Saskatchewan
anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • April 2021
'He is not here, for he is risen' "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel an-
swered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you" (Matthew 28: 1-7, KJV). Photo courtesy Shutterstock/Rachata Sinthopachakul
Celebrating the days that the Lord has made A profile of Rev. Joyce Hilton By Allison Kydd
Rev. Joyce Hilton
INDIAN HEAD (Qu’A) — Many things in life cannot be predicted. For instance, who could have anticipated this worldwide pandemic and the lockdowns it caused? This crisis has been especially difficult for the vulnerable, such as those in long-term care homes. Rev. Joyce Hilton, retired
Anglican priest and a resident at Golden Prairie Home in Indian Head, was recently one of those giving care rather than needing care. Though she officially retired from St. James Anglican Church, Regina in 2006, Hilton continued to serve the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. Not only was she an honorary assistant at St.
Paul’s Cathedral in Regina, but she came regularly to St. Peter’s in Qu’Appelle, as well as Holy Trinity in McLean and nearby St. Thomas, in Vernon district. Hilton grew up in Lestock, Sask., and East Coulee and Calgary, Alta. Her path to the ministry, like that of many female clergy, was not direct, though her husband, Ron
Find the Saskatchewan Anglican on Facebook and Issuu!
Hilton, remembers that she was always drawn to the caring professions. This led her to take pastoral care training at the Pastoral Institute in Calgary from 1973 to 1978. Ron and Joyce met at Calgary’s Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, where there was an active Anglican young people’s Continued on page 5
2
The Saskatchewan Anglican
April 2021
The Bible's beneficial influence not achieved through casual reading Why is it better to read the Bible in community than simply by ourselves? By Rev. Dell Bornowsky
W
hen we say “read” we mean more than the public reading of Scripture in communal liturgical worship. Thomas Cranmer’s collect for the Second Sunday of Advent clarifies our desire to “hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” the Holy Scriptures. The great depth and breadth of the beneficial influence of the word of God in our lives is not achieved by casual reading. If the Bible truly is intended by God to communicate the divine will to humans, and if it contains precious and profitable wisdom (Prov. 3:13-18), why not use every possible means of improving our comprehension? Like the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:30-31) we may need others to help us understand what we are reading. We are exhorted to search for the wisdom of God (Proverbs 2:4-5) and it seems logical that a larger search party is apt to discover more than any single searcher. Different cultural and personal experiences will
enable others to “see” insights in the Scriptures that we would miss. This suggests that the greater the variety in our reading groups, the greater the potential harvest of wisdom, insight, and comprehension. However, variety alone does not automatically
New Testament. Unlike Eastern religions where “enlightenment” can be an inner and individual matter, biblical revelation is most frequently expressed and understood in the context of community and corporate spirituality. The Scriptures never
“Our personal reflecting and comprehending ought to be enriched, expanded and possibly corrected by comparison with the reflection and comprehension of the broader community.” enrich perception and may even produce confusion. For example, some advocates of pluralism or syncretism imply that the “wisdom” of all religions can be simply accumulated into a compendium. But this naïve approach seems unaware that some religious ideas are simply incompatible. Unlike the Koran and the Book of Mormon, the Bible was not given through only one prophet, but rather revelation through numerous channels was collected and confirmed by the consensus of the covenant community. Even Jesus did not commit His teaching to writing but left His legacy to the company of His followers, who went on to collect and compile the writings that became the
were intended for “private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). Although the LORD spoke to individuals, God’s speech in the Bible was intended to be comprehended, applied and passed on by the whole covenant community (Deut. 11:18-20, 1 Cor. 10:11) A preference for reading “in community” does not disparage reading the Bible for personal devotion and study. Rather it means that our personal reflecting and comprehending ought to be enriched, expanded and possibly corrected by comparison with the reflection and comprehension of the broader community. “In the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). But what are the
characteristics of an ideal reading community? Simply finding a Bible reading group does not necessarily protect us from parochial bias. Communities, like individuals, are susceptible to pet interpretations and blind spots. A congregation known for its advocacy on a particular social issue held a Bible study. As each small group reported their findings on a relevant portion of Scripture, it was common for them to say, although we are not sure exactly how to interpret this, we are confident that whatever it means it does not contradict the stance we have previously chosen. It may be helpful for us to remember that as followers of Jesus our “broader community” exists over both time and geography. With such a rich array of resources in the thinking of our church fathers and mothers gathered over the generations, along with experience of elders from around the world, why would we limit ourselves to the poverty of our own imaginations or what happens to be “trending” at any moment. Further consideration of how to recognize a wholesome “community” of Bible reading partners must await another article.
Obituary
Former diocesan editor Barbara-Lynn Dixon dies Submitted REGINA — BarbaraLynn Harrell Dixon, who was contributing editor for the Diocese of Qu’Appelle from 2005 to 2008, died Jan. 19, at the age of 88. Dixon was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and received a bachelor of arts from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. Later in her life she took religious studies and English at the University of Regina. Although she
moved to Regina in 1967, her gentle southern accent remained. She was an active volunteer with Regina Little Theatre, the Canadian Federation of University Women, and the diocese. She was a faithful and committed member of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and a strong supporter of the local arts and theatre scene. Dixon is survived by her husband, Bill, three sons and seven grandchildren.
Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle. Published monthly except for July and August. Whole No. 292, Vol. 49, No. 8 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 received by the diocesan editor no later than March. 26. All pictures must be sent as JPEGS and 1 MB (megabyte) in size. CONTACT INFORMATION Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail. com 1501 College Ave Regina, Sask., S4P 1B8 Phone: 306-737-4898 Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin joannesm@myaccess.ca 6927 Farrell Bay Regina, Sask., S4X 3V4 Phone: 306-775-2629 Saskatoon: Peter Coolen ptrcoolen@sasktel.net 820 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, Sask., S7M 1Z3 Phone: 306-244-0935, Saskatchewan: Mary Brown mary1949brown@gmail.com Box 25, Shellbrook, Sask., S0J 2E0 306-922-5159 Advertising agent: Angela Rush saskatchewan.anglican.ads@ gmail.com 905-630-0390 PUBLISHING DETAILS Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5
April 2021
The Saskatchewan Anglican
3
The Bishop's Corner
Being an Easter-hearted people By Bishop Rob Hardwick
M
ax Lucado tells a story about a physician in Arkansas who misdiagnosed a patient. He declared the woman to be dead. The family was informed, and the husband was griefstricken. Imagine the surprise of the nurse when she discovered that the woman was not dead, but alive! “You better tell the family,” she urged the doctor. The embarrassed physician phoned the husband and said, “I need to talk to you about the condition of your wife.” “The condition of my wife?” he asked. “She’s dead.” “Well,” the doctor mumbled with embarrassment, “she’s seen a
slight improvement.” Talk about an understatement! Easter is all about a four letter word — and Christians should be full of it. The four letter word is LIFE. New life. Whole life. Abundant Life. Redeemed life. Resurrected life. The purpose of life is not death. Easter proclaims the purpose of life is life — a life that triumphs over death forever. When the soldiers stabbed Jesus with a spear, “blood and water came out” (John 19:34). That rush of fluids revealed the cause of His death — a burst aorta. Jesus died of a broken heart. On Easter morning the great surprise is that out of Jesus’ broken heart there emerged a new heart, a resurrected heart, an unbreakable, unstoppable heart. Also, out of the Last Adam’s split side, a new Eve was conceived, the bride of Christ,
the Church, whose life revolves around the water of baptism, the blood of communion and the sending out to all the world. Good Friday’s “It is finished” becomes Easter’s “Now it begins.” When Jesus walked and talked along the Emmaus road with two of His disciples, Jesus was doing CPR. His disciples later recalled, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?” (Luke 24:32). When Jesus blessed and broke the bread, it was the final jolt that jump-started their Easter hearts. This pandemic has taken its toll, like the events of Holy Week did for those on the Emmaus road. “We had hoped” has been the shared cry of despondency in many this past year. But behold, the Risen Christ is in our midst. He is not dead. He is alive! As an Easter-hearted people emerging from the trials of the past year, it is time to shed the old grave clothes, the death shrouds that separate the dead from the
living. It is time to roll away the claustrophobic and separating stones of despair and isolation and begin to step out into the light, for a new path to hope is emerging. It is time to let our hearts be warmed and experience again the adrenaline surges, the racing pulses, for with the Risen Christ the unexpected always happens. It is also time to cast fear aside and through faith let our Easter hearts break for the same things that break God’s heart. The Bible says that David was a “man after God’s own heart” . . . a man with a heart that beats for the least, the last, and the lost. May we emerge from this pandemic with renewed Easter hearts, a people after God’s heart. Alleluia! Christ is risen! May the Lord, this Easter, bless you and keep you; may the Lord cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and grant you a beat-skipping, rock-rolling, breaking resurrected heart for you and all His people.
Grace @ Sixty
Do not doubt, but believe that the resurrection is real Editor’s note: MarieLouise is taking a break from writing. See https:// graceatsixty.wordpress. com/2021/03/01/pressingpause/.
A
small town in British Columbia has one claim to fame: one of the most majestic mountains in the Rockies towers over the town like a monument to eternity. Most of the time, however, the mountain is hiding in the clouds. On those few clear days, you can hear people say, “The mountain is out!” Now, even when it cannot be seen, the mountain is there of course. If you follow the directions on the road map, no doubt you will bump into the mountain. It is a long drive around, and a difficult climb up. Many tourists come to visit that small town, hoping to catch a glimpse of this piece of natural beauty. On grey and cloudy days, many do not try to find the mountain in the mist. Many leave the town, not believing that the mountain is really there.
After all, why believe something exists if you cannot see it? Unless I can see for myself, and apply my own criteria of verification, I may doubt the existence of whatever it is. Unless I can see for myself, I may not believe. Unless I can see for myself, I may live in fear that even God may not be real. All I know for certain are the wounds and bruises of life. No wonder Thomas demanded to touch the wounds of Christ, just for proof. We don’t argue with suffering and death: they are as real as the clouds around the mountain, especially in this pandemic season. My friend Marian knew the thick clouds around the mountain too well. Not that she was ever in that B.C. town. In fact, she was so sick that she barely managed a 10-minute walk around the block.
Visits to doctors were so exhausting that she needed days in bed just to recover. While this was long before COVID-19, I am guessing countless others are sharing Marian’s experience right now. Marian fought to maintain a sense of God in the midst of the pain and the fatigue. Like the disciples on that first day of the week, fear gripped Marian’s heart, settling in like thick clouds around the mountain, locking the doors of her soul. Marian screamed silently in the lonely hours in bed, day and night, pleading like Thomas: “I cannot believe in you, Lord, unless … .” Marian is Thomas’ twin, and so are we all. Not only do we want proof that Jesus is risen, we dismiss any proof that comes our way. We who profess Jesus as Lord, we who have been baptized into His death and resurrection, we cannot hide behind the excuse of ignorance. We are not among those who do not see and yet believe; we are among
those who do see Jesus, who have received Jesus’ Spirit of peace and still do not believe, locking the door of our hearts with fear, despair and narrowmindedness. Fear holds us back from one another — and from God — keeping us from seeing Jesus. Fear is our biggest enemy, just like fear led the disciples to lock themselves in that upper room, not realizing that the “enemy” was not outside, but right in their own hearts. Fear is the thick cloud around the mountain, hiding from view the new life promised in the Risen One of God. One year, Lent was particularly trying on Marian’s health. Panic struck every shred of faith she had left. It was only when Marian unmasked the enemy in her own soul that God’s healing power could move in. Jesus touched Marian’s wounds with the Love that moves right through locked doors. “Never before have I felt the power of the resurrection so tangibly in my body,” said
Marian, overjoyed that she made it to church on Easter morning. The Healer of our illness and brokenness bore our wounds in His death. The Healer of wounds lives and dwells among us. With Thomas, and with Marian, we are invited to touch the wounds of Christ in one another. God knows we need to touch each other’s pandemic wounds right now ever so gently and lovingly. The wounds of the world are the wounds of Christ on the cross. Touching them with love gives birth to resurrection faith: “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Blowing away the thick clouds with the peace of the risen Lord, we bump into Jesus as we wind our way up that mountain, in the joy of His resurrection. As Easter people we climb God’s mountain of everlasting love and mercy; even when the mountain is shrouded in mist we sing. Christ is risen, Alleluia!
