Saskatchewan anglican
The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • September 2014
Churchmouse Resource Centre to close in September By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA – After 35 years of faithful ministry in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, the Churchmouse Resource Centre will be closing. Manager Eileen Barrie (pictured right) says that, as a celebration of their successful ministry to the diocese and beyond, there will be a closing sale of all books and instock merchandise. The sale will run until Sept. 27, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1501 College Avenue, Regina. The Churchmouse began as a bookstore in the basement of St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, Regina, with the initiative and encouragement of the rector, Rev. Stan Sinclair. He designed and drew the unique sketch of a mouse with reading glasses and halo. Archdeacon Peter Lucas officially opened the shop on May 16, 1978. The first manager was Dorothy Goodale and the store was staffed entirely by volunteers. In 1991, the store moved to the second floor of the Synod Office, and became a diocesan undertaking. Marilyn Dean was the manager, until she was appointed executive assistant to the bishop. In 2000, Eileen Barrie took over as manager.
Through all the years, a group of dedicated volunteers was key to its successful ministry. Goldie Pickett is the volunteer with the most seniority. Now in her 90s, she worked as a volunteer since the very beginning. The late Joyce Cranch also had a very lengthy ministry as a volunteer, and like Pickett, served all three managers. Barrie addes besides being a religious bookstore, the Churchmouse has been a valuable
resource centre of materials, mostly books but also some kits and DVDs, loaned free of charge. People did not need to come to Regina to shop at the Churchmouse. Each year, more than 30 off-site sales were held in the diocese at events such as retreats, clergy conferences, synods, educational events, ACW events, teas and bazaars. There were even off-site sales in the Dioceses of Saskatoon and Keewatin, with special orders from coast to coast in Canada, in the U.S. and as far as Australia. The Churchmouse has been the Canadian distributor for The Order of St. Luke print materials. However, in recent years, bookstores large and small have found it difficult to be financially successful. Barrie points out in 2000, there were 13 Anglican diocesan bookstores, plus the national church’s Anglican Book Centre. Now only seven remain. Secular bookstores also have been suffering, with many independent bookstores closing. Diocesan Council decided at its June meeting the diocese could no longer absorb the financial losses of the Churchmouse, despite the valuable service the store has provided for 35 years. Photo — Joanne Shurvin-Martin
Order of Saskatchewan award given to 11 provincial recipients By Amy Dow PRINCE ALBERT – “God is the deliverer; He acts according to His own power and will, not His people’s merits, so He alone deserves the glory. His working through people is a privilege for them, not something that earns them honor and praise.” Above is a quote from a sermon preached by Rev. Christopher Dow, on the occasion of the induction of new members into the 2014 Order of Saskatchewan, held May 31 at St. Alban’s Cathedral. Eleven members from the Diocese of Saskatchewan were
awarded the prestigious honour of the Order of Saskatchewan. The award is bestowed up on certain lay members around the diocese for their service, dedication and faithfulness to the Church. Dating back to 2002, the honour has become a mark of recognition and thanksgiving for the lives these faithful Christians have led. The following is a list of the recipients, with snippets of their biography attached. Clifford Ahenakew – He was minister’s warden for Archdeacon Andrew Ahenakew and also for Gordon Ahenakew. He has been a vestry
member of St. Mark’s, Hines Mission Church and St. Simeon & St. Anna for over 50 years. Even now at the age of 79, Clifford is there doing any necessary repairs to the church, shovelling the snow before a church service, attending at Communion and Wake services, is an active member in the church choir and rings the bell every Sunday. He is also a member of the Elder’s Council for the Indigenous Bishop of Missinipi. Betty Burningham – Betty had her own ideas of the duties of a “minister’s wife.” See AWARDS on page 6
Bishop Michael Hawkins from the Diocese of Saskatchewan received a Doctor of Divinity in May from Trinity College. Photo — Contributed
Michael Hawkins awarded degree of Doctor of Divinity By Amy Dow PRINCE ALBERT – Bishop Michael Hawkins from the Diocese of Saskatchewan was honoured with a degree of the Doctor of Divinity from Trinity College on May 13. He was awarded this degree chiefly for his service and sacrifice made to the Council of the North, where he currently serves as chair of the Council. It comes as no surprise the bishop has been awarded for this. He has a heart for the First Nations people, for their struggles, the difficulty they face in receiving funding for education they need and for the suffering they have known. He is not only a bishop to those people he serves, but a true disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ; one who loves as Christ would love, one who would lay down his life for his friends and truly one who intercedes for his people without end. The formation of the man he is today began a long time ago at King’s College and Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. From there, he went to Trinity
from 1985-88 and graduated with a Master’s of Divinity. Following that, he was ordained as a priest and served in Nova Scotia for 13 years. Due to his nature and skill, he was invited to the Deanery of St. Alban’s Cathedral and then to the See of Saskatchewan. This is his second honour and one he shares with Archdeacon John Michael Fletcher, who was recognized for his service and sacrifices to the Military Ordinate. Bishop Michael received his first honour from King’s College in Halifax and Dalhousie University in the form of a Doctor’s in Sacred Theology in 2009. In honouring him, may we so also honour the God we serve as well as the mission at hand: to serve and aid our indigenous communities in funding educational programs for their young people. May the voice of those who labour for the healing of communities find a response in we how we act. Glory to Our Lord and King and to Him we give thanks for a leader whose heart is after that of Our Saviour and Friend.