Saskatchewan anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • February 2016 www.facebook.com/thesaskatchewananglican —
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In memory of ... By Joel Houston
Numerous candles are lit at St. John’s Anglican Church in Nipawin to commemorate all those people who have died over the years. Photo by Joel Houston
Beyond the pulpit By the Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck BATTLEFORDS (S’toon) – Editor’s note: This article has also appeared in the Battleford’s Anglican parish newsletter, The Epistle. The Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck is interim priest for Battleford Parish (St. George’s, Battleford) and St. Paul’s, North Battleford. May the special blessings of this past Christmas season be upon you! As many of you know, our family recently returned from an absolutely amazing epic journey to the east coast of Canada. We had been preparing and saving for this trip for years and it did not disappoint. We managed to do everything we hoped to do and found just the right balance between visiting family and friends and being tourists. Thanks be to God for such a marvelous opportunity! One thing that really sticks out for me as I recall the trip was our visit to Romero House in Toronto. Romero House is a community serving refugee claimants. It has a very special place in our heart, as it is where my wife Janice and I met and married 17 years ago. We were both volunteers there and spent countless hours living and working with refugees from all over the world. It was truly a life-changing experience for both of us. We were very excited to reconnect with former friends and mentors in the community. Romero House taught me many
things, about faith, justice and gratitude. But one of the things that stands out most clearly for me is this truth: Jesus was a refugee. Don’t ever forget it! Check out your Bible: Matthew 2:13-23 tells the poignant story of a vulnerable Holy Family fleeing the wrath of a murderous tyrant and finding refuge in a foreign land. Sound familiar? It should! This past Advent season we were faced with the reality of thousands of families like the Holy Family, who were fleeing for their lives from Syria, Iraq and from many other war-torn places in the world. The Word of God is clear on this matter: do not shut your hearts to those in need, especially refugees. There are so many in our society who are caught up in fear, and often in ignorance as well, who would like to shut the door and build a fortress around our nation. But my friends, that is not the Christian Way. This season, remember in gift, in prayer, in action and in attitude, those who are desperately seeking safety. Let us all do what we can to reach out to all in need: the poor, the oppressed and especially the refugees of this broken, beloved world. I’d invite you to pray with me now, this collect for the safety of refugees everywhere: Compassionate God, make your loving presence felt to refugees, torn from home, family and everything familiar. See PULPIT on page 5
NIPAWIN (Skwn) – St. John’s Anglican Church in Nipawin held a special service of evening prayer to remember and commemorate loved ones that who since passed. In our fast paced world, there is constant competition for our attention, with digital reminders prioritizing what we should think about, and when. Whether birthday reminders on Facebook or doctor’s appointments scheduled into our electronic day timer, there is no shortage of things to “remember”.
Simply taking the time to remember our loves ones is a radical re-prioritizing of the demands of the day. What better way to remember than to sing praises to the great giver of gifts, God Himself, who, in His mercy, granted the opportunity to share a portion of life’s journey with those who have since passed into glory. Perhaps it is best then, to close in the words of the Book of Common Prayer, “…We praise and magnify thy holy Name for all thy servants who have finished their course in thy faith and fear…”.
Deacons becoming more important in the church By Jason Antonio MANITOU SPRINGS (S’toon) – All baptised Christians are called to serve others, just as deacons – the oldest order of ordained ministry – are called to regularly serve the community. “The diaconate has a long and storied history in Christendom,” explained Deacon Susan Page. “Christ Himself modelled for us the behaviour of a deacon. His affinity was for the poor, the marginalized and the sick in body, mind and spirit.” The word “deacon” comes from the Greek “diakonia,” which possesses a variety of meanings, said Page. But at its heart – and as defined by the early Church – diakonia means to be sent out and to serve. “The diakonia of Jesus and the Apostles inaugurated the Holy Reign of God, in which the hungry would eat, the blind would see and the deaf would hear … (It) therefore belongs to all members of the church through baptism. We are all to help bring God’s reign on Earth.” The role of deacons and diaconal ministry was one topic featured during the 48th Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land, held at Manitou Springs in the Diocese of Saskatoon. Page, a deacon at St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Regina, has been president of the Association of Anglican Deacons in Canada for the past year. The first three centuries
Deacon Susan Page of the early Church were called the “Golden Age of the Deacon,” explained Page, for as Christianity spread, the diaconate flourished. Deacons developed distinctive functions within the Christian community, such as collecting and distributing money to the poor throughout the Church in Rome. “Then as now, deacons have always had a special relationship to their bishop, by serving as the bishop’s eyes and ears (and) by making known the concerns of the community,” stated Page. Moreover, deacons had roles in the liturgy, calling people to prayer, reading the gospel, assisting in distributing communion and assisting in various ways with baptism. Once the Church experienced dramatic growth following the conversion of Emperor Constantine, though, the diaconate began to be overshadowed. The diaconate soon became a stepping stone on the way to
priesthood, while the vocational deacon – of whom Page is one – faded from existence, with only a few exceptions. Quoting Canon Michael Jackson from the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, Page remarked the diaconate has been “moribund” for the past two centuries. However, Jackson has pointed out the resurgence of deacons is due to the growing ecumenical movement and in the participation of the church community in the liturgies. Two major events in the 20th century have led to this resurgence. The first was in 1962, when the Roman Catholic Church voted to restore a permanent diaconate, during the Second Vatican Council. Then in 1968, the Anglican Lambeth Conference passed a resolution to restore the diaconate throughout the Anglican Communion. As of 2014, Page explained, the Association of Anglican Deacons in Canada estimates there were 340 vocational deacons in Canada. About 300 are active, with 37 potential diaconal candidates. About two-thirds are women. There are three main categories of appointment to the diaconate in the Anglican Communion: 1) Parish deacons: Those found at the heart of many congregations, whether small parishes or large cathedrals. See DEACONS on page 7
