The Saskatchewan Anglican, Jan. 2009

January 2009

A New Bishop for Saskatchewan A Section of Anglican Journal

Staff PRINCE ALBERT (Sask) On March 6, 2008, the Very Reverend Michael Hawkins will be consecrated the next Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Saskatchewan. The special service will take place at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Cathedral in Prince Albert, at 7 p.m.

Mr. Hawkins is currently Rector of St. Alban's Cathedral in Prince Albert, and the Dean of Saskatchewan. He lives with his wife and family in Prince Albert.

Mr. Hawkins was raised in a nominal Anglican family. He began attending Church on his own at age 15, and the following year he responded to an “altar call” at a Billy Graham Crusade in Halifax. His sense of vocation and understanding of the priesthood stems partly from the significant care he received from his priest on the death of his mother while Mr. Hawkins was still a teen.

Photo Contributed After undergraduate studies at Dalhousie University / The Very Reverend Michael Hawkins, Dean of University of King's College in Halifax, Mr. Hawkins comSaskatchewan and Bishop-Elect of the Diocese of pleted his Master of Divinity studies at Trinity College in Saskatchewan Toronto. He was ordained as Deacon on Holy Cross Day in 1988, and as Priest on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in June, 1989.

Mr. Hawkins served as Rector of two parishes in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (Pugwash and River John, 1988-1993; and Petite Rivière and New Dublin, 1993-2001). Then in 2001, he moved to Prince Albert to become the Rector of St. Alban's Cathedral and the Dean of Saskatchewan.

Over the years, Mr. Hawkins has served in a diversity of roles, including Registrar of the St. Michael's Youth Conference, President of the Lunenburg, N.S. branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association and, more recently, member of the “Men of the Way” men's choir.

The role of a Bishop, to Mr. Hawkins, is to “lead the Church in fulfilling the 'Great Commission' of John 20:21 ['As the Father has sent me, even so I send you'] in the power of the Holy Spirit.” He draws inspiration from the pictures of Peter and Andrew, and of James and John in the Gospels. “Peter and Andrew were called (Matthew 4) while they were casting their net into the sea,” he notes, but “James and John while they were mending their nets. A Bishop both leads the Church in being “fishers of men” and in “mending the nets.”

Mr. Hawkins also looks forward to the important but challenging role of being a bridge-builder as Bishop. He recognizes that the “Bishop serves to build bridges between the Diocese and the rest of the Church but we also need to build bridges, to improve communication and community, within our Diocese.”

photo contributed

The business of the Electoral Synod was in the capable hands of Mary Brown, Acting Metropolitan Donald Phillips, and Chancellor Hugh Harradence.

photo contributed

Lynda Miller, Martha Constant and Lynn Meachem of St. George's Church, Prince Albert, enjoy their work preparing lunch for the delegates

photo contibuted

Bishop-Elect Michael Hawkins (left( is heartily congratulated by Lay delegate Lloyd Young of Cumberland House (middle) and Clergy delegate Wilfred Sanderson (right)

photo contributed

The receiving line to congratulate Bishop-Elect Michael Hawkins (right) stretched the length of the Cathedral's centre aisle.

Staff PRINCE ALBERT (Sask) On December 6th, 2008, the Feast of St. Nicholas, the Diocese of Saskatchewan held our Electoral Synod. Our task for the day was to elect a new Lord Bishop of the Diocese. The office has been vacant since Bishop Anthony Burton stepped down in September.

Delegates arrived at St. Alban's Cathedral in Prince Albert for the Synod. After registering, they enjoyed coffee and muffins provided by the local Anglican Church Women's group (ACW). There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air of the hall, and anticipation about what the day held.

All the delegates then made their way to the nave of the Cathedral, where the business of the day would take place. Acting Metropolitan Donald Phillips addressed the gathered delegates and observers, and walked us through the administrative details of making sure we had a quorum, calling the rolls of delegates, and formally nominating the three candidates.

Before the business of voting began, the delegates worshiped and prayed together in a service of Holy Communion. Acting Metropolitan Phillips was the celebrant. He was assisted by the Reverend Chris Harper of the Parish of Birch Hills, Kinistino and Muskoday, and by the Reverend Tracey Lloyd Smith, of St. Christopher's Church, Christopher Lake. Lay Reader Eliza Sewap of Pelican Narrows read the epistle.

The delegates then divided into two houses for voting, one for Lay delegates and one for Clergy delegates. To win, a candidate needed more than 50% of the votes in each house. The anticipation mounted as the clerical and lay secretaries read the rolls and each delegate voted. The delegates were kept in suspense as the scrutineers counted the votes, but they were treated to a lunch provided by the ladies of St. George's Church, Prince Albert.

Acting Metropolitan Phillips announced the results of the first ballot at 1:20 pm, and declared that we had a winner: the Very Reverend Michael Hawkins, by a decisive margin in both houses. He is now our Bishop-elect. The news sparked a standing ovation among both delegates and observers.

Mr. Hawkins is currently the Rector of St. Alban's Cathedral in Prince Albert, and the Dean of Saskatchewan, where he has served since 2001. Prior to moving to Prince Albert, he served in two rural parishes in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

The Electoral Synod ended with a long line of delegates and observers from across the diocese. They all offered their congratulations, prayers and best wishes to the new Bishop-elect. The line of well-wishers reflected perfectly the mix of people we have in the diocese - young and old; men and women; from city, town, country and reserve; east, west and north. As they left the Cathedral at the end of the Synod, the delegates had the sense that we had successfully discerned the voice of God's Spirit that day.

Bishop-Elect Hawkins will be consecrated as Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Saskatchewan on Friday, March 6, 2009. The service will take place at the (Roman Catholic) Sacred Heart Cathedral in Prince Albert at 7 pm. All are welcome to come and celebrate with the Diocese of Saskatchewan the beginning of the ministry of Bishop-Elect Hawkins

2 - The Saskatchewan Anglican, January 2009

Bishop’s Message by the Very Reverend Michael Hawkins, Dean of Saskatchewan and Bishop-Elect

Sacred Gifts of Mystic Meaning God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4.6 In the season of Epiphany, we celebrate how we have come to know God in the humanity of Jesus Christ. We think of his Baptism in the Jordan river, his visits to the Temple as a child and boy and his teaching, healing and miracles. But in our part of the Church, the visit of the wise Men is first and foremost in our thoughts.

Once, in a Sunday School presentation of the visit of the Magi, three students were asked to play the parts of the sages. Each was to come out on stage, bring forward their gift and, after laying it at the foot of the manger, announce the name of their gift to the audience. The first child, a veteran of Sunday School productions who had played the non-speaking role of a sheep in the previous year's pageant, walked on-stage, bold and determined, did everything as rehearsed and loudly proclaimed, “Gold.” The next student was a little more awkward and shy, but she managed to make it to the manger. She put her jar on the floor, turned to the audience and said quietly, “Myrrh.” There was a long pause before the third and terrified actor appeared. He took baby steps on to the stage. When he finally placed his gift

down and turned to the audience, he froze. He didn't move until he saw his mother waving. Then, with photo contributed the Director The Very Reverend encouraging him Michael Hawkins, and repeatedly Bishop-Elect of giving his line, he Saskatchewan steeled himself and in a good, clear voice announced, “Frank sent this.”Like that boy, we can be confused about the gifts presented to Jesus at Epiphany. By these three gifts Jesus was acknowledged and owned as King and God and Saviour. Gold was offered to him who was born the King of the Jews and it easy for us to see the appropriateness of that gift. Incense was used in the worship of God and their offering of incense to Jesus has been understood as an acknowledgement of his divinity, the Son of God. Myrrh was also an expensive luxury of the day, an ointment often used for embalming. It was an odd gift for a child but we understand it to proclaim him to be the one who would die for us, the Saviour of the world.

