The Saskatchewan Anglican, January 2024

Saskatchewan anglican

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

Honouring the unique character a rural church

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Cycling team's epic journey to fight cancer

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Immanuel's first incumbent inducted

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Saskatoon parish's free monthly dinners

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Visiting a historic church A group of students from King's College in Halifax, N.S. visits Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Stanley Mission in northern Saskatchewan during a recent trip to the Diocese of Saskatchewan. From left are Viviane Kirby, Jonah Folkman, Jesse Korner and Cole Osiowi. For complete story, see page 7.

Photo by Rev. Brody Albers

Two priests and one deacon ordained in Qu'Appelle

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA — On the Feast of St. Andrew on Nov. 30, Christine Burton and Brian Buydens were ordained priests and Susan Haacke was ordained deacon in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Bishop Helen Kennedy was celebrant, with diocesan reader, Carla Hoffman, as preacher. The cathedral was comfortably full as many members of the ordinands’ parishes as well as friends and family came

to worship and celebrate the beginning of a new stage in their ministry as clergy.

St. Andrew is remembered, along with his brother Simon Peter, as one of the first two disciples who answered Jesus’ call to “follow me.”

In the sermon, Hoffman said that Andrew immediately said “yes” to Jesus, although he had many valid reasons to say “no” such as his work and his family. In contrast, she confessed that when Bishop Kennedy first asked her to

preach at the ordination, her inclination was to say “no.”

“Susan, Brian and Christine have also said ‘yes’ in answer to God’s call,” said Hoffman.

She listed many of the things that clergy are called to do, and then reminded the congregation that most of these callings are not exclusive to clergy, but are for all baptised Christians.

Clergy, she said, are to equip others to follow their baptismal vows.

Reminding listeners

that in the Gospel story of the feeding of 5,000, it was Andrew who brought forward the boy with five loaves and two fish, with which Jesus fed the whole crowd.

“Look for those around you with small gifts, like Andrew did,” Hoffman told the ordinands, “and like Andrew, continue to say ‘yes’ to Jesus.”

Susan Haacke was presented for ordination

by Canon Trevor Powell and Dean Mike Sinclair.

Christine Burton was

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presented Canon Cheryl Toth and Lori Duke.

Archdeacon Catherine Harper and Kim Lohse presented Brian Buydens. Following the examinations, Canon Claude Schroeder sang the Litany.

After the consecration, the new deacon was vested in new vestments by Rev. Susan Anholt. Rev. Anne Quick vested Burton, and Rev. Anne Marie MacNeil vested Buydens.

Then they were presented Continued on page 5

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

January 2024

Talks about Jesus' divinity have become 'slippery and ambiguous' What are the strongest biblical arguments for the divinity of Christ?

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

Published monthly except for July and August.

By Rev. Dell Bornowsky

O

ne problem with talking about the divinity of Jesus is that these days the very concept of divinity has become somewhat slippery and ambiguous and is getting more so all the time.

Unless we realize, for example, how different are the Hebrew and Hindu notions of divinity, what we say about it may be understood quite differently.

The biblical notion that the Creator is a person, or a Trinity of persons, distinct from their creation (Theism), is becoming more and more a minority position in the face of a popular revival of many of the old pagan philosophies and religions.

It is becoming increasingly popular to believe that all nature is divine and we are all just parts of that “sacred reality” (Pantheism), or that nature is animated by many divine/sacred beings (Animism and Polytheism).

What used to be called “New Age” spirituality has become prevalent within most self-help pop-psychology and pop-spirituality. One can read books and attend workshops on “discovering the divine within;” and also affirming, uncovering, releasing, awakening, and activating the divine within ourselves.

Many Westerners who practice yoga for physical and mental health benefits may not realize that as a practice within Vedanta one of the goals of yoga was to become enlightened to the truth that “The supreme Soul is within everyone, and one form of worship is to recognize the Divine in all beings.”

