My Journey into the Anglican Faith

This past weekend was a milestone in my spiritual journey as I was officially received into the Anglican faith at St. Peter’s in Eastern Passage. It was a beautiful service presided over by Bishop Sandra Fyfe, and despite the challenging weather, it turned out to be one of the most heartwarming days of my life.

The morning began with snow, quickly transitioning into rain and high winds by afternoon, yet many members of my Christ Church family braved the storm to show their support. I was deeply moved by their presence, as well as by the friends who came to stand by me on this special day. I hadn't expected so many people to make the time—especially in such weather—which made their support feel even more meaningful.

The service itself was incredible. The songs were uplifting, and the opportunity to renew our confirmation vows added a deeply personal layer to the experience for me. Interestingly, this was my first time saying those vows in English, as my original confirmation back in grade six had been in French.

Reflecting on how this journey began, it all started rather casually. I was scrolling through YouTube one day when I stumbled upon a video of Reverend Dr. Kyle Wagner, the Rector of Christ Church. His engaging and approachable style piqued my interest. Around that time, I mentioned my curiosity to my friend Sam, who happened to be Anglican. He seemed glad to have someone join him for service, and I was equally grateful to have a companion for what felt like uncharted territory.

What I didn’t expect was how quickly I’d feel at home within the Christ Church community. From the moment I stepped through their doors, I was welcomed with open arms. The congregation’s warmth extended beyond Sunday services, as they invited Sam and me to participate in readings, special events, and even committees. Their genuine inclusiveness made it easy to feel like I truly belonged.

One moment in particular stands out in my journey. Early on, while my finances were still sitting heavily in the red, Kyle made a comment during a sermon that resonated deeply with me. He said, “Donations aren’t always monetary. If we have skills, time, or energy, we can help out in other ways.” Inspired by his words, Sam and I reached out to see if the church needed help with anything computer-related or general tasks.

The very next week, I got a request to assist with keying guests of our food bank into the Feed Nova Scotia app. That’s how I met the two Christines (not confusing at all, haha). Since then, I’ve met many more parishioners and even some food bank guests, all of whom welcomed us with open arms. Soon after, I joined the property committee. The tasks often required more than just enthusiasm—real professionals were needed for many projects—but being part of that effort brought me closer to the church community.

Even though it’s been just shy of two years since I started attending, it always feels wonderful to be around these amazing people. One highlight of my journey was being asked to do a reflection on faith for Good Friday. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak and spent a long time working on my speech. (If you’d like to watch it, the video is on YouTube here, starting at 53 minutes into the service.)

I’d like to share the closing lines from that reflection because they continue to hold deep meaning for me:
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"Since coming to this Church and being with all of you, I truly see why I felt that way. The people of this parish, the people I share this life with, all have amazing stories to tell with their interactions of what God made for us. I truly feel lucky and blessed to be speaking to you all now about faith and being in your lives. Faith has granted me peace on earth. I will try for as long as I live to become closer to God, and the people of God. In Luke 23:46, 'Into your hands I commend my spirit,' I vow to uphold God’s spirit to the best of my ability."

For anyone interested, the full text of my reflection is included at the bottom of this post. I meant every word then, and I mean them still.

As I reflect on this journey, I am filled with gratitude for the faith, the community, and the many people who have supported me along the way. What began as curiosity has blossomed into a meaningful spiritual connection. I’m excited to continue growing in this faith and sharing life with such a wonderful community.

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Reflection on Faith
Faith is a fundamental aspect of Christianity, and the Bible provides us with a clear understanding of what faith is and how it should be applied in our lives. In the book of Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 1, we are told that "Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen." This means that faith is the confidence we have in the promises of God, even when we cannot see the evidence of those promises in our current circumstances. The Bible also tells us in Hebrews 11:3 that "By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible." This verse teaches us that the very creation of the universe is a result of God's word and His divine power and that it is by faith that we can comprehend and believe in this truth. When faced with impossible situations or challenges in our lives, it is important to remember that faith is the substance of things hoped for. This means that our faith is the foundation upon which we build our hope and trust in God's promises. Even when it appears that there is no solution or way out, we can have confidence that God is still at work behind the scenes, orchestrating His perfect plan for our lives. In the book of Matthew, chapter 17, verse 20, Jesus tells His disciples that "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." This verse illustrates the incredible power of even the smallest amount of faith and reminds us that with faith, nothing is impossible for those who believe. Faith is mentioned 247 times in the New International Version of the Bible, but who’s counting? I was asked “What does faith look like for you? How has faith transformed your life? Is faith something that comes easy to you?” to which I could have a speech far longer than 5 minutes, in a much shorter version, faith to me is as described, it holds our understanding of this universe/this plain of existence that God created and we are all experiencing together. Faith transformed me greatly, it allowed me to open up my mind to greater places, understanding and maturing. It’s not always easy to have faith, or at least it wasn’t easy for me when I was younger, but as I’m growing, I see more using the assistance of God’s grace and mercy, which my faith has brought me. There was a moment before I moved to Nova Scotia when I was sitting in a river and felt like the world didn’t need me any longer, in that moment I felt more love than ever before, to me it was God showing me He understood how I was feeling and wanted me to recognize this world has so much to offer, with a bit of faith. Since coming to this Church and being with all of you, I truly see why I felt that way. The people of this parish, the people I share this life with, all have amazing stories to tell with, their interactions of what God made for us. I truly feel lucky and blessed to be speaking to you all now about faith and being in your lives. Faith has granted me peace on earth. I will try for as long as I live to become closer to God, and the people of God. In Luke 23.46 “Into your hands I command my spirit” I vow to uphold God’s spirit to the best of my ability.