The Saskatchewan Anglican, June 2015

Saskatchewan anglican

The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • June 2015 www.facebook.com/thesaskatchewananglican ­—

www.issuu.com/thesaskatchewananglican

DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN

Change of location for General Assembly event

Allan Higgs

Allan Higgs: 35 years as RCMP chaplain

Primate Fred Hiltz to be honoured guest

By Mary Brown

By Rev. Allan Higgs REGINA – I had no idea of what the future would bring when Bishop Michael Peers and I walked down the street and he asked me, “Do you think you would like to be chaplain to the RCMP at Depot Division?”

Having just moved from Alberta where I had extensive working relationships with the RCMP, the concept of Depot Division was not foreign to me.

I said I would have to meet with the commanding officer to determine whether it would be a meaningful relationship.

Two appointments with the commanding officer were cancelled for a variety of reasons, but then a letter arrived in the mail.

It was from the Solicitor General and triggered an exciting and challenging journey.

The Solicitor General of Canada appointed me Honorary Chaplain, Regina Area, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, effective May 1, 1980.

Initially the role of chaplain was ceremonial. I attended dinners and asked the blessing, but over the years the position evolved to include much more work with RCMP members, cadets, employees, retired members and family members.

Many of the duties of chaplain are similar to those of a parish priest – family support, moral support, visiting the sick, marriage preparation, officiating at weddings and funerals – but there are other duties which parish Continued on page 6

Over 200 people attended the gathering, Voices of our Sisters: Standing together in hope, an ecumenical response to missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls. The event was held at Mayfair United Church in Saskatoon in April.

Photo — Blake Sittler

Remembering missing, murdered aboriginal women and girls

By Mary Ann Assailly SASKATOON – April 18 was the day planned for clergy and lay leaders to gather at Mayfair United Church in Saskatoon to learn how the church can be in solidarity and understanding with those working to solve the crisis of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls, plus working to heal wounds of the past.

Over 200 people attended the day, organized by a committee composed of members from the Anglican, Lutheran, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy, United churches and the Saskatoon Native Ministry, as a response to continue the work of the Truth and Reconciliation process.

The day started with a pipe ceremony, with

buffalo robes, proud elders and women in skirts.

All protocol was followed as the pipe man accepted the tobacco and cloth and listened to the request to bless and empower the day.

The day was opened in the sanctuary with the Reverend Deb Walker welcoming all to Treaty 6 territory and Mayfair Church. Elder Maria Linklater offered prayer and her grandson Blue Jay chanted the honour song.

The day featured a variety of First Nations voices: Professor Winona Wheeler, Native Studies, University of Saskatchewan and Glenda Abbott from Wanuskewin and Walking with our Sisters, delivered a riveting presentation on the history of Indigenous women, pre- and postcolonization in Aboriginal culture.

See “MISSING” on page 6

PRINCE ALBERT – The location of the General Assembly has been changed from St. Alban’s Cathedral to the Senator Allen Bird Gymnasium.

This new location is very significant to the Indigenous people, as this was the site of a residential school.

Many of the delegates may have attended this school or one like it, so this gathering of selfdetermined Indigenous leaders is a testament to their success.

The assembly will begin with a healing service at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, followed by the Ordination to the Priesthood of Deacon Samuel Halkett, with Primate Fred Hiltz in attendance.

The following day the sessions will open with Morning Prayer and Bible Study, using the Gospel-based discipleship booklet.

Following the Bible Study, will be the bishop’s report, introductions, appointments and greetings.

At 11:00 a.m. there will be nominations for new members to the Indigenous Council.

The Primate will give a speech to the delegates after the nominations.

After lunch there will be elections of the Indigenous Council and business regarding the James Settee College, a finance presentation and discussions on congregations and vestries.

If you have never been to Stanley Mission, June 7 would be the day to go.

You can take a step back in time to the past, when boat-loads of people crossed the water to go to church for a confirmation service and a feast afterward.

The Most Reverend Fred Hiltz will be our honoured guest.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

We are a thirsty people who desire life How is the Holy Spirit such a powerful entity in our lives?

By Rev. Norbert Haukenfrers, DMin PRINCE ALBERT – Living in the prairies and hearing its story, I’ve learned that this land was enjoyed, explored and exploited along the ancient paths of movement, the rivers.

The Saskatchewan and Churchill rivers are rivers of movement and change. They flow along with the rain and snow that sustain and support prairie life. Life and crops depend on moisture.

To build a city on a hill, far from water, where there is little rain for half the year seems like poor planning at best.

But that is exactly where the ancient city of Jerusalem was built and still stands. Jerusalem’s history is marked with the constant struggle for water.

It is in Jerusalem, on the last

day of the Feast of Booths, which believes in me, as Scripture has the people of Israel gathered said, rivers of living water will at the temple for the closing flow from them.” ceremonies, John tells us remembering that by this Jesus We have all suffered God’s redemptive was referring to in our thirstiness, the Holy Spirit. act of salvation. by the The ruach or On the last day parched of the festival, mirage of busyness. pneuma speaks of the priest raised a There is so much the movement and pitcher filled with good to be involved moving of God; the water, pouring breath, wind and it out on the in, so how do we storm of God that life-giving can be resisted but altar, reminding drink everyone of water? It is here not denied. the gift of rain where Jesus stands On that day, necessary for a Jesus was inviting offering Himself harvest. the people to stop This week of as the source of enduring religion water, and start enjoying holy camping life-giving was to remind the changing everything. revival. Yes, on people of God that that last day of the all of life rests on feast of booths, redemption: the forgiveness of Jesus was answering their thirst sin. by inviting them to swim in It is on this last day of the the river of the Holy Spirit that feast that Jesus stood up and would sustain the rest of their said, “Let anyone who is thirsty lives, flowing through them, come to me and drink. Whoever sustaining life around them.

As thirsty people aware of our desire for life, Jesus invites us to drink streams of living water.

He is the source of revival: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me.”

We have all suffered in our thirstiness, parched by the mirage of busyness. There is so much good to be involved in, so how do we drink life-giving water? It is here where Jesus stands offering Himself as the source of life-giving water, changing everything.

This river of life, flowing out of the heart of God, sustaining a new kind of life: turning salty tears into sweet joy; where death was once sovereign, life, life and more life; where empty stomachs and greed once prevailed, a perpetual harvest, ending all want; no longer hiding in our shame, our identities restored.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful force in our lives because we are a thirsty people. Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Open yourself to allow the Holy Spirit flow through you How is the Holy Spirit such a powerful entity in our lives?

By Archdeacon Dell Bornowsky REGINA – The Bible suggests we wouldn’t even be alive apart from the Spirit of God. That certainly implies a powerful entity.

But while biological life is attributed to the Holy Spirit, there also seems a category of Spirit-fullness that refers to abilities to know, speak and act in special ways that are not otherwise possible.

Jesus cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and let the one who believes in me drink. As the Scripture has said, ‘Out of their innermost being (the believer’s heart) shall flow rivers of living water.’ Now He said this about the Spirit …”

(John 7:37-39).

Apparently if we want those rivers of living water (the power

of the Holy Spirit) to flow from our hearts: 1) We need to be thirsty. Disinterested, apathetic Christians remain powerless for obvious reasons. 2) We need to believe in Jesus, because if we just believe in ourselves we simply aren’t believing in the best available Saviour.

But, 3) we also need to drink.

There is an old saying: “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.”

This suggests the possibility even amid the outward preaching and sacraments at church, we can be spiritually dry until, as the prayer book prays, we “hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” the holy Scriptures.

To drink seems to mean an inward believing and receiving of God’s Word and Spirit into our hearts and minds, until that living water not only satisfies our own spiritual thirst (John 4:14) but flows out as channels of spiritual refreshment for others.

How do we know we are drinking the Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke about?

Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on his own … He will glorify me, because He will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-14).

Is our spiritual drink, and our concept of truth, causing our thoughts, words and actions to glorify Jesus? The Holy Spirit is not in the business of saying or doing things that do not glorify Jesus.

Rather, the direction of flow of those powerful rivers Jesus spoke of is toward the praise, honour and glorification of Jesus.

