Saskatchewan anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • January 2016 www.facebook.com/thesaskatchewananglican —
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Study looks at urban First Nations ministry
Briarlea ACW closes after 74 years By Phyllis Hayward BRIARLEA (Skwn) – It is with regret that St. Martin’s, Briarlea decided to close its ACW. It began almost 75 years ago, in 1941, as the W.A. (Women’s Auxiliary). In 1969 the name was changed to ACW (Anglican Christian Women). By the end of 2005 the last founding members, Isabel Anderson and Kathleen Roberts, had died. Our membership has dwindled and aged. Opal Harris is now president and Eva Harman has been secretary for many, many years. Our propose has been to share Christian fellowship and caring with our church, our members and the communities around us. Along with service and caring, fundraising has been an important activity. Many of those activities were unique and challenging, including in the early days, a group of women stooking a farmer’s field, scrubbing floors and painting in the small rural school. Travelling aprons, tea cloths and food baskets were sent around the district to help raise funds. Food is so important. Lunches were served at farm auctions and funerals. Community suppers and synod executive suppers were served. Three community cookbooks have been produced and sold as fundraisers. The first cookbook in 1967 was printed on a Gestetner. The later books, named Briarlea Secrets I and Briarlea Secrets II, were professionally printed and a great hit with the men in the community (they didn’t know it was a cookbook!). Our money was spent on the purchase of shingles and floor coverings for St. Martin’s Church in Briarlea, along with repair of the church organ and building a cupboard for the church. Many donations were made to churches, community and worthy causes over the years. We have enjoyed each other’s company and have supported each other in times of sickness and deaths. We have relished working together We are saddened that for us an era has ended, but memories of Christian service, fun and sharing will linger long.
By Rev. Dale Gillman
Welcome to Saskatchewan! Marleen Abbo hugs her father, Saeed, at the Regina International Airport, when they were reunited after five years apart. After more than a year of planning, Marleen Abbo’s family safely arrived in Regina. The family was the second refugee family sponsored by the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. Photos by Joanne Shurvin-Martin
Abbo family arrives safely Second refugee family sponsored by Diocese of Qu’Appelle By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA – After more than a year of waiting, working and praying, Marleen Abbo’s family arrived safely in Regina on Nov. 26. The refugee family was met by Bishop Rob and Lorraine Hardwick, parishioners from St. James, Regina, and several family friends at the airport. The family is sponsored by the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. Marleen’s father, Saeed Abbo, her brother, Amjed, his wife, Rawan, and their children Sareta and Saemn have settled in a three-bedroom townhouse in Regina, with basic furnishings donated by people in the diocese. The story of this family really begins when Marleen and her husband, Safaa Mousa, and
their baby daughter Majdleena, were sponsored by the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, and arrived in Regina in December 2011. After Safaa received a death threat, they had escaped from Baghdad and eventually reached Syria. Marleen’s family remained in Mosul area in northern Iraq. When ISIS gained power in Syria and Iraq, it was not safe for them to remain. As a church deacon, Amjed was targeted, so in August 2014 he took his family, including his father, to Turkey. The diocese applied to sponsor them as “named refugees” and began raising the required $40,000 to support the family in its first year in Canada. About $32,000 had been raised as of the end of November. The fundraiser “Repas for Refugees II” in November netted a profit of $3,040.
Saeed Abbo with his granddaughters, Sareta (left) and Majdleena, who met for the first time at the Regina airport.
REGINA – I studied the services and programs available to First Nations and Metis peoples in Regina, beginning in midSeptember 2014 and ending in mid-April 2015. My mandate was to see what programs, agencies and resources were in the Core areas of the city. I used the Street Survival Guide and word-of-mouth to contact various programs and followed up with a visit. Thirty-six programs were visited, with some having as many as three visits. The people I met in the various programs were kind and informative. My visit was a first for most of them. I discovered the joy of the inner-city workers and the hope they have for the people they work with. I met a few people at the programs I visited and again experienced a sense of joy and hope. I visited 36 programs in the North Central and Core areas of the inner city. There are eight Christian programs that offer help in a variety of ways; from lunch on Saturday to youth training in Texas. One of the programs offers sandwiches and a cup of coffee to street workers in the core area. Another works with young children in an after-school program. I discovered most of the programs deal with the mental and emotional support of their clients. Only a few deal with the spiritual aspect of their clients. The Salvation Army and Visitation House hold daily Bible Studies with their clients and pray for the needs of the people. During the summer, “Gentle Road Church” helped with three Vacation Bible Camps. See STUDY on page 3
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2016
A collective moment of praise By Rev. Carrie Irwin Anglican Fellowship of Prayer – Huron
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recently saw a little sign that read: “You are not on a journey to God; you are on a journey with God.” As I sat down to write this column for the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, I thought about that sign, it got me thinking about my own journey with God. While the particulars of my life journey are unique to me, we all are on a journey, not in an isolated moment in time but as a part of a bigger picture. As Christians, we believe we are part of a larger narrative, that our lives fit within the lives of those who have come before us and will be a part of the story told by those yet to come. The new year is a perfect time for reflection. It is a time for looking back at our collective story and connecting with our memories and traditions. Then looking forward, we bring with us those pieces that shape us and create the landscape of our current lives. Looking back, I am reminded of a time that was transformative in my life, so I thought I would share that story with you. I believe we are created to tell stories, as a way to add richness and depth to that tiny portion of life’s collective story we are called to live, enriching and bringing colour and texture to God’s creation.
