Saskatchewan anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • June 2014
Saskatchewan Anglican wins awards! Staff The Saskatchewan Anglican won five awards at the 2014 Canadian Church Press Convention, held April 30 to May 2 in Winnipeg. This newspaper received five third-place awards in the following categories:
Welcome to the cathedral’s new facilities! Dean Mike Sinclair, rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Regina, stands out front of the newly-built “community centre,” which was officially dedicated by the bishop of Qu’Appelle on April 13 (Palm/Passion Sunday). It took nearly two years to build the new facility, which includes a new hall, bathrooms (up and downstairs), new offices and a cloister. Other features include an elevator-type lift, more columbarium space, smaller rooms downstairs and choir space. For the full story, see page 8. Photo — Jason Antonio
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Editorial – Circulation of up to 9,999: An Argument in Favour of the ‘Open Table’, by Rev. Canon Glenn Ash
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News Story – Newspaper: Hardwick installed as 12th Bishop of Qu’Appelle, by Jason Antonio
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Features – Newspaper: The Lectionary: Reading the Word of God to God’s People, by Rev. William Portman
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Theological Reflection: This is my Father’s World!, by Bishop Michael Hawkins
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Front Page – Newspaper: December 2013
The editorial on the “Open Table” issue was “a wellwritten, well argued call for more openness in the church,” one judge wrote. The article highlighted that “all who wish to join the table should be welcomed
and that we as Christians should perhaps not judge others simply because they have not been formally baptised.” The strength of managing editor Jason Antonio’s news story, about Bishop Rob Hardwick’s installation as 12th bishop of Qu’Appelle, was in its writing, said one judge. “Event coverage rarely produces really good articles, but the turn-of-phrase of the journalist and the selection of quotes is exceptional.” Rev. William Portman’s feature article on the Lectionary was in an “original, easy-to-read style” that was “well-written” and “relevant to the audience.” The theological reflection by Bishop Michael Hawkins received high praise from the judge. The article “is a succinct and beautifully informative response to a well-known hymn. “Bishop Michael successfully weaves the central message of the hymn with a commentary, solidly based on his own experience. Stewardship means giving as we have received and forgiving as we have forgiven ... . “The column has a both a strong lead sentence and an equally strong ending.” The front page of the December 2013 was described by another judge as being “simple and clean,” with “simple art representing the story well.” It was “very clear” what the main story was.
The final national Truth and Reconciliation event By Mary Ann Assailly SASKATOON – We were welcomed to the 8,000 year old historic gathering place in traditional Treaty 6 Plains Cree territory on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, welcomed by Treaty 6, 7 and 8 First Nations and welcomed to Edmonton. We were well welcomed and we greatly responded to the invitation as thousands from across Canada gathered at the seventh and final National
Truth and Reconciliation event. “It’s About Wisdom – A National Journey for Truth and Reconciliation” was held in Edmonton from March 27-30. In opening the event, Justice Murray Sinclair, TRC Commissioner Chair, reported that before the Alberta event, the commission had collected over 12,000 statements and 4.5 million government and church documents. Commissioner Marie Wilson said, as we gathered at the event,
we were not there as conference participants, spectators or witnesses, but as “implicated witnesses” who inherited this sad chapter of Canada’s history. “We can decide together, as ancestors of the future, what we choose to leave as a legacy about what our country will become.” On the first day of the event, it was estimated that 12,000 were in attendance at the Shaw Centre and overall 3,000 first-generation survivors registered. Alberta had the largest number
of Indian residential schools and many from these schools were there, as were survivors from across Canada. We gathered to witness the stories of childhoods lost, little children, stolen from their parents and communities, being denied their language, culture, stripped of their spirituality, self-worth and identity, denied their names, to be called by number, stripped of their proud heritage, abused, raped and denied food. Church representatives
attended in large numbers to witness, show support, listen and learn how the residential school system administered by our early church, out of a misguided love, forced terrible damage on generations of aboriginal children, damage that haunts aboriginals and all of us to this day, in a belief we were saving them body and soul, saving them from poverty and ignorance, teaching them English or French to assimilate them into the white world. See ‘Final TRC’ on page 4
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The love of God wants to expand outwards, not inwards, to others What is the benefit of the Trinity? By Archdeacon Daniel Hughes SASKATOON – On our journey from the season of Advent through to Trinity Sunday, the overarching message from the readings has been the showing forth of God’s love to us thought Jesus Christ. St. John reminds his readers that God is love (1 John 4:8). This is not to say that love is a god but rather, it is the attribute of God to be love or loving. God has also revealed to us that it is a part of the divine nature to be eternal (Deut 33:27). This being the case, God’s attribute of being love is also eternal and existed before the creation. But this raises an important question: if divine love, which exists eternally, is not to be some kind of narcotic selfabsorbed love, does there not need to be someone else to love? And here the revelation of the mystery of the Holy Trinity
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • January 2013
tells us that it has always been the nature of God to eternally express the divine love to the other persons within the Trinity. The divine love never has been self-absorbed but has, as all true love must, concern itself with the one or ones to whom the love is directed. Richard of St. Victor, (d.1173) a prominent mystical theologian, and prior of the famous Augustinian Abbey of Saint Victor in Paris, wrote: “For God to be good, God can be one. For God to be loving He has to be two because love is always a relationship.” And then he went on to say, “For God to be supreme joy and happiness God has to be three.” It might be like two parents on the delivery a new-born child! God’s divine love is so strong that it expressed itself in the creation of the universe in which we are all a part. The love and joy within the Trinity is expressed within creation and especially in the heart of humanity, when it is expressed through us by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).
St. Bonaventure, an Italian medieval scholastic theologian and philosopher, thought of this as “a fountianfullness of love.” The image here is of a neverending flow of water illustrating the love of God that wells up within us and spills out to others. The love of God is never turned inwards but always wants to expand outwards to others. In this way the Christian life is not just about living by rules or precepts in a construct of rewards and punishments. Rather it is actually about sharing and participating in God’s life in which the foundation is love in relationship. The most profound depth of divine love is shown most fully in the Father, sending His only begotten Son, who then freely gave of Himself to die for us and for our salvation. Here in this sacrificial action on the cross is the nature of Trinitarian love most clearly displayed and it is where we learn most clearly how we ought to love each other. It has been rightly said that
what you understand about God is going to be how you understand yourself and how you will live your life in regards to others. It is at the cross where we learn by Christ’s example, that God’s love and Christian love by their very nature are sacrificial. They give before they receive. In the mid 20th century, many mainline theologians and preachers considered the doctrine of the Trinity to be an embarrassment and something that got in the way of interfaith relationships. Rather, the doctrine of the Trinity and its benefit is a wonderful gift we can bring to others. The nature of the Gospel tells us it is. Benefit from understanding what has been divinely revealed about the Trinity centres all around relationships, for it is in relationships that the nature of God is revealed and it is in relationships that human life is given meaning and in which humanity and all of creation finds its fullness of joy and happiness.
Doctrine of the Trinity draws us into a world larger than we can ask or imagine By Rev. Norbert Haukenfrers PRINCE ALBERT – The Christian faith is at once amazingly simple and astonishingly complex. In the Creeds we state that we believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Within this three persons, one God, there is a dynamic of love that flies in every direction in unpredictable and unanticipated ways, interrupting our plans and re-imaging our dreams. In A.D. 325, the Council of Nicea agreed on the Creeds, although not without its opponents. More than 75 years later the controversy was still active, as Augustine wrote De Trinitate in an effort to explain that the divinity and co-equality of Father, Son and Holy Spirit are rooted in Scripture.
