Saskatchewan anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • October 2014
It’s a ‘wonderful life’ for Iraqi Christian family By Joanne Shurvin-Martin
Members of the Diocese of Saskatoon Mission to Baja team life a wall into place for one of the three homes they built. The 26-member team travelled to Vicente Guerrero, Mexico in late June to work on these homes as part of the diocese’s external outreach program. Photo — Contributed
Being God’s missioners to the wider world By Joan Irving SASKATOON – In late June, 26 members of the Diocese of Saskatoon met at St John’s Cathedral with family and friends for a fellowship supper and commissioning service to start our mission for Mexico, which left the next day. We had participants from Lloydminster, the Battlefords, Borden, Pike lake, Humboldt, Watrous and the Saskatoon parishes of St. Stephen’s, Holy Trinity, Emmanuel and St John’s Cathedral. As we gathered together, we wondered what the next two weeks would bring. What new skills we would learn and what old skills we would put to use? We all would bring a variety of skills, which would all work together doing God’s work in this mission. The journey to San Diego took us two days by plane, followed by more time taking an old school bus down to Vicente Guerrero, Mexico, a total of a 3,300 kilometres. A long journey, not just in distance, but also a journey
realizing we could make a difference in someone’s life, in a family’s life. Once we arrived in Vicente Guerrero, we were taken to visit the three families and the three sites on which we would be building the homes. We saw the lumber, the cement pad and all the other supplies that had been delivered to two of the three sites materials, ready for us to start the next day. One of the family’s supplies had not arrived, however. The mother had a very concerned look on her face, since we had arrived from Canada and the supplies had not been delivered; she thought we would not be able to build her a home. The local group with whom we were working spent some time trying to put her fears at rest and letting her know everything would fine, that her home’s supplies would arriving the next day. We started early the next day and over the next few days, we worked to build walls, a roof and paint the houses. We cut, measured and re-cut, did a lot of painting, hammering nails into walls, floors and the roof, laid tar paper and spread tar
onto the roof. We built a house the family would make into a home. To see the smiles and tears of joy on the faces of the families as their new homes went up right next to the old one; to see the difference between the two homes each day; to see the relaxation on the faces that this was really happening was something to behold; the house will make a difference not only to them, but also to their extended families, friends and the community in which they live. Friday of that week was a very emotional day, as we went shopping for food, pots and pans and other kitchen supplies. We also purchased beds, tables, chairs and other furniture. As we did this, some of our mission team sorted out the humanitarian bags we had brought down with us which had been donated by our various parish families. Then each house building team spent time putting into the houses the purchased items before the home dedication, house blessing and the handing over of the keys to the family. See “MEXICO” on page 4
REGINA – Just before Christmas 2011, the Mousa family – refugees from Iraq – arrived in Regina, sponsored by the Diocese of Qu’Appelle so they could finally leave a camp in Damascus, Syria. At the end of June 2014 they spoke to The Saskatchewan Anglican to tell the people of the diocese of their lives since arriving in Canada. In the living room of their apartment, Marleen did most of the talking, with her husband, Safaa, occasionally adding details and sometimes speaking Arabic to Marleen for her to
translate. Marleen explained she is continuing to study English at the Regina Open Door Society. “I study hard because it is important to speak English,” she says. The new language has not been much of a challenge for their daughter Majdleena, whose nickname is Mimi, because she arrived as an infant and has grown up surrounded by people speaking English. Now nearly four, she goes to daycare at the Open Door Society five days a week while Marleen is studying. Safaa also took English classes until he got a job to support the family. See “FAMILY” on page 5
Covenant partners in Swift Current help girls in Africa By Maureen Parsons SWIFT CURRENT (Qu’A) – St. Stephen’s Anglican and Christ The Redeemer Roman Catholic Parishes are working together to help girls in Africa get a full education. The Roman Catholic parish took on a project to provide girls with sustainable feminine hygiene kits, since without them, the girls miss school every month during their menstrual cycles. The Roman Catholic quilting group makes some of the articles for the kits, while the Anglican group called Needles &
Natter knits and crochets washcloths. The simple and reusable kits give African girls the freedom to attend school and live normally in society. Research has shown when girls are educated, there is less poverty and the whole family’s standard of living improves. To learn more about this project please go to www. daysforgirls.org. This project is a good example of covenant partners of working together, which is one of the aims of the covenant between the Diocese of Qu’Appelle and the Archdiocese of Regina.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
October 2014
Wearing a clerical collar a ‘missional’ choice Is a clerical collar still a meaningful symbol in today’s society – and do you wear it regularly – or just a ‘pain in the neck’? By Rev. Dell Bornowsky BIG COUNTRY PARISH (Qu’A) – We put collars on domesticated animals so they won’t be mistaken for wild animals. Collars are also used to carry a bell, in the case of milk-cows, so we know where to find them, or in the case of cats so smaller vulnerable animals will be warned of the danger approaching them. Perhaps collars worn by clergy serve similar functions? My research has yet to discover a comprehensive, well-documented and wellrounded case for the historical origins of the practice. A quick Internet search comes up with controversy (who would be surprised by this?) about whether the Roman Catholics borrowed the practice from the Presbyterians or vice versa.