We are called to offer our gifts to Jesus Christ as well. We bring to him the Gold of our Time and Money and the Incense of our Worship and Praise but what Myrrh do we have to offer? The bitter perfume of Myrrh is our Sin and Suffering. As the Magi opened their treasures, so they call us to open and offer our gifts to Jesus Christ, our Time and Money to our King, our Worship and Praise to our God and our Sin and Suffering to our Saviour.

Diocese of Qu'Appelle Notes and Events Saturday, January 31 St. John's, Fort Qu'Appelle Annual Gourmet Dinner will be held in the church hall, beginning with cocktails at 6:30 p.m, and dinner at 7:30. Entertainment will be by Coco Culbertson. Tickets are $40 each. Please contact Sue Boxall at 332-4869.

May 16-17 All Saints Anglican Church, Regina, celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2009. There will be a banquet on Saturday, May 16, at the Queensbury Convention Centre, EVRAZ Place (formerly IPSCO Place). On Sunday, May 17, Bishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson will be the celebrant at the 10:00 a.m. service, followed by a complimentary lunch in the church hall. To be part of the celebration, please contact the church office at (306) 586-4420, or allsaints@sasktel.net. To learn about more events, please go to All Saints web site at www.allsaintsregina.ca

Animals go to Heaven

Diocese of Saskatoon: Announcements for January 2009 In order to be included in a timely manner brief notices for events 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. Detailed and longer texts of events will not be included in this section but, should space allow, could be the subject of additional articles or notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.

Integrity Saskatoon Meetings are held at St. James on the second Saturday of each month at 7 p.m. Each meeting includes a talking circle and Eucharist with fellowship to follow. For more information contact the Reverend Ann Marie Nicklin at: (306) 948-3460 or: benjie60@gmail.com. For further information: www.integritysaskatoon.blogspot.com.

New Store Hours at NU 2 U at St Timothy's Anglican Church, Saskatoon St Timothy's Anglican Church's NU 2 U used clothing Boutique is open every Tuesday morning from 9:00 a.m. to noon and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon; it will no longer be open on Tuesday evenings. NU 2 U is located in the parish hall basement.

Intergenerational Worship A service of Intergenerational Worship will be held at St. Timothy's, Saskatoon on the first Saturday of every month from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The evening will consist of: contemporary music; engaging and transforming worship; and food, fellowship and friendship.

Food, Faith and Rural Community The Saskatoon Theological Union is offering the course “Food, Faith and Rural Community” in a distance education format: the course will be offered on three Friday to Saturday periods (February 6th to 7th; March 13th to 14th; and April 10th to 11th, 2009). The course examines the social, spiritual, biblical and economic implications of producing and eating food; it begins with our own supper table, moves out to a global perspective and then returns to look at the impact on rural communities. If you have a hunger for learning and have had at least a basic course in theology, please consider signing up early: registration is restricted to enhance the quality of the experience and there is a pre-intensive exercise that needs to be done in January. Contact Colleen Walker at: colleen.walker@usask.ca or (306) 975-1558 to register.

Co-ed Anglican Cursillo Weekend There will be a Saskatchewan Anglican Cursillo Co-ed Weekend held at St. Peter's Abbey in Muenster, Saskatchewan, March 12th to 15th, 2009. For more information about the weekend, or how to register please call: Austin King, Lay Director, Saskatchewan Anglican Cursillo Secretariat at (306) 933-4007 or, email at: a.king@sasktel.net. (also see article in this issue).

APPOINTMENTS, RESIGNATIONS BIRTHS ETC: The College of Emmanuel and St. Chad has announced that Dr. Walter Deller, Principal of the College and Professor of Old Testament and Congregational Life, has resigned. Dr. Deller has been Principal of the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad. since 2001; He was also Chair of the Diocesan Search Committee for the election of a bishop on November 15, 2003. Dr. Deller's current contract expires on December 31, 2009.

In making the announcement it was stated that “Both Council and the Principal, feel that since the Principal was already scheduled to be on sabbatical for all of 2009 it is most practical and in the best interest of all concerned that the employment relationship end at this point rather than on December 31, 2009. This will allow Dr. Deller a freer hand in seeking other employment and the College in seeking new forms of leadership.”

Mr. Austin Spry, a student at the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, has been appointed an Anglican representative to the Board of the Ecumenical Chaplaincy at the University of Saskatchewan (see his article in the Emmanuel and St. Chad contribution to this month's issue).

A cat and a mouse died on the same day and went up to Heaven. At the top they met God and he asked them 'How do you like it so far?'

The Reverend Shawn Sanford Beck and Mrs. Janice Sanford Beck announce the birth of a son, Robin Isaiah, on October 2nd, 2008.

The mouse replied 'It's great, but can I get a pair of roller skates?' God said 'Sure', and he gave him a pair of roller skates.

The summer ministry at St. Stephen's Church, Merrill, will be shared by the Venerable Dan Hughes and the Reverend Canon Colin Clay.

The next day God saw the cat and asked him 'How do you like it up here so far?' and the cat replied 'Great, I didn't know you had meals on wheels up here!'

The Reverend Canon Neil Haines has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of St. Matthew's Church, Saskatoon; his appointment will continue until a new incumbent is in place.

For change of address, undeliverable copies and subscription list updates contact: your parish, circulation@national.anglican.ca or send to Saskatchewan Anglican c/o Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden Street Toronto ON M4Y 3G2 Published by the dioceses of Qu’Appelle, Saskatoon and Saskatchewan.

All submissions must be sent to the Associate Editors by the beginning of the last week of the month preceeding publication.

Managing Editor: Fred Stephens, 51 - 10th St. NE, Weyburn SK. S4H 1G8 Phone 306-842-7235 Email: skeditor@yahoo.ca Qu’Appelle: Joanne Shurvin-Martin, 6927 Farrell Bay Regina SK S4X 3V4 Phone: 306-775-2629 Email: wsmartin@accesscomm.ca Saskatoon: Peter Coolen, 820Avenue I South Saskatoon SK S7M 1Z3 Phone: 306-244-0935 Email: ptrcoolen@sasktel.net Saskatchewan: The Reverends Julie and Steven Page, P.O. Box 274, Hudson Bay, SK, S0E 0Y0P Phone (306) 865-3488; Email: HudsonBayArborfield@SaskTel.net

Published monthly except July and August Published from 51 - 10th Street NE, Weyburn SK S4H 1G8 Printed and mailed from Signal Star Publishing A division of Bowes Publishers Ltd. Goderich ON N7A 4B6 Subscription rate: $10.00 in Canada; $17.00 outside Canada Whole No. 292, Vol. 33, No. 5 A Section of Anglican Journal

From Carpenter to Preacher

Happy Retirement Canon Willie

The Saskatchewan Anglican, January 2009 - 3

by Rev. Derek F. Nicholls

photo - Arleen Champion

New Deacon Dell Bornowsky (centre) with his wife, Susan, and Bishop Greg Kerr-Wilson

by Arleen Champion MOOSE JAW - Dell Bornowsky was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at St. Aidan Anglican Church. Dell was presented for ordination

by Rev. Allen Doerksen, Rev. Denise Doerksen, Sue Bornowsky, Gwen Currie, Sharleen Langford, Elizabeth Tysdal and Arleen Champion. He was vested with a deacon's stole by his wife, Sue. Rev. Cal Macfarlane gave the homily.

Dell was raised on a farm in Northern Alberta. Most of his career has blended two vocations, as a carpenter and as a lay leader/preacher in a variety of church traditions. In 1994 Dell became active in Anglican parish life at St. John's in Olds and St. Cuthbert and St George's in Sundre, Alberta, where he served as a lay reader licensed by the Diocese of Calgary.

One of many steps toward vocational ministry included Christian mission work with

his wife in Japan. A move to St. Aidan's Parish in Moose Jaw to work as the renovation supervisor meant that the discernment of Dell's call to ordained ministry which had begun in Alberta, was completed in the Diocese of Qu'Appelle. Dell will continue to blend vocations as renovation supervisor and transitional deacon as he prepares for ordination to the priesthood.