It was Christmas Eve of 1992 in Kuwait City. It was our first Christmas there. Our son JohnRoss was three months old, and our daughter Sarah was 17 months old. Life had settled into a rhythm of sorts within sharia law. There was no visible Christian community for us to connect with, music was banned, and the country was in mourning for the lives lost in the Iraqi invasion. Somehow, John found a small white Christmas tree, which we decorated with the few ornaments we had brought with us. Our celebration of Christmas was a private one, as was our worship. It was late in the evening and
a warm breeze was blowing, so I opened the windows of our seventh-floor flat overlooking the courtyard of the Muthana Centre, an enormous complex with a shopping mall underneath. Many of the city’s expatriate workers lived in these buildings. There were seven towers of apartments, each with 17 floors that looked out over that courtyard, right in the middle of Kuwait City. I had my Christmas carols playing ever so softly, and as I stood by that window, feeling a little homesick, I heard the faintest whisper of music coming from another open window. There were very few lights on, but as I stood by my window,
a candle flickered across the courtyard, and that single whisper of music was joined by another and then another. As I stood watching, listening, windows began to flicker with lights all around, in a powerful moment of shared worship. I ran into the kitchen, found our one emergency candle, and raced back to the window to join in this collective moment of praise. In a land far from home, thousands of kilometres away from the beautifully decorated churches, I stood enthralled in one of the most powerful moments of worship of my life. Every candle was a mighty prayer, an unshakable witness to the majesty and might of our creator God. And in that moment, I wondered about all the other lights I couldn’t see, all offering their own witness to God on that night. In those few minutes while the music played and the candles burned bright, I knew God was there. I knew I could believe in the promise of God’s Kingdom because I could see it and hear it and feel it. Three minutes, more than 20 years ago, and I can still see it, hear it and feel it. If we are indeed meant to share our stories and we were pressed to say what Christian faith and life are, we can hardly do better than to say that it is hearing, telling and living a story. Photo courtesy nazarethman/ iStockphotography
Jesus finds us and purifies our hearts By Rev. Norbert Haukenfrers D.Min How is the god of the followers of Jesus different than the gods of other religions?
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ho is Jesus and what makes Him so special? Many faith traditions identify Jesus as a great teacher and among the major religions, there is a common teaching to love one’s neighbour. The traditions of Muslims, Christians and Jews all describe God as loving and just. In contrast to Islam and Judaism, Jesus does not set apart a sacred language or culture. Although western culture has been mistaken as sacred by many, the revelation of Jesus of Nazareth transcends culture and language. Jesus’ mission extended to the Jews, Romans, Samaritans and Arabs, to name a few. In addition to lowly shepherds, the birth of Jesus was revealed to a group of scholars from the Far East, the Wise Men. The inclusion of all people
continues throughout Jesus’ ministry and is confirmed as the expressed desire of God at Pentecost, where all people gathered heard of Jesus in their own native language. Jesus and the Christian faith do not have a sacred language or culture, although it will shape any culture from within. Jesus is the maker of identity, not a marker of identity. Jesus isn’t a flag to stand under or a currency of exchange. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus invites His followers into a relationship with Him, rather than rule keeping. Jesus set an unreachably high standard in the Sermon on the Mount and then told His followers to be perfect, eliminating any pretense at selfrighteousness. We all fall short of perfection, yet, Jesus invites us to grow towards Him as a plant grows toward the sun. Following Jesus is a way of living that does not remove us from our cultural or geo-political realities; He calls us to be made new. Borrowing an analogy from
Tom Wright, Jesus didn’t give us a checklist to follow. Jesus gave us a story to live out of. Jesus offers us a story where the plot drips with God’s love for all of creation: In the beginning God created out of love for love. To find our place in His story is to live as a participant in His story. God’s story encircles the beginnings of the universe in interwoven plots, right up to the tying of our shoes. Jesus is God and God is Jesus, there is no separation. God the Father and Jesus are one, one inseparable from the other and we are invited into the triune life with God by the power of the Holy Spirit. I’ve learned to be cautious of claims born of cold indifference or simmering hatred. They may reach out as facts but they fall short of truth. Jesus calls us to live with welcoming love as our defining characteristic. We are invited into a way of living that involves hearing, seeing and knowing the Way, the Truth and the Life; a way
that confounds any system that attempts to rank us by how good we are. Love defies measurement. Scriptures tell us God is love. God creates and sustains love. He is its source. It doesn’t matter what religious tradition or culture or family or place we are in, no one is beyond God’s love. We are created out of love, fearfully and wonderfully made out of the creative joy of God. In that creative love of God, we are given freedom. Freedom is inherent to love. We choose who we adore and I choose to adore Father, Son and Holy Spirit as one God. God revealed most clearly in the incarnation of His son Jesus, whose desire is reconciling man to God. Paul Young captures this in a wonderful exchange in his novel The Shack. McBride asks, “Do all roads lead to Papa?” to which Papa responds, “No, but I will go down any road to find you.” Jesus is seeking us. This makes Jesus unique. Other gods demand we seek them with a pure heart. Jesus finds us and purifies our hearts.