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
February 2016
God sent Jesus so the world could experience salvation
Saskatchewan The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • January 2013
Why do prayers for the salvation of others sometimes go unanswered? By Rev. Norbert Haukenfrers, D.Min
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od, the all-powerful creator, restricts His own freedom to preserve ours. Freedom is essential to love. His respect for our freedom to choose should not be misconstrued as an endorsement of the decisions we make. When God created Adam and Eve, He set them free to create, care and conserve in the garden. He set them free to choose. They exercised their freedom in the creative task of naming the animals, as well as in caring for and conserving the creation they were mandated to steward. When God evaluated His work of creation, it was not just good but very good, including the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From this tree, God instructed His stewards, Adam and Eve, not to eat or they would surely die. Death for Adam and Eve was not God’s desire, so He warned them not to eat it. But they ate. They choose to enjoy what God explicitly identified, as off limits, because of its deadly
So why do we pray for the salvation of others? We pray, asking for God to soften hearts and enlighten minds. We pray, pleading with God for His grace to be extended as a covering for sin. We pray, knowing that He is seeking out lost and disoriented, the hurting and sick, knocking at doors and setting the brush of our life on Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden of Eden. Photo courtesy Janet Burgess/Freeimages.com fire. When we pray for the salvation of others we are asking nature. that whoever chooses to believe for the courage, compassion And death came as the result in Him would experience and wisdom we need to be of that choosing, but not before salvation. ambassadors of His love. God demonstrated His love, God sent His son, Jesus, so God desires that no one through an act of grace, clothing no one would be excluded from should be lost and that all would them, covering their sin and God’s grace and the whole world come to accept grace. shame with the skins of animals could experience salvation. This should be our desire as [this first act of grace required But love does not exist well. the sacrifice of animals as a without the freedom to reject its All are within reach of God’s covering for sin]. advances. love, but not all return His love. God is love and in His love, Without freedom love So we ask in faith, reach He acts graciously. becomes slavery. out in love and create space for We know God loved the To give us an opportunity to freedom, so that God’s love can world so much that He sent choose love, God gives us the flourish and enkindle a holy fire. Jesus, His one and only son so opportunity to reject Him.
Pray for those people seeking ‘abundant life’ Why is it not all prayers for the salvation of others are answered? By Rev. Cheryl Toth
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n my first year of university I experienced a conversion to Christ. My roommate was a very committed Christian who I knew was praying for me (much to my annoyance sometimes!) and who witnessed to her faith in both word and deed. Her consistent kindness during the ups and downs of university life spoke volumes to me. When she invited me to go to church with her I did, and discovered, a number of people my age who had a personal understanding of Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. By the end of the year I asked Christ to enter and change my life. It’s a decision I have not regretted. So, in my second year of university, when I lived with two other girls, I copied the approach of my first-year roommate. I prayed for my friends, told them about what was happening in my life spiritually and tried to show by word and deed what I
believed. One of my roommates shared my approach to faith and rejoiced with me. The other, a long-time friend from high school, did not. She said I was pressuring her and she told me to back off because I was risking her friendship. I did, although I felt she was damning herself to a life without God. In later conversations I discovered she had been baptized at the age of 12, by her own choice, and was someone who made her home in the Anglican church (as I did). However, she had a different way of expressing her faith. I tell this story because it points out the difficulty we have knowing what God is doing in the lives of other people. Since my friend showed her faith differently (and less exuberantly) than I did, I didn’t think she had any. I was wrong. I have since been wrong about many other people, such as the man who stopped coming to church because he had been hurt by someone and felt abandoned by God; the young girl who was afraid she had caused the death of her younger brother and was terrified of God.
There was also the woman in remission from cancer who didn’t want to come to church while she was sick lest God thought she was just bargaining for her life; a young man who thought his intellectual questions were beyond answering and so avoided Christians on principle, and so on. Whatever I initially thought about these people, I soon learned God was at work in their lives, prodding them towards abundant life, and my job was simply to help them recognize the One who walked with them: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32). Sometimes we just don’t recognize God at work because we want divine revelation and God gives us simple insight. Author Kathleen Norris talks about this in Amazing Grace. She describes a young man who got involved in using and selling drugs. When he realizes he is in over his head, he decides to get out while he still can. “And that is salvation,” she writes, “or at least the beginning of it.” She notes the meaning of
the Hebrew and Greek words for salvation is primarily ‘nonreligious’; it usually refers to rescue from danger or victory over evil. When her neighbour turned his back on dealing drugs, he was setting his feet on a more life-giving path and that, she says, is the way of salvation, even when we can’t name it or know how it’s connected to God. People can and do push God away. I do sometimes. God has, after all, given us free will and it is difficult to choose life and freedom when we have been bound to something else. Change is hard even when we want it. So I continue to pray for those I know seek “abundant life” even when they outwardly or explicitly reject God in Jesus Christ as the way to it. I know God is at work within them, relentlessly offering them divine life. I pray they may realize how God is working and recognize what is being offered to them. It’s my prayer for you (and me) as well. Rev. Cheryl Toth is a priest in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle and serves as part-time priest-incharge of the parish of Plain and Valley.
