The Saskatchewan Anglican, Feb. 2014

Saskatchewan The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • February 2014

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Olive Bell touched many lives Contributed (Qu’A) — Olive Bell, a dedicated diocesan worker, died Nov. 26, 2013, at the age of 96.

O l i v e Farnden, as she was then known, oversaw the Sunday Schoolby-Post (SSBP) m i n i s t r y program from October 1951 to May 1966.

This diocesan program reached about 3,000 to 4,000 youngsters in isolated rural areas across the Diocese of Qu’Appelle.

The monthly mailings would fill several mail bags, and Olive handled all this work by herself, not only the mailing, but also marking the students’ work. Part of the program included confirmation classes by mail.

Olive also co-ordinated the program, which sent “vanners” to visit these students, during the summers. The Sunday School-byPost and the vans were integrally linked, with the vanners visiting every family which received the SSBP. In addition to these two diocesan programs, she served as director of Camp Knowles near Fort Qu’Appelle for many years.

Olive was born in Manitoba and moved to Alameda, Sask, with her family in 1934.

She served in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in the Second World War, attaining the rank of lieutenant. After the war, she attended the University of Saskatchewan and became a teacher.

While working in Regina, Olive was active in St. Matthew’s parish. Through her work with the diocese, Olive met Clifford Bell, and they married in 1966. The couple had three grown children and seven grandchildren.

They farmed together near Shamrock, Sask, where they were involved with St. James, Wiwa Hill. When they retired and moved to Moose Jaw in 1992, they became core members of St. George, Moose Jaw, and later St. Aidan.

Cathedral hall nearly ready

Parishioners of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Regina were recently given an early look at what the new Parish Hall/Community Centre will look like. A tour was given showing the entrance to the new building, the office space for the Cathedral secretary and Dean and, most excitingly, the inside of the new hall. All construction, on both the hall and cloister, is expected to be completed by early spring.

Photo — Jason Antonio

Leadership thoughts for Anglican women

By Elaine Hrycenko President, Diocesan Diocese of Saskatoon

ACW,

Editor’s note: This article has appeared previously in the in the diocesan ACW News and Views Newsletter (p. 2, Vol. 6, Issue 2, October 2013 issue).

SASKATOON – The role of leadership is a recurring theme at National ACW President’s Conferences, as well as at our diocesan women’s board meetings. But leadership doesn’t end with elected leaders. It is an important topic for all of us.

We have plenty of leadership and potential among the larger group of Anglican women in our diocese. As your president, I hope and pray to be the leader God wants me to be. I spend a great deal of time talking and thinking about leadership.

Scripture gives some leadership instructions: In

1 Peter 4:10, we (leaders) are commanded to use our spiritual gifts to help each other. Leaders are to be an authority … but accountable to each other and God … serving as overseers… eager to serve (1 Peter 5:2).

Leaders share in a mutual ministry: encourage/comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18), build up one another (1 Thess.

5:11), confess our sins to one another (James 5:16) and pray for one another (James 5:16).

On a practical level, to build a supportive and effective team, I believe: leaders need to help each other to realize their potential; leaders must believe they are capable of producing effects; that successful leaders love being leaders, not for the sake of power, but for the meaningful and purposeful impact they can create by serving others.

I am very grateful and excited

to have a full slate of officers to work with me on the 2013-14 Diocesan Board. It is a team of leaders on a journey with Jesus, serving the ladies of the Diocese of Saskatoon.

It’s particularly encouraging to see a mix of returning and new members. To be effective, leaders must be replaced constantly.

(Our current guidelines allow a maximum of three consecutive years in one position.)

I believe a turnover in leadership is a new chance for God to reveal Himself to a group!

In some ways our purpose is clear. Our stated goal as leaders is to help build community amongst the Anglican women and provide them with opportunities (Spring Conference/AGM, retreats and programs, etc.) to unite in Christian fellowship through worship, study, stewardship

and socializing, which will enrich their spiritual lives and encourage and support them in Christian service in their congregation, parish, community, diocese, nation and world.

But that’s not all. Leaders need to take responsibility, gain focus, develop effective and achievable goals and dreams (mission and ministry) and to vision, gain the ability to formulate a clear image of the aspired future of the Anglican Women’s Ministry.

So, as a Board of women leaders, we have begun a strategic planning process, which started with a Board retreat June 1, 2013 and is continuing with further brainstorming and goal-setting.

As a part of this process we need to hear your thoughts and ideas! At this time of year we are reminded to give thanks.

See LEADERSHIP on Page 6

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

February 2014

No Incarnation means no Christianity

By Rev. Dell Bornowsky BIG COUNTRY PARISH (Qu’A) – Can you question the divinity of Jesus and still be a Christian? I say you can’t be a Christian if you don’t question Jesus’ divinity.

What I mean is this: if the question of Jesus’ divinity (the Incarnation) never even comes up, nearly 2,000 years of theological endeavour and the life-changing commitment of millions of people is inexplicable.

Without it, what has been known as the Christian religion must be explained as a confusion or a hoax producing a crosscultural global mass delusion that has lasted 20 centuries and shows no signs of abating.

Tens of thousands of martyrs who gave their lives for an incarnated Christ are not heroes at all, but rather deluded people who were so silly, ignorant or superstitious that they sacrificed their lives for an error in judgment.

Of course this doesn’t prove Jesus’ divinity. The popularity of an idea is no proof of its truth.

Phrased as it is, the question above cannot be answered because in these pluralistic times, there is no consensus about what it means to be Christian and perhaps even less about what it means to be divine.

Isn’t it possible that even atheists who admire Jesus as an historic figure, or Hindus who add Jesus to their pantheon of divine beings, are in some sense Christians?

Instead we might ask this: is this apparently preposterous and/ or blasphemous idea essential to New Testament cosmology or worldview? A worldview is like a picture that posits fundamental ideas about existence as a way of making sense of the universe.

Popular pluralism suggests we are free to pick and choose ideas we like, but worldviews are like jigsaw puzzles. Just because we like individual pieces from different puzzles doesn’t mean they will fit each other or

produce a coherent picture.

There is not room here to compare major worldviews.

Worldviews that don’t include Incarnation may well be coherent in their own right.

For example, in Atheism or Humanism, divinity itself is irrelevant to destiny or “salvation.” In Hinduism and Platonism, it is not just Jesus, but all souls are immortal (in some sense divine).