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. 44, No. 5 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 March issue must be recieved by the diocesan editor no later than Friday, Jan. 29. 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: Munden and Linda Coates linda.munden@sasktel.net Box 208 Arborfield, Sask., S0E 0A0 Photo: 306-769-8339 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
January 2016
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Let us pray By Bishop Rob Hardwick
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esus said, “My House will be called a house of prayer.” So, if He walked into your church Monday to Saturday, what would He find your building used for? Equally, if you were aware of Jesus walking with you this past week, what would He have found you doing? My House will be called a house of prayer. Prayer is essential to the life of any church and to the Christian. Jesus prayed often. How often do you pray? How often do you gather to pray with others? How often do you pray in your church building? Are you teaching and encouraging people to pray? It was after a time of prayer that Jesus once said, “I only do what I see my Father in heaven doing.” Are we gazing into heaven and then doing what we see our Father in heaven is doing? What is the Father wanting you, His church, to do in your community? In Antioch whilst in prayer and worship, the Lord said, “Set apart Paul and Barnabas for ministry to the Gentiles.” Are we listening for those to be set apart for ministry? It was whilst Peter was in
prayer that he saw the vision of what he was to do: a vision of taking the gospel to a Gentile and his family in Caesarea. Are we praying for the ones desirous of the Gospel? Then there was Philip, whilst in prayer, who was told to go along a certain road and there met an Ethiopian struggling over the passage in Isaiah 53. Can we prayerfully set aside our own agendas in order to do whatever the Lord has in store for us and for others? And it was whilst in prayer that John was given the revelation of the New Jerusalem and all that is to happen at the end of time. What vision or dream is the Lord giving you for
your community or church? Daily prayer must undergird all that we do as a church. Before all else, we are to seek the Lord and His ways, not ours. Bishop Stephen Cotterill’s book Hit the ground kneeling speaks to this: “With God it is not business as usual. He is the one who builds the Church, we are to be vessels for his usage. “We are not to grow the Church to make us look good or because we want things a certain way, or to make enough money to keep a building open. We are to prayerfully assist the growth of the Church because it is what God has commanded.” “For unless the Lord builds the house, the labourers labour in vain.” Are you praying for vision? Are you praying for opportunities to outreach and to share your faith in this community? Are you praying that you would be the answer to the prayers you and others in your community are praying? The poet William Blake once wrote: Unless the eye catch fire, God will not be seen. Unless the ear catch fire, God will not be heard. Unless the tongue catch fire, God will not be named. Unless the Heart catch fire,
Munden and Linda Coates named new editors for Diocese of Saskatchewan By Munden Coates ARBORFIELD (Skwn) – Munden (hometown Botwood, Newfoundland) and Linda (hometown Ottawa) moved from Newfoundland to Arborfield in 2003. Munden had just retired from a 30-year teaching and administrative career, but there was still plenty of energy. After a nation-wide search, he accepted a position as principal of Arborfield School. What was supposed to be a two-year stay has morphed into full residence in their beloved old farmhouse on an acreage just outside the town border; here they will stay. Before their marriage, Linda worked as a secretary in the federal government. After their marriage, they moved to Newfoundland and lived in three different outports for 28 years. Linda was a stay-at-home wife and mother. Munden and Linda have
Munden and Linda Coates Photo by Becca Coates a daughter and a son who are both teachers, plus five grandchildren. Linda is active in the Church of Ascension, attends bible study, is a member of the altar guild, prepares the weekly church bulletin and assists with Bible study at the nursing home. Munden has served on vestry and as minister’s warden, but also manages to get into some “odd jobs.” He has unsuccessfully
retired twice now. The call of the woodshop at Arborfield School has lured him into a part-time job that keeps him full-time busy. He is on a mission to cement a link between the school and the broad community. Munden and Linda enjoy the fellowship of the Church of Ascension, and since 2014, they have been dancing up a storm at the northeast Saskatchewan old-time dance circuit! As new associate editors, the Coates’ hope to receive news from all over the Diocese of Saskatchewan. They believe it is the small grassroots events that need to be publicized. These are the activities and the people that have kept this 500-year tradition alive and active. Contact them at Box 208, Arborfield, Sask., S0E 0A0; by phone at 306-769-8339; or by e-mail at linda.munden@ sasktel.net.
With God it is not business as usual. He is the one who builds the Church, we are to be vessels for his usage. We are not to grow the Church to make us look good or because we want things a certain way, or to make enough money to keep a building open. We are to prayerfully assist the growth of the Church because it is what God has commanded.