anglican
Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle. Published monthly except for July and August. Whole No. 292, Vol. 44, No. 6 A Section of the Anglican Journal SUBSCRIPTIONS For change of address, undeliverable copies and subscription list updates, contact: • Your parish • e-mail: circulation @national.anglican.ca • Or send to Saskatchewan Anglican, c/o Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ont. M4Y 3G2
RATES $10 in Canada $17 outside Canada SUBMISSIONS Submissions for the April issue must be recieved by the diocesan editor no later than Friday, Feb. 26. All pictures must be sent as JPEGS and 1 MB (megabyte) in size. CONTACT INFORMATION Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail.com 1501 College Ave Regina, Sask., S4P 1B8 Phone: -306-737-4898 Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin joannesm@myaccess.ca 6927 Farrell Bay Regina, Sask., S4X 3V4 Phone: 306-775-2629 Saskatoon: Peter Coolen ptrcoolen@sasktel.net 820 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, Sask., S7M 1Z3 Phone: -306-244-0935, Saskatchewan: Munden and Linda Coates linda.munden@sasktel.net Box 208 Arborfield, Sask., S0E 0A0 Photo: 306-769-8339 PUBLISHING DETAILS Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Printed and mailed by Webnews Printing Inc. 8 High Meadow Place North York, Ont. M9L 2Z5
The Saskatchewan Anglican
February 2016
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Was Jesus a refugee? By the Right Rev. David Irving Bishop of Saskatoon
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n a recent visit to a rural parish, I was asked by a young couple what the definition of a refugee is and if Jesus was a refugee. The question of who does and doesn’t qualify for refugee status is one many have debated. In 1951 the United Nations defined a refugee as: “A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not
having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.” The practice of people helping people fleeing from persecution in a foreign land is an old one. There are references to it in texts written 3,500 years ago, during
the great early empires in the Middle East such as the Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians and ancient Egyptians. Down through the millennia there have been refugees, people who have to move if they are to save their lives or preserve their freedom. They have no protection from their own state; indeed, it is often their own government threatening to persecute them. Today, if countries like Canada do not let them in, and do not help them once they are in, then they may be condemning them to death or to an intolerable life without sustenance and without rights. A few weeks ago we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Saviour, an event that happened far from our modern celebration.
There really was a baby and there were real parents, homeless in a strange country. That’s why they ended up in a stable. But not everyone was overjoyed by this birth. Some had bad vibes about this child, warnings that made then fearful. They worried this child would grow up to change the world and things would never be the same again if this child were to live. And so, soon after His birth, this homeless family became refugees, escaping a cruel tyrant who threatened unspeakable violence to all young children, so they fled to Egypt. Homelessness, escaping violence, torture and possible death, it all has an all too familiar ring today, doesn’t it? There were people in Palestine who feared this child would change everything, but
it seems things didn’t change enough. Despite the announcement of a new way of living and a new way of being human, a new relationship with God, that transformation of the world that we call the kingdom of God has not come about, or at least has not come about completely. Homelessness, refugees, unspeakable violence, inhumanity to our fellow human beings and ignoring suffering on our own doorsteps all still exist. Yet the Christ message of hope of a transformed world still shines through. The vision is still there, of a world changed by love, a world changed by God, a world changed by a child. As refugees arrive in Saskatchewan this year, let us show them God’s transforming love.
Women invited to spend year in ‘God’s rhythm’ By Stuart Mann
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he Sisterhood of St. John the Divine is inviting young women to spend a year living in “God’s rhythm.” The Sisters are inviting up to 10 women, age 22 to 40, to live with them at St. John’s Convent in Toronto, where they will experience the Benedictine life of prayer, study, recreation and service to others. “It’s an opportunity to take a year off to deepen their spiritual lives, their walk with God,” explained Rev. Canon Sister Constance Joanna Gefvert, one of the organizers. The initiative, called “Spend a Year Living in God’s Rhythm: Companions on the Way,” will begin next September. The women will live in the convent’s guest house and take part in the Sisters’ daily life, which includes four worship services a day. In addition to daily devotions, the women will spend part of each day in study, either at the convent or at Wycliffe College, where they will attend classes on a wide variety of subjects, including contemplative prayer, the monastic tradition and the missional church. Sister Constance Joanna is hoping the initiative will raise up a new group of leaders in the church, women who are grounded in monastic values and practices and equipped to bring the Gospel to a rapidly changing society. “We feel this program answers a need that is expressed by young people in our church: how to be more grounded in their spiritual life and also to
From left, Sister Constance Joanna Gefvert, Molly Finlay and Karen Issacs gather at St. John’s Convent in Toronto. Photo courtesy Michael Hudson develop skills that will be useful in pioneering ministries they may be involved in.” Part of each week will be devoted to serving others in the wider community, possibly at a FaithWorks ministry or St. John’s Rehab Hospital. The women will also help out at the convent, assisting the Sisters with their ministry of hospitality and with basic housekeeping duties. Each woman will meet with a spiritual mentor once a month and also with the Sisters on a regular basis, to discuss how things are going. They will have four weeks off for vacation and another week for a retreat. Their room, board and daily expenses will be paid for by the sisterhood. Mondays will be a day off.