But more than that, Augustine wanted his readers to see that their identity, as followers of Jesus, is linked to seeing themselves as images of the Triune God. But try wrapping your head around that! It was not until John of Damascus (d.749) that we had the image of a round dancer (perichoresis) developed to help us grapple with the Trinity. John imagined three, joy-filled dancers, with arms interlocked, dancing in harmony and freedom. In this ongoing flurry of activity in the circle dance of God, Leonard Sweet says, there is “intimacy, equality and unity — yet distinction, relationship and love.” When we speak of the relational life of God, we are dealing in a fine China and silver mystery, which is at once
Prayers, support needed for Mexico trip Contributed SASKATOON – The 2014 Diocesan Baja Mexico Mission is about ready to go. We have a team of 28 participants from parishes from around the diocese. Twenty-eight missioners who
Saskatchewan
are prepared to go beyond their normal comfort zone. Twenty-eight participants who are giving of their time and energy, to leave the comforts of their homes to travel to do God’s work in another country. These people – housewives, farmers, teachers and retirees – will
to be treasured and used for our daily bread. It is a mystery that we need more than ever in our cold and stainless world that over-respects efficiency and practicality. The Doctrine of the Trinity draws us into a world larger than we can ask or imagine. The circle dance of the three persons as one God, one God and three persons is a dance that we are drawn into. It is not an expanding circle, for it already includes everything. We are drawn in by the Triune God, who Eugene Peterson explains, is extending His hand “pulling us into the Trinitarian activity of holy creation, holy salvation and holy community.” The Doctrine of the Trinity helps us understand we are drawn into the activity of an
already present and active life of God. No matter how many dance moves we learn or how long we have been dancing, we will always be placing our steps in the Master’s patterns, learning new ways of living and loving. We follow his steps — we are no longer living on our own terms but following the Master’s playful patterns of great organic creativity. Every move we make, it is made in the studio of His good creation. This Perichoretic way of knowing God invites us into a studio where the mirrors do not reflect what we see every morning. The Doctrine of the Trinity invites us into the studio whose mirrors keep us alert to what our moves should look and feel like, for they reflect the image of the Triune God.
be building, painting, measuring, cutting and hammering wood. They will be climbing ladders, building not just a home, but building hope, bringing love and growing in a new relationship with God’s people in a different part of our world. This mission is as much about building relationships as it is about building homes. We ask
for your prayers and continuing support as we get ready to leave this June. Also keep in your prayers those from our diocese building homes in Saskatoon, Lloydminster and Humbolt with Habitat for Humanity and those building homes in Haiti and other disaster areas through the PWRDF.
anglican
Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle. Published monthly except for July and August. Whole No. 292, Vol. 42, No. 10 A Section of the Anglican Journal SUBSCRIPTIONS For change of address, undeliverable copies and subscription list updates, contact: • Your parish • e-mail: circulation @national.anglican.ca • Or send to Saskatchewan Anglican, c/o Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ont. M4Y 3G2
RATES $10 in Canada $17 outside Canada SUBMISSIONS Submissions for the September issue must be recieved by the diocesan editor no later than Friday, July 25. All pictures must be sent as JPEGS and 1 MB (megabyte) in size. CONTACT INFORMATION Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail.com 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Phone: (306) 737-4898 Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin joannesm@myaccess.ca 6927 Farrell Bay Regina, Sask., S4X 3V4 Phone: (306) 775-2629 Saskatoon: Peter Coolen ptrcoolen@sasktel.net 820 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, Sask., S7M 1Z3 Phone: (306) 244-0935, Saskatchewan: Amy Dow amy.elizabeth.dow@gmail.com 1308 Fifth Avenue East Prince Albert, Sask., S6V 2H7 Phone: (306) 763-2455 PUBLISHING DETAILS Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Printed and mailed by Webnews Printing Inc. 8 High Meadow Place North York, Ont. M9L 2Z5
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A lament using Psalm 69 By Amy Dow BIRCH HILLS (Skwn) – Have you ever been in those situations where you just have no words to say? Your grief is beyond expression; your pain, beyond words? I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I have had times when I struggled to pray and be faithful in my doing, so in both making my plea yet continuing to praise Him. Psalm 69 helped me do just that! It gave me the stepping stone I needed. It allowed me to bring to life my own story as I paraphrased it into a song! (Now, in no way am I claiming to be innocent. Moreover, I am saying I felt I was in a time when I was alone and misunderstood.) It allowed me to pray as David once did. Originally a Psalm by King David, this song is a lament, particularly to a situation in which a faithful Israelite is suffering wrongs for what he has done with others attacking him, taking advantage of his suffering and making it worse. The English Study Bible commentaries note the New Testament applies several pas-
sages from here to the life of Christ. It also says we are to remember David was the representative of God’s people and so, in that role, he wrote this as a prayer suitable for you and me to pray as an ideal response to trials. What a blessing to have in times of distress, wouldn’t you say? Pull out your Bible and take a read of Psalm 69, reading it against this paraphrase. If it rings a bell with you, maybe write down how you would paraphrase it if you are in a comparable situation and see how it lends itself to prayer. The following is my paraphrase of Psalm 69 in song form. 1. Surrounded by hate, by a million or more/Destroy me, they would, false witnesses all in store./God sees all, from His Heavenly seat/My wrongs and Tears He sees 2. To those who trust, take it not away/For my Sake, My LORD, dishonour not they./For your name, I’m made to hide away,/I’ve become a stranger, to my family Ch: Save me, O God/The waters are chasing me/I sink in
mire/I’m tired of this crying Br: I’m waiting for God/Hide not from me, God/Show your face, Bring me near ... Yahweh! 3. For you, I suffer, night and day,/They think I’m wasting my time, that’s what they say/Their words are breaking me,/Your Refuge, no longer I see 4. Yahweh, won’t you punish them? Your Child’s strength is spent/She hopes that they would be, dealt with accordingly/My life is drained from me./Lord, Protect and Deliver me 5. Struggling, I will not leave, His praises for another day/All those; oppressed, I hope you see, God is great and bigger than we/Let our hearts sing His praise,/For He delivers for his name 6. Created, we Praise His name and see his saving grace Zion and Judah, all those who obey, will live in joy./Don’t you see how great He is?/I should know He’ll take care of this! Final Bridge: The Lord will answer me,/And so I will give glory/Praise His name, love Him true ... Yahweh!
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14: 28-31). Photo — Contributed
Rev. Christopher Snook leaving Regina for Halifax By Jason Antonio REGINA – Rev. Christopher Snook of St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Regina is headed home. Snook has served four years at St. Luke’s, Regina, and before that, served parishes in the northwest of the province and in Cleveland, Ohio. The Regina priest accepted a call to serve a parish in his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he will begin his new duties as Rector of St George’s (Round) Church in late summer. “St. George’s is my home congregation, where I first experienced the extraordinary vitality and transformative power of classical Anglican worship, coupled with intense outreach. “I feel a genuine call to be in the presence of this vision and these friends again,” Snook explained. “Leaving is very difficult,” he continued. “St Luke’s has been a blessing. I leave it with a heavy heart, but trusting that if my call home is genuine, then the Lord also has a vision for St Luke’s that will be deeply and profoundly life-giving. “The people of St Luke’s have been infinitely patient and
kind.” He also expressed thanks to Deacon Susan Page for her work at St. Luke’s and to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle’s bishop and clergy, with whom he formed many friendships over the past four years. Reflecting on his time in Regina, Snook explained he attempted to teach three things to the people of his parish. The first was the key doctrines of the Christian faith, including the Trinity and Incarnation, are not “fussy and dusty nor irrelevant, but the very heart of our hope and the joy of our souls.” The second teaching was the “old” forms of the Christian tradition deserve to be recovered in an age where souls are increasingly seeking ancient forms of faith and practice. “It seems to me that recovering the classical, catholic forms of prayer and discipleship that we have received as Anglicans is the best way forward for the mission of the Church and the cultivation of personal holiness,” he explained. The third teaching was that outreach requires sacrifice, “for true love always demands an offering of ourselves.” These principles were pursued in many practical
Rev. Christopher Snook (centre) lights the Paschal Candle during this year’s Easter Vigil service at St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Regina. Snook, who spent four years ministering at St. Luke’s, is moving home to Halifax at the end of the summer to take up a new position. Photo — Nigel Salway ways at St. Luke’s, via such means as an emphasis on Christian education, offering an annual summer daycamp, outreach initiatives, anniversary celebrations, the re-lighting of the parish cross and introducing new music and musicians to the
parish. “My sincere hope is simply that we have learned to carry one another towards the Lord a little better,” Snook added, with “a little more patience, a little more forgiveness, a little more
self-examination, a little less judgement and constant growth in love. “If nothing else, I have certainly given people ample opportunity to exercise patience, forbearance and mercy towards me.”