Each worldview is attractive and coherent in its own way, but only the classic Christian picture needs the Incarnation (Jesus’ unique divinity) to maintain its integrity and coherence.

When the Incarnation is taken out of that puzzle, other pieces that need it to make sense also fall out.

So we have no atonement.

Forget being forgiven because a non-incarnate Christ can hardly be the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world;” and forget having a high priest in heaven who understands what being human is like.

The incarnation is so central to New Testament worldview picture that taking it out turns what is left into a picture of something else: a fundamentally different religion.

If we are disenchanted or offended by church tradition or practice, we understandably tend to adopt alternative worldviews.

Since Jesus is so popular, we want to take Him along and add His title and prestige to those alternatives. But taking Jesus out of His New Testament context results in a shadowy figure who can become any kind of Christ anyone can imagine.

Both Jesus and Paul expected that other Christs would arise (Matt. 24:5, 2 Cor. 11:3). It is understandable that the followers of a non-incarnate Christ and followers of an incarnate Christ both want to be called Christians.

I think we ought to question Jesus’ divinity, but we also ought to admit that following a different Christ means practising a different religion whether or not we call it Christian.

True Christian faith expressed in doubts, questions

By Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck SASKATOON – When tucking my young son Robin into bed at night, he almost always asks me for a Bible story.

When I ask him which one he wants, if it is a New Testament story he will usually refer to Jesus as “God,” as in “you know, the one where God walks on the water” or “the one where God heals the little girl.”

It always takes me a moment to realize that he is talking about Jesus! Knowing that he is skating dangerously close to the heresy of monophysitism, I gently remind him, “You mean Jesus?” to which he will inevitably reply, “Yeah, God.” And of course he is right.

Jesus is God. But God is more than Jesus. Or, to be more precise, Jesus is the Incarnation in time and space of the eternal Word, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, God from God, Light from Light, begotten not made, etc.

In His human nature, Jesus is temporal, mortal, limited. In His divine nature, Christ is eternal, immortal, everything which the Abba and the Spirit are in Essence, yet neither the Abba nor the Spirit in Person. Easy, right? But try explaining it to a five-year-old child!

Actually, try explaining it to any of us and I’m sure it takes a while to set in. To really understand the core doctrine of the Incarnation, and the dual nature of Christ, we have to wrestle with it.

We have to struggle with it.

We may even have to question it.

Then along comes the topic of the month: “Can one question the divinity of Christ and still be a Christian?” Talk about a loaded question!

Queries like this one generally leave pastors and theologians pulling their hair out, especially when the question skates on the thin ice over the chasm which has grown between liberal and conservative theologies during the past century.

Is there an answer which doesn’t fall into the pit?

Like the medieval theologian Abelard, my response to this question will involve both a “si” (yes) and a “non” (no).

To begin with, I would immediately say “yes, of course one can question the divinity of Christ and still be a Christian.”

For that matter, one can question ANY doctrine of the church and still be a Christian.

Questioning is how we make sense of our world. When we want to probe deeply into any set of concepts, we ask questions, and the world of faith and theology is no different.

In fact, if someone told me they never questioned the divinity of Christ, then I would simply assume they have never given the issue any thought!

Even the questions which spring from doubt are not anathema here.

Eminent Canadian theologian Douglas Hall has written eloquently, especially in his book Why Christian?, about how doubt is not the antithesis of faith, but rather its growing

edge. Faith is never quenched by doubt; faith is threatened by indifference.

If someone is questioning, or even doubting, the divinity of Christ, then their faith is alive and they are struggling to go deeper.

Ultimately, the divinity of Christ is a mystery of faith, and not just a doctrine which compels easy assent. What does it mean to say that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine?

What does it mean to talk about a perfect union of two natures in a single Person?

These are questions over which the early church fought passionately for several centuries, so, if we moderns explore the same questions, who can blame us?

In fact, if we don’t explore the questions, even wrestle with the questions, then perhaps we are nowhere near understanding the Mystery.

That said, what happens if at the end of the day, after all the questioning is over, one comes to the conclusion that Jesus is not divine? What if one ends up not only questioning, but actually denying the divinity of Christ?

That, to me, seems a different kettle of fish. Christology is at the heart of Christianity, not its margins.

When I became a believer in my teens, I realized the whole shebang hung upon the particularly scandalous notion Jesus is, somehow, God. For almost a year, I wrestled with the Creeds, until they brought me to my knees and

gifted me with a vision of the Crucified God, the Cosmic Christ, the TheoAnthropos who deigns to be called by the name of Jesus. Without that vision of Human Divinity, why would I bother to be a Christian?

If I thought that Jesus was just a man, a great ethical teacher, prophet and shaman, it would make more sense for me to become a Muslim, or a Jew, or a Wiccan, or a Unitarian. It would be a more honest religious option and probably more exciting.

So in that sense, I would answer our question, “No, one cannot question (to the point of denying) the divinity of Christ and still be a Christian.”

But even as I write that last sentence, the Spirit grabs me and shakes me and warns me deeply not to be overhasty about these things. Who am I to judge the state of another’s faith?

When the pagan wizards came from the East to adore the Child in the manger, did they assent to the Creed? Did they subscribe to the Chalcedonian Formula of the Quicumque Vult (The Creed of St. Athanasius) BCP 695-8?

And yet, the Enemy in the Lenten desert did know who Jesus was. Satan could quote Scripture better than any fundamentalist and could probably wield the creedal instruments as well as any executor of the inquisition.

Which of these really knew God in Jesus? Who beheld the salvation of the Lord?

As for us, questioning or not, come let us adore Him, and follow Him to the cross, and beyond.

Saskatchewan The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • January 2013

anglican

Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle.

Published monthly except for July and August.

Whole No. 292, Vol. 42, No. 6 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 March issue must be recieved by the diocesan editor no later than Friday, January 31. All pictures must be sent as JPEGS and 1 MB (megabyte) in size.

