Saskatchewan
anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • January 2021
'The Mask of Zerro' helps diocese raise money for food By the Rev. Mark Kleiner SASKATOON — The spirit of Zorro, the original masked hero, lives on within great-great-grandnephew (twice removed) Zerro. And what brings Zerro to these parts? The Diocese of Saskatoon has enlisted him to spearhead The Mask of Zerro, a bold new initiative within the Saskatoon Deanery to raise enough money to support 10 food insecure households in Saskatoon in 2021. The assistance comes through CHEP Good Food Inc.’s Pay It Forward program. For decades, the nonprofit organization CHEP has worked on the culinary frontlines in Saskatoon to provide healthy, local, and sustainable food options to residents. The Pay It Forward program identifies households in need and provides fresh produce, milk, eggs, bread, and other edibles at a cost of $1,170 per household per annum. In total, The Mask of Zerro aims to raise $11,700 for those in need. So far, through generous donations from Emmanuel and St. Stephen’s parishes, the initiative has raised close to $3,000. Zerro hopes all the Saskatoon Deanery parishes will dig down deep to meet or exceed the targeted amount. “Scars on the back may be a swordsman’s shame,” explains Zerro, “but greenbacks in the kitty is how we’re gonna win this game!” While Zerro is not accustomed to our Canadian winters, he has found the COVID-19 situation particularly troublesome. Apparently, while the Diocese of Saskatoon was
Zerro and Gord Androsoff, executive director of CHEP Good Foods Inc. in Saskatoon, happily announce the beginning of The Saskatoon Deanery’s Mask of Zerro initiative to provide food for needy families in Saskatoon. Photo by Rev. Mark Kleiner successful in having Zerro declared an essential worker and therefore able to cross into Canada from the United States, his beloved horse Twister had to remain behind. Fear ye not, however, for craftsman and hobby equestrian Tom Nieman, of Christ Church Anglican, Saskatoon, has come to the rescue by designing Zerro an “all-season” companion, Blizzard, complete with wheels and solid wood construction (“That’s what keeps it stable,” notes Nieman). Although Zerro and
Blizzard shan’t be able, due to COVID church closures, to make any of the originally planned in-person appearances during Sunday worship, they nevertheless are making the rounds to the various parishes in the deanery and posting videos of their visits online. Those who wish to donate to the project can send big fat cheques made out to The Diocese of Saskatoon, with Mask of Zerro in the subject line, to the Synod Office at: 1403 9th Avenue North, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2Z6.
Zerro leaves his mark on the front door of Christ Church Anglican, Saskatoon. Photo by Rev. Mark Kleiner
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2021
Jesus and fear Why should we have confidence when Jesus tells us not to live in fear? By Rev. Dell Bornowsky
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esus’ teaching about fear is considerably more nuanced than just exhortations to have courage and not be afraid. I think Jesus knows that we will experience fear, but surprisingly, rather than calling us to disdain all fear, He explicitly exhorts us to embrace the right kind of fear. Biblical exhortations to “fear not” should be read in context of the even more frequent exhortations in both Old and New Testaments to “fear God.” Before we are tempted to reduce such fear to merely respect or reverence, we should understand that in biblical parlance the absence of the “fear of God” refers to an attitude that “I can victimize others and get away with no consequences.” Whereas, the right kind of godly fear is that which keeps me from doing stupid, reckless things on one hand and selfish, abusive, cruel things on the other. My own understanding of this paradoxical teaching about fear is helped by seeing it as a journey through fear.
Two sets of verses characterize our journey through fear from its good beginning to its better end. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10 and others) but in the end “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). If our wisdom does not begin by realizing we inhabit a cause-andeffect moral universe where our selfishness has
that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. “Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:4-7). According to Jesus,
Before we are tempted to reduce such fear to merely respect or reverence, we should understand that in biblical parlance the absence of the “fear of God” refers to an attitude that “I can victimize others and get away with no consequences.” consequences and where sin and evil are justly and lovingly condemned, we will fail to grasp the true significance of mercy. Mercy means that the consequences we deserve are diverted. This journey is encapsulated by John Newton’s Amazing Grace lyrics: “twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved.” Jesus suggests a similar progression: “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after
the wrong kind of fear includes submitting to the threats of earthly powers for fear of what we may lose in this life. Overcoming this kind of fear is exemplified by martyrs: from Daniel’s three friends in the furnace, to the Maccabees, to the Apostles and of course Jesus Himself. It seems we need the good kind of fear to give us the perspective and power to overcome the wrong kind of fear. Once our obedience to
Almighty God, initially prompted by fear, has been established there is no further need to fear because the most fearsome person of all is now our caregiver. This almighty protector may allow both persecutions and pandemics, but remember it is through the shaking of both heaven and earth that we are receiving the kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:25-27). Christian confidence in the face of fear is not stoic heroism. Rather, to overcome both the absence of godly fear and presence of the wrong kind of fear, our confidence is in His cross and His resurrection. Our just condemnation for not fearing God enough to avoid proud, selfish rebellion has been accomplished on the cross of Christ. Now, the cross and the resurrection and the Holy Spirit’s presence ensure that our confidence in Jesus is well placed. “God has … set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Cor. 1:22); “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid of what anyone can do to me.’” (Hebrews 13:6).
DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN
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BIRCH HILLS (Skwn) — What an encouragement it was recently to be joined by people from each point of our parish — Birch Hills, Kinistino and Muskoday — for Morning Prayer over Zoom at 8 a.m. Have you ever tried to make a habit of reading the Bible? It’s not always easy and it can be frustrating and even counterproductive to do so in isolation. It’s one of the rich treasures of Anglican spirituality that every morning and evening we have the Word of God served up for us on a silver platter in our
parish. There’s no fuss, no muss: you can join the call on your drive to or from work or while you do your chores. You can join with your camera on or off, mic on or mic off. You can put your phone in your pocket and listen on your evening walk, or plug in with your headphones and let your friends
think you’re listening to a new Post Malone song while you ride the bus to school. In fact, you don’t even need an internet connection. If you call 1-204-272-7920, the meeting ID is 885 6626 1667 and the passcode is 499814 for Morning Prayer at 8 a.m. Meanwhile, the meeting ID is 817 5985 5488 and the passcode is 726370 for Evening Prayer at 5 p.m. Here are the internet links to the meetings: Morning Prayer: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/88566261667… Evening Prayer: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/81759855488…
Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle. Published monthly except for July and August. Whole No. 292, Vol. 49, 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 received by the diocesan editor no later than 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: 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
January 2021
The Saskatchewan Anglican
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The Bishop's Corner
Creator becomes created By Dean Mike Sinclair
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t’s wintertime, which for us here in Saskatchewan means holding in balance two of the big tasks presented to us for most of our year. The first of those tasks is to find ways to appreciate, welcome, and experience the wonders of creation that come with snowfall and winter beauty, in their predictable mix of stillness and chaos. The second task is keeping warm. I’m someone who prefers warmth to the cold, so I’ll happily take anything to warm me up. One of my favourites is a hot bowl of chili; in particular, chili con carne. Chili is a cooked mixture of beans, vegetables and spices in a delicious configuration. Chili con carne is a cooked mixture of beans, vegetables, spices and meat in a delicious configuration. Quite literally translated from Spanish (a Romance-family language), it is Chili (chili) with or in (con) meat (carne).
