A note of thanks

Head and shoulders photo of Bishop Kathryn Otley wearing a red and gold mitre.
Bishop Kathryn Otley (Photo: The Rev. Chris Dunn)
By Bishop Kathryn Otley

I begin my time of service with you as your bishop with an immense feeling of gratitude. Thank you for the many prayers, messages of support and generous gifting of time so many of you continue to give, preparing me to begin this new leadership role in our diocese.

We live in a time where the world around us clamours with words of scarcity and fear – I will lead in reminding us of our story set in the abundance of God’s reign, offering hope in place of fear. As St. Paul wrote to the Colossians: “You need to remain well established and rooted in faith and not shift away from the hope given in the good news.”

Standing firm in the grace of God we move forward on this awesome journey of hope-filled faith, alive to the challenges which are, in truth, new opportunities to share the good news of God’s love with a world that is desperately seeking hope and meaningful purpose. Together with people of faith across our country and the world, we offer messages of hope, welcome and justice for all, a heart for reconciliation, and loving service in our communities, all “rooted and grounded in the love of God through Jesus Christ” strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

I am blessed to lead and serve as your bishop, and I offer my blessing to all of you as together we embark with energy and intention on this new stage of our journey in our Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.

 

  • Leigh Anne Williams is the editor of Perspective. Before coming to the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, she was a staff writer at the Anglican Journal and the Canadian correspondent for Publishers Weekly. She has also written for TIME Magazine and the Toronto Star.

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