Saskatchewan anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • March 2016 www.facebook.com/thesaskatchewananglican —
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He is Risen!
Photo by jgroup/istockphoto
‘Followers of Jesus follow Jesus’ By Julie Moser Youth and Children’s Missioner CARONPORT (Qu’A) – After mostly mild weather, Saskatchewan was sent into a deep freeze in mid-January, the weekend of our first diocesan youth retreat! But the cold outside did not affect the great time of fellowship, teaching and fun at the Confirming Faith retreat at Briercrest College campus. Five youth from five different churches attended and, with the help of some awesome leaders (Danielle and Janice from St. Mary, Regina, and Brody and Ken from St. Aidan, Moose Jaw) we managed to have a pretty exceptional time. Cody Matchett, a graduate of Briercrest College and a parishioner at St. Aidan, Moose Jaw, opened God’s word to us
over the weekend. He spoke about three people in the book of Mark who met Jesus, with a focus on the uniqueness of Christ in His dealings with each person. He showed how Jesus was God in the flesh and held out the challenge to us about the call Jesus makes on our lives to follow Him. The phrase was “Followers of Jesus follow Jesus!” Cody’s talks truly were a highlight of the weekend and I have a strong feeling we will experience Cody’s gift for teaching the Scriptures in future youth events. Along the way we also enjoyed worship in song with Luke Johnson (youth minister from St. Aidan, Moose Jaw), testimony from AJ Crocker (organizer of YouthQuake), testimony by Andrew Russell (rap artist and performer at
(Left) Bible Pictionary was one activity at Confirming Faith youth retreat at Briercrest College. Photo by Julie Moser this year’s YouthQuake), not to mention, shooting each other
with pop bottle guns, glow stick leader hunt, meals with college
students in the cafeteria and hot chocolate and Compline in the evenings. We plan to make this an annual event so be sure to encourage your young people to be there next year. One of my aims as Youth and Children’s Missioner is provide regular gatherings for fellowship to encourage young people in our diocese, especially for those from churches that have few youths. To learn about what’s occurring in your area, email me at julie.moser@sasktel. net and ask to be added to the monthly resource pages. Briercrest College and Seminary is a community of rigorous learning that calls students to seek God’s kingdom, be shaped profoundly by Scripture and to be formed spiritually and intellectually for lives of service.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
March 2016
To know God, look closely at Jesus Did Jesus really contribute anything to our understanding of God that we couldn’t have gained from other religions? By the Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck
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hat a great question! I’m glad we’ve started from the perspective it is indeed possible to gain insight into divinity from other religions. Whether it’s Buddhism, Judaism, Wicca, or Islam, there is much we can learn from our neighbours in Spirit. However, that is not to say every religion is essentially the same. Indeed, there are unique insights in all traditions that are sometimes obscured by an overzealous commitment to the idea of religious unity. Therefore, to return to our original question, I will say an enthusiastic “yes, of course! Jesus did indeed contribute something to our understanding of God that we
couldn’t have gained from other religions.” In fact, I will go even further and say Jesus totally transforms our understanding of God in ways the Church has only begun to realize after 2,000 years of prayer and meditation. The trick here is popular Christianity normally starts with a “traditional” idea of God (omnipotent, omnimasculine, ultra-transcendent, etc.), then deals with Jesus as an “add-on” to that traditional idea. There is another way of seeing things: that is to take seriously the claim Jesus Christ truly is God Incarnate. If we want to know who God is, we need to look closely at Jesus. When we do this, three things in jump out at us. First, the Godde whom Jesus reveals is Love. Not just loving, as a divine characteristic, but Love at the core, in the essence. The teachings and parables of Jesus point clearly to a God who is a burning, saving, allconsuming Love.
From that understanding of the Triune One, an ethic of “love thy neighbour (including thy enemy!)” clearly proceeds. The practical and ethical life of Christianity is rooted and grounded in the nature of God Herself. Secondly, the Holy One revealed to us by Jesus is an Incarnate God. Incarnation means “embodied” or “enfleshed”. In this view, creation occurs through the cosmic incarnation of Divinity, while the universe is always becoming the Body of Christ. Yes, the historic incarnation of Jesus of Nazareth is unique in its revelation and consummation of Godde’s saving Love, but that same Word is also found embodied throughout the cosmos. Finally, the Mystery Jesus reveals most oddly that ours is a suffering God. For 2,000 years of Christian theology, this has been one of the hardest truths to accept. The patristic worldview of early Christianity was based
securely on the Hellenistic concept of divinity: that God is impassable, literally incapable of suffering. When you start from that definition, it is no wonder the human-divinity of Jesus, and especially His suffering and death on the cross, was such a theological problem to be solved. The early church theologians twisted and turned their thoughts into pretzels in an effort to ensure the impassability of God was preserved, even in the face of the burning Scriptural refrain that Holy One of Israel is constantly moved-in-thewomb for the salvation of the people. Reformation theologians, especially Luther, began to reclaim this sense of Divine passion and suffering; contemporary theologians take the “crucified God” as a starting point. With this awareness, we see that Jesus redefines divine power: the only power of God is the power of Love and no other.