CONTACT INFORMATION Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail.com 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Phone: 306-737-4898 Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin joannesm@myaccess.ca 6927 Farrell Bay Regina, Sask., S4X 3V4 Phone: 306-775-2629 Saskatoon: Peter Coolen ptrcoolen@sasktel.net 820 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, Sask., S7M 1Z3 Phone: 306-244-0935, Saskatchewan: Amy Dow amy.elizabeth.dow@gmail.com P.O. Box 332 Birch Hills, Sask., S0J 0G0 Phone: 306-749-2229 PUBLISHING DETAILS Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5 Printed and mailed by Webnews Printing Inc. 8 High Meadow Place North York, Ont. M9L 2Z5

The Saskatchewan Anglican

February 2014

3

The Lord is my light and my salvation

By Bishop Michael Hawkins PRINCE ALBERT – It is finally time to take down the Christmas decorations!

In some traditions, the Christmas festival is considered to last a full 40 days until Feb. 2, The Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

All along these 40 days, our dear Lord Jesus seems to get squeezed out. Observances, traditions and figures which have their roots deep in the Christian faith have come to be divorced from that faith and compete with it.

On Christmas Day we find Jesus pitted against Santa Claus, a caricature of one of His own followers and bishops.

A week later, the commemoration of Jesus’ circumcision and the giving of His name is eclipsed by the remainders of New Year’s Eve. Having struggled for attention against the Sears Catalogue and Guy Lombardo, in the final contest Jesus is pitted against a groundhog on Feb. 2.

While for us Dec. 25 is primarily the birthday of our Saviour and not the commemoration of Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and January first belongs to Jesus and not to Times Square, and Feb. 2 is first of all the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and not Groundhog Day, we should not be smug but reminded that we are a people called out of the world.

One of the most important ways in which we mark that distinction is in our specifically Christian Calendar.

So I do not care whether Groundhog Willie sees his shadow, but I do care deeply whether people see Jesus Christ.

For if we do not, we will live in

shadows forever and discover an eternal winter.

Feb. 2 has at least three names in the West. It is called Candlemas and has become the feast of candles, as with Simeon we recognize that Jesus is a Light to Lighten the Gentiles.

Forty days after birth, in accord with the law, Mary was purified after her contact with the very issue of life and restored to full communal living, so this is the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin. But it is first and last the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

There are two elders in the Gospel story of Jesus’ presentation. They stand in a wonderful way for the witness of our elders to Jesus Christ.

We are told about Simeon, that “he was waiting for the consolation of Israel” and about Anna, that she told everyone who was “looking for redemption” about Jesus.

If we are looking for something else, something better, for redemption and consolation, forgiveness, a new beginning, healing, salvation from futility and pain, and anger and frustration and death, then like Anna, I want to point you to Jesus.

Likewise, Simeon would tell

us and the entire world, this is your light and salvation.

Simeon had waited all his life for some sign of improvement, for some encouragement, but none came. Here he was near the end of his life and it all seemed to have lacked purpose and meaning.

Must he just accept things, the world, life and death, injustice and pain and loss and suffering as they are? No, for it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

I pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal to every human being the same thing, that it is God’s good will for every one of us that we should not see death, before we have seen the Lord’s Christ. Simply put, God does not want us to die until we have come to know Jesus Christ the Saviour, the Light of the world.

But Simeon is incomplete without Anna. Those who have seen and embraced the Saviour are called to tell others, to speak of Jesus to everyone who is looking for redemption.

This means telling others in your own words what you have found in Jesus. We all have a friend or neighbour whose disquiet, or searching or hunger or disappointment we are aware of, and it is to these that we are bound to speak of Jesus.

Be on the lookout then for those who are looking for redemption and speak to them of Jesus.

Simeon and Anna stand in a beautiful symmetry for our elders in the faith, for all who have embraced Christ before us and pointed us to Him. They stand as well for our common calling, to know Christ and to make Him known. May we grow together in both.

Look waaaaaay up

Dean Mike Sinclair, rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, talks about some of the features of the new Cathedral Parish Hall and how the space could be used, during a recent tour of the new facility. After more than a year of construction and renovation, the new Hall is expected to open in early spring.

Photo — Jason Antonio

22 tonnes for Belize CONCEPTION (Nfld) — Fifteen volunteers with connections to the archdeaconry of Trinity-Conception returned home on Nov. 25 from a nine-day mission to Mahogany Heights, Belize.

The mission sent materials and a container to St. Agnes Anglican School, with the aim of establishing a library for the school, providing clothing, bicycles, school

supplies, toys, first aid supplies, bedding and linens, and offering public health education resources.

Volunteers also intentionally spent time with the people in the community.

The project took over a year to plan and cost about $50,000.

The container was placed on site and converted into a library, with bookshelves and about 2,000 books from Newfoundland and Labrador. Anglican Life

Letter to the Editor

Prison ministry important for restoration and healing To the editor: At the invitation of a prison chaplain years ago, I became a pen pal of an inmate in his congregation. I learned that not all prisoners are criminals, nor do all criminals become prisoners.

Led by the Holy Spirit, and supported by the prison chaplaincy and a growing network of Church people, some ex-offenders are able to turn their lives around upon release and become productive people.

The success rate could be greater but for the condemnation and rejection which confronts most ex-offenders from an uninformed and fearful public.

Instead of demanding a culture of restorative justice, which involves victims, offenders and community members to put things right, so many of us accept a culture of retributive justice, which requires the State to determine guilt and impose punishment.

Instead of demanding a justice system which focuses on repairing harm, we settle for a system which we think gives offenders what they deserve. We equate justice with vengeance.

As for loving our neighbour, that applies only to good people who do not break the law. How many of us ponder the story of

the repentant thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43)?

But the tide has begun to turn in some of the churches.

The Micah Mission exists as an expression of the Church’s calling to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:6-8).

The Micah Mission believes in a justice that restores, transforms and brings healing to victims, offenders and their communities.

It believes this is the work of the Christian Church. Currently, the Micah Mission is involved in prison visitation, chaplaincy and circles of support and

accountability. Its Board of Directors currently represents congregations of Saskatoon.

The Mission’s starting point and motivation is faith in Jesus Christ. It understands the biblical call to “do justice” and to “love mercy” as integral to the Church’s witness to the world.

It believes in the intrinsic worth and dignity of every human being.

Our journey towards authentic humanity does not happen in isolation from others, nor without the experience of “grace and truth” (John 1:14), incarnated in the lives of those who choose to love us in spite of

our failures and weaknesses.

On Feb. 5-6, the Micah Mission will sponsor a conference entitled “10,000 Healing Steps: Community and Resilience” led

by Rev. Greg Boyle, author of best-selling Tattoos on the Heart and featuring Justice Murray Sinclair, author Mark Totten and speaker Rev. Andre Poiliever.