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FINAL TRC Continued from page 1 In the display area, displays showed how the TRC’s “Missing Children Project” is working with survivors, Aboriginal organizations, vital statistics offices and churches in documenting the deaths and burial places of children who died while attending residential school. To date, the TRC had identified the names of, or information about, more than 4,100 children who died of disease or accident. Nancy Hurn from the National Anglican Archives continues her diligent searching on our behalf and we know they now have most of the names of students who died at Battleford Industrial School and are working on the names at St. Barnabas, Onion Lake; Esther Wesley, co-ordinator of the Anglican Healing Fund, displayed the summary and work of the Healing and Reconciliation projects, province by province. Between 1993 and 2011, 32 Healing and Reconciliation projects were funded in Saskatchewan totaling $356,881. There were also strong presentations, such as “Pearls of Wisdom,” which explores ways indigenous communities can embrace cultural traditions to address internalized violence and recover the honour of Indigenous women and girls.
The Alberta churches had worked hard to prepare the Churches Listening Area, where survivors and their families had opportunities to connect with a representative from the Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic or United churches who ran the schools on behalf of the government.
Church representatives attended in large numbers to witness, show support, listen and learn how the residential school system administered by our early church, out of a misguided love, forced terrible damage on generations of aboriginal children, damage that haunts aboriginals and all of us to this day, in a belief we were saving them body and soul ... They used the reports from the six pervious national gatherings and built on their strengths. They also had hundreds of prayer shawls and lap blankest from across Canada and the United States; every survivor, who visited the Church’s Listening area, was invited to choose one. Daily, at a designated time,
the church area was overflowing with observers to surround the “Listening Circle.” The Listening Circle was comprised of as many as eight survivors and always four church representatives. As the feather was passed around the circle stories were told, honesty spoken, apologies given, forgiveness given, survivors wept, the church wept and we the observers wept. Many tissues of tears were collected for the sacred fire. The TRC Commission is slated to end its work in June 2015, when it issues a final report reflecting six years of work. Documents, research materials and stories will be housed digitally at the TRC National Research Centre at the University of Manitoba, which is slated to open in 2015. It is to be a special place where Canadians can come and see their history that honours and respects the Indian Residential School legacy and the survivors. There are plans for the archives to be shared digitally across the country. Back to Commissioner Wilson’s words: “We can decide together, as ancestors of the future, what we choose to leave as a legacy about what our country will become.” I would add we must take these words of wisdom and make them ours. “What will we do together?”
Derek Nicholls dies suddenly Contributed REGINA – Rev. Derek Nicholls, most recently an honorary assistant at St. James the Apostle, Regina, died on May 7 at his home in Regina. He was ordained to the priesthood in England in 1966, after a first career as a schoolteacher. He served in in Edmonton, England, Yukon, British Columbia and northern Alberta before coming to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle as incumbent of St. Mary’s Regina, in 1987. Although he officially retired in January 1998, Rev. Nicholls
was still a very active priest. He celebrated the Eucharist regularly at St. James and was actually scheduled to do so on the morning of his death. Rev. Nicholls was born in 1932 in Cardiff, Wales, and was very proud of his Welsh heritage, was active in the local St. David’s Society, as well as the Monarchist League of Canada. He was a priest associate of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine. He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Margaret, and their two sons. Rev. Nicholls’ funeral was held May 12.
Qu’Appelle notes and events Bless Your Ride in Rosetown St. Andrew’s Trinity, Rosetown, is holding “Bless Your Ride” day on Sunday, June 1. The church service is at 10:30 a.m., followed by a lunch and the blessing of all the vehicles in the parking lot – cars, trucks, bicycles, anything with wheels. Everyone is welcome, but please call 306-882-3938 and leave a message with a head count so lunch can be planned. St. Lucy’s centennial – July 6 St. Lucy’s Church, Dilke, is 100 years old. Although it has been decades since the parish closed,
the little building remains. All former parishioners and clergy, and their descendents, are invited to the centennial celebration service July 6 at 2 p.m. Rev. Catherine Harper will be the celebrant and preacher. For further details, please call 306-638-4855. New bishop for companion diocese Paisible Ndacayisaba has become the second bishop of Muyinga. This diocese in Burundi, Africa is a companion diocese of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle.
Diocese of Saskatoon Announcements June 2014 Centring Prayer at the Cathedral: If you are longing for a little more quiet, solitude and an opportunity to “be still”, please join Sarah Donnelly on Sunday mornings for 20 minutes of Centring Prayer at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. This is an ancient form of prayer grounded in the Christian Mystical Tradition. The group will meet in the Dean’s office at 9:45 a.m. for a 10-minute teaching reflection on some aspect of Centring Prayer, followed by 20 minutes of meditative silence that will begin at 9:45 a.m. and end at 10:15 a.m. Friends and Family Service: St. George’s, 624 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, 7 p.m., every Friday night. Informal music and prayer focused on families. Grief and Loss Retreat: Transitions: Your Journey of Transformation through Grief and Loss. This retreat will be held on Thursday, June 12, from 6:30 p.m. to Sunday, June 15,
1 p.m.,at the Queen’s House Retreat and Renewal Centre, 601 Taylor Street W, Saskatoon. Cost is $390 (live-in). This retreat is limited to 12 participants. Registration deadline is June 9. For more information, please phone 306-242-1916 or e-mail info@ sarahdonnelly.ca. Program in Ecumenical Studies and Formation: The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism has announced the new Program in Ecumenical Studies and Formation to start this summer, to be held from June 24-27. The program will be offered in Saskatoon each summer, with basic and advanced modules. The venue, tuition, instructors and other details will be announced soon. For more information contact Dr. Darren E. Dahl at director@ pcecumenism.ca. Integrity/Saskatoon: Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral, 816 Spadina Crescent East at 7:30 p.m.
