Caledonia Times
A Diocesan Section of the Anglican Journal • May y 2012
Camp Caledonia readies for another year
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T WON’T BE long now, as Camp Caledonia begins to get ready for another season of camping. There are lots of activities: canoeing, hiking, archery, soccer, basketball, swimming volleyball and of course the perennial favourite, the campfires. The Camp is looking forward to another summer of faith fun and fellowship. As part of the experience campers will also be participating in the newly designed Christian Education program that will be lead by the Chaplains. As well as being a great time with lots of things to do and experience, is an opportunity to share one’s faith. CAMP DATES AND FEES: New this year to help out campers and their families there are bursaries available through the Camp, to assist with the registration fees for the week long camps. When registering for the camp please make note that you would like to apply for the bursary as well. The fees for the youth camps this year are $200.00 and for the teen camp, $210.00. The dates for the camps this summer are as follows: Teen Camp: July 7th – July 14th Youth Camp I: July 16th – July 21st Youth Camp II: July 23rd - July 28th STAFFING FOR THE CAMP Staff training will start @ 7:00am on July 3rd 2012. All staff should plan to arrive the night of the first by 9pm. Staff Training will concluded on the morning of July 7th. The dates of the camps are as follows: Staff and volunteers are required to be there for 10:00am on the first day of camp and will be allowed to leave at 2pm on the last day except where noted. There will be an afternoon of Post Camp Clean-up after the campers leave on the 28th. Staff will finish work at 4 pm. There are still a number of positions to fill for the staff of the Camp this summer both for staff and volunteers. In terms of the volunteers, the Camp needs Dishwashers, Cook’s Helpers, a janitor for the evenings, nurses and Craft helpers. The Camp also needs chaplains for the two youth camps. For staff, the Camp male and female counselors, a head cook and a lifeguard. For more information, or to apply for any of these positions, please send your resume Amanda Veillette, 2330 Omineca Place Houston BC, or contact Amanda at registrar@campcaledonia.com or amanda_bvhome@bulkley.net. Caledonia Times
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May 2012 Edition
Did You Know… it has always been hard to get around! 1930 “One of the great problems of Caledonia, is the providing of motor cars, at the present time there are four needed, but our funds available for this purpose are at their limit capable of purchasing not more than one. [these were very expensive the cost of $840.00] In December of 1930, Rev. Oliver stone and his family made a trip to the Queen Charlotte Islands on one of the worst weather days recorded by the captain of the vessel. Everyone was sick, the boat heaved its way through Dixon Entrance and of course the ride back to Prince Rupert was as calm as a mill pond!! The St. Patrick Van, which worked this summer in the Diocese from Prince George to Hazelton, Terrace and Kispiox, was the gift of the Mother’s Union in England. This van took the place of the St. Andrew Van which worked in the district in 1928 and 1929, but which is now in the Peace River Block. In December of 1930 Bishop Rix was in London, England and while crossing a street there was run down by a motor car.. “I had several ribs broken and severe shock, from both
of which I am quickly recovering.” said Bishop Rix. Rev. Capt. O.T. Hodgson made a 200 mile trip from Telegraph Creek to Atlin in blizzards, deep snow and high winds by dogsled and team. During the winter of 1931-1932 nearly 53 feet of snow fell at the Premier Mine in the Stewart area. Rev. G.H. Moody of Stewart suspended his walking trips to the site until the weather improved..
1931 The Colonial and Continental Church Society (1931) in England financed two clergymen to work in the Peace Ricer block on the south side of the river. Services would be held in about 12 different places and three churches were built at that time with more being planned for the summer. In late 1931 the Railway from Alberta had finally reached Pouce Coupe, BC. Next Spring the railway is expected to reach Dawson Creek, where the Rev. Rural dean T.D. Procter is located.
St. Clement’s, Houston
From around Caledonia: St. Clement’s, Houston
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HAT A BUSY year it has been for us so far! We hope this finds everyone enjoy some spring sunshine and melting(or no) snow! St Clements celebrated Shrove Tuesday with Bishop William. A huge thank you to our cooks, Jerry and Sue, for the wonderful food and to all who came out for the fellowship. With school resuming in January it also meant the start of Sunday school again. Pictured above is the Sunday school class decorating flower pots. As Easter Sunday get’s closer we begin talking about new life, and the resurrection in Sunday school. Just as the seed in buried in the soil, after a few days it makes its way out into the world, the same as Jesus did when he left the tomb. St Clements also started a bottle drive for Camp Caledonia and wishes to encourage all parishes in the diocese to do the same! Hope everyone has a wonderful summer!