I expect some in each group are quite likely saying, “God forbid!” Like many cultural practices, the absence of clarity about origins reduces the issue to asking what a particular sign or symbol has come to mean. But this discussion is problematic because we soon realize it can mean different and even opposite things to different groups. For example, to survivors of abuse, a clerical collar may represent the uniform of the oppressor and carry a similar emotional response as a Nazi SS uniform might to a Holocaust survivor. Some, for whom holy orders signify a vocational commitment to channel grace, may be comforted by the presence of collar-wearing clergy. In others, the collar might evoke sympathy for the wearers as those who have been unable to free themselves from the decrepit institutions and traditions of the past. The fact a clerical collar means different things within
different communities suggests regardless of my intention, my collar probably “says” something quite different in downtown Vancouver than it does in my rural prairie parish. In rural ministry, my collar extends a courtesy that frees people to introduce themselves to me by saying “you must be the Anglican minister.” It has given more than a few folks the social permission to approach and enter conversation with me, when they are not likely to have been so bold had I not been wearing it. On the other hand, bad connotations may motivate others to deliberately avoid speaking and perhaps even feel animosity toward me. The significance of dress in different cultures is a complex anthropological and sociological study. The crisis of personal identity that is inherent in modernity manifests itself in various attempts to “mark” ourselves by way of dress, jewellery, not to mention tattoos and cosmetic
surgery. We dress and mark ourselves for the purposes of differentiating and being our unique selves, but also in order to conform and belong. I expect there are multiple motives among my colleagues for wearing (or not) a collar. Is it a badge of accomplishment? Is it simply a uniform like that of police or paramedics that identifies people in roles of service to the community? Does the notion that clergy are a different kind or species of people explain the desire to have them so marked? Is there more validity in the idea that collared clerics who thus emphasize their difference will be unable to minister to common people as one of them? For me, the choice to wear a collar is a missional one that changes with the occasion. Is my wearing a collar in a particular circumstance going to help or hinder people hear the gospel and respond to the grace of God in Christ ?
Christians’ pilgrimage path revealed through Scripture
Saskatchewan The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • January 2013
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By Jason Antonio REGINA – The road Christians walk while on a spiritual pilgrimage is revealed through the Scriptures, showing us the history and narrative of God’s way with His people. “‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,’ Psalm 119 tells us. And according to the 39 Articles, it is Scripture that Christians receive for all that is necessary for salvation,” explained Deacon Dustin Resch. “The Old and New testaments present the Lord of time Himself. If the Scriptures are our road, it is no wonder that we are meeting Christ on it.” The idea of pilgrimage was the theme of a lecture series at St. Luke’s Church in Regina. Entitled “These boots were made for …”, the lectures covered pilgrimage in: Scripture (living a sacred life); the Canterbury Tales (sacred places); a modern pilgrimage to Mount Athos, which contain 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries, in Greece (sacred people); and the Church year (sacred time). Deacon Dustin Resch’s talk focused on the Church year as sacred time. Specifically, he focused on “the Church year (as) a transformative journey on the road of Scripture to see the Lord of time.” He then broke that down into three parts: The Lord of time; the Church year as a transformative journey; and the road of our pil-
grimage is the Scriptures themselves. Resch used the Book of Common Prayer’s (BCP) daily office lection readings as an example of being intentionally tied to the seasons of the church. He pointed out there is a “wonderful coherence” among Scripture readings, the prayers offered and the season in which one does the offering. Moreover, the BCP’s office lection readings are on a oneyear cycle. This means a person can go through the same readings of the entire Bible at the same time of season – Advent, Christ, etc. – every year. This makes the feeling of ascending a spiral staircase to meet God more explicit. “The Revised Common Lectionary is built on a three-year cycle and it somewhat cripples the sense of the cycle,” Resch added. “Finally, the BCP daily office lections pray all of the Psalms every month. As such, the Psalms serve as a cycle within the cycle. “We might even think of them as a handrail on your way up the staircase.” By reading large parts of Scripture, Resch pointed out we can identify ourselves as actors and agents in the unfolding narrative. We are part of the story of patriarchs and prophets, kings and kingdoms, the story of the Messiah and of the fledgling Christian community. “When we join them in the story, we are contemporary with them. By virtue of being included in the story, we
re-appropriate who we are in the present and shall be in the future. “It is by precisely reading Scripture through the church year, according to the pattern of the daily office lectionary, that Christians have the opportunity to see themselves as an integral part of God’s work in the world.” Examples were then given of some of the Scriptures read during each season of the Church year: Advent: Isaiah and Revelation: Isaiah talks about the coming of the Messiah and Revelation talks about the second coming of the Messiah. Readings from both are about expectation. Lent: Leviticus, Exodus and Numbers; Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and First Timothy. The first group of readings discuss the giving of the law and painful formation of the people of Israel. The second group is about the formation and identity of the church, the law of Christ, how the Gospel changes us and reformulates who we are and our behaviour in the world. Easter: Acts: The Gospel is shown to be expanding beyond the borders of Jerusalem, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the entire Roman Empire. Whereas the Israelites conquered the land, led by Joshua – “Yeshua” or Jesus in Hebrew, the Gospel conquers through its persecution, suffer-
ing and proclamation. In both cases, Jesus conquers and settles the land of the inheritance of His people. Pentecost: The longest season of the Church year. Stories are read about Saul, David and Solomon; the kingdom is re-united and then divided; exile of the people and then their return and rebuilding. There are also readings from Luke. Themes of kingship are pronounced. Jesus is portrayed as the new King David and does what the other three men couldn’t do: re-unite the kingdom. We also read about the establishment and fate of the kingdom of Israel, along with Jesus as the fulfilment and bringer of the kingdom. Other readings at this time include Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. These books are about the church and describe the people of God and how God has become king. “It strikes me as an important interpretive mood that Israel and the Church are side by side, mediated by King Jesus,” concluded Resch. “The one who fulfills Israel is the one who is the life and pattern of the church. As we walk through the story of Israel, and as we walk through the story of the church, we see them both showing us Jesus: the fulfilment of the one and source of the other.”
