The Saskatchewan Anglican
June 2015
11
DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN ACW News At the AGM for the Diocese of Saskatchewan ACW, a new executive was elected. The executive includes: President – Violet Goodfellow, Vice President – Carol Pryznyk, Secretary/Treasurer – Sharon Chesley, Notes and NewsSharon Chesley/Kathleen Stewart, Ladies Day Out – Doris Wideen-Bazley/Opal Haris, Crafts – Muriel Young. g
Visitors to the Diocese Jeff Boldt and his wife Jenn will be working for the diocese this summer. They will be here for June, July and August. Jeff and Jenn will be instructors for the James Settee College in June and will also help with VBS programs in the parishes this summer. They will be working out of the Synod Office. g
St. Mary’s Cemetery Summer Schedule June 28 at 3:00 p.m., Memorial Service with Bishop Michael Hawkins July 26 at 3:00 p.m., Evensong August 23 at 3:00 p.m., Harvest Thanksgiving – Eucharist g
Vacation Bible School The diocese is offering help to the parishes and congregations if they are interested in having a Vacation Bible School program this summer. g
Prepare for the ACW retreat at Queen’s House in Saskatoon Contributed SASKATOON – Gratitude is a way of being. “For some, gratitude comes naturally; for others it requires practicing until it becomes habit and ultimately a way of being.” Gratitude is a heart-centred word that evokes warm feelings and sentimental thoughts. What might happen in our behaviour if we view “gratitude” and another heart-centred word, “generosity,” as two sides of the same coin? Come to the ACW Fall Retreat, Sept. 18-20 and join others in exploring the mystery of our covenant-centred gratitude and the need for it to be the source of our spiritual rejuvenation and communitybased generosity. In the past we have come home from a retreat with crafts, small gifts, etc. This time, we are able to reduce the cost of the retreat, as there are no expenses for craft or activity materials, so we will bring a gift for the Saskatoon Hospital Ministry.
The three hospitals in Saskatoon, and the Cancer Centre, treat patients from all over our huge province, which means many Anglicans in care have no ministry close by, so the visit from the Saskatoon Hospital Ministry is vitally important. You ask how we as Anglicans can support this ministry. The Reverend Dr. Jessica Latshaw speaks passionately of the importance and comfort of prayer shawls for adults and children; cuffed shawls for those in wheelchairs; wee blankets to wrap the deceased newborn being flown back north with their parents; cozy toques and scarves for women and men facing hair loss during chemotherapy; and pocket prayer shawls to hold tight during treatment and testing. Now the question is, how will I support this ministry? Go to www. anglicandiocesesaskatoon.com/ acw to print the brochure and registration form. If you need more information or have a question email us at saskatoonacw@gmail.com.
Walking the stations of the cross on Good Friday On Good Friday morning, a number of churches and organizations took part in walk of the stations of the cross throughout downtown Saskatoon. Among those taking part were, from left, the Most Reverend Donald Bolen, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon; the Right Reverend David M. Irving, bishop of Saskatoon; and the Right Reverend Rodney Andrews (retired; far right), bishop of Saskatoon. Photo — Joan Irving
Church should focus on mission, not maintenance By Leigh Anne Williams Anglican Journal Presenting a report from the Vital and Healthy Parishes project with Eileen Scully, director of Faith, Worship and Ministry for General Synod, the Rev. Jay Koyle told the Council of General Synod (CoGS) the crisis of the church in decline has been misdiagnosed and requires a different approach for treatment. Congregational development has typically focused on dwindling attendance and resources, he said. So questions have revolved around ways to stop or reverse the decline so that the churches can again have strong congregations and there is a future for the church. Koyle, congregational development officer from the diocese of Algoma, observed that there seem to be three types of conversations that dominate in the church these days. All three are needed, but it is a problem when “maintenance conversations” about the upkeep of buildings and resources, and “preferential conversations” about how to attract new people or keep those you have happy, come
to dominate discussions, he said. “The kinds of conversations that need to be sparked more and more in our church … are what we call missional conversations, that are con-
“The kinds of conversations that need to be sparked more and more in our church … are what we call missional conversations, that are concerned first and foremost with ‘What is God doing in the world? And how do we get involved in those things?’”
cerned first and foremost with ‘What is God doing in the world? And how do we get involved in those things?’ ” After hearing from 74 people working on the ground to revitalize churches across the country at gatherings such as
the Vital and Healthy Parishes conference held in Niagara Falls, Ont., in May 2013, Koyle said that strong congregations aren’t the end in and of themselves; they “are important because that’s where lives are transformed and that’s the mechanism that God can use.” Churches that are vital see themselves in mission beyond their current membership. Their orientation is outward toward the community and to those not involved in church,” Koyle said. He also underlined how congregations need to be clear about what kind of a difference they want to make in their community. “We long to be a church that exists for the sake of others. “We long to be a church that is patterned by the story of Jesus Christ. “We long to be a church inspired by robust hope and we long to be a church dependent on God’s grace and on one another,” Koyle said, echoing central message in a joint Lutheran and Anglican report on the issue. This year’s Vital and Healthy Parishes conference will be held again in Niagara Falls, Ont., from May 11-13.