For info: Peter R. Oliver, Chaplain for Micah Mission, 226 Avenue V South, Saskatoon, S7L 6M3; 306-260-6213; Saskatoonchaplain@gmail.com; www.themicahmission.org.

Jim Komar Diocese of Saskatoon

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

February 2014

Two priests ordained for Midlakes Parish By Rev. Susan Anholt and Rev. Tracey Taylor DAVIDSON (Qu’A) – Midlakes Anglican Parish had much to celebrate on the first Sunday of Advent 2013.

All Saints Anglican Church was filled to capacity as many gathered to witness the ordination to the priesthood of Deacons Susan Anholt and Tracey Taylor. They will serve Midlakes Anglican Parish in the communities of Davidson and Kenaston as locally-ordained priests.

Both new priests have been completing theology courses through St. John’s College in Nottingham, England and the Qu’Appelle School for Mission and Ministry.

Although Dec. 1 offered snow, sleet and rain, the church was filled by parishioners, family, friends and visiting clergy, including Archbishop David Ashdown (Metropolitan of Rupert’s Land), retired Bishop of Saskatoon Rodney Andrews, as well clergy from the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Evangelical Missionary churches.

Robert Hardwick, bishop of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, officiated at the service. With

Bishop Rob Hardwick gathers for a picture, with newly-ordained priests Rev. Tracey Taylor (left) and Rev. Susan Anholt (right), after the ordination service. The new priests will serve the Parish of Midlakes, centred around Davidson and Kenaston.

Photo — Kathy McKay the opening line of his message, he reminded all gathered of the words of Jesus, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit” (John 15:16).

With words of encouragement and wisdom, he reminded the ordinands that the ministry to which they are called is one of

hard work, study and one that requires constant prayer and time spent with God. The bishop said, “Everything that you try to do, will come to nothing unless you do it through an abiding dependence on Christ ... Holy, powerful, life-changing spiritual people of God are not made on the run; they abide

and from that abiding, they do.”

Concluding his message, Bishop Hardwick said, “These are exciting times for the parish and exciting times for the diocese as a new wind of change is blowing … there is new growth, new life, new hope.”

The bishop was assisted by Deacon Susan Page of Regina

and Deacon Jack Robson of Nokomis. The readers were Doug Taylor (Tracey’s husband), Warden for St. Columba; and September Brooke, parishioner from All Saints.

Lynda Pillipow (St. Columba) and Lana Johnsson (All Saints) served as communion assistants and Morgan Taylor served as crucifer.

Rev. Anholt’s presenters for ordination were Roxanne Finnie, Archbishop David Ashdown and Executive Archdeacon Mary Ann Boote; Rev. Dell Bornowsky of Kindersley was to be a presenter, but was unable to attend due to road conditions.

Rev. Taylor was presented for ordination by Arnold Taylor, Dean Mike Sinclair, Canon Catherine Harper and Rev. David Nevett.

With 100 years of ministry behind it, God is continuing to build and reshape the parish of Midlakes, using its strong faithful core to map a new future furthering God’s glory.

One parishioner spoke of the wind of change and excitement and remarked, “This church is happy; you could feel the Spirit fill this place … with the beautiful singing, each time we reached a chorus you could almost feel the walls expand.”

Diocese of Saskatoon Announcements for February 2014 “During these cold winter days, a number of people who are experiencing homelessness come to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist requesting assistance for food, for finances and for clothing. If you can help with any of these areas, we would be very grateful.

“A particular need at present is for warm socks, scarves, gloves and/or mitts.

“If you could donate any of these to help those less fortunate, it would be greatly appreciated.

A container for these items can be found at the back of the cathedral. Thank you for considering this.” Dean Scott Pittendrigh Special Flute and Piano Recital: Cathedral of St. John’s the Evangelist, Jan. 31 (7:30 pm). Tickets at the door. Adults: $20; Seniors and Students: $5; Children under 10, free. Reception to follow.

Program features: Patricia Creighton, principal flautist, Symphony Nova Scotia; Flute Instructor, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Peter Allen: concert pianist and composer; Professor of Music, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. All ticket proceeds in support of St. John’s Cathedral

refugee program.

Centring Prayer at the Cathedral: If you are longing for a little more quiet, solitude and an opportunity to “be still”, please join Sarah Donnelly on Sunday mornings for 20 minutes of Centring Prayer at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

This is an ancient form of prayer grounded in the Christian Mystical Tradition.

The group will meet in the Dean’s office at 9:45 a.m. for a 10-minute teaching reflection on some aspect of Centring Prayer, followed by 20 minutes of meditative silence that will begin at 9:45 a.m. and end at 10:15 a.m.

Testament, The Bible and History: A BBC learning adventure, St. George’s Church, Saskatoon, Thursday evenings from 7-9 p.m., Jan. 16 to Feb. 27, 2014. Cost $25 (includes study guide). For information and/or to register, please phone 306 2427973 or see the notice elsewhere in this issue.

Friends and Family Service: St. George’s, Saskatoon, 6:30 p.m. every Friday night. Music and prayer for kids, teens, adults and families.

Integrity/Saskatoon:

Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral, 816 Spadina Crescent East at 7:30 p.m. This is a group of the GLBTT community and friends.

Includes a Eucharist Service open to all, followed by GBLTT reflections and a social/ refreshment hour. Presiding priest will be the newly ordained Rev. Emily Carr supported by Rev. Joe Ponic. All are welcome!

For more information call Tom and Rose Rogers at 306491-3315, or visit the Integrity/ Saskatoon web site at www. integritysaskatoon.blogspot. com or the Facebook page at “IntegritySaskatoon”.

“Fam Jam” at the Cathedral: This family friendly time of music and fun takes place at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, after the 10:30 a.m. service, in front of the grand piano. Join an all-ages group of family and friends to have fun, share skills and make some music.

All levels of musicians are most welcome and encouraged to attend. If you don’t want to join the “Fam Jam”, but have some instruments laying around the house, such as shakers, ukuleles or tambourines, the Cathedral

can put them to good use! For more information, contact Rev. Emily Carr.

A Sunday Ecumenical Worship Service: A Sunday Ecumenical Worship Service, open to the whole community, is held each Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Chapel on the St. Andrew’s United Church College campus.