Jesus is the manifestation of God in history Did Jesus really contribute anything to our understanding of God that we couldn’t have gained from other religions? By Rev. Dustin Resch
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t is a fraught thing to speak for other religions, especially about how they may or may not conceive of God or transcendent reality. Instead of doing so, I will try to give voice to a central Christian conviction relevant to our question. In particular, I want to express how the church claims that the uniqueness of their vision of God is wrapped up entirely with Jesus Himself. That is to say, Jesus does not simply add more or new information to a view of God; He Himself is the Christian vision of God, personally and completely. What I mean is this. Both Jesus and His church not only claim that Jesus was a great messenger, prophet, or teacher who makes interesting and accurate statements about God; Jesus is Himself included in the very identity of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the identity of the God of the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus does this when He performs actions and makes
claims that only the God work out in their doctrines of of Israel legitimately could the Trinity and the incarnation. (e.g., forgiving sins, teaching While the notion that Jesus authoritatively, claiming is God Himself is tricky to exclusive sonship with God, sort through conceptually, it etc.). The has massive church that implications for followed Jesus how Christians The conviction that did this by understand God was crucified and including Jesus God (not to risen in the humanity in worship mention how of Jesus of Nazareth that is due they understand reformulates all exclusively to themselves, the one God of other human knowledge of God. Israel. beings and This reformulation Eventually, creation!). goes so deep that any the church Most so-called “attribute” came to work centrally, or proposition about out language to that Jesus is speak as clearly included in the God that has not been as possible in very identity of fashioned on the anvil their age about God means the of Jesus cannot be how this could Christian view said to apply to the be so. of God must be Christian view of the Christians reinterpreted continue to use entirely through God who Jesus is. this language the life and and these death of Jesus concepts when of Nazareth. they recite the Where we ancient, ecumenical statements see Jesus weep, where we see of faith, such as the Nicene Jesus have compassion and heal, Creed. where we see Jesus crucified There, Christians confess and dead, we are seeing God that Jesus is “of one being with Himself do these things. the Father” and that He is “God For Christians, Jesus doesn’t of God, Light of Light, true God just transmit abstract knowledge of true God.” about God; He is the full These are the roots of what enactment, embodiment, and the church eventually came to manifestation of God in history.
This means all of our ideas of God – whether they be philosophical or sentimental – need to be refashioned through the lens of Jesus, God the Son. This is what Martin Luther spoke of when he described a theologia crucis: a view of God radically re-shaped by the crucified and risen Jesus, as opposed to a theologia gloriae: a view of God based solely on human reason and experience. The conviction that God was crucified and risen in the humanity of Jesus of Nazareth reformulates all knowledge of God. This reformulation goes so deep that any so-called “attribute” or proposition about God that has not been fashioned on the anvil of Jesus cannot be said to apply to the Christian view of the God who Jesus is. So, while other religions might be able to articulate certain similar concepts and propositions about God, only Christians see God fully manifest in the life, death, resurrection and ongoing reign of Jesus of Nazareth. The uniqueness of what Jesus contributes about God is nothing less than His very self. Rev. Dustin Resch is a priest in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. He can be emailed at dustingresch@gmail.com.
Correction: There were two photo errors in the February edition of the Saskatchewan Anglican. The photo of Linda and Clayton Warnock was taken by Linda Coates, while the picture for story ‘Never falter, never fail’ was taken by Roger Blaber. We regret the errors.
Saskatchewan The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • January 2013
anglican
Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle. Published monthly except for July and August. Whole No. 292, Vol. 44, No. 7 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 May issue must be recieved by the diocesan editor no later than Friday, March 25. 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
March 2016
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Inflame us with new hope! By Bishop Michael W. Hawkins “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
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n Good Friday Jesus Christ entered into the darkness and the silence of our hopelessness. He took on our doubt and despair and conquered them for us. Since Christ’s descent into that God-forsakenness, there is no place and no one without hope. He was forsaken that none may be, He was hopeless that we may never be.
Mary Magdalene expresses our hopelessness in the last shadows before the dawn of Easter. She weeps, “They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid
Him” (John 20:13). She has seen Christ tortured and executed. She has seen her hope die and be buried and there is not even a corpse left to cling to and to remember. And there in her despair and tears she sees the Lord. On Easter morning hope dawns: Christ is risen. Israel’s hope was born and refined in its exile; so too for Mary Magdalene and for us, as our hope is often strengthened and clarified in loss. It is not too much to say we are saved by hope and in hope. We know too well the condemnation of despair, its destructive and self-destructive power. We are saved by hope, which is a longing and expectation,
Renovations at St. Luke’s make space for Kids’ Club By Nigel Salway REGINA – The St. Luke’s maintenance committee – Rev. Michael Bruce, Sid Gaudry, Terry Page and Nigel Salway – has been renovating the former choir room to be a multipurpose meeting room. As built, the room used to function as a change room for the choir. When the choir chose to locate their robes in the choir loft, the room was re-purposed into storage, especially for the medieval banquet costumes and props. This past summer a large rainfall flooded the tunnel between the church and the church hall. While mopping up from this, the maintenance committee noticed the source of the water: it was coming up through a large crack in the floor of the storage room. With the room filled with articles, it was impossible to fix the problem permanently. In the fall, Jacqueline McIlmoyl started to organize a weekly function for children, called Kids’ Club. The ideal location for this activity would be a small meeting room, but at the time, there was no such thing in the church. The maintenance committee came upon the idea of repurposing the storage room. The committee negotiated with the various parties responsible for the items in the room and received permission to clean out the room and plan for a transformation. One of the first priorities was
From left, Terry Page, Rev. Michael Bruce and Robert Gaudry work on the trench for the weeping tile in the former storage room. Photo by Sid Gaudry to install a weeping tile in the room to try to keep the water level down. This weeping tile connects to a sump pump that is located in the room. While installing the weeping tile, they discovered an existing weeping tile in the room was blocked. This was connected to the newly installed weeping tile to provide proper drainage. Once the weeping tile was installed, the walls were framed and Gyproc installed. The walls have since been mudded and sanded.