Saying that Jesus is divine is nothing special if every one of us is a “spark of the divine.” I have had church ministers tell me that Jesus was not unique because he was divine but only because he had a rather exceptional realization of his “union with God,” a kind of union

Whole No. 292, Vol. 52 No. 5 A Section of the Anglican Journal SUBSCRIPTIONS For change of address, undeliverable copies and subscription list updates, contact: • Your parish • e-mail: circulation @national.anglican.ca • Or send to Saskatchewan Anglican, c/o Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ont. M4Y 3G2 RATES $10 in Canada $17 outside Canada

John the Baptist baptizes Jesus in the River Jordan.

Photo courtesy Didgeman/Pixabay to which we can all aspire!

Many think of Platonism as a philosophy rather than a religion, but even there all human souls are immortal and thus in some sense divine.

Even Humanism and Atheism, without appealing to anything spiritual or supernatural, have accomplished much the same effect of placing humans into the divine roles of being the ultimate arbiters of ethics, morality, meaning, and progress.

The Christian idea of Christ’s unique Incarnation seems increasingly overlaid with the Hindu notion of Avatars, in which there are many such personal manifestations of “the divine.”

In light of all this, any purported “divinity” of Christ is really nothing profound unless we also return to the biblical notion of the unique personhood of a Creator who is distinct from their creation.

As far as the Bible goes, some of the references often understood to indicate Jesus’ divinity turn out to be not the most significant.

For example the title “Son of God” was understood in the Psalms

to indicate that the human king appointed by God would be cared for by God and have a special responsibility that was figuratively equivalent to that of a son, without thereby positing the divinity of their essential nature.

When the LORD refers to the nation Israel as a son, it is understood to be a metaphor rather than a statement of Israel’s essential divine nature (Exod. 4:22, Deut. 32:6).

Thus Jews read Psalm 2:7 in a similar metaphorical way when the earthly King anointed by the LORD (made Messiah/Christ) quotes the LORD as saying to him, “You are my son; today I have begotten you.”

The Bible descriptions of the uniqueness of the God of Israel (Is. 40) as immaterial Spirit (John 4:24) and the multitude of warnings against idolatry made it virtually impossible for the Hebrews to think that any physical biological person could also be God. Nevertheless, challenging this assumption seems to be a large part of the work of the New Testament where Psalm 2 is taken to be more than metaphorical

(Hebrews 1:5; 5:5).

The prologue of John’s Gospel does not just speak of power being granted to a merely human person, but rather the Eternal Divine Logos (Word) becoming flesh and living among us in the person of Yeshua (Jesus) I think the most compelling evidence for Jesus’ divinity are the occasions that indicate that Jesus thought of himself as divine and allowed his followers and others to conclude that he was making this claim.

In John 8:58 Jesus says “before Abraham was, I am.” This appears to be a quotation of the LORD’s revelation to Moses at the burning bush and thus Jesus’ claim of divinity.

Jesus accepted worship from Thomas as Lord and God and did not correct him (John 20:24-29). Jesus did not retract his claim of authority to forgive sins even when it was pointed out that only God can forgive sins (Matt 9:2-7).

On several occasions it was understood by the people around him that Jesus was making himself equal to God (John 5:18, John 10:31-33). Then again at his trial Jesus claimed as “the Son of Man” from Continued next page

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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 PUBLISHING DETAILS Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5

January 2024

The Saskatchewan Anglican

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The Bishop's Corner

Canterbury holds course for new bishops

By Bishop Helen Kennedy

A

s members of the Anglican Communion, Canada can send new bishops to Canterbury Cathedral for an emersion experience into the historical roots of our denomination.

I was fortunate enough to be offered a place. Having been to Lambeth last year, the surroundings were familiar, but the format was far more intimate and relational as a group of 28 bishops from all around the world learned together about what it means to be part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Together we were absorbed into the daily rhythm of prayer life at the cathedral. Our days began with Morning Prayer and then Eucharist.

