The Saskatchewan Anglican, June 2016

Saskatchewan The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • June 2016 www.facebook.com/thesaskatchewananglican

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Bishop Hardwick to bike 700 km across diocese

By Jason Antonio

Roasting Porky Pig

Richard Walton, left, and Ron Bitzer barbecue a whole pig to support Camp Okema.

Rev. Jeremy Boehr, priest-in-charge of St. John’s, Nipawin and Church of Ascension in Arborfield, conducted a service and Okema board members gave a presentation. The Deanery raised $3,000 with a pig roast supper and silent auction. Photo by Munden Coates

Whitmore, Powell receive national award By the Anglican Journal and Jason Antonio REGINA — Trevor Powell and Peter A. Whitmore of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle were honoured with the Anglican Award of Merit, which recognizes lay people for their outstanding contributions to the Anglican Church of Canada.

During its spring meeting, Council of General Synod (CoGS) approved a resolution naming five recipients, which included Powell, a church archivist, and Whitmore, a judge and former chancellor of the Diocese of Qu'Appelle.

Powell has served as archivist and registrar for the Diocese of Qu’Appelle and archivist for the ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land.

He was also cited for leadership among diocesan archivists in providing access to records related to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

Trevor Powell

Peter A. Whitmore

“I don’t know what to say,” Powell told Diocesan Council on April 16. “I found over the years, as I’ve worked on this, you have ideas of what you’d like to do. But it’s really more than me. It’s the people you work with, the people who allow you to be what you are and do what want to do.

“It’s something I enjoy every day,” he added. “One of the reasons I took early retirement is to do this kind of work.”

Whitmore felt in good company upon learning of the other recipients.

“I am without words,” he told

the Anglican Journal.

“I am honoured just to be considered for this award, and know there are many others who have done so much more than I have.

“I am most fortunate to have been entrusted to provide assistance to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle and the church over the years and have received much more than I have ever given.”

His award also recognized his role for the diocese and General Synod in working out a settlement for residential school survivors.

REGINA – Bishop Rob Hardwick will bike 700 kilometres across the Diocese of Qu’Appelle in mid-June to raise funds for the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund and for the Living the Mission initiative.

The bike ride, from June 18 to 26, will pass through all four regions of the diocese and will include prayers, Eucharists and gospel jamborees in 17 parishes and 19 churches.

The bishop’s bike ride will take eight days — roughly 45 hours of cycling — to complete.

Hardwick discussed his proposed pilgrimage cycle ride as part of his overall bishop’s report on April 16, during Diocesan Council at St. James the Apostle in Regina.

“The idea is to hear the story of God working” throughout the diocese, Hardwick said.

The fundraising aspect will provide an income stream for the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund, he added. He uses roughly $8,000 a year from the fund for such initiatives as helping people stay in hotels due to family medical problems, or to stay at the cancer lodge near loved ones.

The bishop’s fund can be used to help relatives go overseas if a family member dies. The fund can also send clergy or lay people for educational training or retreat, or help retired and locally ordained priests receive a Christmas gift.

Half the money given during the bike ride will go to the discretionary fund and the other half to Living the Mission, with part of that to the Diocese of Muyinga.

Hardwick added there are already plans for similar bike rides in the northern and southern parts of the diocese in the next two years; his goal is to visit every church in the diocese by bike.

Saturday, June 18 The bishop starts out at the Alberta-Saskatchewan border and cycles 20 kilometres to St. Mary’s, Maple Creek for supper and gospel singing and prayer.

Sunday, June 19 The bishop will then have breakfast in Maple Creek before travelling 60 kilometres to Tompkins for lunch and prayers. He will then bike 25 kilometres to Gull Lake to have Eucharist and supper.

Monday, June 20 Hardwick plans to have breakfast in Gull Lake and have prayers, before cycling 56 kilometres for lunch and Eucharist at St. Stephen’s, Swift Current, followed by a 49-kilometre trip to Herbert to spend the night.

Tuesday, June 21 After breakfast in Herbert, the bishop will bike 105 kilometres to Caronport via Ernfold and Mortlach. He will have supper in Caronport and have evening praise.

That part of the pilgrimage will take seven hours, but the bishop should make it with plenty of sun to spare since it is the longest day of the year.

Wednesday, June 22 After Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. and breakfast at St. Aidan in Moose Jaw — a journey of 24 kilometres from Caronport — Hardwick will cycle another 43 kilometres to All Saints in Pense for lunch. The bishop will sprint 34 kilometres into Regina to have evening prayer at St. Cuthbert’s House.

Thursday, June 23 Hardwick’s day is much easier, as he will cycle 25 kilometres around Regina visiting all seven churches.

The bishop will have breakfast at 8 a.m. and prayers at St. James, followed by a jaunt to St. Mary’s for tea and prayers at 10 a.m. Hardwick will then cycle over to St. Luke’s by 10:45 a.m. for further tea and prayers, followed by more tea and prayers at All Saints at 11:30 a.m.

Hardwick will meet with the parishioners at St. Philip at 12:30 p.m. and partake in prayers and lunch. He will then have tea at 2 p.m. at St. Matthew’s, with a 3 p.m. Eucharist at St. Paul’s Cathedral, followed by more tea.

See CYCLING on page 3

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

April 2016

The anchor of faith holds us firmly How can questioning our faith actually deepen our relationship with God? By the Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck

T

he theological virtue of doubt has a very bad reputation. Almost every year, within the season of Easter, we hear the story of “Doubting Thomas.”

You remember the plot: the risen Christ appears in the upper room to His disciples, but Thomas is not there.

When Thomas hears about the event, he expresses his doubt in no uncertain terms.

If we listen closely, we can probably hear his grief and pain leaking through as well.

Later, Jesus appears again and Thomas is now present.

He touches the wounds of Christ and his faith returns.

But it also comes with a mild rebuke from Jesus: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:28-29).

Other passages in the New Testament are even less flattering when it comes to doubt. The epistle of James for instance is downright accusatory: “But ask in faith,” says James, “never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (1:6).

For those of us who have experienced seasons of doubt, this is actually a fairly good description.

Without the moorings of strong belief, life can feel storm blown and fragile, while we long for the anchor of faith to hold us firm.

But perhaps those times of doubt are necessary for us to really grow in our faith.

Canadian theologian Douglas John Hall, echoing his mentor Paul Tillich, goes so far as to say that doubt is the “growing edge” of faith,

and even that “faith that doesn't doubt is useless faith.”

Those are strong words!

What does Hall mean by that?

I think Hall, Tillich and other theologians are giving us permission to ask questions and deal with the uncomfortable and ambiguous areas of faith and life.

They are coaching us to enter into a real dialogue with our Living Lord, to bring to Him our deepest fears and uncertainties.

Whether it is in the area

of doctrine, or ethics, or just the daily grind of life, these teachers of the church are encouraging us to bring whatever disturbs us into the presence of God; even if it's our doubt of the very existence of God! God is not disturbed by our doubt. In fact, God will use our doubt, and every darkness within us, to bring us into closer relationship with Christ. Like Jacob wrestling with the angel (Gen. 32: 2232), our own struggles with doubt can become a source of blessing and an encounter of God “face to face.”

Several weeks ago, Christopher and I saw the movie Risen. (Get to a theatre soon. It’s quite brilliant!)

In the film, when Thomas finally sees the resurrected Christ and touches His wounded body, there is no trace of rebuke or rebuff.

Instead, Jesus' words are compassionate and He embraces Thomas like a longlost brother.

Thomas' tears turn to joy and all the disciples are caught up in holy laughter, as the Spirit of Love moves among them.

As we, too, continue to struggle with our doubts, griefs and longings, may Jesus smile upon us with compassion and embrace us with endless peace.

Photo from WikiCommons

Renewal of our faith depends upon work of God How can questioning our faith actually deepen our relationship with God?

By Rev. Dustin Resch

I

n a culture that is fascinated with certainty, doubt can often be experienced as a detriment to faith.

We might be tempted to treat doubt as our mortal enemy and avoid it at all costs.

The problem with this approach is what it does to our hearts.

In my experience, when we try to drown out doubt with a flood of distraction, or when we only re-entrench the intellectual positions we’ve always held, we risk closing ourselves off from others, even God Himself.

Refusal to face doubt honestly often entails a refusal to allow others, including God, to surprise us.

You see, to be able to relate to others requires that we meet them on their own terms and allow them to overturn our pre-conceived

ideas about them. That also requires a willingness to doubt our assumptions a little bit.

The sort of faith we read about in Scripture is not afraid of doubt; it may even thrive on it.

The story of Thomas in the Gospel of John is good example.

Absent from the community to whom the resurrected Christ had earlier appeared, Thomas doubted the reports of his fellow disciples.

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and put my hand in His side, I will not believe.”

For these words, he will be infamously described by the tradition as “Doubting Thomas.” This is hardly fair.

Thomas really just had the same reaction to the news of Easter as the rest of the disciples.

Remember: at first they didn’t believe what the women told them about the risen Christ either.

The story of Thomas is really just the story of all disciples, for whom doubt was a typical experience.

Perhaps doubts are even appropriate to the very nature of faith.

If faith is truly faith in Christ, then surely faith must bear a resemblance to its object. Christ is crucified.

Christ has His wounds.

