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Season of Spiritual Renewal

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During the recent Cast the Net listening and visioning process, we heard that, as a Diocese, we’re hungry to know and love God more deeply.

To that end, Bishop Andrew has called us to begin a two-year Season of Spiritual Renewal, lasting until Epiphany 2026. This is Call to Action #1 emerging from Cast the Net.

“My hope is that this will lead us to a deep and profound joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ and a sense of communities large and small feeling a part of a rekindling of the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Toronto.” -Bishop Andrew Asbil

The Rev. Canon Dr. Judy Paulsen

Coordinator, Season of Spiritual Renewal

Jacqui Hance

Administrative Assistant

Spiritual Disciplines for Renewal

Ways to engage with the four disciplines anchoring this season.

Workshops

Workshops geared to priests, deacons, lay leaders and people wanting to grow and be renewed in their faith.

Thy Kingdom Come

A global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ.

Lift Up Our Hearts

In 2025 we’re coming together as a diocese to worship God at five distinct Eucharistic services throughout the year.

Each service will include wonderful music, inspirational preaching, a joyful lay witness talk, and the opportunity for prayer and anointing, followed by a reception that will offer delicious food and plenty of time to reconnect with friends from other parishes.

Each service is on a Saturday at 2 p.m.

Approaching Pentecost, we’ll gather at All Saints, Whitby to worship God together and praise the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. The Rev. Gerlyn Henry will preach.

Learn more

In the fall, we consider the season of reconciliation. Gathering at St. James, Orillia, we’ll rejoice in God’s work of reconciliation through God’s Son and embrace our calling to be part of it. The Rev. Rob Hurkmans will preach.

Learn more

We end at St. Paul’s Bloor Street, giving thanks for God’s reconciling love in Jesus Christ and our call to be instruments of God’s peace. The Rev. Dr. Alvardo Adderley will preach.

Learn more

#LiveLent

Lent is a time to immerse ourselves in the biography of Jesus, and to reflect on the story of God’s plan of salvation for us and for all creation. In reflecting on the stories in scripture, we can more deeply consider the story of our own life, and God’s work and holy intentions unfolding in us.

#LiveLent: God’s Story, Our Story is a resource developed by Dean Stephen Hance when he was the Evangelism and Discipleship Lead for the Church of England. Starting on Ash Wednesday, it includes a reading from scripture, a short reflection and a prayer for each day during Lent. At the start of each week, there is a brief introduction to set the scene for the whole week, with a weekly action to take.

Dean Hance has also developed a guide that you can use to lead discussions in a small group.

 

#LiveLent: God's Story, Our Story
#LiveLent small group guide

Resources

Prayers Through the Ages

A selection of prayers that can be used by individuals, groups or parishes. (8.5×11 size)

Prayers Through the Ages (booklet)

A selection of prayers that can be used by individuals, groups or parishes (booklet)

Through the Scriptures: Resource #1 on Lectio Divina

Daily holy readings for spiritual renewal (8.5×11 size)

Through the Scriptures: Resource #1 on Lectio Divina (booklet)

Daily holy readings for spiritual renewal (booklet)

Through the Scriptures: Resource #2 on Lectio Divina

A second set of daily holy readings for spiritual renewal (8.5×11 size)

Through the Scriptures: Resource #2 on Lectio Divina (booklet)

A second set of daily holy readings for spiritual renewal (booklet)

Recommended books on Spiritual Renewal

10 books on spiritual renewal

Prayers Through the Ages (Spanish)

Prayers Through the Ages (Spanish version)

Oraciones A Través de los Tiempos

Prayers Through the Ages (Chinese Traditional)

Prayers Through the Ages (Traditional Chinese version)

禱告靈命日新

Prayer Through the Ages Traditional Chinese (booklet)

Prayers Through the Ages (Traditional Chinese version, booklet)

禱告靈命日新

Prayer Through the Ages Simplified Chinese booklet

Prayers Through the Ages (Simplified Chinese version, booklet)

Notices for your bulletin

Looking to share information about the Season of Spiritual Renewal? Here’s some text you can add to your parish bulletin to let people know what’s happening! You can also add our QR code linking straight to the workshop registration page.

 

Renewal begins with prayer

Right across our diocese people are praying for spiritual renewal to take hold in their own lives, as well as the life of their church, and our diocese. Let’s make a daily commitment to spend at least a few minutes in prayer, drawing close to God, who promises to draw close to us and be at work in and through us.

 

Let’s learn together!

Which of the following online workshops, being offered as part of this Season of Spiritual Renewal, could help you and your church grow? These are filling up fast, so sign up soon. For more details and to register, visit www.toronto.anglican.ca/spiritualrenewal.

Branding & style guide

If you’re holding events in your parish related to the Season of Spiritual Renewal, you can use the official branding. Before you do, consult the Visual Style Guide for tips on how to use the logos and colours.

We’ve provided the branding basics here – connect with Jacqui Hance if you’d like any other elements.

Download the brand kit

Collect for the Season of Spiritual Renewal

Holy and life giving God; through the breath and witness given to the prophets, dry bones were given new life. Through the mission of your Son, that same breath gave courage and conviction to the disciples to go out and preach your Gospel. Continue to share with us that breath of the Holy Spirit, revive our Diocese, and fill us with hope. Grant us vision and courage that our words and actions may be filled with your life and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Timeline

Here’s how we see this Season taking shape:

  • Jan-May 2024: Planning, development & communication
  • June 2024: Collation & dissemination of resources; leadership training
  • Sept 2024-June 2025: Focus on prayer, study of scripture and worship
  • Sept-Nov. 2025: Focus on sharing the faith
  • Epiphany 2026: Focus on continuing in the disciplines linked to renewal

News about the season