We moved into our study hall for Bible study and were led through studies on leadership examples in the Old and New Testament. We ended our day with Evensong, often choral evensong, which was beautifully done.

The experience of being at small group tables with bishops from entirely different world views and contexts was enlightening and enriching. It expanded my understanding of how the Anglican church has been shaped by migration, colonialization and indigenous cultures, and so brought a richness and vibrancy to our conversations that are not had in a relatively homogenized Canada.

The Lambeth Calls were also part of our sharing and topics of discussion, exploring how discipleship and evangelism is worked out in Brazil is very different from Sri Lanka, and different again in Canada.

We shared our challenges and our best practices around lay leadership and

training. Also, how we are attempting to engage our young people.

Hearing the stories of hundreds of young people being in church was inspirational, and hopeful.

We did spend a morning discussing the Call for Human Dignity which for some in the room was a difficult subject as it included discussion around the churches blessing same-sex relationships.

Even though there were many different opinions, we committed to each other to remain open and courteous with each other; we are brothers and sisters in Christ after all.

A day was spent in London as we visited the Anglican Communion Offices and learned all that the Communion staff do to keep us connected, wherever we are in the world.

The justice programs that they highlighted from different countries, supporting the aid agencies along with local churches to alleviate poverty, and provide meaningful work was inspirational.

There were many principles to be taken away that could be translated to life here in Qu’Appelle.

One of the Anglican Communion’s other roles is to encourage companion diocese relationships. It

was a godly coincidence that the Bishop of Qu’Appelle and the Bishop of Muyinga, Burundi happened to be at the same conference.

These two dioceses have had a companion relationship for many years, and very recently Muyinga elected a new bishop.

Bishop Jean and I were able to have many wonderful conversations about our different parishes and the ministry that we do in our contexts.

Then we strategized about how we can strengthen the relationship with parishto-parish connections, by exploring the possibility of Zoom Bible studies, or other ministry projects.

Finally, we both committed to continue in our mutual prayers for each other. This felt like a very fruitful and fortuitous time.

As a province in the communion, Canada is a part of a whole. What I saw and experienced was the body of Christ at work in a very practical way.

Our faith and tradition bind us together. Spending time at the home of the Anglican church encouraged us to continue the work of loving God in our worship and serving our neighbour in our ministries.

I was blessed!

... Jesus divinity a touch topic Continued from page 2 the book of Daniel to have been given authority to rule and judge the world (Matt 26:63-66).

In these cases, when accused of blaspheming by claiming divinity, Jesus did not retract his claims.

Since Jesus’ closest followers ended up thinking he was God, it follows that either, if knew he wasn’t, or if he was himself deluded, he would have been a rather poor to a downright bad teacher.

It seems logical here to go with C. S. Lewis: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral

teacher. He [could] be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg.”

The “trilemma” attributed to Lewis (Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic or the Lord) precedes him in numerous versions but his poached egg metaphor makes it most memorable.

Worthy comments on that trilemma argument are found here: https:// conversantfaith. com/2012/05/04/thehistory-of-liar-lunaticlord-trilemma/ or https://www. wordonfire.org/articles/ fellows/is-c-s-lewistrilemma-a-goodargument-for-the-divinityof-christ/

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

January 2024

DIOCESE OF SASKATOON EVENTS

Announcements for January 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 STU/ESC course

offerings for this fall and winter: Spiritual Practices, Cultivating Compassion and Resilience, with the Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy, Dec. 4-8 and Jan. 8-12, 2024 Gospel of Mark, with Dr. Adam Wright, Jan. 8-12, 2024 Please call 306-9753753 for more details and information on these course offerings. 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 7to 8:30 p.m., the first Wednesday 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; Nutf lakes 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 Queen’s House Retreat and Renewal Centre, Programming for 2024: Please see notice posted elsewhere in this issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican. g Prairie Centre for Ecumenism (PCE) Events (for more information on these events, please see the more detailed notices posted elsewhere in this issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican): Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024 Saskatoon area events: Jan. 18 to 25; for more details check the PCE website, www. pcecumenism.ca ; their Facebook page www.facebook.com/ pcecumenism or sign up for their newsletter at http://eepurl.com/ hpkyWL or see the detailed notice elsewhere in this issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican.