This is a group of the GLBTT community and friends. For more information call 306491-3315 or visit the Integrity/ Saskatoon website at www. integritysaskatoon.blogspot. com or the Facebook page at “IntegritySaskatoon”. “Fam Jam” at the Cathedral: This family friendly time of music and fun takes place at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, after the 10:30 a.m. service, in front of the grand piano. Join an all-ages group of family and friends to have fun, share skills and make some music. All levels of musicians are most welcome and encouraged to attend. If you don’t want to join the “Fam Jam”, but have some instruments laying around the house, such as shakers, ukuleles or tambourines, the Cathedral can put them to good use! For more information, contact Rev. Emily Carr. Prison Support: The Micah Mission is in need of people who are willing to give an hour or two a week to help support
people in prison or recently released from prison. There is a growing need for Circles of Support and Accountability in Saskatoon. Please contact Dave Feick, coordinator at The Micah Mission. For more information and to volunteer call 306-653-3099. Appointments, Retirements, etc. Archdeacon Peter Young, Regional Archdeacon for the Western Deanery, retired May 31. Rev. Emily Carr has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of St. George’s Anglican Church, Saskatoon, on a half-time basis. Emily will also be associate priest at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on a halftime basis. Rev. Canon John Flynn passed away on April 9, in Chemainus, B.C. Advance Notices: The Diocesan ACW Retreat
in 2015: The planning for the next Anglican Church Women’s Bi-Annual Retreat, which is scheduled for September 2015, has begun. If you have ideas or experience in planning events, please join the Retreat Planning Team! Meetings will be scheduled at mutually convenient times. To volunteer or find out more, contact Elaine Hrycenko at 306-955-5522 or email e.p.h@ sasktel.net. In order to be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be supplied to the Associate Editor by fax, e-mail or “snail mail” by the last week of the month, two months before the month in which the insertion is desired (for example, December submissions will be in the February issue). Detailed and longer texts of upcoming events will not be included in this section, but should space allow, could be the subject of article and notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.
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Two new priests for Qu’Appelle By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA – Rev. Lauren Miller and Rev. Dustin Resch were ordained to the priesthood in a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral on April 26. Many people came from Coteau Hills Parish (Rosetown area) to support Rev. Miller and from Moose Jaw to support Rev. Resch. The service began with a colourful procession of lay people, deacons, priests, the ordinands and their presenters, and even two bishops. Bishop Greg KerrWilson, former bishop of Qu’Appelle and currently bishop of Calgary, attended the service, along with the presiding bishop, Bishop Rob Hardwick. In his sermon, Rev. Dean Pinter spoke about the gospel writer, Mark, sometimes referred to as John-Mark. He said most of the early references to John-Mark are not very auspicious, as possibly the young man who runs away naked in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the companion who abandons the Apostle Paul on his missionary journey. However, Pinter pointed out, John-Mark was obviously given second and third chances to redeem himself,
Archdeacon Mary Ann Boote (left) witnesses Rev. Dustin Resch and Rev. Lauren Miller sign the declaration, that as priests they will follow the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Anglican Church of Canada, before their ordination on April 26 in St. Paul’s Cathedral in Regina. Photo — Margaret Ball and in later Epistles, Paul refers to him as “fellow worker” and “useful in my ministry.” Pinter said, “Faithfulness
is measured in the long run. Mistakes and miss-steps are inevitable.” He said our lives are not defined by struggles or our
failures, but by our whole lives, so encouraged his audience to live so others might know the love which has been lavished on us.
He recommended that the new priests take advantage of older, more experienced priests, as mentors, “talk with them, certainly golf with them,” he added, to laughter from the congregation. Pinter has connections with both ordinands. He and Miller worked together at Eston College for more than 10 years; he has been friends with Resch since moving to St. Aidan in 2012, where he also served as his “training incumbent.” Lauren Miller was presented for ordination by Ruth Miller, Rev. Pinter, Rev. Val From and Archdeacon Dell Bornowsky. Dustin Resch was presented by Jolene Resch, Canon Catherine Harper, Rev. Christopher Snook and Rev. Helen Dunn, a friend who is now at the cathedral in Calgary. The Eucharist was celebrated as part of the ordination service. Bishop Hardwick invited anyone who wished to receive a blessing from the newly ordained priests to do so, with many in the congregation taking this opportunity. Following the service, everyone was invited to a buffet supper, the first to be served in the newlycompleted Bagnall Hall.
Rev. Peter Norman installed as Canon Contributed
Dusting off a window Dean Mike Sinclair, rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, dusts off a stained-glass window in the corridor that leads into the enhanced columbarium at the cathedral. The window was placed during construction of the new facility. Photo — Jason Antonio
T H E B AT T L E F O R D S (S’toon) – On April 13, P a l m / P a s s i o n S u n d a y, Bishop David Irving joined the Battle River Parish in worship. The service began in the outer hallway o f S t P a u l ’s A n g l i c a n Church with the Liturgy of the Palms, before processing into the church for the rest of the service. During the service, R e v. P e t e r N o r m a n w a s installed as a Canon of the Diocese of Saskatoon. R e v. N o r m a n h a s served our diocese, in the Battle River Parish, for the past seven years. Before that, he and his family served in p a r i s h e s o n Va n c o u v e r Island. After the service, everyone joined together for a wonderful potluck lunch.
On Palm Sunday, Bishop David Irving (left) installed Rev. Peter Norman, of Battle River Parish, as a Canon in the Diocese of Saskatoon. Photo — Joan Irving
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FROM DEMOLITION
A visual of the life, death and re-birth 1) A view of the Reading Room, facing east. This room was also used as the coffee room after services and as the coat room. 2) The Reading Room facing west. 3) Shelly Hawes snaps a picture of the upstairs hall, facing south. 4) The upstairs hall, facing north. Located on stage was a small storage container on the left side,
which held the supplies of the cathedral, as well as the various social groups which used the upstairs hall. 5) The upstairs kitchen, after the two sinks were ripped out. 6) The downstairs kitchen, which was used for its oven, to make coffee and wash dishes. 7) The outside of the hall, which also contained the Green and Red Rooms,
Sunday School Room and baby playrooms. 8) The start of demolition, looking south,, which began in early November 2012. The demolisher works on the east side of the building, ripping down the former apartment and kitchen. 9) The east side of the hall, with half of the wall ripped out. As can be seen, both sides of the hall con-
tained eight to 10 windows. 10) A better look at the east side of the hall, without walls. The scooper cleans up the mess it has made. 11) A view of the remains of the hall building, looking east. The pine tree will be the only thing to survive after this portion of the building is removed. 12) After the lower half of the building is finally torn down, the scoop shovel
begins cleaning up the debris left behind. 13) A view of the site, once all the debris has been cleaned up and cleared out. Eventually that chimney will be gone too. 14) The scoop shovel continues to clean up. 15) The choir room, located under the cathedral, next to the columbarium. All photos this page — Jason Antonio
The Saskatchewan Anglican
June 2014
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h of St. Paul’s Cathedral’s new facility 1) A bobcat uses a posthole auger to dig holes, so cement piles can be laid for the building to rest upon. 2) The unfinished interior underneath the cathedral, which will be used by the columbarium, for such things as new niches to hold urns. 3) The unfinished i n s i d e s o f t h e c l o i s t e r,
looking west. 4) Cement piles wait for the floor of the hall to be laid and the building constructed. 5) The roof is placed on the new hall, after the walls have been put in place (spring/summer 2013) 6) The entrance to the n e w f a c i l i t y. 7) The hall and cloister are nearly complete, with
some minor additions being made to the c l o i s t e r, u n d e r t h e o r a n g e tarp (winter 2014). 8) Celebrating the opening of the new “community centre” with a festive feast! After the Palm/Passion Sunday service and dedication of the new building, parishioners gathered together for lunch. 9) The inside of the
n e w c l o i s t e r, f a c i n g w e s t . Like much of the new building, this room will be used for a multitude of purposes. 10) Inside the new kitchen, looking west. 11 ) T h r e e n e w s i n k s and a much better dish w a s h e r, i n t h e n e w kitchen looking east. 12) The new choir room, with plastic milk crates used to store music
supplies, sheet music and the like. 13) Dean Mike Sinclair g i v e s h i s c l e rg y colleagues a look at the finished area underneath the cathedral, which will be used by the columbarium in the future. Photos 10 and 12 c o u r t e s y M a r g a re t B a l l . Remaining photos — Jason Antonio.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
June 2014
Joyful dedication of newly-built cathedral community centre By Laura Pogue REGINA – It was a cool spring morning, but a morning filled with light and warmth as folks gathered in the church hall at St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was Palm Sunday and they should have been in the church waving palm branches and singing ‘Hosanna,’ but this was the blessing of the newlybuilt hall, known as St. Paul’s Community Centre. Years of planning and fundraising had gone into this project and now they could see the fruits of their labours. Many members of the congregation commented on how lovely the light was in the hall. It was just filled with light! Sweet, beautiful, eye-
St. Paul’s Cathedral’s new “community centre,” including a new hall, cloister, offices, bathrooms, elevator-lift and other amenities. Photo — Jason Antonio popping light! Bishop Rob Hardwick blessed and dedicated the community centre and prayed that the mortgage would be paid easily. Then the entire
congregation processed into the church through the new cloister for the Service of the Palms. In his time with the children, Dean Mike Sinclair told them the community centre was their
space, their place where they could learn to love, share and grow. A place to explore, play hide-and-seek, learn about God and eventually take it over when they became adults.