Seniors’ Lunch in Battleford: The Friendship Committee of St. George’s, Battleford invites all seniors to join them for lunch the first Monday of each month, beginning at noon.

Community Coffee, Saskatoon: The Community of King George welcomes all to their Tuesday and Thursday morning Community Coffee from 9 a.m. to noon for muffins, coffee and tea and fellowship.

The address is St. George’s Anglican Church Parish Hall, 624 Ave. I South, Saskatoon. For information call 306-242-7973.

ADVANCE NOTICES: The Diocesan ACW Retreat in 2015: The planning for the next Anglican Church Women’s Bi-Annual Retreat, which is scheduled for September 2015,

has begun. If you have ideas or experience in planning events, please join the Retreat Planning Team!

Meetings will be scheduled at mutually convenient times.

To volunteer or find out more, contact Elaine Hrycenko at 306-955-5522 or email e.p.h@ sasktel.net.

Diocese of Saskatoon Mexico Mission, June 21-30: Please consider supporting the 2014 mission through either individual donations or parish gifts that will be used directly for the build.

Questions can be directed to Mission 2014 at anglicansynod@ sasktel.net. Please keep the Mission in your prayers.

To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be supplied to the Associate Editor by fax, e-mail or “snail mail” by the last week of the month, two months before the month in which the insertion is desired (i.e., January submissions will be in the March issue).

Detailed and longer texts of upcoming events will not be included in this section, but should space allow, could be the subject of article and notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.

The Saskatchewan Anglican

February 2014

5

Basics of preaching similar to structure of a tree

By Amy Dow “This (skating) moment is the reward for all your hard work, not the punishment. Enjoy the moment, no matter what happens. It may change you positively but do not let it change you negatively. Someone will receive it.” – Kurt Browning PRINCE ALBERT – How hard is it for those of us who preach, having been neither able to do the preparation we wanted nor having had the time to “marinate” in the Gospel we hoped to communicate?

How often have you or I been disappointed in ourselves after having delivered a sermon that was lacking in both lustre and content?

Well, fear not! For you and I are not alone.

I was reminded recently that our worst sermons “are neither beyond God’s redemption nor His ability to bless someone!”, with Dean Ken Davis, priests, lay readers and other lay people of the Diocese of Saskatchewan.

We had met for a preaching workshop titled “Preaching so that they’ll come back for more!”

This was held at the Cathedral of St. Alban the Martyr in Prince Albert from Nov. 15-16.

Rev. Bob Hartley, our speaker, came to us with a life dedicated to the gift of preaching and teaching others how exactly to do so effectively and in a way that will engage and change the lives of those hearing it.

Teach us he did as he led us through methods of writing sermons, suggestions, stories and learning more about ourselves

so that we can better deliver the Gospel.

A highlight for me of the workshop was going through a guide to building an effective sermon that he offered to us –The Sermon Tree – that he developed in 2005.

It suggests that the roots of your Tree, or rather, what gives a sermon its solid base, is how one has used Scripture and Theology.

He then goes on to say that the trunk of it is one’s appeal or presentation of the sermon; the use of stories, jokes, visual aids, voice and other means of drawing your listeners in and finally, the branches – the fruit and application – that may be taken into the world so that those who hear it may bless others. It was also moving to hear how the Holy Spirit has worked with many a sermon delivered from those around the table, even when they felt as though they failed to deliver.

Despite all we do and despite who we are, whatever our gifts are or not, God is at work in the hearts of His people.

He is the True Priest, the Loving Father and the most Wonderful Counsellor.

As Dean Ken Davies shares, “And as much as we were consoled by what God can do even with what we think are our failures, you and I and the others present were encouraged to keep striving to become excellent preachers.”

Keeping that in mind, we left encouraged to preach the Gospel to a land thirsty for His word and so, His saving grace; a land in which one can be sure that “someone one would definitely receive it.”

Saskatoon’s locally trained clergy program Do you love God? Do you love the church?

Have you been involved in lay ministry in your parish for quite some time and wonder about going even deeper?

Perhaps God is calling you to diaconal or priestly ministry!

“Who, me?” you might say.

Yes, YOU! Stranger things have happened you know.

God needs workers in the vineyard, including priests and deacons. Perhaps now is the time for you to consider it.

The Diocese of Saskatoon has a new program for training clergy. The program takes three to five years to complete,

depending on how much time you can devote to it.

There is no cost to you, as the training leads to a non-stipendiary (voluntary) ordained ministry.

The program includes reading courses, in-house training sessions, spiritual formation and a supervised apprenticeship.

The path to Holy Orders is an awesome spiritual adventure. Take the plunge now!For more information, please contact the Diocesan Training Officer, Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck, at greenpriest@hotmail.ca.

Some of the participants of the preaching workshop led by Rev. Bob Hartley gather for a picture after the event. From left, Rev. Bob Hartley, Dean Ken Davies, Rev. Chris Dow, Stella Demery and Rev. Pat Martin.

Photo — Amy Dow

Book Review

Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformations Reviewed by Barb Forsyth Editor’s note: Barb Forsyth is Diocesan ACW Devotional Convener. This review has also appeared in the diocesan ACW News and Views Newsletter (p.

6, Vol. 6, Issue 2, October 2013).

If you would like to recommend a book or comment on something you’ve read recently, please fax, e-mail or mail us your thoughts.

SASKATOON — A book I read last summer was Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation by Ruth Haley Barton.

Barton’s introduction states that spiritual transformation is full of mystery. She compares spiritual transformation to the mysterious process of an embryo being formed in a mother’s womb and the process of metamorphosis by which a caterpillar enters the darkness of the cocoon and emerges completely transformed.

We cannot accomplish spiritual transformation by ourselves, the author points out, but we can make ourselves open and available to God, by

developing and maintaining a rhythm of spiritual practices.

These disciplines feed our souls. And after we begin to learn the disciplines, we can put them together in a rhythm or rule of life that will suit our particular situations.

I found it interesting that the first chapter in the book is not about a spiritual discipline, but is devoted to exploring the deepest longings of our soul.

Barton notes that Jesus often asked people questions that helped them realize their desire and to name it in His presence.

When we are in touch with our deepest longings, we are driven, to seek a way of living that lines up with our deepest desires

instead of being motivated by guilt or obligation.