Sister Constance Joanna feels one of the most important aspects of the year is to help the women discern where God is calling them. “We want to help them find where their joy, gifts and passion meet a need in the world, as Frederick Buechner would say,” she said. Molly Finlay, an associate member of the sisterhood and one of the organizers of the program, said the year is ideal for young women who are searching for “authentic spirituality” and have a passion for renewing the church. “I think it’s an opportunity for women who have been searching and wondering about their vocation, wondering about why their spiritual lives feel a bit hollow,” she said. “It’s taking a time out of your
usual schedule to grow in Christ and be transformed, and in turn, transform the church. “The church is at a crossroads. It’s not going to look the way it did. “We have an opportunity here to find some women who are hungry to follow Christ and to form them in an orthodox spirituality, and then, allow them to go out and be changeagents for our church and to be missionaries to our culture.” Finlay has been an associate of the sisterhood for several years, an experience that has
changed her life. A former communications professional, she is now a divinity student at Wycliffe College. “The convent has been transformational for my life and it has made me a much braver and dynamic leader within my own church. “It has given me an opportunity to do a real aboutface and follow Christ in a way I could not have imagined. “Life has become so much richer than it ever would have been if I hadn’t had this time of formation with the Sisters.” Sister Constance Joanna feels the initiative has generated plenty of interest in the church. She has been asked to speak about it at gatherings across Canada. “It’s very exciting,” she added. A small committee is steering the program. The group is made up of Sister Constance Joanna, Finlay and Karen Isaacs of the Diocese of Toronto, Barbara Jenkins, who is the registrar of Wycliffe College, and Sister Elizabeth Rolfe Thomas, the Reverend Mother of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine. For more information about “Spend a Year Living in God’s Rhythm: Companions on the Way,” visit www. ssjdcompanions.org.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
February 2016
Qu’Appelle supports refugees in Burundi From the Diocese of Qu’Appelle Synod Office REGINA – The Diocese of Qu’Appelle is assisting its companion diocese of Muyinga in coping with an influx of refugees in the African country of Burundi. Muyinga’s Bishop Paisible Ndacayisaba contacted Bishop Rob Hardwick in early December to ask for financial assistance so that the diocese can help the many refugees who have been arriving in Muyinga. Many of these refugees are malnourished and have no possessions; some of the children do not even have clothing. Diocesan council authorized release of $6,000 to be sent for emergency aid. This money came from funds that Qu’Appelle had raised to build a hospital in Muyinga. More than 95 per cent of this money was used to buy beans and maize, with the remainder spent on transportation. In addition, Bishop Hardwick directed that every church provides an opportunity between Christmas Eve and Jan. 10 for worshippers to give free-will offerings to help displaced refugees in Muyinga. All the money raised will
Chief engineer Ron Bitzer, Rev. Jeremy Boehr and conductor Colleen Walton take a break on a train engine during Boehr’s visit with his parishioners in Arborfield. Photo by Munden Coates
Never falter, never fail
By Munden Coates ARBORFIELD (Skwn) – When the new pastor comes to town, you have to show him around. When Father Jeremy Boehr came to Arborfield he got the grand tour via Thunder Rail. Thunder Rail is a short line railway that transports grain, dehydrated pellets and fertilizer between Arborfield and Zenon Park, to the main line at Crooked River. The 60 kilometre round trip takes about five hours. It was like a scene from
the Patsy Cline anthem Life’s Railway to Heaven. Chief Engineer Ron Bitzer kept his “… hand upon the throttle,” while conductor Colleen Walton kept her “… eyes upon the rail.” There might not have been a lot of mountains, tunnels or trestles, but you get the idea. Colleen does everything at Arborfield’s Church of the Ascension. She is a musician, a lay reader, a vestry member, a warden and a Sunday school leader. Ron and his wife, Denise,
are new members of Ascension. They are presently preparing for Confirmation. Everybody now: Life is like a mountain railroad with an engineer who’s brave. We must make the run successful from the cradle to the grave. Watch the curves, the hills, the tunnels. Never falter, never fail. Keep your hand upon the throttle and your eyes upon the rail.
be sent to the Diocese of Muying, and Bishop Paisible will provide an accounting of how it was used. Donations may be sent to: Diocese of Qu’Appelle, 1501 College Avenue, Regina, Sask., S4P 1B8. Please ensure they are clearly marked “Muyinga Refugee Fund.” Burundi experienced a long period of civil war, which ended in 2002. In 2015 there was a controversial national election and attempted coup d’etat, followed by increased violence and civil unrest. There are fears of conflict between the principal ethnic groups and possible attempted genocide. In the past, the Diocese of Qu’Appelle sent the Diocese of Muyinga CDN $3,188.70, or US $2,250. This allowed the diocese to purchase 2,000 kg of beans, 2,000 kg of maize and pay for its transport. This means each family received a package of 10 kg of beans and 10 kg of maize. About 75 litres of fuel was spent delivering these items to the families in the Diocese of Muyinga. The dollar amount sent by the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, CDN $3,188.70/US $2,250, is equivalent to 3,545,288 Bfr (Burundi francs). The exchange rate is $1 equals 1,575.68 Bfr.
