Budzin is a jazz fan. When he was a priest in Toronto, his parish there offered jazz vespers twice a month for 13 years. Inspired by that experience, “I thought we should take the risk and offer jazz vespers in a rural setting.”

The monthly Sunday afternoon jazz vespers services at St. Paul’s Osgoode that began in 2024 have proved him right. “Attendance has been enthusiastic and strong. I think September and October, we had 65 folks, and then even on a dreary November day, we had 75…. Several times, a number of people on their way out have thanked me for jazz vespers, and they say, ‘It’d be wonderful if this was offered more often.’” So, in the spring, the parish will test out holding services twice a month.

Budzin estimates that only 12 to 15 of those attending the vespers are regular Sunday morning parishioners. The rest come specifically for the jazz service. “They just love it, and they find it spiritually supportive and enriching. It has really developed into its own kind of worshipping community. On her way out, one woman said, ‘I think you’re making me a recovering agnostic.’ I like that comment,” said Budzin.

“What I’ve noticed with the Osgoode jazz vespers is I’d say 65 to 70 percent of the people are regulars who come every month. They are … getting to know each other and I’m getting to know them.” They love the musicians, says Budzin. “The quartet, sometimes the quintet, is excellent.”

Mark Ferguson is the leader of the quartet and plays keyboards and trombones. John Geggie is the bass player. Mike Tremblay is the saxophonist. The drummer is Jamie Holmes, and occasionally, for the quintet, Ed Lister is on trumpet. “Some folks scratch their head and say, ‘How do you get guys like this to come to Osgoode?’ But the musicians love it, too. They’re very committed and dedicated,” Budzin said.

The music is not all jazz. It’s a mix of music from artists such as Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin, Stevie Wonder and Burt Bacharach.

Instead of a traditional homily, Budzin usually reads one or two poems and offers a reflection. He’s read poems from Gerard Manley Hopkins,  e.e. cummings, Wendell Berry, Mary Oliver, and other less well-known writers, and he usually include a copy of the poem in the order of service.

“I love poetry as much as I love jazz, so I pick a poem that I think people would appreciate. And so far, I’ve struck a chord. Some folks have said they’ve collected all the poems that I’ve used for jazz vespers and keep them in a little binder.”

Budzin adds that at St. John’s Church in Richmond, they have started a monthly Sunday vespers for harp and flute with two exceptional musicians. “That is doing very well, too. Not quite as high numbers as jazz vespers, but it’s getting 25 to 30 people and developing its own group of supporters,” he said.

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What is contextual mission? The context for Anglican churches in the Diocese of Ottawa and in Canada has changed dramatically in recent decades. No longer predominantly Christian, Canadian society is now pluralistic, multicultural, multifaith, and largely secular, so contextual mission is about sharing the love of God in ways that help the church connect with and serve people in the wider community in this context.

Introducing two people presenting examples of their parishes’ forays into contextual mission at Synod in November, the Rev. Thomas Brauer reminded everyone that contextual mission is not about getting more people to attend church or something a parish imposes on the community. It must be “a ministry of the resurrection, a ministry of Jesus, where we enter into the community as we find it and hear the need that is there and respond out of compassion, grace and love.”

Epiphany’s wish list

Kitty Galt, the Rector’s Warden at Epiphany church in Ottawa, described a project that was inspired by a discussion following a Time of Prayer Bible study of a passage from the Book of Acts that described how a group of people in the early church did not claim private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. “Those gathered talked about what we felt God was calling us to as a community. We heard that there were several people within our parish and just outside its walls who had significant unmet needs. And we reflected that even though there were many within our parish who had resources to meet those needs, we couldn’t connect the two because it’s often difficult for people to speak up about their needs. We asked ourselves, how we could live out this calling to hold everything in common,” Galt explained.