Our lives may seem like dry riverbeds at times, but if we turn ourselves and line up the purpose of our lives toward glorifying Jesus, then the Holy Spirit will flow through us because that is the direction she wants to go.

We have been created to be

channels of God’s grace into the world.

But a pipeline won’t flow if all the valves are closed. We need to open our mouths to speak Jesus’ words and use our bodies to glorify Him. When we do, we allow the Spirit to flow though us and become those powerful rivers that transform the world.

Many folks in church aren’t more active in ministry because they look at themselves and don’t see the abilities or courage they think are required for a more active life of faith.

Perhaps they fail to realize both the abilities and the character needed for Christian service are in those rivers of the Spirit that are just waiting to flow out through their lives.

All we need is the willingness to let our lives be the riverbed through which those powerful rivers of the Spirit will flow and accomplish more than we can ask or imagine.

It’s in the bag By the Reverend Jan BiglandPritchard SASKATOON – Parishioners from Emmanuel Parish, Holy Trinity, St. John’s Cathedral and St. Stephen’s took part in the 10th annual Saskatoon Churches Food Bank Drive on May 2.

The volunteers met at St. Stephen’s for route distribution

and returned there afterwards for a delicious chili lunch served

by Stella Patterson and Becky McDonald.

A phone call to the Saskatoon Food Bank on May 5, reported while they were still counting the results of the drive, they expected it to total about 34,019 kgs (75,000 lbs) of food, much as was collected by the last year

multi-church food drive.

The cost to supply and print the 75,000 brown Food Bank bags which they will distribute this year is around $10,000.

The Food Bank’s director of operations said in March 18,000 people used the food bank, while in April 17,000 people used the food bank.

This is an increase from the

normal 12,000-13,000 people per month, for similar periods in past years.

This drive will stock the Food Bank through to the end of June.

We wish to thank all of the volunteers who assisted in the collection and all the many people who donated to this year’s drive.

See you next year!

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

anglican

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

Published monthly except for July and August.

Whole No. 292, Vol. 43, No. 10 A Section of the Anglican Journal SUBSCRIPTIONS For change of address, undeliverable copies and subscription list updates, contact: • Your parish • e-mail: circulation @national.anglican.ca • Or send to Saskatchewan Anglican, c/o Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ont. M4Y 3G2

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CONTACT INFORMATION Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail.com 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Phone: (306) 737-4898 Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin joannesm@myaccess.ca 6927 Farrell Bay Regina, Sask., S4X 3V4 Phone: (306) 775-2629 Saskatoon: Peter Coolen ptrcoolen@sasktel.net 820 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, Sask., S7M 1Z3 Phone: (306) 244-0935, Saskatchewan: Mary Brown synod@sasktel.net 1308 Fifth Avenue East Prince Albert, Sask., S6V 2H7 Phone: (306) 763-2455

PUBLISHING DETAILS Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Printed and mailed by Webnews Printing Inc. 8 High Meadow Place North York, Ont. M9L 2Z5

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

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Our mission is to share the Good News By the Right Reverend David M. Irving Bishop of Saskatoon SASKATOON – Earlier this week I attended a meeting in Winnipeg. It was a planning meeting for our Provincial Synod, which takes place later this month.

The theme of the synod is Mission, the Marks of Mission and the Mission of the Ecclesiastical Province.

As I journeyed back to Saskatoon the word “mission” kept rolling around in my head, so much so that when I arrived home, the first thing I did was grab my laptop computer and go to an online dictionary.

“Mission: a specific task a person or a group is charged, a body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity and a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its faith or carry on humanitarian works.”

We, as Christians, are on a mission. Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus told His disciples to go and preach, share the good news.

That message, and that

charge, has been given to us as well. Jesus sent His disciples out on a mission.

They were sent out and given instructions to preach this message: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Heal the sick, raise the dead and cleanse those who have leprosy and drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

They were sent to preach the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. They could have preached against the Roman Empire, the Jewish leaders, dishonesty and many other things, but that is not what they were told.

You know the same is true of

us. There are so many different things which we could preach out against in our world today.

However, I think we are given the same task as the first disciples; they preached that the Kingdom of Heaven was near.

For us, the Kingdom is here and it is our job to preach that fact. To learn some valuable lessons about this fact, all we have to do is to look at the life of Paul.

Whenever Paul got a chance to preach, what did he preach?

Jesus Christ crucified, Jesus Christ buried and Jesus Christ risen.

I wonder what would happen if all God’s people everywhere would take this task seriously.

Now please don’t get me wrong.

I am not saying there is never a time in which we should not speak out against certain issues, such as homelessness, hunger, abuse, etc., but I do believe our main message should always be the gospel message, because in the gospel message there is power to save.

The mission to preach belongs to every single one of us. The Bible never makes a distinction between professional clergy and

We, as Christians, are on a mission. Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus told His disciples to go and preach, share the good news. That message, and that charge, has been given to us as well. the laity.

Instead, everyone is called, each having different gifts and abilities. People expect the minister to preach, but when we all begin to preach the Good News, we will indeed change the world.

As the disciples went about preaching the gospel message, they were also to heal those in need.

Now, we must understand something here. These men were empowered by Jesus to heal.

The disciples and the people on whom the disciples laid their hands had a power from the Holy Spirit to do some amazing things.

Now, there are people who have been given special gifts

by God, but most are unable to heal in the same sense the disciples were able to, but are gifted nevertheless. We too are a people of healing.

As I have already said, we may not be able to heal in the same sense as the disciples were, but we can bring healing to people who are hurting; hurting from loneliness, hurting from hopelessness, hurting from the effects of sin, hurting from addiction, hurting from grief and hurting from many other reasons.

Everyone the disciples physically healed eventually died. However, when we show people that the ultimate source of healing is found in the hope of eternal life, we are doing more than healing them for a while, we are showing them Christ can heal them forever.

Our salvation should be enough of a motivation for us to go out and make a difference.

Freely you have received, freely give.

There are many different interpretations of what “mission” means but, for us as followers of Christ, it is simple, share the Good News in word and action.

Living the Mission at St. Philip

DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN

Two Order of Saskatchewan recipients pass away

By Mary Brown

well known and loved member of that community.

PRINCE ALBERT — Clayton Agnew In 2004 Clayton Agnew received the Order of Saskatchewan.

He was nominated to the Order by Jack Hollowell. Mr. Agnew attended St. Andrew’s Church in Shellbrook all his life, attending Sunday school and confirmation classes.

He served overseas during the Second World War and was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Shellbrook.

He first served as a member of St. Andrew’s vestry in 1958 and later became People’s Warden and Rector’s Warden, as well as treasurer. He was also a delegate to the Diocesan Synod.

As is the case, most who belong to the Order of Saskatchewan are involved in many other activities in their community. Clayton and his wife Mary left Shellbrook a few years ago to live in Saskatoon.

Up until his death in March, Mr. Agnew continued to send donations to St. Andrew’s Church in Shellbrook. He was a

Eliza Crane In 2002 the Order of Saskatchewan was established to recognize lay people who were exemplary witnesses to Jesus Christ and who had offered exceptional service to the Diocese of Saskatchewan.

Twenty-four people were presented with the Order of Saskatchewan that first time.

Eliza Crane was one of those people. She was nominated by the parish of St. James, Muskoday First Nation.

They described her as the backbone of the parish. She served as both People’s and Rector’s Warden for several years. She was the sole member of the Altar Guild, and as leader of the choir, she taught the younger choir members and ensured they could both read and understand the Cree hymns.

Since 1999, Eliza had served as a lay reader in St. James until her death on April 15. Eliza attended Diocesan Synods and was a student of the James Settee College.

Every Tuesday morning a group gathers to play cards at St. Philip’s church, at the Living Spirit Centre on Doan Drive in Regina. Everyone is welcome for fellowship, coffee and cards. Seated, from left, are Donalda Ford, Edith Holmes, Joe Hahn and Ron Schroeder. Standing, from left, are Sylvia Muz, Margaret Sauve, Harvey Sauve, Mary Coppin, Marilyn Forster, Gladys Herzberger, Jack Herzberger, Sandy Read, Rod Ashley, Irene Woods and Margaret Dickinson.