The supports for a suspended ceiling have been installed and new lights planned. The room will have Cat6 Ethernet cable access in addition to WIFI and a data projector with screen is planned. Two small pews recently removed from the church will be installed in the room. The room is expected to be completed by the middle of March. It will be used by Kids’ Club and other church activities when the meeting room off the narthex is unavailable.
an assurance and first taste of a future glory and happiness, based on our faith in the saving love and goodness of God in Jesus Christ. Our faith in Christ, who died and rose again and conquered sin and death, is the ground of our hope. That hope is for ourselves and one another, for all of our humanity, body and soul, friend and stranger and it extends to all of creation. The Gospel for all of creation is the good news of hope. Our faith in Christ’s victory leads to our hope for our own in Christ and with Christ. That hope is described for us as both a helmet and an anchor. It is something that secures us against the storm and protects
us against attack. The hope set before us in the risen Lord is a hope of reconciliation and resurrection, of forgiveness and life. There is despair of reconciliation and of new life all around us and even in the Church. That despair is personified in Judas Iscariot. That despair is lethal. What we are offered in the light of Easter is hope. In the Holy Eucharist, in those holy mysteries and pledges of His love, in that foretaste of heaven, we taste and see our hope, Christ for you and Christ in you. So we pray, keep us firm in the hope you have set before us. Amen. Alleluia!
New partnership between Bible Society, Christian Peace Officers TORONTO (CANADIAN CHRISTIAN NEWS SERVICE) – The Canadian Bible Society (CBS) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO). Building on a common desire to make Scriptures accessible to those serving on the front lines of peace work in Canada, CBS and FCPO will engage in a distribution project to place a specially created version of the Gospel of John in the hands of peace officers across the country. The Scriptures will be distributed through FCPO chapters across Canada, at special events, and to individual members by FCPO members. “When we think about our mandate to make Scriptures available to everyone and anyone, and in the easiest of places and the toughest of places, this partnership makes perfect sense,” says Don Miller, director of Canadian Ministry for CBS. “This Gospel of John will be in some very tough places indeed.” Ron Mostrey, the president of FCPO and a former RCMP officer, said, “We believe this booklet will lead officers to a greater understanding of the richness of the Bible and the relevance of the Scriptures for their lives.” It’s very intentional that the Gospel of John is being used, adds Mostrey. “Law enforcement officers always seek the truth and look
for facts. By reading the Gospel of John, they will be considering an account of someone who was there when Jesus walked on this Earth. It is an eyewitness’ account. It’s a great starting point to learn of Jesus’ love and the peace He brings when one accepts Him as Lord.” Miller notes the prelude in the booklet thanks officers for their service. According to a 2014 Statistics Canada report, there were 68,896 police officers in Canada. A peace officer, as defined by the Criminal Code, also includes correctional officers, border officers, conservation officers and others serving in similar capacities. The Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers – Canada is a unique ministry for those who “serve and protect.” The organization, based in Ottawa, exists to serve peace officers and peace officer families, as well as the communities they serve. For more than 100 years, the Canadian Bible Society has promoted Bible translation, publication, distribution and engagement. It distributes Scripture resources in more than 100 languages in Canada. Together with 146 national Bible Societies worldwide, hundreds of millions of Christian Scripture portions are distributed each year to people hungry for the Gospel.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
March 2016
Newcomers welcomed at cathedral in Saskatoon “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35) By Sarah Donnelly SASKATOON – Twice a year the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist formally invites all those who have joined the parish to come together for a lunch and some time to introduce themselves and be warmly welcomed by the Dean. Members of the welcoming committee, some of whom have only joined the cathedral themselves in the past year, hosted an event recently following a 10:30 a.m. service. After registering with the parish, a letter of welcome is sent to each newcomer, and they are given the date for the next newcomers’ lunch. A month before that date, invitations are mailed out to the newcomers, and staff, key ministry leaders and a selection of long-time parishioners are also invited to attend this event. The group gathers for a time of socializing, enjoying a meal, and then are invited to sit in a large circle where they take turns introducing themselves. During this lunch we welcomed people who have recently moved to Saskatoon from India, South Africa and Manitoba (!), along with several residents of Saskatoon who are pleased to have found a new home at the cathedral. Susan and Charles Mowat shared, “We felt very welcomed when we joined the cathedral last year. We joined the welcoming committee because we wanted to be part of passing
Newcomers to St. John’s Cathedral, Saskatoon introduce themselves during a newcomer’s luncheon. this on to others.” “The cathedral is not just a gathering of individuals on a Sunday morning,” added Kris Nevland, welcoming committee and choir member. “It is a family; we know each other and we care for one another. There is enough diversity here for all of us to feel that this is our spiritual home.” This time of introductions is done in the context of “A Service of Welcome,” a Celtic
prayer service, taken from the Iona Worship Book. Led by Dean Scott Pittendrigh, this service invites participants to recognize the gifts that all people bring to a community of faith. “You open up to us a wider world” pray the long-time parishioners. “You offer us a space to be ourselves” respond the newcomers. “We share God’s care and challenge; offering and receiving
welcome we become Christ to one another” the group says together. Creating a place of warmth and hospitality in Saskatoon’s cathedral is very important to Dean Scott. “Because of our visibility we often receive people who are new to this city and perhaps even new to Canada. This congregation is very committed to opening their hearts to those they don’t yet know. The cathedral is a large
Photo by Sarah Donnelly building, but the parishioners do a great job creating an intimacy here that is greatly appreciated by those who walk through our doors. It’s a wonderful community of faith.” One of the first newcomer’s lunches was held on Dec. 6, 2015. Sarah Donnelly is the chairwoman of the welcoming committee and a pastoral assistant at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Saskatoon.