Yet He lives. So, wouldn’t it make sense if faith in the resurrected Christ also had its wounds, was also crucified, and yet lived?

Wouldn’t it make sense if Christian faith was denied certainty from a human point of view and depended on every moment to be renewed by the surprising work of God? That is to say, it is Christian faith’s “crucifixion” – its wounds, its doubts – that allows it to be open to the surprise of the other.

It is precisely in its vulnerability to doubt that Christian faith can even receive the resurrection of a crucified saviour in the first

place.

Just look at how Jesus relates to Thomas. He doesn’t exclude him.

Instead, Jesus embraces Thomas in his doubts and accommodates Himself to them.

He condescends to the weakness of Thomas’ flickering faith by appearing to him, showing His wounds, and tenderly allowing His living brokenness to fertilize belief.

It is exactly Thomas’ doubt that allows his faith to be open to the greatest surprise of all.

At the end of John’s Gospel, Thomas gets the honour of confirming what was stated in the Gospel’s prologue.

The Evangelist’s “The Word was God” in Chapter 1 is met by Thomas’s “My Lord and My God” in Chapter 20.

Jesus uses Thomas’ experience of doubt to bring him to profound faith.

I think He can do the same for the rest of us too.

Rev. Dustin Resch is a priest in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle.

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

Published monthly except for July and August.

Whole No. 292, Vol. 44, 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 RATES $10 in Canada $17 outside Canada SUBMISSIONS Submissions for the September issue must be received by the diocesan editor no later than Friday, July 29. All pictures must be sent as JPEGS and 1 MB (megabyte) in size.

CONTACT INFORMATION Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail.com 1501 College Ave Regina, Sask., S4P 1B8 Phone: 306-737-4898 Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin joannesm@myaccess.ca 6927 Farrell Bay Regina, Sask., S4X 3V4 Phone: 306-775-2629 Saskatoon: Peter Coolen ptrcoolen@sasktel.net 820 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, Sask., S7M 1Z3 Phone: 306-244-0935, Saskatchewan: Munden and Linda Coates linda.munden@sasktel.net Box 208 Arborfield, Sask., S0E 0A0 Photo: 306-769-8339 PUBLISHING DETAILS Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Printed and mailed by Webnews Printing Inc. 8 High Meadow Place North York, Ont. M9L 2Z5

The Saskatchewan Anglican

Identity and mission

By Bishop Michael Hawkins Diocese of Saskatchewan

E

arlier this year the Archbishop of Canterbury and his mother provided a powerful Christian witness in the midst of very difficult and personal issues.

I am most grateful for the Archbishop’s testimony and teaching about our fundamental identity in Jesus Christ.

Amidst all the media furor over the identity of his biological father the Archbishop wrote, “I know that I find who I am in Jesus Christ, not in genetics, and my identity in Him never changes.”

He went on to add, “At the very outset of my inauguration service three years ago, Evangeline Kanagasooriam, a young member of the Canterbury Cathedral congregation, said, ‘We greet you in the name of Christ. Who are you and why do you request entry?’

“To which I responded, ‘I am Justin, a servant of Jesus Christ, and I come as one seeking the grace of God to travel with you in His service together.’ What has changed?

Nothing!”

Amidst all the furor in our Church, in the parish and diocese and country and communion, in the midst of the turmoil of our own lives and souls, our questions of our own identity and our self doubt, here is a witness to something solid and secure, who I am in Jesus Christ.

I grew up in a part of the world where the most important thing about you was who your grandparents were. “What’s your name, who’s your daddy” (the Zombies – Time of the Season) was always the first question; there were wrong answers!

We are called to find our identity in something more solid than our lineage,

however low or high.

In the Church we do not use last names, surnames or family names, we use our Christian names because our fundamental identity is found in Christ and with Christ.

We are all the beloved children of God with full right of inheritance.

Our Catechism teaches this over and over again. “What is your name? Who are you?” it asks.

We answer with our Christian names, the name by which Christ calls us and shall call us. The Good Shepherd knows us and calls us by name. What will it mean that day when we hear Christ call our name as He called Mary on Easter morning?

The Catechism goes further asking where we got this name from.

The answer is from our Godparents in our Baptism and then we are taught what our identity is, who we are in Christ.

“Wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.”

That means quite simply that we belong to Jesus and with Jesus.

We are, in Baptism, marked as the sheep of the Good Shepherd. We are the members, the parts, of His body the Church.

Each of us is also the child of God; not just a child of God, as if there might be different kinds or classes, but the child of God. In Baptism we are born

again the children of God, adopted and redeemed into the family of God through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit.

We are also made inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. All that belongs to Our Father is ours. The life and glory, love and peace, joy and delight of the kingdom of heaven are ours.

This is also nothing we have earned or deserved; it is all grace, the gift of God, poured out for us through Jesus Christ, poured out into us by the Holy Spirit to be received by faith and with thanksgiving.

The Church is the family of God, the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Of that family and body and temple, the Anglican Communion and Anglican Church of Canada are small parts.

In Christ we belong to each other and we need each other, even or especially when we feel it the least.

In the midst of these dangerous and divisive times, I think we are called to even greater collaboration.

We have been talking for two years in the Diocese of Saskatchewan about Collaborative Ministry which simply means working together.

It does not mean amalgamation but it does mean clergy and laity working together in mission and ministry in a congregation and between congregations.

Is it time for us also to think again about that kind of collaboration between dioceses?

Collaboration is only possible when we have a common sense of our identity and mission.

It is only possible if we know ourselves and one another fundamentally and undeniably as sisters and brothers in the family, members of the body and living stones of the temple.

CYCLING Continued from page 1 Friday, June 24 The bishop can burn off all that tea by biking 80 kilometres the next day.

Hardwick plans to have breakfast at 7 a.m. at St. Philip’s before journeying 40 kilometres to McLean for a 10:30 a.m. Eucharist.

Hardwick will then take a 20-kilometre jaunt to St. Peter’s in Qu’Appelle for a

2 p.m. Eucharist, followed by another 20-kilometre trek to Indian Head for evening prayer and supper.

Saturday, June 25 Hardwick will bike 55 kilometres from Indian Head to Grenfell to have lunch and prayers.

The bishop then plans to bike 50 kilometres to St. Mary’s in Whitewood for supper, gospel singing and prayer.

Sunday, June 26 The last day finds the bishop having a prayer breakfast in Whitewood before cycling 50 kilometres to St. Alban’s in Moosomin for an 11 a.m. Eucharist and lunch.

He will then bike 25 kilometres to the Manitoba border and have a 4 p.m. celebration evensong and afternoon tea in Fleming.

June 2016

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OPINION

What to expect at General Synod

By Jason Antonio Managing Editor You can be forgiven for thinking there isn’t anything else on the agenda during the week-long General Synod event in Toronto except the controversy that is same-sex marriage.

(There are other agenda items, but you have to dig).

To be debated is a proposed change from the Council of General Synod (COGS) to the Canon 21: The Marriage Canon.

This subject was requested by a resolution at General Synod 2013.

The proposed resolution resolves to: - Declare that Canon 21 (On Marriage in the Church) applies to all persons who are duly qualified by civil law to enter into marriage.

Make amendments to Canon 21, including in paragraph 2, deleting the words “of the union of a man and woman in”; in paragraph 4, substitute the word “partners” for the “husband and wife”; in section 16 a) of the regulations, substitute “the parties to the marriage” for “a man and a woman”; and in section 17 b) of the regulations, substitute “the partners” for “husband and wife.”

The following clauses are to be added to section 11 of the regulations: - a) A minister shall not solemnize a marriage between persons of the same sex if: i) the diocesan synod has enacted a Canon to prohibit the solemnization of marriages between persons of the same sex in the churches and other places of worship in the diocese by any bishop or member of the clergy licensed in the diocese; ii) the diocesan bishop has issued a written and public direction prohibiting the solemnization of marriages between persons of the same sex in the churches and other places of worship in the diocese by any bishop or member of the clergy licensed in the diocese; or iii) the congregation has passed a resolution at a duly constituted meeting of the members of the congregation prohibiting the solemnization of marriages between persons of the same sex in the congregation’s church or other places of worship. b) Provided that none of the provisions of paragraph 11 e) applies, where a minister

under paragraph 11 d) declines for reasons of conscience to solemnize a marriage between two persons of the same sex, the minister shall refer the persons to another priest and permit that priest or another priest to solemnize the marriage in the minister’s church or other place of worship.

The resolution — if passed in 2016 — shall come into effect on Jan. 1, 2020 after being passed by General Synod at second reading.

No thought has been given to possible liturgy for same-sex unions other than changing pronouns in the Book of Common Prayer and BAS in the resolution.

No thought has been given to same-sex blessings or authorized texts either.

Authorization of liturgies will take further time at general or provincial synods.

Four hours over two days have been set aside for delegates to discuss this subject in Toronto.

On July 9, delegates will spend 90 minutes discussing the question of what marriage means to each person.

Other questions to be asked included whether a delegate’s understanding of marriage has changed in their lifetime; what their greatest hope or fear is about this resolution; and if the proposed conscience clause creates “sufficient space” for delegates.

Moderators have been tasked with ensuring the discussion is about marriage and not homosexuality.

