The Saskatchewan Anglican, Sept. 2014

Saskatchewan anglican

The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • September 2014

Churchmouse Resource Centre to close in September

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA – After 35 years of faithful ministry in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, the Churchmouse Resource Centre will be closing.

Manager Eileen Barrie (pictured right) says that, as a celebration of their successful ministry to the diocese and beyond, there will be a closing sale of all books and instock merchandise.

The sale will run until Sept. 27, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1501 College Avenue, Regina.

The Churchmouse began as a bookstore in the basement of St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, Regina, with the initiative and encouragement of the rector, Rev. Stan Sinclair. He designed and drew the unique sketch of a mouse with reading glasses and halo.

Archdeacon Peter Lucas officially opened the shop on May 16, 1978.

The first manager was Dorothy Goodale and the store was staffed entirely by volunteers. In 1991, the store moved to the second floor of the Synod Office, and became a diocesan undertaking. Marilyn Dean was the manager, until she was appointed executive assistant to the bishop. In 2000, Eileen Barrie took over as manager.

Through all the years, a group of dedicated volunteers was key to its successful ministry. Goldie Pickett is the volunteer with the most seniority. Now in her 90s, she worked as a volunteer since the very beginning. The late Joyce Cranch also had a very lengthy ministry as a volunteer, and like Pickett, served all three managers.

Barrie addes besides being a religious bookstore, the Churchmouse has been a valuable

resource centre of materials, mostly books but also some kits and DVDs, loaned free of charge.

People did not need to come to Regina to shop at the Churchmouse. Each year, more than 30 off-site sales were held in the diocese at events such as retreats, clergy conferences, synods, educational events, ACW events, teas and bazaars.

There were even off-site sales in the Dioceses of Saskatoon and Keewatin, with special orders from coast to coast in Canada, in the U.S. and as far as Australia.

The Churchmouse has been the Canadian distributor for The Order of St. Luke print materials.

However, in recent years, bookstores large and small have found it difficult to be financially successful. Barrie points out in 2000, there were 13 Anglican diocesan bookstores, plus the national church’s Anglican Book Centre. Now only seven remain.

Secular bookstores also have been suffering, with many independent bookstores closing.

Diocesan Council decided at its June meeting the diocese could no longer absorb the financial losses of the Churchmouse, despite the valuable service the store has provided for 35 years.

Photo — Joanne Shurvin-Martin

Order of Saskatchewan award given to 11 provincial recipients

By Amy Dow PRINCE ALBERT – “God is the deliverer; He acts according to His own power and will, not His people’s merits, so He alone deserves the glory. His working through people is a privilege for them, not something that earns them honor and praise.”

Above is a quote from a sermon preached by Rev. Christopher Dow, on the occasion of the induction of new members into the 2014 Order of Saskatchewan, held May 31 at St. Alban’s Cathedral.

Eleven members from the Diocese of Saskatchewan were

awarded the prestigious honour of the Order of Saskatchewan.

The award is bestowed up on certain lay members around the diocese for their service, dedication and faithfulness to the Church.

Dating back to 2002, the honour has become a mark of recognition and thanksgiving for the lives these faithful Christians have led. The following is a list of the recipients, with snippets of their biography attached.

Clifford Ahenakew – He was minister’s warden for Archdeacon Andrew Ahenakew and also for Gordon Ahenakew. He has been a vestry

member of St. Mark’s, Hines Mission Church and St. Simeon & St. Anna for over 50 years.

Even now at the age of 79, Clifford is there doing any necessary repairs to the church, shovelling the snow before a church service, attending at Communion and Wake services, is an active member in the church choir and rings the bell every Sunday.

He is also a member of the Elder’s Council for the Indigenous Bishop of Missinipi.

Betty Burningham – Betty had her own ideas of the duties of a “minister’s wife.”

See AWARDS on page 6

Bishop Michael Hawkins from the Diocese of Saskatchewan received a Doctor of Divinity in May from Trinity College.

Photo — Contributed

Michael Hawkins awarded degree of Doctor of Divinity

By Amy Dow PRINCE ALBERT – Bishop Michael Hawkins from the Diocese of Saskatchewan was honoured with a degree of the Doctor of Divinity from Trinity College on May 13.

He was awarded this degree chiefly for his service and sacrifice made to the Council of the North, where he currently serves as chair of the Council. It comes as no surprise the bishop has been awarded for this.

He has a heart for the First Nations people, for their struggles, the difficulty they face in receiving funding for education they need and for the suffering they have known.

He is not only a bishop to those people he serves, but a true disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ; one who loves as Christ would love, one who would lay down his life for his friends and truly one who intercedes for his people without end.

The formation of the man he is today began a long time ago at King’s College and Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.

From there, he went to Trinity

from 1985-88 and graduated with a Master’s of Divinity. Following that, he was ordained as a priest and served in Nova Scotia for 13 years.

Due to his nature and skill, he was invited to the Deanery of St. Alban’s Cathedral and then to the See of Saskatchewan.

This is his second honour and one he shares with Archdeacon John Michael Fletcher, who was recognized for his service and sacrifices to the Military Ordinate.

Bishop Michael received his first honour from King’s College in Halifax and Dalhousie University in the form of a Doctor’s in Sacred Theology in 2009.

In honouring him, may we so also honour the God we serve as well as the mission at hand: to serve and aid our indigenous communities in funding educational programs for their young people.

May the voice of those who labour for the healing of communities find a response in we how we act.

Glory to Our Lord and King and to Him we give thanks for a leader whose heart is after that of Our Saviour and Friend.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

Moving with the Spirit Where is stability and peace to be found in a world of change?

By Rev. Cheryl Toth SOMEWHERE IN B.C. – As I write this article, the waters of the Pacific are a shimmering sky blue and the winds bring cool relief from the hot sun.

I am on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia; my husband Jim is taking a plein air painting course here and I am accompanying him and finding adventure on the way.

Yesterday’s excursion was a three-and-a-half hour sea kayaking trip with Erika, a member of the Sechelt First Nation and my guide.

It was wonderful and I loved both what I learned about the first peoples of the area and the experience of moving with the waters of Porpoise Bay. It made me think about Peter and the other fishermen who lived by the waters of Galilee.

They needed to understand the moods and movements of the sea that was their livelihood and to be ever-responsive to its changes. They knew those waters well and they knew travelling over them wasn’t always easy.

Knowing that, one can imagine their frustration as they struggled against the wind and the rolling waves, trying to get to shore.

After a full day teaching and feeding the crowds who followed him, Jesus had sent them ahead of Him while He spent time praying on His own.

They thought Jesus was safely on shore while they wrestled in the night with the wind and waves.

In the early morning light, they saw someone walking towards them over the water.

Their frustration turned to fear and they thought they were dealing with a ghost.

Immediately sensing their terror, the figure called out reassuringly “Take heart. It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 13:27).

As soon as Peter realized it was Jesus, he wanted to join Him on the water. And he did. When Jesus commanded him to come, Peter stepped out on the water and walked toward Jesus.

But as soon as Peter noticed the strong wind and became frightened by it, he began to sink.

Jesus reached out and grabbed him by the hand.

Pulling him back to the

surface, Jesus asked him why he had doubted. Then when they both got into the boat, the winds died down and the sea was once again calm.

Why had Peter doubted?

Why do we? That seems to be at the heart of this story, which, no matter what you think of its historical accuracy, speaks to us of spiritual truth.

Life is full of winds and waves, battering us and making it harder for us to progress. But Jesus’ presence in our lives changes things in more than one way.

We can experience the calming of the winds as Jesus comes into our boat and rides with us.

Or we can, like Peter, step out into the troubling waves and walk through them.

This reality is also possible, unless we focus on our fear of what is happening rather than on the power Jesus gives us to respond in new ways.

Walking on water requires us to open our mind and heart to seeing new ways are possible, that with Jesus we can do more than we can ask or imagine.

It also means allowing for the possibility of new reality is the

first step in making it actual.

Jesus knew His disciples would experience great challenges as they followed in His way; there was no way He could prepare them for all that would come. He could only help them see that faith in Him would make a difference in what they saw as possible and what they could actually do.

And He could reassure them when they forgot and began to sink, He would reach out, pull them out of their fear and give them a way to make it to shore.

Every time we experience the rolling waves of change, the headwinds that discourage us and the fear we are never going to make it to our destination, Jesus comes to us – seemingly out of nowhere – to teach us the same truths He taught His disciples on the Sea of Galilee.

These are the truths that enable us to witness to others; in Christ we have a peace that passes all understanding, a faith that allows us to live with joy in a world of change and turmoil and a love that reaches out to others sinking in fear and despair.

Thanks be to God for the gift of moving with the Spirit into new life!

God’s peace seen in presence of friends Where is stability and peace to be found in a world of change?

By Rev. Norbert Haukenfrers PRINCE ALBERT – Last summer, while visiting friends, I went for a walk along the ocean, scrambling down the boulders, put there to counteract erosion, to get to the pebble and rock beach.

A few hours of bliss, set to the rhythm of water washing over rocks. I picked up a few smooth stones and put them in my bag.

This was a day to be remembered.

Intending to find a spot to sit and read, but it was too beautiful.

