The Saskatchewan Anglican, March 2024

Surrounded in love

Priest speaks in Ottawa about 'psychedelic therapeutic interventions'

By Mary Brown

PRINCE ALBERT — When the Member of Parliament for the Saskatoon University, Corey Tochor, invites you to testify in Ottawa to the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Science and Research, you say you’ll do it.

The topic? Ways the federal government might best integrate psychedelic therapeutic interventions — with a particular focus on psilocybin — and Indigenous ways of knowing and science into Canadian health policy. This would broaden Canadian health

Rev. Michael Lyons

care beyond the limits of the Western medical paradigm to begin to move toward the inclusion of more holistic approaches and therapies.

This is something that Rev. Michael Lyons is very passionate about and knows well.

The reason Lyons was contacted was because of his thesis, “Stairway to Heaven: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a Therapy for Problem Drinking in Mid-Twentieth Century Saskatchewan, 1953-1968.”

He told me, “I was asked to be an expert witness before the committee because of my academic research that explored the intersection between science and religion, as

well as between medicine and spirituality through the historical lens of a series of trials undertaken by psychiatrists Abram Hoffer and Humphry Osmond at the University of Saskatchewan and the Weyburn Hospital in the 1950s and 1960s that used LSD alongside the framework of AA to treat problem drinking.

“The data suggested that it was the encountering of the divine in the guided LSD experience, something that was led by the psychiatrists as well as Christian clergy, that removed the barrier from

the patients, who had found no success toward sobriety in any other intervention available to them, to then be able to secure sobriety in the AA structure.

"In these trials, Hoffer and Osmond took the most severe cases of problem drinkers into their study and had a 50 per cent success rate of sustained sobriety of those who participated in the study”.

The federal committee met on Nov. 27, 2023. Lyons had 24 hours to book his flight, pack his bags, arrange for transportation and a hotel room in

Continued on page 3

The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • March 2024

Stewards of God's abundance column

2 Seven northern deacons ordained to priesthood

5 St. George, Saskatoon closes after 117 years

7

Building a training centre in South Sudan 12

Bishop Adam Halkett (centre, wearing mitre), along with other clergy from the Diocese of Saskatchewan, lays his hands on three new priests in St. Alban's Cathedral in Prince Albert during an ordination service. For full story, see page 6.

Photo by Sara Groat

Stewards of God's abundance

The power of a single poster

By Deacon Arleen Champion

Declining membership, aging congregations, limited finances, the loss of weekly worship services, pulpit supply clergy. This is the story we often hear today, especially in rural congregations.

The situation looks hopeless to those living it. Sometimes it is hard to see any option beyond hanging on as long as possible and then closing. This is the story of St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Avonlea.

This small congregation shared some concerns with their regional dean, Rev. Deacon Arleen Champion, regarding the viability of continuing much longer as a parish, given the size of their congregation.

The town of Avonlea has three churches — United, Free Methodist and Anglican with a Catholic Church in the neighbouring town of Claybank. All three churches in Avonlea are having sporadic worship services due to shrinking numbers in their congregations.

The congregation discussed the moral compass a worshipping presence provides in a community, and the effect when a community loses its worshipping presence.

They discussed the future effect for Avonlea should it happen, given that all three churches are struggling. Acknowledging that there are other Christians besides the Anglicans in Avonlea, the congregation of St. Peter talked about ways they might initiate some ecumenical worshipping opportunities in their town.

The discussion continued as they gathered with Champion for worship in November 2023. At that time, they planned their Christmas service for the Wednesday before Christmas — their preference so they could gather and celebrate together as a church family in ways they could not on Christmas Eve due to people being away.

Previously they had discussed inviting the other churches to join them for worship anytime St. Peter had a worship service. This would be good stewardship given that there are not regular

picture of that poster in the Post Office and posted it on the town Facebook page.

The day of the Christmas service, the ladies were in the hall preparing for the

They discussed the future effect for Avonlea should (closure) happen, given that all three churches are struggling. Acknowledging that there are other Christians besides the Anglicans in Avonlea, the congregation of St. Peter talked about how they might initiate some ecumenical worshipping opportunities in town ... . They had discussed inviting the other churches to join them for worship anytime St. Peter had a worship service. This would be good stewardship given that there are not regular services in the town at this time.

services in the town at this time.

They were hesitant to issue that invitation at that time, because they were unsure of the reaction of the other denominations. This time, Champion encouraged them to “test the waters” by putting up a poster in the Post Office, advertising their Christmas service, inviting the people of Avonlea to attend.

Church warden Judy Jordan followed through with that idea, and someone from another denomination took a

fellowship time to follow worship and the men were in the nave to greet any guests who may come. The ladies could hear lots of chatter upstairs — much more than the three men could be making.

What a pleasant surprise when they came upstairs to find a pretty full nave — only a couple of pews were empty! People from all four denominations in the area were there, including the Anglicans from Ogema, whose church is now closed.

The initial conversation, as they

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gathered, was about seeing the poster in the Post Office and on the Facebook page. Much appreciation was expressed for the invitation and the opportunity to attend a Christmas church service in Avonlea. Worship was enjoyed by all and the sound of many voices singing favourite Christmas carols in that little church was moving. Following the service, almost everyone stayed for the time of fellowship and the chance to sample the wonderful array of Christmas goodies the ladies had prepared.

Everyone was enjoying the visit and no one was in a hurry to leave. One person left to take her friend home but came right back saying she “did not want to miss out on the rest of the fun!”

