Saskatchewan
anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • November 2023
Obituary for Rev. Gordon Yarde
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Kamsack donates $15K to five worthy causes
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St. Aidan honours 20 years of amalgamation
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ESC creates new class on biblical literature
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Rev. Eimsook Joung appointed first imcumbent for Immanuel By Joanne Shurvin-Martin
Photo by Derwyn Crozier-Smith
Saskatoon cathedral hosts moon art exhibition By Derwyn Crozier-Smith SASKATOON — St. John’s Cathedral, in partnership with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, was the site of the art installation called “Museum of the Moon” for 10 days in September. The touring art is the creation of UK artist Luke Jerram. It measures seven metres in diameter and features detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface.
The moon has been displayed in many different ways as it travels around the world. In the cathedral, the Symphony Orchestra performed a modern adaptation of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” by Max Richter on three evenings. The University of Saskatchewan’s Greystone Singers performed a concert, as did the cathedral’s organist, Greg Schulte along with flautist Ann Salmon. The cathedral was
open to the public every evening until midnight, as the artist wanted the work to be shown after dark. It was also part of Saskatoon’s Nuit Blanche, a city-wide festival of art. It is estimated over 10,000 people visited the cathedral during the display. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated with the moon suspended above the altar on two Sundays, fittingly during the Season of Creation.
REGINA — After a long search process, the parish of Immanuel has its first incumbent — Rev. Eimsook Joung. She is welltravelled and has a wealth of experience that she is excited to share. The parish was created in 2020 by combining five existing city parishes. Initially the parish was served by a clergy team, and later by an interim priest, but Rev. Eimsook Joung will be its first incumbent. In September, Joung wrote to the parish to introduce herself before beginning her work on Nov. 1. She began by explaining that she was born in Seoul and is a Korean in terms of ethnicity. She is a naturalized British citizen. She comes to Regina from Fort Simpson, NWT where she was the rector of St. David’s Anglican Church from 2019. Rev. Joung said her name is pronounced Im as in Sim card, Sook as in Cook (Imsook.) Joung is pronounced like ‘young’ but with a J as in James. She said her life has been an ecumenical journey! She was raised in a Roman Catholic family and educated in a Methodist missionary school. A Presbyterian minister, Pastor Park, “took me under her wings and shared the Gospel with me. … It was only then that I came to a real faith and a living relationship with the Lord Jesus.”
Rev. Eimsook Joung at a parish meal in the Diocese of the Arctic. She has been appointed the first incumbent of Immanuel Parish, Regina, effective Nov. 1. Photo contributed While working at Samsung in Seoul, she felt called to the ministry. She was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church in 1998 and worked as a missionary to the Korean diaspora in Rhode Island, USA. Then she moved to China from 1999 to 2003 where she worked as a missionary. She organized a private school for Chinese children in Guangzhou. While in China she worked towards an MBA with the Australian University of Ballarat. She started a business to support the work of mission in China. She was a pioneer “Bizinary,” a word that refers to a missionary who is engaged in a commercial Continued on page 4
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Look outside yourself for guidance in responding to gov't orders “What should the church’s response be to government orders?” By Canon Cheryl Toth
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ovember brings personal and civic memory into the worship of the church. We celebrate the saints, known and unknown, on All Saints Day and we remember on All Souls’ Day the faithful departed who have shaped our lives. On the Sunday closest to Remembrance Day many parishes will honour those who died in the wars of this land with hymns and prayers. The mingling of personal lives, civic responsibility and the church’s faith highlight the difficulty Christians have had over the centuries determining how to respond to the orders and regulations of governments. Do we join the army when our country goes to war (as many Anglicans have done) or do we declare ourselves conscientious objectors (as most Mennonites have done)? If our government declares groups of people undesirables or enemies of the state, do we comply with their assessment or resist? These very real questions are ones with which Christians have struggled time and time again. To help discern how to respond faithfully, let us turn to one of the saints of the church and the wisdom of Scripture. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage in the third century, guided the church through times of persecution. Prior to joining the Christian community, Cyprian was a successful lawyer — knowledgeable in the working of government. After he was elected bishop of Carthage, the imperial government, concerned that Christians were causing disunity within Roman citizenry, began a period of persecution. Believers were asked to provide proof that they had made sacrifices to the Emperor. Cyprian went into hiding for almost two years rather than comply. When he returned
Cyprian was a bishop of Carthage in the third century and guided the Church through times of government persecution. Photo courtesy johnsanidopoulos.com to Carthage he found a church divided between those who had obeyed the Emperor’s edict in order to stay out of jail; those who had resisted and suffered consequences for doing so; and those who had disobeyed but bought themselves safety through false documentation. Cyprian worked with the faith community to heal the wounds of this tumultuous time and to reconcile believers who had chosen different responses. It was not easy. Those who had chosen obedience or false adherence to the order were subject to public penance. For some who had disobeyed and suffered, that was not enough. But Cyprian tried to have everyone to look beyond his or her own circumstance to see what would benefit the unity of the church and witness to God’s forgiving grace. Looking beyond ourselves is one of the touchstones in determining how to respond to government
orders. St. Paul reminds us to “look not to your own interests but to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4). The prophet Ezekiel gives us a picture of what that means in daily life when he describes a righteous life as one in which a person gives bread to the hungry and clothing to the naked, executes justice and seeks reconciliation, and does not use his power to exploit, oppress or rob another (Ezek. 18: 5-9). It is looking beyond our own interests that most frequently helps Christians determine which government orders to obey. Does the order exclude or oppress an individual or group? Does it ignore the needs of the poor? Does it allow or foster exploitation? Those would be orders to resist. We see resistance in the Christians who hid Jews in their homes during Nazi occupation or gave medical help to combatants on both sides of a conflict. Asking if a government order does not restrict our love of God
and neighbour is a critical lens though which to view obedience. Even when we think we cannot obey a law because it asks us to deny God or harm our neighbours, Cyprian would say we need to be prepared to live with the consequences of our choice. In 258 AD, Cyprian himself faced that choice. Emperor Valerian required all Christian clergy to make sacrifices to the Emperor. Cyprian was banished from Carthage but returned and surrendered himself. After a brief trial in which he refused to obey an order to deny his allegiance to God, he was sentenced to death. A contemporary record of the event shows the governor asking him to “consider his position” before refusing once again. Cyprian’s response? “Follow your orders. In such a just cause there is no need for deliberation.” Cyprian was not going to waver in following his beliefs and he did not expect the governor to waver in following through on his either. He met his death with grace and generosity. It is my hope that the witness of Scripture and Cyprian will help us consider the interests of others before our own when we consider how to respond to government orders. Will this benefit our community? Will it protect the most vulnerable? Will it help preserve the Earth? Will it promote generosity and grace to those in need? Will it make it possible for people to repent and be restored to society? Will it enable reconciliation to take place? Will following it allow me to witness to God’s love and compassion for us all? With these criteria, what laws and regulations would you want to obey? What do you want to resist? In all of this, let us continue to pray that we as people of faith and those in authority will look beyond our own interests to serve the common good. Canon Cheryl Toth is a retired priest in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle and an honorary assistant at its Cathedral.
Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle. Published monthly except for July and August. Whole No. 292, Vol. 52 No. 3 A Section of the Anglican Journal SUBSCRIPTIONS For change of address, undeliverable copies and subscription list updates, contact: • Your parish • e-mail: circulation @national.anglican.ca • Or send to Saskatchewan Anglican, c/o Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ont. M4Y 3G2 RATES $10 in Canada $17 outside Canada SUBMISSIONS Submissions for the January issue must be received by the diocesan editor no later than Nov. 24. All pictures must be sent as JPEGS and 1 MB (megabyte) in size. CONTACT INFORMATION Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail. com 1501 College Ave Regina, Sask., S4P 1B8 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: Mary Brown mary1949brown@gmail.com Box 25, Shellbrook, Sask., S0J 2E0 306-922-5159 Advertising agent: Angela Rush saskatchewan.anglican.ads@ gmail.com 905-630-0390 PUBLISHING DETAILS Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5
November 2023
Bishop Anthony Burton (right) and his wife Anna spend time in Prince Albert visiting friends during a trip this summer. Photos by Mary Brown
The Saskatchewan Anglican
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Anna Burton and Helen Harradence have a conversation after a special church service that celebrated the latter's 100th birthday at St. Mary's Cemetery. Harradence agreed to the service knowing it would not be about her but about God.
Former bishop helps parishioner celebrate 100th birthday By Mary Brown PRINCE ALBERT — This past summer Helen Harradence celebrated her 100th birthday. The family invited the Burtons and Andrews to be part of the celebration by attending and being part of a special service in Helen’s honour at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Harradence is a member of the Order of Saskatchewan and shares her 100 year age with
Ed Laird, another O of S member who turned 100 in May. She agreed to the service knowing that it would not be about her but about God. In his sermon, Bishop Anthony Burton noted that they were gathered to give thanks to God for His gift to us of 100 years of Helen’s life, for all He has accomplished in that life, and specifically, for all God has accomplished through her in our own
lives. One-hundred years! Just as autumn brings forth a harvest of abundance, Helen’s life has been a harvest of love, selflessly giving of herself to her family and the Church. Burton wanted to visit with friends he made when he was living in Prince Albert and arranged for people to gather at Shannanigan's. When I got there Anna and Tony were sitting
with Bishop Arthurson and his wife Faye. Quite a few people showed up and many memories were shared, with everyone catching up on their lives since the Burtons left in 2008. Bishop Burton moved to Dallas, Texas and was the incumbent at the Church of Incarnation. Their kids, Carolyn and Peter, finished their schooling in Texas and have both graduated with honours.
Carolyn is a speech therapist working in Dallas and Peter is an engineer working in Germany. Anna has her own business as an accountant. Bishop Burton retired last year and lives in Dallas sometimes and in Nova Scotia at their cottage the rest of the time. They haven’t changed a bit; still the same interesting, fun, and caring couple.
Obituary
Rev. Gordon Yarde known for community service, having a 'fine tenor voice' and love of travelling The Rev. Gordon FitzGerald Yarde: June 20, 1938 to Aug. 27, 2023 By the Rev. Peter Coolen SASKATOON — The Rev. Gordon Fitz-Gerald Yarde died unexpectedly, at home, in Battleford on Aug. 27. Gordon was born on June 20, 1938, in Barbados. Orphaned at a young age, he found a community and a family in the cathedral in Barbados and in the cathedral choir. He maintained these types of connections wherever he travelled, throughout his life.
Rev. Gordon Fitz-Gerald Yarde. Photo submitted Gordon’s fine tenor voice was his chosen instrument to “make a joyful noise to the Lord.” Gordon moved to
London, England in 1960, at age 22, where he became a bus driver with London Transport for five years. He then began studies in psychiatric and general nursing at Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals, London. He worked at Goodmayes Hospital where he was a staff nurse, and, within a year, was head nurse. In 1974, he moved to Brandon, Man., and said he intended to only be in Canada for six months, but stayed in Manitoba until 1977. He then moved to Battleford where he worked at the
Saskatchewan Hospital, North Battleford, the Edwards Residential Centre and the North Battleford Youth Centre until his retirement. Over the years, he also travelled extensively, to visit the Vatican and many other nations in Europe. He visited Barbados a couple of times and, more recently, did a missionary tour in Mexico building houses for the poor. Gordon’s lifelong involvement in the church culminated in him entering the Diocese of Saskatoon’s Locally Raised Clergy Program, and on March 31, 2016,
he was ordained as a vocational deacon by the Right Rev. David Irving at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Saskatoon. Following ordination, Gordon served as the deacon at St. George’s, Battleford, serving in the parish, the community and the surrounding Indian reserves and nonreserve communities; he became the diocesan contact person for Indigenous Ministry Gordon also served his tirelessly by taking on many and many longterm commitments in his community. He served Continued on page 5
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... new priest at Immanuel Parish fluent in six languages Continued from page 1 business as an example of wholistic integral mission. After five years in China, Joung moved to Britain where she studied theology — first in Wales, then at the University of Birmingham and finally at Trinity College, the University of Bristol. Trinity is the largest Anglican college in the Communion. She received a BA Honours in Theology and also a special prize in biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew. In addition to biblical languages, Joung knows Korean, English, Chinese and Inuktitut.
She says she was “exposed to the Anglican tradition” in England and was “introduced to lively growing churches.” She was hired by Trinity Church Brentwood, Essex with special responsibilities to serve the elderly and develop international ministries. The principal at Trinity College Bristol (who was the chaplain to the Queen) knew Bishop David Parsons, bishop of the Arctic. He had appealed for British clergy to serve in his diocese. Joung was introduced to Bishop Parsons, and
although it was a struggle for her to leave England, she said “Yes” to God and moved to Rankin Inlet in Nunavut. She says, “My time at Rankin was very tough. I was lonely and very cold.” Joung confesses that she was completely overwhelmed, and it took “several years of making mistakes and being misunderstood” but God never abandoned her. As she began to understand the Inuit people, they realized she was committed to them. She was able to fundraise money for a new church building and clear a large debt.
In 2019, they consecrated the new church building and began a new project to build a parish hall. She moved to Fort Simpson where there were other challenges. Rev. Joung organized and created administrative and financial systems to streamline the Anglican identity of the parish and move it along to being a self-supporting church. She led the parish through the severe flooding when the whole island had to be evacuated! She was one of the very few who stayed. The COVID-19 pandemic was
devastating, and most recently, so were the wildfires in the Northwest Territories. After five years in Fort Simpson, Joung knew that she was ready for a different set of challenges and responded to the call of Immanuel parish. She planned to move to Regina in early October and is looking to buy a two-bedroom apartment and a car for her ministry at Immanuel Church. Joung said she wants to orient herself to this new city and the diocese. She covets people’s prayers and support as she begins her ministry at Immanuel Church.