DIOCESE OF SASKATOON
Announcements for March 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 The Parish of St. George’s, Saskatoon, Community Coffee House every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. Join them for a warm social time with coffee, tea, toast and some type of baked goods at no charge. The coffee time is followed by a weekly Bible Study from 11 a.m. to noon. All events are in the Parish Hall, 624 Avenue I South. 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 to serve breakfasts and lunches every day. If anyone is interested in this opportunity or if your parish wishes to become involved, please contact the Saskatoon Friendship Inn at 306-242-5122. g L’Arche Saskatoon, an ecumenical organization supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities, has recently started a creative workshop with a vision of “Making art, making friends, making peace.” If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Wyndham Thiessen, community leader, at 306-262-7243 or
wthiessen@larchesaskatoon.org.
Amanda Currie.
g Women in Ministry Friday Luncheons at Queen’s House: Friday, Feb. 5 and March 4, noon to 1:30 p.m. Cost for lunch is $10. This invitation goes out to all women who are employed in professional ecclesial ministry; retired from an employed ministry position; and/or studying for professional ecclesial ministry. The main purpose for the lunches is to create an informal relational space where women working professionally in ministry (lay and ordained, pastoral work, congregational work, chaplaincy, retreat work) can connect across denominational lines and form networks of friendship and communication. Facilitators are Marie-Louise Ternier-Gommers and the Rev.
g Diocesan ACW Spring Conference: The Diocesan ACW Spring conference “Leaders of Courage, Serving by Faith” will be held at All Saints’ Anglican Parish, Saskatoon, from April 15 to 16. Event schedule to be announced in near future. Keep watching and plan on attending! Appointments: The Ven. Henry Montgomery Comerford, executive archdeacon of the diocese will be retiring on March 31. The Rev. Canon Ken Watts, priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity, Saskatoon, will begin his duties as the new executive archdeacon in February. The Rev. Canon Michael
Stonhouse, incumbent, Lloydminster Parish has been collated as archdeacon, by the Right Rev. David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon, in recognition of his long and faithful service in the church. Deadlines: To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be sent to the Associate Editor by fax, e-mail or “snail mail” by the last week of the month, two months before the month in which the insertion is desired (for example, December submissions will be in the February issue). Detailed and longer texts of upcoming events will not be included in this section, but should space allow, could be the subject of article and notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.
The Saskatchewan Anglican
March 2016
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Looking at Liturgy
Reading the Scriptures By Canon Michael Jackson
Polka power at St. Philip
A Sunday service in January at St. Philip, Regina, was enlivened by the Journey in Praise Polka Mass Group. Their musical adaptations to the prayers and entreaties, as well as the hymns, was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Photo by Faye Metz
Bishop in a Chevy pickup By Diana Swift Anglican Journal (This is part 1 of the story. Part 2 will appear in April). ishop Adam Halkett is so good with numbers that Mary Brown, Diocese of Saskatchewan bookkeeper, once teased him about it, saying, “What are you doing here? You could make a lot more money in the business world.” Despite his gravitation toward mathematics in high school – and he still likes to check the numbers – the pull of the gospel was stronger. Halkett, since 2012 the first Anglican indigenous bishop of Saskatchewan and a principal architect of indigenous self-determination within the Anglican Church of Canada, attended James Settee College for Ministry in Prince Albert. He became a deacon in 1999 and was ordained in 2000, serving as priest-in-charge at St. Joseph’s, Montreal Lake. He was made an archdeacon in 2005, and in July 2012, he was elected bishop of the diocesan area of Missinipi (the Cree name for the region of the Churchill River and its basin). Each year, the 61-year-old bishop drives thousands of kilometres in his trusty Chevy Colorado pickup, bringing the balm of his ministry to his people, many of whom are locked in the anger and despair of reservation life. Halkett gives others the credit for his quick rise to prominence in the church and his visionary leadership in indigenous autonomy.
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“I feel it was passed on to me by my elders and also by indigenous youth wanting to move forward from all the pain endured at the residential schools,” he said. He himself attended Prince Albert Residential School, but not till age 16 and only for a few months. “I went there to improve my English,” he said. “I didn’t suffer abuse… but I saw the pain of those who did.”
