Chaplain's Message

My name is David Smith, which does not narrow down who I am as there are so many David Smith's, including Anglican clergy. But this David Smith is happy and honoured to have been asked to serve as Mother's Union Chaplain for the Canadian Council.

Thirty five years ago my wife Esther and I were Mother's Union members at Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton and Susan Watson our President and Kathleen Snow our Worldwide President were both young mother's and active members. It was a wonderful group of folks devoutly living as followers of Jesus expressing their faith in words and deeds. It was a group full of loving kindness and a lot of fun and laughter. A fond memory of the group was when Esther and I went on a mission to Kenya. Our eldest child was born while we were there, and our Mother's Union group gifted us with a beautiful baby carriage. It provided lots of entertainment as this white man pushed his chubby red headed baby up to the market. I am sure that sight had never been seen before. This carriage was a practical gift supporting our family life, but it was more importantly a sign of prayerful encouragement as we served God in a very different place far from home.

As a part of the Kenyan Church, we were blessed to witness many wonderful ministries that the Kenyan Mothers Union offered to mothers and families. They were a powerful force for good.

Since those early days I have served several churches in the dioceses of Fredericton, Ontario and Toronto. Esther and I are delighted to have moved to our retirement home in Grand Manan, New Brunswick. My retirement was only a month long as I have been asked to serve as part time priest in the Parish of Grand Manan.

I delight in reading Paul's Letter to the Philippians where he expresses joy in partnering with the church in Philippi in the work of the Gospel, 3 "I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I am pleased to partner in ministry with the Mother's Union Canadian Council as they in turn support all the wonderful ministries of prayer, helpfulness to families, justice for women and children and mutually support one another in following Jesus who gave His life for us all and calls us to serve others. It is a lovely thought that there are Mother's Union groups all over the world that are blessing their members and their larger community just like Esther and I felt so blessed many years ago.

It will be a joy, an honour and fun to pray and live into Mary Sumner's prayer,"

All this day, O lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for thee; and every life I touch, do thou by thy spirit quicken, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I breathe, or the life I live. Amen