GodBless theGrass
Godblessthegrassthatgrowsthruthecrack
Theyrolltheconcreteoverittotryandkeepitback Theconcretegetstiredofwhatithastodo Itbreaksanditbucklesandthegrassgrowsthru AndGodblessthegrass...
Godblessthetruththatfightstowardthesun
Theyrolltheliesoveritandthinkthatitisdone Itmovesthroughthegroundandreachesfortheair Andafterawhileitisgrowingeverywhere AndGodblessthegrass...
Godblessthegrassthat'sgentleandlow Itsrootstheyaredeepanditswillistogrow AndGodblessthetruth,thefriendofthepoor Andthewildgrassgrowingatthepoorman'sdoor AndGodblessthegrass
-lyricsfrom GodBlesstheGrass byMalvinaReynolds
Iamthinkingabouttheselyricsasweapproach Easter.
Christcreatedconflictamongsthis communitywithhisoutspokenmessageand denouncementofwhathesawastheneglectof the“weightiermattersofthelaw:justiceand mercyandfaith”(Matt23:23).Asthissocial conflictbecameanirritanttotheRoman occupantsofIsraeltheyultimatelyquietedit throughChrist’scrucifixion.
It’sstrikingthattheeventswefindso significantasChristians—Christ’sdeathand resurrection—didnotphasetheempirewhich hadmurderedhim,andwhichcontinuedto dominateasindifferentlyasconcreterolled atopgrass.
Thisrealityiscontinuousthoughwith Christ’swordsthroughouthislife,thatthereare aminoritywhohaveeyestoseeandearsto
hearwhorecognizehisgospel.Likethetruth which fightstowardthesun,itisthosewithout consolationfromtheordersoftheworldinthe gospeltextwhoexperienceChrist’sjusticeand mercyandfaithashealing—tastingofthe resurrection—whileidolatrouspowersmissthe abundant,freeandcommonbanquetofhislife andresurrection(Matt22:1-14).
Whetherrecognizedornot,theresurrection affirmsthatdeathandsin,whichdeterminethe valuesofthepowersandprincipalitiesofthis world,arenotinfactfoundational.Itaffirmsthat divinelove,whichmaybeastenderasgrass,is alsoprimary,pervasive,andunconstrainable. Christsufferedanddiedwithallcreation,andin resurrectionliftedupthelowlyofcreation, affirminghisdominionoverdeath,andoverall earthlypowers.Theconcreteinallitsstrength andapparentindifference,welearn,is beholdentothelifeatitssource,its dependencyexposedasitbreaksandbuckles tothelivingtruthwhichundergirdsit.
Regenerativeforcescanbefeltthroughout thismonth’sissue.InourCommunityCatechesis sectionTapjiGarbawritesonresurrectionand “thegoodlife.”ThenMarch’s“OurstoTell: CelebratingBlackHistory”event,whichmarked theinaugurationofBlackAnglicansofCanada, DioceseofRupert’sLandchapter,isfeatured. IncludedisanotefromZillaJonesandWilson AkinwaleonthehistoryofBlackAnglican organizingintheAnglicanChurchofCanada andwithintheDioceseofRupert’sLand.Thisis followedbyareworkingfromEdmundLaldinof hispowerfulhomilygiven attheeventwhichspeaks onthetreatmentof
BIPOCpersonsinthe AnglicanChurchof
Canada.Finally,Meredith RobinsonreflectsonSt.
ThomasWeston’s “Kreative”programs whichoffer“inclusive, safe,reliable”supportto theWestoncommunity’s members.
3
EDITORIAL
Photo: AlfredStieglitz,GrassandFrost,1934
JudeClaudeistheeditor ofRupert'sLandNews.
IlookatthechurchrightnowandIseesomuch pain.Iwanttowritetodaytoexpressmyown sadness,andmyownregret.