I was drinking in God’s grandeur, as if from a fire hose, it demanded my attention.

Tree roots exposed by the unrelenting surf. Starfish stranded by the tide. Rocks worn smooth

from tumbling. The sun and eagle witnessing it all. And here I was, what a gift.

Oblivious to the crisis my adventure had wrought. My brand-new, super-cool, high-tech glasses, had taken a tumble out of my bag, unknown to me.

I searched and sweated, retraced my steps. I needed them to see and read; I was here to study and learn. I searched and prayed.

And nothing at all. Blind.

Returning for supper trying to hide my weakness, in fear of betraying my worries, I ate.

Everyone else was so happy.

Immediately after supper, returning to the bank, I searched, blind in fading light. And then a convoy of friends swooped down as eagles, seeing my plight, led by the Light. They reached down between the boulders to return my

sight.

Thank God for friends, who act without speaking, who love without needing. For it is in friendship I stand in peace exposed to the sun, tumbled by the tide, with my roots exposed.

At the Eucharist, after receiving Christ’s body broken for us and His blood shed for us, we are reminded of the Peace of God that passes all understanding.

Living as gathered worshippers and sent disciples, applying our physical and mental effort to God’s activity of healing and reconciling, making all things new.

The Peace that God promises and freely gives is a peace not defined by the absence of change, crisis or conflict, but a peace that is marked by a Presence and Friendship within the crisis

or conflict, for peace is love’s security.

Christ’s post-resurrection declaration to His disciples is, “Peace be with you … Peace be with you … Receive the Holy Spirit.” This Peace removes fear, while the crisis remains and the conflict continues.

This Peace, experienced by Jesus’ disciples, is more than a psychological peace of the soul, or an absence of change or conflict. The promised Peace is experienced in a life lived with the Prince of Peace where perfect love exiles fear.

That is why I thank God for friends, who act without speaking, who love without needing.

It is in friendship I stand in peace, exposed to the sun, tumbled by the tide, with my roots exposed.

Letter to the Editor

St. George’s, Loon Lake still lives Dear editor: St. George’s Anglican Church in Loon Lake was built in 1938 and consecrated in October 1939.

It is a frame-and-stucco structure with a bell tower. The interior of the church is a naturaloiled plywood in an open beam design. Ongoing repairs have been in progress over the years.

Ceiling fans were installed in 1993.

It used to be a centre for church life and activity for the whole district. It is and has a quaint old-fashioned look, but is totally filled with the presence of God. Hundreds of parishioners have had baptisms, confirmations and marriage ceremonies in this church.

On Sept. 1-2, 1989, we celebrated our 50th anniversary with a homecoming celebration.

A once-active ACW has been disbanded, but all church members strive to carry on the work.

Our last, along longestserving, minister was Rev. Robert Stringer, who left us in spring 2013. We were sorry to see the Stringers leave, but God had other plans for them.

Despite the falling attendance, the church still holds services every second Sunday. Our lay

reader is George Rothenburger, while Bishop Michael Hawkins performs services on a monthly basis until we have a new minister. We are grateful for the help we receive from our bishop.

St. George’s has been a great inspiration in our lives and has truly been spiritually fulfilling.

Harry J. Kostiuk People’s Warden Loon Lake

Saskatchewan The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • January 2013

anglican

Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle.

Published monthly except for July and August.

Whole No. 292, Vol. 43, No. 1 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

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SUBMISSIONS Submissions for the October issue must be recieved by the diocesan editor no later than Friday, August 29. 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

The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

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Conversations with a friend

By The Right Reverend David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon SASKATOON – Some of you may have already read the article on the Mission to Baja in June. I was fortunate enough to join the group of 26 diocesan members who went to Baja to build three homes, as part of our External Diocesan Mission.

For me, it was also a time to enjoy a variety of conversations with members of our diocese as we worked together. Those conversations ranged from the mission we were involved in; what it means to be in communion with other Anglican jurisdictions and how that works; lay ministry and the orders of ordained ministry; and the difference in function of the ordained orders and how they came to be.

From those conversations, I realized many clergy take it for granted that our congregations know something about our structure and our form of

ordained ministry, but that is not always the case.

Our present form of ordained ministry, bishops, priests and deacons emerged during the first couple of centuries of the Christian Church. Bishops were chosen to exercise oversight of the area church. They normally presided at the Eucharist, assisted by the priests and deacons, readers, catechists and others. As local churches grew in size and so did the area they covered, they were subdivided

into parishes.

Bishops appointed priests to function in the parish on their behalf, though they normally reserved the right of confirmation and ordination to themselves.

Bishops also represented the universal church to the local community and viceversa. Church history tells us of numerous synods where bishops gathered to debate matters of doctrine and other issues.

These councils came to represent the consensus of the faithful and were the source of the Apostles’ and Nicene creeds we recite during our worship together.

To be in communion with the local bishop was also to be in communion with the universal church.

As time passed, some bishops became regional patriarchs or archbishops. The great East-West split of 1054 was largely about whether the Bishop of Rome or the Bishop of Constantinople should be recognised as the

“universal patriarch.”

Today the Bishop of Rome is widely recognised as the Patriarch of the West, while the Bishop of Constantinople is seen as the first among the patriarchs of Eastern Orthodoxy.

Our Anglican structure is more like that of Eastern Orthodoxy. Each province is self-governing, but is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, in which the Archbishop of Canterbury exercises a primacy but no formal authority.

Every 10 years the Archbishop issues invitations to all Anglican bishops to attend the Lambeth Conference of Bishops, where issues that affect the whole Anglican Church are debated.

I think we all recognise we do not always agree; at times there can be many stresses and strains in the church and bishops are sometimes at odds with each other.

Today the speed of modern

communications means no diocese is immune from the tensions that affect the whole church.

Far away actions and decisions also become local issues, sparking debate and controversy.

All clergy must increasingly encourage real dialogue among the members of the church, recognising unity has never meant uniformity and communion does not depend on complete agreement, but rather on commitment to Christ and one another.

I really enjoyed the conversations I had during the Baja Mission.

I had the opportunity to answer some questions and ask some of my own. I invite you to go and have a conversation with your clergyperson, ask the questions that have been on your mind, start a discussion group and learn and pray together.

You never know where it might lead.

Churchmouse’s ministry was invaluable over the years

By Jason Antonio REGINA – This column was to be about “Back to Church Sunday” on Sept. 21.

I was going to argue for changing the name of this event, as it assumes the people we are inviting have been there before.

But if only 1 out of 3 people in Canada – 33 per cent – attend regularly, that means 66 per cent of the population doesn’t.

So how can people go back to church if they have never been there in the first place?

This column would have been about that topic. But a more important story arose.

The Churchmouse Resource Centre is closing at the end of September. After 35 years of providing an invaluable ministry by providing Christian literature and other materials, the Churchmouse is closing up the mouse hole for good.

The Churchmouse was the last Anglican bookstore still open west of Kingston, Ont. From Kingston to Vancouver, that’s more than 4,600 kilometres.

The Churchmouse served many areas and regions besides Saskatchewan.

For those unfamiliar with the Churchmouse Resource Centre, it originally opened in the basement of St. Mary’s, Regina in 1979. It moved to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle’s Synod office in 1991 and occupied a room on the second floor, before being moved to the main floor after renovations. (For full story about the Churchmouse closure, see page 1).

If you didn’t know the Churchmouse was located in the Synod office, you aren’t alone. It has been one of the best-kept secrets in southern Saskatchewan.

Unfortunately, being a “bestkept secret” may have also led to the demise of this esteemed bookstore.

I popped over to the Churchmouse on a quiet Tuesday afternoon to look at what was available. On this day, any book with a green sticker was selling for a dollar. So I bought 12 books for a bargain-basement price.

The work of the Churchmouse has been valuable due to the outstanding efforts of manager Eileen Barrie and her volunteers.

If you have ever been to a one- or multi-day event somewhere in the diocese, there is usually a table somewhere filled with relevant books related to the event’s topic. Those books were most likely put there by Barrie, who, I would imagine, must have worked tirelessly ahead of

time to find such timely books.

As we were discussing the fate of the Churchmouse, I asked her how she was feeling about the impending closure. “Very sad, very sad,” she replied. I can understand why. This retired schoolteacher has shepherded the Churchmouse for the past 14 years. What was supposed to be a part-time job in retirement turned into something more than she bargained for.

As we continued our discussion, a gentleman in a dress shirt and tie came in and looked around. Eileen welcomed him to the store.

He said for the past 15-plus years, he had walked up and down College Avenue for work and had not once known the Churchmouse was there or existed. It was the balloons on the sign outside that pulled him inside.

How ridiculous is that! After the man had left, I remarked to Eileen she should do more advertising so the Churchmouse

is better known. However, due to certain legal rules and other issues, she wasn’t able to do as much advertising over the years as she would have liked.

The Churchmouse apparently can’t make more than a certain amount of money per year.

Meanwhile, one of the main communications methods for the resource centre was the Diocese of Qu’Appelle’s website.

However, that was down for many months because it was rendered unusable by a computer hacker. That obviously didn’t help in promoting the Churchmouse either.

The decision to close the Churchmouse was made at the June meeting of Diocesan Council. Finance Committee reported how much the diocese was subsidizing the resource centre and why that was unsustainable for the future.