Fort St. John lay reader noted as a hero
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HERE WAS A recent note put up on Facebook about a member of the Parish of the North Peace that deserves a bit of attention. The note on Facebook, from Bev Flint Nickolson says: “I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank the Wal-Mart greeter who got out of her wheelchair threw off her hook, performed CPR and saved the life of my highschool friend’s brother yesterday. Sorry I do not know her name. The young man involved is now recovering in Edmonton after having a stent inserted. I can tell you how happy and grateful the family is. I hope Wal-Mart does something wonderful for her!” The Wal-Mart greeter’s name is Darlene Thomas. There is a remarkable story behind all this. Darlene was once a volunteer firefighter and taught classes in how to perform CPR. She worked for the Provincial Ambulance Service and was a member of the Vancouver Island Search and Rescue Team. So it is not unusual for Darlene to be ready to help and to save a life. What is so remarkable to most people is that because of an illness Darlene suffered in her own life, she is now a triple amputee. She works at the local big box store as a greeter and is looked for and anticipated by the local residences, especially the children. They look for Darlene and her hellos and goodbyes. The children receive stickers when they come in and never fail to say goodbye when they leave. And this most recent incident is not the first time that Page 2
Caledonia Times Publication of the Anglican Diocese of Caledonia
Darlene has helped stricken shoppers. So one day recently when a 43 year old man had a cardiac event coming into the store, it is not so surprising that Darlene immediately sprang into action. Her quick thinking and the help of other staff saved the man’s life and enabled the man to get to medical care in a hospital. Members of the community are trying now to help out their local life saver by raising awareness of her needs to make her home and vehicle wheelchair accessible as a way to say thank you for the ways in which she has helped members of the community. So here is a bouquet for a lady who teaches us how it needs to be done and how we should love our neighbours. Thanks Darlene.
Editor: The Dean of Caledonia Published monthly, except July and August by: Diocese of Caledonia, 200 – 4th Avenue West Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1P3 (250) 627-1143 or (250) 600-7143 Address correspondence and copy to the address above. Or to caledoniatimes@gmail.com Submissions must be received by the 10th month for the following month’s issue. Send subscription orders, address changes Diocese of Caledonia c/o Anglican Journal 80 Hayden St. Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2 Printed and mailed by: Signal Star, Goderich, Ont.
Caledonia Times — May 2012
Editorial: A thought or two
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ONG AGO, there was a king who placed on one of his highways, a boulder. Then he hid himself nearby to wait and see if anyone would come along and remove the boulder from the roadway. Some of the wealthiest among his subjects, merchants and courtiers came to the boulder and simply walked around it. Many people loudly blamed the kings for not minding the condition of the roadway and keeping it clear, but did nothing to remove it themselves. Then late in the day a peasant, pulling his load of vegetables comes and stops at the large stone. After struggle and toil the farmer finally moves the boulder out of the highway so that he could pass with his cart and load of vegetables. After he picks up his load to continue on his way, he notices a purse on the side of the road with a note attached to it. Again he puts down his load and goes to the bag, retrieves the note and reads it. The note tells the peasant that this bag contains many pieces of gold which the king himself gives to him, because he took the time to remove the stone from the road. The peasant discovered that day what many of us need to learn: every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve his condition.