4
The Saskatchewan Anglican
April 2021
New BCP app is simple and easy to use By Mary Brown PRINCE ALBERT — I am sure most of you would remember the Rev. Chris Dow. He and his wife and three daughters moved to Ontario, where he is incumbent of St. James, Caledon and a national councillor with the Prayer Book Society of Canada. Chris was a great asset in our Diocese of Saskatchewan when it came to technical computer applications. He revamped the website so us mortals could keep it going. Dow and two other priests in the Diocese of Toronto worked together to develop a daily prayer app using the Book of Common Prayer. They ran it by Gordon Maitland, the national chairman of the Prayer Book Society of Canada, who enthusiastically supported the idea. It is a free app, and by
•
•
The classic Book of Common Prayer can now be read, marked, learned and inwardly digested on your phone with a new app. Photo by Jason G. Antonio early March had been downloaded more than 600 times. Here is how it works: • If you choose to
say daily offices or family prayers, the app automatically sets the day’s appointed Scripture
•
and Collects You can select prayers for Morning, Mid-day, Evening or Compline if
you choose daily offices, and if family prayers, you can specify morning or evening There is a vast list of occasional prayers and thanksgivings to access. The list of prayers even includes one from the 1918 Book of Common Prayer, “In the time of any common Plague or Sickness” Just press “pray” and the order of service is laid out for you in one easy scroll
Even though the deadly COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives, it seems that some good has come out of the situation we are all in. For more information visit prayerbook.ca/resources/ bcp-app or download Common Prayer Canada from your app provider.
DIOCESE OF SASKATOON EVENTS
Announcements for April 2021 g With the severe drop in the number of Saskatchewan Anglican subscribers in the past year, all parishes in the diocese are asked to poll their membership and send a list of all those not currently receiving the paper and who wish to receive it to the Rev. Peter Coolen at ptrcoolen@sasktel. net. He will compile the addresses and submit them to the Anglican Journal subscription department. Please include congregation (if part of a multi-point parish), parish, community, salutation (Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.) as well as name of one individual per household, the postal address and, if possible, email addresses. g Saskatchewan Anglican online! Did you know that you can read current and past issues of the Saskatchewan Anglican online? It can be found at www. anglicandiocesesaskatoon. com/saskanglican or on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/ saskatchewananglican. g During the COVID19 interruption in daily and church life, recordings and live-streaming of church services are available from links on the diocesan website and diocesan Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as on various individual parish websites, and locally (for Battle River Parish) on radio. g At the time of this writing, all in-person services and churches are indefinitely closed. When these are opened again check service times and any requirements for pre-registration that may exist. If attending services in person, please follow all the indicated seating, movement, distancing, masking and sanitization instructions in order to safeguard yourself and protect others. g School of Discipleship Ministry Preparation Program: The Diocese of Saskatoon’s School of Discipleship Ministry
Preparation Program is a part-time three-year Licentiate. Courses for the 2021 seasons have now been announced (see the syllabus posted elsewhere in this issue). Students may take a course part-way through the three-year cycle unless pre-requisites for a specific course are stated. The first full complement for the ESC Licentiate in Theology is planned to be completed by spring 2023. People wishing to take one or more of these courses should consult with the School of Discipleship co-ordinator. People who sense a call to diaconal or priestly ordination will go through the diocesan discernment process at some point before the midway point. If you have any questions about our Ministry Preparation Program, please contact the School of Discipleship co-ordinator, the Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy at tmccarthy@sasktel.net or 306-370-8378. g The 2021 STU Convocation: The 20th
Joint Convocation for the Saskatoon Theological Union (STU) will be held on Friday, May 7 at 7 p.m. as a virtual event on YouTube. Please refer to the following website for updated information with the YouTube link once it becomes available — www. usask.ca/stu/emmanuel — or contact Lisa McInnis, registrar, College of Emmanuel & St. Chad, at 306- 975-1550. g Address Change: Please note that with the move of the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad to the St. Andrew’s College building, its new address is 1121 College Drive, Saskatoon, S7N 0W3, 306975-1550, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to noon g Spring Courses at the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad: The College of Emmanuel & St Chad welcomes Inquiries and applicants for its 2021 courses. All teaching currently is planned to be offered only online. For information on courses available through the Saskatoon Theological
Union, please also contact our office at 306-975-1550. g Nutflakes Movie Library: Christ Church Anglican, Saskatoon is building a COVID-safe movie lending library: Nutflakes! The parish is now accepting donations of gently used videos and DVDs. To donate please call 306-242-0165. Once open, reservations for hour-long blocks, 24 hours apart, to browse and select videos may be made by calling 306-242-0165. g To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be supplied to the associate editor by fax, email or “snail mail” by the end of the month, one month before the month in which the insertion is desired (i.e. December 2020 entries will be in February 2021 issue). Detailed and longer texts of upcoming events will not be included in this section, but should space allow, could be the subject of articles and notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.
