ACW Celebrates Feast of St. Andrew at Cathedral

December 1, members of the Anglican Church Women of Edmonton diocese joined the regular Thursday midday eucharist at All Saints’ Cathedral, taking what is becoming an annual opportunity to worship and fellowship together. It was a small crowd. 10 ladies braved the roads following a snow storm the previous night. Diocesan President Elaine Dickie was not disheartened by the numbers, however, saying that at events like these the important thing is the relationships that are built in one-to-one conversation.

Willa Gorman of Emmanuel parish in Gibbons read the first reading: Deuteronomy 30:11-14. Tracey Fodchuk of St. Columba in Beaumont read the second reading: Romans 10:8-18.

Bishop Stephen London preached from the Gospel for the feast day of St. Andrew, who is the patron saint of the ACW. The reading from Matthew 4:18-22 tells the story of Andrew’s decision to lay down his fishing nets and follow Jesus. The Bishop focused on the word “follow” and how it holds two meanings: to walk with and to imitate. He pointed out that Andrew would have literally walked with Jesus, probably several times over, the distance from Capernum to Jerusalem via Jericho; roughly the same distance as from Viking to Edmonton, a three-days journey according to Google maps.

“Walking that far with Jesus and being in conversation that whole time means that Andrew got to know Jesus very, very well. In fact, this idea of walking together is a central metaphor for being in relationship together.”

Then, Andrew and the other disciples imitated Jesus. Why?

“Because Jesus brought something profound. When Jesus met people, they felt that they were seen and loved, not judged. They heard Jesus tell them how much God loved them and that they were of great value… They found they had a spot at God’s table. This is a teaching that was going to change the world; the coming of what Jesus called the kingdom of God.”

Bishop Steve said the heart of the Gospel is relationship, and that is what the ACW has been so good at. He also acknowledged all that the ACW brings to the diocese.

“Your presence in so many of our parishes across our diocese is an essential witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.  Your fellowship and friendship that crosses parish boundaries is a wonderful example of the kinds of bridges we need to keep and build broader across the diocese. Your faithfulness to your parishes through your ministry and fundraising keeps many of our parishes operational. Your commitment to the wider church far outside our diocese gives you a broad perspective. The ACW is unique amongst our ministries in the diocese in having a local presence, a regional presence, a national and an international presence. This is profoundly unique among the ministries in our diocese.”

After the service, the ladies enjoyed tea, sweets, and fellowship in the cathedral hall, before braving the cold and snowy streets once again.