God will not be loved. Unless the mind catch fire, God will not be known. Emmanuel, God is with us. As we begin this New Year let us commit ourselves to prayer. “Lord, teach us to pray.” You know, perhaps the greatest ability we can have is availability. To be where God calls us; to be within whisper range of His summons, for this is the beginning of a life of meaningful
discipleship. You have a destiny, you have a purpose, you have a call by God to be set apart for Him, and the call is strong. God is wanting to do something special amongst us. So rid yourselves of frustrations and arguments over who should do what and who should be responsible to do that. First and foremost be a people of prayer, a people who seek God’s vision. Proverbs 29:8 says, Where there is no vision, the people perish; and how true that is. Vision is vital for vision inspires hope; vision encourages purpose; vision feeds the desire to journey. The challenge is that we, as a church, live up to our qualitative aim and vision. I believe in God and I also believe in you. You are an amazing church, a church that has heart, faith, warmth and love. So, at the beginning of this New Year, I ask God to breathe His breath upon you so that through prayer, you will determine God’s vision. You will also be enabled to put your faith into practise in building something even more impressive than your church building: God’s kingdom here in Saskatchewan.
STUDY Continued from page 1 There is a tent set up on Dewdney Avenue in the summer and different Christian groups use it for services and VBS. One of the obstacles faced by many who live in the core areas is transportation. Walking or taking the bus are their means of transport and even bus tickets are sometimes not an option for the people. Some programs do offer transportation. Poverty is the number one issue facing many in the core areas. REACH (Regina Education and Action on Child Hunger) is one program that helps people access good, nutritious food on a regular basis. There are five sites that offer food at a very good price of 50 pounds of food for $30. The homeless receive meals and a bed in which to sleep, however, during the day they are really “homeless.” They travel a lot around the city to find a warm place. Many are emotionally unwell and this presents another issue for them. In November, Knox Metropolitan Church hosts a large gathering of programs that give away free clothing for the winter and offer a number of support programs for the homeless and those in need
Rev. Dale Gillman There are programs to meet every need an Aboriginal person would face, however, access to programming is often difficult due to lack of transportation. There are at least four major programs for youth from ages five to 17 years. There are programs for families in crisis and whose children are in care. Overall I would say there is a program for every need emotionally and physically. The Christian programs work with the spiritual component and offer Bible Study and prayer. One of the main programs is the Indian Metis Christian Fellowship Centre. They do after-school programming for children, always beginning with a Bible story and teaching. Currently, there is nothing distinctive the diocese could work with or begin. Rev. Dale Gillman is a Diocesan Elder and lives on Gordon’s First Nation.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2016
Retreat in a box: A garden getaway By Wilma Miller
Hudson Bay artist Sharon Strand Sigfuson painted these two pictures, which now hang from the outer south wall of St. Patrick’s Church in that community. The works were inspired by 17th century painter Gustav Doro. Photos by Rae Granberg
New murals dedicated in Hudson Bay
By Father Gethin Edward HUDSON BAY (Skwn) – Life is only getting more colourful in Hudson Bay. On Sept. 20h, members of St. Patrick’s church gathered to offer praises to the Lord and to receive and dedicate a special gift: two new murals to hang on the outer south wall of the parish hall. Painted by local artist Sharon Strand Sigfuson, the two biblical scenes – one of Ruth gleaning in the fields at
Sharon Strand Sigfuson the harvest and the other of the adulterous woman brought to Jesus in the temple – will make
a beautiful complement to the two murals Sigfuson painted for the parish in 2004. Sigfuson’s two latest works were inspired by 17th century painter Gustav Dore and employ a labourious technique that produces a remarkable depth and richness of colour. Taken together, the two pieces represent a single view of divine grace that reminds us of the extraordinary depth and scope of God’s goodness towards us. This theme was perfectly
summed up in the words of the epistle reading for the day: “That [God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory…to comprehend with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” St. Patrick’s Church invites you to stop by and see the murals for yourself at any time and to join them for the divine praises at 10:30 on Sunday’s.
SASKATOON – Editor’s note: The following article appeared in the diocesan ACW newspaper Anglican Women News and Views, December 2016 issue. Have you heard of a “retreat in a box”? You order a box full of all the retreat goodies you need. Our ladies at Christ Church, Saskatoon, were privileged to attend “Garden Getaway,” a oneday retreat in the fall organized and led by Judy Herbert. Some ladies from St. Matthew’s joined us. The day was divided into sessions that were very thought provoking. There was also time for lots of laughs and delicious food, which was served by men of the parish. We were able to relax with friends, share laughter and stories and spend time with God. There was discussion around what is beauty. We were encouraged to provide our own definition of beauty and where to find it. We were able to take a guided prayer walk with God, either staying inside or heading out into nature. We talked about the challenges a friend faces and how we can help. There was a discussion of “pest control,” which is getting control of the negatives in our own lives and to find healing. It was a day away from the busyness of life and a time to “stop and smell the roses.”