Thirty minutes will then be spent discussing how the motion can be dealt with legislatively, with questions from the floor.

Delegates will then spend another 120 minutes discussing the fact some people will go home disappointed by the decision and what the outcome will be for the delegate and-or their church community.

Delegates will be asked if they see another way through this discussion and if there even is one; and if there is anything delegates need to have or know to be ready to vote on the resolution.

Moderators will also ask if the final session could conclude with a liturgical expression of delegates’ unity in Christ, such as lighting candles and re-affirming baptismal vows.

There you have it: the schedule for this resolution.

God help us all.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

Saskatoon's locally raised clergy spring workshop

By Peter R. Coolen

In attendance at the three-day workshop were, in the back from left, the Rev. Gordon Yarde; the Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck; Archdeacon Ken Watts; Sheldon Carr and Peter Coolen.

In front, from left, are the Rev. Jan Trost; Alvena Orysczyn; Murial Foster and Denise McCafferty.

Photo courtesy Peter Coolen

SASKATOON — Seven candidates in the Diocese of Saskatoon’s Locally Raised Clergy program spent three days in study at St. Peter’s Abbey and Conference Centre, Muenster, from April 15 to 17.

Topics covered during the weekend were: parish administration (taught by the Ven. Ken Watts, executive archdeacon of

the diocese), “theology smackdown: creeds, confessions, and catechesis” and a Q&A session on advanced liturgy (with the Rev, Shawn Sanford Beck, diocesan training and education officer).

The Right Rev. David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon, attended on Sunday for one-on-one time with each candidate and to preside at the closing Eucharist.

Skills training for suicide intervention

By Hertha Briggs WHITEWOOD (Qu’A) – A two-day workshop on Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) was held at St. Mary’s Anglican Parish Hall in April.

The workshop was sponsored by Whitewood Action for Families, with presenters Renee Schmidt, therapist of a private practise in Regina, and John McMillan from Kenosee Lake, both registered Living Works trainers.

Living Works (www. livingwork.com) has

trained more than a million caregivers worldwide to complete the ASIST workshop that helps caregivers provide first aid safety to those who are at risk of suicide.

Practical training, intervention attitudes, knowledge, skills and supports were presented during the two days. ASIST is the most widely used intervention training program in the world. The workshop can only be presented by registered Living Works trainers. ASIST is one of the programs offered

by Living Works.

The ASIST program is to

help prevent suicide and to help communities to become suicide safer.

The Whitewood workshop was attended by Ted and Hertha Briggs, members of St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Whitewood, plus 14 others, including church leaders and laity, teachers, health care workers and others.

Participants received a certificate as a caregiver after completing the 15-hour ASIST workshop in suicide first aid.

Both Ted and Hertha found the workshop very intense and emotional. It is their hope that more awareness

on suicide prevention can be made available, creating suicide safer communities.

The interactive workshop prepared participants to become caregivers, providing them with suicide life-assisting first aid intervention.

They had small group discussions and practised skills on adult learning principles. To support their learning they watched powerful videos and broke into two groups for training.

“By the end of the workshop,” said Briggs, “our learning objectives were that

we were better able to identify people who have thoughts of suicide and to understand how beliefs and attitudes can affect suicide interventions.

“We are better equipped to understand a person-at-risk’s story about suicide as well as recognize turning points that connect the person to life. We are more knowledgeable to conduct a safety assessment and be able to develop a plan that will keep the person at risk safe – for now.

“We are also better able to confirm the person-at-risk’s faith in the safe plan and their intent to follow through.”

DIOCESE OF SASKATOON

Announcements for June 2016 Saskatchewan Anglican online! 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 Women in Ministry Friday luncheons: On Friday, June 10, from noon to 1:30 p.m., Women in Ministry Friday luncheons will be held at the Queen’s House at 601 Taylor St. West. The cost for the lunch is $10.

The luncheons are intended for 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 luncheons is to create an informal relational space where women working

professionally in ministry (lay and ordained, pastoral work, congregational work, chaplaincy, retreat work, etc.) can connect across denominational lines and form networks of friendship and communication.

For more information please call 306-242-1916. g L’Arche Workshops: 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 306262-7243 or wthiessen@ larchesaskatoon.org. g The Parish of St. George’s, Saskatoon, Community Coffee House every Thursday from 9 a.m. 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 Ave. I South. g Seniors’ Lunch in Battleford: The Friendship Committee of St. George’s, Battleford invites all seniors to join them for lunch the first Monday of each month until June; each seniors’ lunch begins at noon. g Volunteers needed at the Saskatoon Friendship Inn: The Friendship Inn needs help serving breakfasts and lunches every day.

If anyone is interested in this opportunity or if you’re parish wishes to become involved, please contact the Saskatoon Friendship Inn at 306-242-5122. g Diocesan Synod 2016: The next session of Synod of the Diocese of Saskatoon will

held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

APPOINTMENTS: The council of the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad is delighted to announce the appointment of the Very Rev. Dr. lain Luke as principal of the College effective Aug. 1.

Dr. Luke has served as the Dean of Athabasca and rector of St. James’ Cathedral in Peace River since 2007. He has previous parish experience in the dioceses of Saskatchewan and Saskatoon and has served the Church both nationally and provincially in various roles.

He also served for eight years in the Diocese of Rupert’s Land at St. John’s College, Winnipeg, as director of the Institute for Anglican Ministry and assistant professor of Theology, and as an honorary associate at St George’s, Crescentwood.

He earned his B.A. at the

University of King’s College and his M.A. at Queen’s University.

He received an M.A. in Theology from the University of Oxford and his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1998.

Dr. Luke will replace the Rev. Dr. Jessica Latshaw, who has been interim principal since December 2015.

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

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

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

5

Reflections on 60 years of ordination

By Rev. Don Wells

Three women from the ACW at All Saints' Church in Melfort receive their half-century awards of recognition. In the picture, from left, are Shirley Pannell, Mona Sefton and Jean Rogers.

Photo by Judy Sefton

ACW members recognized

By Judy Sefton MELFORT (Skwn) – All Saints’ Church in Melfort is proud to be home to three members who have received 50-plus year service recognition awards from the Diocesan of Saskatchewan Anglican Church Women.

Shirley Pannell and Jean Rogers received their awards in the fall of 2015, while Mona Sefton received her award in 2006, which means Mona is eligible for a 60-plus year award this year!

Mona, Jean and Shirley all began their service to All Saints’ Church on the Altar Guild and to this day still take their regular turns ensuring the communion is set up properly.

During their service for 11 different clergy, the trio has seen many changes over the years. However, one constant, acknowledged by all three award recipients, is the lifelong friendships made with the many women who have been members of the Guild or ACW.

It is these lasting friendships that have made all the work so memorable and rewarding.

There were more than a few chuckles when the women were asked if they had any idea how many cakes, cookies, sandwiches, salads, or desserts they had “taken to the church” during their 50plus years of service.

May All Saints’ Church, Melfort continue to be blessed with many more years of service from these three special women.

REGINA – As Bishop Michael Coleman placed his hands upon me at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in Regina while I knelt at the communion rail, he said “bless you.”

I often recall that moment of my ordination, which was 60 years ago this May, and I think of how I have indeed been blessed.

These words and memories are a tribute to all those who have been so much a part of those blessings.

It is not so much that I have been in this sacred ministry of deacon, priest, Franciscan Novice and now 15 years retired and serving as licensed supply, since that ordination day. It’s the blessings.

On July 30, 1966, Carol and I were married in All Saints Church in Saskatoon, by Fr. John Scandrett, a longtime priest and major guide in my ministry.

Now as Carol and I celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, I can only reflect on the love, support and gifts provided in a thousand ways from family, clergy, friends and parishes over those grace-filled years.

I have a deep sense of real gratitude and love in that fairly wide ministry in so many parishes in the dioceses of Qu’Appelle and Saskatoon; in England; as a Franciscan Novice for two years; a name change from Donald to Gregory SSF and back to

Donald.

So much of this is also due to the support, love and grace from more than 20 parishes – one in particular gave me support for my long period of alcoholism – and now the freedom of sobriety and recovery, thank God. Also, the continued grace, fellowship and love of my brother and sister clergy.

All this comes with rich memory.

However these names must stand out, of the 10 bishops with whom I was involved, from Bishop Edwin Knowles – and my confirmation response to him was “Yes, my Lord” – to the grace-filled ministry of these Fathers-in God; from Michael Coleman to Fred Jackson, Father Oswald (Guardian SSF), Doug Ford, Michael Peers, Eric Bays, Duncan Wallace, Gregory-Kerr Wilson and now Rob Hardwick.

For me especially, those 10 Fathers-in-God would have paid attention to these words from the Ordination of Bishops: you are called to guard the faith, unity and discipline of the church; to celebrate and to provide for the administration of the sacraments of the new covenant; to ordain priests and deacons, and to join in ordaining bishops, and to be in all things a faithful pastor and wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ.

How nobly and loyally they all have served and do serve the Kingdom of God.

Edmonton bishop boosts anti-poverty initiatives

By Margaret Marschall The Messenger Old friends Tom Pelly (left) and Rev. Lloyd Young visit at Arborfield Special Care Lodge.

Photo by Linda Coates

Pelly shares love of Bible stories with others

By Munden Coates ARBORFIELD (Skwn) – Thomas Pelly was awarded the Order of Saskatchewan in 2002.