By Ivan Millard REGINA – Last fall, St. Philip’s Church participated in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle’s Living the Mission stewardship campaign.

St. Philip Seniors Program – People Helping People is a key focus for the Living the Mission funds raised.

The seniors program is based on the belief seniors have gifts to offer our church, our community

and the world.

However, many seniors are shut-in, lonely, often forgotten and require transportation to appointments and activities, so they can live vital lives and contribute to society.

Mary Coppin has been a busy volunteer as the Seniors Program co-ordinator.

The Tuesday morning card games at the church have been popular, while the weekly evening Coffee and Conversation

group that meets at Tim Hortons, every Monday at 7 p.m. at the Victoria East location is growing.

Several new relationships are being established with seniors (not just Anglicans) in care homes and complexes in east Regina.

As more ideas, needs and interests are identified, the program will be expanded accordingly.

The “People Helping People” theme is off to a good start. Photo — Faye Metz

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

Katherine Grosskopf, 100 years young

Sask. Anglican looking for new associate editor for Diocese of Saskatchewan Contributed

By Joan Irving SASKATOON – Katherine (Kitty) Grosskopf celebrated her 100th birthday on the April 23 weekend and she did so with style.

On the Saturday, family and friends joined her for a party at the Legion Hall in Unity.

On Sunday, family members and the Right Reverend David and Joan Irving joined Kitty at St. John’s, Unity where she has worshiped her whole life.

Bishop Irving conducted the Sunday service.

Not many people can say they have been a parishioner of the same church for 100 years; Kitty was baptized in St. John’s and has been an active member ever since her baptism.

She has been a Sunday school teacher, W.A. then ACW member, Altar Guild member and has helped at uncountable numbers of suppers and bake sales, wherever and whenever necessary.

Kitty was born on a farm just outside Unity and lived there until her late teens, when she left to work as a telephone operator.

After meeting and then marrying her husband Harold, a local farmer, she gave up working in town.

On the farm, not only did she help her husband in his work, she raised four children.

PRINCE ALBERT — The Diocese of Saskatchewan is looking for an Associate Editor to assist the diocese with collecting articles and photos from around the diocese, as well as making monthly submissions to the Saskatchewan Anglican’s managing editor for print.

The Associate Editor

will work for the bishop of Saskatchewan and parish correspondents from around the diocese to bring information to the public.

The requirements for the position are firstly, experience in editorial work and secondly, a Grade 12 education.

Those interested are to contact the synod office at 306-763-2455 or synod@ sasktel.net.

The Sask. Anglican is now online twice as much!

Staff There are now two more ways readers can access the Saskatchewan Anglican on the Internet.

If you use Facebook, you can find the newspaper at www.facebook.com/thesaskatchewananglican.

This site enables us to post stories and pictures each month from all three dioceses.

With Facebook having such as cross-country reach, you can “like” the page and encourage others to do so as

Katherine (Kitty) Grosskopf celebrated her 100th year as a parishioner of St. John’s, Unity in April. Here, Kitty poses with the Right Reverend David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon. Photo — Joan Irving After the Sunday worship service, everyone headed to the museum where lunch was enjoyed by all.

The weekend of celebration was a great success and Kitty is looking forward to next year’s party.

well.

The Saskatchewan Anglican’s other online presence is on a website call Issuu.

This website allows the Sask. Anglican to post full digital versions of the newspaper.

So if you miss reading the newspaper one month or want to go back and read a story again, this is the website you should visit often. There are back issues of the Saskatchewan Anglican going all the way back to September 2005.

You can find the paper at issuu.com/thesaskatchewananglican.

DIOCESE OF SASKATOON

Announcements for June 2015 Sask. Anglican Online! Did you know you can read current and past issues of the Saskatchewan Anglican online at www. anglicandiocesesaskatoon. com/20142015-saskatchewananglican/ g Friends and Family Service: St. George’s, Saskatoon, at 7 p.m. every Friday night.

Informal music and prayer focused on families. g The Parish of St. George’s, Saskatoon, hosts a Community Coffee morning in the parish hall every Thursday from 9:3011:30 a.m.

Join them for a warm social time with coffee, tea, toast and some type of baked goods at no charge. g Integrity/Saskatoon: Integrity/Saskatoon is a group of the GLBTT community and friends.

Services and meetings are held at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral, 816 Spadina Crescent East.

For times and dates please phone 306-491-3315, or visit the Facebook page at “Integrity/ Saskatoon” or check out the Integrity/Saskatoon web site at www.integritysaskatoon. blogspot.com. g Seniors’ Lunch in Battleford: The Friendship Committee of St. George’s, Battleford invites all seniors to join them for lunch the first Monday of each month. Each Seniors’ Lunch begins at noon. g Order of St. Luke Meetings: The Saskatoon Chapter of the Order of St. Luke meets at St. Stephen’s, Saskatoon, at 7:30 pm on the first Tuesday of each month.

The Order of St. Luke is an interdenominational group that promotes the healing ministry in the church.

We have a time when we pray for others, and also have a study, a guest speaker or a healing service.

For more info visit www. ststephens.ca.

Upcoming Events: g Canadian forum on InterChurch Dialogue is being held June 22-25 in Saskatoon and is presented by The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism. For information or to register visit www.pcecumenism.ca or email admin@ pcecumenism.ca or phone 306653-1633. g Summer language courses: The College of Emmanuel and St. Chad will be offering spring and summer introductory language courses in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Coptic and Syriac June 8-26 (part II, 3-credit courses) and a course on “Agrarianism and the Bible” by Dr. Matthew Thiessen from June 22-26 (3-credit course or audit).

For more information please contact Lisa McInnis, registrar, at 306-975-1550 or email esc. register@usask.ca. g The 2015 Diocesan ACW bi-annual retreat: Gratitude: a Way of Being, Sept. 18-20. For more information visit www.

anglicandiocesesaskatoon.com/ acw to print the brochure and registration form.

If you need more info or have a question, email us at saskatoonacw@gmail.com or see the notice elsewhere in this issue.

Appointments: g United Church Minister, the Reverend David KimCraigg, has been appointed the University of Saskatchewan Ecumenical Chaplain.

His duties will commence during the summer. g Program co-ordinator at The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism: Are you interested in ecumenical ministry? Do you have experience and skills in event planning and coordinating educational and worship programs? Would you like to learn about and work with Ecumenical Shared Ministries?

The Prairie Centre for

Ecumenism is growing and needs to hire a part-time (8 hours/ week) program co-ordinator to help run their programs in ecumenical education, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Ecumenical Shared Ministries.

For more information see their website at www.pcecumenism. ca or email Darren Dahl at director@pcecumenism.ca.

DEADLINES: To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be sent to the Associate Editor by fax, e-mail or “snail mail” by the last week of the month, two months before the month in which the insertion is desired (for example, February submissions will be in the April issue).

Detailed and longer texts of upcoming events will not be included in this section, but should space allow, could be the subject of article and notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

5

Generous donations help light up P.A. cathedral

By Chris Lyons PRINCE ALBERT – A choral evensong was recently held at St. Alban’s Cathedral to memorialize Frank Warbis, Shirley Apps, Eleanor and Edward (Bud) Dallin and the gifts they made to the cathedral.

Through their generous donations, new cathedral lighting was dedicated to the glory of God and realized a long-standing goal of those who worship and use this fine building. The gifts provided allowed for the purchase of new fixtures and the replacement of incandescent bulbs, with proper lanterns and state-of-the-art LED lighting technology.

This will not only add to the beauty of the worship space, but also reduce the cathedral’s electricity bills.

Also, with new wiring and the addition of electronic controls, the operator will be able to select and dim lights individuality, allowing for a myriad of lighting schemes, including the ability to recreate the soft golden tones for which the cathedral has always been known.

The previous fixtures, besides being very inefficient in their electrical consumption, were not generally in keeping with the architecture of the building.