The ceremonies concluded with lunch and Dean Sinclair introduced a number of special people to parishioners, including Anthony Cameron, the architect, and Daryl Andrews, the structural engineer. He also thanked Susan Haacke for her dream and vision of the new hall and then thanked Jim Melville, who had chaired the Building in Faith committee. The Dean noted that Jim had spent “thousands and thousands of hours” on this work over the past five years, to which Jim replied, “I didn’t lift a hammer and I didn’t pound a nail.” Come on over and see your cathedral’s new community centre, filled with light!
St. Paul’s ‘long haul’ for a new hall By Jason Antonio REGINA – When Anthony Cameron looks at the new Edna Forbes Cloister, part of the new “community centre” at St. Paul’s Cathedral’s in Regina, he can’t help but feel good. The local architect was the one who helped design the new room, which is attached to the cathedral on its north side, replaces the old “Reading Room” and provides a new entrance to the cathedral itself. (A cloister, as defined by Dictionary.com, is “a covered walk, especially in a religious institution, having an open arcade or colonnade usually opening into a courtyard.”) And by the way, Cameron is a parishioner at St. Paul’s Cathedral as well. “It felt good. It feels really good” to have helped with the cloister, the architect said April 13, after the cloister, new hall, kitchen and offices were officially dedicated by Bishop Rob Hardwick in a special Palm/Passion Sunday service. “The best part about it is the reaction,” Cameron continued. “And throughout the project, I was low-key – nobody really knew I was part of it, so the fun part is seeing the people’s surprise by that. The best part is seeing how happy people are to be using it.” The architect credited a number of people “behind the scenes” who helped make the cloister a possibility, such as the technical team doing drawings and designers who helped make the cloister look as it does now. “Personally, (the cloister) is my favourite part of the
Bishop Rob Hardwick blesses the new cathedral hall and facilities with water, assisted by server Drew Markestyn, on Palm Sunday. Photo — Jason Antonio project,” Cameron added. “I was very involved in the design of it. “The dining hall and the entrance were already conceived by (project organizer) Walker Projects. The cloister was our gem.” The entire facility is connected directly to the cathedral, making the building and its columbarium fully accessible. An elevator-type lift was also installed, to make it easier to access the columbarium. The hall is named after major donors Bertha and Maurice Bagnall, while the cloister is named after Edna Forbes, another major donor. The cloister links the new facility and cathedral with “a striking blend of contemporary
and traditional architecture,” according to a press release from the cathedral. Other “welcome features” during the service included the sound of the organ, under wraps for two years, and the 1884 bishop’s crozier, stolen and recovered in late 2013 and repaired recently. Another person relieved to have a new hall and facility is cathedral church warden Basil Pogue. “I’m very happy. It’s been a long haul for this congregation,” he said with a chuckle. “What has it been, eight (or) nine years? That’s a long time for a congregation to live in limbo and not be sure if it’s actually going to get there” to build a new hall. Pogue joked it would be a
“relief” to many people to have working bathrooms, especially on the main floor of the facility. The new bathroom is fully accessible, which is something a number of parishioners will appreciate. Overall, the entire facility is well laid out, with the cloister Pogue’s favourite spot. It’s “a beautiful space, which will add immensely to people’s concept of St. Paul’s.” Pogue pointed out many people don’t know where the Anglican cathedral in Regina is, even those people who attend church downtown. With a new hall, cloister and facility, it will all become a focal point for many people downtown. The colour scheme of the hall and facility also makes an
“immense difference” compared to the old hall. Pogue explained it had a very dark floor and plywood walls which didn’t make it light and spacious. It may have had big windows, but they didn’t open. “This one actually has windows that open,” he added emphatically. He added he hopes to see the new facility used by many people and that it will become “one of the treasures of downtown Regina.” During the Palm Sunday service, more than 225 St. Paul’s parishioners gathered for the exciting dedication of the new hall and facilities. The service started with as much of the congregation as possible fitting into the new hall, with those who couldn’t squeeze in just outside the doors. After all the ministers of the service and choir had entered, Bishop Hardwick then made the blessing. “We, too, cry out this day. Yes, in remembrance of the Sunday of palms, but also with heartfelt thanks,” he said, “for the miracle of this building in faith and for the Lord’s faithfulness, even when at times we may have doubted that this was possible. Palm Sunday marked a stage in Jesus’ sacrificial journey. “This day, too, marks a stage, not only in terms of the sacrificial giving that has taken place, and also for the giving which is still required to clear the mortgage,” the bishop added to much laughter, “but also the sacrificial ministries that will turn this building into the very meeting place with Christ Jesus, our great Saviour and Lord.”
The Saskatchewan Anglican
June 2014
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James Settee students learn at Wycliffe College By Amy Dow PRINCE ALBERT – Wycliffe College hosted five James Settee College students from Saskatchewan this past March as part of a two-week exchange. Two colleges, Wycliffe College, an evangelical Anglican Seminary in Toronto and James Settee College in Saskatchewan, have come together to provide education to indigenous men and women from James Settee College seeking to serve as lay or ordained ministers. The students participated in the communal life of Wycliffe by speaking in Chapel, dining with students in the Refectory (their cafeteria) and attending worship.
As part of their curriculum, the students took Theology of the Prayer Book, the Gospel of John, instructed by Dr. Gary Graber, principal of James Settee College, and the Book of Philippians, led by Renee Monkman, a PhD student at the University of Toronto. As Antoine Rutherford, a student at Wycliffe witnessed, each course involved discussions from the students, so the teaching was placed in context with their ministry in the northern communities of rural Saskatchewan. Both courses were for credit at James Settee College and go toward the students’ diploma. The students also met with two indigenous bishops, Bishop Mark MacDonald (the Anglican
Church of Canada’s first National Indigenous Bishop) and Bishop Adam Halkett (Bishop of Missinipi) for a time to visit and learn. Other activities included a visit to Niagara Falls and lunch with the Principal of Wycliffe College, Rev. Canon George Sumner. The students found the whole experience enriching as Tony Michel, a lay reader from Pelican Narrows, said, “The program we attended was a learning experience that I’ll never forget, in that I learned Scriptures in more detail. “The teachers were so knowledgeable about the Bible and also the people we met were so kind and the food was all good.”