Over the dishpan, after their guests left, someone said, “We should do this again at Easter!” Rev. Deacon Arleen said “Yes” and “How about Ash Wednesday too?”

One little poster brought many of Avonlea’s Christians together to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We pray this may be the start of more shared worshipping opportunities in that community.

Who knew the power of a single poster? Thanks be to God.

Sometimes stewardship can be so easy! Maybe this could work in your community too.

$10 in Canada

$17 outside Canada

SUBMISSIONS

Submissions for the May issue must be received by the diocesan editor no later than March 27

All pictures must be sent as JPEGS and 1 MB (megabyte) in size.

CONTACT

INFORMATION

Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail. com

1501 College Ave Regina, Sask., S4P 1B8 Phone: 306-737-4898

Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin joannesm@myaccess.ca

6927 Farrell Bay Regina, Sask., S4X 3V4 Phone: 306-775-2629

Saskatoon: Peter Coolen ptrcoolen@sasktel.net

820 Avenue I South, Saskatoon, Sask., S7M 1Z3 Phone: 306-244-0935,

Saskatchewan: Mary Brown mary1949brown@gmail.com Box 25, Shellbrook, Sask., S0J 2E0 306-922-5159

Advertising agent: Angela Rush saskatchewan.anglican.ads@ gmail.com 905-630-0390

Members of St. Peter’s Anglican Church and many of their guests after the Christmas service, to which the whole town was invited.

Photo by Deacon Arleen Champion

The Bishop's Corner

Easter's message is that Jesus is alive with us now

By the Right Rev. Rodney Andrews, D.D.

Bishop for Saskatoon

“Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus … asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus.”

Although “Joseph of Arimathea” is mentioned in all four Gospels, we do not know much about him. We learn he was rich and “was a respected member of the council.” “The council” was probably the Sanhedrin, the Jewish governing body. You might say he was the equivalent of a city councillor in our time.

That is all we know about him, except that Joseph purchased a tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Perhaps he purchased the tomb for himself. We are not sure why he bought the tomb, but he laid the body of Jesus there. Nicodemus, “who had at

first come to Jesus by night,” helped him.

How would Joseph feel if he tried to visit his hometown today? Biblical scholars are not certain where Arimathea was located, but it is almost certainly in a war zone today.

The war between Israel and Hamas is devastating.

The whole area is volatile and dangerous. Soldiers carrying machine guns patrol the streets. There is smoke, blood, destruction and debris everywhere.

The world Jesus left behind bore a startling similarity to the Palestinian world of today. Roman soldiers wandering the streets. There was disease, death and injustice everywhere. Jesus spoke out against it. It led to His crucifixion.

It is morning of the first day of the week. The sun peeks

... Sask. priest speaks to politicians about mindaltering drugs during committee presentation

Continued from page 1 Ottawa. He was only there overnight and the next day.

The meeting was in the Wellington Building where most of the committee meetings are held for the House of Commons.

There were four people testifying: a man from Ecuador (via zoom) speaking on psychedelic medicine, a representative of the director of Nation Building Nuclear Waste Management Organization from Ontario, the president and chief of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicine from Ontario, and Rev. Michael Lyons from Saskatchewan, priest in charge!

Each speaker was given five minutes for their opening remarks followed by about half an hour of questioning, at which time the panel was dismissed.

I asked him if he was

intimidated speaking to such a group but he said he was at ease, which, of course, we decided, that would be how things are when dealing with politicians.

Also, these politicians wanted to learn something from him, so he was, kind of, “in charge.”

I asked him if he was given an honorarium for his trouble; he wasn’t, but they did reimburse him for his expenses, about $4,000.

His thesis, “Stairway to Heaven: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a Therapy for Problem Drinking in Mid-Twentieth Century Saskatchewan, 1953-1968” is available online by searching the title.

His testimony is also available online on the Committee webpage. You would find the testimony under SRSR 3:30 2023-1127.

over the horizon and the first rays illuminate the world. Two women named Mary come to the gravesite.

This is not fairy tale stuff. This is about a real place in the real world. I have been there. I have walked on the same ground on which these women walked.

An angel tells the women, “You must not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has been raised, just as he said. Come here and see the place where he was lying.”

They peer into the empty tomb and see the ledge where Jesus was lying. His body is not there.

They leave the tomb in a hurry, afraid yet filled with joy. They run to tell other followers what has happened to them.

Suddenly Jesus meets them, stopping them in their tracks.

He says, “Peace be with you”

This is unbelievable, but they have to believe it. They have seen it with their own eyes.

As the angel spoke to the two women named Mary, he speaks to us.

“Jesus is risen!”

Early one morning my fellow pilgrims and I walked in the rain through the dark streets of Jerusalem, arriving at the place of the Resurrection as the clouds opened, the sun came out and the bells of the great church at the centre of Christendom rang.

I will never forget that moment as we walked into the church.

The pipe organ was playing majestic music for the first mass of the day. We knelt beside the empty tomb.

As we walked to our residence for breakfast, a beautiful rainbow decorated the sky. It was an incredible moment, one linking two times separated by 2,000 years.

It was a moment linking the living Christ and ourselves in a very special way.

Jesus lives beyond the dust and rocks of the first century. He lives beyond the pages of the Scriptures. He is risen.  He is alive with us now.

This is the gift God gives us. Jesus Christ, His Son, was raised from the dead on Easter Morning.

Happy Easter! Christ is Risen!