DIOCESE OF SASKATOON EVENTS
Announcements for November 2023 g Saskatchewan Anglican online! Did you know you can read current and past issues of the Sask. Anglican online? Visit www. anglicandiocesesaskatoon. com/saskanglican or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ saskatchewananglican. g Please note that if you plan to attend any church service in person, check on service times and any requirements for preregistration. If attending, please follow all indicated seating, movement, distancing, masking, and sanitization rules. g Licentiate in Theology Courses offered by College of Emmanuel and St. Chad and Western Education Collaborative Anglican Network (W.E.C.A.N.): Emmanuel and St. Chad College has been working with the WECAN group to develop a ministry preparation program
relevant to the various Anglican contexts in Western Canada. The local diocesan ministry schools make substantial contributions to the program by offering courses mapped out in the ESC-WECAN Licentiate in Theology handbook. Whether you are feeling called to do more formal ministry or are drawn to taking certain courses, please contact the person named for the course or courses you are interested in doing. At the same time, let your diocesan school co-ordinator know your plans. If interested, please review the detailed list of fall and winter course located elsewhere in this issue. g STU/ESC course offerings for this fall and winter: Introduction to Biblical Literature with Dr. Adam Wright and Dr. Bernon Lee, Nov. 13-24 Spiritual Practices, Cultivating Compassion and Resilience, with the Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy,
Dec. 4-8 and Jan. 8-12, 2024 Gospel of Mark, with Dr. Adam Wright, Jan. 8-12, 2024 Global Anglicanism in Practice with the Rev. Dr. Iain Luke, Sept. 25 through Dec. 15 (weekly class) Please call 306-9753753 for more details and please also see the note elsewhere in this issue, which provides more background and information on these course offerings.
g The Painting Table: All are welcome at the “Painting Table” held in the lower parish hall at Emmanuel Anglican Parish, 607 Dufferin Ave., from 7to 8:30 p.m., the first Wednesday of each month. All art materials are supplied.
g Joys of the Season at Christ Church, Saskatoon: Christ Church, Saskatoon will be presenting “Joys of the Season” in the parish hall at 515 28th Street West, on Saturday, Nov. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Festive lunch ($10), the event includes sales of Christmas baking, turkey pies, poinsettia plants, handicraft sale and door prizes.
g Christ Church Anglican, Saskatoon: BAS Evening Prayer, every Thursday at 7 p.m.; Free community supper, 5 to 7 p.m., the third Tuesday of each month; Community Coffee House, every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon; Nutf lakes Videos, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Men’s breakfast the first Sunday of each month, a free breakfast by the men of the parish, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Upcoming services and weekly or monthly events:
g All Saints Anglican Parish, Saskatoon; Choral Evensong followed by a potluck supper. Third Wednesday of each month; 5:15 p.m.
Appointments/ Deaths etc.
g Congratulations to St. Stephen’s Parish, Saskatoon, which has been awarded $10,000 for “Diverse Infrastructure” by the Anglican Foundation of Canada. g The Rev. Gordon Fitz-Gerald Yarde died at his home in Battleford on Aug. 27; his obituary is included in this issue of the paper. g To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be supplied to the associate editor by fax, email or “snail mail” by the end of the month, one month before the month in which the insertion is desired (i.e. February entries will be in the April issue). Detailed and longer texts of upcoming events will not be included in this section, but should space allow, could be the subject of articles and notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.
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... Gordon Yarde 'would go anywhere and do almost anything'
Repairing history Greg Chatterson repairs the stone work of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Fort Qu’Appelle. “The building is in pretty good shape for 137 years,” says Chatterson, “but some of the stones have been chipped
away.” The church was built in 1885 by stone mason Joseph Turner, who also built the Bell Barn in Indian Head. The tower was added in 1902. Photo courtesy Alan Hustak, Fort Times
Continued from page 3 three terms, over 26 years, on the town council. He is thought to be the first person of African descent to be elected into office in Saskatchewan. He also served on the Municipal Services Committee and the Land and Business Development Committee; he was also active with the Kiwanis Club of the Battlefords, the Royal Canadian Legion, and was a past board member for Concern for Youth, Boys & Girls Club, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and the Agricultural Society. He was also involved in the Shriners the Ionic Lodge the Eastern Star, and was a Master Mason and served in the Blue Lodge Masons, the Royal Arch Masons and the Scottish Rite Masons. He received several awards for service, including an Honorary Service Award from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, an award that is granted to elected officials throughout the province with 20 or more years of service. It recognized longterm dedication to and involvement in the recipient’s community. Gordon also had an involvement in bodybuilding and won second place in the Men’s Masters category in the Provincial Bodybuilding Championships in 1995. In his eulogy it was said, “Gordon was the type of person who would go anywhere and do almost anything. He was as comfortable in a tuxedo as he was in his gardening clothes … and we can’t forget his pink tutu. "But whether he was digging in the dirt, mopping the church floor, sitting at a head table or meeting the premier, Gordon was still Gordon: he was himself in any situation. “Gordon was also able to make friends wherever he went. He used to say that he may have been an orphan, but he always had a family. "Wherever he landed he would be taken into
the hearts of people and become a son, a brother, an uncle, or in later years, a grandpa. "Even Rev. Trevor took to calling him, ‘Me Dad.’ We would hear, ‘I am taking me dad out for fish and chips.’ … ‘And wherever Gordon travelled he made a point of visiting cathedrals or churches, attending services whenever possible, soaking up the beauty of the music and his surroundings. "Whenever he talked about those experiences his face would light up and he would say, ‘Glorious, simply glorious!’ But for Gordon the church was more than a place or a building. "The church was his family, the place where his spirit was fed, where he was grounded in Christ and where he found meaning for his life.” The funeral for Gordon was held at St. George’s Anglican Church, Battleford on Aug. 31. The Opening Prayer and Welcome was provided by the Rev. Trevor Malyon, rector of the Battlefords; and the eulogy was provided by Jim Eppen. The homily and commendation were conducted by the Rev. Jan Trost and Bishop Rodney Andrews; Bishop Rodney was the celebrant assisted by the Rev. Malyon who also did the blessing; Prayers of the People were given by Gwen Ashley, the Lord’s Prayer by Silvia Wuttunee and the Masonic Lodge conducted the Masonic Rite. A rendition of “You Raise Me Up,” which followed the Prayers of the People, was provided by Marilyn Glass, Amanda Clark and the Rev. Trevor. The service concluded with the singing of Amazing Grace, a hymn that Gordon loved and often sang as a soloist at funeral services he was leading and that he had learned to sing in Cree. Gordon’s funeral service was followed by a reception at the nearby Royal Canadian Legion Hall and then internment at Battleford Cemetery.
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Church warden Rick Aikman (standing, centre), presents a cheque from Holy Trinity, Kamsack, to Tricia Seppak, manager of Eaglestone Lodge, surrounded by parishioners and residents of the care home, and Rev. Nancy Brunt, third from right. Photo contributed
Holy Trinity, Kamsack donates $15K to five causes By Sally Bishop KAMSACK (Qu’A) — For the past several years, Holy Trinity Anglican Church has been without a full-time priest and has been saving money from the generous donations of parishioners.
The congregation is now blessed by the presence of Rev. Nancy Brunt, who has been appointed as a nonstipendiary priest. At the recent vestry meeting, the parish decided to make donations from its savings to nonprofit and charitable
organizations in the local, provincial, national and international spheres. The donations, totalling $15,000, were made to Eaglestone Lodge, a communityowned non-profit care home in Kamsack; The Primate’s World Relief
and Development Fund for flood relief in Nova Scotia and fires in North West Territories; Camp Harding in Diocese of Qu’Appelle; The College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, Saskatoon; and Diocese of Muyinga for its hospital building. Eaglestone Lodge was
selected because a number of the residents are Anglicans who have been supporters of the church for many years. The $10,000 donation will help complete ramps at the entrances of the lodge, to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs.