Submissions for the November issue must be recieved by the diocesan editor no later than Friday, October 31. All pictures must be sent as JPEGS and 1 MB (megabyte) in size.
CONTACT INFORMATION Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail.com 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Phone: (306) 737-4898 Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin joannesm@myaccess.ca 6927 Farrell Bay Regina, Sask., S4X 3V4 Phone: (306) 775-2629 Saskatoon: Peter Coolen ptrcoolen@sasktel.net 820 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, Sask., S7M 1Z3 Phone: (306) 244-0935, Saskatchewan: Amy Dow amy.elizabeth.dow@gmail.com 1308 Fifth Avenue East Prince Albert, Sask., S6V 2H7 Phone: (306) 763-2455
PUBLISHING DETAILS Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Printed and mailed by Webnews Printing Inc. 8 High Meadow Place North York, Ont. M9L 2Z5
The Saskatchewan Anglican
October 2014
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Advocating for a change in Aboriginal education By Bishop Michael W. Hawkins Diocese of Saskatchewan PRINCE ALBERT – In a familiar pattern, autumn marks the beginning of and return to school. Many of us saw children off to school in September, perhaps for their first year in elementary or college. We send them off in hopes these schools will provide a safe place where their varied and remarkable talents and gifts will be discovered and nurtured. Most education in Canada shares a history, Christian and colonial, with the Indian Residential Schools. Our elementary and high schools and universities are one-half of the legacy of colonial education. The students returning to the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and to the Chief Moses Ratt School in Sucker River are part of an education system that has common roots in our colonial and missionary history. There is in our missionary history a strain of open-minded, sensitive and sacrificial work, including the early ordination of indigenous clergy, the translation of the Bible, Prayer Book and Hymn Book into indigenous languages and dialects, the consecration of the first aboriginal bishop,
the appointment of a National Indigenous bishop and the launch of an Indigenous Diocese, the Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh. Despite the complicated history of this country and church, many of our sisters and brothers have been able to say with Joseph, someone who was also full of dreams and visions, “As for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it
is this day, to save much people alive.” Their commitment to this family, to our family, is remarkable and may be one of the few effective instruments of unity we have. As the TRC concludes its work across this country, I want to suggest for us as Anglicans, who participated in the provision of what we might euphemistically call sub-standard education, advocating and ensuring equal
education, a quality, safe and culturally-sensitive education for indigenous people makes infinite sense. In much of Saskatchewan, the funding our federal government provides for on-reserve education is less than what we pay if the same child attends a public school off-reserve. The differences can be around one- or two-thousand dollars per student. But that inequity is only one
small part of the story. Within Canada, French language and culture rightly receive special support from both federal and provincial governments, especially in education funding. The purpose of this is to allow Francophone families to preserve their language and culture and educate their children within that. In Saskatchewan, we have an excellent all French school system, Le Conseil des écoles fransaskoises. The per-student funding for education in that system is almost double the amount we provide for on-reserve education. Indigenous children continue to receive second-class education in Canada. Where is our voice in the face of this, in support of equal funding for indigenous-governed education that seeks to preserve the language and culture of the people of this land and allow them to raise and educate their children in the same? This is not something we can easily blame on our elected officials; this is an injustice which needs to be owned and addressed by the people of Canada. I hope Anglicans will be at the forefront of advocating for a change that invests in our common future.
The Church should speak with one voice on issues By Jason Antonio REGINA – Retired Roman Catholic Bishop James Weisgerber was the guest preacher during the joint covenant service in May, held between the Anglican Diocese of Qu’Appelle and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina at St. Paul’s Cathedral. As someone who has been ordained for more than 50 years, Weisgerber could have talked all day about his experiences and where he has worked. However, it was another of his comments which caught my attention. Essentially, Weisgerber explained the Church has lost its position in society. Once, the Church had an influential voice in society; in 2014, that voice has been nearly silenced. Very rarely do you read or hear in the media of a priest or bishop commenting on an issue in the community. Usually, it’s an “expert” who can give a good sound bite on the matter. When did this happen? Was it when the Church moved into a “maintenance” mindset and looked inward instead of
outward? I don’t know when the Church began losing influence or the respect it once had. What I do know, however, is the Church is rarely asked to comment and give the Christian perspective. There are many issues on which the Church could comment. Such issues could include homelessness, end-oflife, poverty, ethics or morality. One particular issue comes to mind, for me, on which the Church could speak. The Ebola virus is running rampant across West Africa.
