The Saskatchewan Anglican, June 2009

June 2009 A Section of Anglican Journal

Together in God's Mission: Cathedral Launches Campaign for Faith in Mission Centre

Photo contributed

Artist’s rendering of the exterior of St. Paul’s Cathedral upon completion of the Faith in Mission Centre. backgrounds, offer variety in worship and and Executive Committee of the Diocese. forms of liturgy, functional meeting and

by Marian Powell reach out to those in need. For those seek- Visitors from the cathedral and other office space for spiritual education and ing a central focus for liturgy, worship and parishes will be contacting parishes and REGINA St. Paul's Cathedral has pastoral care. ministry, the Cathedral's Faith in Mission congregations in the coming months to launched a diocesan-wide appeal to help Qu'Appelle Court is the focal point of the Centre invites Anglicans throughout the discuss this exciting project and to seek build its Faith in Mission Centre. To date, Faith in Mission Centre, commemoratdiocese to be very much a part of that mis- financial support. For more information cathedral members have already donated inghe 125th Anniversary of the Diocese of sion.” about the project please e-mail: or pledged well over $1.3 million dollars Qu'Appelle. Featuring the diocesan coat The cathedral's diocesan-wide campaign office@stpaulsregina.ca towards an overall total of $3.2 million of arms and the was unanimously approved by the Bishop dollars. The cathedral is looking to raise names of parishes $750,000 from Anglicans across the dio- engraved into the cese. Besides additional financial support tiled floor, the from a growing cathedral membership, court will serve as funding is being sought from the local a gathering place for diocesan, comcommunity and grant foundations.

The new Faith in Mission Centre will munity and cathereplace the existing hall, constructed more dral events. than 50 years ago and rapidly deteriorat- Of the cathedral's ing structurally. The site plan and design mission to the prepared by Walker Projects Inc. of wider community, James Regina calls for the new centre to be Dean moved back on the existing lot, exposing Merrett commentthe architecture of the north side of the ed, “All of us are for cathedral. The centre will be in harmony responsible with the cathedral proper which is a desig- carrying out God's mission. A cathenated heritage property.

Besides reducing operating costs and dral is the Family eliminating expensive repairs, the Faith in House of God in Mission Centre will enable St. Paul's to the life of the diocarry out its mission of serving the com- cese. As such, St. munity and the diocese. Accessibility is Paul's must not emphasized throughout the complex, only reflect the life allowing the cathedral to continue its of our community, weekly feeding ministry through the but also tthe life of diocese.

Breakfast Club, inner city Food Bank the referral program, support to self-help Because of what groups and ministry to the deceased and we are and where bereaved through the Columbarium. As we are located, we well, the centre will enable the cathedral are able to attract Photo contributed to move ahead with providing alternative people from differPerspective Rendering of the interior of the Faith and Mission Centre. worship space conducive to contemporary ent

2 - The Saskatchewan Anglican, June 2009

Bishop’s Message The Six Mile Parish ByThe Right Reverend Rodney Andrews, Bishop of Saskatoon “They built a church every six miles.”

The Rev. Canon Michael Stonhouse is Rector of St. John's Church, Lloydminster “and associated parishes.” Michael is naturally curious. He is also a student and practitioner of rural ministry. He has been researching the history of Anglican churches in the Lloydminster area. One hundred years ago there were many Anglican churches on both sides of the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. Today most of the church buildings are gone.

Some of the sites are marked only by a graveyard. All the churches are lodged in someone's memory.

Michael notes that the Barr Colonists, who came to the Lloydminster area from England, were Anglicans and devoted to their church. He is excited as he pours over a map. A pattern becomes evident.

The pioneers built a church every six miles. We wonder if six miles is the limit for a Sunday buggy ride for church goers in the early part of the last century.

Someone has suggested that three miles is the distance most people can walk in an hour. By placing churches at six mile intervals everyone could come to church by buggy, democrat, farm wagon or on foot.

Gary Farley, a southern Baptist, wrote an article for the Fall, 1996 edition of the Anglican Theological Review.

He describes the 'six mile parish'. “Churches were established in a farm service village or crossroads hamlet. The primary pattern was to create a settlement about every six miles. Ideally, the community contained about 50 merchants, crafts persons, professionals, pastors, teachers, government officials, and their families, who lived in town. They would serve the needs of 100 to 200 farmers and their families, who lived mostly on a farmstead within a three-mile radius of the village. The total population of this township would be between 1000 and 2000 persons. Most people lived out their lives within this little six-mile world.”

When farms were mechanized and did not require as many workers, the area lost population. Stability of rural community life was replaced by the flux of change.

The Right Reverend Rodney Andrews, Bishop of Saskatoon We know from our Saskatchewan experience that most rural people no longer live in a six-mile world. With modern transportation and good roads, rural people have shifted their allegiance to a market town ten, fifteen or more miles away.

Now we have 'thirty mile churches'.

Farley suggests each church would be wise to identify one or two ministries needed in their thirty-mile area. “They become known as the church that does well . . . (you fill in the blank). It may be seniors ministry, youth ministry, prayer ministry, quality music, or high church worship, or one or two of a couple of dozen other needed ministries.”

He suggests six steps to achieve this goal: 1. Someone sees a need for a ministry, one that needs to be done, one they can work to establish.