2024 De Margerie Lectures on Christian Reconciliation and Unity: Jan. 24 to 27 for more information please see the detailed notice elsewhere in this issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican.

Ecumenical Book Club ‘Grassroots Ecumenism’: The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism invites you to participate in an Ecumenical Book Club planned for three Thursday evening Zoom sessions as they study “Grassroots Ecumenism” by Karen Petersen Finch.

This study group will be led by Rev. Canon Marie-Louise Ternier and Cathryn Wood, executive director of the PCE. The study will run from Feb. 1, 8 and 15.

The book costs $35.

Limited copies will be available through the PCE for purchase.

Please email admin@ pcecumenism.ca to register and for book ordering details.

For more information, please see the detailed notice elsewhere in this issue. 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.

Licentiate in Theology offers many courses for Anglicans

By Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy

E

mmanuel and St. Chad College and WECAN have developed a Ministry Preparation program relevant to the contexts in Western Canada.

The local Diocesan Ministry Schools make substantial contributions to the program by offering courses as mapped out in the ESC-WECAN

Licentiate in Theology handbook.

Whether you feel called to formal ministry or drawn to take courses, contact the course leader you are interested in doing. Also, let your diocesan school coordinator know the plans.

ESC-WECAN L.Th. Implementation Coordinator: Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy trish. mccarthy@saskatoon theologicalunion.ca or 306-

370–8378.

REGISTER FOR ALL COURSES at esc-wecan.ca.

WINTER 2024 Anglican Studies: Kootenay Diocese and ESC Taught by Archbishop Lynne McNaughton and Rev. Dr. Iain Luke.

Takes place Friday evening, Jan. 19 and Saturday daytime, Jan. 20, 2024

as well as Friday evening, Feb. 9 and Saturday daytime Feb. 10, 2024 Registration: escwecan.ca or Lisa McInnis.

Indigenous Relationships and Wisdom and Teaching of the Elders: Henry Budd College and Brandon Diocese.

This is a new and exciting course in our L.Th.

School Coordinator: Rev. Dr. Kara Mandryk Registration: esc-wecan. ca or kdmandryk@gmail. com Introduction to the Bible: Saskatoon School of Discipleship; March and April 2024 Format and Dates TBA School Contact: Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy.

Registration: escwecan.ca or Lisa McInnis.

January 2024

The Saskatchewan Anglican

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... Three Anglicans ordained to two ministries Continued from page 1 with symbols of their new ministry: a Bible to Haacke “as a sign of your authority to proclaim God’s word and to assist in the ministration of his holy sacraments;” and Bibles and chalice and patens to Burton and Buydens “as signs of the authority given you to preach the word of God and to administer his holy sacraments.”

The Eucharist followed, with Bishop Kennedy and the three newly ordained clergy offering communion at two stations at the foot of the chancel steps.

Others involved in the service included Stephen Giles, Norma Buydens and Pat Lauder as lectors;

Rev. Rita Brann as deacon; Lyndon Luu as crucifer and David McIntyre as organist and pianist, who played his own compositions as prelude and postlude.

Flowers in the church were given

by Haacke’s sons, Adam and Matthew, in loving memory of their late father, Brian Haacke.

In a historical note, Nov. 30 happened to be the 47th anniversary of the first ordination of women in the Anglican Church of Canada.

A reception was held in Bagnall Hall, where the newly ordained had the opportunity to thank people who had supported them in their journeys toward ordination.

After the service — joyful exuberance! From left, New priests Rev. Brian Buydens and Rev. Christine Burton, Bishop Helen Kennedy, and new deacon Rev. Susan Haacke.