DIOCESE OF SASKATOON
Announcements for February 2016 Saskatchewan Anglican Online! Did you know that you can read current and past issues of the Saskatchewan Anglican online on the Diocese of Saskatoon website or on Facebook at: www.facebook. com/saskatchewananglican? g The Parish of St. George’s, Saskatoon, Community Coffee House every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. Join them for a warm social time with coffee, tea, toast and some type of baked goods at no charge. The coffee time is followed by a weekly Bible Study from 11 a.m. to noon. All events are in the Parish Hall, 624 Avenue I South. gSeniors’ Lunch in Battleford: The Friendship Committee of St. George’s, Battleford invites all seniors to join them for lunch the first Monday of each month until June. Each Seniors’ Lunch
begins at noon. g Volunteers needed at the Saskatoon Friendship Inn: The Friendship Inn needs help to serve breakfasts and lunches every day. If anyone is interested in this opportunity or if your parish wishes to become involved, please contact the Saskatoon Friendship Inn at 306242-5122. g L’Arche Saskatoon, an ecumenical organization supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities, has recently started a creative workshop with a vision of “Making art, making friends, making peace.” If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Wyndham Thiessen, community leader, at 306-262-7243 or wthiessen@larchesaskatoon.org. g Women in Ministry Friday Luncheons at Queen’s House: Friday, Feb. 5 and March 4, noon
to 1:30 p.m. Cost for lunch is $10. This invitation goes out to all women who are employed in professional ecclesial ministry; retired from an employed ministry position; and/or studying for professional ecclesial ministry. The main purpose for the lunches is to create an informal relational space where women working professionally in ministry (lay and ordained, pastoral work, congregational work, chaplaincy, retreat work) can connect across denominational lines and form networks of friendship and communication. Facilitators are Marie-Louise Ternier-Gommers and the Rev. Amanda Currie. g Diocesan ACW Spring Conference: The Diocesan ACW Spring conference “Leaders of Courage, Serving by
Faith” will be held at All Saints’ Anglican Parish, Saskatoon, from April 15 to 16. Event schedule to be announced in near future. Keep watching and plan on attending! Appointments: The Ven. Henry Montgomery Comerford, executive archdeacon of the diocese will be retiring on March 31. The Rev. Canon Ken Watts, priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity, Saskatoon, will begin his duties as the new executive archdeacon in February. The Rev. Canon Michael Stonhouse, incumbent, Lloydminster Parish has been collated as archdeacon, by the Right Rev. David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon, in recognition of his long and faithful service in the church. The Rev. Jessica Latshaw
has been appointed acting principal of the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad. The Rev. Joe Ponic has been appointed as transitional priest-in-charge of All Saint’s, Windsor, Ont., in the Diocese of Huron, for a two-year term. DEADLINES: To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be sent to the Associate Editor by fax, e-mail or “snail mail” by the last week of the month, two months before the month in which the insertion is desired (for example, December submissions will be in the February issue). Detailed and longer texts of upcoming events will not be included in this section, but should space allow, could be the subject of article and notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.
The Saskatchewan Anglican
February 2016
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Saskatoon has new family ministers By the Rev. Emily Carr Diocesan youth co-ordinator, Diocese of Saskatoon. SASKATOON — Editor’s note: This material has also appeared on the Diocese of Saskatoon’s website at www. anglicandiocesesaskatoon. com. There are two new family ministers in the Diocese of Saskatoon. Alexa Wallace works at St. John’s Cathedral in Saskatoon. She is a chemistry student at the University of Saskatchewan and has worked with Guides Canada for a number of years. She has been working to support and coordinate Sun-
day school programming at the cathedral. Nicole Schwartz works in Lloydminster. She has a background in early childhood education, a degree in church music and she is a certified Kinder-music practitioner. Nicole also works with the Sunday school in her parish, using stories, songs and crafts to teach children and families about Jesus. On Dec. 5, the three of us gathered at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in North Battleford for pizza, discussion and dreaming about family ministry in the diocese. We talked about lesson planning, using a variety of curriculum and storytelling techniques.
(Above) The Ven. Henry Comerford, executive archdeacon of the Diocese of Saskatoon, and the Rev. Alex Parsons, prepare communion during the deconsecration service at St. John’s Anglican Church in Wadena. (Below) St. John’s Anglican Church and the vicarage. Photos courtesy Wadena News
Betsy Bruner ‘cheerful, openminded person’ By Mary Brown LEASK-SHELLBROOK (Skwn) – Betsy was inducted into the Order of Saskatchewan in 2009. At that time she was a member of All Saints Church in Leask and has since moved to Shellbrook and joined the Leask Shellbrook Parish. She had served Betsy Bruner on the All Saints vestry for over 25 years; she was also people’s warden and minister’s warden during her time at All Saints. She has been a lay reader since 1992. Betsy moved to Shellbrook and now attends St. Andrews Church in Shellbrook. She is a member of the vestry and a lay reader for Shellbrook. I had a chance to talk to Betsy at our Soup and Sandwich recently.
To the S & S she brought two pies and about five women to have their soup and sandwich. So we sat down for a visit and I started asking her what she is involved in now. Once she started telling me, I knew I needed to write this down. Of course, Betsy looked through her purse and found a pen and paper for me. Betsy is the president of the All Saints ACW in Leask. She is on the Wheatland Lodge Auxiliary in Leask and a rep for senior’s housing in Parkside. She is involved in the upkeep and events at Honeywood Lilies in Parkside and a driver for seniors. She was the synod delegate for Shellbrook in 2014. I expect I probably missed something! Betsy is a cheerful, openminded and humble person who is always willing to help if she can. She has one son, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren with another to be born soon. Picture by Mary Brown
PULPIT Continued from page 1 Warm, especially, the hearts of the young, the old and the most vulnerable among them. Help them know that you accompany them as you accompanied Jesus, Mary and Joseph in their exile to Egypt.