Bishop Adam Halkett The affable Halkett has an infectious grin and a wicked sense of humour to match. “I get it from my parents; they were both funny. And I sometimes use humour in my sermons to break the ice.” According to the diocesan bishop of Saskatchewan, Michael Hawkins, “Bishop Adam has a profound humility and sense of humour that are distinctly Christian and Cree.” But his humility and gift for lightening heavy situations have not hindered him from taking a strong leadership role in Anglican aboriginal autonomy. “Adam sees the dynamics of the future better than anyone else,” said national indigenous
Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald. “He’s one of our great visionaries in terms of the selfdetermining Indigenous church. He’s been a great friend, support and partner.” Born in 1954 in Swan River, a remote trapline in northeastern Saskatchewan, Halkett grew up in Red Lake and also on the Montreal Lake Cree Nation reserve, where his father was a band member. Imbued with a deep respect for the land, he followed the autochthonous hunting and fishing way of life. Although he now lives in downtown Prince Albert, he still feels close to the land and maintains the family home in Montreal Lake, about an hour’s drive north of the city. His parents, Alice and Isaiah, were staunch Anglicans and baptized their five children in the church. Halkett, however, grew away from the church in his teens and began using alcohol and drugs. He still considers himself an addict in recovery. In fact, he met Theresa, wife of 29 years, while she was an addiction worker at Montreal Lake. Halkett finds it healing to talk about his struggle with substance abuse. “People really cared about me and prayed for me, especially Theresa’s dad, who was an Anglican priest,” he recalled. In 1982, he committed his life to Christ and was a lay reader for 17 years. Later he became a devoted husband and the father of two sons and two daughters, now all grown. “He’s been a very good husband and father,” Theresa said.
The reading of the Bible – proclaiming the Word of God – is a vital part of Christian worship. It is important that reading be done with care, sensitivity and consideration for the listeners, the members of the worshipping community. We serve God and serve God’s people while reading; readers need to be touched by the Word before they can inspire listeners. Preparation should begin a week before one reads, so the reading has a chance to “take root” inside, says Roman Catholic Sister Melvina Hrushka, who has shared with me in giving joint Anglican-RC workshops for readers. A person should “never read publicly what you have not read privately,” she adds. It is important to check the pronunciation of unfamiliar words. In our workshops, I emphasize that all public speaking requires volume, slowness, clarity and expression. We cannot speak in public the way most of us do in conversation, because we will simply not be heard or understood. Common problems in public reading include speaking too softly and too quickly; not enunciating words; allowing the voice to drop off at the end of a sentence; reading in a monotone without sufficient expression; and not using the microphone (if there is one) properly. We should avoid having readers who are unprepared or are not comfortable reading in public. In Morning and Evening Prayer there are usually two lessons, one from the Old Covenant or Testament, one from the New, both preferably read by lay people. At the Eucharist, there are normally three readings, including one from the Old
Testament; a second from the New Testament that is most often, but not always, from one of the Epistles; and the third from one of the four Gospels. The Book of Alternative Services (BAS) states that “lay people should normally be assigned the readings which precede the Gospel.” (The 1959/62 Book of Common Prayer (BCP) provides only for Epistle and Gospel readings.) The Revised Common Lectionary adapted for Anglican use is available online on the General Synod website (as is the BCP lectionary). Note that this supersedes the lectionary in the 1985 BAS. Texts of the Sunday Eucharistic readings, psalm and prayers are available as bulletin inserts and can be provided ahead of time. A valuable Roman Catholic resource for readers (“lectors” in RC parlance) is the Canadian edition of the Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of the Word, published by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and Liturgy Training Publications in three volumes, one for each year of the liturgical cycle (A, B, C). This includes the texts of the readings (with the typeface indicating words to emphasize), notes for interpretation of the scripture passages, plus helpful tips on pronunciation and reading styles. The Roman Catholic lectionary sometimes differs from the Anglican, but where they coincide the workbook is a great asset. In a subsequent column we will look at the proclamation of the Gospel at the Eucharist, which has specific usages. But for now, let’s reiterate the importance of preparing and reading the Scriptures at worship. Canon Michael Jackson is deacon at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina.
Madison Engen reads at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Photo by Margaret Ball
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
March 2016
All Saints celebrates induction of new co-incumbent priests By Debbie Hubick WEYBURN (Qu’A) – Members of the congregation, diocesan clergy and members of the Weyburn Ministerial Association joined together on Jan. 14 to celebrate the induction and ministry of All Saints’ new co-incumbent priests, Archdeacon Wilma Woods and Rev. Brian Woods. Bishop Robert Hardwick presided and preached at the service. In his sermon he both questioned and challenged the congregation at All Saints by saying of a church, “It can be so self-absorbed with programs, projects, banquets, meetings, things that we like doing; as a church, we forget our primary objectives and accomplish little of eternal significance. “So what are the primary objectives of this and every church? What is the goal and are we headed towards it? “In the hubbub of everyday life we must not let others define our goal, for we will lose our focus and make our work more difficult. “But how do we keep on track and not be sidetracked and neglect that which is most important?” the bishop asked. “As a church are you spending the time you need in prayer? At the start of this new ministry do your lives need to be re-focused? “So that you fulfill your
Rev. Brian Woods
Archdeacon Wilma Woods
vision here to be a worshiping community, serving Christ by sharing the faith, growing in spirit, reaching out in Christian love? “You and I live in a fastchanging and complex world. “If we are not careful, we will find ourselves majoring in minors, ignoring the really important task of reaching our community for Christ. “But how do we do it? “How do we find the time to connect with God and to reflect on our lives in order to do what God has called us to do…? “As a church, indeed as a diocese, we have been doing some listening, listening to Jesus through Scripture, through prayer, through necessity (a great driver for change if ever there was one). “And as we have listened
we observed a New Testament model of ministry which is different to the professionalized priestly ministry the church has had from the Middle Ages to the present. “This is a form of ministry that led to a chaplaincy model of ministry in which someone was paid to visit, paid to evangelize, to preach and to care for the physical and spiritual well being of the flock. “As we listened we noted the words of the saints, that we are one body in Christ, all gifted for the work of ministry. “Sadly, the priesthood of all believers through the years came to be the priesthood of some believers. “Listening, we have noted that Jesus calls us to new forms of ministry. “It is disturbing, for it calls
us to move out of our comfort zones, a move to consider not a second best ministry but God’s total ministry model, a true and lived out calling of the body of Christ in a community. “A vision which this church has held dear in recent years. “Your combined ministry – the total ministry of this church – will be needed to help others to faith and to aid their spiritual growth. “This community needs to see Christ’s love and goodness in all of you. “Yes, Brian and Wilma will play a very important part as co-incumbent priests here, but they cannot do the ministry and mission on their own. “You will all need to let God work within you to accomplish His will in this place.” Bishop Hardwick gave an analogy of working as a parish to flying an airplane. “So key pieces of flying this plane that Brian and Wilma will encourage are in the areas of evangelism, Christian education, discipleship, ecumenical partnerships and the discernment and development of those called to ministry.