AsI’msuremanyreaderswillbeaware,in thelastmonthagreatdealofchangehascome upontheAnglicancommunion.OnFebruary 20thseveralprovincesintheGlobalSouth FellowshipofAnglicanChurchesdeclaredits convictionthatitscommunionwiththeChurch ofEnglandasitsmotherchurchhasbeen broken,asaresultofthedecisionbytheChurch ofEngland'sbishopstoallowtheblessingof same-sexunions.Clearly,thereispaininthe globalchurch.
Ihavefeltsomeoftherepercussionsofthis situationfirsthand.Intheweekfollowingthe decisionbytheEnglishBishopswealsolearned
thattheleadershipofourcompaniondioceseof CentralBugandahadcancelledtheplannedtrip ofadelegationfromRupert’sLand.Iknowthat thecancellationwasdirectlyrelatedtomyown commitmenttocelebrate,upholdandhonour therightsof2SLGBTQIA+people.Ithasbeen asadrealizationthatIwillnotmakethisvisit;I hadbeenlookingforwardtomeetingthefolks whoareourcompaniondiocese.Iwaslooking forwardtolearningaboutwhotheyare,about whattheirlivesarelike,whattheirhopesand dreamsare,whatdiscipleshiplookslikefor them,andwhytheyarecommittedtothe Anglicantradition.
ButIhavebeenespeciallysaddenedbythe painthissituationhascausedinourown diocese.Whilesome2SLGBTQIA+Anglicans,
4 PastoralNote
ATrueCommunion ofLovingAcceptance
GeoffreyWoodcroft
Photo:DanielMcCullough
withtheirallies,havefoundreasontocelebrate theshiftintheChurchofEngland,formany othersthenews,subsequentstatementsbythe ArchbishopsofCanterburyandYorkandfrom myself,andensuingdisputehavemeantnotjoy butsorrow.Thecontroversies,equivocations andqualificationsthatfollowedthebishops’ decisionwereeachareminderofhowfarweare fromtruecommunionandtotalinclusionof everypersonwhocallsthemselvesafollowerof JesusintheChurch.Thissorrowandfrustration hasmadememoredeeplyawarethaneverof myownsadnessandmyownregret.
IregretthatIhavenotdoneallinmypower toensurethesafetyof2SLGBTQIA+peoplein ourChurch.Ineedandwanttoworkharderat that,andIwill.Iwillendeavourtocontinueto educatemyselfin2SLGBTQIA+issues.Iwill makeitaprioritytoensurethatdiversity awarenesstrainingismadeavailableforthe diocese,andberequiredofalllicensedclergy
andlayleaders.Morethananything,Iam deeplysorrythatmembersofourChurchhave knowinglyandwillinglydiscriminatedagainst the2SLGBTQIA+community.Iwilldoallinmy powertoensurethattheDioceseofRupert’s Landisaplacewhereallarewelcomedintoa truecommunionoflovingacceptance.Iwill renewmyeffortstocreatethiscommunionby continuingtofightagainstthefearthatcreates hateandfuelsdiscrimination.WhatIknowis thattheChurchcannotbeitselfwithoutthe 2SLGBTQIA+disciples.Inthem,wehavebeen givengreatgifts;giftsofgraceforthewhole Church.Thosegiftsneedasmuchcelebrating astheydodefending,andIcommitmyselfto both.
Inallofthesadness,allofthesorrowand frustration,IthinkonPsalm22: ForGoddidnot despiseorabhortheafflictionoftheafflicted; Goddidnothidehisfacefromme,butheard whenIcriedtohim.
AMessagefromtheBishop’sOffice
WecelebratewiththeDismantlingAnti-Black RacismCommitteeandallBlackAnglicansinthe DioceseofRupert’sLandtheformal establishmentofthe BlackAnglicansofCanada DioceseofRupert’sLandchapter.
WethanktheorganizersofMarch19th’s“Ours toTell:ACelebrationofBlackHistory,”andall thosewhocontributedtotheeventandwhohave engagedinthelongstandingworkofpromoting racialjusticeintheDioceseofRupert’sLand.