Thousands have died and thousands more have been sickened. Yet, a faint glimmer of hope to cure this disease exists. It was revealed two North American aid workers, who had also become sick, were given experimental drugs to combat the virus. However, both received the drugs before any of the already-infected Africans. This presents a dilemma. Who should get the drugs: the doctors helping or the patients dying? This is what’s called bioethics. And it is this area where the Church can have a voice: bioethics/ biotechnology. In the book The Future Church: How Ten Trends Are Revolutionizing The Catholic Church, author John Allen Jr. talks about “The Biotech Revolution” as a trend to affect the Roman
Catholic Church this century. While the author acknowledges some “new biotech quandaries” won’t replace hot-button issues currently affecting the Catholic – and Christian – Church, it will eventually become a factor. The reason is, “as the biotech revolution continues to create new scientific possibilities, both the content and the coalitions in the broader cultural debate are likely to undergo dramatic evolution. “The extent to which the Catholic Church is able to offer a compelling response to the new questions being spawned by biotechnology will go a long way towards determining its relevance in the century to come.” One of the “near-certain consequences” of bioethics/ biotech is a “boom” in Christian anthropology. This is “the attempt to give a Christian answer to the basic philosophical question of what it means to be human.” Another consequence is the rise of the “theologian-biologist.” These are “theologians who can hold their own in scientific conversation will come to play a disproportionately important role
in shaping the contours of the Catholic theological debate.” Enter the Church. With the Ebola virus issue, instead of a university bioethicist, the Church could proffer its perspective to the media on what should have been done with the medicine. Locally, the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, Archdiocese of Regina and Evangelical Lutherans should come together and issue joint news releases. This gives a more powerful Christian voice. It would rattle the media to see three different church organizations working together. But maybe, just maybe, the media will do a story and include the voice of the Church. I am not advocating for the Church to be seen as “popular” , as it may have once been. What I am saying is, in 2014, the separate Church elements need to work together to offer a unified voice on important issues. By doing that, it will give the Church the chance to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in a way that is subtle — or not so subtle — and allows for conversations about the faith.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
October 2014
The Baja volunteers, and the families for whom the new homes were built, all contributed labour and many learned new building skills; here, a wall is nailed prior to being lifted into place. Photo — Contributed
Some of the Baja volunteers and the new homeowners, in front of one of the three houses built during the Diocese of Saskatoon’s 2014 trip to Vicente Guerrero, Mexico. Photo — Contributed
MEXICO Continued from page 1 At each house each member of our team had time to tell the family what the week had meant to them, before listening to the families tell us what a difference their new homes will make to their lives. Many tears were shared again, but they were tears of joy. They received a house, but we received more than we can express. We thank God we were called to this mission, for it has
made a difference in both our lives and the three families we befriended. I have been asked by a number of people why we want to go down and do this mission work; when you are there with these people and see what a difference we can make, you get it, you really get it. It is the personal contact which means everything, in which we have left the comfort of our homes and travelled
thousand of kilometres to offer our help, to show we care and love them as God’s children, which means the world to them. Go be God’s missioners to the world. The external outreach committee is already meeting to discuss a future mission for 2016. If you have an interest in joining a future mission project, please contact the diocesan office at anglicansynod@ sasktel.net or 306-244-5651.
Bishop David smiles through a new window opening which he has just cut through a wall in one of the new homes, built during the Mission to Baja trip to Vicente Guerrero. Photo — Contributed
Diocese of Saskatoon Announcements for October 2014 Friends and Family Service: St. George’s, Saskatoon, at 7 p.m. every Friday night. Informal music and prayer focused on families. The Parish of St. George’s, Saskatoon, hosts a Community Coffee morning in the parish hall every Thursday from 9:3011:30 a.m. Join them for a warm social time with coffee, tea, toast and some type of baked goods at no charge. Integrity/Saskatoon: Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral, 816 Spadina Crescent East at 7:30 p.m. Integrity/Saskatoon is a group of the GLBTT community and friends. For more information call 306-491-3315, or visit the Facebook page at “Integrity/ Saskatoon” or check out the Integrity/Saskatoon web site at www.integritysaskatoon. blogspot.com. Curling with the Priests: Diocesan Monday morning curling is open all (even though it is “Clergy Curling” for all churches, laity are welcome, too, male and female).
So, if you are not scared of preachers, the fun begins on Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Nutana Rink on Arlington near Taylor. Join one of our 12 teams or be on the Spare List. Contact Allan Grundahl at 306-244-3748 or agrundahl@sasktel.net. New Saskatoon Deanery Lay Reader Training: On Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Martin’s in the Fields, Pike Lake, there will be a workshop for everyone involved in, or wanting to get involved in, the ministry of “lay reader”. This workshop is aimed at serving parishes in the Saskatoon Deanery, but is open to anyone in the diocese. Lay reader training will be offered in the Eastern and Western Deaneries in the spring of 2015. To register, or for more information, please see the more detailed notice elsewhere in this issue or contact the Diocesan Education and Training Officer, the Reverend Shawn Sanford Beck, at 306 481-5654 or greenpriest@hotmail.ca. Advent Tea and Bake Sale: The annual Advent Tea and Bake sale will be held in the
parish hall of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 816 Spadina Crescent, Saskatoon, on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 2-4 p.m. The event will feature afternoon tea, turkey pies (frozen), baking, jams and crafts. Parking is free. The diocesan Locally Raised Clergy Training Program will be holding its next training weekend and retreat at St. Peter’s Abby, Muenster, from Friday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 26. For more information, please contact the Diocesan Training and Education Officer, the Reverend Shawn Sanford Beck at 306-244-5651 or greenpriest@sasktel.net. A Parish Nursing Ministry Education Program will be presented by InterChurch Health Ministries-Saskatchewan in partnership with the Lutheran Theological Seminary, University of Saskatchewan, on Friday evenings and Saturdays on Oct. 24-25 and Nov. 7-8, at The Lutheran Theological Seminary. For further information or to register: 306-652-4524 (Elaine) or at p.nursing@sasktel.net. Some Like It Hot; an Update: “Fred says, ‘Some like
it hot’ guess the number of beans contest.” At the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist recently, $186.50 was raised for PWRDF to buy hot lunches for students in Haiti. Fifty dollars will buy hot lunches for a student for a year. Darryl Ramstead won the contest; there were 2,385 beans. Appointments, Retirements, etc. The Reverend Emily Carr was installed as priest-in-charge of St. George’s Anglican Church, Saskatoon on Sept. 7. The Reverend Wayne Sturgess, interim priest-incharge of Humboldt Parish (St. Andrew’s, Humboldt and St. Bride’s, Watson), will retire Oct. 31. The Reverend Jie (Jessie) Pei will be installed as the new Incumbent of Parkland Parish (St. Paul’s, Forest Bank, All Saints, Lashburn and St. Andrew’s, Maidstone) on Sunday, Dec. 7. Jessie conducted her first services in Parkland Parish on Sept. 7. In September The Reverend Shawn Sanford Beck returned from a leave of absence.