ESC-WECAN partners launch new website to support L.Th. program By Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy L.Th. implementation coordinator
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n the collaborative work of the last eight years between Emmanuel and St. Chad College and the Western Education Collaborative Anglican Network (a.k.a. W.E.C.A.N.), we have reached a few special milestones! With sponsorship from participating dioceses and our National Church through the Anglican Foundation, Emmanuel and St. Chad and WECAN have been able to hire a Licentiate in Theology implementation co-
ordinator whose work has been instrumental in keeping things moving along and consulting the partner diocesan school co-ordinators. One of these special milestones has been the wide approval of the Licentiate in Theology Handbook, which was confirmed in the spring of 2021. Licentiate students and instructors are to consult this resource as they make their way through the licentiate program. In the handbook, you can find the outline and learning goals for each of the L.Th. courses to be administered either within a participating
diocese or across dioceses and possibly through Emmanuel and St. Chad College. Among other relevant tasks, E.S.C. College offers teaching resources, orientation sessions and support to the local instructors and mentors of students in the program, manages student access to the STU digital library, and will eventually grant the licentiate certificate to students who successfully complete their program. The second exciting milestone has been the launching of the escwecan.ca website, which went live on Sept. 5. This electronic platform has been constructed in close
consultation with the WECAN partners, who have voiced the need for specific capabilities and content to be included. An L.Th. or occasional student registers online for a course or several courses coming up in their diocese or another diocese, and upon pressing “send,” the student is electronically directed to the relevant Google Classroom to find further details for the course they are interested in as well as reading material and other preliminary instructions. Local diocesan school co-ordinators are given clearance to enter the details of courses they are hosting and monitor their
students’ progress through the L.Th. program. Instructors are given clearance to exercise freedom in using their own Google Classroom, include required reading material and give feedback to the student online regarding their fulfilment of a course’s learning goals and competencies. The dioceses and institutions engaged in the licentiate implementation journey have been: Kootenay, Qu’Appelle, Athabasca, Saskatoon, Yukon, the Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh, Emmanuel and St. Chad College and Henry Budd Continued page 10
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Rural churches still active in summer thanks to committed members By Mary Brown DEER CREEK (Skwn) — Holy Trinity Church in Deer Creek, I was told, is really a winter church, but this summer they had the flower service. They usually have the winter services because their church has a propane furnace. Services are shared with the Fort Pitt Church that only has services in the summer. Holy Trinity is a lovely stone church down a country road near Paradise Hill. The church was built in 1932 and consecrated on Ascension Day in 1936. On the wall is a plaque honouring Norman Moore with his Order of Saskatchewan medallion draped over it. When he was a young man, he helped to build the church, along with his father, who was warden in 1935. There is no resident priest-in-charge of these churches, which means their lay readers conduct services. Kathy Moore, Norman’s daughter-inlaw, is the lay reader for the Deer Creek Church. Before they died, Norman and Doris put together a replica of the church but did not finish it. So, Kathy painstakingly finished the project by painting every little stone. After the potluck lunch members of the congregation, who brought flowers, placed them on their family’s graves. In the summer St. Christopher’s Church in Christopher Lake opens its Thrift Store for the spring and summer season. There are two outdoor buildings
Kathy Moore holds a replica that her parents, Norman and Doris, created of Holy Trinity in Deer Creek. Photos by Mary Brown
Executive Archdeacon Andy Hoskin (right) and a musician prepare for a church service at St. Martin, Briarlea.
Visitors to St. Christopher's Thrift Store make their purchases in the summer. full of donated items from the parish and community members. There are no price tags on anything; you give what you can, even if that is nothing. When I was there some cottage people gave a very generous donation for
their purchase. The store is open Friday and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Members of the parish, such as Bob Robinson, Order of Saskatchewan recipient, take turns looking after the shop. It was quite busy
the Saturday I was there. Another church that has a flower service is St. Martin’s Church in Briarlea. Upon entering the building, the congregation were pleased to see all the flowers in vases lining the
aisles and placed on all surfaces. When the service is over, everyone takes the vases and places them on the graves. There were about 30 vases to distribute after which there is always a pot-luck lunch. St Mary’s in Prince Albert has three summer services, and the Prince Albert Historical Society sponsors tours led by Fred Payton, who visits graves of notable past people. The parish of Birch Hills has the most summer churches, with services once a week throughout the summer. The fact these churches are still viable is a testament to the enduring faith of the people who care for them. It is comforting to know that as long as they are still around, their summer churches will exist.
Summer student supported many projects this year in diocese By Mary Brown
Didiane Shenge was a summer student in the Diocese of Saskatchewan this summer. Photo by Mary Brown
PRINCE ALBERT — Didiane Shenge was hired as the summer student for the Diocese of Saskatchewan this past year. She is a theology student with the University of St. Paul in Ottawa and plans on attending the Vancouver School of Theology in the future. I got to know her in August when she was filling in at the synod office while Barb was on vacation. Her answers in a twominute interview follow:
Favourite book of the Bible: Jonah Birthplace: Rwanda What you love most about God: His omnipresence Favourite place on Earth: Gisenyi, a city in rural Rwanda near Lake Kivu Farthest you’ve been from home: Canada Favourite meal or dessert: Not poutine since fries are not meant to be soggy, but lobster Biggest fear: Not seeing her grandma in Rwanda who raised her Hidden talent: Cooking
Favourite book or movie: The Notebook Your hobby: Sketching Three things always in your fridge: Butter, vegetables, almond milk Favourite sports team: the NBA’s Lakers While in the diocese she planned and led a city-wide VBS, assisted Rev. Brody Albers with the annual canoe camp in northern Saskatchewan, worked at Camp Okema and helped with VBS in Cumberland House. We wish her good luck in her future endeavours.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
November 2023
From death to life: St. Aidan celebrates 20 years a By Jason G. Antonio/ Moose Jaw Express MOOSE JAW (Qu'A) — It was the early 1970s when four struggling and shrinking Anglican churches began informal talks about amalgamation, but it wasn’t until late 2000 that they began the formal process to combine. Two years later, on Oct. 1, 2003, four Anglican parishes — St. George, St. Michael and All Saints, St. John and St. Barnabas — became one under the name of St. Aidan, with parishioners making the former St. John’s building their new home. The first worship service occurred on Oct. 5, 2003, with three priests coming and going over the years before the current incumbent, Rev. Dr. Dean Pinter, arrived in 2012. To honour the church’s 20th anniversary, it celebrated on the weekend of Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. The former featured an evening of reminiscing about the journey to amalgamation, while the latter featured a special church service with Bishop Helen Kennedy presiding and a luncheon afterward. Irishman Aidan was a seventh-century bishop who trained in Scotland and brought the gospel to Northumbria, England. He walked 480 kilometres (300 miles) from Iona, Scotland, to reach Northumbria. Celebrating the moment Parishioner Sharleen Langford thought it was wonderful that St. Aidan had reached 20 years, considering it was a tough road that included plenty of sweat, tears and patience. She liked honouring the fact four distinct parishes set aside their differences and formed a new relationship. “And we survived 20 years. It’s a good thing,” her husband, John, said during the luncheon. “It’s a celebration of bringing everyone together … . It was tough. And it worked.” He acknowledged that many people left because of the amalgamation, but some eventually returned while new people — including young people and families — joined. Mrs. Langford grew up at St. John’s and has attended Anglican services in the building for more
Bishop Helen Kennedy (centre) leads the special anniversary service while assisted by Deacon Arleen Champion and Rev. Dean Pinter. Photo by Michelle Josefson
Led by music director Chris Kaylor on organ, the St. Aidan choir sings during the service. Photo by Michelle Josefson than 70 years, while Mr. Langford began attending 60 years ago after they started dating; he has been the unofficial maintenance supervisor for 50 years. Renaming St. John’s to St. Aidan’s wasn’t the only change since there were adjustments to services and physical enhancements, which were tough because of the emotional attachment, she recalled. The altar was moved, the pulpit was removed — it was turned into a new altar — and the choir moved positions. Also, chairs replaced pews at the front of the church in the newly created chapel. “That’s what got me to start with. It was the
whole atmosphere here that got me,” Mr. Langford said. “Now it’s changed a bit, but I’ve rolled with the punches.” The celebratory weekend reflects what people can accomplish if they persevere and work together, added Mrs. Langford. Other organizations can do it, even though it’s not easy and is a slow process. “Nothing happens overnight,” agreed Mr. Langford. God’s fingerprints Deacon Arleen Champion, who grew up at St. Barnabas, said amalgamating was what people needed since there was no need for four Anglican
parishes in Moose Jaw. Even as a child, she recalled her father talking about how amalgamation was needed, especially since some churches were sharing a priest. However, no one could make it happen, so the churches continued struggling for several more decades. “God’s had His fingerprints on this through the whole thing, from the very beginning … ,” Champion said. “It was prayer that got us through … . Whenever we couldn’t make a decision, we would stop and pray.” The amalgamation was also possible because thenbishop Duncan Wallace insisted the joining be
grassroots-led, she continued. He didn’t tell the oversight committee what to do or how to do it, which is one reason the amalgamation succeeded. Champion added that while the 20th anniversary gives the church a chance to discern what its future may look like in 30 or 40 years, she knows God will remain with them. A pilgrimage to amalgamation The amalgamation committee approached Wallace in 2001 to discuss the situation and how to ensure the Anglican community survived and thrived. He gave the group his blessing and it began the heavy lifting
November 2023
The Saskatchewan Anglican
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after four churches became one in amalgamation cally looking after these buildings,” she said. St. Barnabas was a beautiful building and had a big yard, so its members thought that was the best location for the new parish, Shepherd continued. However, that didn’t happen and they had to accept that. To make the amalgamation process easier, Don retired as a priest in 1999 and they began attending St. John’s.
