January, 2008 A Section of Anglican Journal
St. Bartholomew Historic Church Moves
The Gospel According to the Simpsons
by Gregg Hallsworth Member Plain and Valley Parish REGINA BEACH (QuA) - St. Bartholomew Church, the oldest public building at Regina Beach, made history recently with her move to Lakeside Heritage Museum. This would be her second move within the Town of Regina Beach, having been relocated in 1953 five blocks from her building site "to be closer to the centre of town." This statement is amusing today as Regina Beach stretches far beyond the original site. Built as a summer church in 1910 by Mr. Smitton, a contractor for the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, St. Bart's, as she’s affectionately known, was located in the hills along the first access road to the tiny community. Funding was received from a missionary association known as the Girls Friendly Society in England. On July 20, 1913, the Church of St. Bartholomew was photo Gladys Crofts dedicated by the visiting head of the misSt. Bartholomew Church building is moved to the Lakeside Heritage Museum. It is the oldest sion. public building in Regina Beach. The 97 year old structure was relocated since the congregation was no longer able to sustain the building. It will be used occasionally as a place of Regina Beach grew with the 1912 coming worship during the summer months. of the railway as did the congregation of St. Bartholomew. In 1945 the newly formed Women’s Auxiliary, originally the Ladies Guild, raised funds by holding teas, bazaars and other functions in order to purchase a parish hall on the south-west corner of Allan Avenue and Centre Street and rent it out for revenue. Then in 1953 they purchased a lot for $350 and paid the Reed Brothers $1,100 to construct the basement and move the church building onto it. By 2005 St. Bart’s congregation had become too small to sustain the church building. The final service on Third Avenue and a celebration of her long history were held at a dinner on May 29, 2005. The Diocese of Qu’Appelle offered the building to Lakeside Heritage Museum to be preserved as part of the heritage site and used occasionally as a place of worship during the summer months. Accepting their offer, Lakeside Heritage Museum entered into a major fund-raising mode including presentations, applications for grants, garage sales, requests for private and corporate donations, silent auctions and a 1910 Fashion Show. Volunteers worked tirelessly during 2007 doing the paperwork and leg work, measuring and re-measuring, building forms, pouring concrete and preparing the site for the building. Finally on October 16 Wiebe Building Movers Saskatoon expertly moved St. Bart's Church building, safely placing her on the new foundation. The cost for the foundation and move was somewhat more than in 1953, at $20,000. At last St. Bartholomew’s Church is once again the little church on the way to the beach.
by Asha and Kyla Kerr-Wilson
REGINA - Imagine the opening music from The Simpsons. The first thing that comes to mind isn’t usually the gospel, is it? Well, for the Qu’Appelle youth who gathered in St. Mary's church for the latest youth weekend, it was all about how you can relate The Simpsons to the gospel. Once everyone had arrived we started our weekend by playing "get to know each other" games and then we split into groups. We did not really know each other but we did introductions and continued our weekend by watching an episode of The Simpsons. Afterwards we divided into groups to discuss how The Simpsons episode related to various parts of the gospel. Next we proceeded to the sanctuary of the church for a short, glow stick lit worship in which everybody was involved. Worship was followed by a quick snack before all got their beds ready. Once everyone was done, we played a game of sardines (which is hide and go seek backwards), then we all went to bed. Next morning we got up, got ready and went to eat breakfast before watching another episode of The Simpsons. We once again split into our groups to discuss how the actions of the Simpsons were related to the actions of people in the bible. We were then put in new groups to go on a photo scavenger hunt. We had to find certain objects and take pictures of them with the group in the picture. When the groups had finished each group got a chance at a team work game with lunch to follow. By now strong friendships among the youth were forming and no one was left alone. After lunch and a shower opportunity there was another episode of The Simpsons to watch and relate to the bible. A great supper of tacos was followed by a presentation for Ask and Imagine and Camp Harding. The leaders encouraged us to take advantage of these opportunities to progress in our faith. More time in worship, another opportunity to find gospel lessons in The Simpsons and a game of Hide and Seek (this time the normal way) took us to bed and time to sleep, although it was an hour before we obliged. Next morning, though we had our eyes open we weren’t all necessarily awake. After a drowsy breakfast people started arriving for the church service that was taking place, as usual, that morning. After the service we all joined the congregation for a light lunch which was full of fun and laughter. Despite our enjoyment, many were quite sad to be leaving which made it somewhat less lively. After everyone had eaten the youth got up to thank and be thanked by the church congregation. The weekend ended with many new friendships, laughs, fun and good-byes as all went their separate ways to continue living their lives. But I think its safe to say that we were all able to take something new and positive away from this experience. After all no youth weekend is the same as the last.
Dangerous Dog photo Jennifer Weiss Members of the Gospel according to the Simpsons youth weekend held at St. Mary Regina recently. It was a weekend for members to get away and watch Homer, Bart, and the rest of the family share the message of Christ in their own unique style. The youth enjoyed music, fun, laughter and tears as well games and excitement at as they explored their relationship with God, the world and with each other.
One day a mailman was greeted by a boy and a huge dog. The mailman said to the boy, "does your dog bite?" "No," replied the boy. Just then the huge dog bit the mailman. The man yelled, "I thought your dog doesn't bite!" "He doesn't," replied the boy, "that's not my dog!"