The inside of St. Alban’s Cathedral in Prince Albert, with the new lighting adding to the cathedral’s beauty and lowering its electricity bills.

Photo — Chris Lyons Installed in 1932, the nave lights have been rumoured to originally having been installed in a local bank and then found a second home at the cathedral, which may explain their commercial look and feel.

In undertaking this lighting project, the parish vestry gave direction to the lighting committee to select lighting fixtures that would be sympathetic to the GothicArts&Crafts style of the

cathedral. After considerable investigation and consultation, a six-sided Gothic lantern from Harry Mills Architectural Lighting was selected. A rewiring of the cathedral and the installation of the lights occurred in November 2014.

The bishop of Saskatchewan, the Right Reverend Michael Hawkins, preached at the dedication service and, likely in anticipation of the increased intensity of the cathedral

lighting, came well prepared with a pair of sunglasses.

The officiant of the service was the rector and Dean of Saskatchewan, the Very Reverend Kenneth Davis, who said, “We are delighted that this project of several years’ planning has come to fruition, with the generous gifts in memory of dear members of our cathedral family. These lights will enhance our worship and enable us to do creative events

like our Christmas play much more effectively.”

The parish was also very pleased to have in attendance two-long standing members of the parish who have been unable to regularly attend services in the last two years, Len Apps and Marion Warbis.

Both Len and Marion were delighted to attend and experience first-hand the fruits of their respective spouses’ gifts.

Marion expressed thankfulness at being able to once again spend time, even if all too short, with her “cathedral family.”

This project was realized through the foresight of parish members, who utilized the process of planned giving to benefit their spiritual home.

“The encouragement of planned giving is something the parish wishes to explore more fully,” explained parish treasurer Chris Lyons. Additionally, the treasurer continued, the vestry wants to find ways to raise awareness around the issue of planned giving for parish members.

Lyons added it is important to recognize that “when a parishioner chooses planned giving, the commitment is made immediately, but the gift is not provided until some specified point in the future”.

Funding needed to sponsor Iraqi Christian family

By Ralph Paragg REGINA – As reported in the May issue, the Diocese of Qu’Appelle has approved the sponsorship of five members of an Iraqi family who are currently in Turkey.

The members of the family are relatives of Marleen Abbo, who together with her husband Safaa Mousa and their infant daughter Majdleena were sponsored in December 2011 in honour of PWDRF50. Marleen and her family are parishioners of St. James the Apostle Church in the Rosemount area. They regard the congregation as their Canadian family.

Majdleena attended play school at the Regina Open Door Society while Marleen was studying English. She has completed her language classes. Majdleena will enter kindergarten in September.

She now has a lovely baby sister, Sara, who was born on July 24, 2014. Marleen works part-time evenings, while her husband Safaa works full-time, as cleaners.

Two parishioners at St. Paul’s were instrumental in finding them employment.

Marleen’s family members who fled to Turkey are her father (Saeed Abbo Paulos al Kartsh, age 71), her brother (Amjed Saeed Abbo, age 24), her sister-in-law (Rawan

The Diocese of Qu’Appelle will sponsor this refugee famliy, which has fled Iraq and is currently living in Turkey. In the middle is Saeed, flanked by his son Amjed and daughter-in-law Rawan, with grandchildren Sareta and Saemm in front.

Photo — Contributed Saeed Ayoshoa, age 22) and their two children (Sareta, 3 ½ , and Saemn, 2. The father is retired.

He formerly worked with the Iraqi State Telephone Company. Her brother, Amjad, worked as the “Church Police” in the Mosul area.

This job appears to be intermediate between a security commissioner and a regular policeman. Rawan

worked as a primary school teaching assistant.

The family lived in the Mosul area. This part of the country was a safe place for Christians both under Sadaam Hussein and the postSadaam Shia majority government, until the recent offensive of ISIS, the radical Sunni rebels. The family was at risk, especially after the new

Sunni authority advised Amjad not to report for work or volunteer with the church. They took the hint and in August 2014 fled with minimal belongings to Turkey, where they had friends. They subsequently registered with the UNHCR and the Turkish authorities.

The diocese needs to raise $20,000 in addition to the resources

already on hand to sponsor the family for one year. Donations can be made directly to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle (memo Refugee Fund) or indirectly through one’s home parish for forwarding to the Synod Office.

Parishes are also encouraged to do one or more fundraisers to support this initiative.

The Diocese of Qu’Appelle once again thanks all those who supported the successful PWDRF50 initiative and looks forward to your support for the current family sponsorship.

Working together, we can make this a success!

(For further information, please contact Ralph Paragg, diocesan refugee co-ordinator, at 306-5864155 or rparagg@sasktel.net, or Archdeacon Malcolm French at 306-550-2277 or iona@access. comm.ca).

Note: The Iraqi naming convention is quite different from the western convention.

For example, Saeed (first name), Abbo (his father’s first name), Paulos (grandfather’s first name) and Al Kartsh might be the clan or district name. His granddaughter’s full name is Sareta Amjed Saeed Al Kertesh. Generally only the first three names are used. Typically the grandfather’s name will be dropped with each generation.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

Comforting “A

special joy for police chaplains is being invited to participate in the rites of passage of police officers and police employees and their family members. Weddings involving uniformed brides or grooms – or both – seem extra special.”

Photo — Shutterstock

Continued from page 1 priests would not often encounter, such as counselling members involved in a fatal shooting and advising young cadets on how to notify next-ofkin of a sudden death.

God called me to a truly wonderful and joyful experience. It was not always going to be easy. In policing you join a unique family of caring individuals who rely on one another. It is important that they also trust and rely on you.

Police chaplains provide spiritual support to police officers and employees in a variety of circumstances. These include accompanying officers through a shift, which may include everything from office duties to patrolling, attending motor vehicle accidents to serving next-of-kin death notifications; in other words, the full spectrum of what police officers encounter in their work.

Clearly the most traumatic event a police chaplain deals with is the death of a police officer on duty as a result of violence or a motor vehicle accident. Here the chaplain is called upon to reflect his or her faith in a realistic way.

Comfort may be required by police officers, family members, the public, almost anyone.

Funeral arrangements have to be made and chaplains have to be mindful of the family’s wishes concerning other clergy and faith considerations. Policing traditions also come into play and these can become complex if a regimental funeral is expected.

A special joy for police chaplains is being invited to participate in the rites of passage of police officers and police employees and their family members. Weddings involving uniformed brides or grooms – or both – seem extra special.

Baptisms are the most important services I ever conducted. Lives have been changed in these services. Another highlight of my time as chaplain are the Christmas Eve services in the RCMP chapel. It was always packed, and with lots of children, who embraced the special stories read to them.

Every troop going through training at Depot encounters the RCMP chapel at least once during their six-month training.

In truth, most visit the chapel at other times; some even indulge occasional Sunday worship services. During the weekend of graduation the cadets participate in an ecumenical graduation worship service. What a joy to preside or preach at these services where 220 people from all parts of Canada are participating. Watching the faces

“Police chaplains provide spiritual support to police officers and employee include accompanying officers through a shift, which may include every attending motor vehicle accidents to serving next-of-kin death notifications; i police officers encounter in their work.”

Shirley Higgs designed this altar for the RCMP chapel. Her husband, chaplain Allan Higgs, says the chapel is the spiritual heart of the Force.

Photo — Joanne Shurvin-Martin

of family and friends when the graduating troop comes forward for a blessing almost brings one to tears.

When I was first appointed RCMP chaplain, services were conducted by either a Roman Catholic or “Protestant” chaplain on a rotation basis. In due course, we decided to have an ecumenical service for all troop graduations, with the two chaplains attending and alternate presiding and preaching. The two would only use the title chaplain not descriptors such as Father, Reverend, etc.

Following that service, a Family Workshop takes place, and for some time the Depot psychologist and I shared in conducting these events.

We received very positive

feedback from both families and cadets, while serving members commented we should “take (our) show on the road to detachments.” These were high energy events, filled with humour while dealing with serious subjects. Our theme was essentially two ideas: what happened to your offspring while at Depot? What is going to happen to them in the real world of policing?