If the name sounds familiar in non-chili ways, it might be because in Churchland we have another meaty term, which we formally celebrate during the season of Christmas. That would be the person of Jesus, whose human life we refer to as the Incarnation. Giving a nod to language experts and etymologists, the word we receive as Incarnate took a fascinating spin from Latin through the other Romance-family languages to mean In (Made/Into) Caro – (meat/ the flesh). We celebrate the wonder and beauty of God literally coming to us in the meat. In our flesh. Jesus is God, but made of our stuff. There are many reasons this is important. The tenderness and
compassion of a God who, rather than being distant, becomes one of us for a human lifetime, is striking. “Creator becomes created” remains one of the most compelling headlines there is, and remains at the very heart of our relationship with God through Christ. This closeness is one of the most beautiful tenets of the Christian faith. There’s another beautiful aspect to this that we sometimes miss. In Jesus’ full humanity, God opted to experience humanness in all its messiness and complexity. We serve a God who inhabited a body from human birth to human death. Consider all the things you’ve encountered and experienced between those times. God went through them, too. Feelings of all varieties. Joy. Pain. Loneliness. Boredom. Excitement. Disappointment. Indigestion. Love. The things we go through matter. They matter enough that God chose to go through them. We sometimes treat our createdness as some kind of curse, an unfortunate temporary temporal state that doesn’t ultimately
matter in the sweeping spans of time and space. But consider this: God the Creator, became the Created. In order that we may have a firsthand experience of how we are loved, God created Godself in our image, which is also in God’s image. God took time out of being timeless, to let us know that our moments matter. Our bodies matter. Our feelings matter. Our createdness is a divine gift more beautiful and profound and wondrous and powerful than we know. In this strange and often difficult time of stress and strain on our bodies, minds and spirits, know this: The God of all creation cares about who you are, and how you are. The Timeless One who once lived a human life, is present in all the chances and changes that make up each one of ours. Be held in love by the source of all love and life. And give that love as freely as it has been given to you. Most Rev. Mike Sinclair is Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina. He was Bishop’s Commissary while Bishop Rob Hardwick was on leave.
Help this newspaper increase its subscriber numbers By t he e d itor i a l b o a r d
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id you k now t h at t wo ye a r s a go, 2 , 0 7 1 p e ople wer e get t i n g t he S a sk at ch ew an A n gli c an i n t he D io c e s e of Q u’App el le, 9 5 4 p e ople wer e get t i n g t he p ap er i n t he D io c e s e of S a sk at chewa n a nd 1, 0 3 2 p e ople wer e get t i n g t he p ap er i n t he D io c e s e of S a sk at o on? T h i s ye a r on ly 5 2 0
p ap er s w i l l b e s ent t o t he A n g l ic a n s i n t he D io c e s e of Q u’App el le, w it h 2 3 5 p ap er s goi n g out i n t he D io c e s e t he S a sk at chewa n a nd 3 0 5 i n t he D io c e s e of S a sk at o on . T he r e a s on for t h i s sit u at ion or i g i n at e d l a st ye a r when ever yone who wa s r e c eiv i n g t he p ap er wa s a ske d t o s end t hei r n a me a nd add r e s s t o t he n at ion a l of f ic e c on f i r m i n g t h at t hey wa nt e d t o c ont i nue
r e c eiv i n g t he p ap er. I ex p e c t a lot of p e ople who u s e d t o get t he p ap er a r e wonder i n g why t hey a r e not get t i n g it a ny mor e. I f you a r e r e ad i n g t h i s t hen YOU a r e get t i n g t he A n gli c an Jour n al a lon g w it h t he S a sk at ch ew an A n gli c an. I f e ach of u s wer e t o a sk a r ou nd a nd f i nd out who wou ld l i ke t o eit her h ave t hei r sub s c r ipt ion r enewe d or t o st a r t get t i n g t he p ap er,
we c ou ld double t he nu mb er of sub s c r ipt ion s. At a me et i n g of t he S a sk at ch ew an A n gli c an e d it or i a l b o a r d , it wa s de c ide d t h at we wou ld c ont ac t t he n at ion a l of f ic e on t he b e st met ho d t o u s e t o i n for m t hem of new sub s c r ipt ion s f r om ou r d io c e s e s. O nc e we get t h i s i n for m at ion , we w i l l let you k now s o we c a n st a r t t o i nc r e a s e ou r nu mb er s. However, fe el f r e e t o s end you r
sub s c r ipt ion i n for m at ion t o you r r e sp e c t ive d io c e s a n e d it or : Jo a n ne Shu r v i nM a r t i n i n t he D io c e s e of Q u’App el le at jo a n ne sm@ myac c e s s. c a , Pet er C o olen i n t he D io c e s e of S a sk at o on at pt r c o olen@ s a sk t el . net , a nd M a r y Br ow n i n t he D io c e s e of S a sk at chewa n at m a r y19 4 9 br ow n@ g m a i l .c om . We t h a n k you for you r c ont i nue d r e ader sh ip.
Youths stay 'Stronger Together' during national conference By Anne Hill SWIFT CURRENT (Qu’A) — The Stronger Together – Pandemic Edition Conference was held on Zoom on Nov. 24 and 25. This collaboration between the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church In
Canada was a joyous two days of youth leaders, youths, and volunteers learning about youth ministry issues. The conference was held with 75 participants from coast to coast. Leaders shared their successes and strategies for building connection in person and online. Two of the
organizers were from Saskatchewan: Pastor Zsofi Schmiedge from All Saints/Immanuel Parish, Regina, and Gretchen Peterson, the ELCIC assistant to the bishop for youth. Stronger Together generally brings together youth and young adult leaders from dioceses and synods from across
the country to build community, worship and learn about issues facing youth ministry. This year the topics included Exodus and being lost in the wilderness; social media; spiritual self-care; COVID-19 ministry innovations; and how to be a good Christian in a digital world.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2021
Book review
Author expresses doubts of being a minister's wife The Minister’s Wife, by Karen Stiller By Mary Brown
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ometimes I read the prologue to a book and other times I skip it. When I opened Karen’s book. I started reading the prologue and couldn’t put it down. This was how it went with the whole book. Karen Stiller is The Minister’s Wife and she is married to the Rev. Canon Brent Stiller. She tells of how, after completing his master of divinity in 1994 from a seminary in Vancouver, she and Brent were going to go to East Africa. They were in contact regularly with a man who had the vision of starting a Bible college in Tanzania at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Instead, while doing his internship at a local church, they both realized that this is where they belonged.