DIOCESE OF SASKATOON
Announcements for January 2016 Saskatchewan Anglican Online! Did you know that you can read current and past issues of the Saskatchewan Anglican online on the Diocese of Saskatoon website or on Facebook at: www.facebook. com/saskatchewananglican? g The Parish of St. George’s, Saskatoon, Community Coffee House every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. Join them for a warm social time with coffee, tea, toast and some type of baked goods at no charge. The coffee time is followed by a weekly Bible Study from 11 a.m. to noon. All events are in the Parish Hall, 624 Avenue I South. g Seniors’ Lunch in Battleford: The Friendship Committee of St. George’s, Battleford invites all seniors to join them for lunch the first Monday of each month until June. Each Seniors’ Lunch begins at noon. g Is history your thing? Weekly guided public tours of the Cathedral of St. John the
Evangelist in Saskatoon are conducted every Thursday at 1 p.m. Also, a guided tour of the cathedral and columbarium is now available directly after the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. If you are interested in a Sunday tour, please make this known to one of the sidespersons at the Sunday service, who will direct you to the person or persons who will be conducting the tour. g A mid-week Celebration of the Holy Eucharist is held in the Lady Chapel at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist at 12:10 pm every Wednesday. Consider making this service part of your week. Several people who attend this service bring a bag lunch and enjoy sharing a meal with each other in the Cathedral Hall. All are warmly welcome. g Volunteers needed for Rainbow 50+ Program: This program is looking for volunteers who would enjoy being part of a meal preparation team, creating a hot, nutritious lunch for 30 to
40 isolated seniors who attend The Rainbow 50+ program. The program operates weekly from September to June out of St. Thomas Wesley United Church, 20th Street and Avenue H. Volunteers could expect to spend up to four to six hours on Tuesdays. For more information about Rainbow 50+ and/or volunteer opportunities, please call Sheila at 306-373-1418. You are welcome to come and meet the organizers between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the program, any Tuesday. g Volunteers needed at the Saskatoon Friendship Inn: The Friendship Inn needs help to serve breakfasts and lunches every day. If anyone is interested in this opportunity to be involved or if your parish wishes to become involved, please contact the Saskatoon Friendship Inn at 306242-5122. g L’Arche Saskatoon, an ecumenical organization supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities, has
recently started a creative workshop with a vision of “Making art, making friends, making peace.” If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Wyndham Thiessen, community leader, at 306-262-7243 or wthiessen@larchesaskatoon.org. g Diocesan ACW Spring Conference: The Diocesan ACW Spring conference “Leaders of Courage, Serving by Faith” will be held at All Saints’ Anglican Parish, Saskatoon, from April 15 to 16. Event schedule to be announced in near future. Keep watching and plan on attending! Memorials: In the December issue we carried the obituary of the Ven. Dr. J. Russell (Rusty) Brown. A memorial service to honour Rusty was held in The Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist, Saskatoon, on Nov. 21. Rusty served at St. Paul’s, Edmonton; St. Timothy’s, Edmonton; All Saints, Drayton
Valley; St. Aidan’s, Winnipeg; All Saints Cathedral, Edmonton; as principal at the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, Saskatoon; and St. Michael and All Angels, Royal Oak. In addition to parish ministry Rusty served as chaplain in the Naval Reserves at HMCS UNICORN, Saskatoon, and was a board member of Sorrento Centre and The Leonard Foundation. DEADLINES: To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be sent 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
January 2016
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Adapting to changing times Adapted by Marion G. Pope
Refugee family settles into Regina
The Abbo family gathers for a photo at St. James the Apostle, Regina, three days after they arrived in Regina. From left, Saeed, Rawan with Saemn, Amjed with Sareta. Photo by Jamie Halpenny
Youth to experience ancient, modern worship traditions during conference By Hannah Shirtliff CLAY 2016 communications co-ordinator
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ave you heard about CLAY? The Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth (CLAY) Gathering is the Anglican Church’s national youth gathering for young adults ages 14 to 19 in 2016 (born between 1997 and 2002). Our next gathering takes place in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from Aug. 17 to 21, and all Anglican congregations are invited! CLAY was created in 2010 as an expression of joint ministry between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada. CLAY builds on the traditions of the Canadian Lutheran Youth Gatherings to create a youthcentred program that empowers young people and builds Christian leadership.
At CLAY we’ll encounter Scripture in meaningful ways, experience ancient and modern ways of worship, learn together in special interest forums, enjoy fantastic social events, explore Charlottetown, make connections with youth from all over Canada and celebrate our life together. We will be experiencing CLAY through the theme of “Not for Sale,” with a focus on three areas: salvation not for sale, human beings not for sale and creation not for sale. After CLAY, we will share what we experienced and learned with others in our home communities. At the very heart of it, we are children of God, so we want to affirm and respond to God’s grace and faithfulness in ways that are intentional, practical and meaningful. Youth can attend the gathering as part of a registered home team. This is a group of young people
from a congregation, parish, diocese or other organization, led by a Primary Home Team Leader (PHTL). Along with the PHTL, a home team includes youth and may include additional Home Team Leaders (HTL) and/or Leaders in Training (LIT) that their community sends along with them. For each adult (over 21) added to a Home Team, eight youth can attend. Online registration opens Feb. 1. Early-bird registration closes March 31, while the final deadline for registration is June 30. All registration and fee information can be found on our website, www.claygathering.ca. You can also like us on Facebook (Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth Gathering), or follow us on Twitter (@ claygathering). We’re looking forward to seeing you in Charlottetown!