Students from James Settee College grab a chair and rest their feet, during a two-week trip in Toronto to Wycliffe College. From left: Robyn Bird, Tony Michel, Rev Lloyd Young, Jason Sanderson and Rev. Canon Angus Sewap. Photo — Contributed
Unique homework assignment garners media attention Contributed VERNON (Qu’A) – Bruce Farrer, a member and longtime organist and warden at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Vernon (near Qu’Appelle) has recently achieved international attention and interest as the result of a task he began assigning his students many years ago. This assignment was first given in 1961 when he taught at Kenlis (south of Abernethy), in a one-room country school, and later to his Grade 9 English classes at Bert Fox Composite High School in Fort Qu’Appelle. Each year, all his Grade 9 students had to write a 10-page letter to themselves, which Farrer kept himself, promising to mail them back two decades later when these students would be adults, probably raising teenage children of their own.
“My rationale for assigning this,” said Bruce, was twofold. “First, I wanted them to complete an assignment that was unique, one that they would look forward to receiving, albeit not in the usual time span of a few days. “Usually we complete assignments, hand them in to be marked, get them back and then promptly throw them away, or perhaps keep them as long as June 30, when they would then go into the garbage. I would expect,” says Bruce, “that when they receive these letters, they will not be thrown away. “Secondly, I wanted them to look at where they were going, what they planned to do with their lives and evaluate if they were headed down the right path to attain those goals.” A minor benefit, he thought at the time, would be it would
Summer services to be held at St. Mary’s, P.A. By Fred Payton PRINCE ALBERT – St. Mary’s Church and Cemetery, located on Highway 302 west of Prince Albert, is the oldest Anglican Church in the Prince Albert area, having held its first service of public worship on Christmas Day 1875. Each year, services are held on the fourth Sunday of the months of June, July and August. The schedule for this summer is as follows: June 22 – Evensong, led by
the Chaplain’s Warden, Fred Payton, with Stella Demery as preacher; July 27 – Requiem Eucharist, with Bishop Michael Hawkins as celebrant and preacher; August 24 – Harvest Thanksgiving with Holy Communion, with Fr. Ken Lyons as celebrant. All services begin at 3 p.m. All Anglicans and friends are welcome to attend services in this historic church, which served as chapel to the original Emmanuel College.
give him an interesting task to work on annually in his leisurely retirement years. Bruce retired in 2002, after 40 years of teaching, but he is still in the classroom a lot, subbing in various local schools, including Bert Fox, for about 75 per cent of the school year. He still has a few hundred letters to return, as those students in his last regular class of 2002 will not receive the letters until 2022. Student could opt to receive the letters in 15, 20 or even 25 years, and a few even chose to get them back after 30 years! It has proven to be a challenge to find all the students, and in fact, Bruce has 13 letters that have accumulated from past years, for which he can’t find the owners. This year a local CBC reporter heard about the project and interviewed Bruce on CBC Radio’s Morning Edition. Within hours, the CBC television crew drove out to Fort Qu’Appelle and filmed Bruce, along with a student who had just received his letter. That appeared on various national broadcasts, and throughout the week Bruce, as well as a number of his former students, were interviewed on various Canadian and American radio stations and television networks, including CTV’s Canada A.M., CBC’s The National and the American NPR’s Then and Now. The story also became front page news in various publications including The National Post, U.K.’s Daily Mail, Ellen DeGeneres’ blog and even an article written in
Bruce Farrer, though retired, is a frequent substitute teacher and is following through on his commitment to return assignments to students, usually 20 years after they wrote letters to their future selves. Photo — Sherry Carleton Chinese. Bruce says he is still amazed at the interest in this relatively simple assignment and the media attentiont it has generated. “I think,” he told the Saskatchewan Anglican, “that the idea of following through on sending the letters back after so many years, is what has piqued their interest. Unfortunately, our society does not seem to value the concept of commitment as much as it once did. “We abandon organizations, even the church, because someone offended us or we just became less interested. We don’t take as serious the commitments that we make to our spouses or family. Even our political figures
seldom follow through on preelection promises. “Those of us in positions of authority need to realize how important our actions are, especially when dealing with our impressionable youth. It has been a lot of work each year tracing some of the the students, but once I made that commitment to them, I had to follow through.” Farrer says his long-term project has shown rural population trends in the province. About two dozen of Farrer’s students attended St. John’s Anglican Church in Fort Qu’Appelle. Of those, only two remain in the town. All the others have moved, many to other provinces.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
June 2014
Book Review
Heresy: A History of Defending the Truth, by Alister McGrath Reviewed by Rev. Canon Howard E. Green Diocese of Saskatoon Editor’s note: A version of this review has also appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of the quarterly publication Anglicans For Renewal. In his Forward to this book, Dr. Rick Warren introduces this book by writing, “In the 18th century, Irish philosopher, author and statesman Edmond Burke famously stated, “Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it.” That is why this book is so invaluable. Written by another great Irish philosopher, author, theologian and my friend, Alister McGrath, this volume brilliantly shows us why we cannot afford to ignore the lessons of church history. Alister E. McGrath is a historian, biochemist and Christian theologian. He currently holds the Andreas Idreos Professorship in Science and Religion in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford. He was previously Professor of Theology, Ministry, and Education at King’s College London and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture, Professor of Historical Theology at the University of
Oxford and was principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, until 2005. He is an Anglican priest and is ordained within the Church of England. So he is adequately qualified to write on the subject of Christian heresies. Why read such a book? Our country is full of new Christian sects springing up, some based on a revival of heresies that were rejected centuries ago by the early church. We are presented with a multitude of books and films like Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, claiming that Christian orthodoxy suppressed the truth of many ideas and groups contemporary with the New Testament writers and making outrageous claims that undermine the Christian faith. How are we to react to such claims? Alister McGrath’s book is a godsend to this generation. In the first chapter, Dr. McGrath deals with the question, “What is heresy?” He challenges the claim of some that some doctrines which were declared to be heresies were really just as true as the orthodox position but were rejected because the orthodox leaders were in a position of power. Dr. McGrath states heresy is best seen as a form of Christian
belief that, more by accident than design, ultimately ends up subverting, destabilizing, or even destroying the core of Christian faith. “Heresy represents certain ways of formulating the core themes of the Christian faith – ways that are sooner or later recognized by the church to be dangerously inadequate or even destructive.”
In the next section of the book, Dr. McGrath deals with the topics of “the background of early heresy,” “the early development of heresy,” and “Is there an essence of heresy?” In my way of thinking, the most important conclusions he reached were that the basic, authentic tenets of Christian faith date back to the life and teaching of Jesus Christ and
the interpretation of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and His teaching by the Apostles. However, there was a diversity of understanding of this basic teaching and a variety of practices in the life of the early church, which were the background of the various heresies which developed. These heresies developed within the church itself and were not forced on it by religious groups or philosophies outside the church. Understanding and development of the core “orthodox” teaching of the faith developed over time. Dr. McGrath asks the question, “Where do these reflections take us?” He answers his question in this way: “The essential point that has been established by modern scholarship is that orthodoxy is an emergent phenomenon. “It was not delivered as a ready-made package but grew, as a seed, over an extended period of time. “All the fundamental themes that would be woven into the fabric of orthodoxy were there from the beginning; as time progressed, however, they came to be expressed in ways that sometimes involved moving beyond the language and imagery of the documents that would later be incorporated
into the canon of the New Testament.” In Section 3 of the book, Dr. McGrath gives an outline of the main heresies that developed over the course of the history of the church. I’m not going to summarize what he says about them. I hope I’ve piqued your interest sufficiently that you’ll find the book and read about them yourself. But in two chapters, he describes the three early classic heresies: Ebionitism, Docetism and Valentinism, and the three later classic heresies, Arianism, Donatism and Pelagianism. Most of these heresies have reappeared in different forms through the centuries and again in our modern era. In Section 4 of the book, Dr. McGrath talks about the enduring impact of heresy. One of the points he raises in that section of the book which intrigued me the most is his suggestion that Islam’s criticisms of Christian faith are based on criticisms that the prophet Mohammed made against the heretical version of Christian faith that prevailed in the Arabia of Mohammed’s day. Heresy is not just a thing of the past. It is still very much alive and influencing the life and witness of the Christian church in our day.