He was recommended by members of the Good Shepherd Parish in Cumberland House because of his service to their church.

He had served as a warden and a lay reader for many years. When he conducted services he felt it was his job to make sure the congregation

shared his love for Bible stories.

In addition, he helped his friend, Rev. Lloyd Young, conduct services in Red Earth and in Shoal Lake.

He even completed some theological studies at James Settee College at Saskatoon.

Tom lived the traditional life of the fisherman, hunter and trapper.

He never married.

“Whenever I wanted to get up and go, I just went,” he explained.

Later in life he lived with his nephew, Orville.

Due to failing health and limited mobility, Tom was admitted to residence in the Arborfield Special Care Lodge.

He is comfortable with the care and looks forward to the meals.

His sense of humour remains, especially in the company of an old friend.

When they converse in Cree, every exchange is punctuated with laughter.

EDMONTON — At a St. Patrick’s Day dinner Bishop Jane Alexander of the Diocese of Edmonton talked about what the City of Edmonton is doing to ensure everyone has enough to eat.

“We must have hope that we can move people out of poverty into a life that we would accept as dignified and nothing less,” Alexander said.

Alexander was welcomed

by John Campbell, chair of the Inner City Pastoral Ministry (ICPM) board, to speak on behalf of the End Poverty Edmonton Task Force, which she co-chairs with Mayor Don Iveson.

She said all Edmontonians

deserve to live with dignity and every child is entitled to adequate food, shelter and educational opportunities.

“I believe with all my heart that God refuses to leave us locked within a single chapter of our lives,” she said, outlining the key points of the task force strategy, an initiative to lift people out of poverty approved unanimously by Edmonton City Council.

With over 100,000 adults and 30,000 children living in poverty in Edmonton, End Poverty Edmonton has estimated poverty costs the city $7 billion a year.

Alexander explained Anglicans and other people of faith have an important role to play in fighting poverty.

6

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

QSMM offering new approaches to learning

By Jason Antonio REGINA – Students of the Qu’Appelle School for Mission and Ministry (QSMM) have new ways to learn online and together as of June, as Google Classroom and Google Apps have been implemented to transform the learning experience.

With this new development, students will be able to study from anywhere; attend classes remotely with video conferencing; connect with instructors and other students; stay on top of class work; and register for programs online.

Archdeacon Catherine Harper discussed this new development of the QSMM program during the April 16 diocesan council meeting at St. James the Apostle in Regina.

As the director of ministry development, Harper also discussed her activities during the past few months.

Harper has been developing and implementing the curricula for areas of lay readers, deacons, priests, spiritual directors and communion visitors.

During the first year of the program, those people

in formation as licensed lay readers, deacons and priests will study together, she explained.

This first year includes the foundational courses of New Testament Survey with Rev. Dean Pinter; Theology I: God and Creation with Rev. Dustin Resch; Introduction to Liturgy with Bishop David Ashdown; and The History of the Church and her Mission with Dr. Brian Gobbett and Canon Trevor Powell.

Licensed lay readers Each archdeaconry has at least two people who have responded to the call to be a licensed lay reader, Harper said.

The lay readers formation curriculum is made up of 10 modules, with the four previously mentioned and six that will available online.

It is possible for participants to complete the program by April 2017.

Deacons Deacons-in-training will share their first year of instruction with the lay readers and priests-information, said Harper.

In January she had the opportunity to visit the Episcopal School for Deacons in Berkeley, CA.,

and had conversations with the director, administrator, faculty and students.

Harper has also consulted the diocese’s vocational deacons about the program's deacon-specific content of the second and third years.

Four people have successfully completed the deacon perceiver interview so far, she noted.

This is a 54-question instrument aimed at assessing the gifts and calling to the diaconate.

An independent party in Ontario does the interpretation.

Another interview was conducted at the end of April.

Priests Harper has consulted with a group of clergy in the diocese who have experience in formation for ministry.

These meetings are ongoing.

Currently two people have expressed interest in this program.

Communion visitors Retired Bishop David Ashdown and Harper have worked on the rudiments of a two-part course — a few hours of instruction each — for communion visitors, she explained.

This will be offered online

and in person.

This course is not intended to replace the great work that has been and is being done in this area by clergy, Harper added. It is meant to supplement this work.

Spiritual directors The formation of spiritual directors is “close to my heart,” Harper said.

It has been on her heart for some time to introduce such a program in the diocese.

This 18-month program will begin in September. Five people have registered so far.

“The bishop and I have had several conversations with people throughout the diocese who have felt a call to a deeper conversation with God and great commitment to God’s church,” Harper added.

“Some of these conversations were part of, or followed, the vocations days held in Regina and Rosetown during the past three months.

We continue to hold them all in prayer.”

“It is truly encouraging when over 40 people in our diocese are testing out a vocation,” said Bishop Rob Hardwick.

“It’s a wonderful experience to be part of, those vocations days.”

Three camps offered at Camp Harding MAPLE CREEK (Qu’A) – Three camps will be offered at Camp Harding this summer.

Camp Harding is situated in Cypress Hills Provincial Park, south of Maple Creek. The lodge pole pine forest provides a unique environment to allow campers to grow in relationships with each other and with God. Experienced directors, chaplains, leaders and certified cooks work together to make the camping week a fantastic time for young people. Activities include worship, swimming at Cypress Hills Pool, mini golf, horseback riding, beach activities, canoeing, campfires and Christian teaching.

Adventure Teens Camp: ages 14 to 17; July 3 to 9 Intermediate Camp: ages 10 to 13; July 10 to 15 Juniors Camp: ages 6 to 9; July 20 to 24 For more information visit www.campharding.ca.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

7

The new altar hanging is presented at St. Matthew's, Regina. Clockwise from lower left, altar guild president Margaret Asquith Morrey, Kathy Chlopan, Rev. Anne Marie MacNeil, Rev. Blair Dixon and June Stanton, who created the hanging.

Photo by Greg Stanton

St. Matthew's chapel a hidden gem

By Karen McBride Dixon REGINA – Tucked away in the southeast corner of St. Matthew, Regina is Grace Chapel, a quiet place to “draw apart and rest awhile.”

Part of the original design by architect Frank Portnall, it was furnished by the Broder sisters in memory of their sister Grace, who started the farmhouse Sunday school that later became the parish of St. Matthew.

Lovely and quiet, it includes three stained glass windows depicting Saint James, Saint Peter and Saint John.

Over the years, the chapel has been used in a variety of ways, including as the rector’s office and later as an impromptu storage space.

Gradually, all but forgotten, it became cluttered with unused items.

Despite the dust and the boxes, its beauty recently captured the imagination of

a small team of determined parishioners.

After much cleaning, sorting and recycling, the chapel has been returned to its former glory.

To celebrate this, a new altar frontal was installed on April 3.

June Stanton, a talented artist and seamstress, was commissioned to design and create a new reversible altar frontal for the chapel.

In doing so, she drew on

Dean Iain Luke appointed principle of Emmanuel & St. Chad

By Bishop Michael Hawkins Council president of Emmanuel & St. Chad SASKATOON – The council of the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad is delighted to announce the appointment of the Very Rev. Dr. lain Luke as principal of the college effective Aug. 1.

Dr. Luke has served as the Dean of Athabasca and rector of St. James’ Cathedral in Peace River since 2007.

He has previous parish experience in the dioceses of Saskatchewan and Saskatoon and has served the Church both nationally and provincially in various roles.

He also served for eight years in the Diocese of Rupert’s Land at St. John’s College, Winnipeg, as director of the Institute for Anglican Ministry and assistant professor of Theology, and

Dean Iain Luke, St. James Anglican Cathedral, Peace River, Alta.

Photo courtesy Darlene Polachic

as an honorary associate at St. George’s, Crescentwood.

He earned his B.A. at the University of King’s College and his M.A. at Queen’s University.

He received an M.A. in Theology from the University of Oxford and his PhD from

the University of Cambridge in 1998.

Dr. Luke is married to the Rev. Victoria Luke and they have two daughters.

Iain is an experienced high school basketball referee, an avid curler and bridge player, plus a keen participant in community theatre and music.

The council looks forward to his leadership as the college continues to offer its M.Div programme and expands its L.Th offering with an emphasis on locally delivered and supported training for ministry that is flexible and sensitive to the needs of the Church in the Province of Rupert’s Land.

This appointment is a significant step in the council’s renewed unity and commitment to our mission to equip lay and ordained leaders for the future.

one of her favourite Bible verses as well as the parish's prairie roots.

On one side of the frontal, superimposed brown and gold crosses are depicted on a cream-coloured background.

June explained that this feature signifies the brown wood of the cross of Christ and the golden hues of the brass cross above the altar.

Drawing on John 14:6, “I am the way” is an integral part of the design.

The green frontal on the reverse side is a reminder that St. Matthew church stands on prairie farmland donated by George Broder.

This design includes grapes and wheat, flanking the chalice and host.

Restoration and renewal continues at St. Matthew, Regina.

The chapel is a small but very lovely part of that work.

Drop by for a visit; you will be warmly welcomed.

Camp Okema celebrates

By Steven Michell PRINCE ALBERT –Camp Okema will be hosting Celebration Sunday on July 31 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Okema Society for Christian Development.