Photo by Ken Jones

Introducing Deacon Susan Haacke

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin

Susan Haacke, centre, receives the laying on of hands

by Bishop Helen Kennedy, during her ordination on November 30. Also pictured: behind altar is Archdeacon Wilma Woods; foreground, Deacon Rita Brann, and (r) Dean Mike Sinclair.

Photo by Ken Jones

REGINA — Susan Haacke was ordained as a deacon on Nov. 30. She is looking forward to serving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which “is like home.”

Haacke is what was formerly called a “permanent deacon,” but the term most commonly used now is “distinctive deacon” in contrast to “transitional deacon” for a person who is planning to become a priest after serving some time as deacon.

Haacke describes herself as “a cradle Anglican” and was brought up predominantly in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

There are many connections to the cathedral in her family: her maternal grandparents were married there, her parents were members of vestry, and her mother was cochair of the Altar Guild until her death in 2014.

Susan and Brian Haacke were married at St. Paul’s on July 24, 1982.

Haacke’s son Adam was a server, and son Matthew was server, head server and sub-deacon at the cathedral.

Before Brian died in 2022, he had been active

and involved in the cathedral, and lovingly provided support to Susan in her many roles in the church, and her pursuit of the diaconate.

Haacke holds a B.Admin from the University of Regina, and an education for ministry certificate.

She retired in June

Haacke is what was formerly called a “permanent deacon,” but the term most commonly used now is “distinctive deacon”

2023, having worked for the Government of Saskatchewan for 43 years, in the fields of lending and pension and benefits.

Haacke has volunteered in many capacities at St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. She says her favourite role was being rector’s warden.

She served as subdeacon for many years, served on vestry, was chair of the Building in

Faith Campaign for a period of time, and served as chair/manager of the Columbarium Board of Management. The columbarium is located in the lower level of the cathedral.

At the diocesan level, she served on diocesan council, executive committee, finance committee and other committees.

In addition to these and other parish committees, Haacke volunteered on various community boards in Regina.

Haacke has studied for more than 10 years towards the diaconate, with periods of learning interrupted to care for family members.

Caring for others has been a primary devotion throughout her life, and one of the main roles she looks forward to as a deacon.

She is interested in liturgy and support to persons in hospital.

Her theological training has been through the Qu’Appelle School for Mission and Ministry.

She was mentored in liturgy at the cathedral by the late deacon, Canon Michael Jackson, and receives on-going support for her new role from Dean Mike Sinclair.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

January 2024

Brian Buydens to serve Weyburn as priest

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin WEYBURN (Qu’A) — Shortly before he was ordained a priest (see article on pg. 1/5) Brian Buydens wrote, “I continue to have tremendous support from my parish as well as the clergy who have been helping me to prepare for ordination as priest.”

Buydens was ordained deacon in his home church of All Saints, Weyburn, on Nov. 5, 2022.

Most of Buydens’ theological education has been through the Qu’Appelle School of Ministry and Mission, in addition to courses both in person and online from the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad.

Since being ordained deacon, he says, “I have found that people, even non-attending church goers, will ask my opinions on church things just because they feel I probably know these things because I am clergy.

"I have also found people will want to talk to me about issues in their life for the same reason. I suspect these changes will only get more pronounced when I become a priest.”

Buydens was born in Manitoba and grew up in Dauphin, before moving to Hudson Bay, Sask, where he finished high school. His wife, Norma, introduced him to the Anglican church when

Rev. Brian Buydens holds the Bible, chalice and paten he has just received during his ordination to the priesthood.

Also pictured, Deacon Susan Haacke, Archdeacon Catherine Harper (back to camera) and Rev. Christine Burton.

Photo by Margaret Ball they met at the University of Saskatchewan.

“I was a cradle Roman Catholic but during college I began exploring other churches,” he says.

“My sweetheart was interested in attending church with me but she was a cradle Anglican. … During our early marriage, we alternated services between the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.