Wepray,inlinewith resolutions passedat Synod2022,tobehumblealliesinsupportingthe goals ofBlackAnglicansofCanadaofBelonging, Empowerment,Participation,andRepresentation forBlackAnglicans.
5
GeoffreyWoodcroft, BishopofRupert’sLand
PastoralNote
TheNewTestamentspeaksofresurrection fromtwodistinctangles:1)theresurrectionof Jesusand2)theresurrectionofthe dead. The resurrectionofJesus—hisdeparturefromthe grave—wasthevindicationofhismission,his elevationbeyondallworldlyauthoritiesand dominion(Col1:15-20).Inrisingfromthe dead,JesuswasdeclaredtobeSonofGod with“poweraccordingtothespiritof holiness”(Romans1:4).Hisresurrectionwas notazombie-likereturntolifeasweknowit, butthetransformationoflifeitself.Itiswhy PauldescribesJesus'resurrectedbodyasa “life-givingspirit”(1Cor15:45).Unlikethefirst Adamwho received thebreathoflife,the secondAdam,Jesus, gives lifetomortalflesh. Thenatureoftheresurrectionbodybringsus totheresurrectionofthedeadingeneral.In thetimewhentheNewTestamentwaswritten, theresurrectionofthedeadwasthoughttobe ageneraleventwhichwouldinvolvethe resurrectionofallwhoaredeceased.Thisis whytheresurrectionofJesusisoftenframedas thebeginningofamoregeneralphenomenon wheretherisenChristis“thefirstfruitsofthose
whohavedied”(1Cor15:20).Justastreesare thefullydevelopedformoftheseedsfrom whichtheyemerged,sotherisenbodyisthe fullflowerofthephysicalbody:“Whatissown isperishable,whatisraisedisimperishable.”(1 Cor15:42)Assuch,theRisenChrististhe livingimageofthegoodlife—lifeclothedin God’sglory.
Thegoodlifeisourconceptionofwhatit meanstoflourish.Itisanimportantpolitical conceptbecauseourconceptionofflourishing providesstandardsbywhichweassessour currentwayofliving.Rightnow,thedominant conceptionofflourishingsaysthattolivethe goodlifeyoumustmarketyourself,soasto acquirewealthandsuccessthroughhardwork. Thiskindofthinkinghasledtotheeliminationof allkindsofsocialsupportwiththethought being:“Ifyoudidnotearnit,thenyoudonot deserveit.”Manypeopleareleftwithoutaplace tolive,orfoodtoeat,andthisissupposedtobe okaybecausetheycould,apparently,solvethis byjusttryingharder.ButiftheRisenChristis bothruleraboveallworldlyauthoritiesand dominions and thefirstfruitsofourcollective glorification,thenwedon’thavetoacceptthis dominantconceptionofflourishingasultimately authoritative,especiallynotwhenithasproven harmfultoourselvesandothers.Ourdesireto livedignifiedandhappylivesisnotsomething thatweneedtobottleupasweslogthrougha brutalanddeath-dealingsociety.Infact,when PaulsaysthatCreation groansandlongsforits redemption(Romans8: 19-24)hesuggeststhat ourdesireformorelivable livesisitselfalongingfor thekindoflifeofwhichthe risenJesusistheliving image.Inshort,wedonot havetoacceptthe standardsoflivingthatare presentedtousforwe haveanotheraccountof whatitmeanstoliveand livewell.
Resurrectionand theGoodLife
6 CommunityCatechesis
TapjiGarba
Photo: JakeWeirick
TapjiGarbaisaMaster’s
studentatYorkUniversity, Toronto,inSocialand PoliticalThought.Theyare alsoamemberofSt Matthew'sAnglicanChurch, Winnipeg.
OurstoTell: ACelebrationofBlackHistory
OnSunday,March19,BlackAnglicansofthe DioceseofRupert'sLandhosted"OurstoTell: ACelebrationofBlackHistory"atHolyTrinity Church.Thehistoriceventmarkedtheofficial inaugurationoftheBlackAnglicansofCanada chapterfortheDioceseofRupert'sLand.