All are welcome to attend this afternoon of worship, fellowship and fine dining at Camp Okema.

It will be an opportunity to connect with old friends and to make new ones, to share Okema memories, and to hear plans for the camp’s future. If you’ve never been to Camp Okema before, it will be a great opportunity to experience the camp and to learn more about it.

There will be a catered banquet at noon featuring cabbage rolls, perogies, farmer’s sausage and herb chicken. This delicious meal complete with salad, desserts and all the fixings requires a banquet ticket purchased

in advance so we know how many meals to order.

Banquet tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for children four years to 10 years, and free for children under four years.

Tickets may be purchased by contacting Steve or Yvonne Mitchell (306-756-2541 or 306-630-6474), by emailing campokema@hotmail.com, or by going online at www. campokema.com and clicking on the banquet ticket button.

The cut-off date for ticket sales, required by our caterer, is July 24.

Those who prefer not to attend the banquet are still welcome to join in the rest of the afternoon’s activities.

Afternoon Schedule: 12:30 p.m. — Celebration banquet (ticket required) 2:30 p.m. — Worship service with Bishop Hawkins and Bishop Morgan 3:30 p.m. — Beach time, activities, visiting 5:30 p.m. — ­­ Supper (no cost) 7:00 p.m. — Campfire

8

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

Focus on today as a gift from God ‘Redeeming Our Time’ at the lay retreat

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin MOOSE JAW (Qu’A) – “Time is a gift from God,” said Rev. Lauren Miller at the Lay Retreat at Wood Acres on the weekend of April 22 to 24.

“In God’s plan to create humanity, first He had to create both time and space.

We cannot exist outside time and space because we are finite creatures.”

Miller reminded the 18 retreatants that God’s first creation was time, while the second was sky, land and sea; the world was created for people to live on. The rest of the creation story is how God filled the space He had created.

Lay people from all corners of the diocese, including five from Maple Creek, gathered in a new location for this year’s retreat.

The annual diocesan retreat had been held at St. Michael’s Retreat Centre outside Lumsden ever since the centre opened more than 50 years ago, but the building has been sold and organizers had to find a new site.

Wood Acres was originally a Bible college and has three floors of dormitory rooms, a large dining room and various meeting rooms. The largest of these rooms was used as the chapel during the retreat, using a large folding backdrop that had been constructed for use by the former St. Thomas, Regina.

Miller, the retreat conductor, is an associate priest in the Parish of Coteau Hills and lives in Rosetown.

He explained how when he was young he felt he had to decide between careers of teacher, minister or nurse, and chose nursing.

But in addition to working “on and off for 40 years as an R.N.” He has also been an educator and is now an Anglican priest.

Rev. Susan Anholt was the retreat chaplain. Anholt is an associate priest Midlakes Parish and lives in Kenaston.

She is also a bi-vocational priest.

In his opening remarks, Miller said silence is not just the absence of sound; in Creation, before there was sound there was silence.

“Silence is the fullness of God.” When asked for their main reasons for attending the retreat, the lay people most often cited “the silence” along with time to read, meditate and pray, away from

The Diocese of Qu'Appelle lay retreat was held at Wood Acres, on the edge of Moose Jaw, which provided this view from both the dining room and the large room that served as the chapel.

Photos by Joanne Shurvin-Martin

Rev. Lauren Miller gave five addresses on the theme of "Redeeming Our Time" at the lay retreat in Moose Jaw. day-to-day responsibilities.

The first address was titled “Creation of Time and its Purpose in Creation.” The beginning of Genesis and Psalm 19 provided the biblical basis for the talk.

Miller reminded the retreatants that God was before creation. God is eternal, but humans are finite and need both space and time in which to exist.

There were three addresses on Saturday, titled “The Day,” “The Week” and “The Year.”

Miller pointed out that all these natural divisions of time were designed by God. Minutes, seconds and hours were designed by mankind.

Genesis describes the day with the repeated phrase “and there was evening and there was morning.”

God designed the week when He told His people to

work on the first six days, but the seventh was blessed as a day of rest.

A year is also a natural measurement, based on the seasons and the cycle of the year.

Speaking of the day, Miller reminded his audience that in the Bible, “day” begins with the evening. Looking at our time that way makes a huge difference.

When we wake in the morning, it is time to join our labours to those which God has already begun. “In the darkness, God is already at work preparing the day for us.”

He referred to Matthew 6:25-43, where Jesus tells His followers not to worry about the future. “When we try to live in the future,” said Miller, “we try to be in control.”

Nor does focusing on

the past bring redemption.

Therefore, we should focus on today and receive it as God’s gift to us, he said.

At night, he said, “God doesn’t need me to run things in the night. He is fully in charge.”

Miller encouraged people to get into a rhythm of daily prayer and recommended options in the BAS and BCP, as well as other resources in books and online.

The second measurement of time in Genesis is the week, seven days which include a day of rest. The Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, so they had no rest, while in all the ancient world, only the very rich had leisure time.

When God takes the Hebrews out of Egypt, He has to teach them they are no longer slaves. As people made in the image of God, they are to follow God’s rhythm, His cycle of work and rest.

The idea of rest, and the idea of being made in God’s image, were both radically foreign concepts in the ancient world.

The last unit of time Miller discussed was the year. He said it is important, in the cycle of the year, to have times of fasting before times of feasting.

“We fast to reflect on our dependence on God’s blessings,” said Miller.

Modern society often misses fasting and blessings become taken for granted.

We need both aspects to appreciate the feast.

He gave examples of the fictional country of Narnia, “where it was always winter and never Christmas”

contrasted to Disneyworld, “where it is always a festival.”

Neither are the real world, where we grow and learn, he said.

The church calendar begins with Advent: a season of fasting that prepares us for Christmas.

Likewise Lent prepares us for Easter. The church calendar “is one of the rich features of liturgical denominations,” said Miller.

The final address, “Living in Time with a Redemptive Focus,” was given during the Sunday Eucharist service and was based on Ephesians 5 and Psalm 90.

Both tell the reader to be careful how they spend – or in the original Greek, redeem – their time.

Miller stressed that entering into the rhythm of the day and the year helps people enter into the kingdom and the work of God, as they learn to be “in the world but not of the world.”

He spoke with admiration of the old Celtic tradition, which knew that God was present in their daily routine; things as ordinary as getting water and lighting the fire were given importance through prayers for those events.

“Our own liturgy is set in space and time. All the words and the actions mean something. Christ is among us now and Christ will come again,” he concluded.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

9

Archives R Us

By Peter R. Coolen Archivist for the Diocese of Saskatoon

SASKATOON – As many of you know, the Diocese of Saskatoon has an archive containing documents of the history of the diocese; the Diocese of Qu’Appelle has a similar archive in Regina and the Diocese of Saskatchewan one in Prince Albert.

What you may not know is the Diocese of Saskatoon’s archive will accept any and all documents from parishes and individuals that relate to the history of our parishes and the diocese up to the present day.

This material can include any and all materials related to the daily running of a parish that are not required for the current operations of the parish.

So all annual reports, minutes, registers, vestry books, bulletins, church histories, photographs (suitably captioned and identified) etc., plus materials from ACW and other church groups, are all welcome.

The archive also accepts

Five ordained to diaconate in Saskatoon

On March 8, the Bishop of Saskatoon, the Right Rev, David M. Irving, ordained five new deacons for the diocese in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Saskatoon. The new deacons pose with Bishop Irving (left) and the Very Rev. G. Scott Pittendrigh, rector and Dean of the cathedral (right). The new deacons are, from left, the Reverends Gordon Yarde, Matteo Carboni, Barbara Forsyth, Trevor Malyon and Janice (Jan) Trost. Photo by Peter R. Coolen ceremonial objects such as altar linens and communion plate, clerical garb, awards and memorials, guest books and books of remembrance, service and hymn books, plus church furniture.

Where these items are not of a historic nature the synod office will attempt to find new homes and uses for the materials donated.

The archives will sort through material submitted and catalogue and retain all

materials considered to be significant in relation to the history and administration of a parish or the diocese.

Recent financial records and materials can be retained, but are not catalogued until they are at least six years old (as the original files and documentation may be required for audits and other review), after which they too are reviewed and the significant materials retained, sorted and filed.

As the historic, cultural and religious significance of any materials submitted is important in assessing and adding relevance to the materials, the archives suggests materials not be sorted before being sent.

Hopefully, a description of the materials also be provided with the materials, when they are sent, to provide an historic and cultural context to them.

The diocesan archives are located in two locations:

materials donated prior to 2011 are held within the Provincial Archives Board on the University of Saskatchewan Campus; more recent accessions are held in the synod office archive.

The files within the diocesan archive are available for review and research at no charge, however, access to the files is restricted and must be arranged with the diocesan archivist.

See ARCHIVES on page 12

10

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

Looking at Liturgy

Offertory and Communion

By Canon Michael Jackson

H

ow we prepare and administer communion at the Eucharist will vary greatly from parish to parish.

Let me offer some comments based on our experience at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina.

The Preparation of the Table Like the Gospel reading, the preparation of the table at the offertory is the prerogative of the deacon.

