No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
(Romans 8:37)

In May this year, I will be celebrating my thirtieth year in the ordained ministry. Looking back over these years, I consider myself blessed by God to be called to serve God’s people. In July, I will be entering my 15th year as your priest and pastor. It is clear to me, that what I have become as a priest has been fashioned, in large measure, by the lives and experiences I have encountered in this parish family.
At the outset, therefore, let me thank each of you for giving me the privilege to share in YOUR LIFE. Not only have I shared in your life but many of you have made a significant contribution to mine.
Many may not know it, but the past year had its measure of significant challenges. Perhaps, it was the first time in my ministry that I had to dig so deep within myself to exercise this ministry to which I was called in 1996. As I look back on the year under review, with one issue still outstanding, the text quoted above and words of Marvin Sapp’s song speak eloquently to me.

Your grace and mercy, brought me through
I'm living this moment because of You
I want to thank You, and praise You too
Your grace and mercy, brought me through.

This grace and mercy was made evident by the support of my wife and sons, and several other members, during our meetings and in other contexts. You may have a slight idea of what you may have done for my ministry this past year. To them I say “thank you”.
The Wardens Team, notwithstanding the challenges we faced, the Advisory Board, our church secretary, custodian, church groups, musicians, ministry leaders, the children, the youth, my Spiritual Director, every member of our parish continued to support the ministry which we all share. It was because of your support that I am able to give an account of my stewardship in 2010 to you.

ASSISTANT CURATE

At the beginning of May, we were pleased to welcome our Assistant Curate, The Rev’d. Gregory Fiennes-Clinton to our parish. He brings several gifts which he is sharing with us and we look forward to sharing in his ministry during his time with us. At the moment, we are not in a financial position to fund this curacy. For this reason, we express our thanks to the diocese for its support. In this covenant, our role as a teaching parish, is to provide the opportunity for Fr. Greg to further grow in his priestly vocation. I thank him for sharing with us in this ministry.

THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS

• Kari Marcelle, who served as a student intern among us while he was studying in Toronto and, for some time, acted as our church organist, was ordained a deacon on December 15 in St. Paul’s Parish Church, Calliaqua, St. Vincent. We continue to pray for him as he serves in the ordained ministry of the church.


• We were pleased to meet with Jesse Parker, a postulant and final year student divinity student at Trinity College and make arrangements for him to have his final internship experience before ordination in May. We welcome him into our community.

FIRST COMMUNION & HOLY CONFIRMATION

On the Feast of Pentecost, before Bishop Ann Tottenham, Malcolm Carter, Jonathon Collins, Sean Dean, Tanesha Grant, Chinaka Keyi & George Quarcoo reaffirmed their baptismal vows in the Sacrament of Holy Confirmation. On the Feast of The Holy Trinity, we admitted Idalia Laidlow-Nero, Ireneh & Ouyisa Omere to First Communion. I invite our church family to continue to uphold them in our prayers.

FOLK PROJECT

Last year, I reported on the start of our Folk Project. The intention of this project is to integrate the folk traditions and culture of our heritage into the worship experiences of our gathered community.
To date, the project has focused on learning the guitar, hand drumming and chants, with eleven (11) members participating in drumming and eight (8) in the guitar class. On occasions, during the year, members at worship and patrons to social occasions had the opportunity to witness the growth of those who are engaged in the project. Roger Gibbs continues to lead this project.
As we go forward, we hope to introduce the Choral Folk Singing component

RECTOR’S AWARD

Our parish places a high value on children and young people. The Rector’s Award seeks to recognise those young people of our parish who demonstrate a deep commitment to the service of God and the Church. In 2010, Ellen Asiedu was the one who ably lived out her baptismal covenant in the gathered and the wider communities and was deemed the winner of the award. Again, we congratulate her and encourage her and all of our youth to continue to be sacraments of God’s love and mercy.

THE DOWNSVIEW YOUTH COVENANT

I continue to work with a supportive Board of Directors of The Downsview Youth Covenant (DYC). The Board of Directors is as follows:

The Rev’d. Canon Stephen Fields, President	Orville Folkes
Kennedy Marshall, Vice President	Fenton Jagdeo (Church Warden)
Kojo Mensah, Secretary	Emmerson Jordan
Vincent Chase, Treasurer	Constance Kendall
Fanella Hodge, Assistant Secretary	Foster Odlum (Church Warden)
Andrew Barrett	Carmen Marshall
Patricia Bent	Ericka Martin

The First Annual Meeting of DYC was held in October. I am pleased to be a part of a Board which is committed to this work and encourage our parish family to support the Board, staff, youth and the families of the DYC.

DIOCESAN FINANCIAL CAMPAIGN

The Diocese of Toronto is embarking on a major fundraising drive, over the next five years, to address the current and future needs of our diocese and parishes. The campaign goal is to raise $50 million to do meet the following needs:

• Strengthen local parishes	17,000,000
• Build the Church for tomorrow	14,000,000
• Revitalize our Inheritance	14,000,000
• Give to others	5,000,000

The Archbishop asked us to take the lead in the campaign by being one of the ten pilot parishes, serving as an example to all the other parishes that will conduct their campaigns this year. Our campaign was conducted in the Fall along with several other parishes. I am extremely pleased with the response of our parish.
Our share in the pledges made will make a significant impact on our parish life. I want to place on record my thanks to a faithful campaign Executive Committee, ably lead by Edward Carter. I also thank those eighty four (84) members who pledged $310,740 to the campaign.

NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT (NCD)

I say “thank you” to Fanella Hodge, Emmerson Jordan, Kojo Mensah and Maraval Odlum who, with Elizabeth Hill (our Diocesan coach), lead us in a response to the results of the first Natural Church Development (NCD) survey. The results of the survey were impressive. As is shown in the report from the Advisory Board, our “weakness” was Loving Relationships. The NCD team sought to raise this “number”. From all indications, they seem to have done a good job. We look forward to the results of the second survey which was done in December.

BIBLE WEDNESDAYS

This Christian Education program continues to be an exciting journey in biblical and theological reflection. Members enter the conversation at various stages and levels, sharing their perspectives and experiences in light of the biblical text being examined. Even though I may be the facilitator of the sessions, I have learnt a lot of the participants’ faith and have gained much which have been reflected in my sermons and homilies. I encourage others to make use of this opportunity.

BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY (SEPTEMBER 26)

Once again we joined the rest of the Diocese in celebrating “Back To Church Sunday”. About thirty five (35) visitors and/or past members responded to the invitation to “come back to church”. We are endeavouring to maintain contact with these persons.

VISITING CLERGY & GUESTS

CLERGY EXCHANGE

During the periods October 15-25 and November 1-8, Fr. Jeffrey Gibson, Rector of St. Leonard’s Church, Barbados, and I were engaged in a clergy exchange. The rationale for this exchange was to provide Fr. Jeffrey with the opportunity of seeing and experiencing some aspects of ministry in our diocese. In turn, I would be the guest preacher during the week-long Patronal Festival at St. Leonard’s. Using the theme “Healing For Body, Mind and Spirit”, Fr. Jeffrey engaged us in the following ways:

• Sunday, October 17 - Sermon: Healing for the Body & Soul
• Wednesday, October 20 - “The Healing Ministry of The Church”
• Sunday, October 24 - Sermon: Healing for the Mind & Spirit

Apart from the liturgical and other worship activities, Fr. Jeffrey had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the local financial campaign committee at St. Stephen’s. He also shared in a meeting of the our Natural Church Development team.
At the diocesan level, he made a courtesy call on Murray MacAdam, the Diocesan consultant in Social Justice & Advocacy and attended a diocesan meeting which focused on Back to Church Sunday.
There was also some fun. In addition to lunches with Archdeacon Peter Fenty and Edward Carter, a childhood friend, he shared in Mass and Lunch at Convent of Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, a trip to Niagara Falls, a high school football game, and our Evening of Elegance.
Using the experiences of my recent visit to the Holy Land, I addressed the theme Called to be with Jesus during the Patronal Festival. I took those present from The Jordan into the Wilderness, from the Seaside to the Mountain, to the Table at Mealtime, on the Way to the Cross and finally to the Tomb.
In addition to preaching during the festival week, I attended the parish’s annual Stewardship Event where their 2011 program was introduced. I was also afforded the opportunity to attend the the State Funeral of the Hon. David J. H. Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados, and to celebrate the Eucharist at Codrington College, my alma mater. At the college, I shared some experiences of my ministry in Toronto with the students.

ARCHBISHOP OF THE WEST INDIES

On Sunday, October 31, The Most Rev’d. Dr. John Holder, Archbishop of the West Indies Archbishop Holder was the preacher at a Service of Evensong. Archbishop Holder was the guest speaker at The Annual Basil Tonks Dinner of The Canadian Friends to West Indian Christians. Thanks also to those members who organised and donated to the reception that followed the service.

DEDICATION FESTIVAL

We celebrated the 54th year of our dedication (November 28, 1956) on November 21. We were pleased to welcome Sr. Anitra Hansen, SSJD, my Spiritual Director, as our guest preacher.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & SHARE IN THE WIDER CHURCH

DIOCESAN CLERGY CONFERENCE

Clergy of our diocese participate in a biennial clergy conference. These conferences provide clergy with the opportunity to renew friendship with colleagues in the diocese and take some time apart from the parish for renewal. Last year, we met at the University of Guelph from May 10-12. The conference theme was A Sure and Certain Hope.
Our conference speaker was Tex Sample, the Robert B. & Kathleen Rogers Professor Emeritus of Church and Society at Saint Paul School of Theology. He is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church (UMC) and he works and teaches in the areas of American lifestyles, culture, social theory and social change, power, social class and theological ethics.
The Rt. Rev. Mark McDonald, National Indigenous Bishop, Anglican Church of Canada, preach at the closing Eucharist of the conference.

TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND
	I joined our Area Bishop, Bishop Philip Poole, and about nineteen other clergy on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from June 22 to July 1. In 2007 our area bishop invited his clergy to attend the course “The Palestine of Jesus” in Jerusalem and requested that Churchwardens set aside $2,000 to ensure that their clergy be able, should the clergy wish, to attend. Some members of the parish made donations to this effort. I thank my church family for this support. An outline of the course is provided for information
Standing next to the steps which led up to Caiaphas’ house, (the site of Jesus first trial).

The PALESTINE OF JESUS course focuses on key elements of the Gospel narrative of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in the sacred landscape where the story unfolded. course members visit major sites connected with the Gospel accounts: Bethlehem, Nazareth, The Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, Mount Tabor, the Judean Desert, and others. After focusing on the Galilean ministry of Jesus, the course traces the Passion Narratives through visits to Bethany, the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulcher), and with a devotional Way of the Cross. The final day of the course celebrates the Resurrection, and the challenge of discipleship with a journey to Emmaus and a festive Eucharist.

AREA CLERGY DAY AWAY

Every Fall, our Area Bishop invites the Area Clergy to share with him in two days of biblical and theological reflection and a time of fellowship. In October, we share this time at Kempenfeldt Conference Centre in Barrie.

MINISTRY IN OUR DIOCESE

I continue to serve beyond our parish. I am serving the diocese as a member of The Diocesan Council, The Executive Board of Council, the Advisory Commission on the Termination of Clerical Appointments, the Postulancy Committee, and supervisor of the ongoing formation of a postulant for priestly ordination.
I have recently been appointed to serve as the Regional Dean (Acting) of our deanery, the Humber Deanery. The duties of the Regional Dean include:

• convening the clergy of the Regional Deanery for the promotion of closer fellowship, for group study, for conference on the state of the Church, and for the organization of special educational or financial efforts;
• assisting the Area Bishop, where required, in the Deanery

ST. PATRICK’S COMMUNITY REUNION (BARBADOS)

In April, 2010, I participated in a community reunion in St. Patrick’s, Christ Church, Barbados, the community where I grew up. I was invited to be the preacher for the opening service of the Reunion Celebration. Members of our church supported the fundraising efforts here in Toronto prior to the reunion. With your support, the reunion committee was able to make following donations (US$):

• Scholarships - $5,500 to eleven (11) students of Gordon Walters Primary School
• Autism Society of Barbados - $3,000
• Churches in the community - $7,000

THE FUTURE

RULE OF LIFE

Three years ago we adopted a “Rule of Life” which sought to enable our ongoing spiritual development. The “Rule” is as follows.

• STUDY a passage of Scripture every day for at least 15 minutes and ask the question “In light of what I have read, what is God calling me to be or to do today?”
• PRAY at least three times a day
• GIVE regularly to support the life and ministry of our Church
• LIVE for God, live for our Church, live for others

Since the “Rule” was adopted, there has been no evaluation to ascertain the level to which members have been following it. I propose, however, to invite members to re-commit ourselves to this “Rule” at the beginning of the upcoming Lenten season.

CONTINUING INDABA

Continuing Indaba is an initiative of the Anglican Communion. It is hoped that in it, participants will experience together time in three dioceses where they will be exposed to life in that diocese.
The Diocese of Toronto has been chosen to be part of this conversation. I have been invited by Archbishop Colin Johnson to be a part of the Toronto team. Our partner dioceses are Jamaica and Hong Kong. Our focus will be on three areas chosen in advance by our three bishops are:

• Youth Alienation/reaching beyond youth groups
• Cultural and religious differences about homosexuality (understanding one another's contexts)
• Social justice advocacy (how faith impacts on civil society).

We will also be called on to organize the event in our own diocese, to meet the requirements of the program, provide real opportunities for enlightenment, and also to enable dialogue and open discussion. The dates for our meetings are:

• Toronto: May 30-June 8, 2011
• Hong Kong: September 25-30, 2011
• Jamaica, February 1-15, 2012.

As a team member, I am expected to:

• Attend all three Diocesan encounters in the pilot project, from start to finish
• Contribute my perceptions, skills, knowledge and questions to the discussions
• Provide the evaluators with frank responses to their questions
• Share the vision of the Continuing Indaba broadly within and beyond the Diocese
• Contribute to the maturing of the Diocesan Team as a team

  I look forward to making my contribution, through this experience to the life of our diocese and the wider Anglican Communion.

  PILGRIMAGE TO ISRAEL

  I propose to lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in July 2012. Pilgrims will participate in the course, Palestine of Jesus. I invite members to take advantage of this opportunity.

  SABBATH LEAVE

  I propose to take a Sabbath leave this year. The Wardens have indicated their support for this time away. Further details will be made available early after consultation with the bishop.

  SPECIAL THANKS

  My thanks for your support was expressed at the beginning of this report. I conclude by tendering a sincere thanks to our diocesan centre for providing the resources which were so readily available to us during the year in review. We also thank our Area Bishop, The Rt. Rev’d. Philip Poole, and the Council of our Episcopal Area who have also been a tremendous source of support.

  May God continue to bless us and keep us in God’s peace and joy.

  
  

  Your friend and priest,
  
  Canon Stephen  +

  
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