Displaying items by tag:Reverend Valerie Kenyon

Lent: An Ancient Journey Still Relevant Today by Canon Val Kenyon
Lent at its heart it’s an invitation to slow down and to walk a path that Christians have been walking for almost 2,000 years. As we stand on the threshold of this season, we are joining countless others who have prayed, fasted, reflected, stumbled, and started again, all seeking to draw a little closer to God.

In our prayer book, we speak of Lent as a time to “keep a holy Lent.” This can at first sound a little intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. At its essence, Lent encourages us to pay attention: to our lives, our relationships, and to our faith. Practices like prayer, reading Scripture, fasting, and acts of generosity aren’t meant to make us feel guilty or inadequate. They’re meant to help us lay aside some of the “clutter” in our lives so that we can hear God’s voice more clearly.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “We are made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for togetherness.” Lent helps us notice the places where we’ve lost our way from that truth while at the same time gently inviting us back. Repentance is about turning around, again and again, toward love, compassion, and life.

While it can be tempting to try to undertake large gestures, it is really small, steady practices that can often be far more effective. Perhaps that is setting aside a few quiet minutes each day for prayer or reading a short passage of Scripture slowly and thoughtfully. Perhaps we might choose to fast, not just from food, but from things that drain us, freeing up more time for reflection. Perhaps we might take on a practice that brings life, like gratitude, kindness, or reaching out to someone who might be feeling isolated. All important parts of the season.

Lent also reminds us that our faith is much more than just a personal pursuit. To quote Archbishop Tutu again, “My humanity is bound up in yours.” It is in acts of care and generosity, sharing what we have, offering forgiveness, showing up for one another, that are so central to Lent. As we make space in our own lives, we become more aware of the needs around us. In all of this Lent is never meant to be gloomy. It’s a hopeful season because we serve a God who loves, heals and renews us.

Welcome to the website for the congregation of St. Anne's (Byron), an active Anglican (Episcopal) congregation in the western part of London, Ontario. Reverend Canon Valerie Kenyon is our priest. We extend a warm welcome to all visitors, and those looking for a new church home, being blessed with visitors on a regular basis. Our church and parish hall are both wheelchair accessible.

Check out our events calendar to see what is happening in the coming weeks!

As you explore St. Anne’s website you will get a glimpse of the lives and activities of people who make up the family of God at St. Anne’s. There are many more whose names are not recorded here but whose memory is cherished, whose lives have shaped our lives and whose hard work and love of Christ built a foundation stronger than the foundation laid over 170 years ago with field stones and mortar from surrounding farm land, a foundation that is held together by its cornerstone – Jesus Christ. We are not a perfect family; we are a real family who daily put our lives in the hands of a perfect God, who continually conforms us into Christ’s likeness.

Along with Anglicans around the globe, we at St. Anne’s hold the traditional faith of Christians through the ages. We look back with thanksgiving for blessings received and we look ahead with joy, wondering what new song we are to sing unto the Lord. (Psalm 144:9) The holy friendship we share with God and one another makes us a family and the ministry to which every person you see here and beyond these pages is called, leads us into joyful service of the community in which we live. Our work is simple, to worship God, build a relationship with His Son and love one another as Christ has loved us. (John 15:12)

To get the most out of this website, check our Events Calendar for the list of activites and then consider our other menu items such as Church Seasons. Look for updates and current news on our Outreach and Faith and Worship pages.

Donations to support the ongoing ministry at St. Anne’s Byron can be made in several ways:

• with cash or cheques in a Sunday envelope at church - please note that cheques must be made out to "St. Anne's Anglican Church"
• e-transfers may be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• by using the Donate Now button at the top of each page on our website ( https://stannesbyron.ca/) or via Canada Helps at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/stannes-anglican-church-byron/ A small fee is charged by Canada Helps.
• through automatic withdrawals on your bank account or credit card arranged with our Envelope Secretary, Verna M.using this form

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Help St. Anne's raise money by buying cash/gift cards at www.fundscrip.com.
Buy a cash/gift card to any number of participating businesses through St. Anne's and the church receives a commission on your purchase. For less than $1 in postage for online orders, the card comes right to your mailbox. To order online, go to www.fundscrip.com and use code 5MW25S. Payment must be made at the time of purchase.