To give a better idea of what is covered in the book, here are the chapter headings: 1.Longing for more; an invitation to spiritual transformation 2.Solitude; creating space for God 3.Scripture; encountering God through Lectio Divina 4.Prayer; deepening our intimacy with God 5.Honouring the body; flesh and blood spirituality 6.Self-examination; bringing my whole self before God 7.Discernment; recognizing and responding to the presence of God 8.Sabbath; establishing rhythms of work and rest 9.Rule of life; cultivating rhythms for spiritual transformation One of the things I appreciated about this book is each chapter includes practical exercises to develop the disciplines. I really liked the chapter discussing the value of breath prayers and how to personalize them.

Ministry for urban First Nations and Métis people

By Rev. Dale Gillman REGINA – A new diocesan program began last month, dedicated to serve urban First Nations and Métis people in Regina.

As part of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle’s Mission Action Plan, Rev. Dale Gilman has been appointed to undertake a fivemonth feasibility study of what is being offered for Aboriginal and Métis people across Regina.

She will looks at such things as outreach, education, pastoral care, healing and

reconciliation, and church, in Anglican churches as well as our ecumenical partners. The appointment is effective Jan. 16 and translates to two full days a week initially. The working days will be Thursday and Friday.

Gillman from Gordon’s First Nation will be assisted by Emily Swan, who was to arrive from England on Jan. 8.

Swan prefers to be called “Millie” and comes to the diocese from the Diocese of Lichfield.

There are many programs already in existence at this time

for Aboriginal people. Gillman and Swan’s task is to see what is in place and to prayerfully determine where God wants the Anglican church and the Diocese of Qu’Appelle to be.

Gillman is developing a work plan which, along with the goals and objectives for this mission work, will keep the team on track.

A team of people will be set in place to support the mission and the discernment process through prayer.

Please pray for their work in the City of Regina.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

February 2014

To grow your church, carry God’s mission into the community

By Jason Antonio

A new addition to the neighbourhood

The construction of the new Parish Hall and Cloister (the latter partially covered by the orange tarpualin) at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Regina has nearly been completed, with the main work now focused on the inside of the new structures. The top picture shows the just-finished demolition of the old Hall (from November 2012), while the picture above shows the new Hall and Cloister (from January 2014). Besides the addition of the two outside structures, the basement of the cathedral was also renovated.

Photos — Jason Antonio

News from the seminary in Uganda

By Asiimwe Alex For the Diocese of Saskatchewan PRINCE ALBERT – Bishop McAllister College and Anglican Seminary in Uganda held an internal mission in mid-2013, entitled “Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Romans 13:14).

We had a marvellous time with our alumni, Rev. Francis Muhangi and Yedidia Nyakahangura. They ministered to the students on Saturday night. Rev. Francis Muhangi, who was the school chaplain some 10 years back and is currently the head of the Humanities department at Bishop Stuart University, spoke to the students about God’s mercies, “which are new each day.”

See UGANDA on Page 7

REGINA – The reason some congregations grow and some shrink isn’t due to certain political leanings, but in whether they are focused on the mission of God and in carrying out that mission into the wider community.

“We need to start saying to the whole church that they should be looking constantly for those moments of being able to carry the Word outside of this building, because that is who we need to carry to,” said Rev. Malcolm French.

“We serve God by taking the Word out of this building and to the people in the rest of the world.”

The topic of church growth was part of a discussion that took place during a recent Qu’Appelle School for Mission and Ministry class. Entitled “The Acts of the Apostles,” the class focused on the Book of Acts and the early successes and challenges of the disciples.

The priest explained over the years, he has heard many theories as to why a particular congregation/denomination grows while another declines.

In his experience, there are both growing liberal churches and declining liberal churches.

There are growing conservative churches and declining conservative churches.

There are growing prayer book churches and declining prayer book parishes.

“In my experience … the difference is where they are looking. Because if they are looking up and out, they’re growing. And if they are looking inward, they’re dying.”

One of the challenges for the Diocese of Qu’Appelle during the past 80 years or so has been rural decline and in managing that, French pointed out.

If a church didn’t have a priest, one would race around from parish to parish “like a sacramental Pez dispenser” and provide support.

But now, because of the change in culture, the rural problem is happening in the cities and we have become

focused on how to survive.

But “if we can admit we’re dead, we can grow,” French added. He used the example of his parish, St. James the Apostle in Regina, which did a mail drop to all the houses in the area inviting people to St. James.

From that mail drop, they saw a five per cent increase in people who now make up 10 per cent of the average Sunday attendance.

The church also invested in a website and then a new outdoor sign. They then had a community parish fair – “a great one” – which brought more people out.

“We were able to start as a community to turn our eyes (from inward to outward and) to turn to, how can we do things to reach others? That’s the difference between growing or shrinking churches. Are they focused on the mission of God or not?”

French pointed out there are various methods to reach out to and communicate with people in the community.

Some of those include having a website that tells people when services are, if there is any programming at the church, what people in the church collectively believe and directing people to other areas to help develop their faith.

An important part to all this is ensuring all these communication methods are up to date. For example, if a church has a Facebook account, Twitter feed or a blog for the incumbent, are these updated and used on a regular basis?

“Those tools are there. Is your parish using them? I don’t expect every parish to have a bellsand-whistles website … But if I’m going to be in Kamsack on Sunday and I want to know (when services are), can I find out from the website?

“Can I find out by phoning the answering machine?” added French. “Having a good website isn’t mission. But not doing a website is not good mission.

“Are we using the tools that we have? Are we being effective? Are we being faithful in living out the mission of the Church beyond the eighth chapter of Acts?”

LEADERSHIP

Rev. Canon Johnson Twinomujuni, the principal of the Uganda Bible Institute, speaks during a two-day event held at the Bishop McAllister College and Anglican seminary .

Photo — Submitted

Continued from Page 1 So thanks to the ladies on the Board for the leadership they have and will continue to provide.

Thanks to the contacts (leaders) in each church, for passing along information to everyone. And, thanks to each

of you for the leadership you provide in your parishes and homes and communities.

In closing, what is the Spirit saying to each one of you as a leader, whether serving on the Board or on committees or in your parish, to discern the future of Anglican Women’s Ministry?