As she watched her husband, from her pew, move around up front, doing liturgical and lovely things behind the altar as he helped setup for Communion, she realized this is a sacred art passed on from priest to priest. She writes, I watched, I could see that this leading of people into worship, and provision of Communion itself, were beautiful and necessary to our lives in Christ. This beauty I was seeing was church, and it
Saskatchewan! Later in the book Karen reflects on her impression of Saskatchewan after actually living there, saying, I hadn’t known then about the hardy friendships that grow from prairie soil. I didn’t know how trees can be gifts or how alive flax and Karen and Brent Stiller canola look when they grow purple offered life. I knew Brent and yellow, shoulder to belonged in this exact kind shoulder in neighbouring of place. fields like girls in bright So. Brent reached out party dresses. to bishops who would I didn’t know that take him as a postulant. pelicans lived there, like Karen told him she could the biggest surprise, on live anywhere in Canada a quiet, deep lake in the but not Saskatchewan. north. The bishop who hired I hadn’t yet birthed him was the Right Rev. babies in hospitals where Anthony Burton and he nurses offered massages needed someone for the and husbands could parish of Meadow Lake in
sneak back late with congratulatory pizza. You might see your doctor in the soup aisle at the grocery store later that week, where he would ask how you were feeling. I hadn’t yet canned whole baskets of ripe red tomatoes in my very own kitchen, and with my very own hands, tapping on the silver lids to confirm a good seal. The book is described as a memoir of faith, doubt, friendship, loneliness, forgiveness and more. I would say the more part is the completely honest portrayal of her doubts about her suitability as a minister’s wife. This was a wonderful book and I have one observation regarding it, and that is, Karen was way too hard on her examination of herself. Reading this book will cause you to observe your own actions in a different light and in a more faithbased way.
DIOCESE OF SASKATOON EVENTS
Announcements for January 2021 g During the COVID19 interruption in daily and church life, church services and videos are available from links on the diocesan website and diocesan Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as on various individual parish websites, Facebook pages, on YouTube and locally (for Battle River Parish) on radio. New dates for events already announced as being postponed in earlier issues of this paper will be provided in future issues as and when the information becomes available. As our churches slowly open, please check on service availability and the requirements for pre-registration. If attending, please follow all the indicated seating, movement, distancing, masking and sanitization instructions in order to safeguard yourself and protect others.
g Saskatchewan Anglican online! Did you know that you can read current and past issues of the Saskatchewan Anglican online at https://issuu.com/ thesaskatchewananglican or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ saskatchewananglican or the Diocese of Saskatoon website at www.anglicandiocesesaskatoon.com/ saskanglican? g New Ministry Preparation Program: The Diocese of Saskatoon has begun this new program that consolidates the separate programs of lay reader and locally raised clergy training, St. Bridget’s and training in ministry support. For information on this program and the program’s courses, to inquire about applying for and to obtain application forms for this program, or to receive updates on the status of any particular course, please contact
the program’s co-ordinator, the Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy, at tmccarthy@ sasktel.net or 306-3708378. g School of Discipleship, Spiritual Formation Course: School of Discipleship, The Spiritual Formation Course is a new course being sponsored by the Diocese of Saskatoon's School of Discipleship; costs for this course will be paid by the diocese. Whether you are registered in the overall ministry preparation course or just interested in going deeper in your relationship with God, you are warmly welcome to consider this course. Initially the course has been planned to accommodate the most people by using Zoom meetings for an hour once every two weeks. The course will cover some core Christian spiritual disciplines as well as other prayer forms that could com-
plement other prayer practices. The course syllabus for 2021 to 2023 has now been announced; sessions begin in January 2021. Please follow this link to fill out a registration form at www.anglicandiocesesaskatoon.com/ new-blog. F or more information, please contact the Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy at tmccarthy@sasktel.net or 306-370-8378 or see the notice elsewhere in this issue. g Nutflakes Movie Library: Christ Church Anglican, Saskatoon is building a COVID-safe movie lending library: Nutflakes! The parish is now accepting donations of gently used videos and DVDs. To donate please call 306-242-0165. Once open, reservations for hour-long blocks, 24 hours apart, to browse and select videos may be made by calling 306-2420165. If interested, please
see the article on this program elsewhere in this issue. g Spring Courses at Emmanuel and St. Chad: The College of Emmanuel & St Chad welcomes inquiries and applicants for its spring 2021 courses. All teaching will be online. For other courses available through the Saskatoon Theological Union, please contact our office at 306-975-1550. Deadline To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be sent to the Associate Editor by e-mail or “snail mail” by the last week of the month, two months before the month in which insertion is desired (for example, December submissions will be in the February issue). Detailed and longer texts of upcoming events will not be included here, but should space allow, d be the subject of article and notices elsewhere in the paper.
January 2021
The Saskatchewan Anglican
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Part 2: Memories abound from time at Camp Knowles
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s reported in the December Saskatchewan Anglican, the Diocese of Qu’Appelle has sold the Camp Knowles property for $1,050,000. We have learned more details of that sale, thanks primarily to Alan Hustak of the Fort Qu’Appelle Times. Avana Property Management Company has purchased the land on the south shore of Mission Lake in the Qu’Appelle Valley. They plan to build a lodge that will be used as both a corporate retreat and a summer camp for abused women and their children living in shelters. Avana CEO Jennifer Denouden told the Fort Qu’Appelle Times that the property will not be subdivided, the integrity of the site will be maintained, and that the name Camp Knowles will continue to be used.
Feeding hungry campers Eileen Herman was cook for at least one camp each year from 1986 through 1991. If someone had a birthday during the camp she always made a birthday cake in a round cake pan and cut it in one of various designs so there was exactly one piece per camper. No one ever asked for seconds because they could see that there weren’t any. As cook she soon found out that the only vegetables she could count on for everyone to like were peas and corn. Most would only eat carrots as carrot sticks. She also developed a method to use the leftover food at the end of camp. Every Friday at noon she would tell the campers, “Today we have a smorgasbord!” With the right terminology the kids usually ate (nearly) everything that was served.
Late-night stories Eddie Farrer says: I have great memories of Camp Knowles, as a camper and later as a counsellor in the late 1980s and early ’90s. Many of my present-day friends are people I first met and worked with at Camp
A group of campers and their counsellor pose in front of their cabin at Camp Knowles on their last day of camp. The photo was taken in the early 1980s. (Do you know who these young bucks are? Write to us if you know their names.) Photo by Cathy Farrer Knowles. There were so many wonderful activities: nightly campfires, songs and skits, chapel in the trees, nature hikes, the walk to and from St. John’s Church service in Fort Qu’Appelle, canoeing, canoe jousting, archery, swimming, and “special utensil meals” where each camper was given one kitchen utensil like a potato masher or egg beater, no knives or forks. There was always so much property to explore and play games in, one of which was always Christians and Romans. That was even more exhausting than those contests to see who could run the fastest to the big stone, part way up that hill to the east of the dining hall. That hill saw a lot of activity. Every year on a Friday night we’d haul our mattresses and sleeping bags up to the very top, position ourselves in a big circle, have the various summer constellations pointed out, listen to all the night sounds and of course tell ghost stories. The favourite story was invariably about a three-
toed cougar that now roamed the valley. Each year one of the counsellors seemed to have recently encountered what he thought — almost for sure — was that cougar, and of course everyone had to be alert because who knows when he might actually attack. “Oh ... what was that? Didn’t you hear something just a little way down the hill? It’s walking through those bushes. Listen!” Then perhaps a really brave counsellor would investigate and report that it ran a little way off when he checked. Some years a growl just might have been heard by everyone ... well almost everyone. It seems that the director or one of the counsellors was always missing at the time. No wonder when parents arrived on Saturday morning they encountered somewhat sleep-deprived children, full of stories and adventures to relate.