Priest says farewell to Moose Jaw and Qu'Appelle diocese

By Rev. Dr. Dean Pinter

MOOSE JAW (Qu’A) — It has been an honour and a joy to be the rector of St. Aidan Anglican Church in Moose Jaw since July 2012. St. Aidan is a generous, winsome, and creative parish.

As a community, they know how and when to laugh and to weep, how and when to lament and to celebrate. This congregation has been a deep well of grace and friendship in my life and the life of my family. My wife, Darlene, and I will miss their company very much.

Jan. 7 was my last service to preside and preach as the incumbent of St. Aidan. Darlene and I have relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, where I have taken up the role as canon theologian for the Cathedral Church of the Advent (The Episcopal Church USA).

Interestingly, this will be the third time in our marriage that we have

relocated internationally in the month of January!

While with St. Aidan, I have served under three bishops and enjoyed

the friendship of fellow clergy in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. Bishop Helen has been especially supportive and kind

during this period of transition. She and her husband, Stephen, have become dear friends both to me and to

Announcements for March 2024

g Saskatchewan Anglican online! Did you know you can read current and past issues of the Sask. Anglican online?

Visit www. anglicandiocesesaskatoon. com/saskanglican or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ saskatchewananglican

g Licentiate in Theology Courses offered by College of Emmanuel and St. Chad and Western Education Collaborative Anglican Network (W.E.C.A.N.):

Emmanuel and St. Chad College has been working with the WECAN group to develop a ministry preparation program relevant to the various Anglican contexts in Western Canada.

The local diocesan ministry schools make substantial contributions to the program by offering courses mapped out in the ESC-WECAN Licentiate in Theology

handbook.

Whether you are feeling called to do more formal ministry or are drawn to taking certain courses, please contact the person named for the course or courses you are interested in doing.

At the same time, let your diocesan school co-ordinator know your plans. If interested, please review the detailed list of fall and winter course located elsewhere in this issue.

g ‘Growing in Wisdom’ at Queen’s House Retreat and Renewal Centre: Queen’s House continues to accept applications for its “Growing in Wisdom” program at www. growinginwisdom.ca.

“Growing in Wisdom” is an ecumenical, two-year program, designed for those who are retired, and are curious and interested in exploring the spirituality of aging. This program will be offered even with the potential closure

of Queen’s House occurring as it is offered completely on Zoom. A free three-hour information session was offered in late June, and a recording of this session can be found on the home page of the website.

The program was originally scheduled to begin in late September; however, the start date has been moved to February and ends in November 2025. People can register through the website above.

If you have anyone in your congregation who might be interested in a program like this one, please encourage them to visit the website.

Upcoming services and weekly or monthly events:

g The Painting Table: All are welcome at the “Painting Table” held in the lower parish hall at Emmanuel Anglican Parish, 607 Dufferin Ave., from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the first Wednesday

St. Aidan.

While I have many good friends amongst the clergy in this diocese, in addition to my superb fellow ministers in St. Aidan — Deacon Arleen Champion and Fr. Cal Macfarlane — I am especially grateful for the wisdom and support that Fr. Claude Schroeder has provided me these past years.

I entered this parish, my first incumbency, as a rookie priest, and Arleen, Cal, and Claude helped to nurture and guide me in incalculable ways. They are models of what good clergy should be and should do.

I take my leave of this wonderful parish in this good diocese with a full and grateful heart.

I join with St. Paul in this prayer for you all:

“May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!” (Romans 15:13).

of each month. All art materials are supplied.

g Winter Course at The Refinery : The Refinery at Emmanuel Anglican Parish, Saskatoon is offering a series of courses during the winter season on a variety of subjects including painting and various other art media, Zumba, and various spiritual and meditative modalities. For more information or to register, please see the notice located elsewhere in this issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican or contact the Refinery at www. emmanuelrefinery.org or 306-653-3549.

g All Saints Anglican Parish, Saskatoon; Choral Evensong followed by a potluck supper. Third Wednesday of each month; 5:15 p.m.

g Christ Church Anglican, Saskatoon: BAS Evening Prayer, every Thursday at 7

p.m.; Free community supper, 5 to 7 p.m., the third Tuesday of each month; Community Coffee House, every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon; Nutflakes Videos, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Men’s breakfast the first Sunday of each month, a free breakfast by the men of the parish, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

g To be included in a timely manner, brief notices should be supplied to the associate editor by fax, email or “snail mail” by the end of the month, one month before the month in which the insertion is desired (i.e. February entries will be in the April issue).

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

Rev. Dean and Darlene Pinter have left St. Aidan, Moose Jaw, after 12 years and have headed to Birmingham, Alabama. Photo submitted

Four deacons ordained to the priesthood in northern Sask.

By Mary Brown

AHTAHKAKOOP

CREE

NATION (Skwn) — On Dec. 15, 2023, deacons Eugene Merasty, Dixie Bird, Roger Bird and Sheila Chaboyer were ordained into the priesthood, with their ordination taking place in St. Mark’s (St. Simeon and St. Anna’s) Church in Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

I don’t live far from there, and according to my phone GPS, it was only 48 minutes away. By the time I got as far as Big River I realized I went too far. I decided to put my location into Google Maps and follow its instructions.

After sending me down dark gravel roads to who knows where, it finally told me (twice) to park the car and walk the rest of the way! I didn’t do that and eventually found my way to the church.

I was half an hour late and came in at the end of Bishop Adam Halkett’s sermon. Instead of having the bulletin for this ordination, I somehow had a bulletin from the ordination of three clergy on Nov. 30, 2022.