2. They put it together and do it. . They feel good about what they are doing, and better about themselves 4. They find that others need the ministry and want to be involved 5. With new people the ministry expands 6. The church becomes known as the church that does a particular ministry well.

This summer as you relax by the lake, visit around the BBQ, drive the sprayer, turn wrenches in your shop, or bake for the harvest crew, why not think about a new ministry your church could undertake?

Your personal mission field stretches about thirty miles in every direction. If you decide to establish a new ministry, God will give you the strength you need. + Rodney

Correction In the April edition, an article, “Diocese of Qu'Appelle prepares for its 125th Birthday”, states, “It has always been the goal of the diocese to become self-supporting.

With the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the diocese finally achieved self-support in 1975.” Please note that Archbishop Frederick Jackson announced the sale of the College Avenue property to the Government of Saskatchewan in 1975. It was the interest from the proceeds of the sale which allowed the diocese to become self-supporting.

Trevor Powell Diocesan Archivist and Registrar

For change of address, undeliverable copies and subscription list updates contact: your parish, circulation@national.anglican.ca or send to Saskatchewan Anglican c/o Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden Street Toronto ON M4Y 3G2 Published by the dioceses of Qu’Appelle, Saskatoon and Saskatchewan.

All submissions must be sent to the Associate Editors by the beginning of the last week of the month preceeding publication.

Diocese of Saskatoon: Announcements for June, 2009 In order to be included in a timely manner brief notices for events should be supplied to the Associate Editor by Fax, e-mail or “snail mail” by the last week of the month, two months before the month in which the insertion is desired. Detailed and longer texts of events will not be included in this section but, should space allow, could be the subject of additional articles or notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.

The Right Reverend Rodney Andrews' Schedule: Wednesday, June 3rd, ACW Eastern Deanery Meeting, Wadena; Thursday, June 4th, Parish Day, Greater Watrous Parish; Saturday, June 6th, Diocesan Council, Saskatoon; Sunday, June 7th, Holy Trinity Parish, Saskatoon; Wednesday, June 10th to Sunday, June 14th, Provincial Synod, Calgary, Alberta; Tuesday, June 16th, Parish Day, Humboldt Parish; Thursday, June 18th, Parish Day, Quill View Parish; Sunday, June 21st, Meridian Parish; Tuesday, June 23rd, Parish Day, Lintlaw/Endeavour Parish; Thursday, June 25th, Parish Day, Holy Trinity Parish, Saskatoon; Sunday, June 28th, a.m. Biggar Anniversary and p.m. River Valley.

The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism (PCE), 19th Annual Summer Ecumenical Institute The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism invites you to the 19th Annual Summer Ecumenical Institute (SEI); “Telling our Story, shaping our future: Christian unity and reconciliation in Canada”. The SEI will be held June 2nd to 5th, 2009 at the Queen's House of Retreats, Saskatoon. The keynote speaker will be Fr. Tom Ryan CSP (Community of St. Paul); he is the director of the North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the Paulist Community, and is based in Washington, DC. For more details see the article in this issue.

“Starting Now” A conference on Mission and Church Building As part of the mission-building action of the diocesan Strategic Plan, “Turning Hope Into Action” the Diocese will be holding a conference entitled “Starting Now”, from June 12th to 14th, at the cathedral and other venues. Detailed registration and cost information may be found in the notice posted elsewhere in this issue.

Integrity Saskatoon Meetings are held at St. James on the second Saturday of each month at 7 p.m. Each meeting includes a talking circle and Eucharist with fellowship to follow. For more information contact the Reverend Ann Marie Nicklin at: (306) 948-3460 or: benjie60@gmail.com. For further information: www.integritysaskatoon.blogspot.com.

APPOINTMENTS, RESIGNATIONS BIRTHS ETC: Ms. Karen Walters, a student at the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, has been appointed Lay Hospital Chaplain until September 15 when the Reverend Canon John Davies will resume duties. Karen has completed a full unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Paul's hospital and is currently exploring ministry at St. George's Church, Saskatoon. Ms. Walters was received into the Anglican Communion at a service at St. George's, Saskatoon on May 26th.

Her work as Lay Hospital Chaplain will be mentored by the Reverend Canon Henry Comerford. Karen may be contacted through the hospital chaplain's cell phone number: 261-9906.

The Reverend John Seib was ordained priest on Friday, May 15th at Christ Church, Saskatoon. The preacher for the service of ordination was the Reverend Ann Marie Nicklin. Previously, in the April issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican, it was erroneously reported that the ordination occurred at St. Matthews, Sutherland on Sunday, February 22nd. The February 22nd service was a Celebration of the Ministry of Mr. Seib. The Editor apologizes for any confusion or inconvenience that this may have caused the reader.

Mrs. Wilma Woods and Mr. Brian Woods were ordained deacons on Friday, May 1st, the Feast of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles, at the request of the Coadjutor Bishop of Quebec, the Right Reverend Dennis Drainville. The ordination was held at St. John the Evangelist's Cathedral in Saskatoon; the preacher for the service was the Right Reverend Greg Kerr-Wilson, Bishop of Qu'Appelle. Brian and Wilma, who will soon graduate from the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, have been appointed to a parish and school ministry on the Magdalen Islands in the Diocese of Quebec.

The Reverend Dr. Jan Bigland-Pritchard has been appointed Diocesan Ecumenical Officer.