Water for washing Rev. Chuck and Lois Mortimer wrote to share some of their experiences
at the camp, when Chuck was chaplain with a reputation of being able to do just about everything, and Lois was the cook. We started working with the folks of Camp Knowles in 1982, soon after we arrived at Grenfell of the Pipestone parish. There were all sorts of ideas and plans for improving the camp. One was that we should run water to the toilets so that the campers could wash their hands after using the washrooms. One man agreed and said he knew how he could dig the trenches for the water lines. I can still see the sods flying as he manhandled the walking plow that was hooked to his truck. His hired man drove the truck, but not at the sedate speed of two miles per hour. The trenches were a bit uneven! Chuck recalls that one time Bruce Farrer took a group of boys up the hill behind the cookhouse for a night-time adventure. After getting them nicely settled in their sleeping bags he told them some ghost stories. Soon they were sliding
down the hill in terror. They came into the cookhouse and Lois settled them down with a cup of hot chocolate. After a bit they were all keen on going back to their hilltop camp spot. Lois was never trained as a camp cook but she was thrilled when one girl came back for more porridge saying this was the best porridge she had ever tasted.
Leading chapel One year during the 1990s, the camp took the theme “In Jesus’ Time.” The food, and even the clothing, was based on what people had during Jesus’ time on Earth. At least one camper recalls that there were no candies and sweets to be bought from the Tuck Shop, and for mealtime they wore bedsheets draped around themselves. Rev. George Archer, priest at Fort Qu’Appelle, was quite surprised to find everyone sitting on the floor, eating cheese and grapes. He came to camp every day to conduct chapel.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2021
Ditch Netflix and watch movies with 'Nutflakes' By the Rev. Mark Kleiner SASKATOON — Saskatoon will welcome its first new video movie rental store in many years when Christ Church Anglican converts its basement theology library into a video movie store and opens Nutflakes later this winter.
How will Nutflakes work, especially during a pandemic?
Rewind” stickers are getting peeled off and replaced with new “Never mind the Rewind” ones (with a nod to Nirvana).
How much does it cost?
Fair enough. To celebrate the opening of Nutflakes, we’re taking applications from households to spend a Friday in the church basement, in our converted overnight slumber party suite, adjacent to the Nutflakes library. One lucky household (bubble members only, please) receives 24 hours of access to Nutflakes and the party room. This is where you can stretch out on the hidea-bed and watch your favourite movies on the church›s old school giant screen TV (not flatscreen; this one›s roughly the size of a Maytag freezer). Kitchen and washroom access included, plus courtesy bags of microwave popcorn, and like everything at Nutflakes, it is entirely free, with a contribution to the hunger program welcome.
Membership and rentals are free, but patrons are invited to make a contribution to the Christ Church hunger relief fund, raising money to put food on the tables of food-insecure households in Saskatoon through CHEP Saskatoon’s Pay It Forward program.
Why Nutflakes? If you miss the experience of going to your local video store and hunting through piles of movies, looking for that “jewel in the haystack,” Nutflakes is for you. Instead of having some team of content scientists from Silicon Valley vetting your options ahead of time, Nutflakes follows an entirely different tack: residents of Saskatoon are invited to donate their videocassette (VHS and Beta), laser disc, and DVD titles to create a gumbo of entirely locally-sourced viewing options. Already, we have received hundreds of movies from just a small handful of generous benefactors. If you have titles you are willing to contribute to the Nutflakes collection, please contact us at nutflakesyxe@gmail.com.
appointed day to choose up to seven movies for one week. Nutflakes hours are staggered to allow for at least 24 hours between patrons and thereby prevent the transfer of tactile COVID -19 infection.
What about the hassle of rewinding all those movies when I am done watching?
Just a sample of the video material already collected at Christ Church for the Nutflakes lending library. The Nutflakes lending library will soon be open for individual bookings of one hour, 24 hours apart, by donation to the parish hunger program. Photo courtesy Christ Church Anglican Once the Nutflakes stock is of a sufficient size, we will open our doors three days a week, and only for one customer per day. Patrons must pre-book their Nutflakes
appointment at least one week in advance. Once they have received their “golden ticket” of invitation, they will have a onehour window on their
Good question! We understand that while many people have extra time on their hands during COVID, most of us have even more stressors in our lives than ever before (like washing those hands after we’ve been handling all that extra time) ... so the last thing any of us needs to worry about is rewinding that stack of Nutflakes videos. As well, and to remain competitive with streaming services, we make it clear that rewinding is not expected. Our Nutflakes staff is trained and ready to rewind all your returned movies for you, no questions asked. Hence, the “Be Kind,
So I can get movies ... but what about a place to watch them?
How to connect or reach us? Interested in donating materials to Nutflakes or booking an appointment for browsing and borrowing (once we are open)? Please call 306 2420165.
DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN
Bishop Hawkins recovering from COVID-19 Submitted PRINCE ALBERT — I am writing this in November and hope and pray it is old news and anything that happens since is good news. As you probably know Bishop Michael Hawkins was hospitalized for COVID-19 on Nov. 18 and taken to the ICU. He was moved out of ICU the following Thursday, but had to remain in the hospital. He was well enough to post this
message on Facebook: “Friends and family, thank you for all the love and care and prayers, they have been emotionally overwhelming and uplifting and carried me through a few hard nights. I wanted to share some good news. “I have a positive COVID diagnosis and there is some heart effect/damage which does not appear to be worsening. The Dr. expects that I could require hospitalization
and monitoring another week, but is very hopeful the worst is over and we can continue to stabilize my vitals with meds. “Thank you for your support. Please remember those who are lonely, dying without loved ones, afraid, and all the self- sacrificing health care and frontline workers. Lord have mercy.” He posted on Nov. 29 that he is now at home. Thank the Lord. Bishop Hawkins also spoke to the Saskatoon
Star-Phoenix on Nov. 30. That story is online. The diocesan office was closed. Archdeacon Andrew Hoskin was named bishop’s commissary. In a letter from him on Nov. 21 he told us Bishop Adam Halkett had also tested positive for COVID-19 and was self-isolating. Also, Barb Wrista, the bishop’s secretary, was sick at home. Hoskin ordered, in consultation with the bishops, the suspension
of public worship until further notice. He encouraged everyone to stay connected by phone or email, stating isolation can cause loneliness and distress, so we need to do our best to connect and to pray for each other. Some happy news for Jeremy and Jane Boehr, as they had a baby boy named Wesley Silas, who was born 7 lbs 15 oz, on Nov. 6. Julie and Stephen Page, who moved to Toronto, have now moved to New Brunswick.