Being on Council, I didn’t think the 2013 subsidy was all that much.

Frankly, I don’t agree with

the closure of the Churchmouse.

The diocese closing the Churchmouse is similar to a parish eliminating the youth minister position when times get tough.

Whatever’s easiest to eliminate usually goes first.

While I understand times are changing for the book industry, due to online buying and selling, the Churchmouse has served a purpose for many years. Surely more advertising of some kind could have been done.

If conventional newspaper, magazine or radio ads didn’t work, there is always advertising online. Or better yet, erect a new and better Synod Office/Churchmouse sign on the other side of the entrance to the Synod office.

One of the main reasons the suited gentleman and others don’t know about the Churchmouse is because the sign is so expertly situated, it’s almost invisible.

While she may be sad about the closure of the Churchmouse, Eileen is also optimistic for the future. “When God closes a door, He usually opens a window,” she said, explaining with the birth of a new grandchild, assisting in raising the new tyke will be her new “job” for the foreseeable future.

As for me, I will make one or more stops at the Churchmouse Resource Centre before it closes up shop for good at the end of September. Half-price books sound good to me.

I encourage you to drop by and do some browsing yourself.

You never know what book the Holy Spirit may prompt you to pick up.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

Graveyard a who’s who of local pioneers

By Tyler Clarke Prince Albert Daily Herald (Editor’s note: This article is courtesy of the Prince Albert Daily Herald newspaper.)

PRINCE ALBERT – There are few people who hold St. Mary’s Anglican Church as close to their heart as Fred Payton.

On July 27, Payton was one of a small group of Anglicans who gathered to pray for the people buried at the St. Mary’s Anglican Church’s 139-year-old cemetery.

Payton prayed for his father, Canon and his mother, Betty, who are buried on site; they are two prominent local figures in their own right. (Canon became archdeacon and Betty is in on the Prince Albert Hall of Fame).

As a historian, Payton shares his attention with various other historical figures’ gravesites throughout the historic cemetery.

John McLean – Saskatchewan’s first Anglican bishop – has a tombstone to the east of the church building.

McLean arrived in the area from Manitoba’s Red River Settlement in early 1875 while the first logs were being cut down to build St. Mary’s Anglican Church.

Introducing himself to men as they were preparing logs, McLean was immediately called to hold his first informal service.

“As he wrote in his diary,

Bishop Michael Hawkins greets churchgoers as they exit St. Mary’s Anglican Church on July 27, one of four annual services the church, built in 1875, hosts.

Photos — Tyler Clarke they fell on their knees and he led them in prayer, and then they shared a meal of tea and bannock,” Payton relayed.

The church officially opened for Christmas Eve 1875.

McLean served the church for more than a decade, until he met his end on Nov. 7, 1886. He died of complications related to pneumonia in Prince Albert while recovering from an injury he sustained near Edmonton.

A few decades after McLean’s death, the church, located to the immediate west of the Saskatchewan Penitentiary, had fallen into disrepair.

In the mid 1940s, a group of

Fred Payton stands next to the tombstone of John McLean. four men, including Payton’s father, decided to reclaim the overgrown cemetery and church building. A church committee was established in the early 1990s to look after the property,

of which Payton remains an active member.

With no heat or electricity, the building’s use is currently limited to four summer services per year, Bishop Michael Hawkins said, prior to officiating July 27’s Requiem Eucharist service.

“They did, before I got here, have a Christmas service that was painfully cold,” he said.

“There was a stove at one stage, but it’s gone.

“It’s a remarkable spot. It’s really quite out there – just on the edge of the city – so it’s a gorgeous spot.”

Hawkins encouraged Sunday’s congregation to

contribute toward the property’s maintenance costs, which are currently underfunded by about 75 per cent.

Overlooking the property is a hill to the southwest where Emmanuel College used to be located, a predecessor to the University of Saskatchewan.

After Saskatoon was chosen as the official university site in 1909, the hill was taken down, only to be re-built even higher in order to accommodate a shooting range for the Saskatchewan Penitentiary.

The church property houses the grave of Campbell Colebrook, who was shot by infamous cattle thief Almighty Voice on Oct. 29, 1895.

Nearby are the graves of Corp. Charles Hockin and John Randolph Kerr, who were killed trying to arrest Almighty Voice on May 28, 1897. Const. Thomas Gibson’s grave is nearby, alongside Const. George Arnold and Const. Knox Garrett, victims of the Battle at Duck Lake.

All three men lost their lives on March 27, 1885. Arnold was shot in the chest, Garrett was shot through the lung and Gibson was shot through the heart.

An interesting historic tidbit to keep in mind as the preacher officiates is that under his feet, under the chancel, is a crypt in which bodies were stored during the winter months when grave digging was not possible due to the frozen ground.

Diocese of Saskatoon Announcements for September 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. After a summer break Centering Prayer will begin again on Sept. 7.

Friends and Family Service: St. George’s, 624 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, at 7 p.m., every Friday night beginning in September. Informal music and prayer is focused on families.

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 the 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.

A Parish Nursing Ministry Education Program will be presented by InterChurch Health Ministries –Saskatchewan in partnership with the Lutheran Theological Seminary, University of Saskatchewan.

This will occur on Friday evenings and Saturdays on Sept. 19-20, 26-27, Oct. 24-25 and Nov. 7-8, at The Lutheran Theological Seminary.

For further info, contact 306-652-4524 (Elaine) or e-mail p.nursing@sasktel.net.

The 2014 National Executive of The Anglican Church Women of Canada National Conference will be held in Saskatoon from Sept. 2528 at Queen’s House Retreat and Renewal Centre.

The event will contemplate the theme “Bread of Life”. One

part of this event on Friday, Sept.

26, is open to the public.

A more detailed notice appears elsewhere in this issue.

For further info or to register please contact Elaine Hrycenko (2014 National Conference coordinator) at 306-955-5522 or e.p.h@sasktel.net.

Please use the following e-mail to connect with the diocesan Anglican Church Women executive: saskatoonacw@gmail.com.

The e-mail account will be checked daily, with queries and suggestions forwarded to the appropriate member for action, as together we grow our organization.

Appointments The Reverend Emily Carr will be installed as Priest-inCharge of St. George’s Anglican Church, Saskatoon on Sept. 7 by the Right Reverend David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon.

Advance Notices:

The 2015 Diocesan ACW Retreat: 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.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

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Discussing pastoral care at summer school

By Elizabeth Turnbull LUMSDEN (Qu’A) – In midJuly, 18 participants from 12 different parishes studied Pastoral Theology and Care at the annual Summer School of the Qu’Appelle School for Mission and Ministry.

Rev. Trish McCarthy discussed, with the group, the spiritual motivations for doing pastoral care, guidelines for doing pastoral care and the ministry of holy listening. Also discussed was the dilemma of when bad things happen to good people. McCarthy is priest at All Saints, Regina.

At the root of pastoral care is the issue of “suffering.” There are two types of pain: physical pain which is handled, for example, by doctors and nurses; and suffering. Suffering deals with unresolved issues in a person’s life, such as the relationship

Summer school participants gather with Rev. Catherine Harper (far left) and Friar Gerry Clyne (far right) in front of the fireplace at St. Michael’s Retreat in Lumsden. Photo — Archdeacon Wilma Woods with God, the family, the church, the cultural background and the tidying up of end-of-life issues.

The pastoral caregiver’s responsibility is to listen and help the person see a general sense of

hope for the future, which makes the suffering bearable.

Rev. Dan Cooper continued the discourse on pastoral care, particularly palliative care, by generously sharing

examples from his personal and professional experience.

Cooper is an Anglican priest and acting director of palliative care services for the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.

He said before doing palliative care visitations, it is important to have one’s theology intact and determined.

Cooper gave the students tools to use, such as the Four Quadrants Spiritual Assessment Model, when visiting a dying person and the family.

The most helpful tool when visiting the dying is to be armed with prayer, a smile and the instruments of the church; also, as appropriate, the Bible, hymns and, if the religious custom dictates, the Prayer Book.

The person is led to see the meaning in his/her life, hope and peace.

The July weather was hot and perfect, but those who attended Summer School had not come to enjoy the lazy days of summer.

As Christians they see their work in pastoral care as an important part of their effort to follow Jesus.

Bishop Don Bolen gets honorary degree at STU convocation Contributed

At the Convocation of the Saskatoon Theological Union, held in Saskatoon May 9, Roman Catholic Bishop Don Bolen (centre) received an Honorary Fellowship from the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, while the Reverend Emily Carr (at right) received the degree of Licentiate in Theology from the Chancellor, the Right Reverend David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon (left).

Photo — Joan Irving

SASKATOON – Family and friends met at Knox United Church in Saskatoon on May 9 for the 13th Joint Convocation of the Saskatoon Theological Union (STU).

Chancellor, the Right Reverend David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon awarded Emily Carr, Rosemarie Howell, Raal Kane and Noah Njegovan with the degree Licentiate in Theology; Michael Macgregor received a Master of Theological Studies degree; and Bishop Donald Bolen (Roman Catholic) of Saskatoon received an Honorary Fellowship from the University College of Emmanuel and St Chad.