The Saskatchewan Anglican

February 2014

7

UGANDA

Photo — Amy Dow

Gifts donated to northern communities Contributed CHRISTOPHER LAKE (Skwn) – Rev. Pat Martin and the congregation of St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, Christopher Lake, collected toys, books, puzzles, games and clothing along with beautifully hand-made mitts, scarves, toques, quilts, blankets and baby clothing, for the children of Little

Red First Nation in December.

Santa’s sleigh delivered the gifts on Dec. 16 to Rev. Sam Halkett at Little Red. Santa’s elves at Little Red sorted the gifts and gave them to families, which were wrapped and delivered on Christmas Eve. It was a joint blessing shared by the two parishes.

Above, Rev. Martin stands alongside some of the gifts.

Continued from Page 6 He spoke of how his patience and being humble to the Lord have brought him greatness and urged students to resist the pressures of the flesh.

Nyakahangura Yedidia, head boy in 2007 and now a talkshow host with Vision Group’s TV West, in an emotional testimony, spoke of how Bishop McAllister College has made him what he is today.

“I would never have had the opportunity to finish secondary life without Kyogyera. There was a time when I was the only student to be chased from my class for fees.

“On my way back home, I was so weighed down by sadness that I even contemplated taking my own life.

“I thought by throwing myself under the steamroller that was working on the road, I would end my woes. Mercifully, some voice called and I was distracted.

“There are no words that can describe my gratitude to the rector, Canon Jeffries, for securing someone to sponsor me,” he said kneeling on the floor.

Lilian Amanya, a nursing student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, was another speaker of the evening session.

She spoke comprehensively about sin in the adolescent

world and also implored the students to throw away the robes of the sinful world and clothe themselves with Christ.

On the second day of the twoday event, our very own Rev. Canon Paul Jeffries was the first preacher.

He shed more light on the theme of the mission and explained the context of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans.

He also tackled the danger of apathy and lethargy among Christians and urged students to resist these and put on the armour of light.

“When we make reference to darkness here, we are not talking about it in the literal sense.

“We are talking about the devil and his evil ways. Paul is very clear about these ways.

“He warns us against orgies, carousing, sexual immorality and debauchery and jealousy. Now is the time to listen to Paul’s trumpet,” he said.

Rev. Canon Johnson Twinomujuni, the principal of Uganda Bible Institute, was the last speaker. He said he was going to order his sermon on five aspects.

“The first thing I want you to note is that you were created special. There is no other like you and there will be no other. God created you that uniquely. Secondly, He created

you for a purpose.

“You must live to fulfill that purpose and not live and leave no trace of yourself. Thirdly, for you to fulfill that purpose you must exist. There are people here in life whose existence is quite meaningless. Yes, they are living but there is nothing to show for their living.

“The only distinction between them and the dead is just that these can breathe. You must not be like these.

“The fourth point is that for you to exist, you must identify your enemies. And these enemies as Paul says include sexual immorality, drunkenness, greed, jealousy and several others.

Lastly, when you have identified these enemies, you must clothe yourself with Christ,” he said.

The mission ended with many students professing Christ as Lord and their Saviour. We hope we shall continue wearing the armour of light and the devil here has no chance. To God be the glory.

Those interested in supporting the work of the College may contact the Diocese of Saskatchewan.

There are opportunities to sponsor a child’s annual fees at the school or to support the completion of the chapel, the building of new dormitories and classrooms and the purchase of computers and other school supplies.

Qu’Appelle notes and events Retreat for Lay People The Diocese of Qu’Appelle annual retreat for lay people will be held on the weekend of March 28-30, at St. Michael’s Retreat Centre, Lumsden.

This silent retreat is an opportunity to “come away and rest a while” in peaceful surroundings, attend themed addresses, participate in worship and read or meditate without daily responsibilities and distractions.

The retreat conductor will be Rev. Dean Pinter, with Rev. Wilma Woods as chaplain.

The cost, payable to St. Michael’s at the end of the retreat, will be $215, which includes accommodation, meals and programs.

Online registration is available through the diocesan website (quappelle.anglican.ca) or by mail to Lorraine Hardwick, 42 Fuhrmann Cres., Regina, Sask., S4R 5S5.

Julie Moser appointed youth missioner Julie Moser has been appointed to the new position of Children and Youth Missioner for the diocese, beginning her work in

January.

This half-time position is funded through the Mission Action Plan budget.

Julie has been involved in youth ministry for more than 25 years, with a special emphasis on discipleship-based ministries.

She has worked in Australia and Canada and is the author of several books for youth leaders.

She and her husband Ken live in Caronport, where she also works as a part-time high school chaplain.

First St. Chad’s Volunteer arrives in diocese Emily (Millie) Swan is the first St. Chad’s Volunteer to come to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. St. Chad’s Volunteers are young people who serve the Church all around the world.

She plans to study theology at St. Chad’s College, Durham, England, but will first spend six months in Qu’Appelle as part of her gap-year.

Emily is the daughter of Rev. Philip Swan, director of World Mission of Lichfield Diocese, England, who has visited Qu’Appelle Diocese. (Lichfield is a long-time companion diocese with Qu’Appelle.)

An inside look at cathedral construction

A second part of the construction taking place at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Regina is the building of a “cloister”, which is being built just north of the cathedral proper. The cloister will allow entrance to the cathedral from the northwest corner, so people can enter either at the back or near the front chancel.

Plenty of natural light is expected, due to the many floor-to-ceiling windows. Photo — Jason Antonio

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

February 2014

Spiritual pilgrimage important for Christians

By Jason Antonio REGINA – A pilgrimage is important for the spiritual life of many Christians, as many seek to separate themselves from the “everyday concerns of the world” and spend more time in the presence of God at places with special and holy meaning.

“Why would today’s Christian want to experience a pilgrimage and how would we go on a pilgrimage today?” wondered Deacon Susan Page of St. Luke’s in Regina.

“In the writings of the New Testament and early Church fathers, Christians are portrayed as pilgrims and strangers on Earth who have turned away from the disobedience of Adam and Eve, whose actions condemned humanity to hardship and exile from God’s presence.

But since we want to be “citizens of heaven,” Christians are to undertake a daily obedience to God, which will eventually lead us to our “true homeland in heaven, the New Jerusalem.”

The idea of pilgrimage was the theme of a four-week Advent Evensong and Lecture Series at St. Luke’s Church in Regina.