“They will encourage new expressions of church, and through their regional ministries, will give leadership to exploring a possible new start church for Stoughton and Kisby. “Just like flying a plane, it is a huge responsibility, especially as they will be sharing one stipend. “However the gifts of two people utilized as coincumbents will help model a shared ministry role and, coupled with the ministry of the wardens, vestry and congregation will aid the develop and implementation of a Mission Action Plan that builds on your parish mission statement, diocesan Mission Action Plan and the Five Marks of Mission. “You have a wonderful opportunity here to model to the diocese how a church can engage in every member ministry, don’t get sidetracked, enjoy the flight yes, but don’t forget to fly the plane. “Paul Harvey, at the end of his news broadcasts would say, ‘The rest they say is history.’ So, people of All Saints, make history together.”
MARANATHA YOGA – Kate O’Gorman.
Every Monday, 7:15 – 8:30pm. Cost: $10 drop in.
THE BOOK OF EXODUS — Fr. Paul Fachet, OMI.
Wednesday March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, 10:00am – 12:00pm. Cost: $15.
A DAY AWAY — Gisele Bauche.
Second Wednesday of the month, 9:30am – 3:30pm. March 9, April 13, May 11. Cost $25 with lunch.
Where in the World is Hope Bear? Take a picture with Hope Bear wherever you travel!
DID YOU EVER WONDER? A Common Witness Project of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada — Marie-Louise Ternier-Gommers. Wednesday, March 2, 9, 16. 7:00 — 9:00pm Cost: $10/session or $25/3 sessions. Attention: Session Location — St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Humboldt.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION DAYS:
Gleanings from Mystical Masters – Fr. Kevin McGee. Saturday March 19, 9:00am — 4:00pm Stages of Faith on the Spiritual Journey – Sr. Teresita Kambeitz, OSU Saturday April 16, 9:00am — 4:00pm Eco Spirituality and the Cosmos – Sr. Maureen Wild, SC Saturday May 28, 9:00am — 4:00pm Monastic Way: Benedictine Spirituality for Today – Sr. Mary Coswin OSB Saturday June 18, 9:00am — 4:00pm
Cost: $55/day, includes lunch.
ECUMENICAL LENTEN RETREAT — Sarah Donnelly Talks by Ron Rolheiser on DVD
Living a Life Without Resentment, Saturday March 12, 9:30am – 3:30pm. Cost $55/lunch; $45 /bag lunch. Exploring a Non-Violent God, Saturday March 19, 9:30am — 3:30pm.
ICONOGRAPHY RETREAT — Anna Mycyk and Gisele Bauche
Monday May 23 — Friday May 27, 9:00am — 4:00pm daily. $540/live-in, $450/Commute, includes lunch
Canon Michael Stonhouse appointed archdeacon
The Right Rev. David Irving, Bishop of Saskatoon (left), appointed the Rev. Canon Michael Stonhouse, incumbent of Lloydminster Parish, as archdeacon in recognition of his many years of devoted service to the church, Jan. 10. Photo by Marilyn Clark
For program details, contact your local Anglican parish, or visit www.queenshouse.org To register, please call 306-242-1916 or email receptionist@queenshouse.org
Do you need a facility for:
Find out more at
www.anglicanfoundation.org
In-services, seminars, workshops, retreats, celebrations or any other occasions? Check our website for facility & booking details. 601 Taylor Street W., Saskatoon, SK S7M 0C9
The Saskatchewan Anglican
March 2016
7
The meaning of ‘Christian unity’ By David W. T. Brattston What is Christian unity in the biblical sense? Is it merely two neighbouring congregations of the same denomination sponsoring a joint meal? Or two congregations of different denominations doing so? Intercommunion agreements? Co-operation in the World Council of Churches and similar national and local organizations? Or did Jesus and His first followers mean nothing less that the thoroughgoing structural union of two previously independent denominations? Does Christian unity require a complete merger from different denominational families, such as Anglican with Lutheran? Examining the Bible Jesus called for unity among Christians, as indicated in John 10:16 and His oft-cited prayer in John 17, but these do not tell us exactly what Christian unity is, or how we can know it exists in a particular situation or community. We must therefore examine the Bible and the earliest nonbiblical Christian sources to see what “unity” means and how we can work towards it. As an aid to interpretation of the New Testament, the present article looks at the writings of Christians from the era when memories were still fresh with the unwritten teachings and Bible interpretations of Christ and could recall what He and the apostles did in practice, before there was opportunity for the gospel to drift far from its roots. Consulting the earliest postbiblical sources also enables us to ascertain the meaning of such unity in the practice of the apostles and how “unity” was understood in the next few