January 2021
A deacon's work in pandemic times never ends By Deacon Arleen Champion MOOSE JAW (Qu’A) — In the 11 years that I have been ordained a deacon, the one constant in my ministry is that it is always evolving and changing, and this pandemic time has just accentuated that. Much of my ministry the past few years has been with seniors and those in the long-term care homes. It has been good that I have been there, as I was thus acutely aware of how this pandemic isolation would affect those people. I have also sought ways for our parish to stay in contact with them. One of the best things that has come out of that is as we turned to online worship services, with the co-operation of staff at the care homes, our parishioners in those centres are now worshipping with us weekly instead of once a month, when I used to take them Eucharist. This has also applied to many of our seniors who, pre-COVID, although still in their own homes, had already found it difficult to get to worship services at the church on a regular basis. I gathered a group of 30 parishioners willing to make contact via phone, mail or email ensuring that every member of our congregation (unless they request otherwise) is contacted regularly during this pandemic. Phone contact is encouraged but sometimes cards or emails are sent instead. It has been delightful to see the friendships that have developed between some people who may not have known each other before, but now, after this intentional communication, are getting to know each other and bonds are being formed. It is amazing to see how they have reached out to help each other during this time as well – things ranging from teaching someone how to order their groceries online or even just ordering them for them,
Deacon Arleen Champion to actually going to do things for them. This has also encouraged people to make prayer requests of our prayer chain during this time as well. As regional dean for Souris Deanery, I remain in regular contact with the clergy and people of our deanery, offering them encouragement and support as they navigate through this pandemic. Recently, as COVID has entered our longterm care homes, I have been calling the families of our parishioners living in them to support them during this concerning time. It has taken some creativity to find ways to be effective in delivering pastoral care in this time, but given the circumstances and as people have become more in tune with the restrictions, the families have become more receptive and thankful for the support we have been able to give through technology. I gathered a group of people who like to sew in our congregation and we have sewn cloth face masks for the people in our city accessing bagged meals from our parish on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as for members of our congregation. I have continued to be a liaison with the Salvation Army, Riverside Mission, Hunger in Moose Jaw and Transition House in assisting people in need beyond what we as a congregation have been able to offer. I helped an immigrant
family eager to learn to garden as we provided them with a garden plot in the community garden. I have been offering Morning and Evening prayer and compline weekly via zoom. I arranged for our parish to host a care home’s memorial service via Zoom/YouTube when it was not possible for them to have the service in person. I was invited to officiate and preach at it. The virtual format allowed families from all over Canada, the U.S. and even Australia to attend, and they expressed deep gratitude as they had not been able to attend when services were only in person. We are going through uncharted territory in the midst of this pandemic, but as so often is the case, God does good in the midst of our trials. He has helped us to find new ways of being and ministering during this time. It is my prayer for myself and for the church, that we can come out the other side of this pandemic as better people with stronger faith and more effective ministry. Thanks be to God. Arleen Champion is Deacon at St. Aidan Anglican Church, Moose Jaw.
The Saskatchewan Anglican
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Obituary
Stella Jones handy in the kitchen during annual church fundraisers By Mary Brown PRINCE ALBERT — Stella Mary Jones (pictured) died on Oct. 27 at the Victoria Union Hospital in Prince Albert at the age of 89. She will be sadly missed by her husband of 69 years, Blake Jones. Her children Edwin (Debbie), Yvonne (Donald), Marvin (Joanne) and Melvin (Sandra) and 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren will miss her dearly. Stella and Blake were faithful members of St. Christopher’s Church in Christopher Lake and subsequently St. Andrew’s Church in Shellbrook. A few years ago, they had to move to an assisted care home in Prince Albert where Blake still resides. In 2001, the couple was honoured as Citizens of the Year in Christopher Lake. The following year on Oct. 18, Stella was given the Order of Saskatchewan through a nomination from the Parish
of St. Christopher, Christopher Lake. She was a hard worker and helped strip the logs for the church and helping to log the trees by hooking chains around the trunks. I guess that is why she told me she had a reputation as a stripper and a hooker! If there was work to be done Stella was doing it. She always worked in St. Andrews Church with kitchen duties and its annual soup and sandwich. Our condolences go out to her family and especially to her husband Blake who has lost his soul mate. May she rest in peace.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2021
All or none are saved By the Rev. Marie Louise Ternier
W
henever my hair gets unruly and refuses to obey the brush, I pick up the phone to call my hairdresser. We’ve been friends for over a decade, and my time in the chair gives us an opportunity to catch up on news. One time my hairdresser, who I will call Lydia, needed to vent. In good humour and with a spirit of respect for other people’s experiences and perspectives, I listened attentively. Lydia has been working in the hair salon all her life. Getting by on a modest income, without benefits or a cushy pension plan, she has managed reasonably well. Generous and goodhumoured, she serves her clients, especially seniors, with great care and compassion. But this time her good humour was nowhere to be found. Her sister, recently retired from 35 years in the health care field, was diagnosed with a serious degenerative disease. Medication is not covered under Medicare and would cost $1300 per month, money her sister does not have. Lydia let ’er rip in a tirade about the injustice to her sister, about the government squeezing the little people but showering new immigrants upon arrival with all kinds of perks, about entitlement
Grace @ Sixty and, well, not so nice things about the wrong people in politically very incorrect terms. I struggled to maintain my generous listening posture while Lydia snipped away on my head with her scissors and into my ears with her sharp words. Captive in the hairdresser’s chair, and within earshot of others, I responded merely with a few groans and nods here and there. What to say? There’re lots of frustrated people with little care for the political correctness of their utterances. That day my hairdresser echoed the sentiments of every woman and man who struggles to make ends meet, to care for their families and who never seem to get on top of life despite their best efforts; this state of affairs was the case well before COVID-19 threw us all into a global chaos! I realized once again my privileged position in the world. It is a luxury to have time and mental space, interest and energy to ponder the deeper existential currents of life.