The Book of Alternative Services states that “it is the

function of a deacon […] to make ready the table for the celebration, preparing and placing upon it the bread and cup of wine” (pg. 183).

Since most parishes in Saskatchewan do not (alas!) have a deacon, the presiding celebrant will usually prepare the table, possibly assisted by servers.

“Representatives of the people may present the gifts of bread and wine for the eucharist […] to the deacon or celebrant before the altar” (BAS, pg. 192).

Our custom at St. Paul’s

is for two or three lay people to bring forward the gifts of bread, wine and water from the back of the church before the collection is taken up.

Administration of Communion It used to be (how often we hear this!) that the administration of communion was restricted to the clergy, then additionally to licensed lay ministers.

In many parishes, including ours, the clergy now share this ministry with lay communicants, licensed or not – including young people.

Although it is often customary for the priest to administer the bread, at St. Paul’s lay ministers usually do so, for the practical reason that wafers are easier to administer to the communicant than a chalice; the priest and deacon administer the wine.

Another custom has been that the ministers receive communion first.

However, at St. Paul’s, they receive communion with or after the congregation.

This avoids a distinction between the clergy’s

communion and the laity’s communion.

As Episcopal liturgist Marion Hatchett has said, the “Church is one Body taking part in one Communion in the one Lord.”

As our cathedral is a traditional building with a raised chancel, we normally administer communion from two stations on the floor at the front of the nave.

This avoids the awkward logistics, and difficulty for the elderly or disabled, of climbing steps into the chancel.

See COMMUNION page 12

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

11

Stained glass windows re-appear after 50 years

By Nigel Salway

One of the drawings for a proposed stained glass window at St. Luke's, Regina, which was discovered recently and has been framed and displayed.

Photos by Nigel Salway

REGINA – The Easter Eucharist at St. Luke’s was special in several ways. In addition to celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, two new features were installed in the church prior to the service.

In the 1960s when the church was designed, vestry received a proposal to install stained glass in the east and west windows of the church.

A series of drawings were prepared showing what the finished windows would look like. However, vestry at the time did not approve the installation of the windows and the drawings languished in the church archives.

Earlier this summer, the drawings were discovered by the incumbent of St. Luke’s, Rev. Michael Bruce, who thought it might be fitting to display them.

To this end, Bruce obtained high-quality laser printed scans of the originals and had

these framed for display in the church. These pictures were hung in the church on Easter Saturday in preparation for the Easter Sunday.

A more ambitious project started as a result of a memorial donation for longtime parishioner, Yvonne Ellis. In consultation with the family, it was determined the donation should be applied to the purchase of banners that would be hung on the south wall of the church, one on either side of the cross.

The new banners required hardware to display them and this involved installing a pulley system designed by the maintenance committee.

The project required some high work on the ladder, with Bruce drawing the short straw to carry this out.

The banners were first displayed on Easter Sunday.

For the Festival of Easter, the gold banners were displayed.

There are banners to match most of the liturgical colours, with other sets to be added by donations when possible.

DIOCESE OF QU’APPELLE

Notes and events

Rev. Michael Bruce prepares to celebrate the Easter Eucharist assisted by Deacon Susan Page. The new banners feature prominently behind the two clergy.

g Archdeacon Malcolm French to New Zealand Archdeacon Malcolm French, incumbent of St. James the Apostle Regina, has accepted the position as Vicar of St. Andrews, Cambridge, in the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki, New Zealand.

French and his wife, Jan Cowie, will be leaving Regina in August. g Rev. Trish McCarthy inducted Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy was inducted as incumbent of Saskatchewan Gateway Parish, at St. Alban’s, Moosomin, on May 1. g Bible study: Book of Acts St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina, on the first and third Mondays of June and July, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. g Vacation Bible Schools St. Luke’s, Regina, July 25 to 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.

All Saints, Pense, Aug. 1 to 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. g St. Augustine, Saltcoats, to celebrate 125 years St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, Saltcoats, is hosting a 125th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, Aug. 28, with special guest Bishop Rob Hardwick. All present

and former parishioners and clergy are invited to attend.

If you are unable to attend, greetings, reminiscences or memorabilia are welcome.

For further information, please contact Edith Maddaford, Box 172, Saltcoats, Sask., S0A 3R0; 306-744-2216 or esmadd@sasktel.net. g Anniversary Rev. Brian Parker observed the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on May 22. He was ordained at the Church of the Annunciation, Govan.

Parker was first a deacon at Holy Cross, Eston, in 1965 and then served as priest at Eston upon ordination in May 1966. In 1972, he moved to St. Anne’s, Valleyview, Alta., in the Diocese of Athabasca.

Upon retirement, Parker moved back to Saskatchewan and settled in Tompkins in Chinook Parish, where he has permission to officiate.

His continuing involvement with the church community is a wonderful ministry to both parishioners and clergy.

As an added blessing, Brian and his wife, Jackie, will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on July 4.

12

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

DIOCESE OF QU’APPELLE

Mystery worshippers critique church services

By Jason Antonio REGINA – Mystery worshippers visited Anglican churches throughout the Regina area recently with the goal of providing feedback to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle and local vestries.

The regional team for the St. Cuthbert’s Deanery established the program by finding people ages 18 to 40 who are religious but didn’t have an Anglican background.

The mystery worshippers then visited churches and filled out an online survey and sent a picture to the regional team to prove they had been at a church.

The regional team’s Laura French and Deacon Susan Page discussed the initiative during Diocesan Council on April 16 at St. James the Apostle in Regina.

The results of the survey will be sent in June to the vestries of those churches visited, with the plan to bring those bodies together to discuss the results.

The attitude among parishes during visits was “variable,” said Page.

They didn’t get a good read from one parish because it had held a funeral the day before.

But the visits revealed parishioners don’t know much about other parishes beyond their own.

“Every single place had neat projects they were doing,” French said.

There was joy, hope and love in those places, along with examples of God moving amongst them.

Along with the surveys, the regional team began a

Deacon Susan Page

supper schedule for Shrove Tuesday.

There have been many opportunities to get together around the deanery, said Page.

This has included celebrations for a day of peace and the Troas Dinner with Bishop Rob Hardwick.

More than 40 people attended the dinner, which also required an extra table be set out.

“We encourage parishes to get together to do things,” said Page.

Such examples include St. Luke’s Kids Club, light and peace in Lent, a Palm Saturday party, plus Regina Anglican Youth activities.

A St. Cuthbert event is being planned for the fall, she

added, just not on a day when there is a Saskatchewan Roughriders football game.

This event will be held on years when there isn’t a diocesan synod or Q Event.

It will also be for everyone and not just St. Cuthbert Deanery people.

Examples of resource sharing throughout the deanery this year include: • Ashes to Go: three Regina priests and one federal political leader took part • Regular meetings of clergy • The shared Easter vigil at St. James in Regina • Vacation Bible School at St. Luke or in Pense • Regular meetings of children’s volunteers

COMMUNION Bishop Rob Hardwick consultation process with all eight parishes in the deanery to talk about how God is moving in their midst.

The team met with groups of parishioners and discussed what specific supports parishes need.

Some of those requested supports are: prayer support between parishes; becoming a more active part of the neighbourhood; c o m m u n i c a t i o n ; opportunities to gather; and working together and sharing resources.

“I don’t know how many of you pray for parishes on a regular basis, but it might be a good idea to continue on if

ARCHIVES

Continued from page 9 Access to restricted registers (those less than 100 years old) must be approved, in advance, in writing, by the synod office and may only be accessed in the presence of the diocesan archivist.

For those seeking information from the registers for family and genealogy, the archivist can perform the required search and copy and issue copies of the desired information or produce certificates at a nominal charge.

With all of this in mind, do you have materials that are of

we’re doing it or start if we’re not doing it,” said Page.

Communication was one of the biggest discussion points the team encountered.

Page explained there have been a few strategies used to communicate with the deanery, including regional calendars for Advent, Lent, Holy Week, Easter and youths; a St. Cuthbert’s regional Facebook group; and staying in contact with each other’s Facebook groups and pages.

What has received the most attention on the deanery’s Facebook page, explained French, has been the bishop’s pastoral letter about the changes to the marriage canon, news about Burundi, plus the pancake

interest to the archives?

Are they now stored or cluttering up your life, your church office and-or your vestry space?

Or do you have historic materials that could be damaged or lost in storage?

If so, please consider sending these materials to the synod archives for review.

For more information on the archives or to arrange to donate material, please contact the diocesan archivist, Peter Coolen, at 306-244-0935 and ptrcoolen@sasktel.net or the Diocese of Saskatoon synod office at 306-244-5651.

Continued from page 10 Many parishes, however, retain the traditional practice of administering communion to the people kneeling or standing at the communion rail in the chancel.

In modern buildings, the communion rail (if used) may be at floor level, which avoids this practical difficulty.

Intinction Intinction is the practice of dipping the wafer in the wine. Intinction is not authorized in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle.

A pamphlet published by the Anglican Church of Canada, “Eucharistic

Practice and the Risk of Infection,” points out the historic use of the common cup for communion “poses no real hazard to health in normal circumstances” and intinction may actually increase the risk.

Those who do not choose to partake of the common cup may receive communion in bread alone and, if they wish, touch the base of the chalice during the words of administration.

At St. Paul’s, if people wish to communicate by intinction, we politely ask them not to do so for health reasons.