Of course, I wondered why the hymns were not the same as the ones in my bulletin.

What confused me was that some of the hymns

were the same but in the wrong place. There were two bishops at the ordination, Bishop Adam Halkett and Bishop Riscylla Shaw from the Diocese of Toronto.

Bishop Shaw attended their ordination to the diaconate in St. Joseph’s Church in Montreal Lake a few years ago.

Archdeacon Andrew

Hoskin, Archdeacon Wilfred Sanderson, the Rev. Canon David Butorac, the Revs. Jordan Draper, Ted Williams, Brody Albers, Beryl Whitecap and Rick Reed also took part in the ordination.

Retired priest, Marj Hyman, from St. Mark’s also attended the service.

Two of my favourite parts of the service is

when the bishop leads the priests and congregation in the singing of Veni, Creator Spiritus: Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire.

And then the bishop says a prayer for the new priests, who are kneeling before him, after which all of the priests present come forward and lay their

hands on the heads of the new ordinands, with the bishop saying, “Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a priest in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands.

"Whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained. And be thou a faithful dispenser of the Word of God, and of his holy Sacraments. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

This tradition goes back centuries to the time of Christ and these new priests will also lay their hands on their brothers and sisters, who were ordained the following day. They will all belong to this brotherhood/sisterhood of priests forever.

Eugene Merasty will now be a priest in Stanley Mission, Dixie Bird will be the priest for Holy Trinity in Prince Albert, Sheila Chaboyer is the priest in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Cumberland House and Roger Bird is now the priest in St. Simeon and St. Anna, (St. Mark) in Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

Everyone enjoyed a delicious hot roast beef dinner after the service.

Clergy from the Diocese of Saskatchewan gather after the ordination to the priesthood of deacons Eugene Merasty, Dixie Bird, Roger Bird and Sheila Chaboyer, with the service occurring on the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation. Photos by Mary Brown

After the ordination service, Bishops Adam Halkett and Riscylla Shaw (back) and Chief Larry Ahenakew and Rev. Roger Bird gather for a picture.

St. Alban's hosts ordination service for three new priests

By Mary Brown

PRINCE ALBERT — On Dec. 16, 2023, deacons Theresa Sanderson, Elaine Bear and Harry Halkett were ordained into the priesthood.

Theresa will be the priest at James Smith Cree Nation; Elaine will be the priest at St. Bartholomew in Pelican Narrows and St. Peter, Deschambeault Lake; and Harry will be the priest at St. Joseph in Montreal Lake and St. James, Little Red.

Bishop Riscylla Shaw, a suffragan bishop in Toronto, gave the sermon. She was ordained as bishop in 2017 and her ministry has been inspired by Desmond Tutu with the South African Truth and Reconciliation Committee.

She has served as an ambassador for the Anglican Church of Canada’s National Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Bishop Riscylla, with Metis family roots, grew up on a small farm in Ontario. She is actively involved in working with the National Indigenous Anglican Church in reconciliation with the colonial church.

She began her homily, with quotes from Handel’s Messiah: “And the glory of the lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together — for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. This is my beloved son. Hear him.”

Her message is that our call is to Hear Him — hear Christ in each other, in the stranger —sometimes that is each other! — and in all of creation. We also bring ourselves to that task like the little drummer boy, who was a wise little boy, bringing his heartbeat to the manger — pa-rumpa-pum-pum, me and my drum.

All we can bring and bringing it all. She compared ordained people as to an old building with a new building built onto it. They bring themselves

to the altar of God, to the throne of the Lamb, they bring who they were and who they are becoming.

They do not come alone — together they form a community of hope. They need this, as Bishop Adam Halkett said in his sermon the day before, because it can be a lonely, isolated experience being in ordained ministry.

Her closing remarks were, “Remember this word of encouragement from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians chapter 4. But each of us was given grace

according to the measure of Christ’s gift … .

"There is opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus in every direction that you turn — we see this here in front of us, as you bring your old self, and put on your new stoles, a new cloak about your shoulders. Remember that you are human and that we are so very proud of you."

The service continued with the presentation of the candidates, the sung Litany, Epistle and Gospel readings and

the examination and ordination.

As part of the ordination, each candidate is given a Bible with these words: “Take thou authority to preach the Word of God, and to minister the holy Sacraments in the Congregation, where thou shalt be lawfully appointed thereunto.”

It was such a joyous ordination and so nice to see how happy and proud the families of those ordained were to witness this holy event.

Diocese of Qu'Appelle to sponsor 60 refugees this year

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin

REGINA — As a sponsorship agreement holder, the Diocese of Qu’Appelle has requested a total of 60 refugees for 2024. As of January, the diocese received an interim initial allocation of 25 spaces, with the balance to be approved later in the year.

In 2023, the diocese sponsored 95 people, but one withdrew to pursue sponsorship with an

uncle in the USA. The diocesan total includes one co-sponsored by St. Thomas, Vernon, and five co-sponsored by St. Aidan, Moose Jaw. Also in 2023, 71 refugees sponsored in previous years arrived in Canada.

For 2024, the diocese requested a lower number, because a new online application process at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is likely to create more work for sponsors.

In each case, the

parish of Immanuel, Regina, acts as constituent group and co-sponsor with family members already in Canada. At the January vestry meeting, Immanuel’s vestry approved the 25 initial applicants.