Advance Notices: The 2015 Diocesan ACW Retreat: The planning for the next Anglican Church Women’s bi-annual retreat, which is scheduled for September 2015, has begun. If you have ideas or experience in planning events, please join the retreat planning team! Meetings will be scheduled at mutually convenient times. To volunteer or find out more, contact Elaine Hrycenko at 306955-5522 or e-mail at e.p.h@ sasktel.net. To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be supplied to the Associate Editor by fax, e-mail or “snail mail” by the last week of the month, two months before the month in which the insertion is desired (for example November submissions will be in the January 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
October 2014
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Of fruit and fruitful voices Editor’s note: The following article appeared in the Diocese of Saskatoon’s Anglican Church Women News and Views, September 2014. Elta Fae Marlor is the current president of the diocesan ACW. By Elta Fae Marlor Diocesan ACW president
The Mousa family, from left, Saafa, Majdelena and Marleen, in their Regina apartment, two-and-ahalf years after the Iraqi Christian family came to the safety of Canada, sponsored by the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. Photo — Joanne Shurvin-Martin
FAMILY Continued from page 1 Violence in their home country was front page news at the time of the interview, so Marleen and Safaa expressed their deep worry for remaining family members in Iraq. They said it is not safe for Christians in Iraq, so their family was living in great difficulty. The diocesan refugee committee is exploring ways of helping the threatened family members. In August, the Mousa family received the wonderful news that Marleen’s family had managed to leave Iraq and get into a refugee camp in Turkey. When asked if they chose Regina as their destination, they said no, it was just by chance. During the two years and two months they were in the refugee camp, they were in contact with Ralph Paragg, Refugee co-ordinator for the Diocese of
Qu’Appelle. Marleen says they had been told about Regina, and that it would be cold, “but we wanted to come to be safe.” However, when they arrived on Dec. 22, they didn’t fully understand why Paragg and others of the welcoming committee met them with so many clothes. She laughs when she remembers the shock of stepping outside of the airport; suddenly the parka, gloves and scarves made sense! “I never forgot the time when I first came to Regina,” says Marleen. “The people had signs with our names and I started to cry! I never forget all the church people who help us. I have no other family here, but all the people around us are our family now.” Safaa adds his thanks: “Bob and Dawn (Bray) found work for
me and Dawn helps explain the work for me.” The Brays, who met the Moussa family at St. James the Apostle Church, own an office cleaning company. When Majdelena was about two and just beginning to talk, some of her early words were “Uncle Bob! Uncle Bob!” Back in Iraq, Safaa was a chef, “but,” he says, “Arabic chef; very different kind of cooking.” Comparing her life in Iraq to her life in Canada, Marleen says six years of fighting was “very scary” but her life was different because she did not have any children. “Here in Canada I have a wonderful life with Safaa and Mimi. Canada is a safety place; a beautiful place.” Since the interview in late June, the Mousa family has been blessed by the birth of baby Sarah.
All Saints, Melfort continues relationship with Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church By Rev. Pat Langlois MELFORT (SKWN) – The congregation of All Saints’, Melfort gathered with the folks at Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church for a joint service of Holy Communion, followed by fellowship and food at a luncheon, on June 22. This relationship between these two congregations began in March 1990 under the leadership of Rev. A. Bruce McAllister, then rector of All Saints’, Melfort, and Rev. Ken Neumann, then pastor of Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church. The following is excerpted from Rev. McAllister’s Rector’s Report to the Annual General Meeting of All Saints’ Anglican Church on Feb. 4, 1990: “Plans are underway to hold two joint services with the Carrot
River Valley Lutheran Church. “Last summer the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada and the National Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada agreed to establish a relationship of Interim Sharing of the Eucharist effective Oct. 1, 1989. “This new relationship has three elements: 1) the extending of Eucharistic hospitality to individual members of the other church; 2) joint celebration of the Eucharist; and 3) concrete actions to foster knowledge of and co-operation with the other church. “It is hoped this new agreement will lead to new and deeper relationships between the two denominations. While one can never rule out what could happen under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, neither church sees
Interim Eucharistic Sharing as a union plan. “The eventual goal is full communion, such as Anglicans have among themselves and the Old Catholic or Mar Thoma churches. Lutherans enjoy similar relationships with others of the Lutheran church family. “As we contemplate deeper relationships within the Christian Family, let us remember the word of Jesus spoken on the night of His betrayal: ‘I pray that they may all be one. Father!’” Full communion between the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada occurred in 2001. Over time, the shared services of All Saints’ and Carrot River Valley moved to one service in the spring and one in the fall of each year, alternatingly hosted by one of the congregations.