Ablutions Ablutions is the “church language” word for the

cleansing of the vessels after communion. Ablutions should be discreet and unobtrusive.

For this reason, we recommend against doing them at the altar. At St. Paul’s, the ministers gather after communion in the sacristy to consume the remaining elements (or reserve them in the aumbry) and cleanse the vessels.

In some churches it may be practical to do ablutions at the credence table.

In our September column, we’ll look at the question of how to end our services!

Canon Michael Jackson is deacon at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

13

DIOCESE OF SASKATOON

Learning to be leaders of courage who serve by faith Highlights from the Diocese of Saskatoon’s Spring Women’s Conference and AGM

By Merce Montgomery SASKATOON – Anglican women of the Saskatoon Diocese met in Saskatoon on April 15 and 16 for their spring conference and AGM, hosted by the women of All Saints’ Anglican Church.

The theme, “Leaders of Courage; Serving by Faith,” also the theme of the recent National ACW Conference, provided the framework and focus for the conference setting and the welcoming, participatory and prayerful program prepared by the planning committee.

Biographies of courageous women of faith – Mary, the mother of God the woman at the well, women from history and contemporary women – were presented at intervals during the proceedings and highlighted the conference theme.

Conference leader MarieLouise Ternier-Gommers, in an engaging address, spoke of the constancy of friendship and lessons learned from leaders of the past. She encouraged women to “act as if everything depends on us and pray as if everything depends on God.” She challenged the group, asking, “What witness do you wish to leave behind for your children’s children?”

Presentations from local non-profit groups, Egadz and the Open Door Society,

outlined the excellent services they respectively provide for local youth and for immigrants newly arrived in the city.

Colourful afghans created and donated by women of the diocese graced the stage of the hall and spilled over onto the pews in the church, later to be distributed to various agencies.

Ladies’ and men’s “socks for the needy” filled with toiletry essentials went to The Lighthouse and Egadz.

The Right Rev. David M. Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon, presided at the closing Eucharist with the assistance of Archdeacon Dan Hughes, rector of All Saints; Joan Irving, patroness commissioned the new executive.

Many thanks to the women of All Saints for their gracious hospitality and excellent arrangements, to the planning committee for an inspiring program, and to everyone who attended and created outstanding fellowship and community during two days.

Thank you to the women of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Saskatoon for kindly offering to host the 2017 conference.

Watch for details about this event and other exciting items of interest for Anglican women throughout the diocese in the “News and Views” newsletters.

Women attending the Diocesan Spring Conference were framed by colourful afghans created and donated by women of the Diocese of Saskatoon. The afghans, which graced the stage of the hall and spilled over onto the pews in All Saints Church, were distributed to various agencies after the conference.

Photos by Marion G. Pope

Sask. Anglican receives three Church Press awards

By Jason Antonio

T

he Saskatchewan received three awards during the Canadian Church Press conference in Toronto at the end of April.

Rev. Cheryl Toth, with the Diocese of Qu'Appelle, took home a second-place award for her column writing.

Bishop Rob Hardwick, also with the Diocese of Qu'Appelle, received a secondplace award for his personal reflection resolutions for healthy bodies and churches.

Co-authors Joan Irving and Elaine Hrycenko took first place for their biographical profile on Joan Ayres, who served as a Christian youth worker.

About Toth's columns, the

judge wrote, “The writing and the imagination, the construction of the ethical questions are all very powerful here. The exploration of the issue of titanium for instance is very nicely done and leads to questions and concerns not often though about.”

About Hardwick's column, the judge wrote, “A very well done conjoining of the personal and the professional.

The idea of a diet, the power of a resolution, the meaning of resolve and the effort to address weakness are all nicely woven together.”

About the Joan Ayres story, the judge wrote, “This piece flows from the heart, without being sentimental which makes it a wonderful tribute to a wonderful woman.”

Others attending the Diocesan Spring Women’s Conference were, from left, Elta Fae Marlor (diocesan women’s president), the Right Rev. David M. Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon, Archdeacon Dan Hughes and Marie-Louise Ternier-Gommers (guest speaker).

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

Goats provide unusual solution to cemetery fix Contributed

The front pews of at St. Paul's Cathedral were filled with representatives of the Canadian Forces, RCMP, veterans' groups, First Nations and all levels of government.

Photos by Margaret Ball

Service celebrates Queen's birthday

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA – Dignitaries, civic representatives, First Nations, military members and veterans, and many members of the general public gathered at St. Paul’s Cathedral to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday.

The service was held on April 17, five days before Her Majesty’s actual birthdate.

Acting Deputy Mayor Dr. Robert Hawkins – who is also a warden at St. Mary’s, Regina – gave the address, in which he recounted several recent milestones in the life of the Queen: the Diamond Jubilee of her reign on Feb. 2, 2012; her 65th wedding anniversary to Prince Philip on Nov. 20, 2012; and, the moment at which she became the longest serving monarch of Britain, and postConfederation Canada, on Sept. 9, 2015.

He quoted from the radio address which then Princess Elizabeth gave on her 21st birthday, in which she pledged that her whole life would be devoted to service, giving numerous examples of how she has, for the past 64 years, fulfilled that pledge.

Hawkins said, “... most people, at 90, would be thinking of throwing off their work clothes, in her case the hats, gloves and handbags, and retiring. But being Queen is a life-long business.”

He highlighted three

Bob Hawkins values central to the Queen’s life: “family, freedom and faith.”

Speaking about her faith, Hawkins quoted from the Queen’s millennium Christmas broadcast: “For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life.

“I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.”

Hawkins concluded by saying, “Family, freedom and faith: the Queen’s values, values bound by the golden thread of service to others.

These are enduring values, not relics of some colonial past.

“They are humane, tolerant and unifying values, values for our future and the

future of Canada’s children for generations to come. Our Queen personifies these values, and in so doing, she sets an example for all of us.”

The service began with an aboriginal prayer and smudging, conducted by Diocesan Elder, Rev. Arthur Anderson, assisted by Roland Kaye, who used an eagle’s feather to disperse sweetgrass smoke over the people as well as upwards, as he walked down the aisle of the cathedral.

Following the liturgical procession, the Royal Anthem was sung.

The congregation did not seem to need their programs or the hymn book to sing the first verse of “God Save the Queen” but everyone looked down for the less familiar second verse.

Canon Michael Jackson officiated at the service of Evening Prayer.

He noted the idea for the celebratory service had come from Canon Claude Schroeder, rector of St. Mary’s Regina. St. Paul’s choir, under the leadership of Bob Nicholls and with organist Jackie Chase, sang Psalm 96, the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis, plus an anthem.

Civic and ecumenical representatives had been chosen to read Scripture and offer prayers.

Hon. Dan D’Autremont, speaker of the Legislative

Assembly, read from Isaiah 32; Hon. James Plemel, Chief Justice of the provincial court, read from Romans 12.

Prayers were offered by Dean Michael Sinclair of St. Paul’s; Rev. Dr. Robert Kitchen, minister of KnoxMetropolitan United Church; Pastor Charles Kooger, president of the Regina Council of Churches; and Madame Francoise SigurCloutier, president of the Assembly of Fransaskoise and a parishioner of SaintJean-Baptiste in Regina.

In addition to those who had active roles in the service, the front pews of the cathedral were filled with many representatives from various walks of life.

Some representatives were from the Canadian Forces; RCMP; veterans’ groups; First Nations; Senator Pana Marchant, representing the Parliament of Canada; Muhammad Fiaz, memberelect of the Legislative Assembly for Regina-Pasqua and the first Muslim to be elected to the Assembly; Chief Justice Martel Popescul of the Court of Queen’s Bench; and Tribal Council ViceChair Elaine Chicoose of the File Hills-Qu’Appelle Tribal Council.

The service concluded with the singing of three verses of O Canada: the first two in English and the last one in French.

St. Augustine’s Anglican Church in the small Newfoundland community of New Perlican found an innovative answer to the question of how it should maintain one of its cemeteries by inviting a neighbouring farmer to graze his goats on the land.

The idea arose in 2014, when vestry member Eileen Matthews suggested introducing goats to the plot of land might be an easy way to keep the cemetery clean and the graves accessible.

The cemetery features many old headstones decorated in a detailed ornamental fashion.

While it often attracts visitors who come to the outport community on Trinity Bay, in recent years it has become overgrown with alders and vegetation.

While some of the other vestry members were hesitant about the idea, Trudi Martin, the church’s treasurer, agreed to join Matthews in speaking to local man Ronnie Peddle, who keeps goats and other animals.

Peddle assured Matthews and Martin that his goats would eat the alders and other plants, while within two or three years the area would be completely clear.

However, he cautioned a fence would be needed keep the goats in.

Following vestry’s leadership, local Anglicans quickly raised $4,000 – twice as much as was needed – and put up a fence.

“The goats have been chewing away since the fall of 2015 and it is amazing the difference already!” Matthews and Martin said in a report.

“Driving by now, one can see the various headstones from the road. We are excited to see the finished results.”

Anglican Life

The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

15

Communication important in vast diocese like Qu'Appelle

By Jason Antonio REGINA – Communications is an important aspect of church life, but is one area of mission in which the Diocese of Qu’Appelle is weak, according to Bishop Rob Hardwick.