The diocese, as sponsorship agreement holder, acts as an overall banker and assists the co-sponsoring families with the process. The diocese holds the funds that the family has raised to cover a full

year of expenses, and pays out a set amount each month for the first year. In almost all the cases, when the refugees arrive, they will live with family members in Canada so accommodation expenses will not be involved, or the family will rent accommodations for them.

The family cosponsors also must support the refugees by helping them with language training,

acquiring health cards, Social Insurance Numbers and bank accounts and many other details of settling in Canada.

The current list of 25 individuals includes adults and children currently living as refugees in Israel, Ethiopia and Sudan.

Editor’s note: Thank you to Ralph Paragg, who volunteered as the diocesan refugee co-ordinator for about 30 years and provided statistics for this article.

New priests in the Diocese of Saskatchewan gather for a picture after an ordination service at St. Alban's Cathedral in Prince Albert. In front, from left, are Eugene Merasty, Elaine Bear, Theresa Sanderson, Harry Halkett, Dixie Bird and Roger Bird. In back are Bishops Adam Halkett and Riscylla Shaw. Photo by Sara Groat

St. George, Saskatoon closes after 117 years

On Dec. 31, 2023 a final Eucharist service and reception was held at St. George, Saskatoon to bring an end to 117 years of faithful ministry. The inner-city parish had been challenged in recent years with declining and aging membership and with an aging building that had become much too large and expensive to run for current

and future needs. They resolved to ask the diocese to sell the building and then to take their gifts of ministry and remaining energy and spread them out to other parishes within the city. The service was attended by approximately 80 present and former members of the parish and friends of the parish.

Photos

by Leslie

Ridden

Peace of mind planning for when death arrives

By Angie Friedrich

REGINA — Following the Sunday service on Jan. 21, St. Paul’s Cathedral hosted a Peace of Mind Planning session. It was held in the tranquil space of St. Paul’s Columbarium with approximately 20 people in attendance.

Brad Funston, preplanning specialist, guided the participants through a list of actions that will occur upon your death.

It was eye-opening, as we became aware of the information needed for Vital Statistics and the demands that will be placed upon the executor(s) stated in your will.

(If you don’t have a will, this may be a good place to start.)

You may have thoughts about cremation or burial; service or no service; where you would like to rest; and even what you would like in your obituary.

But, does your family know? Even if you have

verbally informed them, in the time of grief and shock there is a good chance they won’t recall your wishes.

We don’t like to think about it, but there will be expenses incurred.

Your pre-planning package could include your banking and investment information as well as passwords to the sites, so your loved ones or executor(s) can access this information quickly to get your estate in order.

You can give your family peace of mind by leaving written instructions and leaving adequate funds to cover expenses.

As one person stated at this planning session, “When Mom planned ahead by giving us all the information that we would need after her (death), it was as if she gave us one last gift.”

For more information or to arrange a viewing of the Columbarium, contact Ferlin McChesney at 306-352-8931 or office@ stpaulsregina.ca.

Clergy who supported the service include the Rev. Peter Coolen; St. George’s interim incumbent, the Rev. Canon Niel Haines; the interim diocesan Bishop, the Right Rev. Rodney Andrews; and the Executive Archdeacon, the Ven. Alex Parsons.

After the final service at St. George, Saskatoon, members of the parish and friends shared memories and food in the parish hall.

Photo by Rev. Peter Coolen

Brad Funston speaks at a Peace of Mind planning session in St. Paul's Columbarium.

Photo by Angie Friedrich

Service of confirmation and reception held at Emmanuel Parish, Saskatoon

On Jan. 28, a joyous service of confirmation and reception was held at Emmanuel Parish, Saskatoon. The diocesan interim bishop, the Right Rev. Rodney Andrews, presided during the service and Pastor Fran Schmidt provided the homily; the Rev. Peter Coolen acted as bishop’s chaplain. Five young people — “T” Blacklake-Meyer, Aryanna Lavan.KT, Aryan Lavan.KT, Richard Gerrity and Sam

Ferguson — were confirmed, and Anna Ghevssen was received into the Church. The service was followed by a reception, refreshments and a cake in the parish hall. Pictured are, from left, the Rev. Peter Coolen, “T” Blacklake-Meyer, Pastor Fran Schmidt, Aryanna Lavan. KT, Aryan Lavan.KT, Richard Gerrity, Sam Ferguson, Ana Gheyssen, and Bishop Rod Andrews.

Feeling the Holy Spirit

An olfactory offering: The ultimate in aromatherapy

By Rev. Gene Packwood

There was once a Victory Church in Medicine Hat that had the word “Always!” suspended across the front of their worship space in large, glittery letters. It was very striking and evocative to me. It came, of course, from:

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:14–15).

I love the idea of being fragrant with the aroma of the knowledge of Jesus wherever I go.

I know I’ve not always, or even mostly, been aromatic in that way. Other less pleasant odours

can arise only too easily in the marvellous mixture of well-being and woe that is the Christian life.

There’s smelly stuff in the Old Testament, too. Ancient temple offerings and sacrifices were to be a “pleasing aroma” to The LORD. Also, St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, “holy and pleasing to God;” as “true worship” (12.1).

That sounds rather like the “pleasing aroma,” as of old, now fragrant with the presence and knowledge

of Jesus, drawing the people around us to enjoy the sweet smell of salvation, too.

That would be body odour — in a good way. Body of Christ odour. The fragrance of Jesus being exuded by Christian disciples as they are always led by God in triumphal procession. A lovely image.

That would be the ultimate in aromatherapy, don’t you think?