Specialguestsincluded Uzoma Asagwara (MLA,UnionStation)and Jamie Moses (MLA,St.Vital)whobothspokeatthe event,aswellas NadiaThompson (chairperson forBlackHistoryMonth,Manitoba), Segun Olude (Designer,Educator,Storycrafter,and PhotographyEnthusiast;ProfessorandGraphic DesignArtist,UniversityofManitoba),and Dr. ZitaSomakoko (President/CEO,BlackManitobansChamberofCommerce).
betreatedwithdignityandrespectwherethey willfindacommunityfreeofracism.”Black Historyisalsoaboutcelebratingandhonoring theresilience,innovation,anddeterminationto worktowardsanevenmoreinclusiveand diverseCanada.InDecember1995,theHouse ofCommonsofficiallyrecognizedFebruaryas BlackHistoryMonthinCanada,followinga motionintroducedbytheHonourableJean Augustine,thefirstBlackCanadianwoman electedtoParliament.Aroundthesametime, therewasanimpetustorecognizeandto celebrateBlackHeritagewithintheAnglican ChurchofCanada.Sincethen,theAnglican ChurchofCanadacommittedtoaCharterfor RacialJusticein2007,andinlate2020the DioceseofRupert’sLandestablishedanAntiBlackRacismCommittee.
Fromeventorganizers:
Inrecentyears,theAnglicanChurchofCanada (ACC)hasmadesomeefforttoaddress systemicracism,andtoliveoutthebaptismal commitment,“Tostriveforjusticeandpeace amongallpeopleandrespectthedignityof everyhumanbeing.”AtGeneralSynodin2007, theACCproclaimedaCharterforRacialJustice whichstates:“Wearecalledtobeachurch wherepeoplehavetheassurancethattheywill
Throughprayerful,extensivediscussion, thisCommitteeidentifiedrecommendationsfor considerationbytheBishop,includinga recommendationtoinstitutewrittenpolicies, practices,andprocedures(e.g.,through DiocesanCouncil,ExecutiveCouncil,Synod, etc.)whichaccountforandpromotediversity withintheDioceseofRupert’sLand.Specifically, theCommitteenotedthatsystemicracismand otherformsofdiscriminationintheDioceseof Rupert’sLandmaylimitrepresentationof, participationof,andleadershipbymarginalized personswithinDiocesan-levelgovernanceand decisionmakingbodies.Assuch,the Committeeagreedthataresolutionberaisedat Synodin2022tocallupontheDioceseto dedicatetimeandresourcestoincreasing diversityandimprovinginclusionandequityin itsgovernanceanddecisionmakingbodies.At 2022Synod,fourresolutionswerepassedto addresstheseareashighlightedandsincethen
7 OurstoTell
ZillaJonesStrachan,WilsonAkinwale
Photo:PraewthidaK
BlackAnglicansCommitteeintheDioceseof Rupert’sLandhascommencedworkingwith NationalBlackAnglicansofCanadabodyand evolveourexistingcommitteetoestablisha ChapterofBlackAnglicansofCanadainthe
DioceseofRupert’sLand.The OurstoTell celebrationmarkedtheofficialkick-offofthe formalestablishmentofBlackAnglicansof Canada,DioceseofRupert’sLandChapter.
BlackAnglicansofCanada’smission isto“increasetheparticipation, representation,empowermentand belongingnessofBlackPeopleinlay andordainedleadershiprolesinthe fulllifeoftheAnglicanChurchof Canada,andtodeveloppartnerships withBlack,IndigenousandPeopleof Colour(BIPOC)andotheroppressed peoples.”LearnmoreaboutBlack AnglicansofCanadabyvisitingtheir website.
Rev.WilsonAkinwaleisthe
ThomasAnglicanChurch Weston,Winnipeg,MB.
8 OurstoTell
ChairofBlackAnglicansof CanadaDismantlingAntiBlackRacismCommittee, DioceseofRupert'sLand.He isalsotheIncumbentatSt.