Lead refugees to a new home and a new hope, as you led the Holy Family to their new home in Nazareth. Open our hearts to receive them as our sisters and brothers in whose face we see your son, Jesus. Amen.
St. John’s, Wadena closes after 101 years of service By Charlene Wirtz Editor’s note: This article and pictures are courtesy the Wadena News. WADENA (S’toon) – Wadena’s oldest church building, the St. John’s Anglican Church, has closed its doors behind its congregation, which will start a new phase of life. As the bishop’s representative reminded the congregation at the final service, “This is just a building; the church resides
within you.” Members of the Quill View Parish came to commemorate the sad occasion, bringing hope and faith as well. The current building is more than 100 years old, with the original wood panelling and floor, with a lot of history soaked into the walls. The first service was held in the new church on Sept.13, 1914, and it has been in use ever since. While the church building has been deconsecrated, the congregation is still active. The final service was con-
B.C. Anglicans defend not-for-profit tax exemption LANGLEY, B.C. — A resolution calling for “a tax exemption reduction/elimination strategy for those properties currently being exempted” was defeated unanimously in Langley on Nov. 23. Had it passed, the resolution would have seriously impacted Langley’s Anglican churches, currently receiving property tax exemptions based on their not-
for-profit status. As the wardens of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Langley explained in a letter sent to the city’s director of corporate services, “If the city of Langley were to move forward with the proposal to reduce or eliminate St. Andrew’s property tax exemption … the additional tax burden would force us to close
ducted by the Ven. Henry Comerford, bishop’s commissary from Saskatoon, assisted by Rev. Alex Parsons. Prior to the service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving, he spoke about the difference between the building and the church, and how the Church is housed in the people, not in a building. He also read out a letter of support from the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wadena. Following the service and reading of the Declaration of Secularization for the building, lunch was served. our doors and cease operation.” Arguing the spiritual support, material aid and communitybuilding services the church provides far outweigh the money that could be recouped in taxes, parishioners from St. Andrew’s and staff from the Diocese of New Westminster pleaded their case before city council. They were joined by a contingent from St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Parish and school, a number of Christian Reformed communities, plus some secular not-for-profit groups. Topic
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
February 2016
Catching up with Linda Lawrence, Order of Sask. recipient By Munden Coates
Janet Clark (left) takes her turn stirring the Christmas cake, under the watchful eye of clergy, servers and Susan MacPhail (right). Photo by Nigel Salway
Stir up Sunday By Nigel Salway Stir up, we beseech you, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may be plenteously rewarded by you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. REGINA – The Reign of Christ Sunday is the Sunday before Advent, and therefore, is the last Sunday in the liturgical year. The Sunday is often colloquially called “Stir Up” Sunday. The source of this name is twofold: the collect of
the day begins with the words “Stir up” and the day is often chosen by families to start their preparations for Christmas by starting their Christmas cake. Starting the cake before Advent gives the flavours time to blend and age before eating at Christmas. Everyone in the family takes part in stirring the cake and makes a wish while stirring. They are careful to stir from east to west, to remember the direction the Magi travelled to reach Bethlehem. The ingredients of the cake, including several types of fruit,
are a reminder of the “fruit of good works” from the collect. On this Sunday, Susan MacPhail brought this tradition from the home to the church. MacPhail came to the 10:30 service prepared with the complete set of ingredients to make a wonderful cake. After the service, the congregation came together to help mix the cake. Once mixed, Rev. Michael Bruce blessed the ingredients. When the mixing was complete, MacPhail took the mixture home. She will bake the cake and share it with the parishioners at Christmas.
NIPAWIN (Skwn) – In 2005, Linda Lawrence was invested into the Order of Saskatchewan. The vestry of St. John’s Anglican Church in Nipawin nominated her based on her exceptional service to the church that was motivated by her strength of faith. So a decade later, how is she now? Well for starters she is now Linda Warnock. After many years of widowhood, living in a couple’s world, she re-kindled a friendship with a school friend, Clayton Warnock. “After 60 years of absence we had a lot to talk about,” Linda quipped. Friendship led to courtship which led to marriage in 2007. Linda proved to be a pillar of strength to Clayton’s extended family during a time of sickness and death. Clayton’s niece, Carol Patton, attests to Linda’s support and compassion in difficult times. Patton recalls that “she became part of our family just when we needed her help.”
Her commitment to St. John’s Church remains. She has served as minister’s and people’s warden, while she has taken leadership roles in ACW at the local and diocesan levels. For three years St. John’s Church was without a priest, so Linda took her monthly turn conducting services. As a lay reader she tried to re-inforce the idea of “Christian commitment as the route to salvation.” She regrets that Anglican churches have become senior’s centres and would love to see young families back in attendance. Linda continues to volunteer in Nipawin. She is a member of the Heritage Society and the Rebecca Lodge. She and Clayton enjoy travelling, most recently on a musical tour of Nashville, Graceland and Branson. Then there is the dancing. Linda and Clayton faithfully attend the old time dances in the area. They do a mean Barn Dance, and if you need help with your “Waltzing through the Leaves,” then Linda and Clayton are the couple you need!