Managing Editor: Fred Stephens, 51 - 10th St. NE, Weyburn SK. S4H 1G8 Phone 306-842-7235 Email: skeditor@yahoo.ca Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin, 6927 Farrell Bay Regina SK S4X 3V4 Phone: 306-775-2629 Email: wsmartin@accesscomm.ca Saskatoon: Peter Coolen, 820Avenue I South Saskatoon SK S7M 1Z3 Phone: 306-244-0935 Email: ptrcoolen@sasktel.net Saskatchewan: The Reverends Julie and Steven Page, P.O. Box 274, Hudson Bay, SK, S0E 0Y0P Phone (306) 865-3488; Email: HudsonBayArborfield@SaskTel.net

Published monthly except July and August Published from 51 - 10th Street NE, Weyburn SK S4H 1G8 Printed and mailed from Signal Star Publishing A division of Bowes Publishers Ltd. Goderich ON N7A 4B6 Subscription rate: $10.00 in Canada; $17.00 outside Canada Whole No. 292, Vol. 33, No. 5 A Section of Anglican Journal

The Saskatchewan Anglican, June 2009 - 3

Silent Clergy Retreat: Inside Revelations by the Reverend Canon Henry Comerford, D. Min. From February 9th to 12th, 2009 the clergy of the Diocese of Saskatoon and the Diocese of Qu'Appelle met together for their annual clergy retreat at St. Michael's Retreat Center in Lumsden, Saskatchewan. Our retreat leader was Bishop Michael Bedford-Jones a retired Toronto area bishop.

Questions have surfaced about what really goes on at a clergy silent retreat and I have been asked to write an article to clarify, to educate, to reveal all. In the old overworked line, this is what you wanted to know about a silent clergy retreat but were spiritually afraid to ask. This report is based on actual events but for literary and contextual reasons some details have been changed. The report therefore is true in a flexible sort of way.

First Question: Is a clergy silent retreat silent? Of course it is. I am shocked that this question would even be asked. Is it so hard to believe that clergy could be silent?

Although as I reflect on the question further, I must say that the retreat is not completely silent. Bishop Bedford-Jones, at a number of scheduled presentations, spoke about places he had visited in the biblical holy land. By using the imagery of outer landscapes, we were invited to explore inner experiences of transformation, hardship, empowerment and transcendence.

We also had periods of worship and discussion. However outside of these sched

Photo contributed

Clergy of the Dioceses of Saskatoon and Qu'Appelle join in a group picture during the Silent Clergy Retreat held at St. Michael's Retreat Centre in Lumsden, February, 2009. uled times of conversation, silence was maintained. Even our meals were eaten in silence.

Second Question: What about the claim, “I can do a silent retreat by myself, just sitting by the ocean”? This is similar to the claim, “I don't need to go to church to worship on Sunday morning, I can worship on the golf course”, or an even more startling claim, “I can worship on Sunday morning while I'm still in bed”. While strictly speaking these are all possible, in actual practice, highly unlikely. A silent retreat by yourself by the ocean, if it is warm, ends up with you falling asleep on the beach or, if it is cold, ends up with you getting grumpy and calling off the whole thing because it was a stupid idea in the first place. However, doing a silent retreat with a retreat leader gives you a focus for

'Amazing Grace' Gift Enables Faith Based Response To Suicide In Northern

by Fiona Brownlee, Communications Officer, Council of the North

Everywhere you go in northern communities if you sit and listen long enough you will begin to hear stories about suicide; a sister, a brother, an uncle, a niece, a cousin, a child. In indigenous, isolated, northern communities it has reached epidemic proportions. The church is often part of the crisis response, giving pastoral care to the families and working with the community as people struggle with the aftermath of a suicide or multiple suicides.

These are real people doing real ministry.

Bishops in the Council of the North have grown increasingly concerned about this situation. They have worked hard to support their clergy and lay leaders who have been affected by suicide in their communities. Then in November of 2008, parishes across the Anglican Church of Canada participated in the singing of the hymn 'Amazing Grace' and were asked to contribute a 'twoonie' to the mission and ministry of the Council of the North. The donations started to come in throughout the next few months. By the end of May, 2009 they were around $90,000. This gift has enabled the bishops to begin to think creatively about how to deal with suicide in their communities.

At recent meetings the bishops have formulated a project that will commence in August, 2009 and continue until the end of July, 2011. A Suicide Prevention Coordinator will be hired who will work out of a Council of the North synod office.

This person will establish a network of diocesan resource people, in each diocese,

that have both expertise and passion about this work. The coordinator will also be responsible for developing a training event for these resource people once they have all been identified. The first phase of the work will be identify resources that are already present and develop educational materials that will be assist the diocesan teams in their work.

Bishop Jim Njegovan, vice-chair of the Council, and bishop of the diocese of Brandon, when asked why this project would be important to his diocese and others within the Council said, “Suicide is a huge issue amongst isolated communities particularly with the young people. To have a place and person to turn to for resources and support is important and will strengthen the ministry of our local clergy in those communities.”

This ministry of providing pastoral resources to isolated Anglican communities in Canada's north has come about through the generosity of Anglicans living from coast to coast to coast. It is the ministry of the church by the whole church.

As Bishop Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, says, “The suicide prevention project is a very important and visionary idea. It has the chance to provide transformational leadership for a large number of communities in the areas we serve in the North. This is a urgent problem and the proposal is a creative and potentially effective response.”