LawyerZillaJonesisa memberofBlackAnglicans ofCanadaDismantlingAntiBlackRacismCommittee, DioceseofRupert'sLand. Sheisacriminaldefenceand humanrights/povertylaw attorneyatJonesLawOffice.
Lefttoright,UzomaAsagwara,NadiaThompson,WilsonAkinwale,JamieMoses,ZillaJones.
WatcharecordingoftheOurstoTell celebrationhere.
Photo:JamieMoses.Usedwithpermission.
Life-givingandtransformativeconversations anddialoguesaredifficultforbothlistenerand speaker.Theyaredifficultbecausethey mandatehonesty,vulnerability,trustandthe willingnesstolistentooneanother.For example,talkingaboutwhiteprivilege,white fragility,andracismintheAnglicanChurchof Canadaisarduous.Thespeakerinthese situationscaneitherglossoverrealityandsay pleasantyetmisleadingstatements,orspeak thetruth.Speakingthetruth,asmentioned earlier,istransformativeandlife-givingtoboth parties.Thisconversationhaschosenthelatter toenunciateracializedcommunities’feelings, disappointments,remorseandangst.
Manyyearsago,inacourseIwasinon Inter-culturalministry,thefacilitatoraskedthe participantstostepontoaplacewhich representedthem.Theindicatedspotsonthe floorshowededucation,age,experience,and profession.Twoofus,anIndigenousmananda visibleminority,werestandinginthemost supposedlyprivilegedandrespectedspot.We wereaboveeverywhiteparticipant.The facilitatortoldusthatdespiteourplaceonthe grid,wearenotprivilegedintheAnglican ChurchofCanadaandinsociety.His proclamationbursttheproverbialbubbleand demandedfurtherreflectionfrombothofus.
Religioussociologistsadviseusthatnew Canadians,despitetheirethnicity,areflocking toRomanCatholicchurchesandEvangelical churchesbecauseoftheuniversalprimacyof
thePope(RomanCatholicChurch),and freedomtoexpressone’sfaith(Evangelical churches).Incidentally,newCanadiansfromthe AnglicanCommunionprovincesvisit neighbourhoodAnglicanchurchesandmost leaveafterashorttime.
Themainreasontoleaveisthecolonization oftheirhomelands.Christianmissionaries,aswe know,closelyfollowedtheirempirestovarious partsoftheworldtopreachthegospel.The basicpremisewastoconvertheathensandto maketheminthelikenessofthestateand dominantreligion.Itwasthewaytoeternallife. Localculturalandreligiouspracticeswere deemedwitchcraftandwerecondemned.Those whoconvertedfollowedthebiblicalmoralcode, asunderstoodbycolonialChristianityand presentedasthewishesofandfromGod.Asa result,polygamous,polyamorous,and homosexualsocietiesandculturesmorphedinto thelikenessofmissionariesandtheir interpretationofthebible.Whetherthiswas goodorbadisaconversationforanotherday. Localcommunitiesofthedaygaveuptheirways ofliving,theirreligion,andmoralandethical codestobelieveinGodandthemoralcodeof thebible.Incidentally,anyotherexpressionof sexualityexceptheterosexual,monogamous marriagesasvaluedbycolonialChristiannations wasunderstoodtobeagainstGod’swilland thusunderstoodtobepurelyevil.
NewCanadiansfromtheformercolonies aretraumatisedbecauseofdoctrinal,dogmatic andtheologicaldiscriminationintheAnglican ChurchofCanada’schurches.Thistraumahas shownupintheAnglicanChurch’srejectionof theirownmissionaries’(colonisers)biblicalmoral code.TheirChurchneitheracknowledgesnor appreciatestheobjectionanddiscomfortof manyBIPOCpersons.Theironyisthatthe dominantculture’sinterpretationshouldreplace BIPOCpersons’faithfulnesstothecolonial biblicalmoralcode.