Bishop Don was awarded the Fellowship for his work in furthering Roman Catholic and Anglican relationships.

He was also the convocation

guest speaker for the evening.

He spoke about the AnglicanRoman Catholic relationship as well as other ecumenical relationships.

Bishop Donald Bolen is the seventh bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.

He is originally from Gravelbourg, Sask., and studied at the University of Regina and University of Ottawa.

As a part of his ministry he was assigned to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome.

He acted as the Vatican’s staff person for relations with the Anglican Communion and World Methodist Council.

He was also the co-secretary of the international dialogues with Anglicans (ARCIC) and the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM).

After finishing at the Vatican,

he was awarded the Canterbury Cross by the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, for his service to AnglicanRoman Catholic relations.

Bishop Donald has written and lectured on ecumenism and Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue.

He is still very much involved in ecumenism at the local level in Saskatoon, as a support of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.

At the national level, he is the co-chair of the Theological dialogue with the Anglican Church of Canada. At the international level as co-chair of IARCCUM, co-chair of the International MethodistCatholic Dialogue and as a member of the international Evangelical-Catholic dialogue.

He is also a member of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity.

‘Some Like It Hot’ in Saskatoon

By Barbara Spurr SASKATOON – The fourth campaign in the “Fred Says” series was “Some Like It Hot,” which ran in May and June.

The goal of “Some Like It Hot” was to receive enough funding to provide 2,000 Haitian students with hot lunches every day for one year. A gift of $50 can provide a hot lunch each day for one student for the whole year!

Emmanuel Anglican Church

in Saskatoon held its own hot lunch, a homemade soup and bun meal, on May 18. About 70 parishioners attended the lunch, with $570 raised. This was enough to give 11 Haitian children a hot lunch for the year.

For many parents in Haiti, providing enough food for their families is a daily struggle. With your help, we will provide hot lunches to children in school every day, enabling them to learn and grow. For many, the hot lunch provided by the Primate’s

World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) is the only food they will have that day.

In fact, it is the reason they attend school at all. By attending school, these children are able to learn and improve their own lives.

Students receive a lunch of rice and beans supplemented with vegetables, either grown at the school or purchased locally. Sometimes fish is added when it is available. The program also provides the school

with water purification tablets, soap and hand towels, as well as hygiene education.

The meals are cooked by volunteers, who often walk hours to get to the school each day, spend 11 hours cooking, serving and cleaning up after the meal, and then walk home again.

When asked why they do it, they reply simply, “Because of the children who now can come to school.”

PWRDF works with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank

and FinnChurch Aid to provide these hot lunches in areas most affected by the 2010 earthquake.

Since the program’s inception, we have been able to feed 8,000 students, increase school enrolment considerably, as well as the academic performance of the students.

Donations can be made online at www.fredsays.ca, by phone at 416-924-9192 ext. 355, 1-866-308-7973, or by mail at PWRDF, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ont., M4Y 3G2.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

AWARDS

Rev. Cheryl Toth serves cake to Dr. Bryan Hillis, president of Luther College at the University of Regina, during her retirement party. Photo — Zaheer Shahid

‘Many things to many people’ Rev. Cheryl Toth retires as chaplain of Luther College

By Michelle Clark REGINA – We at Luther College at the University of Regina have been very fortunate to have Pastor Cheryl Toth as our chaplain for the last 12 years.

During this time, she has led worship, provided personal counselling and spiritual direction to students, faculty and staff members, organized chaplaincy events, mentored numerous peer chaplains and brought the campus together for birthday celebrations and AllCollege retreats.

Pastor Cheryl’s caring and nurturing disposition made it effortless for students, faculty and staff to form long-lasting relationships with her as a mentor, colleague and friend.

Having touched so many lives, at Luther College, on the university campus, in Regina and also its surrounding communities, it was no surprise to see a room full people gathered to honour Pastor Cheryl on the occasion of her retirement from Luther College on May 22.

The afternoon program included words of thanks and best wishes from Dr. Bryan Hillis, president of Luther College, Dr. Franz Volker Greifenhagen, dean of Luther College, and Stephanie Molloy, campus minister of Campion College, as well as video messages from the peer chaplains and Luther College

faculty and staff.

A poem by her close friend, Rev. Jody Medicoff, was also read aloud by Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Noel Chevalier, associate professor of English at Luther College and friend of Pastor Cheryl.

The program concluded with Pastor Cheryl saying a few words, including thanking her husband Jim and family, who were in attendance, for all of their support and love.

“Pastor Cheryl has been so many things to so many people here at Luther College,” said Dr. Hillis.

“She has been a counsellor, a worship leader, a strategist, a planner, facilitator and teacher.

“She has also prompted us to think about our lives spiritually, in a social context and in a global context.

“Personally, for me, as for so many others, she has been a great friend, a confidant, who shares problems, counsels and yet enables me as an individual to reach my own conclusions.

“We will miss her greatly on an everyday basis here at the College, but very much hope we will see lots of her as the friend she is.”

As Pastor Cheryl embarks on her new journey, Luther College wishes her all of the best as we say farewell but not good-bye.

Michelle Clark is Manager of Alumni Relations, Development and Communications for Luther College, University of Regina.

Continued from page 1 She served on existing groups such as the Altar Guild, ACW, VBS and Sunday school.

However, she also helped with or re-organized services at the Melfort Deanery ACW Ladies Retreat, Arbo-Teen Annual Conference, Caring Evangelism, Stephen Ministries and Ascension Bible study.

She presently leads a monthly Bible study at the Arborfield Special Care Home.

Betty and husband Ken attended summer camps with their children and grandchildren, where she served as nurse and camp cook.

Norman Cay – Norman became a lay reader in St. Matthew’s, Tisdale in 2000.

Even as a teenager he would help take services in Kinistino when the priest was away or the parish was without a priest.

Norman has been a vestry member and minister’s warden since coming to Tisdale in 1963.

Violet Goodfellow – Violet is very interested in the needs of others and is quick to point out injustices in social situations.

She is an active volunteer and family helper for many shut-ins and elderly neighbours.

For 30 years, Violet has been active in the diocese and church.

She has been president of the Diocesan ACW a few times and is our representative for the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund.

She was a faithful member of St. John’s, Glaslyn, until it closed and now belongs to St. John’s, Livelong, a part of the Turtle River Parish.

She has been a Synod delegate at many diocesan Synods and has also attended Provincial and National Synods.

Don Code – Don has been the diocesan treasurer for the past 18 years.

This means he attended almost all Executive and Finance Committee meetings, an average of eight per year, plus every Synod held over the last 18 years.

He worked with Bishop Tony through the challenges of the residential schools settlements and continues to serve with Bishop Michael Hawkins in these fiscally-challenging times.

His duties are always carried out with decorum, expertise and kindness with whom

everyone he has worked.

He has served on vestry, functioned as treasurer (2000-04) and been elected as warden, a position he is now serving.

Ralph Duncan – Ralph’s daughter was influenced by her father’s example of living a Christian life and has devoted her life to working with school children around the world.

In St. Louis, Ralph has been a lay reader and people’s warden for 11 years.

Family and community play a large role in his life.

He plays violin for the seniors and other groups in the area and helps with his daughter’s youth group.

He and his wife play with the Prayer and Praise group, led by Archdeacon Hoskin and his wife Mary Lou. Harry Kostuik – For 54 years, Harry has been a member of St. George’s Church in Loon Lake.

Harry continues in the position of minister’s warden, along with other duties such as upkeep of the church.

Harry has been a regular Synod delegate at the diocesan Synod in Prince Albert. He is always willing to sit on a committee, help organize a 50 th anniversary celebration, or welcome parishioners to his home for various meetings and Bible studies.

Harry spends much of his time serving others, offering help and driving to neighbours and elders.

Fred Payton – Fred has lived his whole life as an active member of St. Alban the Martyr Cathedral.

In his teenage years, Fred sang in the choir, served at the altar and was the assistant Sunday School superintendent.

In his adult life, while serving on the corporation, teaching Sunday School and working, he found to time to volunteer with the Prince Albert Arts Council, the Share a Meal Food Bank, the Northern Hockey Development Association and the Prince Albert Kinsmen Minor Football Association.

He has been a lay reader at St. Alban’s for many years, does monthly leadership at the Candle Lake Community Church, helps out at Carment Court and wherever else he is needed in the diocese.

He serves on the St. Mary’s Cemetry Advisory Committee and is a member of the Diocesan Constitution and Canons Committee.

He has attended many

diocesan Synods and also Provincial and General Synods.

Carol Pryznk – Carol’s nomination comes from the congregation at St. Mary’s Church in Birch Hills and Holy Trinity, Brancepeth, where she has served as a lay reader for 27 years.

She has been instrumental in maintaining the building and congregation in Brancepeth, ensuring services continue in the summer months.

She leads the Holy Trinity, Brancepeth ACW and is largely responsible for the fact they are still active in service and in prayer.

Carol served two terms as the Diocesan ACW president and continues to be involved on the diocesan level.

Henry Roberts – At present Henry is a member of the Police Management Board and also a vestry member for All Saints Church.

He attends all the wakes and is at church every Sunday helping with the services.