Anglicans in all parts of the Council of the North want to thank all those who participated in the 'Amazing Grace' project that is allowing this faithful response to come forward in their communities.

your thoughts and if necessary, private individual council and support. At our retreat, Bishop Bedford-Jones was always available to give individuals encouragement and guidance.

Third Question: Is a silent retreat good for everyone? During the retreat, a clergy colleague whispered to me one evening, “Will you talk to me, I can't take any more of this silence?” With as much sensitivity as I could squeeze into the two little letters “no”, I carefully wrote a little note and handed it to my colleague. Later I found out that a movie had appeared from somewhere and that this colleague was among a group planning a movie night. This brings me to the point that different individuals respond very differently to silence. Some people at a silent retreat seem to fall into the silence with a huge

sigh of relief and genuine glee, others engage the silence with clenched jaw, rising blood pressure and escape routes planned. I believe one day therapists and psychologists will find that there are S personalities and T personalities. For the S personality, (S)ilence is like a warm blanket that envelops you and protects you from the world around. Silence creates order and space that allows deep uninterrupted reflection and is actually an agent of healing. Silence provides an opportunity for emotional and spiritual replenishment that is visionary. For the T personality, (T)alk is important. Verbal talk is good. Gee, I've got nothing else here, I'll have to read a book or something and get back to you about (T).

A silent retreat is probably good for everyone, but for highly variant reasons. Do I think silent retreats are important? Yes I do. They provide an opportunity we rarely find in our busy, media saturated world, an opportunity to be still and listen to what has been described as the Kingdom of God within.

Have a blessed summer and if an opportunity for silence greets you, welcome it.

You deserve it whether you are an S or a T. (Please note names in this report have been changed to protect individual clergy, their families, their bishop and the identity of their church denomination). I would like to thank Bishop “Z” for the opportunity to write this report, though I bear all responsibility for its content.

Walk with the Cross Marks Good Friday

by Doreen Westcott WHITEWOOD (Qu'A) The annual Good Friday Walk with the Cross recreated Jesus' footsteps to the crucifixion. The walk, in its tenth year, is organized by the local Ministerial Association, and makes stops at five churches along the way.

This year's walk was blessed with good weather, and began at 10 a.m. at the Roman Catholic church where a representative of the Ministerial Association welcomed everyone and thanked them for participating. The first reading was Luke 23: 26-43, and the hymn was When I Survey the Wonderous Cross.

The walk proceeded to the Presbyterian church where Philippians 2: 1-8 was read and Beneath the Cross of Jesus was sung. The next stop was at the United Church, with the reading of Psalm 22: 1-2, 16-21, followed by the hymn Lord of the Dance.

The journey continued to St. Mary the Virgin Anglican church where the readings were Numbers 21: 9 and John 3: 14-18, and the hymn was Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross. The walk ended at the Evangelical Missionary church, where the choir led the singing of There is a Fountain, Lead Me to Calvary and Shine on Us. Each participant was welcome to take a turn carrying the wooden cross and several did, including young and old. Those who were unable to walk, drove along with the walkers in this meaningful re-creation.

Announcement: The 100th Anniversary of St. Luke's Church, Lily Plain, will be celebrated on June 14, 2009. It will include a service at 3 pm at the cemetery, followed by a “Dan Duffy” Picnic and pot luck supper at the Lily Plain Co-op Hall. Everyone is welcome to share in this fellowship!

4 - The Saskatchewan Anglican, June 2009

Cathedral Drama Program Concludes With a Resounding Success

By David Zulkoskey

Photo contributed

“The women of Judea weep for our Lord”

PRINCE ALBERT (Saskatchewan) - It may at first seem strange and perhaps a bit sacrilegious to refer to any presentation concerning the Good Friday story as a success. Yet the final Stations of the Cross depiction at St Alban's Cathedral in Prince Albert was indeed that.

For the past four years, the youth of the cathedral have depicted the crucifixion of our Lord in a series of emotionally charged dramatic tableaus.

The essence of a tableau, or frozen picture, is to pause the dramatic motion in such a fashion as to present the emotional charge of a situation and to reveal character relationships. The link between the Good Friday story and the concept of a tableau is perfect. It is a story filled with emotion, action and most obviously the interpersonal connection between our Lord, his mother and those who wish to see him executed.

The project stemmed from a desire by high school drama teacher David Zulkoskey to enable the youth of the parish to literally play a more active role in the Good Friday service. The reading of the passion, which can in fact be deeply moving, lacked a visual connection with the story. The Catholic tradition of the Stations of the Cross provided the means to enable the young people to translate a verbal story into a visual reference for the actions of the story.

As Christ moved to his place of execution in the traditional Stations of the Cross, the youth moved from the rear of the Cathedral to Golgotha which was located in the sanctuary, the east wall of the church. The actor playing Christ was joined at times by others representing his

Photo contributed

“Our Lord is crucified”

mother, Pilate, the women of Judea, and Simon of Cyrene.

Each tableau was accompanied by a short meditation, read by one of the youth from the pulpit. This year also included a short response between the youth reader and the congregation. The addition of the sound of mallets striking wood sound boxes made for a sombre note for the crucifixion. The cross support structure served two functions; it not only provided a vertical stand for the cross carried by Christ but it also symbolically represented the three crosses of Golgotha. This structure, constructed by theatre arts students attending Carlton Comprehensive High School, brought additional youth into the production process.

