Knowing, Growing In, And Sharing Jesus Christ In the Power of The Holy Spirit

7th December 2010

Advent and the Beginning of Term 2010/11 

As always, the church starts its new year at the same time as the Island’s new season! The transition between last year and this year has been an eventful time. At the end of August, we faced the challenge of Hurricane Earl just at the time when the island was starting to close up. Whilst earl was a category 3 hurricane, and hit us with much rain and strong winds, the damage to the island was largely superficial. However, it was an interesting 24 hours and as always concerning for all of us on the island. However, as so often is the case in times of potential crisis there were some wonderful things to come out of it. The sense of concerned and caring community came to the fore. Those who faced the prospect of enduring the hurricane on their own were quickly gathered up by friends. The next day, the community came together in tidying up and getting the island back to normal. There were many acts of kindness which underlines the close knit community that this island truly is.

During October (when I was in Europe) the island suffered perhaps the worst rainfall that it has had in over 20 years. The whole area around Saline was flooded, roads impassable except by boat and much damage to houses and businesses alike. Fortunately, the church immerged unscathed but it just goes to show that whilst St Barthélémy is such a wonderful place to live, tropical weather does have its downside!

Every year in this letter, I seem to reflect on the sheer richness of diversity that makes up our island life. This continues to be a source of great inspiration to me. Tit is one of the key reasons that I believe that this island continues to be such a wonderful community to be part of but also why so many visitors, despite the global economic crisis, find that it is somewhere that they are determined to visit,. From the local St Barths, to the Portuguese, to the mainland French and other Europeans such as Mandie and myself, as well as the visiting public from pretty much every corner of the world, this island has an eclectic mix of cultures and experiences which is fairly unusual in today’s world. Unusual, at least, to the extent that these differences coexist and cooperate so well together. Ultimately, our human race was created to live as community and to celebrate the richness of our diversity as the colours of a rainbow! In today’s world, with so much conflict, lack of respect for the other and rampant tribalism, we can see what happens when we start to categorise others in to the “out” group rather than the “in” group.

Every year, we celebrate this islands link to the town of Pitea in Sweden. This island’s Swedish heritage continues to be of heart felt importance to the local community. In my speech at the ceremony at the Swedish cemetery, I invited all present to reflect on 2 things. Firstly, how do we as individuals and communities respond both practically and emotionally to the suffering experienced by so many in today’s world. The cataclysmic disasters that have been suffered by our neighbours in Haiti this year were very close to home for us here on the island. Many Haitians work here and many of them lost homes, family and friends during that dreadful earthquake in January. Both the Roman Catholic and Anglican Cathedrals were destroyed and many clergy killed. What could be and what was our response?  I’m glad to say that it was both caring and supportive for those amongst us here who had lost both family and friends. It was also practical in terms of logistical, financial and material support, although, as always, it could never be enough. Whilst we feel that we responded at least in some way in a positive and caring way, how do we react to similar crises in other parts of the world that are simply off our radar screen? To a large extent, I fear that we continue to revert to our tribal instincts, whether those be of colour, of national origin, of socioeconomic grouping or simply a different culture or political persuasion, global community still seems to be a distant vision in anything other than a business sense!

Secondly, I asked what do we as one of the great spiritual and religious traditions representing Christianity as we do, actually contribute to the debate and the problem? We can see very easily what happens when religion is manipulated by fanatics for their own political ends. We can see what happens when those who are uneducated and simply do not have enough to feed their families are supported and thence manipulated by the fanatics. That is certainly the problem in Pakistan and Afghanistan today. However, our Christian history has not really been so very different! It seems to me that from both a practical and spiritual perspective, we ignore the desperation of so many in the world community today at our peril, let alone Christ’s command to love our neighbour as ourself.

Events over the past year

It has been a thoroughly busy and active year for the church and a number of milestones have been reached.

Our website went live during the year and serves to keep all the disparate parts of our congregation properly informed as to not only what is going on here but also to cement a sense of belonging to our church community wherever their home may be. The Sunday letter is published on the website each week and news of events continuously updated

Our long held aim of holding an AA group in the church centre has finally been realised. The group meets on Tuesdays and Thursday throughout the year at 6:30pm. I’m immensely grateful to the leadership of that group for their determination in getting the group going. It took many weeks of sitting on their own, until the news got out that they were there, ready, willing and able! This is such an extraordinarily important resource for both local and visiting communities alike. In many ways it represents the most authentic form of spirituality!

The church continues to expand its outreach and during the year over 4,171 people attended services. We have had the privilege of performing during the year 14 marriages, 7 baptisms and 2 funerals. I am increasingly encouraged by more and more of the local community and particularly the French working community looking to the Anglican Church for important moments in their lives. As I said last year, the reason that I believe that this is so important, is that it is, in my opinion, vital that the church is spiritually rooted in its local community. It is those roots that enables spirituality to flourish throughout the church community. Without them it would be a much more “surface” existence.

The Wednesday spirituality group and particularly the Thursday evening meditation group continue to thrive and we are about to offer a third group which will lead people on their prayer journey.

Our Music Ministry 

As always, Charles Darden has done a marvellous job as our Music Director. Music is such an important part of what we do as church. The Chorales des Bon Choeurs continue to play a pivotal role in the cultural life of this island and its home is at the Anglican Church.

Very recently, we have a new member of our music ministry team, Genevieve Rioux. Genevieve is an accomplished flautist and I very much hope that she will be part of our church family for a long time to come.

We are immensely grateful to Lloyd Younger for his excellent music ministry during August and very much hope that he will join with Charles and Genevieve throughout the forthcoming year.

The Vestry

I’m delighted to report that the vestry has been significantly strengthened by the election of Susanna Freer-Passburg, Rachel Barrett- Trangmar, Dave Jackson and Lloyd Younger who join Clarion and Marjorie Romney, Trinette Wellesley-Wesley and myself. As the church grows, it is so important that the lay leadership plays an increasing part in both the day to day operations and our strategic planning for the future. There is significant experience and talent in this group and some exciting new initiatives are being planned.

A strong vestry is an important group not only to provide checks, balances and transparency to the management of the church but also to interface with the board of trustees of our charitable foundation (“Friends of St Barthélémy’s Anglican Church”) led as it is by Bill Barrett. I had an excellent meeting with all of the trustees in New York this year as we came together to review where we currently are and where we might be headed!

Priestly Ministry

As always, we are immensely fortunate to have visiting clergy supporting ministry here led as always by Bishop Ted Eastman. This coming February, we will come together to celebrate an important milestone, Bishop Ted’s 25^th anniversary of visiting the island. Bishop Ted has done an enormous amount for this church over so many years and we are immensely grateful to him. Our plans for these celebrations will be announced in due course.

Finances

The church continues on a sound financial footing but of course we are a volunteer organisation which is dependant on the regular giving and support of us all. A big thank you to all of you who are so generous in your support of us and of course to the huge commitment undertaken by our board of trustees.

We much look forward to seeing you when you are next on island.

With love and blessings

The Revd Charlie Vere Nicoll

Vicar of St Bartholomew’s Anglican / Episcopalian Church

Gustavia

St Barthelemy