Dell's post-secondary education, beginning with the most recent achievements includes: Master of Divinity, Pastoral Studies; Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Hebrew Scripture; Building Operator "A" Certificate; Inter-provincial Journeyman Carpenter; and Diploma of Applied Arts in Television Stage and Radio Arts. From carpenter to preacher and teacher - on a journey similar to Christ himself.

Dell and Susan have been married for 31 years. They have one son, Elijah, an artist living in Vancouver.

REGINA - The Blue Room at the Hotel Saskatchewan was full on Wednesday, November 19, when parishioners and friends gathered to thank Canon Willie Lourens for his ministry as St. Luke's rector for the past 12 years, prior to his retirement. One hundred and five people enjoyed a buffet dinner and a program which touched on Fr. Willie's life. The evening was chaired by Pat AbdElmessih who helped everyone to feel relaxed and enjoy a wonderful evening of fellowship, mixed with laughter and tributes. Deacon Susan Page opened the evening with prayer and grace. Bad weather prevented some guests from travelling to Regina, including Rev. Betty Bradley of Moose Jaw whose message of appreciation was read on her behalf by the M.C. Fr. Willie's daughter Michelle and her brother Michael gave a Powerpoint tribute to their dad, which spanned the years from his infancy to the present day, with several pictures evoking much laughter.

They presented their dad with a wrist watch from the family which, said Fr.Willie, will replace his $12 Wal-Mart watch.

Bishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson paid a personal tribute to Canon Lourens as a faithful man of God, and a priest much respected throughout the Diocese of Qu'Appelle and beyond. He had previously presented a diocesan plaque to Fr. Willie at a clergy retirement supper, rec

ognizing his 19 years in the diocese.

Glenda Lourens spoke of her husband's life and ministry as a husband, father, and priest. In his response Canon Willie spoke of his journeying towards ordination in South Africa and the joy of serving our Lord in many aspects of his ministry as a priest. Wardens Ezzat AbdElmessih and Ken McMillan paid tribute to Fr. Willie with recognition of his compassion and care for everyone in the parish, and they presented him with a gift on money towards the possible purchase of a Blackberry P.D.A. Closing remarks were shared by Fr. Derek Nicholls, Honorary Assistant, who spoke of his professional and personal relationship with a wonderful man of God and colleague, and then offered a closing prayer.

Canon Lourens has served on the Diocesan Council, the Board of St. Michael's Retreat Centre, the Board of Qu'Appelle House, Committee on Ordained Ministry, Synod Agenda Committee Chair (twice), and Chair of the Episcopal Search Committee which led to the election of Bishop Kerr-Wilson. He is a wonderful Lay Retreat Leader, and has served in his two parishes, first Pipestone and then St. Luke's, with distinction.

On November 30 Fr. Willie celebrated his final Eucharist at St. Luke's, during which he received gifts from the Sunday School and a purse on behalf of the parish and friends. He will spend December until February in South Africa visiting with his mother who will celebrate her 90th birthday on December 29 and with family and friends.

A Remembrance Birthday

By Rev. Derek F. Nicholls REGINA - November 11, 2008, was a special day for Dorothy Dunn, a member of St.Luke's, Regina, as it was her 95th birthday. She was born in 1913, one year before the outbreak of World War I. In her early life she practiced as a nurse and during her time at St. Luke's she has actively participated in the life of the parish. Dorothy is a well-loved parishioner and to show their appreciation the congregation celebrated her birthday on Sunday, November 9 at the end of the 10.30 Eucharist. Dorothy was called to the front of the church by Fr. Derek Nicholls who was the celebrant and they were joined by the Rector, Canon Willie Lourens, and Deacon Susan Page. The congregation sang 'Happy Birthday' to Dorothy and showed their love for her with a round of applause. During the refreshments after the service a special birthday cake was cut by Dorothy and much enjoyed by her many friends. Dorothy is an active lady for her age and now her friends are all looking forward to her 100th birthday!

Photo by Michelle Bradford

Glenda and Willie Lourens at the farewell dinner

St. Paul's Choir Makes a Joyful Noise

by Marian Powell REGINA - St. Paul's Cathedral Choir organized a number of special events in the autumn in addition to its regular support of cathedral worship, with proceeds going to the Building in Faith Campaign for a new Mission in Faith Centre to replace the aging church hall.

On Sunday October 26, a late afternoon event “Raise Every Voice and Sing” was themed as an old-fashioned hymn sing. Parishioners and guests joined in the singing of favourite hymns such as “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Amazing Grace” and “Who Would True Valour See.” The Choir anthem was “At the River” arranged by Aaron Copland.

On November 21 the 31 singers of St. Paul's Cathedral Choir and Friends presented a concert for St. Cecilia's Day. St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, has been the focus of concerts in years past by the choir. This occasion was particularly special because the concert was held in memory of long-time chorister Nicholas van der Gucht who died in 2007. The concert represented a photo - Trevor Powell homecoming with guest conductor Robin Swales, former St. Paul's Cathedral Choir Director, and St. Paul's Cathedral Choir has a long musical tradition. an appearance by former St. Paul's Cathedral organist and composer Jeff Jones playing VaughanWilliams and Bach. Many of the friends joining the choir had sung with Nicholas in the broader music community, including members of the Regina Elizabethan Singers. The program was an eclectic mix of music from the 16th to the 20th century, pieces which Nicholas enjoyed and sang with the various choirs including works by Purcell, Gibbons, Bairstow, and Willan. The concert concluded with a nod to Nicholas's mischievous side with the singing of “Deck Us All with Boston Charlie” to the tune of “Deck the Halls,” with words by Walt Kelly from the comic strip “Pogo.”

New members joining the Choir this year and existing members in new roles have generated a renewed enthusiasm and new directions in music. Dean James Merrett, commenting that the choir loves what it does and gladdens the people, issued a general challenge: “Get your choir and get singing, folks!”

Off-the-Grid Youth Conference

4 - The Saskatchewan Anglican, January 2009

U2charist service during Qu'Appelle Youth Event

By Jason Antonio

Staff REGINA - "One man betrayed with a kiss," "one love, one blood, one life," "you broke the bonds, and you loosed the chains; carried the cross of my shame..." These words fit right in to a typical Anglican church service, but the accompanying driving drums and rock guitar might not. These U2 lyrics were sung during a U2charist service, held at St. Matthew's church on the evening of November 22.

U2charist is in many ways a traditional Anglican or Episcopal communion service. It includes scripture readings, prayers and the Eucharist from an authorized prayer book. The music is what makes it different. The Irish rock group U2 is well known for thought-provoking and spiritual music about global reconciliation, justice for the poor and oppressed, and the importance of caring for your neighbour.

U2's publishing company has graciously made the music available for U2charist services. Churches are not required to pay the usual royalty fees and obtain permission, as long as all offerings collected at U2charist services are given to a charity which is supporting the Millennium Development Goals. The offering from this first service in Qu'Appelle was given to PWRDF, along with registration fees from the youth event and a donation, for a total of $957.29. ono, the lead singer of U2, is the global ambassador for Millennium Development Goals to eradicate extreme poverty and global AIDS. The MDG's came out of the Millennium Declaration, which was adopted by all members of the United Nations in 2000. The bishops at the 2008 Lambeth conference marched in support of these goals.

Rev. Paige Blair, Rector of St. George's Episcopal Church in York Harbor Maine, organized the first U2charist service more than three years ago. Since then she has been promoting the U2charist Liturgy in the United States and around the world. According to the U2charist website, more than a quarter million dollars has been raised for Millennium Development Goal compatible causes, just at services that they are aware of.

Rev. Mike Sinclair, of Estevan, was the main organizer for the first U2charist in Qu'Appelle. He met leaders who had been involved in U2charist services in Victoria and Toronto during the Generations national youth conference this past summer. "I love any time we can break out of our traditional liturgical box," says Mike, "and stretch ourselves."