The conclusion of the 2009 Good Friday presentation marks the conclusion of the drama program at St. Alban's. The final image of the actor playing the role of Christ walking to his own tomb has certainly left parishioners with a deeper appreciation of the meaning not only of Good Friday but the celebration of Easter.

More than 100 Lay Readers licensed in Diocese of Saskatchewan Staff Prince Albert (Saskatchewan) - At an afternoon service on Good Shepherd Sunday, April 26, a total of 110 lay readers were licensed by Bishop Michael Hawkins for the Diocese of Saskatchewan.

Evening Prayer was led by the Reverend Chris Harper, Warden of the Lay Readers' Association. The first lesson, Exodus 24, was read by Mrs. Theresa Sanderson, President of the Lay Readers' Association. Another Lay Reader, Mrs. Tracy Harper, read the second lesson, John 21:1-14.

Bishop Hawkins led the commissioning of the lay readers, with the potential lay readers making a declaration before all present that they would be faithful to God, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Bishop, the Diocese and the Incumbent in their local parish. Bishop Hawkins then prayed for the Lay Readers. After parish priests and wardens presented their candidates, the Lay Readers were individually commissioned, welcomed warmly to their role and given their licenses by the Bishop.

In total, 110 lay readers from 34 parishes were licensed by Bishop Hawkins. This group included a record number of seven first-time lay readers. Equally impressive was the fact that 26 of the lay readers have now been licensed for more than 10 years.

Bishop Hawkins expressed his great appreciation for the important ministry that lay readers perform in the Diocese, where vast distances mean that lay readers must “wear many hats” when their parish priests are traveling elsewhere in the parish or diocese.

Following the commissioning, the Reverend Julie Golding Page gave the sermon, based on Psalm 23. Ms. Golding Page encouraged the lay readers to look to their Shepherd, the LORD, whose very name, Yahweh, is a reminder that he has promised to always be everything his people need. Also highlighted was the lavish provision that the LORD makes for his people in Psalm 23, despite the nearly impossible conditions of dryness and visible enemies.

Photo contributed

“The newly-licensed Lay Readers pose on the steps outside St. Alban's Cathedral in Prince Albert.”

At the pearly gates again, a taxi driver and minister are waiting in line. St. Peter consults his list and says to the taxi driver, "Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

St. Peter next greets the minister saying, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

"Just a minute," says the minister. "That man was a taxi driver, and he gets a silken robe and golden staff while I get a cotton robe and wooden staff. How can this be?"

"Up here, we work by results," says St. Peter. "While you preached, people slept; while he drove, people prayed."

The Saskatchewan Anglican, June 2009 - 5

IN MEMORIAM The Reverend Florence May McDonald (Ret'd).

The Reverend Florence May (nee Westerson) McDonald passed away peacefully, her family at her side, in Calgary, Alberta, on Monday, March 2nd, 2009, at the age 72.

Mrs. McDonald was ordained in St John's Cathedral, Saskatoon and served as Rector of the congregations in Watrous, Colonsay and Viscount in the Diocese of Saskatoon.

On leaving the Diocese of Saskatoon, Florence served the Parish of St Magloire, Drumheller in the Diocese of Calgary before retiring to live in Calgary and to serve as Interim Priest and Priest in Charge in the Parish of St Francis of Assisi, Airdrie. Mrs. McDonald had been in failing health for some time however she continued to minister to her congregation. From time to time, Mrs. McDonald was also a welcome guest in the Greater Parish of Watrous.

Mrs. McDonald was the much-loved mother of: Janice (Tim) Goode and Carole McDonald (Pat Dillon); loving grandmother to Mahala, Sharayah, Joshua, Michael, Jeriah and Jaiden, all of Calgary; sister to Bob (Billie) Westerson and sisterin-law to Pat Westerson, as well as several nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her husband Francis (Mac)

Photo- http://www.legacy.com

- The Reverend Florence May McDonald McDonald; her daughter, Charlene; her son, James; her sister, Jeannie and her brother, Fred. A Funeral Service for Florence was held on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009, at St. Francis of Assisi Anglican Church, Airdrie, Alberta. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her memory to either the Alberta Children's' Hospital or the Anglican Youth Camp.

Florence was a very warm hearted person, a very good friend to so many, and a faithful Priest. She will be greatly missed. May she rest in peace.

photo - Kevin Weedmark

At Rev. Michael Last's induction on April 1 (l-r) Rev. Betty Garrett of Moosomin, Rev. Cheryl Johnson of Whitewood, Bishop Greg Kerr-Wilson, Rev. Michael Last, Rebecca Last, Archdeacon Rob Hardwick of Swift Current, and Rev. Delta Kelly of Rocanville. photo - staff

During Lent, the people of St. Mary's Regina collected food for the Food Bank, following Christ's instruction to feed the hungry. After the Palm Sunday service, the children used the donations to build a cross - the symbol of Christ's sacrifice. When all the food was gathered up, it filled three heaping shopping carts.

Donations Form Symbol

From Lichfield to Qu'Appelle for Michael Last

by Kevin Weedmark, thanks to The World-Spectator

MOOSOMIN (Qu'A) Rev. Michael Last says if you told him a year ago, when he was serving as a priest in the Church of England, that he would be serving a parish in southeastern Saskatchewan, he never would have believed you. But on April 1, Last was inducted as priest for the parish of Saskatchewan Gateway, which includes congregations in Moosomin, Rocanville, Fleming, and Spring Creek.