Govt’s matching funds program extended for Syrian work By PWRDF staff The Government of Canada has announced the deadline for matching funds for eligible donations to Canadian agencies working to provide relief to Syrians displaced within Syria and living as refugees in the surrounding countries will be extended to Feb. 29. “The governmentadministered fund will provide assistance through international and Canadian humanitarian organizations to help meet basic humanitarian needs of people affected by the conflict in Syria, including shelter, food, health care and water,” said Global Affairs Canada. “It will also provide protection and education for conflict-affected people in Syria
and millions of refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.” “PWRDF welcomes the continued focus on refugees in and around Syria,” said Adele Finney, PWRDF executive director. “PWRDF and other agencies have, for years, been providing relief in the region and continue to do so. “The matching program has helped to keep the issue in the public sphere, and for that, we are grateful.” PWRDF (Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund) continues to respond to the needs of displaced Syrians in the region through the ACT Alliance, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and partner Refuge Egypt in Cairo. You can support PWRDF’s relief work in Syria, Jordan,
Lebanon and Egypt: Online Designate your online donation for “Syria Response”. By phone/PWRDF contact For credit card donations contact Jennifer Brown, at 1-416-924-9192 ext. 355; 1-866-308-7973. Do not send your credit card number by e-mail or fax. By mail Make cheques payable to “PWRDF,” mark them for “Syria Response” and send them to: The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund The Anglican Church of Canada 80 Hayden Street Toronto, Ont., M4Y 3G2 PWRDF Humanitarian Response co-ordinator Naba Gurung, 1-416-9249199 ext. 321; 1-866-308-7973.
Linda Warnock (nee Lawrence) and husband Clayton at one of the many old-time dances they attend in the Nipawin area. Photo by Munden Coates
The Saskatchewan Anglican
February 2016
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A successful Christmas experiment By the Rev. Emily Carr
Seasonal sweaters at St. Philip
St. Philip, Regina, had an “ugly sweater” day in December and a dozen members complied by wearing their best (or worst!) Christmas sweaters. In back, from left, are Helen Symonds, Sandra Nicholson, Elaine Karlonas, Donalda Ford, Marilyn Forster, Sandra Short, Deacon Rita Brann, Don Met and Kathryn Cooper. In front, from left, are Carol Fonger, Faye Metz, Gordon Ward and Wilma Ward. Photo by Rev. Dan Cooper
SASKATOON — St. George’s Anglican Church in Saskatoon held its first Christmas Day Potluck on Dec. 25, Christmas Day. The potluck was envisioned as a way for the members of the parish and the surrounding community, especially those who would otherwise be alone on this special day, to come together and support and share with one another, while celebrating
Christmas as a family. We enjoyed a variety of foods reflecting the diversity of our community including traditional Iranian and Indian dishes, turkey, stuffing, pie and dainties. We were delighted to welcome some new friends from the neighbourhood together with many members of our congregation and their families. Over 30 people attended the potluck. We plan on making our Christmas Day Potluck an annual event.
Dare I dream? May I hope? By Rev. Glen Burgomaster
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ssad’s dragons scream above my head. Death bearing projectiles, without compassion, rain down. The ear-shattering explosions are magnified within the walls of the courtyard. I join with others desperately seeking shelter. Swirling dust impedes my vision. As if the material deluge is not enough, I realize that from deep within, my racing heart is filled with the adrenaline of paralysing terror. All that I have ever known has fallen at the whim of forces I cannot manage, nor to which I have any attachment. s a tomb-like silence falls upon the city, I venture into the open and make my way toward the home of my parents. I wonder. Dare I dream? May I hope? The crumbled walls of the modest dwelling give me the reply. The soul wrenching, lifeless frame of my youngest sister, eyes open, forever gazing into eternity, takes me to my knees and crushes me in grief. Closing those haunting windows, I gather her tiny body in my arms. Rising to my feet I hesitantly begin the search desperately fearing what I will find. I hear a voice and though distant, I recognize it as my own. “Father”? “Mother”? Beneath a fallen wall I observe a foot moving ever so slightly. I know it is my father’s. Dare I dream? May I hope. ently, I rest my sister’s body on the rubble. Carefully, I struggle and
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finally, clear enough of the debris. Emptied, I stare down horrified at those whom I see. My father is shielding my dead mother. She in turn cradles my infant brother. As the breath leaves my father, blood streams from his mouth and ears. His dying hand clutches my leg. I kneel placing my ear close to his mouth. With tears filling his eyes, he whispers, “Ignatius?” Dare I dream? May I hope? My eyes dart in the baby’s direction and I detect the rhythmic rising and falling of his tiny, toddlers’ chest. I turn back to my father. Smiling I nod “Yes”. ather summons strength but his sentence, “He now is your,” ends abruptly. My Father’s body convulses. “It is finished”. My sobs awaken the child and my attention turns from death to the living symbol of my parents’ love. I rehearse over and over in my mind, “Let the dead bury the dead.” Neither death nor life can be that simple for me. Many of my Islamic neighbours are experiencing their own pain. In this horror we will help each other lay loved ones to rest. I, however, must find the priest. There are traditions to follow. Mine were the people first to be called “Christian.” There are prayers to be said and Scriptures to be read. My soul craves nourishment in the ancient words. Blessed James, pray for us. In the lament of the psalms I
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will find the words of comfort. My priority however is Ignatius. We must leave the home of our forebears and make the arduous journey north. are I dream? May I hope? Mother of God, “Thou bearer of the Eternal Word,” plead for the child. Intercede with your Holy Son that we may be guided to a welcoming place. Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity Eternal, grant us peace. Even at this moment I wonder. Does the world understand? Will those without Faith, at least see us as human? Will those that follow Mohamed’s teachings recognize us like them as “Children of Abraham and “People of The Book”? Will those that bear the Cross upon their foreheads welcome us as part of their family? Or will they in the fear that afflicted Saint Peter deny knowing the Christ in us? As I bury my Father, Mother and Sister, I ask myself again, Dare I dream? May I hope?