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, and Bishop Sue Johnson with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, at the 2013 Joint Convention in Ottawa. Both churches have been in communion since 2001. Photo by Simon Chambers overlapping generations. In John 17 Jesus prayed that Christians be united in the same way that He and the Father are united. Not knowing the mechanics of heaven, we humans are little assisted by this statement in determining the quality and extent of unity, except to observe – important later in this article – that the Father and Son are in constant or perpetual contact with each other. The early Church The essence of Christian unity later in the first century A.D. was the considerate treatment and mutual accommodation among Christ’s followers at the congregational level on a frequent basis: Romans 12:4f, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:3 and Philippians 1:27 and 2:2. The contexts of all these Scriptures are a single local church in a single city. Also in the first century, while some apostles were still
alive, the congregation at Rome wrote a long letter to Corinth urging the Corinthians to reinstate congregational office bearers they had unjustifiably unseated, resulting in a rift in the congregation. The letter encouraged restoring the office holders in order to re-establish peace, love and unity among Christians who were in at least weekly contact with each other. In both biblical and nonbiblical first century letters, the contexts assume a single local church in a single city or town, and do not speak of relations between the addressees and Christians in other congregations, let alone other denominations, such as the Gnostics. Fixing relations with others Shortly before his martyrdom in A.D. 107, Bishop Ignatius of Antioch encouraged Christians in three congregations to be united to God, but also to the apostles
and their congregation’s clergy. In the early third century, a church manual stressed unity of clerics among themselves in a congregation. Both Ignatius and the manual pressed for greater consolidation and comity within the existing ecclesiastical or congregational structure to improve relations between Christians who had daily or weekly interactions with each other. In A.D. 197 the church father Tertullian wrote of Christian unity as being the gathering together of Christians in local public worship and sharing this world’s goods as a voluntary unity of property. Preached about A.D. 249, Origen’s Homilies on Joshua saw effective unity in two or three Christians agreeing in prayer on a joint request (Matthew 18:19), and in the apostles praying with one accord in Acts 1:14. These examples are of
persons in each other’s presence co-operating towards a common spiritual goal. Desirable Christian traits Origen was the foremost Bible scholar, teacher and preacher of his own time and for centuries afterwards. For confirmation of this view as to what the ancients meant by Christian unity, let us look at what the above authors classed it with as desirable Christian traits: peace, love, gentleness, compassion, courtesy, meekness, lowliness, longsuffering, forbearance, hospitality, plus recognition of the spiritual gifts of other Christians. According to the same authors, Christian unity is incompatible with strife, jealousy, dissimulation, arrogance, overthrowing congregational leaders, wisdom in one’s own conceits, repaying evil for evil and thinking too highly of oneself. All these are attitudes, qualities of character, or modes of interacting with people or conditions of relating to people with whom one is in personal contact. Mergers add to unity In the biblical sense, unity is a pattern of mind and behaviour, a mould of conducting interpersonal relations among Christians with whom they come into frequent contact, and which fosters Christian peace, love and harmony at the neighbourhood level. Not mentioned in the Bible, although Christianity had divided into different sects by the first century, formal interdenominational mergers contribute to Christian unity only to the extent they promote these local objectives. The shared Communion between Canadian Anglicans and Lutherans is one of these objectives.
D I O C E S E O F Q U ’A P P E L L E
Clergy changes in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle g St. Matthew’s, Regina
Rev. Anne Marie MacNeil and Rev. Blair Dixon have been licensed as associate priests, while Mae Boa has been licensed as lay incumbent/lay administrator at St. Matthew, Regina, from Jan. 24 to May 15 of this year. MacNeil was previously honorary assistant at St. James, Regina, and Dixon was associate priest at St. Matthew. Former incumbent Rev. Murray Wright has a full-time
teaching job with the Regina Catholic School Division and has been granted Permission to Officiate in the diocese. g Saskatchewan Gateway
Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy has been appointed incumbent for the Parish of Saskatchewan Gateway (centred on Moosomin), with special emphasis on ministry development, effective March 1. Her last Sunday at All Saints, Regina, was Jan. 31.