Last grew up in England in an environment steeped in Christian ministry, but never considered the priesthood as a child. “From the time I was born, my father worked in Christian work of one kind or another,” he says. “He worked for a Christian organization for 20 years, then when I was 17 he was ordained to the Anglican priesthood. I decided there was no way I would ever go into the priesthood, but different little things kept happening all through my life that kept pushing me in that direction."

“Various little things just kept opening up. I was with British Telecom, and I went into BT Technical Training for five years. When I look back on it now, I realise that going into the training end of things got me used to standing up in front of people, and doing training-it was preparing me for ministry whether I knew it or not. There were lots of little steps on the road that finally brought me to where I am.”

Eventually Last ended up speaking with the director of ordinands for his diocese in England. When the director decided the time was right, he sent Last to a national selection conference. “I vividly remember the chair of the selection conference. It was presided over by a Canon Ball, a name you can't easily forget.”

He was chosen for ministry and attended theological college in Nottingham. In college he met Rob Hardwick, who ended up coming to Saskatchewan where he serves as a priest in Swift Current.

Last has been in parish ministry for 14 years in the diocese of Lichfield in the British midlands. “Where I came from was a rural grouping. I looked after six churches, and it wouldn't be uncommon for me to do five services on a Sunday,” he says. “They were all comparatively small villages. The largest villages were around 1,200 people. Quite a few of the churches were medieval. The main church I served was started in 1160.”The Diocese of Lichfield in England is linked with the Diocese of Qu'Appelle, which covers the southern part of Saskatchewan. That link led to Last's move to Canada. “Back in the summer I was thinking about a move. People from each of the companion dioceses came to Lichfield for Crosstalk (a mission conference involving participants from the Dioceses of Qu'Appelle and West Malaysia). We had someone staying in our parish from West Malaysia, and I went along to the Crosstalk conference. Who should I see there but Rob Hardwick, who I hadn't seen since college. I heard about Qu'Appelle from him, I met Bishop Greg, conversations developed, and the rest is history.”

Last was interviewed by members of the parish council by phone, but decided to fly to Canada to check the parish out before committing to the position. “I thought rather than jump completely I wanted to come over and meet the people and see if this is a job I could do,” he says. “I'd never been to Canada before. I had been told it was big and empty. The concept of someplace as big as this is hard to grasp when you're from somewhere as heavily populated as England. The area where my six churches were, I could drive from one end to the other in 15 minutes. The concept of roads that don't have bends in them is hard to get used to, as well.”

He said the friendly people he met when he came to the Gateway Parish on the Thanksgiving weekend convinced him to make the move. “There is a difference in the people over here,” he said. “I think it's more relaxed. The rural area I was in was friendly, but I think people here are even more friendly.”

He said the population in this area is also much younger than the rural population in the area of England he comes from. “The demographic in rural England is very different,” he said. “You've got aging populations. The rural village I lived in was Alton, with a population of 1,250-1,300. The only school in the village was a first school, with children ages four to nine - after that they were bussed to another village-and there were only 40 children in it. By comparison, there looked to be about that many children in church here in Moosomin on Sunday. The number of farmers has dropped drastically. They are amalgamating to larger farms. You have larger farms, but only two people working on them. And because development rules restrict new housing in rural areas, you end up with a housing situation where people who have grown up in the village can't afford to live in the village until they're about 40-housing is just too expensive.”

He said his role in the Gateway parish is to develop the local church. “My main goal is a development goal,” he said. “I'm here for initially two years. The goal is to grow and develop the church in that time, so it can be self-sufficient and sustain itself in the long term.”

Last's wife, Rebecca, is a trained musician who is currently retraining to be a midwife. She will be moving to Canada in January once her training is complete. The couple's two sons are both in university in Britain.

Now that he has arrived in his new parish, Last says he is happy with his decision.

“When I came in October I visited Rob (Hardwick) and asked him to tell me the good and the bad about coming to Qu'Appelle. “He warned me about the winters, but he initially only came for two years, and he's been here seven so far, so they can't be that bad.”

Signs You're Getting Older The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bi-focals.

You feel like the morning after and you haven't been anywhere.

Your little black book contains only names that end in M.D. You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it leaning against the wrong wall.

Your mind makes contracts your body can't meet.

Your favorite part of the newspaper is "20 Years Ago Today."

You turn out the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.

6 - The Saskatchewan Anglican, June 2009

Parish of Hudson Bay

and

Arborfield

ences Passover

Photo contributed

Each place at the Seder supper was set with a hard-boiled egg, two servings of parsley, a dab of horseradish, and an apple-walnut salad.

By Caron Hallen, with files from the Reverend Julie Golding Page Hudson Bay & Arborfield (Saskatchewan) On the evenings of Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9, St. Patrick's Church (Hudson Bay) and Church of the Ascension (Arborfield) each hosted a Passover Feast.

Passover is a family festival, and more than 20 of our church family members attended one night or the other. The Passover ritual dates from the Book of Exodus, when God rescued his people from slavery and led them out of Egypt. The Passover celebration is also significant because it was during this feast that Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper (also known as Holy Communion and the Eucharist).