Furthermore,dominantculturesridicule BIPOCpeoples’accents,clothing,food,and mannerisms.ThereisnoBIPOCbishop,deanor executivearchdeaconintheAnglicanChurchof
9 OurstoTell
“WithAll YourPeople”: OnACC’sTreatment ofBIPOCPeople EdmundLaldin
Canada.NoBIPOCpersonwasonthe episcopalelectionballot.Leadership,several times,hassilencedBIPOCpersons’forthright andfree-thinkingclerics’voicesandopinions andhavecalledthemarrogantanddisruptive influences.Inconclusion,onecansaythatthe AnglicanChurchofCanadaisaneo-colonial churchwhererolesarepredefined,withwhite personsenjoyingtheprivilege,believingthey canspeakforBIPOCpersons.
ThestoriesofJosephandMosesareclassic examplesofsharedprivilege,authorityand leadershipbetweenthecaptorsandthe captive.ThesalientfeaturesofJoseph’sstory areasfollows:
HisfatherisJacob;hehadelevenbrothers; hewashisfather’sfavouriteson;hecould interpretdreams;hisbrotherswerejealousof him;thebrotherssoldhimtotheEgyptians;his master’swifeaccusedhimofsexualadvances; whileinprison,PharoahheardJosephcorrectly interpretPharoah’sdreams;Josephwas appointedtoahigherofficeandnavigatedthe Egyptiansthroughaseverefamine;hisfamily joinedhiminEgypt.
WhereashighlightsofMoses’lifeare:
ThePharoah,beforeMoses’birth,had decidedtokilleveryHebrewbabyboy;his motherhidhimfromthemurderers;whenshe couldnothidehim,hismotherplacedhimina basketandcommittedittotheriverNile; EgyptianprincessfoundhimandhiredMoses’ motherasananny;Mosesgrewupinthehouse ofPharoah;heknewofhisheritage;heledhis peopleoutofEgypttothepromisedland.
ThesuccessofMosesandJosephisdueto thePharoahs’acceptanceandacknowledgement oftheirabilities.ThePharoahdidnotconvertbut allowedJosephandMosestoliveaccordingto theirvalues.Theywereconfidantes,advisorsand leadersoftheirkings.
Bothstoriesunequivocallypresentthe partnershipmodelbetweendifferentcultures regardlessofreligion,creed,gender identification,theologicalpositionsandstatus. Inourcontext,thedominantcultureshould shareauthorityanddecision-makingwith BIPOCpeople.TheChurchneedstobe
liberatedfromafewprivileged,all-knowingand believingwhitepersons.Theleadershipmust walkthetalkinsteadofpassingresolutionsand issuingcharterstopacifyBIPOCpersons.The 2007GeneralSynodauthorisedtheCharterfor RacialJusticeintheChurch.Sixteenyearslater, theChurchhasnotimplementedasingle recommendation.Theyhave,however, establishedanothercommissiontodiscussthe issueagainandmakechanges.
Nevertheless,theyhavefailedtohire BIPOCpersonsinseniormanagement positions.In2020,theGeneralSynod announcedthataBIPOCpersonshouldbethe nextGeneralSecretary.Intheend,thenew GeneralSecretaryisawhitecleric.When confronted,theleadershipwouldpresentthe desireforaBIPOCGeneralSecretaryasa significantstepforwardforracialjustice.In reality,themessagetothebroaderconstituency isthatleadershipbelievesthatnoBIPOC personisqualifiedfortheposition.Itisanother iterationoftheneo-colonialattitudeand subjugationofBIPOCpeople.
TheBookofAlternativeServices’fourth EucharisticPrayerconcludeswiththefollowing visionofGod'skingdom:
“PouroutyourSpirituponthewholeearth andmakeityournewcreation.Gatheryour Churchtogetherfromtheendsoftheearth intoyourkingdom,wherepeaceandjustice arerevealed,thatwe,withallyourpeople,of everylanguage,race,and nation,maysharethe banquetyouhave promised.”