Bishop Greg Kerr-Wilson, who attended the service with his family, welcomed people as they arrived. Mike Sinclair was the celebrant, and Rev. Denise Doerksen preached on the text of Matthew 25:41-46.

She also referred to the feeding of the 5000. She reminded the congregation that at the beginning of the story, the disciples wanted Jesus to send the crowd away. Jesus instead told them to feed the crowd; five loaves and two fishes were given to Jesus, who looked to heaven, and thousands were fed. "Offer what you do have to God," said Denise, "God will honour what you offer, and then see what He makes of it!"

REGINA - Attempting to live without electricity for 24 hours and focusing on environmental issues was the aim of a recent youth conference. Twenty-one youths from southern Saskatchewan attended “Off-TheGrid: unplug for justice - 24 hours for a better planet,” held at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, November 21-23. The event, sponsored by the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), was hosted by the Diocese of Qu'Appelle. In total, the weekend event raised $957.29 for the fund.

The purpose of the youth conference was to raise awareness of the environmental issues affecting the planet and how people can be better keepers of God's creation, explained Jennifer Andreas, one of the event co-ordinators. It was also a chance for the teenagers to see what it would be like to live without power for a 24-hour period, emulating how 1.3 billion people live on a daily basis.

Andreas said that when they decided to do something related to PWRDF, they thought of hunger, and having very simple meals or skipping meals. "But we went with the power fast instead, which was perhaps a bad time of year for that,” she added with a laugh.

The 21 teens slept and ate in the church's basement, with no lights or power. Instead, the youths had to rely on candles and glow sticks for illumination. All their meals were “simple” ones, meaning little to none of the food needed to be cooked with electricity. Rice and beans were served for lunch on Saturday, while wraps were served for supper, with only the meat needing to be heated. The meals reflected what little food people have and that every 17 seconds, a child dies of hunger.

For Bryttany Sigurdson, living without electricity was difficult because she wasn't able to find her things in the dark. Living without electronics was also difficult because those are things people are “addicted” to.

It gave the Grade 12 student insight into how people in poverty are living. “It makes you think, although this is only a couple-day event, people live (without electricity) all their lives.”

Along with having no power, hence “off the grid,” all the activities were geared towards the environment. It is the “big issue” on everyone's mind right now and what everyone is talking about, Andreas said.

She said the next thought should be, why not get the youth involved in that conversation as well?

“Some of the discussions in the small groups have been pretty deep. I read the reverse creation (story, about the end of the world) to my group, and they were like, 'whoa, that's really heavy, that's really deep.'

And they got talking about it. So if the discussions we have this weekend make them make choices when they go home that are different, that's all we can expect from them.”

One of the activities held was to calculate their carbon footprint and carbon dioxide output. For Asha Kerr-Wilson, taking shorter showers is a way she can reduce her carbon footprint. “We do a pretty good job (at home). We recycle,” the Grade 11 Regina student said. “I walk home from school. I think the biggest thing is to realize what the issues are and to address them in whatever way you think of.”

She added the environment was created by God and given to people as their responsibility to protect.

However, not everyone sees that. “They think, 'it's not my problem. If this wasn't supposed to be like this, God would change it.' But that's really not how it is. He gave it to us to ... take care of and do our job.”

Qu'Appelle Deacons - On the Move

Teddy Bears for Africa

Staff

REGINA - The order of deacons has made remarkable progress in the Diocese of Qu'Appelle. In the last six years, five vocational deacons have been ordained, starting in 2002 with bishop's secretary Winna Martin, who joined Michael Jackson, one of the longest serving deacons in the Anglican Church of Canada, at St. Paul's Cathedral, Regina. Luanne Hrywkiw then became deacon in Yorkton and was followed by Rita Brann at St. Philip's, Jean Dreher at St. Matthew's and Susan Page at St. Luke's, all in Regina. Early in 2009 Arlene Champion is to be ordained deacon for St. Aidan's in Moose Jaw, bringing the total number to seven.

In March 2008, Bishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson chose the diaconate as the topic for a Qu'Appelle clergy day. The object was to discuss how potential deacons should be identified in parishes and a process for their discernment, selection and formation. Deacon Michael Jackson made a presentation tracing the history of the diaconate as a distinct order of ministry since the early church, its situation today both in the Anglican Church and ecumenically, and the threefold nature of its expression: service, proclamation and liturgy. He emphasized the role of the deacon in worship, noting that diaconal functions are specified Photo - Matthew Andreas in the Book of Alternative Services, notably for the eucharist, Holy Teens attending the Off-the-Grid youth event were enthralled at Week services, baptism and ordination. At the eucharist the deacon, if the U2charist service. present, should always read the gospel, prepare the table and give the dismissal.

In August 2008, Deacon Jackson represented the Diocese of Qu'Appelle at the triennial conference of the Association of Anglican Deacons in Canada (AADC), held in Vancouver. Affiliated with the U.S.-based North American Association for the Diaconate (NAAD), AADC has a membership of 83, about 30% of the approximately 280 deacons in the Anglican Church of Canada. Qu'Appelle is a diocesan member of AADC. The keynote address at the conference was given by Dr. Richard Leggett of the Vancouver School of Theology, a leading authority on the diaconate. Dr. Leggett's talk was entitled “ 'The Already But Not Yet': The Restoration of a Distinctive and Equal Diaconate in the Anglican Church of Canada.” It traced the uneven history of the diaconate in Canada over the past 50 years and concluded that “the diaconate is not being restored but has been restored in our church.” The challenge is now to clarify the doctrine, formation and role of deacons across Canada.

Bishop Kerr-Wilson invites the Qu'Appelle deacons to a semi-annual gathering. In 2008 these meetings took place on April 26 and November 22 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Regina. In the second gathering all seven deacons/postulants were present. It was an opportunity to share experiences, including the joys, challenges and hopes for diaconal ministry, especially for the three Regina deacons whose parishes are in a transition of leadership. Reflecting on the lengthy period when he was the lone deacon in Qu'Appelle, Michael Jackson expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the recent development of the diaconate in the diocese. “Ideally,” he said, “every parish should have a deacon!”

photo - Jim Melville

Her name is Frewinny; she lives in Tigray, a province in northern Ethiopia known for droughts that come often. She was playing with an old tire when Jim Melville, a member of St. Paul's Cathedral in Regina, who was working there, called her over and gave her a teddy bear. "The smile on her face was wonderful," Melville says, "and she was so happy. Then she ran off to show her friends and family."

The teddy program has been operating at the Cathedral for about four years. Lindsay Blacker, Joanna Hermanus, Pam Poitras and Margaret Gliddon knit the colourful 12-inch dolls along with a doll bag. They supply around 100 dolls each year to the Lutheran World Relief to be distributed in parts of Africa.

An Awesome Vacation Bible School

The Saskatchewan Anglican, January 2009 - 5

Diocese of Saskatoon Faces Projected Deficit in 2009; Fundraising Campaign To Be Implemented Editor's note: - At the November meeting of Diocesan Council a budget for 2009 was approved containing a deficit. The following provides some of the rationale used in developing this budget and the proposed fundraising campaign.

by Tom Rogers; Member, Diocesan Finance Committee

photos contributed

“Fun and Games at Vacation Bible School Camp” JAMES SMITH RESERVE (Sask) - 0“It was amazing! Everyone had a lot of fun.”

That was the most common reaction to this summer's Vacation Bible School (VBS) and Camp, led by the Reverend Wilfred Sanderson for the children of James Smith Reserve and Fort à la Corne.

Wilfred and his team of a dozen adult volunteers took a bus-load of 35 children between the ages of 7 and 12 to Lower Fishing Lake, in Narrow Hills Provincial Park, an hour north of the Reserve. They spent four days together, forming deeper relationships with one another and with God, as well as swimming, taking boat rides, and doing crafts. In between all the exciting activities, Wilfred and his wife Theresa spent some time teaching the children about the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments.