Everything done during the ceremony has meaning, and it was important for those who attended to wait until items were explained and prayed over before eating or drinking them. The particular version of the Passover ceremony that was followed was a simplified one created by Arden W. Mead and available in an easy-to-use kit from Creative Communications.

The Reverend Julie Golding Page led the ceremony, with the assistance of several readers in each church, including two young gentlemen in Hudson Bay, Liam Washburn (10) and Tyler Dickson (7).

As outlined in the kit, places were set in a formal fashion, complete with place cards. Each place setting included: wine glass, small bowl of salty water for dipping, larger bowl of water to wash hands, a plate with two servings of parsley, 1 hard-cooked egg, _ cup serving of charoseth (apple walnut salad), 1 tbsp of red horseradish and to the left of the plate a spoon and napkin. Tables were arranged with candles, wine and a plate of three matzos (unleavened bread) and a special place at the head table for Elijah. A serving table held the extra wine (the ceremony requires that four cups be drunk!), water, matzos, charoseth and napkins, as well as the lamb and chicken dishes that had been prepared especially for the evening meal, according to recipes in the kit.

The ritual was followed, including a repeated prayer that Ms. Golding Page began in Hebrew: “Baruch Attah Adonai Elohenu” and guests at the feast continued in its English translation: “Blessed are you, O Lord our God.” Guests also learned a lively, traditional Hebraic-style song called “Dayenu,” meaning “It would be enough for us.”

Supper was served, followed by the “cup after supper” that Jesus transformed into the Lord's Supper - a celebration of our salvation from the bondage of sin through the new covenant in his blood. Following this experience of communion, guests drank the fourth and final cup of wine for the evening, with the rousing exclamation of hope, “Next year in Jerusalem!” It was an evening of wonderment, excitement and peace.

Photo contributed

Members of Church of the Ascension, Arborfield, enjoy the Seder supper.

experi-

The Saskatchewan Anglican, - June 2009 7

Photo contributed Photo contributed

Liam Washburn especially enjoyed the unleavened bread.

Here's a quick walk through the Bible, as seen by some elementary students in a Catholic school.

The first book of the bible is called guinessis. God created the world. When he got tired, he took the sabboth day off.

God created Adam and Eve from an apple tree.

Samson killed hundreds of Philistines with the axe of the Apostles.

Samson was a really strong man who let himself be lead astray by a Jezebel called Delilah.

Noah built an ark. The animals came to it in pears.

Noah's wife's name was Joan of Ark. Lot 's wife was a pillar of salt during the daytime and a ball of fire when it got dark.

Moses lead the people to the Red Sea. There they made unleavened bread. That's bread without any ingredients.

All the Egyptians got drowned in the desert. After that, Moses climbed Mount Cyanide and got the Ten Commandments.

The first commandment - Eve told Adam to eat the apple.

The seventh commandment - Thou shalt not admit adultery.

Moses died before reaching Canada.

Joshua lead the Hebrews into the battle of geritol.

The greatest miracle recorded in the bible - Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.

David had a son named Solomon.

Solomon had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

David was a Jewish king who was good at playing the liar. He fought the Finkelsteins.

The Rev'd Julie Golding Page holds the plate set aside for Elijah, the forerunner of the Messiah. Elijah's plate has the shank bone of the lamb used in the supper's main dishes.

Photo contributed

Members of St Patrick's Church, Hudson Bay, enjoy their Seder supper.

8 - The Saskatchewan Anglican, June 2009

Call for support of St Catherine's Church cemetery

By Tena Bannerman MacDowall (Saskatchewan) For some years, the members of St. Stephen's Anglican Parish, MacDowall, have been responsible for the cemeteries in the parish. Over the years, we have prevailed upon local residents and interested individuals, with ancestors buried in the cemetery, to maintain the grounds. This has happened at St. Andrew's Church, Halcro, St. Paul's Church, Lindsay, and also St. Luke's Church, Lily Plain.

Interested people took time to locate descendants and encourage a fund to be set up to hire someone to do the maintenance and be in charge of the funds.

Reports to the Vestry indicate that the above-mentioned churches have done just that.

We feel that a similar arrangement could be adapted for St. Catherine's Cemetery, too. Many volunteers have faithfully tried to maintain the grounds over the years, but it is a difficult task.

We are asking for the help of the general public to get involved with the management of the cemetery grounds at St. Catherine's church. We are proud to say that this church was the second Anglican church in the province. It was established on the western outskirts of what is now the city of Prince Albert. It was consecrated in 1877. The hearty settlers arriving from Manitoba made their homes in the established Isbister Settlement and were very happy to have a place of worship.

The original church was replaced in 1932. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by arson in 1988. Because this is a very historic area in the Diocese of Saskatchewan, we feel the cemetery must be maintained and become a proud link to the early pioneers who opened up this area for us.

Please offer your assistance by helping with a clean-up bee or by providing a donation as an ongoing support for the maintenance of the grounds. For more information, call Beulah at 7647643, or t.bannerman@sasktel.net

Building 'a Holy Catholic Church' on the Prairies

This year the Diocese of Qu'Appelle celebrates 125 years of ministry and witness to the Christian faith in southern Saskatchewan. To recognize this milestone in the life of the church, the 125th Anniversary Committee, at the request of the Bishop, is preparing a series of historical vignettes.

by Trevor Powell REGINA Cross, candles and flowers on the altar, intonation of the service, surpliced choirs, liturgical colours - very much part of Anglican services nowadays, but more than 125 years ago such outward expressions of traditional Catholic worship created a deep rift among Anglicans in England and overseas. Division between those of the Catholic and Evangelical traditions manifested itself not only in worship, but also in other aspects of church life - theological education, forms of ministry, missionary work - to name a few.

