Anglican Diocese of Kootenay
SYNOD | May 23 – 26
Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together…but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10: 24-25
This year’s theme for Synod celebrates our call as Church to gather to encourage one another. That is the strength of belonging to a “community of communities”: a Diocese. We are stronger together. We can support each other and engage in more of God’s mission together than we could do separately. The Hebrews passage which is our Scripture text for Synod has the intriguing language “to provoke one another to love and good deeds.” To Provoke! It is our hope as we gather for this Synod, with delegates from each parish around the Diocese, we will hear stories from each other that will inspire new thinking about our local mission; with examples of local response to the needs of our neighbours that spark our imaginations for a new mission that fits our context. We will hear presentations from different regions in the Diocese on how people are living out love and good deeds in the name of Christ.
“Provoke” means to incite or stimulate. One of the most encouraging and moving things I experience as Bishop is when people from across the Diocese meet, often online, and discover the commonalities of their challenges and joys as Anglican communities: in book studies, wardens’ meetings, courses, and committees. This meeting automatically energizes people. We’re not alone in our challenges. We learn from each other. We are part of something bigger. People wave at each other on Zoom and say, “It was great to meet you.” What I see when people return to the large “Zoom room” from their small group discussions is that their conversations have renewed people’s hope. That is my prayer for this upcoming Synod.
As we approach Synod, please pray for your parish delegates, for the Synod Planning Committee, and the Synod Office Staff. Please plan to provide opportunities to hear back from your delegates after Synod.
Blessings,
Yours in Christ,
+ Lynne