In the Diocese of Qu’Appelle we are capably served by four police chaplains: Blair Dixon for the Regina Police Service; Johnathan Hoskins for Swift Current RCMP Municipal Detachment; Michael Sinclair for RCMP Regina; and myself for RCMP ‘F’ Division and Depot Division. (‘F’ Division

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

7

g the RCMP “An RCMP chaplain has the same rank as the person to whom they are talking; a constable when talking with a constable, staff sergeant when talking to a staff sergeant.”

es in a variety of circumstances. These ything from office duties to patrolling, in other words, the full spectrum of what

Photo — Shutterstock

Every RCMP officer, past and present, has this view etched in their memories, because this is view of the RCMP chapel is from the parade square at Depot, where they were all trained.

Photo — Joanne Shurvin-Martin

The cemetery at RCMP Depot, Regina, goes back to the early days of the Force. Chaplain Allan Higgs says that during his 35 years as chaplain he conducted the funerals for almost all of those buried in the graves in the eastern part of the cemetery.

Photo — Joanne Shurvin-Martin

“In 2013 Chaplain Dixon and his wife, Karen, were actively involved in a special project in Malawi, Africa, to assist local police chaplains, police officers and their families.” is Saskatchewan with the exception of Depot. Depot is the training academy in Regina.)

In 2013 Chaplain Dixon and his wife, Karen, were actively involved in a special project in Malawi, Africa, to assist local police chaplains, police officers and their families.

In 1990, I became a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, and began attending their annual training sessions. In due course I became a member of the board of directors. My wife, Shirley, was elected president of the ICPC Auxiliary, serving two-and-ahalf terms. Shirley also served as my personal Altar Guild, ensuring everything was always ready for services. She was selected to design a new altar for the chapel and supervised its construction and placement.

In 1996 I was honoured to be awarded the designation of Chaplain of the Year by the ICPC at the international banquet.

During the same era, I was invited to become an honorary member of the Ontario Police

Chaplains Association. In that organization, along with others, we created the Canadian Police Chaplains Association, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. I take pride in being a past president.

Also during that time period I was seconded from the Government of Saskatchewan to conduct a review of the RCMP chaplaincy service.

At the time there were two honorary chaplains (one Roman Catholic and one Protestant) in Ottawa and the same in Regina.

The two in Ottawa were only minimally involved. My report recommended the appointment of full-time chaplains in Ottawa, in E Division (British Columbia) and Regina. The report was accepted, however,

financial considerations at the time precluded any followthrough on appointing new chaplains.

For most of the time I was RCMP chaplain, I maintained a career with the Saskatchewan government in a variety of senior management roles.

This meant when I worked at Depot on weekends, I was working seven days a week. I must thank my family for their understanding at the sacrifice of family time. When my provincial job was eliminated, I entered into two separate contracts with the RCMP. One was to deliver services to cadets at the Regina training academy.

The other was for services to members, civilian employees and retired members, both at Depot, the Forensic Laboratory, F Division and later, the North West Region.

An RCMP chaplain has the same rank as the person to whom they are talking; a constable when talking with a constable, staff sergeant when talking to a staff sergeant, and so on. However, there is one exception. As explained to me by Commissioner Inkster, and I quote, “There is only one Commissioner and it sure as heck isn’t you!”, he said, I think, with tongue-incheek.

At one point, the Deputy Commissioner of North West Region directed that I wear a uniform. I was outfitted with blue serge (not red) including a officer’s cap. I felt humbled and honoured to be wearing the uniform. It was a challenge for some, as I continued to wear a full beard. I did offer to one Commissioner, “Sir, if it is your preference for me to remove my beard, I will do so this evening.”

He responded, “No, Allan, the beard is part of your persona.

Keep it on.”

Through regular involvement with the Saskatchewan Area Officers’ Mess, I had extensive contact with members of senior management who frequently visited Regina. I exploited these opportunities to lobby, in a nice way, for expansion of chaplaincy services across the Force. It

was helpful that a number of officers were promoted to other divisions, carrying with them the understanding chaplains are a support to the organization.

The annual Memorial Parade and Chapel Service honours all RCMP members who have died in the line of duty. It was held in October when I first became involved in the planning process. Amongst others, we advocated the change to September, primarily to take advantage of better weather conditions. The second Sunday in September was ultimately established as a firm date.

Initially the Parade and Chapel Service was primarily a local Regina event, with troops representing Depot, F Division, veterans and recruits and cadets.

As the result of deaths in the line of duty in E and K (Alberta) Divisions, those divisions were encouraged to also send a troop to parade at the Memorial service. I advocated for a long time that each division should formally be represented by at least two members on parade.

One year the Commissioner was not in attendance. During a trip to Ottawa, I met with the Commissioner and implored him to attend the most important event in the life of the Force. The next year he attended, and as we marched across the parade square on our way to the RCMP Cemetery, the Commissioner said to me, “Chaplain, the Commissioner of the Force will always attend these services from now on. You can be assured of that.”

On the Saturday evening before the Memorial Service, we organized an informal gathering of “in the line of duty families” who came to attend the Parade and Chapel Service. I put plenty of effort into helping the families meet others and prepare them for the events which would follow on Sunday. I developed some very close personal relationships with returning families. God has blessed me with this special, unique opportunity to reflect the truth of His eternal life.

The RCMP Regimental Cemetery is a special and sacred place. Being involved with so many burials and internments, I developed a special love for the site, for those who are buried there and their families. Each grave or niche has many stories to tell. This spot must continue to be loved and nurtured.

There are a thousand unique stories to share concerning my 35 years. Suffice to say, “God has been good to me. Thank you through your Son for all you have given to me.”

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

MISSING Continued from page 1 The keynote speaker was Pauline Muskego, from Onion Lake Treaty 6. Pauline is an educator, mother, grandmother and notably the mother of missing and murdered Daleen Bosse.

Pauline gave a very emotional address about the search for Daleen and finally, after five years, the finding of her burned remains.

She spoke of the initial lack of police response, to the eventual attitudinal change and ultimately, thanks to the RCMP and Saskatoon Police for their undercover work, to the solving of the case and finding of Daleen’s remains for them to take home to Onion Lake.

The Voices of our Sisters panel consisted of very diverse voices all with a powerful story to put forth.

Myrna LaPlante, co-chair Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik, shared the story of her missing elderly Aunt Emily Osmond, who had been taken from her home and the ongoing search for answers.

Helen Smith-McIntyre pulled in the Amnesty International initiative of spearheading the Stolen Sisters campaign that led to Sisters in Spirit. Marcel Petit, known for producing Hookers, a 2008 documentary about his mother and sister, was the sole male voice.

Monica Goulet, Saskatoon Police Service Aboriginal, spoke of loosing her mother at the age of five and of how that loss

affected both her life and the lives of her 10 siblings.

Finally, two students, Kiona Sanderson and Maggie Eastman, from Oskayak High School, spoke on embracing the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women in their Grade 10 English class and the advocacy of this issue to which they feel called.

Pastor Mark Kleiner (ELCIC) introduced Indian Time, the song he was inspired to write after visiting the “Walking with our Sisters” beaded vamp display at Wanuskewin.

Delores Sand joined Mark praying The Lord’s Prayer in Cree.

After this, there was an opportunity for those gathered to break into smaller groups and reflect on what had touched them during the day, what difference it has made to them and what they as individuals and church communities can do.

There was no fee charged for the day, so freewill offerings were much appreciated to help cover the cost of the bannock from Nestor’s and Fire Creek and the soup ‘n’ sandwiches from Pic Nics.

Acknowledgments were made and recognition provided for Nestor’s, Fire Creek and Pic Nics and to the four young Mayfair teenagers who provided childcare for the whole day.

Young Thunder, a proud Drum Group from Thunderchild Reserve, brought the day to a powerful close.

Dolores Sand saying The Lord’s Prayer in Cree during the singing of the song Indian Time by Pastor Mark Kleiner (ELCIC) from Biggar, during the Voices of our Sisters: Standing together in hope event in Saskatoon.