All the introspection in the world still doesn’t pay for Lydia’s sister’s medication or put food in children’s tummies when bank accounts and cupboards are bare. As one who enjoys relative health and faithful relationships, meaningful work and a safe home, what is my responsibility and obligation towards the likes of Lydia’s sister? Enter Pope Francis’ newest Encyclical Fratelli Tutti: “Some parts of our human family, it appears, can be readily sacrificed for the sake of others considered worthy of a carefree existence. Ultimately, persons are no longer seen as a paramount value to be cared for and respected, especially when they are poor and disabled, ‘not yet useful,’ like the unborn, or ‘no longer needed,’ like the elderly.” My hairdresser would see her sister’s plight, and many along with her, reflected in these words, and maybe that’s a really important first step. Pope Francis goes on: “While one part of humanity lives in opulence, another part sees its own dignity denied, scorned or trampled upon, and its fundamental rights discarded or violated. What does this tell us about the equality of rights grounded in innate human dignity?” Lydia’s sister does not live only in some far-away country, but is suffering right in our own
neighbourhoods and cities. COVID-19 has laid bare deeply entrenched inequalities of all kinds. It’s not that we didn’t know or see them before, but I think a certain callousness and numbness had set in. The problems of humanity are overwhelming; our brain sifts and sorts information with an important and necessary protective barrier, lest we drown in bad news causing despair and shock, guilt and shame. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis calls for an urgent metanoia, a radical turning, in our social and economic structures. That sounds like a bold, unrealistic call, but Lydia’s sister and all crying out with her deserve this turning on the part of us who enjoy a more care-free existence — although COVID-19 has thrown the care-free part to the dogs for everyone without exception — lest we remain blind and ignorant to our own identity and destiny. As one cardinal commented on Fratelli Tutti: “We believe to be self-made, without recognizing God as our creator; we’re prosperous, we believe we deserve everything that we have and consume; and we’re orphans, disconnected, totally free, and actually alone.” Pope Francis, in this encyclical, gives me hope. Will the haves in the world, and in all of our
churches, listen and take stock? Will this listening be followed by concrete acts of confession and sorrow, renunciation and re-orientation towards the common good for all people and all creation? If not, we risk losing all the progress, achievements and prosperity we have been enjoying and for which we have worked so hard. The current pandemic is, in fact, accelerating this loss of progress, achievement and prosperity, around the globe. On the brink of global collapse, these advances risk crumbling to mush under the weight of global suffering; this collapse has the potential to take all of us down with it. As Pope Francis said, “We need to develop the awareness that nowadays we are either all saved together or no one is saved. Poverty, decadence and suffering in one part of the earth are a silent breeding ground for problems that will end up affecting the entire planet.” For the sake of our Indigenous sisters and brothers; for the sake of the homeless on our city streets; for the sake of the lonely in nursing homes; for the sake of Lydia’s sister: stop the pride; the plundering; the greed, the corruption. Stop. Now. Our survival as a planet, our survival as a species, is at stake. We are either all saved together, or no one is saved.
DIOCESE OF QU’APPELLE
Two former Qu'Appelle priests die in autumn g Rev. John Patrick ffolliott (June 15, 1933 to Sept. 16, 2020) was born in Loreburn, Sask., and received a B.A. in 1957 from the University of Saskatchewan. He attended Emmanuel College, Saskatoon, graduating in 1961, and the following year received a master’s of divinity from Union Theological Seminary, New York. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1961, and priested the following year, for the Diocese of
Rupert’s Land. From 1982 to 1989 ffolliott was rector in Fort Qu’Appelle/Lipton.
He was rural deal for Pelly Deanery from 1985 to 1988, and served as rector in Rosetown-Kyle from 1989 to 1997. He retired to Sechelt, B.C. in 1998. g Rev. John Gardner (Aug. 31, 1939 to Nov. 15, 2020) was born in Regina. He graduated from Carleton University, Ottawa, with a B.A. in 1961, studied theology at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, England, and in 1964
received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Trinity College at the University of Toronto. Garner was ordained deacon and then priest in 1964 for the Diocese of Toronto. He served as rector of St. Michael and All Angels, Regina, from 1992 to 2001, and later was honorary assistant at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina. He retired to Orleans, Ont. Gardner was an avid canoeist, and spent more than 50 summers
retracing Canadian fur trade routes. Over six years in the 1970s he led 400 teenagers on Ontario rivers. In the late 1980s he and his wife, Beve, crossed Canada by canoe, starting on the Fraser River near Vancouver, and finishing, two years later, on the Saint John River, New Brunswick. Gardner’s other passion was working with the poor, the oppressed and those in prison.
January 2021
Feeling the Holy Spirit
Epiphany and supernatural gifts of the spirit By Rev. Gene Packwood
O
nce upon a time, star-led Magi came to Jerusalem out of the east looking for a newborn king. They were led to the infant Jesus. They worshipped Him and gave Him gifts. The Messiah was made manifest to the gentiles. Hence we have the season of Epiphany. Two other events are also associated with this season: Jesus’ baptism and the revelation of His true identity when the Holy Spirit came to rest on Him (Matt. 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:32-34). The first of His miracles when Jesus “manifested his glory” by miraculously transforming more than a hundred gallons of plain water into plenty of really good wine for a wedding in Cana whereupon “his disciples believed in him” (John 2:1-11). Epiphany means manifestation, revelation or appearance. Interestingly, it also can mean a sudden flash of understanding or insight. It is, of course, all miraculous and supernatural — the conception of Jesus, the Magi going on their quest, Joseph’s dreams, the dove's descent and voice from above at Jesus’ baptism, the wedding wine and, ultimately, Pentecost and the birth of the Church — all supernatural manifestations of the Spirit. The set of gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 is called the Manifestation Gifts — appropriately titled for the season of Epiphany, it seems to me. Here are three things to be noted and believed about these gifts:
1. “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). In other words, each of us is designed to display the Holy Spirit in some way. We are all Holy Spirit-anointed agents of Epiphany —making Jesus real to those around us — for the common good. 2. There is a set, rather like a tool-box, of nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit in this chapter: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:8-10). The manifestation of the Spirit for the common good happens through the deployment of these gifts. 3. All these gifts are empowered by the Holy Spirit “who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Cor. 12:11). This is the same Holy Spirit who filled John the Baptist and his mother while he was still in her womb, caused Mary to conceive, filled Jesus at His baptism so He was able perform all the healings and miracles He did, raised Him from the dead and then came to fill the disciples with the sound of a mighty rushing wind and tongues as of fire on the day of Pentecost. The gift of faith would be a good one to pray for to start with, so we can truly believe and expect the Holy Spirit to be supernaturally active in our midst. Then pray to be open and available for whichever of the other gifts the Spirit wishes to display through you. Pray for each another and for more surprising and delightful supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit revealing the wonder, goodness and glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The Saskatchewan Anglican
9
DIOCESE OF QU’APPELLE
Diocese holds synod on Zoom By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA — A shortened diocesan synod was held on Nov. 27 using Zoom, to satisfy the canonical requirement to meet every three years. The logistical and technical challenges to register all 28 clergy and 46 lay delegates meant that registration actually took longer than the business portion of synod. The credentials committee, particularly Rev. Chris Dowdeswell, was very busy, but once everyone was logged in the meeting itself proceeded efficiently. The business of synod included approving the minutes of the 80th Diocesan Synod, held in October 2017, and the special synod in November 2018 to discuss the marriage canon in advance of General Synod. In recognition that 2020 has been atypical, with services suspended for much of the year, the 82nd Synod agreed to use parochial data from 2019 to determine parish delegates for the next synod meeting.