He is also very concerned about the decline of migratory birds such as ducks, geese, other waterfowl and smaller birds.

Henry is now retired and living in La Ronge and is continually volunteering and attending church. He serves as an elder in the Lac La Ronge Indian Band.

Gladys Warren – Over the span of 60 years, Gladys has been involved with St. John’s, Nipawin, serving on the Vestry, ACW, Altar Guild and Choir.

In her earlier years, she was leader of the Junior Girl’s auxiliary, leading them in nature study and working towards badges of excellence.

She served on the executive committee for eight years as Junior secretary of the diocese.

She is also involved with helping at Camp Okema through fundraising and other activities.

Gladys is one of the main church members to visit shut-ins and works tirelessly promoting good-will and inclusion of all Anglicans in the church.

Gladys has supplied altar flowers every Sunday for over 30 years.

After each Sunday service, she takes the flowers to the sick and shut-ins.

Gladys is an “encourager” in the church and parish.

She gives support and encouragement to the ministers and their families and to everyone who attends the church.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

7

Two former Qu’Appelle clergy die

Royal Regina Rifles colours moved to Provincial Legislative Building

Two flags with connections to the Royal Regina Rifles were delicately removed from St. Paul’s Cathedral in a special service on June 3. The flags, or “colours,” are from the First World War and represented the 28th Battalion, of which the Regina Rifle Regiment was then a part. One flag is the King’s colours, while the second flag is the battalion’s colours. The cathedral is the regimental church for the Rifles, which is why the colours ended up there. The colours were unveiled in late July at the Legislature. They will remain there for the four years of commemoration of the First World War. The colours will serve as the centrepiece of a display educating visitors of the many contributions the Regiment has made to the history of Saskatchewan.

This is the first time in 40 years the colours will be available for the general public. Above, from left, Lt. Saltasuk, Lt. Chadwick and Cpl. Duke, current members of the Royal Regina Rifles, carefully roll up the flags and place them in sleeves for transportation.

Photo — Shawn Drew

Conference discusses ways of “Discovering Your Gifts” SASKATOON

By Nestor and Gaye Michasiw Anglican Renewal Ministries (ARM) was a mystery to us until we attended a “Discovering Your Gifts” conference held May 30-31 at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Saskatoon. What follows are a few thoughts and reflections about this conference and the insightful time the ARM team provided.

The members of the team included Archbishop Terry Buckle (Diocese of Yukon), the Reverend Perry Cooper (Diocese of Central NL), the Reverend John VanStone (Diocese of Ontario), Alison Stortz (Diocese of Ottawa), the Reverend Eddie Quann (Diocese of Fredericton), Roger Spack (Diocese of Montreal), Jane Jones (Diocese of Calgary) and the Reverend Canon Peter Norman and Julia Davies (Diocese of Saskatoon).

They worked well together as they complemented each’s various backgrounds and gifts.

Friday incorporated an intergenerational evening, followed by a potluck supper. VanStone led the children in their program, while the adults received inspirational talks and intensive teaching that evening and on Saturday.

Topics were Being Filled with the Holy Spirit; The Motivational Gifts; The Ministry Gifts; and The Manifestation Gifts.

Teaching was followed by

a time for individual ministry through prayer, where we found dialoguing with the Spirit to be awesome and exciting. Although some teaching on the Holy Spirit can become spectacularized, this was a balanced approach with nothing weird. Rather, it was a peaceful power in His presence.

How wonderful to have been led into this experience. There was a moving witness to the transforming encounter with Christ, healing guidance and outstanding prophecy which truly built up Christ’s body.

There was a large body of information to be imparted in a short period. We really needed more time to appropriate the Holy Spirit’s empowerment in order to become obedience-centred and to move forth boldly in the gifts we discovered.

By Heather Groat Food has a way of drawing people together and our family is no exception. We found ourselves at St. Stephen’s sharing in an exceptional potluck supper and were treated to “dessert” for the soul.

On Friday, the children were invited into an exploration of their Spiritual gifts, while the adults were presented with the Scriptural framework and teachings on the Holy Spirit in relation to our given giftings.

Prayer and music allowed for

deep reflection.

Saturday brought further teachings on the specific giftings, divided into the three categories of the Motivational Gifts, the Ministry Gifts and the Manifestation Gifts. I understood these as giftings from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, respectively.

A questionnaire to explore one’s own personal gifts aided in the selfdiscovery process. The teachings were brought to an experiential level through small-group format, during which there was time of words of encouragement for one another.

Most inspirational for me was the way all ARM team members, from across the country, interwove their unique gifts to complement and support one another to minister, administer and teach, without a tightly structured schedule.

This approach spoke volumes to me, in that, by practical example of how, by searching out and listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, God really does work effectively in and through us. This really set the tone for how God would love to see us all operate together.

We would have a better understanding of what our own gifts are and how they can complement others’ giftings, all for God’s purposes to be accomplished. This, in and of itself, was my personal “dessert for the soul.” I left feeling physically satiated while spiritually hungering for another helping

Bishop Thomas Collings dies in Winnipeg Bishop Thomas Collings died in St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, on July 8. He was 75.

Born in Abergavenny, Wales, he received degrees in mathematics and theology at Oxford. In 1963, Collings received a fellowship to study in the U.S., and while in seminary in New York, met and married Julie.

Upon returning to the UK, he received a Master of Science from the University of Essex and later taught math at several universities around the world.

He was ordained deacon in the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1979 and priest in the Anglican Church of Canada in 1980. He then served several parishes in Manitoba. He was elected bishop of Keewatin in 1991. In retirement he did ministry development work in Rupert’s Land and in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, when Rev. Julie Collings was priest in Weyburn.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, five grown children, 19 grandchildren and one brother.

Archdeacon Peter dies in Victoria Archdeacon Peter

Lucas Stanley

For decades, The Saskatchewan Anglican and the Anglican Journal have been a vital communications link between parishes, dioceses and the national Church.

Together, we have shared stories, ideas and opinions from a faith perspective in a way that has helped us put that faith into action.

Whether encouraging a response to human need, educating about the care of creation, or helping readers discover new ways to reach out and grow the Church, The

Lucas died on June 1, in Victoria, B.C., at 92. Lucas was born in Manchester, England. During the Second World War, he served in the British Army in North Africa and with the Persia and Iraq Force. He studied at Salisbury Theological College and was ordained in 1951.

He married Mary the next year and they had two children. After parish work in England, Bishop G.F.C. Jackson invited him to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle.

Lucas came to Qu’Appelle in 1965 and served as priest in Mortlach; St. Barnabas, Moose Jaw; Kindersley; and St. Matthew, Regina, for a total of 12 years, before becoming executive secretary (to Bishop Michael Peers) and archdeacon of Qu’Appelle.

After 16 years in Qu’Appelle, he moved to the Parish of Okanagan Mission in 1980 and then moved to Victoria in 1986 with plans to retire. However, he spent four years as chaplain at the Royal Jubilee Hospital and four as priest-in-charge of St. Barnabas Church, Victoria, followed by two years as assistant at Christ Church Cathedral, before really retiring.

He is survived by his wife, children and three grandchildren.

Saskatchewan Anglican and the Anglican Journal spark compassionate conversations in an increasingly secularized world.

Please give generously to the Anglican Journal Appeal this year. With your help, we can keep the conversation going!

Please fill out and return the enclosed postage paid donor reply card or call 416-924-9199, ext 259. Or, you can email mross@national.anglican.ca or go to www.canadahelps.org to make your gift today.

8

The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

We walk through change together

By Bishop Rodney Andrews Editor’s note: Bishop Rodney Andrews celebrated 50 years as a deacon and 10 years as a bishop in February 2014.

Bishop Andrews reflected on changes in the church in the years since his ordination, in a sermon preached in St. John’s Cathedral in Saskatoon, on Feb. 16.

SASKATOON – “For we are God’s servants, working together; we are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9).

When people become Christians, they don’t always and immediately become nice.

Walking in the Christian way does not automatically furnish a person with impeccable manners and suitable morals.

My sister was secretary of a large church in Edmonton for 20 years. She says, “I want to go to a church with all nice people.”

Don’t we all?

The Church at Corinth would not meet my sister’s dream of a nice church. Corinth was what the clergy call “a tough parish.” People at Corinth had a reputation in the ancient world as an unruly, hard-drinking, sexually promiscuous bunch.

Paul did the best he could.

He spent a year and a half with the Corinthians as their pastor. Then he went on his way to other towns and villages. After he left, things fell apart.

Paul received a report from one of the Corinthian families, Chloe’s family, that parishioners were quarrelling among themselves. Factions had developed, morals were in disrepair, worship had degenerated. So Paul writes a long letter, in Greek “Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.”

Simple solution. Send a letter.

Tell them what to do. That solved the problem. Not really. It did not work. The Corinthian Christians gave their founding pastor, Paul, more trouble than all his other churches put together.

As soon as Paul got one problem straightened out in Corinth, three more appeared.

I became a bishop 10 years ago on Feb. 15, consecrated in front of this altar. Feb. 23 marks 50 years since my ordination as a deacon in St. George’s Church, Stettler, Alta., by the bishop of Calgary. Those 50 years have passed quickly.

