As our first joint Anglican / Lutheran gathering, we are excited to have Father Bill of the Anglican church, guide us in experiencing and learning about God, together in this joint venture. Let’s just take a quick look at who he is.
The Revd Canon William Cliff has served as Rector of The Collegiate Chapel of St. John the Evangelist, Huron University College since September 2002, and has enjoyed being the parish priest for Huron University College and the Anglican Community at the University of Western Ontario. Fr. Bill has served in parish ministry as a pastor, musician and liturgist who has been working in the Diocese of Huron with young people for his whole ministry.
A member of the group “The Three Cantors”, Fr. Bill is one of four musicians who travel the country raising money and awareness for development issues and the relief of world hunger. They have recorded 4 CD’s and have raised close to a million dollars for these worthy causes around the world. Fr. Bill has also been published nationally on a variety of subjects, but particularly in articles regarding his method of interpreting and opening scripture to young people, He has taught “Scripture and Story” at Ask and Imagine, the national program for Youth at Huron University College for several years, as well as holding an annual session with the Ask and Imagine attendees called “Bull with Bill”: a session of no-hold-barred questions about faith, sex, commitment, scripture, theology and growing up a Christian in today’s world. His ministry interests include liturgy, preaching, history (early modern English and Tudor) his constant work with youth and support of the Diocese of Huron ministries such as Huron Church Camp and Outside of ministry, When he has spare time, he enjoys singing, reading and the occasional bike ride.
This is only a snapshot of him, just a taste of what is to come in August 2010. We use our hands everyday. We sometimes take them for granted. Without them, our experience of playing Wii or baseball, basketball or hockey, (to name a few sports), would be very different. Typing, drawing, writing, painting or even those who love to communicate using their hands, would have a very different experience without them. Hands, Even in our relationship with God, we use them from praying, blessing, healing, and receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion. Not only are our hands important to us, but what about God’s hands. Through Fr. Bill’s unique way he will help us in the journey of how God’s hands work in our lives on a day to day basis.
We look forward to ‘Hands On’, in London, being touched by Fr. Bill’s experiences and stories of how God lovingly shapes and guides our lives.