The fragrance of Christ. What would that smell like? What would Jesus smell like? My daughter recently brought me a gift from a trip south of the border.

It was a big blue brick of Duke Cannon Supply

Co.’s soap that, as the box in which it came declares, “Smells Like ‘Naval Diplomacy.’” Funny. It makes me think of St. Paul’s “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor 5.20) I heard about this morning in church.

Is that what they (we) must smell like?

But then, I also think of the so-called Johannine Pentecost in John, chapter 20, when Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (v22).

I wonder what His breath smelled like? Seems to me it must have smelled good. Better than Naval Diplomacy.

Sweet. Life-giving. Like fresh laundry just dried on the clothesline in the sun.

In our age of electric clothes driers not many get to smell that any more. That’s what we need to smell like. Like Jesus and Pentecost breath.

Where are the best olfactory helps for generating pleasing aroma and fragrance to be found? In knowing Jesus more. What better way to begin than, once again, deciding to observe a Holy Lent?

The Prayer Books set it out: self-examination, penitence/repentance, prayer, fasting, almsgiving/self-denial and reading and meditating on the Word of God.

They are a brilliant and effective pattern of spiritual disciplines designed to help us to avoid those darker places redolent with the not-sosweet-smelling odours of the world, the flesh and the devil — and to enable us to climb out of them if we find ourselves already there.

Always a good Anglican aromatic way to grow in the knowledge and fragrance of Jesus.

Photo by Joy Kanagasuntheri

Four children baptized in Maple Creek

Four children were baptized at St. Mary the Virgin, Maple Creek, on Jan. 7, when the church observed the Baptism of Our Lord. The children ranged in age from four months to three years old, with many of them born when pandemic restrictions prevented large services. Rev. Jesse

Miller is holding Jack Martin. Beside him in the white shirt is Nathan Haughian, with his cousin Nash Bowhay. Behind Nash is Hayley Calder and at the back, Dylan Kilford. Jack, Nathan, Hayley and Dylan were all baptized that Sunday.

What would it take?

By Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy

In one parish in which I began to serve, I made an appointment to visit someone who had stopped coming to church years before.

During our visit over tea, I bravely asked, “What would it take to get you back to church?” Taking responsibility, she playfully responded, “A good swift kick.” I took this dear person to mean that it was a matter of pulling up her bootstraps and getting to Church on Sunday morning. Ultimately, she became a regular attender in that parish.

Over the last while, some steps to enliven congregations have come into clear focus. Such ideas could give congregations a renewed sense of excitement in drawing others into their faith community.

People want leaders, lay and clergy to be able to go to into the difficult places and to respectfully ask the challenging questions. Parishioners want lay leaders and pastors who really care about them and each other, unconditionally.

We need leaders who can read the bible afresh as well as the times in which we live and who encourage and equip people for various ministries, inviting them to take new roles and expand their ministry skill sets.

Intentional prayer and Christian meditation help faithful individuals to speak and act from a loving centre, touched by God’s love, informed by Scripture.

Christian meditation helps us to become more self-aware of our motivations and refines us for care-filled interaction with others. It helps us to rest and to be revived by God.

In taking a course recently with Betty Pries of Credence and Co., I have been reminded that people want to learn more about faith as it “speaks to the head, heart and will.” As God’s People, we are called to cultivate spirituality that welcomes and entertains the questions individuals have.

In listening to and honouring someone’s encounter with God, we

get them thinking more about their walk of faith. As Betty Pries suggests, we need to “make space for a longing that has no name.”

We see this in Paul of Tarsus’ approach to the people of Athens. He listened carefully to them and noticed their monument “to an unknown god.” Paul picked up on their spiritual encounters and asked about them. This drew the people of Athens into a deeper walk together and with the Christian triune God.

Preaching and worship are to answer people’s questions of the day and to deepen meaning in their lives and walk with God. Those who prepare reflections are to look at the Scriptural text with fresh eyes and to discover and share its non-colonial meaning for those on the margins and as well as at the community’s core.

Congregations that thrive in this anxious age, converse with each other on topics that really matter and their patterns of interaction are informed by respect and deep care for one another. One could ask, “What has happened to you this week that gave your life a deeper meaning?”

To truly listen to another person means to step off one’s soapbox and to appreciate and dwell on the viewpoint of the other. As we listen attentively, people share about their lives and what matters to them, this helps them to realize that they truly belong in a group.

People are looking for a “safe container in which to grow or a fence post to lean on.” They are touched when others actively listen to their experiences of awe, divine gentleness, invitation and blessing.

Having a safe space to share the signs of how God is present and active in personal and communal life is crucial. As Christians, we are called to share with each other about our values, identity and purpose in this life and to notice God’s hand at work.

Besides being in awe of God, we are to speak of the powerful divine encounters we have had most recently, which can help others notice God’s presence in their own lives

Continued on page 11

Photo by Connie Martin

Obituary

Derek Harrison was dedicated volunteer, long-time organist

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FORT QU’APPELLE

(Qu’A) — The obituary for Derek Harrison, who died Jan. 15, described him as a “pillar of Fort Qu’Appelle community.”

For more than 70 years he played the organ at St. John’s Anglican Church in Fort Qu’Appelle, and also directed the choir for many of those years. He started playing the organ in Sunday School, and also played a portable pump organ

for patients in two local hospitals when he was a teenager.

The youngest of five brothers in his family, he lived in the same house for his entire life. He worked at the Fort Qu’Appelle Post Office and at Solvey Motors, and then in the business office of Fort San until he retired in 1987.