SASKATOON – Dear sisters in Christ, summer is nearly over. Harvest, school and organizations start up, followed by closing the cottage and camper and getting back into the routine. One routine for me is to further the consideration of our baptism vows reaffirmation. I hope you will join in the process. First we were asked, “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and in the prayers?” We answered, “I will, God being my helper.” Simple to carry out that one, right? Go to church every Sunday and that question is neatly answered. But, perhaps there is more to the question’s fulfillment. Since returning from a trip to Vancouver, I’ve been out in the tomato patch bending off the drying branches, pinching off fresh blooms that came too late and cutting back the heavy greenery that is nearly breaking down the main stem. This helps the tomatoes plump up and ripen for a generous harvest. Gardeners call this pruning. Eugene Peterson’s The Message puts it, “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing He prunes back so it will bear even more … You are the branches. When you’re joined with Me … the harvest is sure to be abundant” (John 15:1-5). Later in the same passage,
Jesus gives us the name of “fruit-bearers” who are able to confidently pray. Staying on the Vine is what the baptismal vow is about. Attending our congregation’s services, taking an active part in the parish life, receiving the Eucharist and joining in the prayers of the people give a routine to the Vine’s life. But it’s the “apostles’ teaching” part that made me ask questions and read for a working understanding. The phrase rolls off the tongue easily but didn’t mean much to me. Surely it is more than saying the creeds. To be a “fruit-bearer,” the apostles’ teachings need to be part of our daily life and mind-set. Living with the Gospels and Letters (New Testament) will give the vitality to be alive in our community. To know what is their teaching takes a new set of eyes, you could say, if we are to live into their energy. How did the first Christians dare to live the Faith in spite of public ignorance and persecution? The apostles’ writings encouraged them to meet the Risen One and live in a living relationship through prayer and following Jesus’ example to be alone with the Father (meditation). We need the same encouragement from our study and prayer life. Biblical texts studied for their sake alone, to get the right answers or ideas, narrows the possibility of reading the Gospels and Letters with fresh understanding. St. Paul says, “Written letters alone will bring death, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). If we approach the apostles’ writings expecting to be changed, the Bible creates an atmosphere of ‘astonishment’ and the Spirit has an opening to give us new eyes and a new heart.
Ladies’ retreat at Camp Okema By Amy Dow PRINCE ALBERT – A group of ladies got together from around Saskatchewan and met at Camp Okema to learn of God’s desire for us to speak with Him, from June 10-12. I spoke with participants Grandma Pearl (Pearl Simpson, pictured in the checkered shirt) and Diana Sagin from St. Mary’s Birch Hills, who attended this gathering. They recently attended the ladies’ retreat on prayer from June 10-12. They were joined by 10 other
ladies including Rev. Joanne Beacon, a retired yet still very active priest in the Diocese of Saskatchewan. She brought her gifts of knowledge to the retreat. The event was led by Rev. Patricia Martin, the priest at St. Christopher’s, Christopher Lake, who taught on both lessons that we could learn from Scripture about prayer, as well as praying from the Daily Offices. The event was organized by Doris from Canwood. Next year, they hope more people might be able to share in an opportunity of nourishment and fellowship.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
October 2014
Bears on a mission to comfort kids After the induction service of Pastor David Kaiser, clergy gather for photos. From left, Dean Mike Sinclair, Rev. Dan Cooper, Pastor Kaiser, Bishop Rob Hardwick and Deacon Rita Brann. Photo — Robert Brann
Pastor hired for St. Philip’s Church By Ivan Millard REGINA – St. Philip’s Anglican Church officially welcomed Pastor David Kaiser as its parttime Priest-in-Charge on June 7. Bishop Rob Harding presided at the induction ceremony, which also included signing a Memorandum of Agreement among the diocese, Pastor David, Deacon Rita Brann, Honorary Assistant Rev. Dan Cooper and the parish wardens. The agreement is intended to
clarify, and to guide, the working relationship among the diocese, parish, clergy team and laity. As the retired Priest-inCharge, Pastor David has overall responsibility for congregational leadership and will preach and preside on three Sundays a month, plus whenever clergy are required at mid-week services. Rev. Dan Cooper, Honorary Assistant, will lead the fourth service, and when there is a fifth Sunday, it will be lay led. In his message, Dean Michael
Christ Church, Big River First Nation.
Sinclair noted, “David, it is not all up to you,” and to the congregation, “Neither is it all up to you, nor is it all up to the diocese. It is up to all of us.” Pastor David was also welcomed by St. Philip’s Shared Ministry partners, Pastor Carla Blakely from Bread of Life Lutheran Church and Rev. Russell Mitchell-Walker of Eastside United Church. All three congregations share a facility and ministry in southeast Regina.
PRINCE ALBERT – Each Sunday, since the partnership was created between Christ Church, Big River First Nation and St. Alban’s Cathedral, the people of the cathedral have been praying for their brothers and sisters at Christ Church. But the cathedral’s parishioners felt a need to do more than simply pray for faceless individuals in a church building unknown to them. So, after discussions between the two parishes, on June 8, the Day of Pentecost, the people of
St. Alban’s did something more than simply remembering Christ Church in prayer. After regular early morning Eucharist, members of the cathedral, with members of P.A.’s Holy Trinity, left for Prince Albert for the Big River First Nation. It was a fine summer’s day and perfect for travel. After the hour-and-a-half drive, members of the cathedral found the setting of the recently constructed Christ Church made the morning even more perfect. With the lake nearby, and the rich forest view from each church window,
Contributed S A S K AT O O N – M a n y have heard about or seen Hope Bears at an Anglican Wo m e n ’s meeting, a diocesan event or perhaps a visit to your parish by our past president Elaine Hrycenko. But there seems to be an ever-expanding assortment of Hope Bears to charm and delight us, as well as much more to learn about their important mission! Wi t h t h e a p p r o v a l o f the Diocesan Anglican Wo m e n ’s executive, Elaine is continuing her efforts to bring attention to these lovable Hope Bears and the valuable work funded through donations for them. As a former teacher with a love for children, Elaine feels a strong connection to the Anglican F o u n d a t i o n ’s “Kids Helping Kids” in Canada Hope Bear project
a n d t h e F o u n d a t i o n ’s f o u r priorities for giving. They include: 1) Before school breakfast programs 2) Giving kids a chance to go to summer camp or choir school 3) Helping kids with homework after school; and 4) Caring for kids with a terminal diagnosis. Hope Bears make a great gift for children, for anyone young at heart and even for you! Hope Bears now include: Baptism Bears, Canadian Forces Bears, Birthday Bears, Bedtime B e a r s , We d d i n g B e a r s and now a Clergy Bear! As well, Hope Bears also occur as Hope Bear books and colouring books and Hope Bear keychains. Yo u c a n g e t y o u r b e a r s two ways. For pickup from Elaine (at her condo or at church) by phoning her at 306-955-5522 or by e-mail at e.p.h@sasktel. net. Bears are also available from the Anglican Foundation o f C a n a d a i n To r o n t o a t 1-416-924-9199 ext.244 or e-mail at ssorenson@ anglicanfoundation.org. Elaine says, “I encourage you to support the Hope Bear Project and the HOPE these Bears bring. “ L e t ’s g e t H o p e B e a r s travelling throughout Canada and elsewhere!”