‘Table for Two’ for young couples at All Saints By Linda Van Sickle REGINA – All Saints’ Parish Hall was transformed into a beautiful setting for intimate dining on the evening of April 5. Eight younger couples affiliated with All Saints enjoyed a romantic five-course dinner prepared by members of the congregation and served by five teenagers. Each couple sat in a private booth at a table for two, set with lovely linens, tableware, flowers and candlelight. Each course was accompanied by a question designed to help the couples focus on each other, reminisce, share dreams and enjoy each other’s company. A card printed with “The first time ever I saw your face ...” arrived with the first course and really got the conversation going. After dinner, those present enjoyed a light-hearted discussion about communication in relationships, led by Martin and Marie Kondzielewski, leaders with a Roman Catholic
marriage preparation ministry in Regina. The All Saints Mission Action Plan for 2014 included an intent to provide outreach and support to younger couples through a special event planned and hosted by the parish. Under the visionary leadership of Rev. Trish McCarthy, priest at All Saints, this culminated in the “Table for Two” evening. Invitations were sent out to all younger couples currently active at All Saints, to all couples who had been married at All Saints in the last six or seven years, to those currently preparing for marriage and to couples who have a connection to All Saints through family members or the baptism of their children. Everyone who came was delighted with the food, the service, the setting and the gracious hospitality provided by the parish. It was indeed an evening to remember. Many of the couples are hoping this event will be held again.
Carly Hanoski and Jason Byres, who plan to marry at All Saints this summer, enjoyed the ‘Table for Two’ evening, hosted by the parish. Photo — Gwen Vass In the words of one participant, “I was fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of this memorable event. What made it special was that it was a pure act of service with no ulterior motive. It was a true invitation: no ‘Fifteendollar cost-recovery,’ no dish of
change. The consequence was that, instead of complaining about the Church pinching pennies, my wife and I drove home talking seriously about what we could do to repay this wonderful favour. “It also proved that the Church is capable of doing
things really well, not just to the bare minimum standard. “I would rather have attended this event than anything else that night. I hope this event becomes a firm fixture and I look forward to attending or helping out with future events in any way I can.”
The Saskatchewan Anglican
June 2014
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New addition allows for more outreach at St. Giles, Estevan By Betty Ribling ESTEVAN (Qu’A) – “Never underestimate the power of prayer! There is nothing that is impossible to God.” This statement by Kimberley McRae rings true for the congregation of St. Giles. For several years, the congregation of this church had commented about the need for a lift or elevator, since many of the parishioners are reaching their senior years. Everyone agreed, but thought there would never be enough revenue. It all began when Jack and Rene Leniczek bequeathed money for church renovations. The congregation prayed for guidance and help and remembered the message in Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Things began to happen. Many hours of planning began and funds began to increase. Plans began for upgrades, which included new offices, modern wheelchair accessible
bathrooms, a lift, new kitchen area and a new front entrance which opens on 12th Avenue. The prayers were answered. St. Giles now has washrooms which are wheelchair accessible, spacious and contain a babychange table. The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, now closed, in nearby Bienfait, donated stained glass windows to St. Giles, which have been incorporated into the sanctuary. They are a beautiful addition. The new kitchen is appreciated by everyone. It is more convenient for the parish’s annual fundraisers, such as the fowl supper, lobster supper, funerals, weddings, bake sales, teas and other activities. It certainly is another asset to our church. The lift is a great convenience for those who have trouble walking up and down the stairs. It gives access to all three levels of activity and is appreciated by those with a mobility barrier. The new foyer is a bright and spacious area for greeting parishioners and guests. Parishioners are pleased to have
An addition, on the right-hand side of the existing church building, has given St. Giles, Estevan, a new kitchen, lift and wheelchair-accessible washrooms, as well as opportunities to engage in more community outreach programs. Photo — Bruce Duncan the addition blend in so well with the original structure. These renovations have given St. Giles the opportunity to participate in more community outreach programs. A community children’s choir has been organized which includes children from all denominations from ages four to 12. The church is also able to accommodate activities for Special Olympic Athletes. While the renovations became a possibility as the
result of a gift, the original church also was started with a gift, that time from St. Giles, Oxford, England. It was a memorial to the soldiers who gave their lives during the First World War. The new church was named after the donor church and also has stained glass windows that were originally in St. Giles, Oxford. Renovations took much longer than anticipated and lasted almost a year. The cost was also more than parishioners
had anticipated. It ended up costing almost one million dollars. However, with grants, loans, fundraising activities, contributions from community organizations, parishioners and other individuals, along with a great deal of prayer for help from our Father in Heaven, the parish hopes to have it paid for soon. Great things can happen when we all work together in love and harmony for the glory of God.
Veil of Tears documentary looks at outcast women By Amy Dow PRINCE ALBERT – Have you ever walked in the shoes of an Indian woman in a rural setting? If so, you know what it can feel like to be rejected, unwanted and unloved. Consider the story of Jalem. “Her family considered her a curse. “Jalem could only watch as her brothers went to school while she was forced to do heavy manual labor. “She was regularly beaten, half starved, locked away and sometimes even chained in her room. Her crime? “She was a girl. “Eventually losing all hope, she only waited for the day that she too could commit suicide … .” In a culture where women are anything but respected, they are no longer alone in fighting age-old traditions that disrespect the beauty of who God has created them to be. Whether it be female infanticide (killing of the girl child), Sati (widowed women killing themselves either jumping in their husband’s funeral pyre or by other means), widows being outcasts, girls having less chances to be
Gospel for Asia teaches southeast Asian women how to sew, among other crafts. Photo — Gospel for Asia educated and the like, there are many ways in which women are tortured for being born simply female. If you are wondering whether it will ever stop or begin to change, the time has come. It is now. Change is here. It has started with Gospel of Asia, a ministry where God uses women to reach other women! A ministry in which, not only do other women support and encourage those oppressed
by educating them in many a craft, but also in the Christian Faith. The Birch Hills Anglican, Lutheran and United Church got together to learn more about the unheard stories of these women and how the Gospel is bringing hope into their lives. On March 30, about 50 members of our community watched a documentary called Veil Of Tears, a simulcast that Gospel for Asia presented to many churches around the world. The film was 90 minutes
long and generated discussion I helped facilitate, having been raised in India. We had attendees from different denominations and areas, representing a strong sense of support from our community for these women. Donations collected came to a total of $380 that will go towards the mission. We also served Chai (Indian tea), coconut cookies, and cardamom tea and found that people responded to the documentary with comments such as “interesting,” “sad,”
“moved out of my comfort zone,” “damaging” and most clearly, “we have it pretty good.” Remember how I started with Jalem’s story? Today, she is a vibrant young woman who is making a world of a difference by serving as a missionary and sharing with other women how God has miraculously touched her life. Now the question is, how can we help? How can we encourage these women who are spreading the Gospel into homes that are broken? First and foremost. Prayer. You can support many of the missionaries by learning about their mission and praying for them. Secondly, you can give. Contact information is provided at the end of this article and finally, you can become an advocate. Spread the word! Tell people what is going on and how they can help. A little goes a long way! For more information, please visit www.gfa.ca, call 1-888-WIN-ASIA (946- 2742) and/or send donations to Gospel for Asia, 245 King Street East, Stoney Creek, Ont., L8G 1L9.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
June 2014
Archdeacon Tom Thurlow, 1923 to 2014
St. David’s beef supper is more than just a fundraiser By Noreen Hareuther
Photo — Gillian Michaels The May issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican contained a notice of the death of Archdeacon Tom Thurlow. However, a picture of him was unavailable at the time. Presented here is Tom’s picture.