g Pelly Deanery
After much prayer and discussion, Archdeacon Kim and Rev. Susan Salo, priests and canon missioners for the churches of the Pelly Deanery (centred on Yorkton and Melville) have decided to seek ministry options elsewhere. The Salos have worked in the deanery for seven-and-a-half years and Bishop Rob Hardwick described them as “faithful to their calling, diligent in their ministries,” thanking them for
their many contributions to deanery and diocesan life. g Lay retreat from April 22
to 24 in new setting With the sale of St. Michael’s Retreat Centre outside Lumsden, the annual diocesan retreat for lay people is moving to Wood Acres Retreat in Moose Jaw. The silent retreat will start Friday, April 22, and conclude after lunch on Sunday, April 24. Leader Rev. Lauren Miller will speak on the theme
“Redeeming Our Time.” Rev. Susan Anholt will be the retreat chaplain. The cost is $250 per person. For more details and to register, please go to http://quappelle. anglican.ca/events/. g Burundi refugee relief
The Christmas appeal to assist refugees fleeing violence in Bujumbura, capital city of Burundi, to the Diocese of Muyinga, has raised $8,170 as of the end of January.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
March 2016
Children and youth events in Regina area Coffee & Kids 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Thursday All Saints, Regina St. Luke’s Kids’ Club 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. every Thursday, ages four to 10 St. Luke’s Regina St. Mary’s Palm Saturday Event March 19, 3:00 to 6:30 p.m., all ages St. Mary’s Regina
Members of the Knights of Columbus line the aisle of Holy Rosary Cathedral for the funeral of Archbishop Dan Bohan. Some of the Anglican representatives at the funeral are on the right: Bishop of Saskatchewan Michael Hawkins (looking up), (in front of him) Archdeacon Catherine Harper and Deacon Michael Jackson (farthest right). Photo by Frank Flegel
Roman Catholic Archbishop Daniel Bohan dies By Frank Flegel, courtesy of The Prairie Messenger REGINA – “He was Paul and I was Timothy,” said Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon Bishop Don Bolen, referring to the late Daniel Bohan, archbishop of Regina, who died Jan. 4. Bolen was the homilist in the Jan. 22 funeral mass for Bohan. He recalled how there was often confusion between his name and that of Archbishop Bohan’s name because they were so similar; the two decided to take up different saint’s names when in conversation with each other. Bolen’s homily focused on Bohan’s faith and how it sustained him in good times and in bad. “Archbishop Dan has given us a cue as to how we are to celebrate this morning’s
funeral by the way in which he lived and the way in which he prepared to die,” said Bolen. Bishop Bolen and Prince Albert Bishop Albert Thevenot celebrated the mass with concelebrants the clergy of the Regina Archdiocese. Bolen served as vicar general for the Regina Archdiocese for a brief period prior to his ordination to the episcopate and his appointment as bishop of Saskatoon diocese. The funeral mass was held at Holy Rosary Cathedral with about 1,000 in the cathedral and more in an overflow area in the church’s auditorium. Eight bishops/archbishops and more than 60 priests attended from across Canada. Archbishop Bohan’s ecumenical activities were obvious in the attendance of Buddhist Monks and representatives of the Hindu,
Sikh, Anglican and Coptic Christian representatives in the congregation. The Diocese of Qu’Appelle was represented by Dean Mike Sinclair, Archdeacon Catherine Harper and Deacon Michael Jackson. Bishop Michael Hawkins, Diocese of Saskatchewan, and Bishop David Irving, Diocese of Saskatoon, also attended the funeral. Provincial, federal and military representatives were also obvious, as well as representatives from the Regina Multi Faith forum; Lutheran and Evangelical were there but not as obvious. A sister, brother, sister-in law and nephew of the archbishop represented the family. Bohan has five siblings: three brothers and two sisters. His mother and the remaining members of the family will
Jack Sheldon, Order of Sask. recipient, dies By Mary Brown PRINCE ALBERT — Jack received the Order of Saskatchewan in 2004. He died Dec. 15, 2015 at age 88. Jack served the church of Saint John’s, Royal, as rector’s warden, custodian, verger, sexton and gravedigger. He was an active member of St. Mary’s Church and Cemetery in
P.A. Jack worked as a dairy farmer and widower of the late Ora Sheldon, founder of the Diocesan Resource Centre. Jack had four children and many grandchildren. Every spring when the asparagus was ready Jack would bring a bag full to the Synod Office for Bishop Michael Hawkins and Mary Brown. Jack was a very talkative man and always had a smile for you.
attend another celebration of Archbishop Bohan’s life that was scheduled for Jan. 26 in his home city of Moncton, N.B. The Office for the Dead celebrated by Very Rev. Lorne Crozon held the evening of Jan. 21 was also well attended. Dr. Margie Clow Bohan, the archbishop’s sister-in-law, gave a brief eulogy and words of remembrance at the end. “Danny (as he was called by the family) was a good son, brother, uncle, brother-in-law,” she said. She referred to his devotion to family despite the geographic distance between them. “He loved the Maritimes.” Crozon, the previous archdiocesan vicar general, was elected administrator by the Archdiocesan Consultors to serve the archdiocese until such time as a new archbishop is appointed by Pope Francis.
Youthsurge ages 12 to 18 April 30; contact julie.moser@sasktel.net Regina Anglican Youth May 28, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Watch for more information next issue St. Luke’s Kids’ Club Last day – June 2 St. Mary’s Parish Picnic – all ages June 26; contact stmarysanglican@sasktel.net St. Cuthbert’s Archdeaconry Sunday Schools 9:30 a.m. All Saints, Lumsden, 2nd & 4th Sun 10:00 a.m. St. Mary the Virgin St. Philip 10:30 am All Saints, Regina St. James the Apostle St. Luke’s St. Paul’s Cathedral 11:15 am All Saints, Pense, 1st & 3rd Sun
Saskatoon’s locally-trained clergy program
D
Photo courtesy Mary Brown
o you love God? The church? Have you been involved in lay ministry in your parish for a while and wonder about going even deeper? Perhaps God is calling you to diaconal or priestly ministry! God needs workers in the vineyard, including priests and deacons. The Diocese of Saskatoon has a program for training clergy. The program takes three to five years to
complete, based on the time you can devote to it. There is no cost to you, as the training leads to a nonstipendiary (voluntary) ordained ministry. The program includes reading courses, in-house training sessions, spiritual formation and a supervised apprenticeship. For more info, contact the Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck, at greenpriest@hotmail.ca.