The camp had an immediate impact on several of the children. The leaders witnessed many children with low self-esteem begin to turn around, and to open themselves to the love of friends and to God. One young girl reported afterward that the camp helped her to have a better relationship with her mother. Some of the children came to the camp with a reputation for being bad, but Wilfred noted that “they were really not so bad when we spent time with them.”

The camp also gave the children a chance to witness their prayers answered. One cold and rainy day, they heard Wilfred say that God always answered prayer. So they decided to pray that tomorrow would be nice. Imagine their excitement, and hands-on experience in answered prayer, when the next day dawned bright and sunny! The swimming that day was extra-special.

Wilfred and his team of volunteers learned about planning and running a Vacation Bible School by helping at other programs in previous years. Most helpful was the VBS program run in past years by the Synod office for the Diocese. For many years, that program offered a VBS in the gymnasium of the James Smith Reserve, as well as at other reserves. Armed with these experiences, Wilfred and his team attempted this year's VBS on their own initiative. The facility at Lower Fishing Lake cost them $1,000 to rent, a cost they met through fund-raising efforts, private individual donations, and grants. “We just have to thank the Lord,” Wilfred says of the generosity they received.

Wilfred and his team are dreaming of an even bigger VBS camp next year. Wilfred is hoping to rent a larger facility and have between 60 and 80 children and youth attend.

He wants to share God's love with all the kids on the James Smith Reserve. “What really stands out for me,” he says, “is the change in the children.” He comments that no matter how “shy or bad” the children were at the start, through their shared experience of the camp “they all really came together.”

Lay Readers' Training Day in the Diocese of Saskatchewan

By the Reverend Chris Harper PRINCE ALBERT (Sask) -On November 22, 2008, the Lay Reader Association held an unusual training day at St. Alban's Cathedral in Prince Albert, attended by 33 members. This training day was special, because two training entities - the Lay Reader Association of the Diocese of Saskatchewan and the James Settee College for Indigenous Ministry - joined forces to lead a common training and encouragement session for both groups.

The course was led by the Principal of the James Settee College, the Reverend Canon Dr. David Smith; the President of the Lay Readers' Association, Mrs. Theresa Sanderson; and the Warden of Lay Readers, the Reverend Chris Harper.

The objective of the training day was to encourage and enable, by review and examination of the Liturgy or formularies for public worship, the specific practices for morning and evening prayer as specified in the Book of Common Prayer and the Book of Alternative Services. Both books are accepted and utilized in the Diocese.

The training day brought together Lay Readers of differing backgrounds and levels of training, who joined hearts and voices to begin the day with Morning Prayer and then jumped right into the training sessions.

Topics addressed in this session included: 1. How to find readings and appointed Psalms for daily prayers.

2. What a Lay Reader should and should not say, do and not do, according to the

Budget was the main topic at the November meeting of the Council of the Diocese of Saskatoon. The Finance Committee outlined financial challenges facing the Diocese.

The Diocesan Finance Committee noted that the Diocese has experienced deficits during the last 3 years, and that similar financial challenges are facing most parishes. The situation is affecting our ability to practice our faith in Christ through supporting one another, the community, and the world.

The Committee provided Council with a substantial budget narrative describing the ministries supported by the budget.

Budget expense groupings were reorganized from previous years to provide a more understandable presentation of expenses and revenues. Summary pie charts describing the budget and surrounding issues provided a graphical picture of the budget.

The presentation outlined the options available to the Diocese. First, cuts are not an option since the Committee believes the Diocese already operates at a

bare bones level. Second, it is not feasible to continue to rely on withdrawals from the Diocesan Investment Portfolio.

Drawing funds from this source is defeatist. The current downward spiral in the economy means that the investment portfolio is already decreasing.

With reluctance, the Committee recommended that Council accept the option of a deficit budget in 2009. To address the projected operating deficit, the Committee recommended the Diocese conduct a fundraising campaign with a goal of $60,000. The Committee believes this goal is reasonable in that an average donation of $8.00 per envelope contributor in the Diocese would meet the goal.

The Diocesan Finance Committee believes that funds are needed to improve confidence and support for the future of the Diocese. Funds are necessary to implement the “Turning Hope into Action” task force recommendations, youth projects, building ministry and congregations, parish support including travel grants for rural parishes.

In addition, the Committee presented an outline of a “Strategy for Financial Health” to promote further improvements of the Diocesan financial position and the parishes in the Diocese. It is a work in progress and will require continuing consultation between the Committee, Diocesan Council and the parishes.

For additional information contact the Synod Office of the Diocese of Saskatoon.

Lay Readers' Training Day (Cont’d)

Father Chris Harper, Warden of Lay Readers in the Diocese of Saskatchewan, poses with his training group, from both the Lay Reader Association and the James Settee College for Indigenous Ministry Rubrics or “fine print” in the BCP and BAS. 3. Detailed examples of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer (BCP and BAS) that could be followed, as accepted by the Lay Reader's Priest-in-Charge.

4. Questions of Lay Readers and differences in practice between Parishes in the Diocese.

5. Devotionals and sermon material, where the basics of devotional writing and exposition were introduced and practiced.

The day ended with a review and discussion of Lay Readers' needs, questions, desires, and hopes, along with a glimpse into the coming diocesan Manual for Lay Readers. This manual will include rules and regulations, instruction, resources, orders of service, schedules, and even a few recipes for Communion Bread. After the manual's review and acceptance by the Diocese, The Lay Reader Association will send it to all listed Lay Readers in the Diocese.

The training day was a full one with lunch provided, and reviews indicate that it was well received and enjoyed, educational

and informative, much-needed and should be continued.

Education, enablement and encouragement are essential for Lay Readers. Their role often extends beyond leading the Sunday service to leading in other ways that enable the wider ministry of the parish Priest.

Future sessions are upcoming, to add to the growing knowledge and faith of those who love and serve the Lord's church and people through worship and service... our Diocesan Lay Readers.

Inquiries, suggestions and questions can be sent to Father Chris Harper, Warden of Lay Readers. E-mail: ctharper@sasktel.net; by mail: Box 340 Birch Hills, Sask. S0J 0G0

Q. What do they call pas tors in Germany?

A. German Shepherds.

6 - The Saskatchewan Anglican, January 2009

IN MEMORIAM

The Reverends Boote move from Diocese of Saskatchewan to Newfoundland

A Life Well Lived: William Absalom Halkett SUCKER RIVER (Sask.)

In November, the Reverend Wilson Halkett of Sucker River passed away, at the age of 63.

He was born Wilson Absalom Halkett in April, 1945, in the community of Sucker River. He married Jemima in December, 1988, and has two daughters.

Mr. Halkett was ordained as a priest in the Church of God at the Cathedral Church of St. Alban the Martyr in May, 1987. At that same time, he was appointed the priest-in-charge of St. Peter's Anglican Church, in Sucker River, where he served for more than 21 years.

Early in his ministry, Mr. Halkett engaged the Right Reverend Tom Morgan, Lord Bishop of Saskatchewan at the time, in a series of letters and correspondence. These letters gave those beyond Sucker River a glimpse

photo contributed

The Reverend Wilson Halkett of Sucker River (front). into Mr. Halkett's heart. They reveal a man with the heart of an evangelist who yearned for people to come to know God. He wrote that “we are another year closer to the coming of our Lord, and multitudes are still in the valley of decision waiting to hear the gospel for the first time.”

Wake services for Wilson Halkett were held in the communities of Stanley Mission and Grandmother's Bay, while a wake and the funeral service were held in Sucker River.

Diocese of Saskatoon Report on ACW National Conference in Kingston.