“When we moved to Weyburn in 2010, we decided to attend All

Saints Anglican and it became our spiritual home,” he explains.

At All Saints, Buydens had been involved in the music ministry, both singing and playing various string instruments.

He looks after the parish Facebook page, and often prepared the weekly bulletin. He served on vestry for about 10 years, and was warden for about eight years. Buydens has been a delegate to diocesan synod and is currently

a member of diocesan souncil.

“I have always wanted to be a priest,” says Buydens. “When I was a Roman Catholic I had to balance this longing with also wanting to have a family of my own.

"Once I joined the Anglican Communion, being married was not an impediment. I also found as I studied, I got more and more interested in theological topics and so it made sense to deepen my commitment to the

church.”

Buydens and his wife, Norma, have two children, Stephanie and Adrien, and a granddaughter, Kai. Norma is a lawyer in Weyburn.

Buydens also has a day job as a computer programmer analyst with the South East Cornerstone Public School Division.

He says that after he retires he hopes to spend more time during the week being involved in church events.

Introducing new priest Christine Burton

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA — Christine Burton was ordained priest on Nov. 30, the Feast of St. Andrew. She mentioned that St. Andrew is an important saint to her, because she is proud of her Ukrainian heritage.

“Everyone thinks of St. Andrew as the patron of Scotland, but most don’t realize he is also the patron saint of Ukraine.”

Burton was ordained deacon on May 1, 2023, in her home parish of Immanuel. She was assigned to St. Mary the Virgin Parish in Regina for her transitional diaconate.

“I was very pleased by the placement as I wanted to go to a parish using the

Rev. Christine Burton signs the declaration during the service, watched by Bishop Helen Kennedy (left) and Susan Haacke (right).

Photo by Margaret Ball

Book of Common Prayer. It is one of the foundational documents of our church even as I love the Book of Alternative Services,” said Burton.

“It has many beautiful prayers and I really like the use of ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ language in the BCP,” continued Burton. “Most modern English speakers think of such language as very formal, not realizing that it’s actually the very personal ‘tu’ of most other languages. God is now the only ‘person’ I talk to and about in such intimate terms, and I feel closer to God as a result.”

She also expressed appreciation for Canon Claude Schroeder, who taught her some traditional Anglican chant forms. “Singing Morning

Prayer every Sunday certainly locks in the ancient melodies!”

Burton oversaw the advertising for St. Mary’s inaugural Saskatoon Berry Festival. “It was wonderful to see people who hadn’t ever been to the church coming in and having a good time.

"Our work as ‘church’ really is to reach out to the community and point folks to God, and the Festival let us do that.”

Burton studied at the University of Regina, receiving a BA with a double major in history and political science, and a minor in religious studies, followed by a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

She used her legal Continued next page

January 2024

The Saskatchewan Anglican

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A scenic, wintry view of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Stanley Mission. From left are Viviane Kirby, Jonah Folkman, Jesse Korner, Cole Osiowi, Rev. Brody Albers and Rev. Jordan Draper.

Photo by Rev. Brody Albers

Halifax students experience life in northern Saskatchewan

By Mary Brown PRINCE ALBERT — Many of the clergy in the diocese were students of King’s College in Halifax, such as Anthony Burton, Michael Hawkins, David Harris, Jordan Draper, David Butorac, to name a few.

Four students, Cole Osiowi, Jonah Folkman, Viviane Kirby and Jesse Korner came for a visit to the Diocese of Saskatchewan recently.

They arrived on Nov. 14, and drove up to La Ronge the next day to attend a funeral. On Thursday

they took a trip to Stanley Mission. Friday was the start of the youth retreat, which they attended.

They had a good time at the youth retreat, but I think, from what they said, the trip to Stanley Mission was their favourite.

Of course, you don’t go to La Ronge without going into Robertson’s Store, where Viviane bought thread and beads to create her own beadwork, and Jesse bought some tea. The funeral they attended was in the hall.

