On Friday, June 14, Council President Amanda Currie sent this letter of support to St Anne’s Anglican Church in Toronto following the loss of their church building in a fire:
Dear Father Don and the Pastoral team and Parish of St. Anne’s,
I was saddened to hear the news on Sunday that St. Anne’s Anglican Church in Toronto was on fire and to see the pictures of the nearly complete destruction of your building. Though I lived in Toronto for a few years while I was a student, I never had the opportunity to visit St. Anne’s nor to enjoy the beautiful, historic architecture and artwork that graced your sanctuary.
I can only imagine how stressful and upsetting it must be for your parish leaders and community to suddenly and tragically lose your worship space and the home base for your mission and ministry in the community. I have no doubt that it was a sacred place for all of you—filled with memories, meaning, and the sure sense of God’s presence and guidance.
When I looked at the website for St. Anne’s and read your Pastoral Update: Coming Together in Hope, I was encouraged by the determination and hope that you expressed for the Parish of St. Anne’s going forward. Your words brought to mind the encouragement of the Apostle Paul to the Christian Church at Corinth when they were facing many difficulties. He reminded them that they were engaged in the ministry by God’s mercy, so they must not lose heart:
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10)
Please be assured of the prayers of your Christian friends at The Canadian Council of Churches. We pray for the vitality of your ministry as you continue Christ’s mission beyond your church building. We pray for the success of your fundraising and planning to rebuild a church that reflects your faith through contemporary Canadian art. We pray that you may rise from the ashes stronger and more committed to your mission to be a church for all people.
May the Holy Spirit be your comfort and strength in these days and guide you with wisdom and courage to do what God wants for your faith community and your entire community.
Sincerely,
Rev. Amanda Currie
President
The Canadian Council of Churches
c.c. Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Primate, The Anglican Church of Canada
The Rt. Rev. Andrew Asbil, Diocesan Bishop of Toronto
The Rt. Rev. Kevin Robertson, Suffragan Bishop, Diocese of Toronto, West and South archdeaconries
Mayor Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto
>>View this letter as a pdf, in English.