican communion to offer professional training to those who were called to holy orders. He then moved to Oxford,... where he taught pastoral theology and came to have great personal influence among the undergraduates of the University. In 1885 King was appointed bishop of Lincoln, where he remained until his death twenty-five years later. During these years the Church of England went through one of the worst periods of partisan strife in its history. King gave his allegiance to the Anglo-catholic movement and believed that all of human life was open to conversion through vigilant prayer and celebration of the eucharist. But he had little interest in ritual and always conformed to the customs of the parish he was visiting whatever they might be, low or high. So it was ironic that he became the only English bishop to be charged under an Act of Parliament which outlawed Anglo-catholic ritual customs. A long trial ensued, which resulted in a judgement substantially in King’s favour. Throughout his trial King had the complete support of his people, for his personal holiness and sensitivity as a pastor had won him the affection and loyalty of all parties within his rural diocese. This remained true to the end of his life. Clergy, children presented for confirmation, mourning parents, and those under sentence of death in Lincoln gaol all found him approachable, willing to share in their concerns and joys, and to help them deepen their spiritual lives. See more

Join us for All Saints' worship and Holy Eucharist! The preacher will be Rev. Marty Levesque. If you would like to make a donation to All Saints' to help support its ongoing ministries, you can do so free of charge here at Paypal. paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/charity/3412491

Join us for All Saints' worship and Holy Eucharist this Sunday! The preacher will be Rev. Marty Levesque. If you would like to make a donation to All Saints' to help support its ongoing ministries, you can do so free of charge here at Paypal. paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/charity/3412491

Clement Bishop of Rome, c. 100 Commemoration 23 November Today we honour Clement of Rome, who flourished at the dawn of the Church’s history and is known to us as the author of a pastoral letter written around the year 96.... Collect O God, you chose your servant Clement of Rome to recall the church of Corinth to peace in the body of Christ. By the power of your Holy Spirit dwelling in the Body of your Son, reveal what is not yet known, confirm what you have already revealed, and keep us blameless in our service of your truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and. the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Edmund King of East Anglia, Martyr, 870 Commemoration 20 November Today we recall Edmund, an Anglo-Saxon king who was martyred in the year 870. He was raised in the Christian faith and at the age of twenty-three succeeded his father on the throne of East Anglia. His kingdom lay on England’s coast and was especially vulnerable to the Vikings, who were sea-faring marauders from Scandinavia. Five years after Edmund began his reign they mounted a huge raid upon his kingdom and ...shattered the East Anglian army in a single battle. Edmund himself was captured and brought before the Viking leader, who offered to spare the king’s life if he renounced the Christian faith. Edmund rejected the offer and confessed Christ before his captor. Tradition says that the Vikings tied him to a tree, scourged him brutally, then riddled him with arrows and finally beheaded him. Once his murderers had departed, the East Anglians recovered the body of their king and eventually interred it with honour at the town of Bedricsworth, which ever since then has been called Bury St. Edmunds. The reputation of King Edmund the Martyr spread beyond the borders of East Anglia, and he became a national saint, honoured by all the English for his valour in holding on to Christ even at the cost of his life. Collect O God, who called your servant Edmund through the brutal trial of martyrdom from an earthly to a heavenly throne, mercifully grant that, holding him in remembrance, we may be fruitful in good works and attain to the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Elizabeth Princess of Hungary, 1231 Commemoration 19 November Today we remember Elizabeth of Hungary, a thirteenthcentury princess who devoted her short life to serving the poor, the sick, and the homeless.... Collect Almighty God, by whose grace your servant Elizabeth of Hungary both knew and honoured Jesus in the poor of this world, grant that we, following her example, may serve with love and gladness those whom we find in any need or trouble; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

John Wyclyf Reformer, 1384 Commemoration 30 October John Wyclyf was a fourteenth-century English priest who has been remembered in the Protestant tradition as a forerunner of the Reformation.... Collect O God, whose justice continually challenges your Church to live according to its calling, grant us who now remember the work of John Wyclyf so to forsake all anger and self-will, that the pure light of your gospel may continually cleanse and renew the body of your Son Jesus Christ; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Saint Simon and Saint Jude Apostles Holy Day 28 October Today we commemorate Saint Simon and Saint Jude, whose names appear in the New Testament on every list of the twelve apostles.... Collect Almighty God, we thank you for the glorious company of the apostles, and especially on this day for Simon and Jude. As they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so may we with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

James Hannington Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, and His Companions Martyrs, 1885 Commemoration 29 October... Today we remember James Hannington, the first Anglican bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, who was murdered with most of his company while trying to enter Uganda in 1885. Collect Precious in your sight, O Lord, is the death of your martyrs James Hannington and his companions, who purchased with their blood a road into Uganda for the proclamation of the gospel; and we pray that with them we also may obtain the crown of righteousness which is laid up for all who love the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

As we near Halloween, many Episcopalians no doubt will remember this classic versicle and response from an Anglican litany for children.

Join us on Sunday morning for worship and the celebration of the Eucharist. The preacher this Sunday is Rev Rambie Bernardino If you would like to make a donation to All Saints' to help support its ongoing ministries, you can do so free of charge here at Paypal. paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/charity/3412491

InfoGraphic of last Sunday's sermon. Thanks to Janet Holmes

Alfred the Great King of the West Saxons, 899 Commemoration 26 October Alfred the Great is a hero of English history because of his military and political victories and a hero of the Church because of his efforts to build a truly Christian nation.... Collect Sovereign Lord, you strengthened the arm of your servant Alfred to restore in his ravaged kingdom the knowledge of peace and the love of learning. Make us eager to increase our understanding while we are in this world, and give us a fervent longing to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.