LLOYDMINSTER (S’toon) – Editor’s note: The following article appeared in the diocesan ACW newspaper Anglican Women, News and Views, December 2016 issue. Murial Foster is a member of St. John’s, Lloydminster Parish and is currently a student in the Diocese of Saskatoon’s Locally Raised Clergy program. The Ena Harold group of Anglican Church Women in Lloydminster took the bold step in November 2014 of forming a new women’s group with a new identity. At the time, they felt “unable to carry the work load of the past,” but knew old friendships would continue, new friendships could be gained, so they continued to “show the vibrant spirit” that had always guided them. Since then they have worked at re-identifying themselves by forming a new welcoming women’s group open to all of their church women and visitors. Recently, Muriel Foster gave the diocesan ACW an update on the activities of the Ena Harold Group, saying the group
is “trying something different on a smaller scale, letting it grow with experience, devising new suggestions and ideas, and including, not excluding, others.” “By standing together in Christ” they have found that “new venues open for us as we look for what is needed in community.” Muriel, reflecting on her own life, spoke about how her role as a daughter, sister, wife and mother helped her learn new skills and the need to be flexible and adaptable. She spoke about tripping over her own feet, about taking wrong turns, about having to repeat things to get to her chosen goals. As she said, “Life is somewhat like a child learning to walk”, “how many times do they have to fall down before they perfect the needed skill?” (Sound familiar?). However, she also observed that “you do the most growing by stepping out of your comfort zone.” Is this not so true for all of us as individuals or groups, as we adapt to changing times? Keep up the good work Ena Harold ladies!
London cathedral needs $500,000 in ‘urgent’ repairs
T
he priceless stained-glass windows of London, Ont.’s historic St. Paul’s Cathedral are at risk until money can be raised for $500,000 of repairs, cathedral officials say. “A couple of months ago we received word that immediate repairs to the North wall of the Cathedral must be done to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the building,” said Paul Grambo, the cathedral’s communications director. “Our best guesstimates at this time indicate that we may be
looking at a price tag approaching $500,000 before all is said and done” to repair the damage. While looking into water leaks inside the cathedral, officials discovered long-term water damage to masonry under the building’s eaves and “substantial” damage to at least one roof truss. If the damage is not repaired, the cathedral’s walls will be under more pressure. This will risk four stained-glass windows. The water leaks have already damaged inside gold-
leaf scrolling and plaster work. The cathedral has $100,000 available to start repairs and is applying to the diocese and other sources for additional funding, but is also urgently appealing for private donations, Grambo said. The cathedral was built in 1845 in the Gothic style, and features, among other historically significant elements, gargoyles carved from stone from the same quarry used for the building of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England. Huron Church News
Farewell and good luck
Biljana Grujic models the apron she received at her farewell party on Dec. 4, on her last day as the Diocese of Qu’Appelle’s finance officer. Cyndi Sigurdson, the wife of the chair of the finance committee, made the apron for Grujic. Photo by Joanne Shurvin-Martin
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2016
Honouring a life of service By Debbie Hubick WEYBURN (Qu’A) – Dorothy Walter is a tiny woman with big heart; an inspirational woman with a firm commitment to living a life of service to Christ, His church at All Saints, Weyburn, and those in need. Now well into her 90s, Walter continues her ministry of Directress of Altar Guild and as a member of the Pastoral Care Team. She has served in these ministries for 53-plus years and she continues to inspire those around her. Walter says of her work with the Altar Guild that it is something she really enjoys.
This is apparent to those who know her and is shown by the care and time she takes, along with the other members, in making sure all is prepared for worship. Walter’s ministry as a member of the Pastoral Care Team has her visiting those members of the congregation who can no longer attend church. She and the two other team members visit shut-ins and nursing home residents on a regular basis, taking them communion, the latest news and fellowship. Walter keeps track of birthdays and other milestones, while there is always a card, a bit of home baking and visits on or
around these special dates. On Nov. 15, the congregation surprised her during the church service, recognizing her for her service and fine example of Christian love in action. A certificate of appreciation and a bouquet of flowers were given to her; this was followed by a specially decorated cake and coffee after the service. Walter says her work has been a blessing to her. “If I have managed to bring any comfort or joy to others, that is its own reward.” As she continues in her service of our Lord, the Weyburn congregation is confident that He is smiling and saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Dorothy Walter (left) and Mildred Sandiford prepare the altar at All Saints, Weyburn. Walter has served in the Altar Guild for more than 53 years. Photo by Brian Buydens
Church of Ascension holds its first women’s retreat By Colleen Walton & Alice Carpentier
Top photo: St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Kyle, Sask. Above, Alice Hamilton and Kay Gibson painting the frames of the windows. Photos by Rev. David Nevett
St. Paul’s, Kyle window project By Rev. David Nevett KYLE (Qu’A) – The storm windows in St. Paul’s Church at Kyle were badly in need of repair, as they lacked paint and had rotting frames. Parishioners decided it was time for action and the windows
were removed and taken to Terry Dyck at Swift Current, who beautifully restored the frames and re-glazed the glass. Then began the task of painstakingly painting all the woodwork. The windows were then replaced in readiness for the coming winter storms.