Theabovevision’s realisationdependsonthe multi-racialleadershipand communityintheAnglican ChurchofCanada. Otherwise,theprivileged classwilladoptanother charterandeighteenyears later,aBIPOCpreacher willstandandsay,“How longwillneo-colonialand discriminatoryreignlast?”
10 OurstoTell
EdmundLaldinisaparish priest,hobbychef,social critic,andcricketfan. InculturationoftheGospel andliturgyandcomparative religiousstudyarehis personal,pastoraland academicinterests.
11 The PWRDF Committee of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land welcomesyoutothe RSVP by April 14 to Lynne Spiring-Whitten (204) 888-5512 or spiringlw@gmail.com Keynote Speaker: MARY OBIERO Director of Relief, Development and Protection at Church World Service Africa, based in Kenya (please note anyfoodallergies) You’re invited Saturday, April 29, 2023 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Peter’s Anglican Church 755 Elm Street, Winnipeg Network with other parish reps Hear an update from PWRDF staff Gain valuable storytelling tools Meet Mary Obiero from PWRDF partner Church World Service Lunch will be provided
AtSt.Thomas,GivingMeans GettingKreative!
MeredithRobinson
3years.Over20927mealsserved!
WhatcanIexpressabouttheWednesdaynight Take-outmealdinnerserviceatSt.Thomas Anglican,inWeston?
Withtablefellowshipsasthegoal,Kreative Kitchenswasborn.Theprogramhasevolved sinceitsbeginning,butwebeganbyextending aninvitationtooursurroundingcommunityto comejoinusforwhatwehopedwouldgrow intoaregularmonthlymeal.Weweretryingto havemorestomachsfeelfed,enablingspiritsto havethechancetogrow.KreativeKitchensalso providedvaluableworkexperienceforthose withinchild/adultfamilyservicesystems.This oneplatformofgivingwasabletoaddress multipleneeds.
Weservedonemealtoourneighbourswithin ourwallsandthenfoundwehadtotakea differentapproach.St.ThomasAnglicanchurch inWestonalreadysupportsKreativeKids,a programestablishedwithinourneighbourhood forthelast10yearswhichhelpstoaddressthe needsofyouthbybeingasafespaceforplay, activities,and,mostimportantly,art.Itisaplace tobesilly,feelinspired,andtogetKreative.
Aglobalpandemicchangedallour thoughts,hopes,andplans…
Notbeingabletoopenleftalingering needandasenseofemptinessthroughoutthe community;howwouldthepeople/childrenbe served?Thetwoprogramsdecidedonamerger ofsorts,establishingKreativeasouroutreach umbrella.OurKitchensavenuewouldworkto feedourbodieseveryweek,whiletheKidshalf ofourprogrambeganassemblingcraftbags, andsendingactivitiestokeepparticipants creatingwhilewestayedhomeandkeptsafe. Wesharedspaceandcommitmenttoservice, asourTake-outMealProgramwasformed.
Volunteershelppreparemeals
12 Community
Photo:KseniyaLapteva
Fromourmeagerbeginnings—servingonly11 familiesatthatfirstmeal—ourWednesdaynight Take-outmealhasgrownintoaweekly communityevent.70familiesconsistingof200300soulsline-uparoundourparishtoreceive themealwehavelovinglyprepared.Thereare storiessharedandlifetraumasexpressed.There isjoyresonatingandlaughterabounding.Some ofourfamilieshaveformedtighterknitgroups, oftensharingtheloadofpickingupourdinner service,rotatingresponsibilitiesbecauseeach other’srestisvalued,acknowledged,and celebrated.Thoughfeedingpeopleisthefocus ofourWednesdayneighbourhoodlineup,it hascreateddifferentavenuesforconnectionas well.Itisanhonourtobethoughtofasan inclusive,safe,reliableplacetolooktoandask forhelp,whereresultsand/orrelevant informationcanbeobtained.
...ourWednesdaynightTake-outmealhas grownintoaweeklycommunityevent.70 familiesconsistingof200-300soulsline-up aroundourparishtoreceivethemealwehave lovinglyprepared.Therearestoriesshared andlifetraumasexpressed.Thereisjoy resonatingandlaughterabounding.