A large banner welcomed people to the church's 20th anniversary celebration.
Photos by Jason G. Antonio
The birthday cake.
Parishioners fill their plates with tasty food. of becoming one parish. A professional “change consultant” approached the group after hearing about the project and offered to help them for free, just what they needed. The committee realized two churches were inadequate and closed and sold them. Operating costs for the other two were higher than in a new building, while renovation estimates were near to constructing a new building. For a time after the new
parish formed, services were held at St. Barnabas (St. Aidan East) and St. John the Baptist (St. Aidan Downtown) before the former was sold and the latter became home. Choosing the name Typically, a bishop will name a new parish, but the committee sought ideas from the four churches and received 54 submissions, Champion recalled during the evening of reminiscing. It reduced
those names to five while Wallace assembled his list. “One (suggestion) that stuck out in my mind was ‘The Church of It’s-TooGood-To-Be-True,’” she laughed. The churches voted on their top 3 favourites and sent the list to Wallace, who suggested St. Columba. However, Champion reminded him there was a country church near Buffalo Pound Provincial Park with that name. Wallace then chose St. Aidan because it was the churches’ top pick and his second choice. Yet, he acknowledged that it was really God who picked the name. A year of meetings Carla Hoffmann, who attended St. Michael’s, recalled that the committee worked for a year to bring the amalgamation to a vote. She voted against it because she was happy
“with our little parish.” That emotional attachment made it painful when the diocese later decommissioned the church. After the vote, she decided to “get on board” and help make the new church work. She joined the 12-member committee and spent three hours every Monday night attending busy meetings. She thought the sub-committees made the amalgamation process easier. “That was a pretty intense year of meetings,” she added. ‘Writing on the wall’ Leona Shepherd and her husband, Rev. Don Shepherd, arrived in Moose Jaw in 1988, with him serving St. Barnabas and Emmanuel Parish in Mortlach. “We could already see the writing on the wall. Something had to happen because four parishes could not handle … physi-
A helping hand Luke Johnson arrived in 2010 and initially felt lost during the services because he grew up in a non-liturgical evangelical church that didn’t use books. However, people around him provided support, including Don Shepherd, who usually passed him the hymn or prayer book on the correct page. Johnson began volunteering, including serving communion. He served Shepherd one time, which surprised the retired priest. However, he later said he was thrilled to see a young person serving in the church. After Shepherd died in 2012, Johnson attended his funeral and learned more about this “profound man” and the effect he had. “What he embodied in those early directions is what I have really come to appreciate most about this parish, that it’s a place of practical and personal welcoming … ,” said Johnson. “In all the years I did youth group stuff (as a leader), there was Don sitting on my shoulder. I want to keep walking the path of Don. I want to be a little Don … . I am very grateful for those early interactions.” Paying attention to God’s work When Rev. Dean Pinter arrived, he didn’t come with a vision or program in mind. Instead, he paid attention to what God was already doing there and consciously prayed to be attentive. “Aidan didn’t bring God to Northumbria. God was already there,” Pinter said. “Aidan had the vision to see what God was doing and to speak that clearly and communicate it so that people could see it too. “And I think that’s, fundamentally, what good ministry should be about.”
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
November 2023
Rev. Allan Higgs celebrates milestones as priest and in marriage By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA — Rev. Allan Higgs celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination as priest, in a special service at Immanuel Anglican Church on Oct. 1. At a coffee party after the service, he and his wife, Shirley, were honoured for their 62nd wedding anniversary in September. Rev. Winna Martin was guest preacher and celebrant. She had been part of the original clergy team when Immanuel Parish was formed, and is currently priest for All Saints, Lumsden and St. Nicholas, Kennel. Higgs grew up in Alberta, and worked for Alberta Social Services. He was ordained deacon in All Saints Cathedral, Edmonton in 1972, and priested there one year later. He served as an honorary assistant at the cathedral and St. Paul's. Higgs moved to Regina in 1979 to work for the Government of Saskatchewan. He was director of regional operations of Saskatchewan Social Services. He was also chaplain for the RCMP at Depot, the national training centre for all RCMP. It was part-time work at first, but expanded to become full time in 1996.
Rev. Alan Higgs and his wife, Shirley, celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in September. On Oct. 1 they were honoured at Immanuel Church, Regina, where he was recognized for 50 years as an Anglican priest. Photo by Joanne Shurvin-Martin At that time, he resigned from the Saskatchewan government, having reached the rank of assistant deputy minister. When he was working full-time at Social Services and nearly full-time as chaplain, it placed a real
strain on his family. There were no family holidays and no weekends spent together as a family. Higgs credits Shirley for managing everything for him and their daughters. He also served honorary assistant at St. Luke,
Regina, and said over the years he had taken services at all the parishes in Regina, as of the 1980s. Speaking of his 50 years as a priest, Higgs said, “It has been such a privilege to be a priest. God has given me the gift of an opportunity to work for Him.” He says he never misses an opportunity to say, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour, and He is yours, too.” Initially Higgs was the Protestant chaplain for the RCMP, but later the position became inclusive for all faiths. He became the resource person, and had connections so he could call on the appropriate faith group for a specific cadet or member. “For example, for a Jewish person I would call the local rabbi,” he said. The work kept him busy, especially in the years when the RCMP training program was expanded and a troop graduated every couple of weeks. “Each grad had a service,” says Higgs, “and it kept me hopping.” Often there was a wedding on the same weekend, as cadets chose the date when their family and friends would be in the city for the graduation. Higgs officiated in the historic RCMP Chapel at many baptisms, funerals and weddings, and provided chaplaincy services for line-of-duty
deaths, hospital visits and special parades. While he was chaplain, the annual memorial for RCMP members killed in the line of duty changed from a small local ceremony to a large event attended by people from all across the country. During his career, Higgs was involved in creating the Canadian Police Chaplains Association, and served as president. He was also a member and on the board of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, and in 1996 was selected Chaplain of the Year. Shirley Higgs became president of the ICPC Auxiliary and they travelled to annual meetings all over the USA. Higgs retired from the RCMP in 2004. He continues chaplaincy work, serving with the RCMP Veteran’s Association. “I really loved doing that work,” he says. “I could bring faith and religion into the lives of members so they could discover that faith is a living thing.” “I would never have been able to do what I have done without Shirley by my side,” he states. He tells of seeing Shirley for the first time in a coffee room at the YMCA in Calgary. He had a friend arrange a blind date with her. “That was in February and we married in September!”