ARBORFIELD (Skwn) – The Church of Ascension in Arborfield has had extensive experience hosting Vacation Bible Schools, travelling suppers, Ascension Day balloon launches and Christmas Day camps, but this year, under the leadership of minister’s warden Colleen Walton, it held its first women’s retreat. The theme of the retreat was “Giving Thanks.” Nicole Poulin and Mary Ann Perrault were guest speakers, while Mary Ann, from St. Lucy’s Catholic Church, also led the singing. There were 23 women in attendance, from Arborfield, Zenon Park, Carrot River, Nipawin, Tisdale and Archerwill. Women from different
Mary Ann Perrault leads the singing at the women’s retreat. Photo by Alice Carpentier denominations
included
Anglican, Catholic, United, Lutheran and Pentecostal. Our theme verses were Deuteronomy 8:6-11, Luke 17:11-15, and Psalm 100. Alice Carpentier read When I Say I am a Christian and led a devotional from Our Daily Bread entitled “For This I Have Jesus.” There were opportunities for listening, playing games, singing and sharing in group sessions. There was great fellowship and food (everyone enjoyed a lasagna lunch). Activities included a “giving thanks” board, games, while participants gave examples of how Jesus has changed their lives. Everyone felt that the Lord had blessed them richly. The Church of the Ascension intends to make this retreat an annual event.
The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2016
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D I O C E S E O F Q U ’A P P E L L E
After the service honouring their patron saint, parishioners of St. Luke’s, Regina, enjoy a light lunch. Photo by Nigel Salway
Patronal festival at St. Luke’s
By Nigel Salway REGINA – St. Luke is believed to be the author of the Gospel which bears his name and the Book of Acts, and is referenced several times in Paul’s letters. He is believed to have been a physician who lived in Antioch in ancient Syria. St. Luke’s, Regina celebrated its patronal festival on Oct. 18. The nave was decorated with red balloons in honour of Luke’s role as the patron saint of physicians and doctors.
The guest preacher at the service was Deacon Winna Martin. She discussed the saint in the context of both Luke the Healer and Luke the Evangelist. Ultimately there is no need to reconcile the two Lukes because there is one message and the message is one of healing. This is highlighted in the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) where Luke invites the reader to see our Lord in the face of the wounded traveler.
This is further demonstrated when Luke tells us how Jesus asked forgiveness for those who hated, rejected and killed Him. At the conclusion of the service, the St. Luke’s ambassadors for the Living the Mission campaign were commissioned. The parish ambassadors are Ezzat Abd-Elmessih, Doug Clarke, Pat Kohli and Judy Salway. Following the service, the congregation shared a meal and fellowship.
g Diocesan ACW annual meeting The annual gathering of the Anglican Women of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday, April 23, beginning at 9:00 a.m. For those coming in Friday evening, there will be a Bible study at the Cathedral at 7:00 p.m. The meeting theme is “Draw the Circle Wide” from Hymn 418. All Anglican women are invited to attend. g Pelly Deanery ACW annual meeting The annual gathering of the Anglican Women of Pelly Deanery will be held on Saturday, May 7, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at St. John’s Anglican Church, Esterhazy. Carrying on the theme from the diocesan meeting, “Draw the Circle Wide,” women will hear how some groups have been reaching out to others. All Anglican women are invited to attend. g New finance officer The new diocesan finance officer is Dragan
Dragan Radivojovic Radivojovic, who began work on Nov. 17. He spent three weeks in orientation and training with out-going finance officer Biljana Grujic, before she moved to Toronto. Grujic worked in the diocese for four years. Radivojovic is originally from Serbia and has lived in Canada for more than 15 years, plus has extensive experience in accounting and finance. (His name is pronounced draw-gan raddy-VOY-eveich).
Welcoming refugees By Canon Alyson BarnettCowan President, Canadian Council of Churches
“
You shall treat the stranger who resides with you as one born among you. You shall love that one as yourself.” — Lev. 19: 34 “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” — Heb. 13:2 For decades, Christian communities in Canada have responded with deep compassion and sponsored thousands of refugees from all corners of the world. Refugee resettlement has been our work over many generations. Today, a refugee crisis of immense and unprecedented dimension is unfolding. Millions of Syrians have been displaced. We are moved to tears and compelled to act. As Christians, we are called to put our faith and hope into action and to meet the needs of the oppressed and vulnerable by reflecting our own experience of God’s love for us.
God’s Word directs us into paths of hospitality and invites us to welcome the stranger. In God’s Word we find the source of our strength and a model for every action we undertake in God’s name. We give thanks for the outpouring of love and support already shown by Canadians in the face of the Syrian refugee crisis. We are especially grateful for the efforts of the Christian community and of all who have turned their hand to the important work of resettling and supporting refugees. We want to encourage new and continued resettlement efforts. Such efforts require commitments that extend over many months and even years. Where communities have the resources to sponsor refugees on their own, we offer our encouragement and thanks. Where communities have fewer resources, we ask them to invite their neighbours into partnership and work together. To you, as well, we offer encouragement and thanks. While we are welcoming and caring for refugees, we must continue to be mindful of the reasons
for their flight and the complexity of the conflicts from which they are seeking refuge. Military intervention alone will not bring peace. We commit to work with others and invite our communities to contribute to a robust public witness. We continue to call on Canada to strengthen its diplomatic efforts to end the terrible conflict, to increase humanitarian assistance in the region, to help stop the flow of weapons, and to work to re-establish respect for human rights and the rule of law. In the days to come, the Christmas story will begin to be told. Lest we forget, that story includes the journey of Jesus, Mary and Joseph into Egypt where they took refuge from those who would do them harm. As we recall the journey of the Holy Family, we invite our communities to participate in every aspect of refugee resettlement in reflection of their gifts and resources. We invite our communities to welcome those who seek to make their home with us even as we would welcome Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Matthew 25: 31-46).