A train brought me to Saskatoon and time brought me back. It does not seem 55 years have passed since I got off the

train in downtown Saskatoon, the site of the present Midtown Plaza. I was young, just 18, but I believed God had called me to be an Anglican priest.

I had never been to Saskatoon; I did not know anyone here; I had no idea what was ahead for me. I certainly had no idea how much this St. John’s Cathedral would become part of my life.

A few weeks later the Emmanuel College students processed here for a university service. We sat on the right side in our shirts, ties, suits and academic gowns.

It was my first time in this holy place and I was in awe. I still am. I knew there was something deeper than the ceremonial. God was here and this was worth throwing my life into.

Sometimes, in the 1960s, the Dean would invite me to preach here at Evensong. The choir poked a hole in the chancel wall and a choir member’s husband sat in the vestry with a tube radio listening to the hockey game.

He used hymn board numbers to post the score. Every now and then a rustle of excitement or a sigh would pass through the choir. And St. Paul had trouble with the Corinthians!

My first appointment was as assistant priest at St. Augustine’s Church in Lethbridge. The rector was Canon Douglas Ford. One morning he called me into his office and closed the door.

“What do you know about St. John’s Cathedral in Saskatoon?” he asked. Bishop Steer had phoned him the night before with an invitation to come here

as Dean. The Fords moved into the Deanery next door and I was left in charge of a parish of 800 families. I was 26 and had been a priest for 10 months.

Doug and Doris were hospitable people. I visited Saskatoon often and enjoyed — scrounged — many meals in the Deanery and Bishop’s See House on Elliott Street.

I was here at St. John’s when Doug was consecrated eighth bishop of Saskatoon in 1970, while I was on the search committee when Roland Wood was elected ninth bishop in 1981. Little did I think I would become the 11th bishop.

It was a happy day when Archbishop Clarke phoned to tell me I had been elected Bishop of Saskatoon. Fifty years. Plenty of change.

When I was rector of my first parish, Okotoks, Midnapore and Sarcee Reserve, south of Calgary, I took the entire service.

I presided, read the lessons, led the prayers and administered both bread and wine for communion services.

Communion was once or twice a month. On the other Sundays I led Morning Prayer, the entire service.

That was what the clergy did.

Liturgy was framed by one book, the Book of Common Prayer.

In the 1960s and 1970s everyone experimented with everything, including Anglican liturgy. The Book of Alternative Services appeared in the mid ‘80s, ushering in not only a new book but new ethos to worship.

Altars were moved away

from the wall. Instead of the priest standing with his back to the congregation, there was a sense of gathering around the holy table as a family. Worship became more corporate and less individualistic. And, there was more change.

Vatican II brought sweeping changes to the Roman Catholic Church. Many of those changes were paralleled in the Anglican Church.

The reading and study of Scripture had new emphasis. The Revised Common Lectionary was adopted; most Christians now read the same Scripture lessons in a three-year cycle.

Then came the radical idea that lay persons could read lessons, lead prayers in church and administer the chalice.

Renewed emphasis on Scripture was followed by the parish communion movement of the 1970s. The Eucharist was recaptured as the central act of parish worship.

Morning Prayer faded out; the Eucharist became a weekly event in most parishes.

Into this vortex of change we have liturgical experimentation, a new emphasis on Scripture, lay participation in worship services and then another radical idea: that women should be given a place in the decision-making bodies of the church.

The problem was the canons, the bylaws of the diocese.

Women weren’t allowed to make decisions. When I attended my first Synod in Calgary, there was one woman present: the president of the Diocesan ACW

was allowed to attend as an experiment to see if it would be OK. When Mrs. Wrenshall approached the microphone, Bishop George Calvert said: “Gentlemen (only gentlemen were present), this is the first time a woman has spoken in this Synod.” This was only 47 years ago. In a typical Anglican way, power was given to women gradually. First women were allowed to on vestry, then church wardens, then Synod Delegates, but the debate became bitter over the ordination of women.

Liturgical experimentation; new prayer books; renewal of Scripture; revival of the parish communion; women in the courts of the church; ordination of women; and debates about human sexuality.

More change in 50 years than in the first 2,000 years of the Christian Church. The ferment continued. We read the Scriptures, we dug into our theology, we tried to find the real meaning of baptism and we came up with a movement called mutual ministry.

We said, “Everyone has a calling. Everyone has a vocation.

We are all part of the body of Christ. This was a radical and threatening idea, although St. Paul said it clearly 2,000 years ago: ‘For we are God’s servants, working together.’

When I wake up in the night wondering why some people are bewildered, some are angry and some have left the church, I think of all the movements that have swept our church and how quickly all this has happened.

What do we hang onto? Where do we go with all this?

I believe our faith as Christians needs to take root in the depth of life, in the reality of what we live and experience every day. That is how Jesus lived and taught. People found His message exciting.

They liked what Jesus taught them. It went to the roots of their being, spoke of everything that made them human and brought them into the presence of the living God. Jesus believed in people. Jesus counted on them to build a reality called the Kingdom of God. Christians have always insisted on the historicity of Jesus: an actual birth, a datable death, a witnessed resurrection, locatable towns. There is a parallel historicity in the followers of Jesus.

As we take in everything Jesus said and did, all of it a personal revelation of God in time and place, it all gets worked into local history, eventually into world history.

I thank God that He has called me to be part of this history.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

9

Mama G’s Nigerian cuisine comin’ soon to Saskatoon

By Darlene Polachic (This article originally appeared in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post newspapers).

Above, Stuart Ross, the great-great-grandson of Bishop John McLean, Diocese of Saskatchewan archivist Rae Benson and Bishop Michael Hawkins gather around the baptismal gown.

Photo — Fred Payton

Baptismal gown donated

By Fred Payton PRINCE ALBERT – The Diocese of Saskatchewan had a special visit recently, when the great-great-grandson of first diocesan bishop, John McLean, joined Bishop Michael Hawkins and Diocesan archivist Rae Benson at the Synod Office.

Stuart Ross and his wife, Lorna, travelled from Ardrossan, Alta., to donate the family’s baptismal gown. Last used in 1980 for the baptism of Bishop McLean’s great-great-greatgrandson, Jordan Guest.

At the time, Sarah Ross MacLean, Stuart’s mother, recognized the gown’s condition was deteriorating and felt it would be safer if mounted and framed.

The memento hung in the home of Sarah and Denham Ross until their passing in 1999

and then latterly in the home of Stuart and Lorna Ross.

Later the Rosses decided the gown should be more appropriately displayed at the Synod Office in the See city of the diocese of which Bishop McLean was the first bishop.

After making the donation, Stuart and Lorna were shown some of the archival material the diocese has concerning the McLean family.

A chair belonging to the bishop’s family sits in the Edward Ahenakew chapel at the Synod Office, while a second chair is located in the chancel of St. Alban’s Cathedral.

After visiting the Synod Office, a visit was made to St. Mary’s Church and cemetery, to view the church where Bishop McLean taught and preached and where he and members of his family are interred.

SASKATOON – Seventeen years ago, the lives of Grace and Friday Mbuekor and their children were in jeopardy. The Mbuekors are Ogonis, members of a small tribe in Nigeria, Africa.

Friday’s job was the equivalent of working for Revenue Canada. He made a good income and the family had a comfortable life. But that ended in 1993. This was the era of Ken Saro Wiwa and protests against a corrupt government system.

Ogoni people, in particular, were targeted.

When Friday learned he was about to be arrested, he escaped to Benin, a small country to the west of Nigeria, and stayed there for three months while he waited to present his case before the Nigerian government.

Friday was ecstatic when he learned his family was accepted for U.N. refugee sponsorship to Canada. The only problem was, his wife and children were still hiding in Nigeria.

Desperate to get them out, Friday made contact with a childhood friend he had known in Scripture Union Club. The friend, now in the Nigerian military, agreed to smuggle Friday’s family out.

“During this crisis and all these problems,” Grace says, “what kept me going was that I was a believer in God. I had faith, which gave me courage to believe that God would deliver us. The children and I had no food, no drink, the weather was

Grace (Mama G) and Friday Mbuekor attend St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Saskatoon.

Photo — Darlene Polachic terrible, but every time we came out of hiding in the bush, God placed someone in our way to help us. Total strangers said, ‘Come in.’ It was as if they’d known us forever.”

At one point, Grace was arrested and tortured. “My daughter, Barinadum, was two and a half; I was carrying her on my back. While they were beating me, the baby carrier came undone and she fell on the ground.

“I immediately fell on top of her to pull her close, and the man torturing me stopped and walked away.”

Grace’s persecutors felt sorry for the child and brought her food, but Barinadum pushed it away. “See?” she said to the man. “My mommy’s bleeding. I won’t eat this. It’s bad food.”

“My baby saved my life,” Grace says. “They felt sorry for her and let me go.”

Grace worked at small jobs in exchange for food, and was able to keep her children fed.

“One day, someone told me where Friday was. I immediately went to a person I knew from Scripture Union and said I needed to take my children to my husband so that if anything happened to me, they would be with him.”

The friend was able to use some property the Mbuekors had from more prosperous days as collateral for the money Grace needed to travel with the children to Lagos.