Usually, data such as the number of individuals at specific services (Easter and Pentecost, for example) are used to determine how many delegates a parish may send to synod. Synod also agreed to extend the terms of delegates elected at the 80th Synod for provincial synod, diocesan council and committees. The next synod will be a more “full” synod, whether it is held in person or on Zoom. The hope is it will be held in the fall of 2021. The synod gathering began with Evening Prayer, led by Archdeacon Catherine Harper and included three diocesan postulants: Brody Albers and Deacons Alexander Campbell and Luanne Hrywkiw. Dean Mike Sinclair, acting as bishop’s commissary, gave the opening address. He began by saying that usually he preaches on the gospel for the day, but this time chose to preach on the Psalm instead. Psalm 143 begins, “Lord, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my
supplications; answer me in your righteousness.” The psalm is full of danger, with the writer begging God for help. Sinclair said this psalm is especially poignant for what we are going through, feeling limited and isolated. Sinclair said that the psalms encompass everything from great highs to great lows, with psalms of lamentation nestled in between psalms of pure praise and joy. “Know that those times of joy are coming,” he said. He encouraged the delegates to “lament when we need to, but it’s important not to live there.” He said it is important to find ways to celebrate even though we aren’t together. Sinclair said that in the people of the church, in all their ministries, he finds the goodness of God. “The only thing that doesn’t change … is the goodness and the love and the presence of God, who holds each one of us in loving hands.” A recording of Sinclair’s address can be found at https://www.spreaker. com/episode/42209256.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2021
All or none are saved By the Rev. Marie Louise Ternier
W
henever my hair gets unruly and refuses to obey the brush, I pick up the phone to call my hairdresser. We’ve been friends for over a decade, and my time in the chair gives us an opportunity to catch up on news. One time my hairdresser, who I will call Lydia, needed to vent. In good humour and with a spirit of respect for other people’s experiences and perspectives, I listened attentively. Lydia has been working in the hair salon all her life. Getting by on a modest income, without benefits or a cushy pension plan, she has managed reasonably well. Generous and goodhumoured, she serves her clients, especially seniors, with great care and compassion. But this time her good humour was nowhere to be found. Her sister, recently retired from 35 years in the health care field, was diagnosed with a serious degenerative disease. Medication is not covered under Medicare and would cost $1300 per month, money her sister does not have. Lydia let ’er rip in a tirade about the injustice to her sister, about the government squeezing the little people but showering new immigrants upon arrival with all kinds of perks, about entitlement
Grace @ Sixty and, well, not so nice things about the wrong people in politically very incorrect terms. I struggled to maintain my generous listening posture while Lydia snipped away on my head with her scissors and into my ears with her sharp words. Captive in the hairdresser’s chair, and within earshot of others, I responded merely with a few groans and nods here and there. What to say? There’re lots of frustrated people with little care for the political correctness of their utterances. That day my hairdresser echoed the sentiments of every woman and man who struggles to make ends meet, to care for their families and who never seem to get on top of life despite their best efforts; this state of affairs was the case well before COVID-19 threw us all into a global chaos! I realized once again my privileged position in the world. It is a luxury to have time and mental space, interest and energy to ponder the deeper existential currents of life.
All the introspection in the world still doesn’t pay for Lydia’s sister’s medication or put food in children’s tummies when bank accounts and cupboards are bare. As one who enjoys relative health and faithful relationships, meaningful work and a safe home, what is my responsibility and obligation towards the likes of Lydia’s sister? Enter Pope Francis’ newest Encyclical Fratelli Tutti: “Some parts of our human family, it appears, can be readily sacrificed for the sake of others considered worthy of a carefree existence. Ultimately, persons are no longer seen as a paramount value to be cared for and respected, especially when they are poor and disabled, ‘not yet useful,’ like the unborn, or ‘no longer needed,’ like the elderly.” My hairdresser would see her sister’s plight, and many along with her, reflected in these words, and maybe that’s a really important first step. Pope Francis goes on: “While one part of humanity lives in opulence, another part sees its own dignity denied, scorned or trampled upon, and its fundamental rights discarded or violated. What does this tell us about the equality of rights grounded in innate human dignity?” Lydia’s sister does not live only in some far-away country, but is suffering right in our own
neighbourhoods and cities. COVID-19 has laid bare deeply entrenched inequalities of all kinds. It’s not that we didn’t know or see them before, but I think a certain callousness and numbness had set in. The problems of humanity are overwhelming; our brain sifts and sorts information with an important and necessary protective barrier, lest we drown in bad news causing despair and shock, guilt and shame. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis calls for an urgent metanoia, a radical turning, in our social and economic structures. That sounds like a bold, unrealistic call, but Lydia’s sister and all crying out with her deserve this turning on the part of us who enjoy a more care-free existence — although COVID-19 has thrown the care-free part to the dogs for everyone without exception — lest we remain blind and ignorant to our own identity and destiny. As one cardinal commented on Fratelli Tutti: “We believe to be self-made, without recognizing God as our creator; we’re prosperous, we believe we deserve everything that we have and consume; and we’re orphans, disconnected, totally free, and actually alone.” Pope Francis, in this encyclical, gives me hope. Will the haves in the world, and in all of our
churches, listen and take stock? Will this listening be followed by concrete acts of confession and sorrow, renunciation and re-orientation towards the common good for all people and all creation? If not, we risk losing all the progress, achievements and prosperity we have been enjoying and for which we have worked so hard. The current pandemic is, in fact, accelerating this loss of progress, achievement and prosperity, around the globe. On the brink of global collapse, these advances risk crumbling to mush under the weight of global suffering; this collapse has the potential to take all of us down with it. As Pope Francis said, “We need to develop the awareness that nowadays we are either all saved together or no one is saved. Poverty, decadence and suffering in one part of the earth are a silent breeding ground for problems that will end up affecting the entire planet.” For the sake of our Indigenous sisters and brothers; for the sake of the homeless on our city streets; for the sake of the lonely in nursing homes; for the sake of Lydia’s sister: stop the pride; the plundering; the greed, the corruption. Stop. Now. Our survival as a planet, our survival as a species, is at stake. We are either all saved together, or no one is saved.
DIOCESE OF QU’APPELLE
Two former Qu'Appelle priests die in autumn g Rev. John Patrick ffolliott (June 15, 1933 to Sept. 16, 2020) was born in Loreburn, Sask., and received a B.A. in 1957 from the University of Saskatchewan. He attended Emmanuel College, Saskatoon, graduating in 1961, and the following year received a master’s of divinity from Union Theological Seminary, New York. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1961, and priested the following year, for the Diocese of
Rupert’s Land. From 1982 to 1989 ffolliott was rector in Fort Qu’Appelle/Lipton.