Photo — Fred Payton
City, reserve churches share Eucharist By Jane Parrot
Hope Bears assist the Kids Helping K i d s Tr u s t Fund of The Anglican Foundation of Canada
the visitors were amazed at the beauty of God’s creation. The service was well attended, with the local parishioners making the visitors feel very much at home. Dean Kenneth Davis celebrated the Eucharist, assisted by Rev. Sam Halkett, and Lawrence Joseph, a lay reader licensed to the cathedral who is originally from the Big River First Nation. Singers from the Ahtahkakoop First Nation assisted in leading the singing and provided additional music to help make the service even more remarkable and memorable.
Qu’Appelle news and notes Q Event October 25-26 Don’t miss the great diocesan gathering at Briercrest College and Seminary, Caronport, on the weekend of Oct. 25-26. There will be a variety of plenary sessions, children’s programs, inspiring worship and music. The keynote speaker will be Bishop Mark Rylands from Qu’Appelle’s companion diocese of Shrewsbury, England. Registration information will be available at all
parishes and on the diocesan website, at quappelle. anglican.ca. Rosetown to celebrate 25 years of joint AnglicanLutheran services St. Andrew’s Trinity Anglican-Lutheran congregation will celebrate 25 years of joint services on Sunday, October 12 at 10:30 a.m. The Anglican and Lutheran bishops will be attending. Everyone is invited to join in this celebration.
The Saskatchewan Anglican
October 2014
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Preaching the Gospel at the Regina Fringe Festival By Beth Christianson REGINA – One of the things I love about Regina is the breadth and diversity of its artistic community. It is impressive a city our size can support as much music, art and theatre as we do. Donald T. Williams says being made in the image of God, we are in our turn a “tribe of incorrigible makers.” Our creativity is essential to our humanity. It is also a window into comprehending the character of our Maker, which is always flung open wide. It is this conviction that led the parish of St. Mary the Virgin to become involved in Regina’s Fringe Theatre Festival the last two years. We want to be woven into the fabric of our community. Situated as we are in the Cathedral Village neighbourhood, this includes being involved in what is happening in Regina’s art community. We want to offer hospitality, not only with our building, but with ourselves. The Church is not a building, but a Body. Fringe Theatre Festivals are, by definition, edgy. Anything goes. I’m sure you can imagine that what “goes” is not always consistent with who we believe Jesus to be, or how we are called to live. So we sought to counter that message with one of our own. One of the ways we have done that is by sponsoring John D. Huston to come and perform in the Festival. John has been doing Fringe theatre for more than 20 years. His specialty is the characters of Charles
Dickens, particularly Scrooge. Last year he performed “Now What I Want is Facts,” a Dickens monologue dealing with that author ’s ideas about education and social justice. This year, John performed “Screwtape,” a faithful adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters and Screwtape Proposes a Toast.
Anyone who has read these works will know the Gospel was preached, straight up, at Regina’s Fringe Festival this year! It was a truly remarkable performance, I thought. The monologue is dense and theologically weighty, but John showed a deft hand with this powerful material. Screwtape has a devilish wit and does not offer his
audience loopholes. They were not allowed to escape the contemplation of their immortal souls (for that one hour, at least). Adding to the power of the performance, in my opinion, was the venue. St. Mary’s has been a venue for the Fringe Festival for several years, making use of our upper hall. But John insisted, and we
agreed, that “Screwtape” should be performed in the church proper. Imagine how the audience perceived Screwtape’s perplexity over the meaning of the Cross, with our altar cross gleaming in the light behind him! Huston will be returning to Regina in Advent to perform A Christmas Carol at St. Mary’s on Dec. 5. Our second involvement in the Fringe Festival has been to run a kitchen from our lower hall. We wanted to practise hospitality and welcoming the stranger, by the timeless method of offering food and drink and a place to rest. The fare was simple: soups, sandwiches, salads and cold drinks. We used many fresh ingredients from the church garden our kids planted this spring. We also kept the prices extremely reasonable, since the Fringe is run entirely by volunteers, and the performers have no guarantee of making any sort of profit from their shows. This year, we also opened the Fringe kitchen to the public, and had a number of theatre patrons stop by before or after the shows. To me, this ministry has been an embodiment of our prayer after Communion: “And here we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto Thee.” I believe this has brought light to a place in our society, where darkness has been accustomed to reign. May it please the Lord. Beth Christianson is people’s warden at St. Mary’s and has helped organize the parish’s involvement with the Fringe Festival for two years. Photo — Gord McKenzie
Workshop for new Saskatoon Deanery lay readers Contributed SASKATOON – On Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Martin’s in the Fields, Pike Lake, there will be a workshop for everyone involved in, or wanting to get involved in, the ministry of “lay reader.”