“I prayed that God would somehow connect me with the person I was hoping to meet; this friend of Friday’s from Scripture Union (came) and he was the first person I encountered when we got off the bus.

“He made arrangements to get us to the border.

See NIGERIANS on page 11

Qu’Appelle notes and events Q Event to run Oct. 25-26 The Q Event (held in years when there is no diocesan synod) will take place at Briercrest College and Seminary in Caronport.

It will feature plenary sessions on a wide variety of topics, children’s programs and uplifting worship and music.

Bishop Mark Rylands of Shrewsbury, England, will be the keynote speaker.

Watch for full details and registration information in your local parish and the new diocesan website, at quappelle. anglican.ca Yorkton Holy Trinity Anglican Church will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its building on Saturday, Sept. 13. Celebrations will begin with a service at 4

p.m., followed by a presentation on the church’s history. At 5 p.m. there will be refreshments and a social in the parish hall, with supper at 6 p.m.

The cost is $25 per person, payable at the church before the service. Please RSVP by e-mail at holytrinityyorkton@sasktel. net by Aug. 31, indicating how many will attend and any special dietary requirements.

St. Luke’s Regina Rev. Catherine Harper will be serving the parish of St. Luke, on a half-time basis until Easter 2015.

Saskatchewan Gateway Rev. Michael Rossouw has left the parish of Saskatchewan Gateway (centred around Moosomin) to return to his family in the Philippines. He

had been trying for several years to get visas to bring his wife and children to Canada, but the applications were unsuccessful.

McLeans move to B.C. Revs. Duncan and Beverley McLean have moved to Victoria, B.C. In their retirement, they continued to serve the diocese as interim priests and honorary assistants in the Teachers of the Faith parish and surrounding area (near Fort Qu’Appelle).

Anglican priest appointed chaplain to Luther High School Rev. David Peterson, priest in the Diocese of British Columbia, has been appointed chaplain to Luther High School in Regina.

Parish of Noteku to be closed The congregations of

Hodgeville and Wiwa Hill, in the parish of Noteku in southwest Saskatchewan, haven’t had services since 2009 and haven’t contributed any funds to the diocese’s Fair Share program.

St. James Church at Wiwa Hill is said to be in poor repair and is not saleable.

A recommendation was made during Diocesan Council’s June meeting that St. James Church be deconsecrated and disposed.

Christ Church in Hodgeville is said to be in decent shape, but has no hall or washrooms.

The rectory at Hodgeville needs much repair. The diocese’s realtor has said the rectory could be sold for roughly a decent price.

That deconsecration took place June 28, with Bishop Rob

Hardwick in attendance. Though the Parish of Noteku will be disestablished, Christ Church, Hodgeville will remain open.

Diocese to look for new chancellor After more than 25 years as the vice-chancellor and chancellor of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, Peter Whitmore has tendered his resignation with the diocese.

Whitmore has agreed to become a member of the Lower Court of Appeal in Saskatchewan, which means that work may interfere with his duties as chancellor for the diocese.

The former chancellor has recommended three candidates to replace him. His successor was to be named in August.

10

The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

Building homes in Baja, Mexico

By Joan Irving, Cheryl Moen and other contributors SASKATOON – Following our successful outreach to Baja, Mexico in 2012, where our volunteers built two homes for needy families, this year the Diocese of Saskatoon fielded a team of 26 volunteers and built three more homes in the same region.

Twelve men and fourteen women ranging in ages from 15 to 76 years spent 10 days together in the Baja, Mexico from June 20- 30.

The team represented parishes from across the diocese: Saskatoon, Watrous, North Battleford, Humboldt, Battle River, Lloydminster, Pike Lake and Borden.

The goal of the mission was to build three houses in and around the community of Vicente Guerrero, Baja, Mexico. But the mission was more than building houses.

It was about relationships, team building and sharing our faith in action.

The organization we went with has been doing this type of mission since 2000-01 with school groups and adults groups.

This organization is a notfor-profit currently working in four different countries: Mexico, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Thailand.

They also employ local people in the areas where the homes are being built and encourage the local people to take responsibility for additional builds.

In the years since they have been in operation, they have assisted over 4,500 missioners in over 150 groups in these four countries.

This year they had 30 groups going to the four countries and will build homes for up to 70 families. In addition to the over 150 homes, the groups have built four schools and three medical clinics.

So, what does it take to build one of these homes? Here is the list of materials delivered to each home site: 21 gallons of paint; 50-lbs box of 3-inch nails, 50-lbs box of 2-inch

nails and 50-lb box of 1-inch nails. (The roof alone takes 1,200 nails).

Also, 25 2x4x12 studs; 47 2x4x8studs; 18 4x8 sheets for the roof; 22 4x8 sheets of sliding; two gallons of tar, and six windows and one door or five windows and two doors.

Each family is given the choice of how any doors and windows their house will have, as well as what colour they want their house painted.

A concrete pad 22x 20 (440 sq feet) is poured at a cost of $700 to $800.

This cost is if the ground is flat, but can be up to three times more depending on the type and slope of the ground.

On June 20, the evening prior to the start of the trip, a commissioning service was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Saskatoon.

Over 80 people attended the service, in addition to the volunteers, to say safe travels to the 26-member mission.

The team left Saskatoon on the 6 a.m. flight Saturday and arrived at Calgary for breakfast at 8 a.m.

After a short wait in Calgary, there was a threehour flight to San Diego, with the evening spent in San Diego before boarding the bus for Mexico on Sunday morning.

After a long and dusty bus trip, the group arrived in Baja.

They then had their first opportunity to meet the families for whom they would be building the homes.

Everyone was eager to start to build the next morning!

Similar to 2012, the families helped the volunteers build their own houses and learned building skills, just as many of the volunteers did.

It was not all work, though.

The volunteers had time to socialize with the families for whom they were building the homes, with the local community and visit the school and orphanage they had visited in 2012.

They also visited the families and homes they had built in 2012 and spent time having a picnic and going to the beach.

Teaching the finer points of painting on-the-job. Twenty-six members of the Diocese of Saskatoon travelled to Baja, Mexico in late June to help build three houses for the people in that community.

All photos this page — Contributed by Baja volunteers

Volunteers place the roof in place on one of the new homes. The Baja volunteers and families, for whom the new homes were built, all contributed time and energy to the project while learning new skills.

June 27 was dedication day.

The volunteers filled the three new homes with the gifts and handed over the keys to the new owners. All the families were very grateful. It was a joy to see the smiles and

The Baja group in front of their bus in San Diego, prior to leaving for Vicente Guerrero, Mexico.

tears on the faces of both the families and our mission team members.

On June 30, after a bus journey of 11 hours and fourhour wait to cross the Mexico/ U.S. border, the bus arrived

in San Diego. After staying there, the group flew back to Saskatoon, arriving June 30.

For more info about this trip, visit www. anglicandiocesesaskatoon. com/baja-trip-2014.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

11

Pentecost service celebrates Anglican-Roman Catholic covenant

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA – On Pentecost Sunday, St. Paul’s Cathedral was full as Anglicans and Roman Catholics worshipped together.

The Anglican Diocese of Qu’Appelle and Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina signed a covenant in 2011, in which both committed to working together whenever possible and to worship together annually.

Susan Klein, Roman Catholic co-chair of the AnglicanRoman Catholic Covenant Implementation Committee, reported on highlights from the past year.

These included several programs and workshops offered for members of both denominations and invitations and participation in each other’s’ special events.

James Weisgerber, Archbishop Emeritus of Winnipeg, began his sermon, “Brothers and sisters in Christ.”

He described his connection with Anglican bishops of Qu’Appelle, beginning when he was priest at Fort Qu’Appelle and Archbishop Jackson was at Katepwa.

“He took me under his wing,” he recalled. He said he and Archbishop Michael

Some of the Roman Catholic participants in the annual Covenant service, were, from left, Susan Klein, Rev. Rick Krofchek, Rev. Dr. John Meehan, (all members of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Covenant Implementation Committee) and Archbishop Emeritus, James Weisgerber.

Photo — Margaret Ball Peers became “very long-time friends,” and after Weisgerber moved to Winnipeg, he connected with Bishop Don Phillips (formerly a priest in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle).

He said these Anglicans “deeply enriched my life.”

Weisgerber said Anglicans and Roman Catholics come together each year to celebrate the

Covenant and to be challenged by it. He said, “There is one church, a simple pure gift of God, but then that gift becomes a challenge – to live as one church. ... The responsibility is given by Christ, to love one another. How do we live in unity?”

He said there is “a new breath blowing in the Vatican,” which gives cause for optimism for

ecumenical action.

“We will leave Rome and Canterbury to worry about some of those things and we will work at the diocese and parish levels.”

Weisberger added it is important for the churches to work together and to get to know each other, quoting Pope Francis who said the churches must “recognize the gift the Holy

Spirit has given to the other.”

He said the Holy Spirit leads churches to surprising places; to places we don’t always want to go.

In his brief address at the end of the service of Solemn Evensong, Bishop Rob Hardwick said, “We have taken courageous steps in this Covenant.”

He said when the church worships in wisdom and in truth, it is ‘Pentecostal’, and joked, “And you thought you were all Anglicans and Roman Catholics!”