Harrison was an outstanding volunteer. He was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in both 2012 and 2022,

and the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal in 2021. In addition to serving the church, Harrison was a Mason, member of the Lions Club, and delivered Meals on Wheels for three decades, often delivering to people younger than himself. He was described as “a core volunteer at the Fort Qu’Appelle Heritage Museum.” He also drove seniors to medical appointments in Regina, and volunteered in many

other capacities.

Harrison was baptized in St. John’s as in infant in 1924, and it was fitting that his funeral was held there as well. Rev. Ed Dunfield and Rev. George Archer officiated at the service on January 24.

In early April, there will be a celebration of Harrison’s life, to mark what would have been his centenary on April 8, as well as the interment at Lakeview Cemetery.

WECAN offering many courses in coming months

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The ESC-WECAN Licentiate in Theology Course

Offerings are on a threeyear for 2024 to 2027.

All of the coursed listed will be available online. People are to register for courses at esc-wecan.ca

To register for the Licentiate in Theology Program, ask your diocese for L.Th. Program Application Form

Individuals may take these courses to enrich their spiritual life, better equip them for ministry or take while discerning a formal vocation.

Biblical Studies

Saskatoon Diocese, April to May: Thursday, April 4, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.,

Introduction to the Bible, Wei Luo, Thursday, April 25, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures, Pending, Thursday, May 2, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Pauline Letters, Pending, Thursday, May 9, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

The Gospel of John, Wei Luo, Thursday, May 23, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Biblical Exegesis, Bernon Lee, Thursday, May 30, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

A Synoptic Gospel, Pending, Qu’Appelle

Diocese: Dates Pendingcheck esc-wecan.ca.

Theology: Qu’Appelle Spring or Early Fall 2024 Dr. Joel Houston

Briercrest online; St. John’s College Winnipeg: Ryan Turnbul,l “EcoTheology” Dates Pending - check esc-wecan.ca

Leadership:

Athabasca and Saskatoon Group Discernment and Conflict Mediation

Dates Pending - check esc-wecan.ca

Instructors: Bishop David Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy

Liturgy: Fall 2024

Sponsoring Institution

Pending, Sept. 13 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. & 14 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. SK time and Sept. 27 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. & 28 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. SK time. Instructor: Rev. Dr. Richard Leggett, VST Professor Emeritus

Homiletics: Saskatoon and Kootenay Dates Pending - check escwecan.ca. Instructors: Rev. Iain Luke and Rev. Dr. Garry Schmidt

Teaching and Learning: Stages of Faith, Education and Nurturing Children in Faith, Fall 2024 Qu’Appelle - website for

Swift Current has new priest

New priest for Swift Current

Rev. Leonard Botchway has accepted a nine-month term position at St. Stephen the Martyr in Swift Current. He is an experienced priest who was ordained in 2011. He had a background in education before entering ministry.

Botchway is from Ghana, and his wife and three children are still in Ghana,

but hoping to come to Canada soon.

All women invited to Maple Creek

The Diocese of Qu’Appelle Anglican Women’s Gathering will be held Saturday, April 20, at St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church in Maple Creek.

This year’s theme is “Challenges Change Us.” All Anglican women and friends are

invited to come and join in the fellowship.    Registration fee: $20.00. Please send a cheque payable to: St. Mary’s ACW, Maple Creek c/o Box 1030, Maple Creek, SK S0N 1N0 Deadline to Register: April 10.

If you have questions or suggestions or items for discussion please contact: Edith Maddaford, Vice President at (306) 744-2216 or esmadd@ sasktel.net.

finalized dates. Dates Pending - check escwecan.ca

Spring 2025 Saskatoon

Thursday evenings: Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 and Mar. 6, 2025, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. SK time Instructors: Rev. Fiona Brownlee and Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy

Spiritual Practices and Formation: Fall 2025 Saskatoon, Thursday evenings: Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2025, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. SK time.Instructor: Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy

Pastoral Care: Fall 2024, SaskatoonThursdays Evenings: Oct.

3, 10, 17, 24, Nov. 7, 2024, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. SK time Instructor: Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy

Integrative Internship

/ Field Placement: Dates as needed. Instructors: Rev. Dr. Iain Luke and Rev.

Dr. Trish McCarthy

Ethics, Offered Soon: Qu’Appelle Dates Pending - check esc-wecan.ca

Indigenous Relationships and Wisdom and Teaching of the Elders: Dates Pending - check escwecan.ca

Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Kara Mandry.

Potential Instructors: Henry Budd First Nation Elders, Professor Ray Aldred of VST, Rev. Alex Campbell of Qu’Appelle, National Indigenous Bishop Chris Harper, SeminaryTrained F.N. Teachers and Local Elders; and Tanis Kolysnik.

Indigenous Anglicanism of St. John’s College.

Contact: Ryan Turnbull, Principal

Several retreats upcoming

g March 8-10: Youth Retreat at Camp Quest

g March 15-16: Prayer Conference, “Praying with Purpose” at Harwood Inn, Waskesiu, with guest speaker Bishop David Parsons, Diocese of the Arctic

g March 23: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Christopher’s Church, one day retreat, “Into the Wilderness:

Christian Life as Pilgrimage.” Open to all

g May 24-26: Ladies’ Retreat at Camp Okema

g May 31 to June 2: Men’s Retreat at Camp Okema

g The Diocese Lenten reading for this year is Fr. Robert Crouse’s “Images of Pilgrimmage”

Photo courtesy Dignity Memorial

Queen's House Retreat Centre offers many useful courses

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For info: 306-2421916, programming@ queenshouse.org , www. queenshouse.org.