April 2021
The Saskatchewan Anglican
5
... Celebrating the days that the Lord has made Continued from page 1 group. They married in 1964 and have three girls, Robin, Jennifer and Jillian. In 1978, the Hiltons moved to Edmonton, where, in Ron’s words, “Joyce spent most of her time on her motherly duties.” At the same time, Joyce Hilton was definitely a feminist. Her daughter Robin laughs as she remembers her mother “gently guiding (her) into feminist thought.” After the family moved to Olds, Alta., in 1980, Joyce hosted a group of like-minded women. “The women who came for those meetings seemed different than the moms on (television) or the women I saw in magazines,” Robin recalls. She also remembers listening to their conversations and finding them helpful as she was “attempt(ing) to navigate values in the context of friends and teachers in a rural Alberta town” and “struggling to fit all the pieces together.” Though Joyce Hilton volunteered at church and graduated with a bachelor of arts from Athabasca University, it wasn’t until 1987 that she officially put her pastoral care training to use. At that time, she became pastoral care coordinator for St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Calgary. The next step in Hilton’s pastoral journey was a move to Swift Current in 1992 and a job as activities director for a long-term care centre. Shortly after, the Hiltons attended a discernment weekend at St. Michael’s Retreat Centre, which culminated in Joyce being ordained
Rev. Joyce Hilton, pictured here in the summer of 2013, served the diocese even after she retired. Photo courtesy Allison Kydd a deacon in May 1997. In September 1997, with the bishop of Saskatoon officiating, Joyce Hilton became an Anglican priest. She served the Coteau Hills parish (Kyle, Rosetown, Beechy and Outlook) from 1997 to 2000, before moving to St. James in Regina. Hilton valued her clerical colleagues and was valued in return. The Dean of St. Paul’s, Michael Sinclair, has described Joyce Hilton in this way: “Joyce has always had a deep and profound sense of and curiosity about God’s loving presence. This finds its way into the kind
and gentle person she is and into who she has been as a priest. She has a natural welcoming spirit, inviting people easily into relationship. “This giftedness has always been on display in Joyce, whether behind an altar, in a pulpit or providing expert care to those in need. It remains a gift to have been able to work with her.” Ron Hilton mentions Joyce’s gift for being with families in times of bereavement. Connie Billett, a long-time resident of Indian Head, will testify to that. Billett remembers how, in October 2012, Joyce
DIOCESE
drove out from Regina to perform the last rites for Billett’s mother. Two of Billett’s sisters were in town for a visit, and after the rites, the sisters sang for their mother, who died later that afternoon. No doubt Joyce would have been singing and dancing the “Hokey Pokey” right along with them. Busy as Hilton was in her vocation, she was also devoted to family. When Cloe, Robin’s daughter and the Hiltons’ first grandchild, was born, Joyce chose to be called “kokum” because of her father’s Indigenous background and because,
says Ron, “she was too young to be a ‘grandma’.” As the years passed, Cloe and her sisters, Sophie and Daphne, became familiar figures in the parishes where Joyce worked. The Hiltons also took their granddaughters on a number of memorable trips. Robin Hilton is grateful for her girls’ special relationship with their grandparents. The Hiltons’ youngest grandchild, Graham, six-year-old son of Jennifer, lives in Edmonton, so he isn’t able to see his Hilton grandparents as often, but he too is often in their thoughts. In 2014, Ron and Joyce Hilton, as well as Robin Hilton’s family, moved to Indian Head. One reason was so Joyce wouldn’t have to drive so far for services. As fate would have it, this, the year of Ron and Joyce’s 50th anniversary, was also the year of Joyce’s diagnosis with dementia and Ron’s with cancer. The Hiltons tried various living arrangements, but before long Joyce Hilton resided full-time at Golden Prairie Home. One could grieve at the injustice of such a fate, but that wouldn’t be her way. There are still moments of joy, as when she wakes with a smile as if she, like Herbert O’Driscoll, one of her favourite theologians, has begun her day with these words: “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Note: An earlier version of this article appeared in The Indian Head-Wolseley News.
OF SASKATOON
Saskatoon Theological Union to hold 20th joint convocation online The 20th Joint Convocation for the Saskatoon Theological Union (STU) will be held on Friday, May 7 at 7 p.m. as a virtual event on YouTube. Please refer to www.usask.ca/stu/emmanuel for updated information about the YouTube link once it becomes available. Or, contact Lisa McInnis, registrar, College of Emmanuel & St. Chad, at 306-975-1550.
6
The Saskatchewan Anglican
April 2021
The spiritual practice o
It may be a while yet before families can share laughter, tears and Sunday brunch, as Rev. Trish McCarthy did with her family growing up. Her parents, Jim and Jean, mandated that everyone attend to build that family time. Photos courtesy Rev. Trish McCarthy By Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy Editor’s note: If you are drawn to dialogue about your walk with Christ and want to take a new step in Christian ministry, please contact Trish McCarthy, co-ordinator of the School of Discipleship, Diocese of Saskatoon and assistant professor, College of Emmanuel & St. Chad at tmccarthy@ sasktel.net.
I
t may be a while yet before we can host 10 people to dinner, as the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and stronger variances arise, but we can prepare ourselves spiritually for what can happen in the future. Pondering the spiritual art of Christian hospitality can set us up for new moments of friendship in which we can encounter Christ’s very self. It will always be imprinted on my mind and heart the yearly 30-minute trek our family of eight made from Waterdown to Ancaster in Ontario, for an October Thanksgiving meal. My great-Aunt Bea and Uncle Bert would have the 10-person dining table set up complete with four lit diningsized candles in their large summer kitchen on the back of their house on Main Street. By the time the dinner
As a 24-year-old college student, Trish McCarthy spent time breaking bread with friends who became anchors in her life.
was done, the single pane windows were steaming and it was dark outside. This was one of the special moments of down-home Christian hospitality that warms my heart even today. It was not so much the small silver onions in the peas or the almond slivers in the freshly cooked green beans or the brown sugar in the squash or the garlic in the potatoes or the moist and flavourful turkey that were all sensational to my young tastebuds. Instead, it was the time spent with two beloved elders who had spent all day setting up and anticipating this family encounter. My heart winces as I long for those enchanting days again. It was quality time spent with siblings, parents and Aunt Bea and Uncle Bert. My heart sang as we listened to Aunt Bea share stories of the 1930s when food was rationed but, the Christian community table was replete. My parents Jim and Jean, who both died in the last five years, set parameters for the six of us children as we were growing up, especially when it came to family meals. Sunday brunch was non-negotiable and we could always count on being with everyone in the family to share some laughs, teasing and tears, along with our family’s signature moist scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and fruit
salad. Sunday brunch was almost like a liturgy, which always followed Sunday morning Eucharist. Later, as a 24-year-old studying theology in Toronto, I can think of numerous times when I was invited and shared bread with other theologues and faculty. As poor students, it seemed no surprise to the director of the Toronto School of Theology that some of us made the monthly Friday afternoon reception our meal for the night. He even encouraged us to “take some of the food home.” I remember the halls of that building on Queen’s Park Crescent and the warmth that radiated from these caring and nourishing encounters with faculty. In my first Anglican church experience, I remember the brunch that Tim, the rector of Christ Church, Deer Park and his wife Judy hosted for some of us newcomers to the congregation. These informal encounters were formational for me. Their time investment into new people, generosity of spirit and mutual sharing gave me the courage to take another step in my walk with Jesus. If we spend some quiet, meditative time with the many references in scripture to down-home hospitality, we can see how an intimate social
If we spend some quiet, meditative times with the many references in the Bible to down-home hospitality, we see (at left), an Orthodox Christian icon of the Trinity and (at right) an icon of Abraham and Sarah entertaining angels.