Archbishop Daniel Bohan, (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina), said it was gratifying and encouraging seeing a full church at an ecumenical service.

“We really are doing the work the Lord has given us,” he said.

He said there are two ways to deal with differences and divisions. “One way is conflict; and we’ve been very good at that.”

The other way is through dialogue, and since the Second Vatican Council, the church has been working at that.

He quoted Pope Paul VI who wrote, “Dialogue is at the very heart of the Christian church.”

He said the churches should be witnesses to our country on how to deal with each other.

NIGERIANS

Sixty years of lay ministry honoured On May 14, family and friends from St. Augustine’s Anglican Church Parish in Rosthern, and from around the Diocese of Saskatoon, met at the Station coffee house in Rosthern for a celebration lunch to honour Joan Ayres (centre) for her 60 years of service as a lay minister in the Anglican Church of Canada. Joan arrived in Canada onApril 24, 1954, moved to Swan River, Man., and then Humboldt, before later moving to Saskatoon. She now attends St. Augustine’s in Rosthern. Joan has been a member of the ACW in the dicocese for 60 years. Photo — Elta Fae Marlor

Continued from page 9 ‘Make sure they cross to the other side,’ he told t h e d r i v e r, ‘ t h e n p u t t h e m in a taxi to Porto-Nono.’

That was the capital city where Friday was.

“The custom at the border is to be searched and interrogated r e p e a t e d l y. I d i d n ’ t p r a y that wouldn’t happen.

“Instead, I said, ‘God, i f i t ’s Yo u r w i l l f o r m y f a m i l y t o p e r i s h , t h a t ’s u p t o Yo u . ’ T h e d r i v e r gave him the equivalent of fifty cents and the guy at the border didn’t even s a y, ‘ S t o p . ’ ” The Mbuekor family arrived in Saskatoon in November of 1997 and immediately became part o f S t . S t e p h e n ’s A n g l i c a n Church.

To d a y, F r i d a y w o r k s two jobs to support his f a m i l y.

Among other things, Grace has attended entrepreneurial school to prepare for her dream of opening a restaurant.

She says she is depending on that same “belief, faith, and

courage” that delivered her in Nigeria to see this goal to fruition. She s a y s M a m a G ’s A u t h e n t i c Nigerian Cuisine will bring “the origin of food to Saskatoon in the form of nutritious, fresh, good tasting, healthy food.

My restaurant will be welcoming, comfortable, and full of laughter and friendship.”

R e v.

Jan BiglandPritchard, the priest at S t . S t e p h e n ’s , i s h e l p i n g the Mbuekors launch a crowd-funding initiative to help finance the venture.

It kicked off on July 5 during a launch party at S t . S t e p h e n ’s A n g l i c a n Church.

Anyone interested in helping make Grace M b u e k o r ’s d r e a m c o m e true is invited to visit w w w. i n d i e g o g o . c o m .

The campaign is time limited; the Mbuekors’ goal is to raise $60,000, which will provide the capital they need for a down payment on the project.

12

The Saskatchewan Anglican

September 2014

National 2014 ACW conference in Saskatoon Contributed

Balloon launch signifies the Ascension

The Church of the Ascension in Arborfield held its annual balloon launch signifying Jesus’ ascension to heaven on May 29. The event originally began abou 30 years ago with Rev. Ken Burningham at the Church of the Ascension. Some of the parents in attendance with their children had also attended when they were children. The evening was well attended by several members of the Church of the Ascension, Arborfield; St. John’s Anglican Church, Nipawin; and St. Patrick’s Anglican, Hudson Bay. There was a wonderful potluck lunch, followed by a small program including Scripture, prayers and music. After a countdown from 10, everyone shouted “ALLELUIA” and the children and adults let go of the balloons and watched them ascend.

Photo — Carol Hallen

SASKATON – The 2014 National Executive of The Anglican Church Women of Canada National Conference will be held in Saskatoon from Sept. 25-28 at Queen’s House Retreat and Renewal Centre.

Roughly 40 diocesan presidents, vice-presidents and co-ordinators from across Canada will be meeting to contemplate on the theme “Bread of Life”.

“I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus told them.

“He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never be thirsty”

(John 6:35).

How are we to be Bread to each other?

One part of this event is open to the public: Friday, Sept. 26 (6:30-8 pm), at Queen’s House, 601 Taylor St. West, Saskatoon.

A presentation will be given by Iskwewuk Ewichiwitochik (Women Walking Together), entitled “Sharing Stories of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Saskatchewan: Not Invisible.”

For further information or to register, please contact Elaine Hrycenko (2014 National Conference co-ordinator) at 306-9555522 or e.p.h@sasktel.net.

Silence, solitude and prayer theme for Qu’Appelle ACW’s meeting

By Sharon Gibler REGINA – The theme for the 49th annual meeting of the Anglican Church Women of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle was “Silence, Solitude and Prayer.”

The meeting was held at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church on April 26. Elaine Hrycenko, president of the Diocese of Saskatoon ACW, was a special guest, while the guest speakers were Bishop Rob Hardwick and Rev. Catherine Harper.

Bishop Hardwick thanked the ACW for all the work it does, and in particular, for the donation to the ramp at the Synod Office and to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund.

He continued by describing happenings in the diocese, acknowledging the church has gone through difficult times, with many churches being closed, shrinking congregations and recently a lack of stipendiary clergy.

However, more recently there are signs of resurrection and hope in the diocese.

He gave several examples of these signs, including many more stipendiary clergy; more parishes with Sunday Schools and youth groups; some parishes showing significant growth in their congregations; Fair Share acceptance rates being higher; good numbers of people attending vocations weekends and Qu’Appelle School for Mission and Ministry sessions; and many good works being accomplished throughout the diocese. He said the church has to become missional, to dare to do some things differently.

The Qu’Appelle Diocesan ACW Executive gathered at the front of St. Matthew’s Church, following the annual meeting. Back row, left to right, are Elaine Hrycenko, Isabella Frank, Rev. Carlos Roberts, Sharon Gibler, Sandra Kerr, Elva Akister and Sandra Hill. In front, from left, are Margaret Brady, Ruth Moffat, Muriel Blundell and Edith Maddaford. (The woman in white in the background is not part of the executive). Photo – Maurice Akister Bishop Hardwick talked about Living in Mission (previously known as Together in Mission), which is a new campaign to raise funds for the diocese (45 per cent), the individual parish (45 per cent) and the national church (10 per cent).

Reports were received from the Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Financial Contact, Social Action Secretary, Camp Harding, Little Helpers and Juniors. The former Life Member Secretary, Georgina Claffey, has passed away and Margaret Brady has offered to take on this position.

Diocesan president Margaret Brady gave her report on the National ACW Conference in Halifax, which she described as “an experience on its own.”

She said it was a thrill to go to Halifax for the National Conference, as she had not been

back since she came to this country in 1949. She thanked everyone for the privilege of being president.

Elaine Hrycenko then spoke about the stuffed bears she brought with her. The bears are part of the Hope Bear project, which has been taken on by Saskatoon Diocese ACW. The Anglican Foundation of Canada supports “The Kids Helping Kids Trust Fund” with the sale of the Hope Bears.

The fund makes it possible for kids to attend choir camp or summer camp; access counselling and supportive health care; attend a church that is accessible for kids in wheelchairs; have great resources for learning and spiritual formation.

Rev. Catherine Harper of St. Michael’s Retreat spoke on the theme after lunch. She talked about a “Rule of Life,” which

gives structure and direction for growth in becoming more like Christ. “Create space for God so He can do His work within us,” she said.

Harper listed the fruits of the spirit named in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. She also described the 12 spiritual disciplines listed by author Richard Foster: meditation, prayer, fasting and study, which are Inward; simplicity, solitude, submission and service, which are Outward; and confession, worship, guidance and celebration, which are Corporate.

She continued by talking about how Christians are called to be separate from the secular world, not to conform to its pressures and emphasis on pleasing other people. We need

to step back and remember who we truly are, she said.

“Solitude is the furnace, for in solitude we step aside so we can resist temptation around us.”

Silence is an important part of solitude, said Harper, and can help us grow in Christ’s likeness. We need silence for the Spirit to speak to us. Harper recommended members set aside 10 minutes a day to go to a quiet place to pray, meditate and listen. “Keep prayer of the heart in your heart,” she said.

The business portion of the meeting was completed with the following budget being approved: National ACW Conference $1,200. Camp Harding $500.

Bishop’s Discretionary Fund $3,000. Theological Bursary $1,000. First Nations $1,000.

Children and Youth $1,000. Fair Share $1,000. Living in Mission $500. Book of Remembrance $35. Office Supplies $150.

Executive Travel $500. Total Budget $9,885.

The following officers were elected: president Edith Maddaford, First vice-president Sandra Hill, Second vicepresident Rev. Susan Salo, Treasurer will be handled through the Synod Office, Financial contact Ruth Moffat, Corresponding secretary Sandra Kerr, Recording secretary Sharon Gibler, Juniors Elva Akister, Social Action Muriel Blundell, Book of Remembrance Mary Gyles, (By Appointment) Calendars Ruth Moffat, Little Helpers Sally Bishop, Life Member Margaret Brady (volunteered) and Chaplain Rev. Isabella Frank.