By Lauren Jardine, ACW President, Diocese of Saskatoon

Greetings and blessings. The end of summer brings many autumn activities; we are busy again with fall suppers, teas, afghan knitting, meetings, craft and bake sales, choir practice, alter guild, school lunch programs, and all of the many things that we do for others within our homes, communities and churches. As we do all of these and more for others please remember to put yourself on the top of the list of the people you do kind things for.

The Anglican Church Womens' National Conference was held at the Providence Spirituality Centre in Kingston, Ontario, from Sept. 18th to 21st; the theme was “Alive in the Spirit”.

Diane Cole, former diocesan president of the Diocese of Ontario, composed a song for the conference also entitled, “Alive in the Spirit”. Representatives from across Canada attended this conference, and I was honoured to represent you at this event. I believe it is important that we continue to send a representative to this national event as it gives us a voice at the national level and keeps us in touch with ACW members throughout Canada.

ACW groups throughout our beautiful country have much in common and have many concerns and struggles in common.

The conference allows an opportunity to exchange information on ACW activities in each diocese, to seek and give support to one another and to exchange ideas on future action. The fol

lowing is a brief report of the conference. Our Chaplain for the conference and the coming year was The Reverend Canon Thora Wade-Rowe.

Our National President, Marion Saunders, has attended ACW annual meetings in five Dioceses. Her attendance connects Anglican women across the dioceses. Marion is working towards fostering close ecumenical relationships with the National Catholic Women's league and the Evangelical Lutherans. She will represent us at a meeting with our Primate, Fred Hiltz this fall. She is also willing to visit our Diocese; her travelling costs are covered through national funds.

We received greetings and short messages from Catherine Snow, the president of Mothers' Union and Danielle McNeil Hession, the president of the Catholic Women's League. Carol Know, of the International Anglican Women's Network (IAWN), also brought greetings and gave a short speech on the IAWN's national and international ministry. The IAWN's goal is to bring to Council the concerns of women at a grass roots level. For more information please refer to their internet site: iawn.org.

The business portion of the conference covered organizational concerns; some of the motions made included: changing the constitution so that the national president and vice president positions be extended from two year to three year terms; accepting criteria for nomination to any national ACW position; and

PRINCE ALBERT (Sask) In late October, the Diocese of Saskatchewan bade adieu to the Reverend Peter Boote and to the Reverend Mary Ann Boote.

For the past five years, the married couple had brought their energy, grace and humour to two pastoral charges in the southwest corner of the diocese.

Peter was the Priest-inCharge of the many points in the Mission of Leask. His charge included All Saints' Church in Leask; St. Luke's Church in Mont Nebo; Christ Church in Canwood; Holy Trinity Church in Silver Grove; Mistawasis Reserve; Christ Church, Spiritwood; and St. Paul's Church in Timberland/Leoville.

Mary Ann was Priest-inCharge of the Parish of Shellbrook, including St. Andrew's Church, Shellbrook; St. Martin's Church in Briarlea; and St. Martin's Church in Big River. She was also the Regional Dean for Turtleford, and active in the Shellbrook ministerial and the diocesan outreach program.

The Reverend Boote's parish also created its own significant

photo by Peter R. Coolen

Lauren Jardine, President of the Diocesan ACW, Saskatoon accepting “planning for ACW conference” guidelines that have been drawn up.

The National Executive Board election results for this term are as follows: President: M a r i o n Saunders, Diocese of Toronto Vice President: Terri Parrill, Diocese of Western Newfoundland Secretary: Anita Gittend, Diocese of Toronto Treasurer: Adelaide Sullivan, Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador Past President: Heather Carr, Diocese of Fredericton We had a discussion about our ACW prayer. Some groups have written a new prayer for their own use while most of us are using our traditional prayer.

Perhaps we could have a prayer to use at national level, where all of us would have a common prayer. This would not replace local prayers, its purpose would

outreach programs. One example is an international mission project in partnership with Christians in South Africa, one parishioner's native home.

Through this contact, the Parish of Shellbrook cooperated with South African women to sell their hand-made cards in Canada. Proceeds were donated to the mission in South Africa and several thousand dollars were raised.

The Bootes now live and minister in Channel, Newfoundland, where Peter is the incumbent in the Parish of Grand Bay. His new charge includes three churches: St. Paul's Church, Grand Bay; Holy Trinity Church, Codroy; and the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Cape Ray. The Bootes' new home is located on the far southern tip of western Newfoundland, near Port-auxBasques, best known as home to the landing for the ferry from Nova Scotia.

The Bootes' many colleagues, friends and parishioners in the Diocese of Saskatchewan wish them well as they begin their new ministries in western Newfoundland. be to be a unifying prayer that would include fellowship, worship, study and service.

This year is the 50th anniversary of PWRDF. The question that was presented was “would ACW be willing to promote souvenirs for the PWRDF?” There will be more information on this at a later date.

Delorie Walsh of Calgary will look into setting up a web site for us on which the national president will be able to post information with direct links to our diocese.

Your Diocesan ACW board is currently planning for the upcoming annual meeting, and several of us are also on the planning committee for the women's retreat. Information on these events will become available as we progress through the planning stages. If you want more details on this year's national conference or updates on any of the events being developed with the involvement of the ACW for the diocese please let me know.

The Diocesan Finance committee submits a narrative budget to Diocesan Council. This quote is taken from that narrative; “One faithful and committed organization is the Diocesan Anglican Church Women. The ACW is active at the parish and diocesan level and their continued committed support to the diocese is greatly appreciated.”

Yours in Christ, Lauren Jardine

photo contributed

The Reverends Peter and Mary Anne Boote

photo contributed

The Reverend Mary Anne Boote

photo contributed

The Reverend Peter Boote

Rider Coach Speaks at St. Michael's Breakfast

photo - Frank Flegel

Roughrider Coach Ken Miller spoke about feeling and faith at a fundraising breakfast for St. Michael's Retreat House.

by Frank Flegel REGINA - "It's all about feeling," said Saskatchewan Roughrider Coach Ken Miller, guest speaker for the annual St. Michael's Fund Raising Breakfast, held November 27 at the Conexus Art Centre. Miller devoted most of his talk to his coaching philosophy by defining the word 'feeling,' but before he got to that, he had a little fun with the audience and with Rev. Ken Miller, Vicar General of the Regina Roman Catholic Archdiocese. Miller, the priest, is an ardent Rider fan and even has (Continued on page 7)

The Saskatchewan Anglican, -January 2009 7

Rider Coach Speaks at St. Michael's Breakfast (Cont’d from Page 6) a small Rider shrine set up in his office.

Coach Miller presented Rev. Miller with a Rider ball cap and suggest that Miller the priest has a secret desire to coach the Riders. Coach Miller said there are many times when their roles are reversed. "He's up in the stands calling plays and I'm on the sidelines praying," he joked. Coach Miller also got the audience of more than 250 involved, roaring "Ride!" when he asked "what do Riders do?"

He ascribed a meaning to each letter in the word 'feeling:' F means faith in God, family and the extended family including the family of the Rider team.

E is for excellence, suggesting no one is perfect but can learn from mistakes.

E is for effort, "and it is our edge as a team," he said.

L is for leadership. "Everyone can be a leader at some time," he said, by encouraging others and serving others.

I is for integrity. "Be true to yourself, to God, to your family and the team."

N is for now. "Be in the now, this moment,

what is past is past." Applying it to football, he said forget about the mistake or bad play and look to the next one.

G is for gratitude. "Be thankful for ourselves, family, team and be thankful for creation."

Several members of the team were introduced, including Jeremy O'Day, Benton Johnson and Scott Schultz. Defensive Coach Richie Hall was also there, and responding to questions about Hall's future with the team, Coach Miller said he wished him well as he is being interviewed for head coaching jobs, but hopes he doesn't leave. "I don't know what I would do without him."

St. Michael's staff expect the breakfast will have raised about $5,500 which will go towards programs and operations. The Retreat House, located in the Qu'Appelle Valley near Lumsden, is owned by the Franciscans but uniquely governed through an ecumenical board with representatives from the Anglican, Evangelical Lutheran and Roman Catholic faith traditions.