There were not a lot of people at it, about 80-

100, which is small for a northern funeral. The death was gang-related, which might explain the low attendance.

Brody recalled that the message was for forgiveness and not retaliation. The students were able to enjoy a feast of moose meat and all different kinds of Bannock, even one with cinnamon and raisins.

Due to the condition of the ice on the water, they were not able to take a boat ride to the old church of Holy Trinity in Stanley Mission.

Deacon Eugene Merasty hosted their visit. He took them to the Land-Based Centre, which was near his trap line.

Once a week as part of their curriculum, students from Grade 4 and up, attend classes at the centre, where they learn to set rabbit snares, how to cut down trees to feed rabbits, to attract them, they learn how to live off the land. This helps the younger generation to understand how their ancestors survived and how they might support themselves in the future.

The catalyst for creating the school came out of a rash of multiple youth suicides in 2016. I think the students from Halifax were wishing they could go to such a school.

They were quite impressed to see the kids learning how to tan skins, trap and butcher their food, make snowshoes, do woodworking and making Bannock.

We hope that the Kings’ College pupils will have had so much fun that they will want to come back in the summer to lead VBS classes in the diocese.

... Burton to remain active with diocesan stewardship committee Continued from page 6 training in a federal and provincial government career, where her greatest love and greatest impact was in rural development and co-operative development.

She was also a Fulbright Scholar, receiving a master of public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Her education and experience will no doubt be useful as she supports the work of the Canon Review process.

While she enjoyed the

challenges and rewards of her first career, she kept thinking she might have a calling to the church.

A Roman Catholic priest friend told her, “There’s no doubt you have the call — and when the time comes, go to the Anglicans.” Years later she enrolled in St. Paul University, an ecumenical divinity school in Ottawa, while still working with the federal government.

She completed her master of divinity in 2020, and a unit of clinical pastoral education in 2021in Regina, after

returning to Regina to pursue ordination closer to family.

Burton expects to remain active with the diocesan stewardship committee and as chair of the Ecumenical Stewardship Committee, which works in the spirit of LAURCC (Lutheran, Anglican, Ukrainian Catholic and Roman Catholic Covenant) to organize free webinars.

She will also continue to organise the Caring Crafters, an ecumenical sewing and crafting group making products for

sale or donation to local charities and churches.

Both the Caring Crafters and LAURCC are an echo of Burton’s personal background: she was raised as a Roman Catholic in Regina by a Roman Catholic father, a Ukrainian Orthodox mother, one grandmother who was originally Methodist and a grandfather who was originally Baptist.

She is currently the chair of the Camp Harding board, where she also shared her love of food as cook for various camps.

After her priestly ordination, Burton will initially be working at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

“There is a material difference between a local community parish and a cathedral parish, and I’m eager to experience this unique ‘flavour’ of worship and connection to the diocesan community.

"I also look forward to working with Dean Mike Sinclair. He brings a compassionate and humour-filled approach to preaching and pastoral care that I can only aspire to.”

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

January 2024

Celebrating the unique character of a rural parish

By Mary Brown CHRISTOPHER LAKE (Skwn) — It is interesting to observe how things are done in other churches in the diocese, because even though we are all under the umbrella of the Diocese of Saskatchewan, each church has its own character.

For instance, in St. Andrew’s Church in Shellbrook, announcements are always at the end of the service (maybe because if not I’d miss, them as I’m usually late).

Meanwhile, the announcements were before the service in St. Christopher’s, with the Rev. Brody Albers getting things started. He did pretty good considering he was coming from a youth retreat weekend and not much sleep.

Parishioners were invited to vote on the best of the two gingerbread houses constructed by the

Rev. Brody Albers (right) says a pray over a beaded Bible cover (centre) that the Halifax students received while at St. Christopher Church. Photo by Mary Brown youth group and Brody and Ruby. Anniversaries and birthdays were shared along with “Share the Joy.” This is a lesson in being thankful, thankful for all the guests in the church on Sunday, being thankful that family members have moved much closer to home and getting an escort back to work after their

brakes failed.