“At the moment, only the stories being told — often by the bishop — (happen) at Diocesan Council or (during) a regional visit,” Hardwick said to Diocesan Council on April 16 in Regina during his bishop’s report.

“We need the expertise.

We need help to know how to communicate, what to communicate and when to communicate.

“We don’t have that expertise available to us. How can we speak to everyone in our diocese in a way that brings hope, that shares what’s happening and invites full participation?”

This is a common refrain in all congregations across the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, he added.

Hardwick suggested to council members that they should think about what resources could be brought to bear to address this communications gap.

Youth missioner The bishop then informed council that youth missioner Julie Moser feels she needs to increase her work hours to 28 hours a week because of many growing initiatives, such as YouthSurge, re-treats, Camp Harding and grandparenting sessions.

Moser also wants to meet with every youth in the diocese personally and meet with all regional leaders about youth issues.

Bishop’s Council This body, as part of the Mission Action Plan, is a gathering of regional teams.

Hardwick plans to meet with this council on Nov. 3.

Until then, the bishop will meet with the regional

People light candles during a street concert in Nairobi to highlight the crisis in Burundi. The Diocese of Muyinga is in Burundi; the diocese is a companion diocese with Qu'Appelle. Photo by Noor Khamis/Reuters ​ teams sepa-rately to discuss what is happening across the diocese, how mission might be resourced and how to further this initiative.

Living the Mission “I am encouraged as to where we are in Living the Mission, encouraged by what is beginning to happen,” said Hardwick. He senses that some places are “relaxing” in their giving; the diocese needs to continue on this fiveyear plan.

So far, more than $1 million has been raised through the initiative from 14 congregations. There are still 40 congregations to engage in Living the Mission.

“It would be nice to get everyone involved in the next year,” Hardwick said.

“It makes, and continues to make, a difference. We heard

at Diocesan Synod of success stories” in our diocese, such as about youths or people’s lives being transformed.

Evangelism Few churches in the diocese seem to be engaging in evangelism, the bishop noted. There are no courses on evangelism or discipleship, however.

This is an important part of the Mission Action Plan: how will others know about the Christian faith if it is not shared?

Whenever there is a baptism or confirmation, Hardwick has started challenging those in attendance to consider baptism.

One young man reacted to that request at a recent baptism. Rarely does the Church challenge people to consider baptism or

confirmation or begin a discipleship course.

“Our default can be to go back to what we’ve always done,” said Hardwick. “I’ve sensed, sitting Diocesan Synod, a sitting back in many places. We can’t do that.

“We’re still at a critical stage … in our diocese. It is important we continue to engage and continue to share with God’s people.”

Helping Muyinga The diocese needs to continue journeying with the Diocese of Muyinga, said Hardwick. The Diocese of Qu’Appelle has given two donations to Muyinga and there is still some left in an account.

He had an email conversation with the Muyinga bishop, who thanked the diocese for its assistance.

There are still refugees streaming in from areas afflicted by war.

The Muyingan bishop also hopes to meet with Hardwick, although Hardwick noted Qu’Appelle delegates could make it easier for Muyinga representatives by meeting them in Tanzania.

No one can get into Burundi safely right now due to war in the area.

The diocese has already given $5,000 to Muyinga to help refugees, Hardwick pointed out. He suggested a motion to send more financial resources to the struggling diocese.

A motion to send $3,000 to Muyinga in Burundi to help with refugees was then passed

by Diocesan Council. ($3,000 CDN is roughly equal to $3.5 million Burundi Francs.)

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

June 2016

Are people really hard-wired for faith?

By Rev. Bill Portman

“

You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

It may sound like a quotation from the Bible, but it actually comes from a fourth century bishop named Augustine of Hippo, one of the greatest of the early Christian writers.

For those interested in geography, Hippo is modern-day Annaba, on the Mediterranean coast of Algeria in North Africa.

The quote comes from Augustine's spiritual biography – his “Confessions” – and he knew what he was talking about; he moved from believer to pagan and then found faith again.

Another quote connects with the one from Augustine: “If there is no God, it would be necessary to invent him.”

That comes from the 17th century French philosopher Voltaire.

If we put these two quotations alongside some ideas found in contemporary research, which suggest that our DNA may actually predispose human beings toward religious faith, we perhaps can see some validation of Augustine's conversion experience or Voltaire's instinctive reaching out toward a higher power.

Could there really be something in this? Are we humans really hard-wired to be religious?

Some recent research by a team at Oxford University in England might point to some answers.

It involved 57 researchers who did more than 40 studies in 20 countries.

According to Professor Trigg, one of the team leaders, “This project suggests that religion is not just something for a peculiar few to do on Sundays instead of playing golf.

“We have gathered a body of evidence that suggests that religion is a common fact of human nature across different societies.

“If we look at why religious beliefs and practices persist in societies across the world, we conclude that individuals

bound by religious ties might be more likely to co-operate as societies.

“This suggests that attempts to suppress religion are likely to be short-lived, as human thought seems to be rooted to religious concepts, such as the existence of supernatural agents or gods, and the possibility of an afterlife or pre-life.”

Now, even remembering the examples of failed attempts to suppress religion in the former Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China, we need to be cautious in interpreting these findings.

Any genetic religious predisposition does not necessarily apply only to Christian belief.

It's really more of an openness to spirituality in a more general way.

In the southern Alberta “Bible Belt” or some parts of the Islamic world, it could express itself in rigid fundamentalism. In British Columbia’s “lotus land” it could be astrology or crystals or pyramids.

Gone wrong, it could result in the kind of extremism that attacks a church in Pakistan creating 81 new 21st century Christian martyrs.

Here, it could be a simple acknowledgement that there are many valid expressions of Christian faith and life.

Another study pointing to a genetic basis for spirituality says that twins separated at birth tend to have similar levels of spirituality, despite different upbringings; and identical twins, who share the same DNA, appear about twice as likely to share similar levels of spirituality as fraternal twins.

It would be hardly surprising that nature might favour genes that promote an inclination to faith, if some other recent studies are to be believed.

Both suggest that religious people may live longer than the less religious. A study of about 4,000 people in North Carolina found that frequent churchgoers had a 46 per cent lower risk of dying early than those who worshipped less often.

Another study, this time involving almost 126,000

Remembering St. Stephen the Martyr

A large stained glass window on the east side of St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church in Swift Current was designed and created by Christopher Wallis of London, Ont. The window was donated by Dr. O. M. Irwin to the glory of God and in loving remembrance of his wife Nellie, 1889-1964. Christ is depicted in the centre light surrounded by a golden aureole, a symbol of His divinity. Above Him is a dove, the symbol of the Holy Ghost. Beneath the figure, the chalice, the symbol of Christian faith that represents the Holy Eucharist with the waters of the baptism behind. In the left hand light, St. Stephen is shown holding the church of St. Stephen’s, Swift Current. The rock in his other hand symbolizes his martyrdom. Below is a scene showing his martyrdom. St. Paul is the figure to the left. The text is Acts 7:60 — “Lord do not hold this sin against them.” Emblem of St. Stephen, palms and stones, is in the top of the light. St. Luke, the physician, is depicted in the right hand light holding his attributes, a pen and book. The scene below shows him visiting St. Paul in prison. The wording reads, “Luke administering to the imprisoned Paul.” The winged ox, St. Luke’s emblem, is shown in the top of the light. Photo from St. Stephen's, Swift Current

people, suggested that a 20-year-old churchgoer might live seven years longer than a similar person who does not attend religious services.

None of this, of course, answers the question “Does God exist?”, but perhaps it supports what Augustine and Voltaire knew intuitively: that God created us to appreciate divinity.

Certainly, untold numbers of believers have experienced this as being true in their own lives, while the new research certainly suggests humanity will not easily leave religion behind.

This is not easy to say in the face of the problems we face today as Christians. Of course, this is nothing new.

We have suffered right from the earliest days of the Church: rejection, unbelief, marginalization, persecution, martyrdom.

It has been said that Christians now are the

most persecuted religious group in the world, but few world leaders are willing to protest this because of fear of angering countries whose co-operation they need, or of contravening the politically correct requirement for “tolerance.”

Here in Saskatchewan only 44.5 per cent of people answering a 2004 survey admitted to being part of any religious organization – not just Christian, but any religious group.

Today's mission field is our own communities, our neighbours, our families.

Faith may be pretty quiet in many circles these days, but it still isn't something that human can easily cast off.

Of Christians, someone once said, “People know which church they don't attend.”

Part of the church's mission today is to re-awaken genuine faith in those people.

I believe that Augustine

and Voltaire were right.

A tendency to faith in some form seems to be embedded within us as a profound part of human existence.

Those of us who persevere in believing and living our faith today find ourselves once again in the role of the faithful remnant: preserving and passing on the Christian Story ready for the future, ever ready to offer a Saviour to the restless heart of the seeker after God. (The quotation from Augustine of Hippo is the theme of the Collect for Proper 15, page 367 in the Book of Alternative Services.)

Editor's note: This article was written before an Angus Reid poll and accompanying report in the April 13, 2015 issue of Maclean's. The new poll echoes findings of earlier ones cited here.

Rev. Bill Portman was a priest in the Diocese of Qu'Appelle. He died in 2015.