This workshop is aimed at serving parishes in the Saskatoon Deanery, but is open to anyone in the diocese. Lay reader training will be offered in the Eastern and Western Deaneries in the spring of 2015. A lay reader is someone who leads morning or evening prayer
when the priest is away, or when a parish is temporary without a priest. This workshop is the first in the diocese’s new lay ministry training program and will include topics such as the liturgical year, using the lectionary, vestments and colours, prayers of the
people, homiletic resources and observation of rubrics. Participants at the workshop will also be given a copy of This Anglican Church of Ours, the assigned textbook for certification and licensing as an official lay minister in the diocese.
The Pike Lake Parish has graciously offered to host this event and a light lunch will had. To register, or for more information, please contact the Diocesan Education and Training Officer, the Reverend Shawn Sanford Beck, at 306-481-5654 or greenpriest@hotmail.ca.
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The Saskatchewan Anglican
October 2014
One last roast at Camp Okema PRINCE ALBERT — A few folks get together in front of a crackling fire at the annual Clergy Family weekend in Saskatchewan. One masters the art of making the perfect s’mores, others sing praise songs and still others enjoy the gift of being in each other’s company. The camp was held from Aug. 28-30.
RAY, a bright idea in youth programming By Laura French REGINA – “Youth group is important to me as it gives me a chance to learn, to do new things and to see my friends outside of school.” So says Zach, 12, about Regina Anglican Youth (RAY); a reassuring statement from a preteen. Created from the desire to have a program for Grade 5 to 8 students in the Regina area, RAY’s goals include teaching about the Anglican faith, establishing a sense of community among youth in our region and complementing parish programming by putting on events too impractical for individual parishes. Since 2013, Regina Anglican
Youth has held a monthly event from September to May. The structure of the events is simple: an activity, supper and faith time. Some activities are fairly exciting and demanding: the “Amazing Anglican Race” saw children, in teams, navigating the city (with the aid of an adult driver) to visit every Anglican church, before meeting together to discuss the differences and similarities they had seen. The “Year-End Extravaganza” (as named by Shannon, 11) involved moving from parks to Laser Quest and back to a park for a Hunger Games-themed water fight. White Butte is where we practise outdoor leadership skills, something that city
children keenly appreciate. On other months, the activity is a bit more relaxed – bowling or curling – with a supper and faith discussion time to follow. The children keep a faith journal in the following way: a passage of Scripture is read and discussed, the children have some time to answer a secret question in their journal, then some “sharing questions” are discussed, concluding with prayer. The journals are theirs to take home; faith is not something to pick up and put down, but rather something to keep with you all the time. The Anglican community plays a crucial role in the organization of RAY activities. There were participants from
a minimum of four different parishes at every activity during the 2013-14 season. Some of these children are the only person their age at their parish, but in a regional group, they discover they are not the only 10-year-old Anglican in Regina. This is possible thanks to the support of members in all seven parishes in encouraging participation, in volunteering to supply food, in offering their parish halls as a meeting place, in contributing to the RAY fund and in sending an adult to participate in the organizing committee. Ideally, the committee would have a member from each parish, but the co-operation of four parishes to take the lead in
organization has really helped. The combination of different backgrounds and levels of experience leads to the best youth group we can provide. Originally, none of the committee members had children in the youth group. Over the past year, the parents have been getting involved, which is a wonderful development. The 2014-2015 year sees the return of popular events such as the Amazing Anglican Race in September. We encourage many of our participants to attend the Q Event in October to meet other children their age from the diocese. Let’s have another exciting year of building God’s community in Regina!
In the footsteps of the Apostle Paul
Spirit of the Valley event raises funds for retreat centre The 12th annual Spirit of the Valley Bike-Walk-Run raised more than $6,700 for St. Michael’s Retreat Centre, outside of Lumsden. Friar Gerry Clyne (kneeling in front row) led 13 walkers on an hourlong nature hike through the grounds. The group of 12 cyclists can be seen going up the hill in the background on their way to Deer Valley. Two individuals completed the run portion of the event. St. Michael’s Retreat is operated by an Interchurch Board, with representation from Anglicans, ELCIC Lutherans and Roman Catholics in southern Saskatchewan, in partnership with the Franciscan Friars of Western Canada. Photo — Joanne Shurvin-Martin
This 10-day tour, escorted by the Reverend Joe Ponic of the Diocese of Saskatoon, from May 2-12, 2015 starts in Athens with a welcome dinner. Then the tour will travel to Thessalonika for guided sightseeing of this city named after Alexander the Great’s sister, with an excursion along the ancient route of Apostle Paul to Amphipolis, ancient Philippi and Kavala (ancient Neapolis). Next to Via Veria, an overnight stay in Kalambaka, before arriving in Meteora to visit the rock-top Varlaam and St. Stephen Monasteries, before returning to Athens. In Piraeus, board your ship for a three-night cruise to Turkey and Greek Isles. Visit Mykonos and then Kusadasi in Turkey, where an excursion to Ephesus is included. Back in Greece, stop at Patmos, with an included
excursion to the Monastery of St. John and the Cave of the Apocalypse; Heraklion on Crete; and Santorini (weather permitting). Disembark and visit Corinth, where guided sightseeing features visits to the Acropolis and Areopagus, where Paul delivered his famous sermon about the identity of “the Unknown God.” A farewell dinner concludes this memorable vacation. Cost is $3,954 per person; price is based on double occupancy in ocean-view cabin, air-inclusive from Saskatoon. Air tax and port charges are included or, $2,629 per person land-only. For more information please contact Expedia CruiseShipCenters at 106-3126 Clarence Ave. S., Stonebridge Village, Saskatoon or 306-652-7447 or 1-877446-7447 or saskatoon@ cruiseshipcenters.com.