Displaying items by tag:Reverend Valerie Kenyon

Pentecost by Canon Val

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people,
and kindle in us the fire of your love.

Pentecost, a powerful moment in the life of the Church—the day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, filling them with boldness, clarity, and unity. Commonly known as the "birthday of the Church" as it was on this day that the scattered followers of Christ were transformed into a unified, Spirit-empowered body, sent into the world to proclaim the Good News.

Today, Pentecost reminds us that the same Spirit given to the apostles is alive and at work in us. It is a call to renew our openness to God's presence, to recognize that we are not left alone but equipped and empowered to live as Christ’s witnesses. In a world too often wary of neighbours, divided and anxious, the gift of the Holy Spirit calls us into deeper unity, courage, and mission.

As we embrace the Spirit’s work through Word, sacrament, prayer, and community, may this Pentecost season rekindle our love for God, energize our service to others, and inspire us to be the Church—alive, bold, and filled with grace.

Pentecost Sunday reminds us that God, even when we least expect it, continues to give us strength, peace, guidance and courage. We see in this important day the gates of the kingdom being thrown open with great enthusiasm, to welcome in all of God’s family. Come, Holy Spirit.

Rest: A Sacred Command and Human Necessity
“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength.”— Isaiah 30:15

From the beginning, rest has been an important part of the rhythm of creation. After six days of crafting the heavens and the earth, God rested— not from weariness, but to bless time, to delight in what had been made, and to model for us a rhythm of work and worship, action and stillness.

A sabbath rest, whether it be on a particular day or moments carved out specifically for rest, is at its essence both a gift of grace and a part of the fullness of life God intends for us. To rest is not idleness but sacred pause—a time to stop striving, to regroup, to be renewed in God’s presence, and to remember both who we, and who we are becoming quite apart from those things that keep us so busy in life.

So, my hope for us all is that in the summer months ahead, we might find some moments to pause, allowing ourselves to do a little bit less and be a little more, trusting that our God will continue to sustain us in all things during these times.

Sabbath rest offers us a time to breathe again the Spirit’s wind, to be re-fired with love, and to re-enter the world not depleted, but filled. May we embrace God’s gift of rest, and through it, find joy, renewal, and communion.

“O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God.”
— BCP, p. 832
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10

Welcome to the website for the congregation of St. Anne's (Byron), an active Anglican (Episcopal) congregation in the western part of London, Ontario. Reverend Canon Valerie Kenyon is our priest. We extend a warm welcome to all visitors, and those looking for a new church home, being blessed with visitors on a regular basis. Our church and parish hall are both wheelchair accessible.

Check out our events calendar to see what is happening in the coming weeks!

As you explore St. Anne’s website you will get a glimpse of the lives and activities of people who make up the family of God at St. Anne’s. There are many more whose names are not recorded here but whose memory is cherished, whose lives have shaped our lives and whose hard work and love of Christ built a foundation stronger than the foundation laid over 170 years ago with field stones and mortar from surrounding farm land, a foundation that is held together by its cornerstone – Jesus Christ. We are not a perfect family; we are a real family who daily put our lives in the hands of a perfect God, who continually conforms us into Christ’s likeness.

Along with Anglicans around the globe, we at St. Anne’s hold the traditional faith of Christians through the ages. We look back with thanksgiving for blessings received and we look ahead with joy, wondering what new song we are to sing unto the Lord. (Psalm 144:9) The holy friendship we share with God and one another makes us a family and the ministry to which every person you see here and beyond these pages is called, leads us into joyful service of the community in which we live. Our work is simple, to worship God, build a relationship with His Son and love one another as Christ has loved us. (John 15:12)

To get the most out of this website, check our Events Calendar for the list of activites and then consider our other menu items such as Church Seasons. Look for updates and current news on our Outreach and Faith and Worship pages.

Donations to support the ongoing ministry at St. Anne’s Byron can be made in several ways:

• with cash or cheques in a Sunday envelope at church - please note that cheques must be made out to "St. Anne's Anglican Church"
• e-transfers may be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• by using the Donate Now button at the top of each page on our website ( https://stannesbyron.ca/) or via Canada Helps at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/stannes-anglican-church-byron/ A small fee is charged by Canada Helps.
• through automatic withdrawals on your bank account or credit card arranged with our Envelope Secretary, Verna M.using this form

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Help St. Anne's raise money by buying cash/gift cards at www.fundscrip.com.
Buy a cash/gift card to any number of participating businesses through St. Anne's and the church receives a commission on your purchase. For less than $1 in postage for online orders, the card comes right to your mailbox. To order online, go to www.fundscrip.com and use code 5MW25S. Payment must be made at the time of purchase.