He was rural deal for Pelly Deanery from 1985 to 1988, and served as rector in Rosetown-Kyle from 1989 to 1997. He retired to Sechelt, B.C. in 1998. g Rev. John Gardner (Aug. 31, 1939 to Nov. 15, 2020) was born in Regina. He graduated from Carleton University, Ottawa, with a B.A. in 1961, studied theology at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, England, and in 1964
received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Trinity College at the University of Toronto. Garner was ordained deacon and then priest in 1964 for the Diocese of Toronto. He served as rector of St. Michael and All Angels, Regina, from 1992 to 2001, and later was honorary assistant at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina. He retired to Orleans, Ont. Gardner was an avid canoeist, and spent more than 50 summers
retracing Canadian fur trade routes. Over six years in the 1970s he led 400 teenagers on Ontario rivers. In the late 1980s he and his wife, Beve, crossed Canada by canoe, starting on the Fraser River near Vancouver, and finishing, two years later, on the Saint John River, New Brunswick. Gardner’s other passion was working with the poor, the oppressed and those in prison.
January 2021
A reflection on COVID By the Rev. Dr. Iain Luke Principal, College of Emmanuel & St. Chad
L
ooking back over 2020, I’m not too surprised to see how quickly this column turned into a pandemic diary. The past year will go down in memory for all of us, as the year we had to adapt, mourn, and reinvent ourselves due to the COVID-19 challenge. Our college, at the intersection of church and university life, faced its share of disruptions on both those fronts. There was a sudden impact at the end of the academic year last spring, but after that we could plan more deliberately, to support students remotely and use the strengths of online learning. We also walked with the church through the shifts of online worship, pastoral care at a distance, and the issues of ethics and public witness raised during the pandemic. The way we address these issues will have lasting effects on how we understand the ministry for which students are preparing and on the church communities our college serves. As we come into “second wave” territory, it is the dimension of public witness that is coming back into focus. What is the role of the church as an institution, or as a community, in influencing wider society as we all deal with the spread of infection and the accompanying restrictions on social interaction? One approach is to think of religion as a private matter. There are both religious and non-religious people who think this way. A churchgoer, for example, might insist on the right to practise his/her personal faith, including access to worship services. But from a secular perspective, like all private concerns, religious rights are subject to the larger agenda of protecting public health. The alternative is to affirm that faith communities have a voice in public debate. Anglicans have a long history of participating in government, going back to our origins in the Church of England. Well into the
20th century, Canada too was seen as a “Christian country,” where church leaders influenced political debates, especially on moral and social issues. Today, though, we take greater care to ensure no single faith perspective has that influence. Our bishops speak on behalf of our churches, but not on behalf of anyone else. In Saskatchewan, leaders of many faiths came together to work with the government on pandemic guidelines for
places of worship, but their advice was neither offered nor requested in other areas. Still, I don’t think most Christians would be satisfied if our effect on public life was limited to regulations about worship services. We want to change the fabric of our society in fundamental ways, described by biblical words such as justice, peace, healing, mercy, and compassion. To achieve that goal, we have to think beyond a simple yes-or-no answer to the question of whether we have a place in public life. It is not enough to focus on private devotion and personal conversion, but neither can we expect governments and societies to give us a role in decision making. There is another option that permeates the gospels
The Saskatchewan Anglican
and Jesus’s ministry. In describing the kingdom of God, Jesus compares it to yeast, a very small ingredient that makes a huge difference in how baking goes (Luke 13:21). The church can use that approach in its public witness, being an active ingredient in wider society, with the aim of transforming how our world turns out. This isn’t something we do under our own power, and when we try, we are quite capable of being a bad example and a bad influence. But when we are willing to let the power of God, revealed in Jesus Christ, get to work on us, that’s when we have something to offer. In the past year, our church used its public voice several times, for example by advocating for a guaranteed basic income, to enable the poorest to take their place in protecting the health and well-being of a society
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in crisis. We also showed a willingness to give up our own cherished habits of weekly worship “in the building” when that was needed to protect others. But I suspect our deeper influence on society comes when we simply demonstrate a different way of living. That means living by faith in the face of uncertainty, by diligence in the face of carelessness, and by perseverance in the face of fatigue. All fed by the conviction that God wants something better, and is offering something better. Living in this way provides a visible example of the new life God is offering, perhaps on a small scale at first, but capable of changing a whole society. As we begin a new year of worship and service, I want to be part of a church that looks like the way God is making for us all.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
January 2021
Creating Advent activity boxes The Children and Youth Working Group of Immanuel Anglican Parish, Regina, put together 50 Advent activity boxes. Children will enjoy Advent calendar activities, devotions, a craft, colouring pages,
and some treats. Immanuel has been created by joining five parishes in the city. Photos by Laura French
... Catholic Church should restore women to the diaconate
The magi visit Jesus
T
he Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Jan. 6 is one of the oldest Christian feasts, though, throughout the centuries, it has celebrated a variety of things. Epiphany comes from a Greek verb meaning "to reveal," and all of the various events celebrated by the Feast of the Epiphany are revelations of Christ to man. Epiphany originally celebrated four different events, in the following order of importance: the Baptism of the Lord, Christ's first miracle, the changing of water into wine at the wedding in Cana, the Nativity of Christ, and the visitation of the Wise Men or Magi. Each of these is a revelation of God to man, since at Christ's Baptism, the Holy Spirit descends and the voice of
God the Father is heard, declaring that Jesus is His Son; at the wedding in Cana, the miracle reveals Christ's divinity; at the Nativity, the angels bear witness to Christ, and the shepherds, representing the people of Israel, bow down before Him; and at the visitation of the Magi (as pictured above and written in Matthew 2:1-12), Christ's divinity is revealed to the Gentiles — the other nations of the earth. Epiphany came to mark the end of Christmastide — the Twelve Days of Christmas (celebrated in the song) — which began with the revelation of Christ to Israel in His Birth and ended with the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles at Epiphany. Photo courtesy SacredSpace102FM
Continued from page 10 however, is a different matter. Numerous religious and secular women have been, and are very much today, sought-after spiritual directors. Here Phyllis Zagano makes an intriguing and convincing point: the need for ministry to women by women. This was a prime role of female deacons in the early Church. Dr. Zagano sees a modern equivalent, making use of women’s skills and talents (often paid lip service by male church leaders, including popes), so that women’s stories can be better heard. In the anointing of the sick, as in baptism, the early female deacons fulfilled an important ministry to women. Arguably this should be the case today, for example for women chaplains in institutions. This chapter is predominantly a discussion of Roman Catholic practices in anointing and in confession (also dealt with in the previous chapter). Originally permitted for deacons and lay ministers, unction – anointing with holy oil – became the sole preserve
of priests as clericalism tightened its grip. Conclusions Phyllis Zagano’s “Conclusions” to Women: Icons of Christ are succinct and characteristically frank. Women were ordained deacons in the early Church and should be again. The objection that women cannot “image” Christ is, says Dr. Zagano, a “naive physicalism” (119) that contradicts the baptismal reality that all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. The other objection, that women cannot approach the sacred, is an “ancient taboo” (120), compounded by clerical celibacy for men, and is well past its due date. Both objections deny the full humanity of women. The Catholic Church, trenchantly argues Phyllis Zagano, should restore the female diaconate – both for its own integrity and for the general well-being of women in the world. The issue is a legal, not a doctrinal, one and it can be resolved by a simple change in canon law, stating that both men and women are admitted to the ministerial order of deacons.