Wehaveestablishedsupportivegiving relationshipswithmanyotheragenciesand programs.MapleLeafhashelpedusprovidefor
thiscommunity.Onaweeklybasistheyshare withusdeliciouscarverhams.Everyfamilythat waitsinourdinnerlinereceives2hamstotake homewiththem.PeakoftheMarketoftenhelps byprovidingvegetableswithwhichtoprepare meals.Theyalsooccasionalysharesurplus goodstohandouttoourcommunitymembers. OurBreadman(andassociates),CobbBakery, HildegardBakery,WinnipegHarvest,aswellas SecondHarvesthavepartneredwithus.Our volunteersspendthedaysbeforeWednesday eveninggatheringthesuppliesandorganizing waresintobagsorboxesforfoottravel.
Preparedmeals
Ourcommunityisgrowingfriendshipsand supportsystems.Therearemanydifferent agenciesandoutreacheswithwhomweshare theresourcesgathered;thisensureslittlewaste. ForthreeyearsKreativehasextendedgiftsto theseplaces:NorWest(BlakeGardens chapter),ServethePeopleorganization, LighthouseMission,SiloamMission,Weston SchoolBreakfastProgram,MacdonaldYouth Services,andTina’sSafeHavenonSelkirk.This kindofcontinuedresourceandideasharinghas alsoledtoSt.PierreBibleFellowshipChurch establishingtheirowntakehomemeal program,serving20+familiesinsouthern Manitobaeveryweek.
Ithasbeenoverthreeyearssinceourfirst Take-Outmealandweareproudtosaywehave servedmorethan20,000meals.Thetalented teamofwonderfulpeoplethatbandtogether
13 Community
Donationbox
eachweektobetterservethiscommunityis humbling.ItisablessingthatIgettospend timeinourkitchen,sharingtalents/gifts, planningmeals,andcreatingrecipestomake thebestuseoftheresourceseachweek.We plantokeepgivingaslongasourheartsand financesallow.
Financialstruggleisarealitymostpeople canidentifywith.Nothavingenoughtogo aroundisafamiliarfeelingforhouseholdsand publicspacesalike.So,Iaskyounowtobe generous,tosendusyourfinancial contributions,tohelpusspreadthefeelingof beingfed.
Tohelpsupportthegoodworksof StThomasOfferingscanbemade inperson,bymailto:
1567WilliamAveW,R3E1A7
orbyEtransferto: st.thomas1567donations@gmail.com
Formoreinfocheckout
StThomas’websiteat www.stthomasweston.ca
Thankyouforreadingandthank youforyoursupport!Everydollar counts.
14 Community
v
Foodprepatour Community BBQevent
OutdoorserviceatSt.Thomas
KreativeKidsrecently reopenedonFriday evenings,invitingyouthin forgames,craftingand snacks.Registrationis encouraged,please contactusforinformation. KreativeKitchenswill continuetoserveTake-Out onWednesdays,ourgoal ofinvitingourneighbours inisstillonourhorizon.We havebegunthisventure withanoutdoor communityBBQ,which broughtover300people toouryardtosharefood andcommunity.Butthe sizeoftheresponsefrom oursurroundingpeoples maytakesomeKreative planningtoaccommodate everyone,insideour building,Ifeeltheneedfor roundsofcommunity dinnerscomingon.
OurCommunityBBQevent
MeredithRobinsonisthe Hospitalityspecialistand MusicDirectorat St.ThomasChurch,Weston. Whichmeansshefeedsour soulwithhermusic,aswellas ourbellieswithherfood.In herday-to-daylifesheisa supportworkerforfamiliesin Manitoba.Shegrewup attendingSt.Thomaslike manygenerations beforeher—afaith traditionstartedalltheway backwhenherfamilywasa partoffoundingStThomas.
15 Community
AtSt.ThomasAnglicaninWeston, GivingmeansgettingKreative!
9965totalmeals providedthisyear!
16