April 2021
The Saskatchewan Anglican
of Christian hospitality
This story focuses on a lavish dinner that a French servant woman named Babette prepares for a group of pious ascetics in an isolated Norwegian village on Sunday, Dec. 15, 1883. These pictures are from the movie, "Babette's Feast."
setting of a special dinner could be a spiritually awakening experience. We could consider Abraham and Sarah entertaining three travellers and the life-changing announcement that would conclude their dining encounter with angels. Meditating on the story of Jesus’ visit to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus also conjures up an intimate dining encounter. What special words must have been shared in that quiet sharing of a meal with dear friends! Surely there would have been some heartwarming mention made about Lazarus’ time in the tomb. Then we have the Last Supper, the precursor to our Holy Eucharist today. The Gospel of John depicts Jesus sharing intimate last words with His disciples as well as Jesus’ magnificent act of hospitality in washing His disciples’ feet. These must have been very moving and memorable moments for Jesus’ friends. A long list of intimate dining encounters with friends, strangers and family can be found throughout the Bible. Moments of special sharing and mutual support can be a part of the spiritual formation of young people as they make pivotal decisions for the trajectory of their lives. As you and I reflect on the
numerous passages of Scripture, we can be sumptuous hosts too, not just to nourish the bodies of dear ones or potential new friends, but to encourage, uplift and set a standard of personal sharing that might help people heal from the trials and tribulations of life. Our hospitality might just be the pivotal point for someone who thirsts for deeper meaning in life. There are some people whose lives are steeped in prayer and service, whose patterns of interaction simply evoke a deeper spiritual awareness, courage and joy in others. This often happens around the dining tables and meals that have taken all day to marinate, slow cook, and serve. I think of numerous special friends who have hosted us in their homes to beautifully prepared or potluck meals. I think of the inquisitive, gentle and joyous nature of some dinner hosts whose refined listening skills, ability to ask the right questions and whose genuine awe of what God has done for people, has set their guests on a different footing as they leave the front door of their home. In offering hospitality, we can make a space in which God does things we do not expect and could not create by ourselves. When theological students
or parishioners have been in the habit of discussing the deeper things of life and their walk with Christ together, such a group may naturally move into this kind of conversation. It is a very different activity to bring people together who have not spent time as a group before, so the host may wish to initiate some “Holy Ground” conversation carefully. Saying something such as, “Any personal information shared here is sacred ground and not for public consumption,” may give people license to share from the heart. Letting people know ahead of time that “we will have an informal prayer time and some shared reflections on Scripture” gives potential guests some clarity about what may happen après dinner or during dessert. I think that in offering hospitality and nurturing a sense of trust and mutual support, we may find that God moves guests and host into a deeper and spiritually transformative experience. God invites you and me into a deeper walk with each other. As we move with hope in this world to a new openness of social interaction and sharing after challenging and necessary pandemic restrictions, let us keep in mind the spiritual art of Christian hospitality and what a soulnurturing ministry this can be!
A long list of intimate dining encounters includes Jesus' intimate final time with friends (at left) and engaging conversations that lift our hearts with others whose lives are steeped in prayer and service.
7
8
The Saskatchewan Anglican
DIOCESE OF SASKATOON
Ministry program offers Licentiate classes SASKATOON — The Diocese of Saskatoon’s School of Discipleship Ministry Preparation Program is a part-time three-year Licentiate. Students may take courses through the three-year cycle unless pre-requisites are stated. We will finish the first complement for the ESC Licentiate in Theology in spring 2023. People wishing to take one or more courses should consult with the School of Discipleship co-ordinator. People who sense a call to diaconal or priestly ordination shouldo enter the diocesan discernment process before the midway point. If you have any questions about our Ministry Preparation Program, please contact the School of Discipleship co-ordinator, Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy, at tmccarthy@sasktel. net, or 306-370-8378.
Spring 2021 Healthy Boundaries 101 Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy Thursdays: 7 – 8:15 p.m., April 8, 15, 22, and 29, delivered on Zoom Anglicanism I Rev. Dr. Iain Luke, Friday, April 30, 7 – 9 p.m., Saturday, May 1, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., and 2 to 5 p.m. Likely delivered on Zoom
Fall 2021 Intro to Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Care Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy (Licentiate Level) Thursdays 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Sept. 12 to Dec. 2 (Tentative Dates and Times) Delivered on Zoom Anglicanism II Rev. Dr. Iain Luke 7 – 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 17; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 18. Anticipated postCOVID in-person delivery Liturgy & Preaching I Rev. Dr. Iain Luke and Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy 7 – 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6; likely in-person.
April 2021
Community appreciates cathedral's outreach By Pam KendelGoodale, People’s Warden, and Deacon Canon Michael Jackson REGINA — For many years the main community outreach program of St. Paul’s Cathedral in downtown Regina has been its twicemonthly Cathedral Lunch. Volunteers from St. Paul’s, assisted by people from other parishes and organizations, have prepared and served a hot lunch to all comers, many of them families with children. Take-way bag lunches have been provided and a wide range of toiletries and clothing items made available. Hundreds of guests benefited from this ministry every month. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic obliged the co-ordinators,
cathedral parishioners Marilyn Hedlund and Susan Wahba, to suspend the program in March 2020. The cathedral vestry then authorized donations to two community organizations: $2,500 from the Cathedral Lunch account was donated to Carmichael Outreach to assist with their food program; and $2,500 from the outreach account and the Dean’s Discretionary account was given to the YWCA to support women and children staying in the YWCA shelters. Both donations were gratefully received. Carmichael Outreach responded: “This has been an extreme help in supporting our housing support programs and especially our food hamper program, which was implemented as an emergency COVID
measure. “The funds provided have primarily supported mileage costs for these programs, to allow us to visit clients off-site. Delivering food hampers has allowed us to help reduce food insecurity and protect some immunecompromised individuals, such as seniors and those with other illnesses.” The YWCA Regina wrote that it “depends on the generous support of compassionate individuals and organizations, and St. Paul’s Cathedral has been one of our greatest valued supporters. “In 2019, more than 700 women and children found safety and support within the walls of our shelters as they fled situations of intimate partner violence. However, the need continues to be much greater than our capacity and nearly 4,000 women
and children who needed help were turned away. “Through the thoughtful contributions received during the Christmas fundraising campaign, YWCA Regina has been able to provide meals, special Christmas suppers, gifts from Santa, warm clothing and necessary supplies for women and children housed in our three women’s shelters and four children’s shelters over the holidays.” Cathedral parishioners Keith and Linda CoomberBendtsen also provided liaison with All Nations Hope and the YWCA of Regina, partners in providing space at the Awasiw WarmUp Centre for guests — some of whom came to the Cathedral Lunch program — to warm up, eat, and obtain clothing if available.