... Licentiate in Theology offers many courses for Anglicans Continued from page 6 College in The Pas, Man. With regular input of these groups, we are poised to launch the program. To learn more about this new path in preparing for lay and ordained ministries, you may contact the ESC-WECAN L.Th. Coordinator Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy trish.mccarthy@ saskatoontheologicalunion.ca ESC-WECAN Licentiate in Theology Upcoming Course List FALL 2023 Monthly Evening Online Book Study: “To Love and Serve: Anglican Beliefs and Practices.” Hybrid Licentiate in Theology Student Activity with Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy. Register: esc-wecan.ca Introduction to Theology: Qu’Appelle Diocese 6 to 8 p.m.
on Tuesdays: October: 3rd, 17th, 31st November: 14th, 28 th, December: 12th. Taught by Dr. Joel Houston of Briercrest College. School Coordinator: Ven. Dr. Catherine Harper archdeacon. catherine@sasktel.net Registration: esc-wecan.ca Non-L.Th. Credit “New to Preaching?” For Lay Readers, L.Th. (WECAN) & Theology Students Link in with Rev. Dr. Iain Luke for two hours to review the basics of Sermon preparation before “Preaching in Advent” event the next day. See next listing. Time: Friday, Nov 17, 2023 7 to 9 PM Saskatchewan time ONLINE ONLY Registration: esc-wecan.ca or contact Trish McCarthy. Non-L.Th. Credit Event for All Who Preach: “Preaching in Advent” Open to Lay Readers, Deacons and Priests
Time: Nov 18, 2023 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM Saskatchewan HYBRID: on-site and online. Location: St. Matthew’s Church, 135109 th St. W., Saskatoon, SK Registration: esc-wecan.ca or Trish McCarthy. Spiritual Practices for Cultivating Resilience and Compassion Course Adapted for L.Th. Students Instructor: Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy Monday to Friday, Dec. 4 – 8, 2023 and Monday to Friday, Jan. 8 to 12, 2024. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Onsite Location: St. Andrew’s Building, 1121 College Avenue, Saskatoon, SK Online Link will be forwarded after registration. On-Street parking in area south of College Ave. Registration: escwecan.ca or lisa.mcinnis@ saskatoontheologicalunion.ca WINTER 2024 Anglican Studies: Kootenay Diocese and ESC Taught by
Archbishop Lynne McNaughton and Rev. Dr. Iain Luke. Takes place Friday evening, Jan. 19 and Saturday daytime, Jan. 20, 2024 as well as Friday evening, Feb. 9 and Saturday daytime Feb. 10, 2024 Registration: esc-wecan.ca or Lisa McInnis. Indigenous Relationships and Wisdom and Teaching of the Elders: Henry Budd College and Brandon Diocese. This is a new and exciting course in our L.Th. School Coordinator: Rev. Dr. Kara Mandryk Registration: esc-wecan.ca or kdmandryk@gmail.com Introduction to the Bible: Saskatoon School of Discipleship; March and April 2024 Format and Dates TBA School Contact: Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy. Registration: esc-wecan.ca or Lisa McInnis.
November 2023
The Saskatchewan Anglican
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St. Peter's, Mancroft celebrates ancestors with BCP service By the Rev. MarieLouise Ternier MANCROFT (S’toon) — The tiny church of St. Peter’s Mancroft, near Humboldt, named after a majestic cathedral in Norwich, UK, was buzzing with activity on a beautiful fall day in September. Located on a hill in the heart of the region’s farmland, the immaculately maintained church filled with worshippers for the semi-annual BCP Evening Prayer Service led by the Rev. Canon Marie-Louise Ternier, while combines rolled through nearby fields. Each spring and fall many attendees gather to join faithfully in honour of ancestors buried in the church cemetery there. They hail from Anglican, Catholic and Protestant backgrounds and came from as far away as Saskatoon. The BCP Evening Prayer Service was held at 3 p.m. and was followed by a social that included sandwiches, veggie and fruit trays and desserts. If you ever find yourself in the Mancroft area, make sure to stop in; the church is never locked. It is a little gem shining quietly on a small hill overlooking the fields.
The guests assemble in front of St. Peter’s in anticipation of the semi-annual BCP Evening Prayer Service.
The Rev. Canon Marie-Louise Ternier conducts the semi-annual Service of Evening Prayer in September at St. Peter’s, Mancroft. Photos courtesy Rev. Canon Marie-Louise Ternier
Qu'Appelle AGM reflects on the past and the future By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA — Bishop Helen Kennedy began her report to the diocese by saying how wonderful it has been to meet the family of the diocese, both clergy and lay people, as she has travelled and participated in worship. She said she always received “a warm and hospitable welcome.” The bishop spoke on Sept. 23, to over 50 people on Zoom at the annual information meeting of the diocese, a meeting which is required in the canons. Kennedy spoke of the continuing effects that COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns have had on congregational life. Although fewer people are attending in person, some congregations have seen that people living far away are now “attending” services online.
She spoke of the sad fact that many rural congregations have closed, and said the diocese is exploring many options and is collaborating more with other denominations. “It is not all doom and gloom,” Kennedy emphasized. The diocese is in the process of establishing a South Sudanese mission in Regina, under the leadership of Rev. Nathaniel Deng Mayen. Kennedy said many churches, both city and rural, are welcoming newcomers to Canada, and she appreciates the various cultures that are being seen in some of the congregations. The diocese continues to be active in refugee sponsorship. Ralph Paragg, who has handled this task for many years, is currently preparing to hand over the reins to a new person whom he will train and mentor. A part-time
position is being created to continue the good work. Children and youth are an increasing priority for the diocese, and this is reflected in the budget for 2024, with increases in the budget for Camp Harding and for a travelling Vacation Bible School program next summer. Indigenous ministry also continues to be a priority. Kennedy reported that the diocese is in the process of returning land to First Nation bands — eight acres near Punnichy to be returned to George Gordon First Nation, and three acres at the former St. Matthew, Forest Farm, to Chacachas First Nation. Kennedy reported that the diocese has “tidied up our trust funds,” combining funds with similar aims and creating a clearer picture of how much money is available and for what purposes.
