Creating a rule of life
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Saskatoon has new ecumenical officer
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Primate had busy time while in Sask.
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Coverage of 50th provincial synod
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el eb ra 19 tin 72 g to 50 20 ye 22 ar s
Saskatchewan anglican
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The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • June 2022
Putting Jesus first helps us deal with life's uncertainties, archbishop says By Jason G. Antonio PRINCE ALBERT — It was an “extraordinary weekend” of learning and listening in a region “full of so many (historical) complexities” for the Most Rev. Justin Welby, as the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged how grateful he was to hear the stories of residential school survivors. Welby reflected on his time in Saskatchewan while giving the sermon at St. Alban’s Cathedral in Prince Albert on May 1. The closing service was part of the 50th Synod of the Province of Rupert’s Land, which began April 28.
A sermon from the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, stands in the pulpit at St. Alban the Martyr Cathedral in Prince Albert on May 1 and delivers a sermon, as part of the final service of the 50th Synod of the Province of Rupert's Land. One of his messages was that while the future may seem uncertain, we should put Jesus at the centre of everything we do so that we see the world differently. Photo by Rev. Peter Coolen
Uncertain future The four Bible readings for the day all come from times of uncertainty, he explained. The Psalm talks about threats from external enemies; Malachi talks about the small, fearful remnant of Jews living in Jerusalem in the post-exile period; James speaks to a minority of Christians threatened by persecution and internal divisions; and John, “the most extraordinary of those passages,” where Jesus — on the eve of His death — speaks to his disciples who are terrified about the future. “And fear of the future, difficulty in seeing where we’re going, is part of what life is and always has been, even in the centre of Canada,” the archbishop said. “We live amidst contingency, uncertainty, (and) insecurity.”
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For the first time since 1945, war is happening in Europe, with a powerful nation threatening to use nuclear weapons, he continued. Meanwhile, the economy is “confusing” because the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer, while the accumulation of wealth makes people more self-protective and less generous. Furthermore, many parts of the world live with political extremism and populism that grow in power. Also, climate change “is the human world’s undeclared war against the planet.” Desire for control “These uncertainties go to the heart of what it is to be human. Neurochemists … will tell you that human beings cope least well with three similar things: uncertainty, uncontrollability, and … unforeseeability,” Welby said. During a meeting in Rome, Welby met with Pope Francis and other faith leaders to discuss climate change. One thing they heard is that by 2050, the number of refugees could increase to 1.2 billion people from the present 85 million — because of climate change. This will increase tensions and make conflict more likely, also leading to more mental illness. “The Church retreats into laws, into ever-stricter rules, when it can’t cope with uncertainty. We think Continued on page 23