April 2021
The Saskatchewan Anglican
9
Parishes find innovative ways to build community By Mary Brown PRINCE ALBERT — A lot of parishes in our diocese have had to cancel their fundraisers such as bake sales, cookie walks, soup and sandwich, beef suppers and fowl suppers. It was interesting to see how some of the other dioceses have adapted to the COVID rules. For instance, in New Brunswick in one parish they had a Bean, Brown Bread and Apple Crisp takeout drive-thru. Included in all 140 bags sold was also a prayer card. The ACW of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Corner Brook, NFLD., made 450 trays of apple crisp that they sold at the cathedral entrance. Apple-themed projects began a number of years ago as a commitment to the Anglican Church of Canada’s fifth Mark of Mission: “to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” The picture showed a
Anglicans in Corner Brook, NFLD peel apples during a fundraiser. Photo courtesy Connie Lamswood table full of men peeling piles of apples. Rather than having their Fall Fayre in the spacious parish hall, St. Agnes in North Vancouver had a Parking Lot Sale. They followed the COVID guidelines with everyone wearing masks and spacing. Many customers
said they enjoyed having an opportunity to do something interesting when so many of us are cooped up at home. Expecting to raise $2,000 for the ministry of the parish, early reports showed that it would be closer to $3,000. St. Augustine’s in
Newfoundland usually had a Christmas Tea. This year it was virtual. The ingredients for each tea were contained in a windowed pastry box. Inside each box was a grace prayer, a napkin, sandwiches, cookies, tea buns, Christmas cake, cream, jam, a piece of
chocolate and a baggie containing tea, coffee, sugar, sweetener and butter. Sales were done through the parish office. Payment was made by credit card via phone and purchasers would come to the church at an appointed time. PrayerWorks Mission is a food program operated by St. Faith’s Church in Edmonton. They provide meals and an element of food security to neighbours in the Alberta Avenue area of Edmonton and beyond. Thanks to donations they were able to distribute about 12,000 (boxed) meals from March to June. Since 1938 the parish of Holy Trinity, in downtown Toronto, has performed a live Christmas pageant. It is the Christmas story performed in the church and the surrounding neighbourhood. The play can be watched at www. thechristmasstory.ca. All of these initiatives were very careful in following the COVID guidelines in their areas.
ACWs are the living hands and feet of Christ By Violet Goodfellow PRINCE ALBERT — It was in April 1885 that Mrs. Roberta E. Tilton and seven brave ladies approached the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society in Ottawa to help with missionary work. They were given permission to form the Women’s Auxiliary (to the Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada). Shortly after this permission was received, branches sprang up in Anglican Church parishes across Canada with Junior Auxiliary, Girls’ Auxiliary and Little Helpers. There was a strong Dominion Board supporting missionaries abroad including in our north with Sunday School vans touring the Prairies and northern Ontario. The ministry carried out by these women is legendary and remains the foundation for the
ministries of women today. In 1996, by resolution of General Synod and acceptance by the Dominion Board, W.A. was amalgamated with other women’s ministries, especially Mother’s Union, Chancel Guild and Church Year, to come under the umbrella of Anglican Church Women.
Anglican Church Women is not an organization but the ministry of faithfilled women — a ministry so varied and encompassing of all the skills, talents and God-given gifts of women throughout the Anglican Church in Canada, not just the women in the pews, but Anglican women everywhere. Anglican Church Women are young and old. Anglican Church Women are ordained clergy, deacons, ministers, priests and bishops. They are teachers, lawyers, secretaries, moms, doctors and bus drivers. Anglican Church Women are lay readers, Sunday school teachers, choir members, cleaners of altar vessels (Altar Guild). They are leaders and members of Bible study groups, help with parish and community dinners and teas, craft sales, bake sales and fundraisers. ACW are members of prayer chains and the
makers of prayer shawls that bring the comfort of God’s love and peace to the sick and dying. They are advocates for the poor and the homeless, are against violence and abuse, promote justice and peace, and send parcels of clothing to the Yukon. The ACW live the teachings of Jesus and keep them alive and encourage Jesus story and lessons to be passed on. At the national level we have given support to the Council of the North, to St. Jude’s Cathedral, to PWRDF, to Grandmother to Grandmothers (Steven Lewis Foundation), to On Eagle’s Wings and missing Indigenous women. At the diocesan level we have given to Camp Okema, Bishop’s Discretionary Fund, Minister’s Discretionary, Sunday schools, food banks, Bishop McAllister College in Uganda, to refugee families sponsored by the United Church and to the homeless in Prince Albert. Women have cleaned, painted, and sewn
curtains to make their places of worship inviting as a place of warmth and love. By 2020 a new logo was created along with a new motto: “The love Jesus calls us,” which is a modernization of “the love Christ of constraineth.” During this time of COVID-19 when the women can’t attend meetings or gather for a quilting bee, they can phone and give encouragement, friendship and prayer to those living alone. Some are taking meals to the elderly on special occasions like Christmas. They are the living hands of Christ. I just want to say that the Anglican Church Women of Canada are special and they make a difference in many lives. Many people respect, care for and cherish their friendships. I want the Anglican Church to know that their prayers during this crucial time in our lives are appreciated. Keep up the good work.