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A Christmas Day potluck.
Photo by the Rev. Emily Carr
DEACONS Continued from page 1 2) Institutional deacons: Those who work as prison chaplains, hospital chaplains and on law enforcement teams and with firefighters. 3) Diocesan deacons: Those who work with and for bishops, in a variety of leadership roles. “To move ahead into the third millennium, the Church will need scores of called, dedicated, well-educated and passionate deacons to bring the Word of God to all people, to interpret to the Church the needs of the
world and to restore the Church’s understanding of diakonia of all of the baptised,” stated Page. “We need vocal and powerful advocates for Christ in the communities around us. We need deacons and the lay religious equipped for holy living. “We can be, in our communities, the kinds of Christians people never knew existed, whose concern is not institutional maintenance or church membership, but a faith lived so eloquently and authentically that their very being is evangelical.”
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
February 2016
Looking at liturgy By Canon Michael Jackson
The transfiguration of Jesus
“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings,one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved;listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mark 9:2-9, NRSV). Photo from iStockPhotography
Qu’Appelle notes and events g Chancellor named Queen’s Counsel Tom Irvine, chancellor of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, has been honoured with the Queen’s Counsel designation. He was admitted to the bar in 1989 and is a Senior Crown Counsel in the Constitutional Law Branch, Saskatchewan
Joyous celebration
Ministry of Justice. The honorary Queen’s Counsel (QC) recognizes the dedication of individuals who demonstrate a high standard in the legal profession and a commitment to public service. gSt. Luke’s Regina Kids Club Youth aged four through 10
are invited to a weekly night of songs, crafts, games, snacks, Bible stories and fun, every Thursday from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. at 3233 Argyle Road, Regina. There is no registration fee, but donations are accepted. Please contact KidsClubRegina@gmail.com to register.
A Service of Confirmation, Reception and Renewal of Baptismal Vows was performed by the Right Rev. David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon, at St. George’s Anglican Church, Saskatoon on Dec. 6 for members of the parishes of Christ Church Anglican and St. George’s Anglican. Approximately 90 people attended this joyous service and celebration of membership and church growth. Present for the service were, front row, from left: Robert Gilecki (received into the Church); ordinands Lileas Cortes, Atlee Engle and Diago Cortes; Regan Parks (renewal of baptismal vows) and ordinand Jackie Schell. In the back, from left, are the Rev.David Tyler, honorary assistant, St. George’s; the Ven. Larry Mitchell, interim rector, Christ Church; the Right Rev. David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon; the Rev. Emily Carr, rector, St. George’s; and Peter Coolen, Bishop’s Chaplain. Picture by Peter Coolen
REGINA – A few years ago, our Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, spoke to a gathering of the clergy of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle in Regina. One of his key messages was the importance to the community of worship. Liturgy is central to the life of the Church, as the occasion when Christians gather together to worship God in common (rather than individual) prayer. Consequently, said the Primate, it is essential we plan our worship and lead it well. A leading Roman Catholic liturgist, Jesuit priest Keith Pecklers, emphasizes the direct connection between liturgy and life: “How we worship is intimately linked to how we live.” This is summed up in the historic expression lex orandi, lex credenda – “the law of worship establishes the law of belief.” We express what we believe in our worship, especially in eucharistic celebrations, from which we go into the world to live our faith as members of the Body of Christ. Christian worship is, of course, extremely varied in style, both between and within faith traditions. It ranges from simple prayer services to elaborate liturgies in cathedrals and basilicas. There are occasions when improvised, informal worship is appropriate. In most cases, however, we owe it to God and one another to prepare liturgy carefully, as the Primate requested. In this series of columns, we’ll consider ways to do that. The writer looks at worship from the perspective of many years of experience at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina. By Anglican standards in Saskatchewan, it is a relatively large church (250 seating capacity) where liturgical and musical traditions have been carefully developed over several decades and continue to develop. At the same time, he often leads worship for the summer congregation of All Saints, Katepwa Beach, a historic but small rural
church (50 seating capacity). He also participates in liturgy as a deacon. Since there are (alas!) very few in deacon’s orders in Saskatchewan (seven of us, in six parishes in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle), we’ll necessarily limit our comments from the diaconal point of view.
Canon Michael Jackson Most of our references will be to the 1985 Book of Alternative Services (BAS). The General Synod website notes that “despite its name ‘alternative,’ [the BAS] has become the primary worship text for Sunday services and other major liturgical celebrations of the Anglican Church of Canada.” Of course, many parishes continue to use the 1959 Book of Common Prayer for some or even most of their services. It is the BAS, however, that provides liturgical variety and flexibility and the most opportunities for lay participation. We’ll refer from time to time, as we have already, to Roman Catholic practices in liturgy, partly because our Anglican traditions are similar, partly because the Covenant between the Diocese of Qu’Appelle and the Archdiocese of Regina calls on us to share our experiences. Finally, we’ll suggest, not prescribe, liturgical usages, looking at options and best practices. There is no “one liturgical size fits all.” Variety in worship is to be treasured, as long we plan and conduct our services prayerfully and thoughtfully. Canon Michael Jackson is deacon at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina. Photo by Margaret Ball