“The biggest challenge and shock” in the past year has been the increase in the cost of insuring church buildings. Parishes have seen increases from 30 to 50 per cent. The bishop stressed that the diocese will always carry insurance for personal liability, cybercrime, directors’ insurance, and for sexual abuse cases. Parishes must decide on the coverage they want or need for their buildings. In some cases, parishes may choose not to have coverage for complete replacement, but rather just the cost for demolition. Lucy Osime, finance officer, gave an overview of the budget for 2024. The bishop briefly mentioned several properties that have been or are being disestablished: *Work on redeveloping the former site of St. Matthew, Regina, continues
*Palliser Parish has been disestablished, which includes Shaunavon, Eastend and Gull Lake *Loverna is a disestablished parish and a family wants to purchase the property to maintain it for historical purposes *The land and small cemetery at the former St. Matthew, Forest Farm, north of Whitewood, will be transferred to Chacachas First Nation *There isinterest from individuals to purchase St. Lucy, Dilke and a small parcel of land at Punnichy. Discussions continue between the three dioceses. Saskatoon and Saskatchewan are without a bishop, which has encouraged all three to explore possibilities of greater collaboration, sharing of resources and ministries. In the Q&A period afterward, people asked for more info about insurance.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
November 2023
Marriage musings By the Rev. Canon Marie-Louise Ternier
B
y the time this reflection goes to press, it will be 44
years. In September 1979, two deeply faith-filled Christians, my husband Jim and I, stood before a Justice of the Peace for 10 minutes to exchange wedding vows. Only two witnesses were present, and we had a simple restaurant meal afterwards. Three months later, on the other side of the Atlantic, we said “I do” again. This time we spoke the words in the context of the Holy Eucharist surrounded by family and friends, followed by a big festive reception. Why twice, you may ask? Just to make sure the vows would stick? And why three months apart? Jim and I were first legally married to satisfy immigration requirements.
Only three months later we were in a position to travel back to my home country for the “real” wedding celebration with family and friends. As the wedding season wraps up for another year, I find myself in a reflective mode. I have been a Canadian much longer than I have been a citizen of my country of birth. But the memory of my own wedding situation is one that grounds me now as an Anglican priest. I come from a country where the church has no legal authority to perform marriages on behalf of the state. A church wedding can only take place after the completion of the legal/ civil ceremony. Only if the Christian faith is
meaningful, the couple will seek the church’s blessing upon their union. But this religious ritual has no legal or civil standing; it only serves to provide a religious/ spiritual recognition of the marriage. In fact, this is the norm in most countries around the world; North Americans tend to remain blissfully unaware of this widely practised separation of church and state. I have adopted many elements from Canadian culture that I hold dear, but my wedding experience from the old country has stayed with me in a particular way. It guides my current ministry with couples preparing for marriage. When approached with a marriage request, my first task is to tap into the ordination vows: As a priest, it will be your task to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion
your life (and ministry) according to its precepts. In all you do, you are to nourish Christ’s people from the riches of God’s grace and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come (BAS, pg. 646). Marriage commissioners abound these days, but strictly speaking ministers/ pastors/priests are not part of that group. As an ordained priest, my first responsibility is to provide the couple with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to offer them a warm welcome into our church community. I tell them they are knocking on the door of a faith family that can walk with them in prayer, support and encouragement as they build their life together. By seeking out an ordained priest, they are asking for way more than simply a legal ritual. They are implicitly acknowledging their need for God, and are asking the church to bless their union in ways that reflect the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, sharing the Christian understanding of marriage is essential. Thus together, couple and priest embark on an intimate journey of instruction and guidance. These times of learning, conversation and questioning can truly facilitate an encounter with the Holy, helping the couple mature in their faith and the yes they will give one another. On the other hand, if our church’s faith perspective and all we have to offer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ does
not match the couple’s spiritual needs and preferences, they are free to choose an officiant from the vast pool of marriage commissioners. Through the prism of priestly ordination, the legal aspect seems quite secondary. I know well the fraught and often acrimonious debates that continue in our church around the meaning and definition of marriage. I also have the distinct impression that no one seems the least bit interested in giving up the church’s privilege to act on behalf of the state in the marriage department. Raising that possibility only raises eyebrows. And yet, the beginnings of my own marriage continue to serve as a blueprint for the priestly ministry I exercise today with those who embark on a life-long journey of love with one another, however challenging that is. We are called to offer the Gospel free of charge, granting seekers the benefit of the doubt, yes. But each generous welcome needs to be balanced with the obligation ordination has placed upon us to uphold Christ’s teachings and Christ’s invitation to discipleship within a context of community and fellowship. In this time and place, this can often feel painfully impossible. For Jim and I, it is the religious celebration that marks our years together; the legal wedding date is only relevant when government forms require it. Forty-four years and still holding ... .
November 2023
The Saskatchewan Anglican
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Rev. Jesse Miller installed at St. Mary, Maple Creek By Linda Kapasky
Clergy pose after the service on Sept. 20 to welcome Rev. Jesse Miller to Maple Creek. In front, from left, are Rev. Eleanor Rockabar, Bishop Helen Kennedy. In back, from left, are Archdeacon Lauren Miller, Archdeacon Catherine Harper, Rev. Jesse Miller, Rev. Susan Anholt. Photo by Linda Kapasky
DIOCESE OF QU’APPELLE
ACW event set for April 2024 in Maple Creek g Save the date: Diocese of Qu’Appelle Anglican Women’s Gathering will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024 at St. Mary the Virgin, Maple Creek. The theme will be “Challenges Change Us.” All women in the diocese are invited to come and join in the fellowship. Watch for more information as plans are finalized. Please contact Edith Maddaford, vice-president, at 306-744-2216 or esmadd@ sasktel.net if you have questions, suggestions or topics for discussion at the gathering. g Qu’Appelle School for Mission and Ministry – For information on upcoming QSMM courses, please see the diocesan website at quappelle. anglican.ca.
MAPLE CREEK (Qu’A) — The community of Maple Creek and members of the congregation of St. Mary the Virgin came together to celebrate the new ministry of Rev. Jesse Miller as the priest of St. Mary the Virgin, Parish of Chinook. The installation took place in a service on Sept. 20. Bishop Helen Kennedy officiated at the service of installation. Also in attendance were Archdeacon Catherine Harper, Archdeacon Lauren Miller, Rev. Susan Anholt, Rev. Peter Boote and Rev. Eleanor Rockabar, a member of Chinook Parish. Anholt’s connection with Jesse Miller goes back to
when he taught school at Kenaston, and worshipped at the church where she is priest. As well, pastors from the Maple Creek Ministerial Association attended. Archdeacon Miller, who is Jesse Miller’s father, preached on the importance of us listening to God’s will; that Jesus is building His church and we are His body here on Earth; and that we need to be the living stones that Jesus will use to bless the world and to bring God’s light into it. The congregation of St. Mary the Virgin is very excited and happy to welcome Rev. Miller and his wife, Chelsea, to Maple Creek and the parish. A reception with tea, coffee and cake followed the service.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
November 2023
Feeling the Holy Spirit
Freedom 555 plan for Anglicans By Rev. Gene Packwood
I
recently had occasion to preach on discipleship with reference to Jesus directing His disciples to go and make more disciples in Matthew 28. As I prayed and pondered in preparation, I was reminded of The Rule of Life on page 555 in The Book of Common Prayer — an excellent template and method for becoming, growing as, and remaining disciples of Jesus. Rev. John Torley was my priest in preordination years. He used to say, “If ever you’re having a problem with 666, turn to page 555 in the prayer book and do what it says.” I like to think of it as our Anglican Freedom 555 plan. The Rule of Life is part of A Supplementary
Instruction in The Catechism that are “Questions and Answers which may be studied with the Church Catechism in the preparation of candidates for Confirmation or at other times.” The first question is: What is the Church? Answer: The family of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. A little later comes: Why is it (the Church) called Holy? Answer: Because the Holy Spirit dwells in it, sanctifying all its members and endowing
Page 555 of the Book of Common Prayer encourages Christian Anglicans to adopt a Rule of Life, which is "an excellent template and method" to become, grow and remain disciples of Jesus. Photo by Joanne Shurvin-Martin
them with gifts of grace. And: How did our Lord provide for the life and work of the Church? Answer: Our Lord sent his Holy Spirit upon the Church and upon his
Apostles. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, or at least I ought to be. If all the above is true, and I am a part of the family of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit dwells in me — in power — sanctifying me and endowing me with gifts of grace. How shall you and I respond to that? Turn to page 555 and ask the Holy Spirit to help us to grow as disciples of Jesus by following the wise instructions to be found there by:
1) Going to church. Regularly and frequently! 2) Finding a way to practise private prayer and Bible reading. Preferably daily. Statistically, North American Christians don’t do very well in this area. Self-discipline is involved. Start with something you can handle. Consider what you could do if you were to begin with, say, seven minutes a day? 3) Identify one way you could bring the teaching and example of Jesus into your everyday life. Build on that. 4) Practise using the Name of Jesus in conversation — other than as a swear word. 5) Find one thing you could begin as an act of service to your Church and community. Think of it as, “I shall do this to
bless this person/these people because Jesus loves them and I follow him.” 6) Consider contributing a tithe, or 10 per cent of your income to support the work of the Church; not as a matter of legalism, but as an act of faith in the spirit of Malachi 3:8-10. If you can’t do it all at once, prayerfully commit to increasing what you return to the Lord by one per cent a year. The beauty of the tithe is although it is doable for most of us, it does “pinch” a little. It can require some self-discipline — self-denial even (Luke 9:23). I would say the key words in these paragraphs are “selfdiscipline.” Disciples of Jesus are, by definition, not only filled with the Holy Spirit, but disciplined.