10
The Saskatchewan Anglican
April 2021
Feeling the Holy Spirit
Running on empty By Rev. Gene Packwood
J
esus wasn’t in the tomb when Mary Magdalene went there early on that first day of the week while it was still dark. She thought someone had taken His body. She ran to tell Simon Peter and the other disciple. It must have been very disturbing, especially after what they’d all just been through in the previous week from hell. The tomb was empty. In 2006, the Archbishop of Uganda, the Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, began his Easter Message like this:
The Mask of Zerro strikes again! Photo by Rev. Mark Kleiner
Mask of Zerro continues push to support food programs By Rev. Mark Kleiner SASKATOON — Our intrepid masked hero, Zerro, stands at the doors to Emmanuel Anglican Church, Saskatoon where he left behind his trademark Z earlier this year as part of the “Mask of Zerro” campaign, raising money to support 10 food insecure households in the City of Saskatoon throughout 2021. Raised “Mask of Zerro” monies go to CHEP Good Food Inc.’s Pay it Forward Program, providing fresh produce, bread, milk, eggs, and other food staples. Keep an eye on the horizon, for Zerro may be coming to your parish
soon! So far friends of Zerro have raised $5,210 of the $11,700 goal; though the rate of donations has slowed recently, we are now halfway to our goal. Donations can be made via e-transfer to christchurchsaskatoon@ sasktel.net, or by cheque, cash, traveller’s cheques or anything of substantial value (think Bitcoin, gold bullion or Rands! Unmarked bills also gratefully received through the mail slot). Donations may be made payable to Christ Church Anglican, 515 28th Street West, Saskatoon, S7l 4R5, with “Mask of Zerro” in the subject line — and tell them the masked bandito sent you!
When we are told the water tank for the Archbishop’s Palace is empty (which it often is!), we say, “That is not good.” When my wife, Mama Phoebe, discovers that the food store is empty, we say, “That is not good.” When my driver tells me that the fuel tank in my vehicle is empty, I say, “That is not good.” If you are like me, most of our associations with the word ‘empty’ are negative. We think, “empty is bad, and full is good.” Yet, Easter challenges that assumption, because it is an empty cross and an empty tomb that are central to our faith. The resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ sets him apart from all other human beings throughout history and especially all other religious teachers. Buddha is dead. Confucius is dead. Mohammed is dead. Jesus and Jesus alone has returned from the grave, never to die again. Jesus is alive today! Empty is good! Empty didn’t appear to be good to Mary that first Easter morning. She must have felt as if she was “running on empty” in a bad way, as she ran to tell the others that Jesus was gone and the tomb was empty. Jesus wasn’t there (except He was, but they couldn’t see Him yet). But Jesus is here for us now — except we can’t see him either. And then when
Mary did see Him, she didn’t recognize Him (John 20:14). Amazing. She must have known Him so well — every line on His face, every mannerism. He even spoke to her to ask her why she was crying and for whom she was looking (John 20:15) — as if He didn’t know. She thought He was the gardener. She still didn’t recognize Him. Until He said her name. And suddenly, empty was good. Wonder of wonders, because the tomb was empty Jesus could fill the dark, empty void in Mary’s grieving heart with the goodness of His presence, and she knew the empty tomb was a good thing; a very good thing, indeed. “I have seen the Lord!” was the next thing she said to the disciples. Her heart was full. Empty, she had discovered, was good. The tomb was empty because Jesus had conquered sin and death. The empty tomb means the world is FULL of the resurrection power of God Almighty. The tomb was EMPTY. Jesus is FULLY and wonderfully raised from the dead. Jesus is here now. The tomb is still empty, so His church doesn’t have to be — even in COVID tide. The church can always be full. Jesus fills it by His Holy Spirit. He just
does, because He is God, which means He is omnipresent; that is, He is everywhere at the same time. Not only that, He is omniscient; in other words, He knows everything — past, present and future. Jesus is also omnipotent, or all powerful. Those three attributes mean that Jesus can be fully present to everyone, everywhere, all the time. Even when things appear to be empty. He is here with me and there with you. Like Mary, I might not recognize Him. He might look like a gardener, or one of you, or like bread and wine, or like a church full of flawed people like you and me, or a church that’s empty — like that tomb. “Now you are the body of Christ” wrote Paul to the Christians in Corinth, “and individually members of it” (1 Cor. 12:27). So are you. You and I, together or apart, are all the body of Christ, the Church, and individually are members of it. His church is the best place in the world to look for Jesus and to listen for when He might say your name as He did for Mary. It is the best place in the world to bring our empty bits for Him to fill with His Holy Spirit — it is the place to bring any of our empty, lonely, grieving hearts, like Mary’s, to be filled with the goodness of His presence. Alleluia! The tomb was empty. Empty is good. In Jesus, God the Father has made empty good enough on which to run. Running on empty is good because of Jesus.
April 2021
The Saskatchewan Anglican
11
Lessons in a time of COVID Holding synods, consecrations, and installations on Zoom and other online platforms has become popular during the past year in Churchland, mostly because the pandemic as prevented large gatherings. Photo courtesy Shutterstock
Not even a pandemic can stop synods and bishop installations By Mary Brown PRINCE ALBERT — You know that saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”? Even though there is a pandemic, bishops are retiring, synods and electoral synods are being held, as are consecrations and ceremonies to honour Christians with orders from their dioceses. For instance, in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, Bishop Samuel Rose was consecrated and installed as the sixth bishop on Dec. 15, 2020. The electoral synod was held on Nov. 28, with delegates staying in their homes and connected with each other via Zoom. All votes were cast digitally and counted by an independent company. Usually the Metropolitan with
many other bishops in attendance would consecrate the new bishop. Unfortunately, because of the Atlantic bubble, the Metropolitan was not able to attend, so the senior bishop within the province did the honours, along with some retired bishops still residing in the province. Others were able to watch the service online. The Metropolitan, Archbishop David Edwards, had to miss two consecrations because of COVID. A new Bishop, the Right Rev. Sandra Fyfe, was consecrated in the Cathedral Church of All Saints in Halifax on Nov. 30. You have to have three bishops to consecrate a bishop-elect, and luckily, the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island had three retired bishops
who were called into action. If you have ever been to a consecration you know what a huge celebration it is, so it is an inopportune time for the new bishops to not experience all the pomp and circumstances of a consecration. The dioceses of Niagara, Brandon and Athabasca were able to hold their synods online via Zoom. In Athabasca, what was normally a three-day synod was a three-hour synod. The bishop made a motion that the synod of Athabasca meet in regular session this September from the 17 to 19. All three dioceses held the required elections for positions on committees and other groups. But so much of a diocesan synod is the camaraderie felt by the delegates and the oneness they all feel.