Collected Letters from Lambeth Conference 2008 Part II (continued from December, 2008)

by The Right Reverend Rodney Andrews, Bishop of Saskatoon Background: Every ten years the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, invites the bishops in the Anglican Communion to the Lambeth Conference. During the Lambeth Conference held this summer, Bishop Rodney Andrews wrote several letters to family, friends and to the Diocese. These letters were not intended to be a definitive record of the Lambeth Conference; they are printed here in the hope that readers of the Saskatchewan Anglican will catch some of the flavour and atmosphere of the Conference.

For the first three days of the Conference the bishops have taken part in a retreat led by Archbishop Williams. He began by asking us to give thanks to God for the bishops who confirmed and ordained us. I recalled Bishop George Calvert of the Diocese of Calgary who confirmed and ordained me. I remember Bishop Calvert coming home from the 1958 Lambeth Conference and telling us about it. That was 50 years ago and I still remember thinking how wonderful it would be to be able to attend the Conference. There I was sitting in Canterbury Cathedral representing the Diocese of Saskatoon, the place where I studied for the priesthood. It is a humbling experience for which I am grateful.

The Archbishop spoke to us of how "Each believer is called to be a place where God's son is revealed." That is my prayer for all of us in the Diocese of Saskatoon and the Province of Saskatchewan.

Our rooms are a long distance from the 'Big Top' where most Lambeth events take place.

We are glad we brought our walking shoes. We don't mind the walking as most of the bishops and spouses stay in the same complex of student housing, including the Archbishop of York and his wife Margaret and the Presiding Bishop of the United States and her husband Richard. The Bishop of Durham and his wife Maggie live down the hall from us. With leaders of the Anglican world representing 77 million people world wide we are privileged to represent Saskatoon at this wonderful gathering of talent, colour and language.

This morning the Eucharist was led by Central Africa. The altar was surrounded by black faces, the music was rousing and the 'Amen' belted out with great enthusiasm. The Gospel and the sermon were based on “I am the bread of life." When 1000 people sang the chorus to "I am the bread of life" [I will raise you up] at the end of the service, I thought "It will be a good day."

The University of Kent is located on a hill offering magnificent views of Canterbury Cathedral and the surrounding countryside. The crops are golden and ready for harvest.

This year we will enjoy harvest in England and also in Saskatchewan. Because we are on a hilltop close to the English Channel, it can be chilly when the wind blows. Last night I was wearing my Saskatchewan cap and I met Bishop Patrick from Africa (the bishop who studied at Emmanuel and St. Chad last year). He was wearing a 'University of Saskatchewan' blue sweat shirt.

Conference worship and large gatherings are held in the 'Big Top' which is a huge blue tent. It is surrounded by a security fence and only conference participants are allowed in.

There has been some criticism of the security however there is a great deal of very expensive equipment keeping the technology going (generators, air conditioners, sound and light systems, translation equipment, video projectors etc.) The insurers require limited access.

The spouses have a more attractive venue which is nicely decorated in purple and white.

Holy Silence at St. Michael's Retreat Staff LUMSDEN (Qu'A) - Silent retreats for lay people have a long history in the Diocese of Qu'Appelle. Some of the people who attended the first retreats, back in the 1960's, are still attending retreats today.

What draws them back again and again?

Individuals have different reasons, of course, but many participants say that the most important things are the silence and time to be alone with God, without the interruptions and responsibilities of daily life.

The lovely, peaceful setting of St. Michael's Retreat outside Lumsden, and the excellent food served there are always appreciated; the worship is uplifting; and the addresses by the retreat conductor are "the icing on the cake" as one long-time attendee says.

Qu'Appelle's lay retreats are weekend events, generally during Lent or just after Easter. Retreatants arrive on Friday afternoon, and talking is allowed until the end of the orientation session which follows supper. Then the silence begins. Without conversation, each person is able to listen for God's voice, which may be drowned out in the noise and busyness of ordinary life. There are four addresses during

the weekend, and four services Compline Friday evening, Holy Eucharist Saturday and Sunday morning, and Evening Prayer Saturday evening. There is plenty of free time to read, relax, pray, walk or just sit in meditation or contemplation. For more information on the retreat centre, see www.retreatsonline.net/stmichaels/.

Bishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson lead the retreat in April 2008. His addresses covered the fruits of the spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (or generosity), faithfulness, humility and self-control. He also spoke about the spiritual disciplines of meditation, prayer, study, fasting, simplicity, submission, confession, guidance, worship and celebration.

As usual, silence ended at the closing session and evaluation following lunch on Sunday. Comments from the approximately 30 participants were unanimously excellent, and the bishop said that although he was working, he had a rewarding retreat, too. A small committee was formed and has already begun planning for next year's retreat, which will be held March 20 through 22. Watch for more details at your local parish or in future issues.

Jane Williams was quick to point that out to the bishops when we made our first joint visit.

The Conference is supported by a great staff of young people called Stewards who have been drawn from all over the world. They are a wonderful group of people and they work long hours directing the bishops and spouses from one area to another, controlling traffic,carrying messages and a thousand other tasks. Many of them are theological students. Our church will be in good hands when they become leaders. It will not be difficult to hand over leadership to such capable and dedicated young people.

As we were walking from the Cathedral to the buses waiting to bring the bishops back to the campus after a day of retreat an African bishop walking beside me commented: "If something like this happened in my country there would be thousands of people lining the streets to watch. Here nobody even notices." I told him it would be the same in my country where we are not an established church and are one denomination among many. The status of bishops varies world wide.

Jacqueline and I had dinner with the Bishop of Seychelles and his wife Lyn. French is the primary language in Seychelles. When I spoke to Lyn in French, she replied that they were both from Guyana and only spoke English. They had been looking for us because they knew of our Companion Diocese link with Guyana. There we were in England, from different continents, discussing common Anglican friends in South America.

This morning at 'Tea Break' I sat down to speak with a bishop who told me he is a 'Flying Bishop'. I told him I was also a 'Flying Bishop', except that I fly in a real airplane while he is driven around England in a church-owned car by his personal driver to conduct confirmations and ordinations in parishes who do not agree with their bishop on the ordination of women. Speaking of the ordination of women, there has been considerable press in England on the subject of women bishops (there are 21 here). The publicity has led to some interesting discussions. When Jacqueline and I meet people they sometimes ask "Which one is the bishop?" I am certain Jacqueline is not presenting herself as a bishop! Perhaps I should have brought more than one purple shirt, although there are hundreds of them for sale at the Market Place!

The opening service at Canterbury Cathedral on Sunday morning was remarkable. All 650 bishops processed into the Cathedral wearing choir habit (rochet, chimere and tippet). The procession in and out lasted twenty minutes. It was like a river of red, white and black.

The Gospel was processed on a boat by a group of Melanesian dancers. There was lots of African music in the service. I sat very close to the choir and enjoyed watching them singing along to the drummers who sat in front of them. The opening sermon of the Conference was delivered by the Bishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka). His sermon and Archbishop Williams Addresses are on the Lambeth Conference website. There is huge respect and admiration for Dr. Rowan Williams as 'First Among Equals' with the bishops gathered here. (to be conttinued)

8 - The Saskatchewan Anglican, January 2009

A Message From the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad

photos courtesy of Emmanuel & St. Chad College

came before us, and it behoves Editor's Note: This is us to understand Austin Spry the most recent in a the ways in series of monthly conwhich they, suctributions to the cessfully or unsuccessfully, Saskatchewan Anglican from piloted the vessel that is the the College of Emmanuel and Church. It is necessary to learn St. Chad. These articles cover a the theory and the techniques of broad range of theological and sailing, particularly if you are to general interest issues as well as be a navigator of a large vessel.