QUEEN’S HOUSE RETREAT AND RENEWAL CENTRE

welcomes you! Our ecumenical programming combines in-person and online events using Zoom. Please visit our webpage for all upcoming programs and to register for all programs. Nourish Your Mind and Nurture Your Spirit at Queen’s House!

For inquiries/ additional information contact Sarah Donnelly, Programming Director: 306-242-1916 x226.

Centring prayer –all are welcome to gather in-person or virtually

... Listen closely to people who share their lives and concerns

Continued from page 9

There are insights as well as words of encouragement we can offer to each other in our faith journeys. It is in sharing these supportive words and profound moments that God calls people back into their walk with Jesus.

Consider “what it would take” for you to share your special moments of awe, divine gentleness, invitation and blessing? May God give you and your faith community members the ability to notice and the courage to share!

Editor’s note: The Rev. Dr. Trisch is coordinator of the Saskatoon School of Discipleship, Diocesan Safe Church Program, implementation co-ordinator of the ESCWECAN Licentiate and assistant professor, College of Emmanuel and St. Chad.

on Zoom on Monday evenings, 7:00 to 8:15 p.m.

This drop-in gathering includes a 20-minute sit, additional insights regarding contemplation and centring prayer from the great teachers will be part of every evening in the form of videos, and time for group sharing. Register online to receive the Zoom invitation/let us know that you will be coming in person. There is no fee to attend these gatherings. Donations to support the ministry of Queen’s House can be made on the site.

Spiritual direction:

If you are interested in having a mentor and companion to accompany you on your spiritual journey contact Sr. Adeline Behm - email

spiritualdirection@ queenshouse.org or to see a list of our affiliated spiritual directors. In-person and online meetings are available.

Growing in wisdom: Seeking deeper generativity

Two Years of Learning and Exploring for Those Seeking a Spirituality for their Wisdom Years

Feb. 2024 to Nov. 2025

Growing in Wisdom: Seeking Deeper Generativity is an ecumenical program, rooted in the Forest Dwelling Program created by Fr. Ron Rolheiser OMI, grounded in the mystical Christian Tradition, open to learning from other interfaith and spiritual traditions, and designed for those seeking to engage in their maturing years with wisdom and grace.

It is a program that welcomes participants who have the time, interest, and energy to engage in a dynamic two-year adventure of learning and exploration. This is when we can look back on the life we have lived and find openness to new or previously undeveloped inner vistas.

It is a time to begin to come to terms with our mortality and the grace we find in facing this part of our lives with wisdom and satisfaction.

This program, offered on Zoom, is a dynamic interplay between and among each participant, the Growing in Wisdom Community, and Divine Mystery, assisting in the inner transformation of participants as the journey unfolds.

This program invites you to explore how you might commit yourself to giving your life and your death to the world, in a way in which both are the ultimate gift and blessing that you give to others.

A minimum of 60 people are needed to offer this program. For information and to apply, visit www. growinginwisdom.ca.

Diocese needs support to build training centre in South Sudan

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Lent calls us to practice almsgiving. It invites us to examine ourselves honestly on how subtly we have accepted society’s addiction to possessions, to affluence.

Through the days of Lent, we are encouraged to focus our eyes on Jesus who gave his whole life in faithfulness to God, giving his life totally out of love for all. As we keep that clear focus, we join our life in the loving intention of Jesus to give himself for all.

During Lent, we invite you to join us in making the Bishop Nathaniel Garang Training Centre a reality in South Sudan

Our goal is to raise $100,000 to build four classrooms, a computer laboratory, a Library, a Principal’s Office, Washrooms and a Cafeteria by the end of 2025.

Send a cheque payable to the Diocese of Qu’appelle. Or, send an etransfer to finance. officer@sasktel.net. Also, mark your donation “Bishop Nathaniel Training Centre.”

Your financial support means you are there in South Sudan supporting Southdove Training Centres (www.southdove. org/) to create a future for leadership in the church.

Why is this centre important?

Training

We will enhance the educational, leadership and theological training through the preparation, development and teaching of the South Sudanese clergy, and lay church and community leaders, laying the foundation for individual spiritual transformation and empowerment, and institutional accountability through accountable mentorship and theological formation.

Empowerment

We will provide access to equitable opportunities for quality education, leadership and theological training, leading to the acquisition of knowledge and skills that will enable south Sudanese church and community leaders

become competitive for employment within and outside the church. Empowerment will prioritize the alleviation of the inequalities of access to education and leadership privileges by addressing the adverse

effects of war, poverty, illiteracy, and disease in the local community through the organization’s participative community development.

Experience

We will facilitate the exchange of knowledge between the Bishop Nathaniel Garang Training Centre and theological colleges in Canada and other countries, whereby the students from Canadian

Anglican theological colleges and dioceses may visit South Sudan to live and share the practical experience with the students at the centre and other believers from different cultural backgrounds.

It's just a field now, but this area is where the Diocese of South Sudan wants to build the Bishop Nathaniel Garang Training Centre. Photos courtesy Diocese of Qu'Appelle

Qu'Appelle Bishop Rob Hardwick gathers with Rev. Nathaniel Deng Mayen from St. Mary, Regina and Bishop Nathaniel Garang from South Sudan at the Regina International Airport. Deng Mayen is leading the charge on having the training centre built.