Photo — Blake Sittler

Panel participant Monica Goulet, Saskatoon Police Service Aboriginal Relations consultant and co-founder of Iskwewu E-wichitochik/Women Walking Together. Goulet shared the personal trauma of losing her mother when she was five years old, at the Voices of our Sisters: Standing together in hope event at Mayfair United Church.

Photo — Blake Sittler

Diocese of Saskatoon’s ACW spring conference and AGM

By Mercedes Montgomery Publications, ACW Executive, Diocese of Saskatoon SASKATOON – Women of the Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon met in Saskatoon from April 1718 for their spring conference and annual general meeting, which was held at Emmanuel Anglican Church and hosted by the Emmanuel women.

A total of 52 women attended, representing at least 12 of the 28 parishes in the diocese.

The conference theme “I am the Bread of Life” was expressed in arrangements, program and presentations.

Friday evening’s gathering included registration, refreshments and an opportunity to view displays and visit with women from different congregations.

President Elta Fae Marlor welcomed all and lit the Christ candle, a symbol of unity as sisters-in-Christ.

The evening concluded with an inspiring service of Compline.

Saturday morning refreshments recalled an English Tea as warm scones, provided by the North Battleford women, were enjoyed with clotted cream and homemade jam.

The day began with Morning Prayer accompanied by a volunteer choir.

At the conclusion of the service participants lit a candle for each parish in the diocese.

The annual general meeting followed and was continued in the afternoon.

The first educational

The Reverend Isabella Frank, national ACW chaplain, was the guest speaker at the ACW conference and spoke on the theme of “I am the Break of Life.”

Photo — Diane Bekolay presentation featured representatives from outstanding local service organizations: the Saskatoon Food Bank, the Saskatoon Community Gardens and Chep Good Foods, Inc. and PWRDF, each offering opportunities for involvement.

The guest speaker, the Reverend Isabella Frank, national ACW chaplain, spoke of the Bread of Life as the Golden Rule, emphasizing the importance of valuing one another, working together for the good of many and adapting to change as necessary As is the custom, Anglican women donate afghans and

quilts, 44 this year, a colourful display draped over the pews in the sanctuary that were later distributed to those in need of comfort. A vintage quilt dating back to the early 1930s also on display attracted much interest and discussion.

The day concluded with an interesting explanation of the stained glass windows in Emmanuel Anglican Church.

The Right Reverend David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon, presided at the closing Eucharist.

All Saints’ Anglican Church, Saskatoon, will host the Diocesan ACW’s 2016 conference and meeting.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

9

The bent-over woman

By Mary Brown PRINCE ALBERT – There was no chance of nodding off (as happens to all of us) after the plentiful lunch served at the Diocese of Saskatchewan ACW annual general meeting on May 2.

The reason for this would be the inspirational talk given by Kathy Hawkins, chaplain at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre.

Her talk was based on Luke Ch. 13:10-17, the story of the woman who was so bent and twisted from arthritis she couldn’t even look up.

Four ACW members in the audience were given stories from true life situations that Kathy knows of through her job as chaplain to the inmates of Pine Grove. Each woman read her story to everyone.

It is safe to say no one in the room would have ever experienced anything like what these girls have been through.

For many women in conflict with the law, arrest, conviction and imprisonment are the culmination of poverty, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, racial discrimination, family breakdown, limited education, unemployment and drug/alcohol difficulties. Seventy-two per cent of the women at Pine Grove have histories of physical and or

Participants of the Diocese of Saskatchewan’s ACW annual general meeting gather together at the end of their meeting, held May 2 in Prince Albert. A discussion was held about Luke 13:10-17 about the hunched woman who was healed by Jesus.

Photo — Mary Brown sexual abuse.

The average literacy level is at a Grade 5.3. More than half of the women are convicted on non-violent, property and drug offences. Three-quarters of the sentenced women have children.

Most were the primary care givers for their children prior to their incarceration. Many of the children end up in foster care, which is a great concern for

their mothers who are in jail and something they have to deal with after their release.

After hearing the stories the ladies broke into four separate groups to study the Bible passage from Luke. Each group was to look at the message from a different perspective, from Jesus’ perspective, from the ruler of the synagogue, from the watchers and from the bent-over

woman’s perspective.

The ruler of the synagogue would be indignant that Jesus would heal (work) on the Sabbath, and of course, the bentover woman was thankful and glorified God for her release from her infirmity.

The people watching rejoiced for all the glorious things done

by Jesus. Jesus calls us to look beyond the letter of the law and

to honour the spirit in which the law was made. There should be no limits to what you can do for others.

What can we do for the women in Pinegrove? We can pray for them. If we happen to meet them in our church, grocery store, wherever, we can treat them with respect and with the loving kindness Jesus showed the bent-over woman.

Planning for the closing TRC event

By Mary Ann Assailly SASKAOON – As many remember, in June 2012 Saskatoon hosted one of the seven national TRC events, that being the Saskatchewan National Event, for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

During this event, thousands experienced four powerful days of truth-sharing and conversation.

The effects this event are still felt today in the continued conversations, gatherings, movements and heightened public interest in issues created by the broken relationship between Aboriginal peoples and non-Aboriginal peoples.

During the second week in April of this year, the commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called on the seven communities which hosted national events to host a day of events across

Canada, on June 2, to honour and shadow the closing TRC event in Ottawa.

On that day, the commissioners will offer their final remarks and present their final report to Canada.

We are asked to gather and watch this delivery through live webcast and to use the rest of the day to further the activity of reconciliation.

The local planning team that helped host the Saskatoon National Event met on April 23 to begin planning our response.

This group is taking its lead from the Saskatoon Tribal Council, its Chief Felix Thomas, and the Central Urban Metis Federation and its president, Shirley Isbister, as well as seven respected elders.

The planning team also includes representatives from the school boards, the City of Saskatoon, police, health and the residential school/day

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At the time of writing, we have one month to put an event together. We are excited and confident this can happen.

Our first meeting was very productive, as we spoke of cultural elements like the sacred fire and pipe ceremony; the inclusion of school students and the survivors who represent our painful history; examples of our hopeful future; and the possibility of the largest round dance ever.

Quite naturally, we hope to have a large community feast at suppertime on the day of the closing event.

The hospitality of feeding people is a value shared by both indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians. It is the expectation that our three Anglican dioceses will join the other denominations in sponsoring the feast.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

Retreat focuses on elements, actions of the Eucharist

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin LUMSDEN (Qu’A) – The Eucharist was the theme of the annual retreat for lay people in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, held April 10-12 at St. Michael’s Retreat Centre outside Lumsden.

Retired Bishop David Ashdown presented five talks, focusing first on the ingredients of the bread – specifically yeast and salt, then on the wine – and finally on the four actions of the Eucharist of offering, blessing, breaking and giving.

Rev. Tracey Taylor was chaplain for the event, which was attended by 17 lay people.

On Friday evening, Bishop Ashdown first spoke about being on retreat and recalled how when he was a younger priest in the diocese, he attended a clergy retreat in the same building.

Bishop Michael Peers began that retreat by telling the clergy, “For the next 72 hours, God is going to have to run your parish on His own.”

He advised the lay people to likewise leave their regular responsibilities in God’s hands.

“We are here; we let go; the world will carry on; God is in charge,” said Ashdown.

Address No. 1-2 In the first address, Ashdown said all the main ingredients of bread can be approached as spiritual symbols – flour is fallen grains, water is a gift from God without which nothing can be alive – but his talks meditate on yeast and salt.

Jesus told His followers, “you are the leaven” and “you are salt.”

Ashdown pointed out both bread and wine begin with fermentation. It is the job of yeast to change something from what it was into something new.

“When Jesus comes into our life, there has got to be a visible change to what we are,” he said.

He referred to the power of Christians to change their world, with many examples in history, and more recently in South Africa with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and others who were powerful forces in bringing an end to apartheid.

“So, be a fermenter,” said the bishop. “Be someone who demands change in the world around you – economically, socially, politically.”

He reminded the retreatants Jesus’ new commandment was to love one another, adding “the public face of love is justice.”

“There is a danger when people use the name of Jesus for their own purposes. This is where the salt comes in.

