Christ Church Anglican has a new priest, Reverend Andrea Brennan, BA (Hons), MDiv. Rev. Brennan was raised Anglican but after the family moved church attendance lapsed.
When older and working in Timmins she returned to church. Through work at the Health Unit undertaking cancer prevention and education, she became acquainted with First Nations and that proved a positive experience. Her next position was administration work at the Brantford Mall and it was throughout this time she began experiencing a spiritual yearning. The feeling intensified when on entering St. Marks church the greeter Mary Derrick, reached for her hand and said “welcome home”.
On moving to Cambridge she attended St. James Church where she explored becoming a lay reader. On speaking with the priest he responded, “Yes, I will train you as a lay reader but why don’t you consider the priesthood instead?”
Andrea’s reaction was to laugh; but the priest had noticed that she had a caring presence and was good with seniors.
Andrea spent a week of prayer with the Sisters of St. John to consider whether she truly was called to the priesthood. She was terrified of the idea, wasn’t ready to surrender to this huge change and couldn’t grasp God really had that plan for her.
Checking online she discovered the Diocese of Kootenay was looking for a priest. She read the description and the letter addressed to a possible applicant describing who they were, where they were going, there was the invitation to go on the journey with them. The words were hope filled and touched her. She thought, “This is where I need to go.”
She quotes a saying, “A preacher is meant to preach with a Bible in one hand and newspaper in the other. Homilies need to be relevant.”
She began her first Homily with an apology.
“I’m new, I don’t know western culture, but I am learning and I’m going to say things you don’t like I’m going to do things you won’t like but I need you to tell me, not everybody else but me. We’re all vulnerable, but we need to communicate with love especially when anyone is unhappy at what I do.
I’m overjoyed to be here, everyone I have encountered in town has been friendly and welcoming, they want me to stay as long as I like and I plan to do so”.