St. Matthias Victoria has an interesting church sign

When St. Matthias in Victoria B.C. voted to join ANiC, 250 people departed and 30 remained, leaving the diocesan residuum in a financially parlous state. Last year, some furniture came to the rescue: a pair of 17-century Chinese chairs that had been collecting dust in the church for decades sold for $630,000 at Sotheby’s.

The Rector, Rev. Robert Arril mused: “this [windfall] will allow us to do some creative things that we couldn’t do before.”

And, true to his word, Rev Arril did a very creative thing with his church sign. He put a rainbow flag on it. Of course, the Diocese of B.C. has approved the blessing of same-sex couples, so a rainbow flag on the sign is actually de rigueur, if not positively humdrum. But the flowing of Arril’s creative juices did not end with a rainbow flag. Not at all!

In an effort to become yet more inclusive – and with the sobering realisation that a rainbow flag did not cause hundreds of homosexuals in committed monogamous relationships to inundate his pews – Rev. Arril has taken inspiration from St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Toronto. He is inviting dogs to Holy Communion.

Fears that a generous pastoral response to the canine community will lead to unwelcome territorial marking – just as well those chairs have gone – uninhibited poochly greetings at the peace, and a general diminishing of respect for the dog collar may not be entirely without foundation. But at least Rev. Robert Arril will finally have an audience whose grasp of theological niceties is such that its members will truly appreciate his sermons. As long as he throws them an occasional bone.

 

St. Matthias

4 thoughts on “St. Matthias Victoria has an interesting church sign

  1. Too funny David, good stuff.

    Committed Monogamus Relationships… what a joke that is. With most gay men I have met, it is a long term, committed relationship for them if their last partners are still in sight as they are zipping up their flies.

    • And seconded by Gore Vidal in a 2009 interview in the Times when he said, “Don’t make the error that schoolteacher idiots make by thinking that gay men’s relationships are like heterosexual ones. They’re not.”

      Also, Vidal was adamant he “couldn’t care less” about gay marriage; and when the interviewer proposed he could have been the first gay president, replied “quickly and seriously,” “No, I would have married and had nine children … I don’t believe in these exclusive terms.”

  2. Isn’t there a passage in the gospel about “giving the children’s bread to dogs,” followed by the reply that “even dogs are allowed to eat the crumbs from under the table”?

    • Yes–Matthew 15 24-28
      A Caananite women comes to Jesus for healing for her demon pocessed daughter, the disciples try to shoo her away, and she cries out and Jesus tells her:
      “I was not sent except for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” v 24
      “Then she came and worshipped Him and said. ” Lord, help me!”
      But He answered and said, ” It is not good to take the childrens’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.[non Jewish people]” (Jesus was testing her faith.)
      And she said,” True Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.” v 26
      [She was very witty and believed even Christ’s leftovers after feeding the Jews, would be enough for the healing of her daughter- she had faith galore]
      Of course Christ helped her as he helps all people that He created, and who believe upon Him.
      And of course Jesus invites all to His table, ALL PEOPLE!
      Having dogs, animals, at the Table of Communion with the Lord Jesus, is to lower our most Holy Sacrament to insult and disgrace.
      Good word to describe it:—-” Dis-Grace!

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