A sacred place to stimulate your mind and nourish your spirit through:
Ecumenical Encounter & Prayer
Silent Retreats & Spiritual Direction
Contemplation & Meditation
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Reflections on the Seasons of the Church Year
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Fellowship, Celebration, Worship MAKE YOURSELVES AT HOME WITH US “Come away to a deserted place and rest for a while …” (Mark 6:31)
For program details, contact your local Anglican parish, or visit www.queenshouse.org To register, please call 306-242-1916 or email receptionist@queenshouse.org Do you need a facility for:
In-services, seminars, workshops, retreats, celebrations or any other occasions? Check our website for facility & booking details. 601 Taylor Street W., Saskatoon, SK S7M 0C9
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2016
Hudson Bay makes generous donation By Rae Granberg HUDSON BAY (Skwn) – The Hudson Bay Health Care Facility recently launched a fundraising campaign to purchase a much needed Digital Imaging Machine. The cost of the machine is $220,000. Warden of St. Patrick’s Anglican Church, Hudson
Rev. Michael Bruce of St. Luke’s, Regina, blesses the catafalque.
Photo by Nigel Salway
All Souls’ Day at St. Luke’s
By Nigel Salway I am the resurrection and the life says the Lord: Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. John 11:25-26 REGINA – All Hallows’ Eve (Oct. 31), All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) are collectively called a triduum: three successive holy days. The third day of the Triduum is known as The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, or All Souls’ Day. It is a day on which the dead are remembered and we
are reminded they have joined with the Communion of the Saints. The faithful departed were remembered at St. Luke’s with a special service on All Souls Day. The service commenced with the pronouncement of the burial sentences. Following communion, the names of loved ones who had passed on were read prayerfully by Canon Susan Page while the congregation prayed quietly: “Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” Subsequently, Rev. Michael
Bruce and Canon Page processed to the catafalque in the nave. A catafalque is a box or stand that is used to support a casket or coffin during a funeral service. On All Souls Day, it is used without a coffin as a symbol of the faithful departed. A prayer for the absolution of the dead was read at the catafalque after which it was blessed by Rev. Bruce. The congregation quietly left the church after the blessing. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.
The congregation at St. Michael and All Angels, Beechy, gather after the Harvest Thanksgiving service. Photo by Rev. David Nevett
Bishop Hardwick visits Beechy By Rev. David Nevett BEECHY (Qu’A) – The Harvest Thanksgiving service at St. Michael and All Angels was a very special occasion, as it was conducted by Bishop Robert Hardwick, assisted by the Regional Dean, Rev. Lauren Miller.
It was either the high winds or the bishop’s powerful sermon that caused a power failure and the rest of the service continued in semi darkness. It all added to a most memorable event. Organist for the service was Sylvia Haugen; Eleanor Taylor read the Scriptures; Carol
Bay, Caron Hallen, on behalf of the congregation, recently presented a cheque for $5,500 to Facility representative, Michelle Sprackman. It is by the grace of God and the hard work and dedication of many St. Patrick’s Church members that this presentation to the local community is made possible.
Esson was the communion administrant; and Aiden Haugen was crucifer and server. The congregation of the Beechy United Church joined in the service as is their custom on the second Sunday of each month. On the third Sunday of the month, the Anglicans worship at the United Church.
Seen here at the presentation are, from left, Rev. Gethin Edward, priest-in-charge, Rae Granberg, Michelle Sprackman (facility representative), Caron Hallen, Shirley Hardy and Karen Dickson. Photo contributed
Engage Differences workshop A five-day workshop in Saskatoon from Jan. 25 to 29 To deepen understanding for intercultural ministry, offered by Canadian Churches Forum based in Toronto. Five days focused on faith, heart, mind and skills for the art of intercultural ministry.
Joyous celebration
An ecumenical and interactive program with practical ideas to use in your own context and nurture cultural relevance, understanding and awareness in your community! To register, visit www. ccforum.ca/duim.
A Service of Confirmation, Reception and Renewal of Baptismal Vows was performed by the Right Rev. David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon, at St. George’s Anglican Church, Saskatoon on Dec. 6 for members of the parishes of Christ Church Anglican and St. George’s Anglican. Approximately 90 people attended this joyous service and celebration of membership and church growth. Present for the service were, front row, from left: Robert Gilecki (received into the Church); ordinands Lileas Cortes, Atlee Engle and Diago Cortes; Regan Parks (renewal of baptismal vows) and ordinand Jackie Schell. In the back, from left, are the Rev.David Tyler, honorary assistant, St. George’s; the Ven. Larry Mitchell, interim rector, Christ Church; the Right Rev. David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon; the Rev. Emily Carr, rector, St. George’s; and Peter Coolen, Bishop’s Chaplain. Picture by Peter Coolen.