By the Rev. Dr. Iain Luke Principal, College of Emmanuel & St. Chad
W
hat did we learn about God in the past year? That strikes me as an appropriate question for a theological college principal to be asking at this time, and indeed, it has been very much in the air at our College and in the Saskatoon Theological Union. The question isn’t, or at least shouldn’t be, abstract. Our learning about God during this COVID time is concrete and practical. It comes from practical changes to the way we live, the way we socialize and communicate, the way we worship and do ministry, the way we experience the world. All those changes affect how we encounter God, and what we know, or think we know, about God. We seem to be discovering, for example, that God does not only live in church buildings. We knew that in the abstract before, but it has become real in a profound and practical way, as we pray at home, attend digital worship, and live out our faith in relative isolation. The other side of that coin might be our discovery that God requires something more of us than just going with the flow. In order to practise our faith, we have had to take more initiative than we are used to. Rather than relying on religious habits, we are adopting new ways of praying and acting, alone or together. In an unexpected way, this shift marks a renewal of faith in our time. Jesus Himself renewed faith
by stirring up a change of habits and inviting fresh personal commitments to His message and His mission. That invitation echoes in every generation, as it echoes now in ours. Prayer habits are not the only ones to change. We are having to find new ways to learn and develop in our faith, beyond just showing up at church. Creative resources for spiritual life appear daily on the internet. Even more importantly, we are leaning on each other for support in more profound and vulnerable ways. If you have been able to make connections like that, you’re probably also thinking about those who can’t. Some lack resources, or digital access. Others are excluded by systemic prejudice, while many are completely alone. So, where we experience God’s presence in moments of deep relationship and support, we also become aware of God pushing to dismantle barriers that keep others isolated. Curiously, this marks a historic advance in social theology. Past disasters, like wars and earthquakes, provoked skepticism about the existence, goodness, or power of God. At the same time, believers took refuge in a kind of scapegoating, looking for some bad behaviour to blame for divine judgment. This time around, we seem to understand more of the natural and human processes behind the pandemic crisis. God’s creative hand appears in the natural processes, as we learn more about the sheer variety of creation, and the millions of viruses sharing this Earth with us. Continued on page 12
12
The Saskatchewan Anglican
April 2021
Preparing ashes for Immanuel Parish Canon Deacon Susan Page (left) and Rev. Winna Martin prepare for Ash Wednesday by filling small bags with ashes that Rev. Michael Bruce — another member of the ministerial team — blessed beforehand. The bags were then placed in the mailboxes of two of the
church buildings, and members of Immanuel Parish, Regina, were invited to pick up ashes to use while watching the live-streamed Ash Wednesday service. Photo by Nigel Salway
DIOCESE OF QU’APPELLE
Search continues for new home for Immanuel Parish By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA — In January and February each of the five “legacy parishes” held general meetings and voted to dis-establish their congregations. This was another step in the creation of Immanuel Parish, formed by joining the former Regina parishes of All Saints, St. James, St. Luke, St. Matthew and St. Philip. Contrary to information in the February issue of the Anglican Journal (page 3), no decisions have yet
been made regarding a permanent building for the new parish. The former All Saints building on Massey Road will be used as an interim main worship site, while the search for a permanent site continues. All five current church properties have been assessed and rated, and at their meeting in February, the parish council decided to ask the bishop to approve the sale of three of the church buildings, as well as the former St. Matthew’s rectory. Once approved by
diocesan council, the parish will work with their realtor to offer the former locations of St. James, St. Luke and St. Matthew for sale. The former St. Philip location, in the ecumenical partnership building of Living Spirit Centre, will be a satellite location for mission, outreach and growth, and as a secondary site for worship. Rev. Nancy Yee, a member of the parish ministerial team, has announced that she will resign from the parish in June.
DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN
Hoskin subs for Hawkins during illness g The executive committee made a motion at its meeting on Feb. 18 that it would forgive 100 per cent of apportionment for January, February and March and also reduce ministry by 25 per cent for January, February and March.
The motion passed unanimously. g Due to issues with COVID-19, Bishop Michael Hawkins is on sick leave and is likely to return to work in April. Archdeacon Andrew Hoskin has been appointed Commissary to
the Bishop in the interim. g New guidelines from SHA have given permission for churches to open for meetings, Bible studies and other non-worship gatherings, as long as the guidelines are followed and groups are no larger than 30.
... Lessons in a time of COVID from Emmanuel and St. Chad College Continued from page 11 Yet we are also sensing God at work in the human web of relationship, as we respond to our neighbours, and find strength and meaning in difficult times. Some of the freshest intuitions come from outside the faith community, and these are especially worth our attention. At a meeting last fall, some of my colleagues looked at elements of the public response to the pandemic that have spiritual dimensions. One is the fear of being labeled unclean, not fit for interaction with others. This fear, and its spiritual roots, explain a great deal of negative reaction to pandemic protection measures such as masking, vaccines, and so on. Seeing yourself as a danger to others requires a huge shift in self-image and can feel like you are being cut off from your sources of life and meaning. Faith can both hurt and help in dealing with this issue. Plenty of Christian
history has reinforced people’s attachment to ritual purity and cleanness. But at the heart of the gospel, no one is cut off, no one is left alone, and no one’s value is diminished because of something that has happened to him or her. In that gospel account, uncleanness is not magicked away simply because God says so. Instead, God does something much harder and costlier. In Christ, God confronts and defeats all the phenomena that can separate us from God and each other, including hatred, prejudice, disease, habit, and ultimately, even death. As we come to a new Easter season, may our pandemic experience give us a new appreciation of the gospel and of the God we have always known. May we know God’s living presence in a new way, wherever we most need grace, encouragement, healing and new life.