Entitled “These boots were made for …”, the four weeks covered pilgrimage in: Scripture (living a sacred life); the Canterbury Tales (sacred places); a modern pilgrimage to Mount Athos, which contains 20 Eastern

Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England.

Orthodox monasteries, in Greece (sacred people); and the Church year (sacred time).

Besides seeking to separate oneself from the “everyday concerns of the world,” another reason for a Christian pilgrimage is to gain more knowledge of one’s faith, Page explained.

It can be a “wonderful teaching moment” that helps a person realize in some way what he or she is made of.

“Many pilgrimages are to test yourself and to make you rely on the gifts God has given you. For some people, it’s almost in the form of a fast, because you give

Photo — Fredrik Posse/Stryngford Photo/Wikipedia

up the things that are important to you,” she added.

“A pilgrimage is really a symbol which is acted out. It should not be a holiday.

“It should be a place where you are seeking healing, to obtain forgiveness, to express devotion and most importantly, to encounter God. Pilgrimage is an opportunity to encounter Christ.”

One important pilgrimage place for Christian Anglicans is to Canterbury Cathedral in England. This cathedral has been a well-travelled pilgrimage destination for countless

Christians since the 12th century.

It is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The cathedral was used as a destination in one of the most well-known books from the 14th century, The Canterbury Tales,

by Geoffrey Chaucer.

Chaucer used a springtime pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury for the story’s setting.

The host of the pilgrimage proposes a storytelling competition for the 29 travellers, all of whom, Page explained, were in the midst of a religious

experience and a social event.

The Tales reflect a diverse view of the church in Chaucer’s England.

The Pardoner and Summoner are both corrupt, greedy individuals with few redeeming qualities.

Others, such as the knight and squire, are “portrayed as courtiers and were portrayed as rather chivalrous,” said Page.

“Some of the tales were even considered to be quite racy … so they are not suitable (even today) for young and impressionable minds.”

The deacon explained she has visited the cathedral twice, with Canterbury Cathedral being a “magnificent” building with ornate artwork and carvings.

Along with an incredible choir, the building, to her, “just feels like a holy place. I have been to many cathedrals in England, Africa and North America, but there is something very special about Canterbury.

“We know as Christians that God is everywhere. He is omnipresent.

“We do not need to go on a pilgrimage to experience God,” Page added.

“But if we do, we no longer experience the hardships and dangers of the pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales.

“We are all pilgrims on the journey and we are all fellow travellers on the road. We are on a spiritual journey.”

‘Come to the water’, Anglican women of faith and courage

By Violet Robinson ACW President Diocese of Saskatchewan PRINCE ALBERT – The Anglican Church Women (ACW) National Executive Conference was held in Halifax from Oct. 3-6, 2013 with the theme of, “Come to the water: Women of Faith, Women of Courage.”

There were 33 Anglican Church women, diocesan presidents, a few vicepresidents, as well as guests in attendance. Those who attended from Saskatchewan were Margaret Brady (Diocese of Qu’Appelle), Elaine Hrycenko (Diocese of Saskatoon) and Violet Goodfellow (Diocese of Saskatchewan).

The Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island warmly welcomed the delegates from across Canada upon arrival.

The theme “Come to the water: Women of Faith, Women of Courage,” was infused in every aspect of the conference: in the worship, prayer, praise and devotion; in the interactive sessions grounded in Scripture;

business meetings; public ecclesiastical provincial meetings that included panel discussions; and even a South Shore excursion.

To start, the conference location: the beautiful and rugged East Coast reflected the theme “Come to the water: Women of Faith & Women of Courage: and the metaphorical need to cleanse and refresh, as Anglican Church Women to carry on our ministry with faith, courage and conviction.

The image of water and the implication of its power was introduced, as we gazed on the cathedral’s bicentennial window on Thursday evening, and was further reinforced with the social action focus of the Ecclesiastical Provinces meeting on Friday by Bishop Sue Moxley.

It was heightened with the excursion to St. Martin’s River, Mahone Bay, where we were able to take in the Scarecrow festival for almost two hours. There on to St. John’s, Lunenberg, where we learned how they rebuilt the church after a fire.

The hospitality was outstanding and so was their

With the example of the woman who “breaks in” to meet Jesus’ need with her tears, her waters of love, we were asked in what way we are “breaking in” to the world around us and what tears or waters of love we are bringing. seafood.

All the worship services and devotions were spiritually moving.

The Thursday evening candlelit Order to Compline in the cathedral chancel, with choral leadership of the cathedral choir; the Sisters of Spirit service on Friday morning that concluded with delegates signing a petition for justice regarding missing and murdered aboriginal women; the Renewal of Baptismal vows at the St. John’s, Lunenburg on Saturday and the sung Eucharist on Sunday at the cathedral,

with Bishop Sue as celebrant and chaplain Rev. Cathy Lee Cunningham as homilist.

In the learning series, Cunningham used the Scripture passage of Luke 7:36-50 (on an unnamed woman washing Jesus’ feet with her tears, drying His feet with her hair and anointing them) as a catalyst for a series of “hosted” conversations.

Using a series of questions, they had us reflect on what women bring to their leadership in women’s ministry and what they could bring. We were encouraged to listen to how Jesus calls us to greater dignity in our relationship with one another.

With the example of the woman who “breaks in” to meet Jesus’ need with her tears, her waters of love, we were asked in what way we are “breaking in” to the world around us and what tears or waters of love we are bringing. We were asked to consider what leadership skills are called for in order to address barriers that prevent women from becoming involved in organized women’s ministry.

We contemplated on what it meant, on what it means for

women to be spiritual beings.

A key feature of the National Conference 2013 was the session to which the public was invited for the panel discussion “Witnesses of Christian Message in the Marketplace” moderated by recently retired CBC personality Olga Milosevich and four dynamic panelmlists.

Those panellists included The Honourable Mayann Francis, 31st Lt.-Gov. of Nova Scotia; Diana Ginn, professor of Law, Dalhousie Law School; Glenna Paynter-Parsone, controller, Autism Nova Scotia; and Dianne Swinemar, executive director, Freed Nova Scotia.

They shared their faith journeys and how they live out the Gospel in their personal and professional lives. The stories were riveting and the session extremely powerful.

For the next 12 months, the women of the Diocese of Saskatchewan will be praying for the women in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and P.E.I. The 2014 National Conference will be held in Saskatoon and will be co-ordinated by that diocese.