The Diocese of Qu'Appelle was no exception. Of the Catholic tradition, Bishops Anson (1884-1892), Burn (1893-1896) and their clergy, emphasized sacramental worship and ceremonial. These innovations to varying degrees were to be found in mainline parishes such as Moosomin, Grenfell, Qu'Appelle, Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Maple Creek, and with the advance of the railway to Saltcoats, Churchbridge, Estevan and Oxbow. Not everyone was pleased with such changes. Opposition by the congregation of St. Paul's, Regina, to candles on the altar led Anson to ask the people of St. Peter's, Qu'Appelle to become the pro-cathedral.

During Grisdale's episcopate (1896-1911), a different course was pursued. To meet the spiritual needs of a growing and scattered population after the turn of the century, he invited clergy, theological students and lay workers of the Evangelical tradition to minister to settlers. Students from Wycliffe College, Toronto, served the missions of Condie, Foxleigh and Winnetka north of Regina. The Colonial and Continental Church Society took charge of a vast area on either side of the CPR main line from Caron to Herbert. Missioners reported to the Society that they had laid the foundation for a strong Church based along Evangelical lines at Morse, Herbert, Elbow, Mortlach, and Caron.

While pleased with the inroads made into what it had hitherto considered a Catholic preserve, the Society was not given further territory by Bishop Harding (1911-1934). Instead he brought in clergy of a strong Catholic tradition and through St. Chad's Theological College ensured that candidates for ordination received a similar grounding. New mission fields were given to the Railway Mission brotherhood which used the expanding railway network as the chief means of bringing the sacraments to the newcomers. Like Anson and Burn, Harding unswervingly upheld the tenets of the Catholic faith and successfully led the diocese through war and peace followed by the Great Depression and the ravages of drought. He and his successors thus ensured that the Diocese of Qu'Appelle maintained its strong Catholic identity which set it apart from other prairie dioceses.

Lichfield Diocese powers website by renewable energy LICHFIELD ENGLAND The Diocese of Lichfield is furthering its pro-environment agenda by moving its website to a new green hosting facility.

In April the diocese's public website and its online resource centre for churches moved to a new server located at Rackspace's new environmentally friendly data centre in Slough. A new website for the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education will also be hosted at the new facility.

This data centre uses renewable energy and has its own combined heat and power plant that uses wood chips, waste paper and fibre fuel to generate electricity, hot water and steam; and is cooled using new techniques which bring outside air into the centre to cool the servers.

It is one of the most highly specified data centres in the world and has been built to exacting, rigorous standards; delivering unparalleled security, power, connectivity and environmental control.

The diocese's director of communications, Gavin Drake, said: “Last year the Lichfield Diocesan Synod has asked the diocese to reduce its environmental impact and, in particular, to switch to electronic communication instead of paper wherever possible. Electronic communications has its own environmental impact so we're delighted that our internet partners Pin Digital and Rackspace have been able to move our website to a new green hosting facility. We know that this won't fully negate the impact of our web presence, but small steps such as this add up and can help make a big difference to our carbon footprint and the impact we make on the environment.”

The DIOCESE OF SASKATOON ANNOUNCES A CONFERENCE ON MISSION AND CHURCH BUILDING: “STARTING NOW” As part of the Mission building action of the diocesan Strategic Action Plan, “Turning Hope Into Action”, the Diocese of Saskatoon will be holding a conference entitled “Starting Now”, on October 30th and 31st, aimed at identifying opportunities and resources to support growth in, and strengthen and invigorate the Church throughout the diocese and to identify the tools required. The conference will be open to everyone, particularly those who are energetic, optimistic, new to mission and desiring a church open to the challenges of spreading the “Good News” in a modern and diverse society. Detailed registration and cost information and a detailed schedule of events will be available in the September issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican, through parish mailings and from the Cathedral office. …For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you; behold now is the favorable time; now is the day of salvation.” (II Cor. 6:2)

Ceremony of Reception Held in Saskatoon

Photo- Louise Lomaz

Lauren Jardine, President of the Diocesan ACW (left), presented Ms. Karen Walters (centre) to be received into the Anglican Communion at a service at St. George's, Saskatoon on May 26th. The Right Reverend Rodney Andrews, Bishop of Saskatoon appointed the Reverend Canon Henry M. Comerford (right) to perform the ceremony of reception in his place.

Ms. Walters, a student at the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, has been appointed Lay Hospital Chaplain for the Diocese until September 15th; she has completed a full unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Paul's hospital and is currently exploring ministry at St. George's Church. Her work as Lay Hospital Chaplain will be mentored by the Reverend Canon Henry M. Comerford.

114 Seminary Crescent Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X3 (306) 975-1558 Summer Offerings: Introductory Greek I & II Introductory Hebrew I & II Part I: May 11-29, Part II: June 8-26 6 week course = 6 credit units) Spiritual Life: Study & Retreat June 2-7 (tentative date) Summer School for Lay People July 5-10 Cross Cultural Immersion - Vietnam July 20 - August 11 For more information or to register contact: Colleen Walker, Registrar colleen.walker@usask.ca