“It tempers – or controls – the yeast and enhances the flavour of the bread. The order and discipline of being part of community is critical.

said Ashdown.

“For us who walk with Jesus, surely it is incumbent on us to reach out to those who experience pain and betrayal and defeated hopes.

“Telling someone to ‘just forget it’ is to deny their experience,” said Ashdown.

“We should not cling to pain; to pick at the scar to prevent healing.

“Christ is the great healer, but He still bears the scars of His crucifixion.

“Healing and reconciliation does not come easily and it costs something.

“It cost our Lord His life on the cross.”

Bishop David Ashdown presented five addresses focused on the Eucharist, at the retreat for lay people, at St. Michael’s Retreat Centre from April 10-12.

Photo — Joanne Shurvin-Martin “ B u t , must recognize It is important to have our salt can be we are all in priorities straight.

“Someone saying overdone. We relationship “If we are operating on our they are ‘spiritual can become so with our own agenda, we are bound to but not religious’ enamoured of heavenly Father. fail. the rules, like Therefore, “But if we are operating on is like someone the Pharisees, we are in God’s agenda, we cannot fail.” saying, ‘I love to that we don’t relationship play hockey, but allow room with each other.

Address Nos. 3-4 for the Holy Waiting Saturday evening’s address not on a team.’”

Spirit.” while dough dealt with the other element Ashdown rises is a step of the Eucharist, the wine. pointed out it that cannot be Ashdown began by describing a takes more than just ingredients skipped in making bread. cross-cultural event he attended to make bread; kneading and Likewise in our busy world, at which a presenter passed resting time are just as important. we need to take the time to rest around a chalice filled with earth.

“Dough won’t reach its full and listen to God’s voice.

In the discussion which potential without kneading, and Ashdown read the story of followed, he asked what people on our journey of faith, we need Elijah from First Kings, in which expected to be in the chalice. to let the Holy Spirit knead us the Word of the Lord comes to “Wine, of course.” What is so we reach our potential. This him after the wind, earthquake wine made from? “Grapes.” ‘stretching’ almost always takes and fire, in “the sound of sheer Where do grapes come from? place in community. silence.”

“Vines.” Where do the vines “Someone saying they are Ashdown come from? ‘spiritual but not religious’ is reminded his “Earth.” like someone saying, ‘I love to listeners Jesus The presenter “God has play hockey, but not on a team.’” does not force then responded, He pointed out Christ’s Himself into “I’ve simply incredible community was very diverse, our lives; “we cut out all the patience with us. just like our own church must invite middlemen.”

We need to extend communities, while our own Him. If we are Ashdown egos cause us to have difficulties so tied up in pointed out the same patience with each other. the noisiness, in both bread to others. We must He gave the example of the the busyness and wine, we apostles Simon the Zealot and of life, we do celebrate our recognize we are Matthew the tax collector. not hear His connection all in relationship They had a natural hatred knock. to the Earth, with our heavenly for each other because of their “It is my which was itself experience living in Palestine i m p r es s i o n , ” created by God. Father.” under Roman occupation. he continued, Therefore it As a Zealot, Simon would “that the is holy and is to have taken an oath to kill any angels sang at be treated with tax collectors. However, as Christ’s birth, but the people in the respect it deserves. followers of Jesus they had to Bethlehem were too busy – with He said while bread is actually walk together. the census going on and all – that associated with work and “If we are to walk with Jesus, only the shepherds in the fields our everyday lives, wine is we also must walk with each actually heard them singing.” associated with celebrations, other.

He stressed the waiting and festive events, toasting and even “How do we do that?” listening phase is not doing launching ships.

Ashdown asked, answering one nothing.

There is also another side of way is to pray with and for each “Waiting and listening is not wine, however, if it is abused. other. avoidance,” he said.

Then, instead of celebration, it If we learn a person’s story, Sometimes we need to ask can be connected with shattered we see them in a different light. ourselves, both individually and dreams and broken hopes and God has incredible patience corporately as the church, “how promises. with us. We need to extend the much of what we are doing is In the church, we are often same patience to others. We absolutely necessary?” not open to hear those stories,

Address No. 5 The final address, which focused on the actions of the Eucharist, was the sermon during the Eucharist service on Sunday morning.

The first action is offering.

Eucharist is not a one-time event like baptism, it is ongoing.

“We offer as much of ourselves as we are able each time,” said Ashdown.

“We give not only bread and wine, but all that is wrapped up in the symbolism of those elements and also our struggles and failures.”

Blessing is often associated with approval, but that is not necessarily the case. Sometimes, we ask God for blessing precisely because we recognize our failings.

“In letting go in offering, we open ourselves to the possibility of blessing.”

The act of breaking the bread is a key part of the Eucharist.

Ashdown pointed out the root word for “sin” refers to “falling short”.

It is about broken relationships, not about breaking rules. The initial breaking of relationship with God, and consequently, creation and each other as told in the story of Adam and Eve, is because of pride and disobedience.

The relationship was at last restored through the obedience and humility of Christ. We may need to change – or break – aspects of our lives, so the Holy Spirit can restore those lives in relationship with God. The final action of the Eucharist is giving.

“What we offered is given back to us, but not in the same form that we gave them to God,” said Ashdown.

In receiving what is given, we are invited to be co-workers with Christ in the redemption of the world.

He quoted Mother Teresa: “When I am at the altar I am compelled to go back to the world, and when I am in the world, I realize how much I need to go to the altar.”

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

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DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN ACW News At the AGM for the Diocese of Saskatchewan ACW, a new executive was elected.

The executive includes: President – Violet Goodfellow, Vice President – Carol Pryznyk, Secretary/Treasurer – Sharon Chesley, Notes and NewsSharon Chesley/Kathleen Stewart, Ladies Day Out – Doris Wideen-Bazley/Opal Haris, Crafts – Muriel Young. g

Visitors to the Diocese Jeff Boldt and his wife Jenn will be working for the diocese this summer. They will be here for June, July and August.

Jeff and Jenn will be instructors for the James Settee College in June and will also help with VBS programs in the parishes this summer. They will be working out of the Synod Office. g

St. Mary’s Cemetery Summer Schedule June 28 at 3:00 p.m., Memorial Service with Bishop Michael Hawkins July 26 at 3:00 p.m., Evensong August 23 at 3:00 p.m., Harvest Thanksgiving – Eucharist g

Vacation Bible School The diocese is offering help to the parishes and congregations if they are interested in having a Vacation Bible School program this summer. g

Prepare for the ACW retreat at Queen’s House in Saskatoon Contributed SASKATOON – Gratitude is a way of being.

“For some, gratitude comes naturally; for others it requires practicing until it becomes habit and ultimately a way of being.”

Gratitude is a heart-centred word that evokes warm feelings and sentimental thoughts. What might happen in our behaviour if we view “gratitude” and another heart-centred word, “generosity,” as two sides of the same coin?

Come to the ACW Fall Retreat, Sept. 18-20 and join others in exploring the mystery of our covenant-centred gratitude and the need for it to be the source of our spiritual rejuvenation and communitybased generosity.

In the past we have come home from a retreat with crafts, small gifts, etc.

This time, we are able to reduce the cost of the retreat, as there are no expenses for craft or activity materials, so we will bring a gift for the Saskatoon Hospital Ministry.

The three hospitals in Saskatoon, and the Cancer Centre, treat patients from all over our huge province, which means many Anglicans in care have no ministry close by, so the visit from the Saskatoon Hospital Ministry is vitally important.

You ask how we as Anglicans can support this ministry. The Reverend Dr. Jessica Latshaw speaks passionately of the importance and comfort of prayer shawls for adults and children; cuffed shawls for those in wheelchairs; wee blankets to wrap the deceased newborn being flown back north with their parents; cozy toques and scarves for women and men facing hair loss during chemotherapy; and pocket prayer shawls to hold tight during treatment and testing.

Now the question is, how will I support this ministry?

Go to www. anglicandiocesesaskatoon.com/ acw to print the brochure and registration form.

If you need more information or have a question email us at saskatoonacw@gmail.com.