Perhaps by now many in the diocese will have heard that the amounts of money coming to the diocese from beyond our church walls and borders is going to be reduced yet again and will be reduced further incrementally over at least the next four years. I think many of you would look at that kind of news as a kind of boulder that is in our road. I know that it has been a challenge that the leadership of the Diocese has had to grapple with for a while now. It has been hard and a struggle. Now we are faced with the reality that we are going to have to look at how we do ministry in this diocese and how we can do it differently. In the short term at least the reality is that we are going to have to consider personnel cuts as a measure to be able to keep doing what we are already doing. Perhaps that is another stone that we encounter. We need to consider carefully how we are going to work together to remove the stones that are in our paths to building our ministry across the diocese. One of the things I deeply appreciated about the recently held Clericus was the opportunity to actually pray with my brother and sister clergy in this diocese for the life of this diocese. We were able to talk with one another and be with one another and agree in prayer with one another. The time sent us away from the Cathedral filled with hope and joy and a real sense of belonging to each other. And most of all in prayer, we began to see that God was moving stones out of our road. At the most recent gathering of the Diocesan Executive Committee in March, each of the members talked a little bit about what was going on in their parishes in terms of ministry and what we as parishes were doing and how we were and are reaching out to people in the parish and beyond. In one parish there is a running group looking to
The Queen: a faithful servant BY REGINA SILVA ROBINSON
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UEEN Elizabeth II could be arguably the world’s highest-profile Anglican. Her face is familiar to most Canadians for we see the Queen not only on television and in the papers; we also carry her likeness on our stamps and on the coins and bills in our pockets. Yet to some, her role as our Head of State seems rather ambiguous, while her position as Supreme Governor of the Church of England largely unknown. Elizabeth became next in line to the throne, after her popular uncle Edward VIII abdicated to her father who became George VI in 1936. Edward abdicated so that he could marry the twice divorced American, Wallis Simpson. George VI along with Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) reigned 15 years, including the years from 1939 to 1945. George VI died peacefully in his sleep at the family home of Sandringham in the early hours of Feb. 6th, 1952 while his elder daughter, Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, were on an official royal visit to Kenya on his behalf. Elizabeth became the first monarch in modern times to ascend to the throne while away from Britain. After the mourning period for the late king was observed, plans proceeded for the Coronation which occurred on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey. The 16-month gap between the death of one sovereign Caledonia Times — May 2012
The Diamond Jubilee Prayer reads: God of time and eternity, whose Son reigns as servant, not master; we give you thanks and praise that you have blessed this Nation, the Realms and Territories with ELIZABETH, our beloved and glorious Queen. In this year of Jubilee, grant her your gifts of love and joy and peace as she continues in faithful obedience to you, her Lord and God and in devoted service to her lands and peoples, and those of the Commonwealth, now and all the days of her life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
and the crowning of another is not unusual, given the vast amount of planning and organization that goes into such an undertaking. Already the new Queen was slowly initiating changes within the monarchy when she approved the televising of the ceremony,
promote health amongst the members of the community while another parish is having a meal and raising monies to help Camp Caledonia. A third parish is running a soup kitchen and helping needy families in the community in which they minister. Perhaps where we have lacked in our common life as a diocese is in the financial support from within, for the frontline people who lead and administer all the great things that the parishes can do when they have such leadership. We have become dependent on the grace and gifts of others to make our own ministry happen. This is the biggest stone in the road. This Diocese has benefited greatly from the generosity of givers from Great Britain in the beginning and from our fellow Canadians even now. There are farmers in Saskatchewan, professional people in Ontario and fishermen in Newfoundland, who every time they put money in the plate to support their own churches, are helping us to do what we do as well. The hard work that we have ahead of us is to learn how to make the ministry of our Diocese and our parishes truly ours. We need to work to learn how to support the ministry of our parishes and our Diocese so that we can be effective in sharing the good news of God in Christ were we are: from Masset to Fort St. John, from Pouce Coupe to Kitkatla and all the points in between. And there is one thing more that we need to keep in mind: God is in all this! God is enabling us to be his people, in his way with his blessing. May we take the risk of faith and move forward in the strength of our risen and ascended Lord and Saviour as the early apostles did, making it known that Jesus lives and he reigns! Jason+
over objections from Winston Churchill and the government of the day. During this ancient and beautiful ceremony, Elizabeth was seen at prayer. At one point the cameras turned away (to ensure the sacredness of the moment) as Elizabeth removed her crown and her husband, Philip, removed his coronet in order to take Holy Communion. This act of humility signified that before God, she, like her spouse, was just as any other person in that great abbey, and was subject to the laws of God. Simply stated, she recognized and affirmed a higher authority than that given to her as a queen. Her faith was and remains the cornerstone of her life. Before a monarch is crowned, affirmation must be undertaken to ascertain that he or she is a faithful and communicant member of the Church of England. To Elizabeth this was no mere token assent. She continues to attend church services faithfully each week and in her annual Christmas message espouses the Christian virtues and traditions seen in the Gospels. She closed her 2011 Christmas Day message by saying: Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are) – but a Saviour, with the power to forgive. Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love. It is my prayer See Jubilee Celebration on p. 4 Page 3
Surfin’ for the Lord ~ Ruby McBeth
Books on the Way Women changing the world they live in
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Archbishop John Sentamu Photo: www.dioceseofyork.org
Who will go to Canterbury next? Learn all about John Sentamu the frontrunner to replace the Archbishop of Canterbury by going to <www.archbishopofyork.org>. A link from the homepage takes you to biographical information on Archbishop John and his wife as well as examples of his articles and speeches. “Latest photos” brighten the homepage. You can also connect to a news article on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s plan to leave the job with a picture of Sentamu and Williams together. At the end of that article is a link to Williams’ website. Also included on the Archbishop of York’s site is a video with connections for more videos as well as a link to a photo gallery. For a front seat view of the Church of England check out this website. Happy surfing. —Ruby
ffull u l l ooff ppromise rom i s e and a n d ppotential o te n t i a l The Anglican Foundation of Canada is going to bat for young Canadians. You can help them thrive and contribute by donating to the Kids Helping Kids Trust Fund.