November 2023
College creates new course about biblical literature By Adam Z. Wright, Ph.D. The College of Emmanuel & St. Chad
T
here are many wonderful things happening this time of year. One can smell the scent of chimney fires in the air; one can observe the beautiful colours of the leaves changing on the trees or hear the crunch of newly fallen leaves underfoot; the farmers are completing another year of harvest; Pumpkin Spice Lattes are now available; and the Blue Jays are officially in the playoffs. What a wonderful year we are experiencing! At ESC many wonderful things are also happening. The faculty have been hard at work developing a number of new courses for our shared MDiv and MTS programs at the Saskatoon Theological Union. Of these, I have the privilege of working
with my esteemed colleague, Dr. Bernon Lee, to design and teach our Introduction to Biblical Literature which is scheduled to run during the dates of Nov. 13 to Nov. 24 this year. This course is designed to teach students about the Bible with special attention to the historical reasons for the contents of the New Testament. What excites me the most about this course is the opportunity to combine my expertise with that of Dr. Lee to create a robust experience for students. This is important because the contents of the New Testament cannot be detached from the contents of the Old Testament. In fact, many of the things said about Jesus in the Gospels is directly related to a large number
of Jewish literary traditions found in the Old Testament. Students are constantly amazed when these connections are shown because it showcases the complexity and brilliance of the Gospel writers. Not only this, but the Apostle Paul relies heavily on the contents of the Old Testament and much of what Paul said can be read in close relationship to his previous life and training as a Jewish Pharisee. I invited everyone to consider taking this course at ESC next month. Whether you are leading a Bible study or preaching to your parish each week, this course will equip you with the needed tools to enhance your understanding of the Bible. If you are interested, please contact me at adam. wright@saskatoon theologicalunion.ca. I look forward to seeing you next month! Go Blue Jays!
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Diocese providing resources to build clergy skills By Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy SASKATOON — Dear clergy colleagues, in consultation with diocesan administrator Archdeacon Alex Parsons, we have decided again to offer a few times for us to get together, either online or in person, to fine-tune ministry tools in the areas of conflict management, spiritual care for people facing death, and Advent preaching. We are setting up a TV and speaker for Zoom in the diocesan boardroom for smaller groups. Please review the offerings below and send an email to RSVP for each gathering time either all at once or when it is convenient at trish. mccarthy@saskatoontheologicalunion.ca. Topic: CLERGY STUDY DAY ZOOM LINK Time: This is a recurring meeting .Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web. zoom.us/j/84300953249?pw d=NzFtRXFYRVJERmx2O FljemEvU0xwdz09 Meeting ID: 843 0095 3249 and Passcode: 929769 CLERGY STUDY DAY “Palliative Care and M.A.i.D:” Thursday, November 2, All Souls’ Day from 9:30 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Hybrid Event with Onsite Location: Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon, 1403 9th Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 2Z6 In preparation for this study time, please read document from the following link: isach-sg-web-col.pdf (anglican.ca) A Safe Context will be observed for sharing different perspectives. Open Educational Event: Clergy, Lay Readers and Bible Study Leaders “Preaching in Advent 2023”: Sat., Nov. 18, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. We will have four speakers for this event. Hybrid Event with Onsite Location: St. Matthew’s, 135 109th St., Saskatoon, SK S7N 1R3 ZOOM Information: Meeting ID: 874 2033 1777 / Passcode: 61475
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom. us/j/87420331777?pwd= QmNhOXB0NzlNYkFsUUZIak1oQ055dz09 Possible Topics for Future Clergy Events: Intercultural Ministry, Trauma-Sensitive Ministry, Group Discernment: Mennonite and Ignatian Patterns and Sharing Confirmation Resources for Young People Parish Preaching on School of Discipleship and Safe Church in Rural parts of Diocese Preached on Safe Church and SOD in Watrous on July 2 and last Fall in Endeavour. Will preach in Biggar on September 24 with Pastor Daphne Bender. Rev. Trish is available to share on Safe Church and the School of Discipleship in country parishes: Oct. 15 and 22, Nov. 5 and 19, 2023. RSVP for Clergy Study Days and Preaching Event Name: Parish: Phone Number: Dietary Restrictions (if you plan to be onsite): I am registering for the CLERGY STUDY DAY on: Online __ (check) “Palliative Care and M.A.i.D:” Thursday, November 2, All Souls’ Day Onsite __ (check) from 9:30 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. In preparation for this study time, please read document from the following link: isach-sg-webcol.pdf (anglican.ca) A Safe Context will be observed for sharing different perspectives. Hybrid Event with Onsite Location: Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon, 1403 9th Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 2Z6 Online __ (check) “Preaching in Advent 2023”: Sat., Nov. 18, 2023 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. 1 to 4 p.m. Onsite __ (check) We will have four speakers for this event. Open to Lay Readers and Clergy. Hybrid Event with Onsite Location: St. Matthew’s, 135 109th St., Saskatoon, SK S7N 1R3.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
November 2023
Ask — and it shawl be given! By Lauren Featherby OUTLOOK (Qu’A) — In the spring, the ACW ladies of St. Mark read an article about Bishop Helen Kennedy asking any crafters in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle to consider making prayer shawls. This was definitely something the little group from St. Mark’s could do. Over the summer, three of the ladies knit and prayed. Before long, six shawls were finished. Rev. Susan Anholt blessed the shawls during a service this fall. Then the shawls were sent off to Bishop Helen, knowing she’d find a good home for them.
Two members of the St. Mark, Outlook, ACW flank Rev. Susan Anholt, with blessed prayer shawls on display. Shirley Schnarr (l) and Catherine Featherby, who are both in their 90s, kept busy knitting prayer shawls during the summer. Photo by Lauren Featherby
CHRIST CHURCH ACW Presents
JOYS OF THE SEASON Featuring
Festive Lunch ($10.00) Christmas Baking Turkey Pies Poinsettia Plants Door Prizes Saturday—November 25, 2023 11:00 am—2:00 pm 515—28th Street West Saskatoon, Sask