BISHOP’S BENCH - JUne 2010
Claudia and I have just returned from our Annual MIssion Trip to Cuba. I am delighted to report that the church in Cuba is growing and that new members have been added since we were there last year. We now have five churches, one mission church, twenty house churches and over 525 members. Archdeacon Ramon Torrente Batista has led his ministers well. We now have three Presbyters and three Deacons, as well as a number of Lay Readers who are ministering to the needs of the congregations.
We began our journey in Havana, and travelled Eastwards until we finally reached Moa, having made Pastoral vists in Ciego de Avila, Las Margaritas, Florida and Holguin on the way. As usual, the Cuban people welcomed us with open arms and well-prepared meals. We stayed in Hotels in Havana and Moa, and B & B's in the other places.The President of the Christian Pentecostal Churches of Cuba allowed us the use of their facilities in each of the cities so that I might be able to minister publicly. Claudia and I travel through Cuba on a Religious Visa, but we are only allowed to minister in those facilities that have been formally recognised by the Cuban government. We have our application before the appropriate Ministry at this time and hope to receive formal and official recognition as a Denomination in Cuba.
We wish to thank all those who have helped us and this Mission grow. We began in 2004 with only eight people in Moa. I will be making application at the upcoming ACNA Meeting in Amesbury, Mass, to have these churches formally recognised as a part of the Anglican Church in North America. May God bless you all, and may He bless your summer. Don't forget, God does not take a summer holiday away from Church, and so neither should we.
+Charles
It was with great joy and celebration that Bishop Charles Set Apart Lynne Ellis as a Deaconess in the Diocese on July 11th at Church of Our Lord. Church of Our Lord's two congregations and Holy Trinity Church from Colwood joined to-gether for this service which was followed by a bring-what-you-want lunch. Bishop Charles was assisted by Bishop Rob Badham, the Church's Rector and Lynne's husband, the Rev'd. Dr. Rod Ellis, and the Rev'd. Peter Umland.Lynne is the first Deaconess in the REC in Canada.
The Church of Our Lord, Victoria
The Church of Our Lord is the oldest Christian Church on its original foundation in Victoria, and the oldest original Reformed Episcopal Church in existance. Information of its programs may be found on its web site. The address is on the Parish Page
Church of the Holy Trinity, Colwood
The Church of the Holy Trinity is now celebrating a Service of Holy Communion on the First and Third Sunday afternoons of each month at 2:00 pm at M'akola Housing Society, 817 Goldstream Avenue, Langford
For those in the Western Communities who would like a ride to Holy Trinity Church Services, Dimitri Karkanis will pick you up before the serive and deliver you home afterwards. To arrange for pick-up please call Dimitri before 9:00 pm on Saturday night, at 250-474-1290
Living Word Episcopal Church in Courtney
Living Word program details may be found by clicking on their web page address on the Parish Page.All in the Comox Valley are invited to join with us as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
The Rev’d. Bill Klock, Rector of Living Word Church has recently published his new book, First Corinthians. This book is an Expositional Commentary including thirty-one sermons preached by the author, taking the reader verse by verse through all sixteen chapters, explaining the text and applying it to the contemporary Church. This book is available for a cost of $9.02 and ship to you in 3 to 5 business days. For more information and how to order the book please go to the following link :- http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/first-corinthians-an-expositional-commentary/8266734
The Diocese
Please note that the new address for the Office of the Synod is 70-7570 Tetayut Road, Saanichton, B.C., V8M 2H4
Please see each of the Church's web sites for more particulars on their activities. Just click on their web page address found under our Parish page.
Our churches in the Mission District of Cuba continue to grow each month. More men are being trained up for Holy Orders in Moa, Holguin, Ciego de Avila, and Las Margaritas. Please pray for the strong leadership being shown by Archdeacon Ramon Torrente Batista
This Diocese is interested in opening new churches, both on Vancouver Island and in other parts of the Diocese. If there are groups of people who are looking for scriptural and orthodox Episcopal direction, and would like to begin a House Church under the Anglican Church in North America and theReformed Episcopal Church in their area, please contact Bishop Charles Dorrington for information on how to proceed.