80 Hayden Street Toronto, ON M4Y 3G2 (416) 924-9199 ext. 322
www.anglicanfoundation.org Page 4
N THE STREETS of From the introduction Fort St. John I somethrough the 12 essays this book times see Japanese girls is about friendship; it is not a walking hand in hand. These traditional Bible study. Chittisforeign exchange students have ter gives quotes from classical a willingness to show friendship and modern writers to make her that in our culture we see only points about women’s friendin children. Perhaps we cannot ships. Each essay begins with change a social custom but we a few pages of comments on “girls” can learn to value the the theme, and only then is the friendship of women. Biblical woman introduced Joan Chittister in her book The to back up the theme. We are Friendship of Women: The Hidleft pondering the potential of den Tradition of the Bible gives women’s friendships in a world us a female-centered view of which has been dominated for THE FRIENDSHIP friendship. This small book beso long by the thinking of men. OF WOMEN: The gins with a contents list followed In reading the comments on Hidden Tradition of by an introductory essay. At the the Biblical women we see the the Bible. end of the introduction Chittister author emphasizing the posiBy Joan Chittister says: “Women themselves tell tive. This is especially noticeNew York: Novalis, us now what they look for in able with Martha of Bethany. 2006 friendship — and scripture shows Martha has been memorialized us instances where these very as the woman who complained qualities in women have changed the world. to Jesus about her sister not helping out in the It is time to honour both of them.” That is kitchen. This is not the author’s take on her. what the author does in this book. The core of She reminds us that Martha told Jesus she the book is twelve articles on the friendship of knew he was the messiah. She sees Martha as women. Each of the 12 articles zeroes in on a truthteller. The author’s thoughts on friendone aspect of women’s companionship using a ship and on these Biblical women encourage Biblical woman to illustrate the trait. The first the reader to think outside the box - to do chapter is entitled “Lydia - Growth.” This is some creative imagining. Her approach is followed by Prisca—Self, Deborah—Wisdom, change. Phoebe—Support, Esther—Leadership, MarJoan Chittister is a co-chair of the Global tha of Bethany—Truth, Veronica—Presence, Peace Initiative of Women. This is a partner Elizabeth—Acceptance, Ruth—Availability, organization of the UN. She is a Benedictine Anne—Nurturance, Miriam—Joy and the last Sister of Erie, Pennsylvania. Mary Magdalene—Trust and Love. A page at Recommended generally for women and the end of the book gives scripture references specifically as readings for women’s retreats for the women in the book. or conferences.
Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration Continued from p. 3 that on this Christmas Day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord. Between the two positions, that of Head of State and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, some parallels may be drawn. Whereas it is well known that Her Majesty opens Parliament as Queen, she also opens the General Synod of the Church of England, in her capacity as the Supreme Governor. This event occurs every five years after the elections in the dioceses have taken place. In her capacity as monarch, the Queen appoints the Archbishop of Canterbury on the basis of names given to her by the British prime minister, who in turn has been given a list of candidates’ names from a Church Commission. She is entirely free to choose which candidate she feels would better serve the Church of England. During her long reign of sixty years, she has seen thirteen prime ministers come and go in Britain, eleven in Canada and her warm relationship with the United States has led to her meeting with eleven of the twelve sitting
presidents. Duty and service to her people has been the watchwords of her reign, this having been instilled in her at a young age by her grandmother, Queen Mary. It has not all been one long garden party – although she has hosted many over the years. From accrediting ambassadors to her Court, holding investitures, attending Privy Council meetings, seeing the prime minister on a weekly basis and doing her “boxes” (documents and bills needing to be read and signed by her before being accepted as laws), undertaking approximately 300 engagements per year in Britain, not to mention State Visits both to and from Britain, Elizabeth II does well for a senior citizen in her 25th year after the normal retirement age of 60 for women in the United Kingdom. As an international figure, her resolve and dedication have given faithful witness to the strength of a life lived in God’s service. Regina Silva Robinson is a freelance writer and long-time member of the Monarchist League of Canada. TAP – edited by Staff, Caledonia Times. Caledonia Times — May 2012