College news. Austin Spry is a The Holy Scriptures are our naufirst year student at the College tical charts, revealing the destiof Emmanuel and St. Chad; nation, explaining tides and Austin is a postulant for Holy shorelines, and detailing past Orders in the Diocese of British voyages. The Apostolic tradition Columbia. is our knowledge of the first sailor and the theory of sailing; teaching us to read the charts, The Mariner's know the sea, and handle the Apprentice's vessel. The Holy Scriptures are a repository of knowledge and

by Austin Spry understanding: they contain all things we need to understand Since I have come to Emmanuel Christ. and St. Chad to train for ordained Simply knowing that the ministry, it has come to my attenScriptures point us to Christ tion that there are some people however does not mean that one who believe that formal, scholasis therefore able to decipher them tic training is unnecessary for our properly or to act on them. It is clergy; I disagree. The better part necessary for us to be taught how of understanding where someto interpret the Scriptures. thing is and where it is going is Nobody would claim to be a in knowing where it came from. competent navigator unless they As Christians we are part of a had first apprenticed with sometradition that is more than 5000 one who was an experienced years old. To properly undernavigator. Christ taught the stand our Church and our role in Apostles to understand Himself it, it is necessary to study its histhrough Scripture (cf. Luke 24), tory. Now, I have not yet develand the Apostles in turn taught oped the skills of rhetoric and the first bishops, and the bishops lack eloquence, so I will give it have passed this tradition of to you in a parable. understanding Scripture for over Being born is like finding oneself two thousand years now. It is in born into a boat. God is the wind, seminary that one receives rigorCreation is the ocean, and ous, comprehensive, and discimotion of the boat is life. It is plined education in this obvious that you don't want the Apostolic tradition. It is possible boat to sink. It also makes sense to learn to sail by watching an to want the boat to move across experienced fisherman in a small the ocean. Discovering Christ is dory, but it would hardly be like learning that there was once equivalent to the nautical educaa perfect sailor who could handle tion received at a naval academy the rigging, avoid rough water, that arranged for you to serve read the weather, and move his with many navigators on a range boat perfectly with the wind: one of ships. Seminary is like an hand on the tiller, one hand on academy for navigators. the sheet. Sitting in our boats we It may be that the wind has immediately appreciate the rightblown steadily from one direcness of this: it makes sense tion, and we haven't needed to because although we had no use our spinnaker in recent memknowledge of the ability of the ory, but that does not mean that is boat, we had an inclination that wise to assert that we have no the parts - the sail, the rigging, need of the spinnaker, declare it the rudder - must have been useless, and promptly burn it or designed for something, and to throw it overboard. There may sail seems to be more meaningful come a day when the wind shifts than to sit dead in the water. It is to the aft. It is at this time that the desirable to live life in right relacrew of the boat will be thankful tion to God. that the navigator knows where However, hearing about somethe spinnaker is, how to hoist it, one sailing perfectly and recogand how to work the rigging, in nizing the intrinsic rightness of order to make the best use of the using a sailboat to sail do not wind. Times change, and what is prepare one to head out into the old will become new again. If we high seas: we must know how to know the history of our Church read the records of those who

we will not need to start from scratch if we are faced with new situations; in all likelihood the Church has faced similar times in the past and we will benefit greatly from the knowledge of how the Church confronted the issues of those times.

Let me tell it in another parable.

The Church is like a mansion, and the liturgy and traditions are like the customs of the family that lives in that house. Ordained ministers and trained theologians are the butlers. The family might not feel the need to use the fine china and the good dining room on a regular basis. The family might feel like it is not necessary to maintain strict manners at the dinner table. However, a good butler will always remember these things, so that on the day that guests arrive and the family once again needs to use them, they will not have been forgotten. The butler will be able to receive the guests graciously.

The butler might recognize and have the ability to respond to the formalities of forgotten, lost, or long absent friends, when the family no longer remembers these rituals. The butler will be able to educate the guests formally how to behave at the table.

The butler will know where to find the fine china and the silverware so that the family can be good hosts. It may be that the family decides that it isn't necessary to maintain such formality; it would be foolish, however, to forget these things, for what is remembered can be returned to, but what is forgotten is lost forever. Seminary is like a house full of fastidious butlers. The majority of these butlers may never have to host royal guests, but all of them will be ready and capable of assisting the family in preparing as if they are expecting the King. Living with other seminarians affords tomorrow's clergy and lay leaders the opportunity to hone each other's abilities, for it is written: Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).

Seminary provides both a formal education in Christianity, and provides an unparalleled opportunity to be formed alongside others who will be, God willing, entering the same Holy Orders.

The educators are versed in the Apostolic tradition and a seminarian has, for a few years, the chance to learn intensively from several accomplished individuals dedicated to the task. Classmates come from throughout the Anglican Communion and will be sent back out to their diverse pastures. Seminary is an unparalleled opportunity for them to

encourage and connect with each other, developing lifelong friendships in Christ. I would encourage anyone called to ordained ministry, or seeking a greater understanding of their Christian faith to come to Emmanuel and St. Chad. The minute you know our seasoned teachers and see the salt in our hair, you will know you are in the company of those who love cutting through the rolling sea of Creation and moving with the winds of God.

EDITORIAL

During the past few months we have seen an economic disaster, appearing first in the United States with the collapse of major corporations and then financial institutions, and subsequently spreading world-wide, through the markets of both Europe and Asia. It then reached into major sectors of the Canadian economy, with closures of manufacturing plants, forestry processing operations (pulp mills, sawmills, etc.),and a major decline in commodity prices, resulting in layoffs, bankruptcies, and foreclosures.

Now I am not an economist, and the machinations of the market have long since been a source of confusion and mystery to me. I know that they have been influ

enced by psychological factors which have had little or no bearing on the actuality of transactions in the world of commerce.

It has merely been assumed that a political or some other decision or action might have either a positive or negative affect on commercial activity, and on that speculation stock markets seem to fluctuate.

The real basis for this movement appears to be greed on the part of speculators. We live in a world where consumption and the accumulation of wealth is the measure of our worth. Many in our society subjugate the most important human values because of their need to be not only financially independent, but financially superior. This has led to a culture of greed and narcissism, based on a false sense of security engendered by the availability of easy credit; a situation which tragically for many has their house built on sand being washed away by the waves of economic collapse.

As a society founded on Christian principles (I was going to say as a Christian society), maybe it is time to take stock of both our national and individual situations, and get back to the basic values upon which we, as Christians, were raised and profess to believe.

Pilgrimage In the Footsteps of Jesus

Bishop Greg Kerr-Wilson will be the chaplain on a 13-day

pilgrimage to the Holy Land. If you have ever wanted to visit the Holy Land, to walk where Jesus walked, this could be your opportunity. Highlights of the pilgrimage will include Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee, the Dead Sea, Masada, Capernum, and the Jordan River, where pilgrims will renew their baptismal vows. The tour leaves from Regina or Edmonton on May 25, returning to Canada June 6. There is an option for an additional tour leaving on May 18 with visits to Egypt and Jordan.

Rev. Sally French is the tour leader, along with Rev. Joe

Walker. Rev. French worked for St. George's College in Jerusalem for a year, and is certified by the Commission on Christian Pilgrimage in Jerusalem to lead groups in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. She has previously lead several similar pilgrimages. She says, "We strive to provide you with both a first-class travel experience and a positive experience of Christian pilgrimage. Throughout our time together, there will be opportunities for worship, for prayer and reflection, and for spiritual direction. This is not a “package tour� - it is a spiritual journey with fellow Christians, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and all the disciples who went before us. We believe that seeing the Holy Land is truly a life-changing experience and we are excited about the possibility of sharing the experience with you."

The cost of the pilgrimage is $5350, which covers all travel, double occupancy four- or five-star accommodation, all admissions and guiding costs for visits included in the itinerary, and most meals.

Complete details, including a registration form, have been sent to all parishes. If you are interested, please contact your priest or parish administrator, and note that the first payment is due February 1.