Advocating for refugees MONTREAL — The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) has launched a campaign with the slogan “Proud to Protect Refugees,” to counter myths and misconceptions about refugees coming to Canada and to emphasize the positive contributions refugees often make to their new country if given the opportunity, Coleen French of the CCR told a gather-
ing in Montreal in April. The council is organizing a Canada-wide event “walk with refugees for a stronger Canada,” June 16 to 22, with local marches across the country. Pia Zambelli, a refugee lawyer, said important Canadian legal precedents that granted refugees the same rights as other Canadians are being undermined by the federal government.
PRINCE ALBERT – On March 2, St. David’s Church hosted its “50-something” annual beef supper. Originally the beef supper was one of many suppers a person could attend in the fall. Later the supper was moved to the first Sunday in February. It was far enough from the bustle of Christmas and not quite spring, so people were ready to get out for an “almost” Valentine’s meal with friends. In the last four years, we have served the beef supper on the first Sunday in March. It is a great opportunity to celebrate St David’s Day and with a “table talk” leaflet, share with the guest some of the services, events and programs that happen at St David’s. The menu of roast beef and the trimmings has remained nearly the same, although the dessert has expanded from just pie to an assortment of tasty temptations. Each place at the table has a place mat with a printed grace that is said together before the line-up begins. The men in the parish gather at the church on Thursday evening before the supper to peel 250 pounds of turnips. The evening is called “Rutabaga Night” with the subtitle “Men with Knives.” So far there have been no
casualties, except for the turnips that are supposed to get cut and diced. The men appreciate each other’s company and enjoy a time of fellowship after the turnip is cut up. The beef is purchased from a local butcher, who also volunteers to carve the beef. Two carvers from the parish who assist him claim they always learn something new about carving and taking care of their knives. This event depends on the parish’s participation and all parishioners are contacted. Many people in the parish identify St. David’s as their parish because of their involvement in this event. The beef supper was first held at the church and ran continually from 4-6:30 p.m. The hall could seat 85 people relatively comfortably. As guests finished their meal, those waiting in the church were ushered down. Outgrowing the parish hall, we moved the event into a community hall in the parish. About 10 years ago, the beef supper was moved to a larger hall in the community. We offer two sittings, one at 4 p.m. and one at 6 p.m., and are able to serve 220 people per sitting. This event pulls the parish together, as young and old work together serving our guests. New ideas have been birthed as we work side-by-side setting
tables, replenishing food and cleaning up. The beef supper began as a fundraising event to support the parish budget. However, as our understanding of being stewards grew, we wanted to help others. Information on the tables let the guests know where the tithe has gone in the past and what our current commitment is. This year two 10-per-cent tithes were given: one to our neighbourhood community school and one to a cluster of projects through Plan Canada. People in our parish support the school coaching basketball, listening to children read, providing items for their Christmas sale and items of clothing for children in difficulty. The tithe from the beef supper will help to provide clothing and personal items for children in need. These items give the children dignity and help them to continue to grow in self-respect and self-esteem. St. David’s supports foster children through Plan Canada and has seen how this attention can change lives. This tithe will allow children from conflict-affected countries to tell their stories, keep girls in school and provide food staples to families. The beef supper has become much more than a fundraiser.
From useless to useful: The story of John Mark By Jason Antonio REGINA – An interesting character in the New Testament is John Mark, whose life journey and pilgrimage had been marked by “useless stumbling,” but became one of consistency and maturity in the end. Chronologically, the first time John Mark is found in the New Testament is at the very end of the Gospel of Mark, in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus and His disciples, explained Rev. Dean Pinter of St. Aiden, Moose Jaw. Pinter described John Mark’s journey as one of “immaturity to maturity in Christ.” The priest explained for the parts with John Mark in it, scholars are skeptical this young man is really John Mark. The Gospel of Mark is the only one with this story in it. Therefore, this anecdotal material had to come from somebody close to the scene.
“Whatever it is, that opening picture of John Mark is not a very promising picture for the young man,” Pinter continued. “He’s tagging along in the garden with Jesus and His disciples … (however), he wasn’t well prepared apparently. He’s dressed only for the cold night in fine linen. “But when trouble comes, he’s stripped of his garment and runs off naked, echoing Amos 2:6 – ‘Even the bravest warriors run away naked.’” John Mark is next seen in Acts, chapters 12-13. He is the son of Mary, whose household was significant in the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Her home was a big place for prayer. “We can assume Mary was wealthy, at least wealthy enough to have a house big enough for worship meetings and for servants,” Pinter pointed out. Later in Acts, John Mark becomes a travelling assistant with the first Christian
missionaries, Paul and Barnabas. However, this young helper wasn’t useful and abandoned them when they got near the Tarshish mountains in Asia Minor (which is today Turkey). “John Mark doesn’t appear to be a model of tenacity at this point,” remarked Pinter. The young man heads back to Jerusalem, but later pops up in Acts Ch. 15, where he is at the centre of a controversy between Paul and Barnabas. John Mark wants to rejoin the group. Barnabas, his cousin, is willing to give him another shot. Paul is not. The men split, with Barnabas taking John Mark under his wing and going to Cyprus to minister. The young John Mark next appears in 1 Peter 5:13, where he is with the elderly apostle Peter in Rome. Pinter explained Peter refers to John Mark as a son, which is the first positive reference to him in Scripture. One can thus assume the young man has become a
trusted companion to Peter. “Tradition tells us that John Mark is Peter’s interpreter, and as such, composed the earliest gospel account, the Gospel of Mark, from the perspective of Peter’s relationship with Jesus. “From pampered rich kid running away to the first Gospel writer who begins his gospel about preparing the way of the Lord,” that’s a pretty good transition. John Mark then develops a friendship with the other famous apostle, Paul. In Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 1:24, he is presented as a “fellow worker” with Paul. “I like fellow worker, in contrast to flagrant deserter,” Pinter commented. “At this point, I’d love to know how John Mark restored his relationship with Paul. Sadly, we’re left to fill in the details of that pilgrimage for ourselves.” The last reference Paul makes about Mark is in 2 Timothy 4:9-11. Paul is in prison, in the “Alcatraz of his
day” in Rome. He is facing the death penalty, is lonely and has had at least one of his fellow workers abandon him in his time of greatest need. Writing, he urges Timothy to come quickly from Ephesus and bring Mark as well, “for he is useful to me in my ministry.” Pinter summarized John Mark’s life as “a life journey that had been marked by useless stumbling (which became) consistent and mature.” Pinter was talking about the overall theme of pilgrimage through the Scriptures, during a recent lecture series at St. Luke’s Church in Regina. Entitled “These boots were made for …”, the sessions covered pilgrimage in: Scripture (living a sacred life); the Canterbury Tales (sacred places); a modern pilgrimage to Mount Athos, Greece, which contain 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries, (sacred people); and the Church year (sacred time).