Walking the stations of the cross on Good Friday On Good Friday morning, a number of churches and organizations took part in walk of the stations of the cross throughout downtown Saskatoon. Among those taking part were, from left, the Most Reverend Donald Bolen, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon; the Right Reverend David M. Irving, bishop of Saskatoon; and the Right Reverend Rodney Andrews (retired; far right), bishop of Saskatoon.

Photo — Joan Irving

Church should focus on mission, not maintenance

By Leigh Anne Williams Anglican Journal Presenting a report from the Vital and Healthy Parishes project with Eileen Scully, director of Faith, Worship and Ministry for General Synod, the Rev. Jay Koyle told the Council of General Synod (CoGS) the crisis of the church in decline has been misdiagnosed and requires a different approach for treatment.

Congregational development has typically focused on dwindling attendance and resources, he said.

So questions have revolved around ways to stop or reverse the decline so that the churches can again have strong congregations and there is a future for the church.

Koyle, congregational development officer from the diocese of Algoma, observed that there seem to be three types of conversations that dominate in the church these days.

All three are needed, but it is a problem when “maintenance conversations” about the upkeep of buildings and resources, and “preferential conversations” about how to attract new people or keep those you have happy, come

to dominate discussions, he said.

“The kinds of conversations that need to be sparked more and more in our church … are what we call missional conversations, that are con-

“The kinds of conversations that need to be sparked more and more in our church … are what we call missional conversations, that are concerned first and foremost with ‘What is God doing in the world?

And how do we get involved in those things?’”

cerned first and foremost with ‘What is God doing in the world? And how do we get involved in those things?’ ” After hearing from 74 people working on the ground to revitalize churches across the country at gatherings such as

the Vital and Healthy Parishes conference held in Niagara Falls, Ont., in May 2013, Koyle said that strong congregations aren’t the end in and of themselves; they “are important because that’s where lives are transformed and that’s the mechanism that God can use.”

Churches that are vital see themselves in mission beyond their current membership.

Their orientation is outward toward the community and to those not involved in church,” Koyle said.

He also underlined how congregations need to be clear about what kind of a difference they want to make in their community.

“We long to be a church that exists for the sake of others.

“We long to be a church that is patterned by the story of Jesus Christ.

“We long to be a church inspired by robust hope and we long to be a church dependent on God’s grace and on one another,” Koyle said, echoing central message in a joint Lutheran and Anglican report on the issue.

This year’s Vital and Healthy Parishes conference will be held again in Niagara Falls, Ont., from May 11-13.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2015

St. Luke’s, Regina hosts Coptic Orthodox church

By Jason Antonio REGINA – St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Regina was recently an ecumenical host for another Christian church that did not have a building of its own.

St. Mark and St. George Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox Church used St. Luke’s building as a place to worship from October 2014 to March of this year.

The Orthodox congregation had moved around among seven Regina churches during the past two years, as it did not have a physical church of its own.

That situation has now changed, as the congregation recently purchased the former Roman Catholic Canadian Martyrs Church on First Avenue North near Broad Street.

The grand opening is scheduled within a year’s time, once renovations have been completed to make the building more Coptic in style.

The congregation only had three families originally, explained Esmat Alexander, 70, a deacon in the church who has been living in Saskatchewan for the past 46 years, after moving here from Egypt.

Within the past two decades, 10-12 more families joined the Egyptian congregation. That number waned somewhat, dropping to roughly seven families.

However, since 2013, the number of families has grown to about 27, totalling around 85 people.

Joesph Rizk, Ed Dunfield and Esmat Alexander gather for a coffee at Tim Horton’s in east Regina recently.

Dunfield, a vestry member at St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Regina, helped Rizk and Alexander secure St. Luke’s as a location at which members of St. Mark and St. George Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox Church could worship for a six-month period.

Photo — Jason Antonio “When the congregation (started) growing, we need to find a fixed place to pray,” explained Joesph Rizk, 35, another deacon who moved to Regina two years ago.

They also needed to find a regular time for worship services. When liturgies were held, many people would drive in from Assiniboia, a two-hour drive.

While some of the Regina churches accommodated their schedule, the Egyptian congregation knew they had to respect those churches’ schedules.

So the two deacons talked with Ed Dunfield, a vestry member at St. Luke, about using St. Luke’s for worship.

“He was very co-operative with us and supportive,” Rizk said. “He said, ‘Hey guys, let me know when you need the church.’”

“They floated. They never had a permanent location,” added Dunfield. “They would go to any building they could get. Ordinarily they would worship Sunday, but (for those six months), they have been doing

Saturdays because their priest has his own services in Ontario.

“He flies in Friday night and then flies out Saturday evening.”

Rizk explained one of the members of the Coptic church had been worshipping at St. Luke’s occasionally, which is how they had connections to the Anglican community.

Rizk added in April 2013, the Orthodox Church used St. Luke in an emergency, as they couldn’t find a church building in which to worship.

“We had booked the ticket for

our priest; he was coming,” the deacon added. “Just two days before our service and we didn’t have a place.”

A year later in August, the deacons had another chat with Dunfield and started using St. Luke’s on a bi-monthly basis in October. If they had had their own church, they would have had services every week.

“This was our wish, to have our own place to worship,” said Rizk. “We suffered a lot from jumping from (one) place to the other. The congregation is growing. We have many children; it’s like kindergarten.

The congregation has roughly 12 children aged three to eight, plus around 10 teenagers. Dunfield pointed out the average age of the congregation is 40.

As for St. Luke’s hosting the Coptic Orthodox Church, Rizk stated “it’s super” they would do that for the Egyptian community.

“If we don’t have some people like Ed, opening their church for us where we can serve our congregation, it (would be) a big trouble,” the 35-year-old deacon added. “We would have an interruption in our schedule.”

With the purchase of the former Canadian Martyrs building, it will be the first Egyptian Coptic church in Saskatchewan and the last province to have one.

St. Mark and St. George Coptic Orthodox Church is part of a diocese that stretches from Vancouver in the west to Mississauga, Ont., in the east and everywhere in between.

Saskatoon parish supports PWRDF food campaign

By Cathy Tickner Marge Parchewsky

and

SASKATOON – Emmanuel Anglican, Saskatoon, held a PWRDF “Fred Says” Sunday on April 19, at both the 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services, focusing on year two of the Fred Says Food Security Campaign.

PWRDF is the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund.

Parishioners continued to learn more about food security issues around the world and how to participate in and support the work being done through PWRDF and its partners and projects, by viewing the “Fred Says” power point presentation.

Diocesan PWRDF representatives, Barbara Spurr and Mary Ann Assailly, along with parish PWRDF representatives, Marge Parchewsky and Cathy Tickner provided short verbal introductions to each of the four 2015 “Fredisms,” being: Rice is Nice, Kids Rock, It’s Easy Being Green and Veg Out.

A line of hungry soup lovers forms at Emmanuel’s April luncheon in support of PWRDF’s “Fred Says” food campaign.

Photo — Ken Tickner Following the 10:30 a.m. service, a lunch of a delicious variety of soups and buns provided by volunteers and baking by the coffee hosts was enjoyed by all.

Parishioners were invited to receive more PWRDF information at the information table and leave a donation in support of this campaign.

As a result of the free-will

offering for the lunch, and cheques written to PWRDF, Emmanuel parish was able to support the purchase of four goats for four African families suffering with AIDS;

the purchase of two spirulina tanks for a Tamil refugee camp in southern India; provide funding to keep the rice mill in the Philippines open for three weeks; and to help three farm families in Tanzania receive seeds for planting and returning crops to the village’s seed bank.

In addition, since the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development triples the amounts received for the “Kids Rock” campaign and the Tanzanian Seed Bank Project “Veg Out,” we were therefore actually able to help in the purchase of 12 goats and help nine farm families in Tanzania.

The Outreach Committee and PWRDF representatives wish to thank Emmanuel parishioners for providing the delicious lunch and their financial generosity and support.

As well, special thanks to Roger Assailly for set-up and computer/technical assistance and to Ken Tickner for photographs of the event.