They wondered if they could create a wish list, similar to that used by Cornerstone Housing for Women with requests for specific items the women need. Talking it through, they came up with a plan for how Epiphany’s wish list could work. “If someone had a need, such as money for groceries, a mattress, funds to register a child in a soccer club, they would send an email to an anonymous person called the wishlist coordinator. Wishes could be published each week in the bulletin and the weekly parish email. If someone could fulfill a wish, they would also contact the coordinator who would facilitate the transfer. The names of wishers and wish fulfillers would remain confidential as much as possible.”

Galt reported that from the time they began the project in May until Synod in early November, 10 wishes had been fulfilled, including a registration fee for a training course to become a new security guard for a new Canadian, a new tricycle for a grandchild, a ride to a medical appointment. “We are assessing the project to see whether it is meeting its original goal, and if not, we will adjust accordingly. We hope to be fulfilling your wishes for months to come,” she said.

Crosstalk contacted the Rev. Simone Hurkmans at Epiphany for an update since Synod and indeed more wishes had indeed been fulfilled, including:

• A winter coat for a new mother for her first Canadian winter
• Used cellphone for preteen who cares for her siblings to contact her mom while she’s on shift work
• Ladies’ tap shoes
• Used laptop for preteen’s homework needs
• Desktop monitor for new Canadian taking online classes

South Carleton Jazz Vespers

The second example of contextual mission in action came from the Parish of South Carleton. Churchwarden Dorothy Svendsen told the story of how the Rev. Allan Budzin was inspired by the long-standing jazz vespers service at All Saints Westboro in Ottawa and wondered if similar services could also attract a new worshipping community in a predominantly rural environment. “He took the risk and initiated jazz vespers, first at Holy Trinity North Gore, and then found its happy home at St. Paul’s, Osgoode. Who knew that it was the motherload of jazz aficionados in Ottawa South,” she said.

Jazz vespers is an hour of music, prayer, poetry, and reflection. The services have been held once a month (except for July and August) at 4 pm on Sundays since December 2023. The Mark Ferguson Quartet provides the music. “We have done jazz tributes to Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, The Beatles, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, Duke Ellington, and for the 100th anniversary of our church, we did the jazz music of the 1920s,” Svendsen reported. “Reverend Al provides the prayers, the poetry, and the reflections. It is a wonderful and different way to worship. We have attracted a core following and draw people from about six surrounding communities. On average, 60% of the congregation are new attendees and not regular members of our parish. Our numbers have steadily grown over the year, and we average about 55 congregants, sometimes more, sometimes less, often depending on the weather. We request a free will offering to help pay for the musicians, and we’re about breaking even.”

The reviews have been fantastic, said Svendsen. “One woman came up to me after her first visit, and she said, ‘I just loved everything about this. I love the music, I love the storytelling,’ and she said, ‘I love the reflection, and I just love your minister. I’ll definitely be back.’ I’ve even had people stop me on the street telling me how much they enjoyed it and asking when is the next one. It’s a joyous way to worship through music. [In October], Reverend Al has introduced Sunday Vespers for harp and flute at St. John’s Richmond, and 50 people attended the service. The seeds for another new worshipping community…”

More information and a step-by-step guide to contextual mission are available on the diocesan website:

https://ottawa.anglican.ca/resources/for-parishes/contextual-mission/

Your parish can also request a consultation with a contextual mission facilitator who will visit your parish, conduct workshops, help assess your proposed initiatives and assist you in completing your Future Fund Application. You can request a facilitator by email, contextual-mission@ottawa.anglican.ca

Crosstalk wants to publish more stories of contextual mission and new worshipping communities. Share your story and inspire others.

Email Leigh Anne Williams: editor@ottawa.anglican.ca

The Mark Ferguson Quartet can be heard at St. Paul’s Osgoode for monthly jazz vespers. Mark Ferguson on piano and trombone; Mike Tremblay on saxophone and flute; John Geggie plays bass; and Jamie Holmes is on drums. Above: Scott Latham plays the vibraphone. Photos: Joanne Swift

Related article:

The Future Fund launches — first application deadine is March 25

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