St. Christopher’s has a choir, and the hymns were projected onto the wall near the altar eliminating the need for a screen. The students from King’s College in Halifax were visiting the diocese and attended the youth weekend at Quest.

They were presented with a beautiful, beaded

Bible cover, which was blessed that morning.

The readings for that Sunday, Trinity XIV, were about the healing of a woman from her illness of blood and another woman from death. In his sermon, Albers pointed out that these stories are meant to teach us something.

The healings are meant to be instructive. They

instruct us that Jesus can heal and that he can heal from death. It tells us to trust in Jesus and believe and find the healing that He wants to bring us.

It teaches us to hope and to pray and to intercede for others, asking that God would heal them from their diseases, just as He has healed so many of us.

The lesson for us today hidden in the miracles is that we can find new life in Jesus. That, though we are like the woman with the issue of blood, on the brink of death, Jesus can heal us and give us new life again.

After the service everyone went downstairs for coffee and cake. There is a chairlift on the steps going downstairs. I had never seen one in action until Pat sat on it and went down.

I asked her whether she thought they installed it just for her and she said probably.

What a testament to their Christian faith.

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Christ Church holds Christmas arts and crafts sale On Dec. 2, the parish hall at Christ Church in Saskatoon was home to a Christmas Arts and Craft Sale. Over 25 rental tables were loaded with handmade gift offerings from local vendors featuring baking, jewelry, Christmas decorations, clothing, candles, face painting, doll clothing and dolls and other novelties. The parish also manned several tables, drew for numerous door prizes, and sold Christmas decorations, refreshments, samosas, tea and coffee, muffins and

plates of enormous Sloppy Joe’s (on homemade buns) and cake. A total of $1,209.70 was raised by the parish from the event; these funds will be used to assist in the cost of repairing the church roof.

The sale was well attended, the crowd was steady and the sales brisk, throughout the four-hour market, and the event was considered a great success by all!

Photos by Leslie Ridden

Stewards of God's abundance

Tighten our belts and open our hearts

By Rev. Christine M. Burton

T

.S. Eliot said April was the cruelest month, but for my money, and especially for those who lack it, January’s post-Christmas hangover makes it a sure-fire bet for the worst month in Saskatchewan.

With several months of winter and associated light and heating bills still to go, and with any extra money spent on Christmas, January can be very slim pickings.

That means that this is the month when many people show up at church doors begging for help, praying they will get a warmer reception from us than from bill holders.

And every priest and deacon does his/her best, seeking out resources that might be able to help — a food bank where they exist, referrals to appropriate social service agencies, a drive to places where they can get a hot meal or some warm clothes — but sometimes what they need is money.

Money that few churches have.

Some parishes have wisely and compassionately established small discretionary funds for their clergy to use in just such cases. A $25 gift card to a grocery store or bus tickets to go to an interview or job can make all the difference for someone, not just today, but over the longer term if it helps them stay or get back on their feet.

I suspect that most of us like to think of ourselves as being independent and self-reliant, but I think the truth, if we are willing to face it, is more likely that we can each recall a time when we were blessed by someone else’s generosity when we really needed it.

Many of us also pay it forward by helping people we know who need a little help. But Jesus told us that “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do unto me.” So ask yourself – who are “the least” if not those people and families who are staring into a

"The poor tell us who we are.

The prophets tell us who we can be. So we hide the poor and kill the prophets."Philip Berrigan, American peace activist and former Roman Catholic priest Saskatchewan winter with little to nothing? And more often than we might think, it is people we know, but who have managed to keep up a brave face.

January is also when we commemorate the visit of the Magi, who brought gifts for the new king. One of those gifts was gold.

We typically reflect on that particular gift as a sign of Jesus’ kingship, but I have no doubt it came in handy when the Holy Family fled into Egypt to save their infant son, and that the modern equivalent

would be equally welcome by the families who come to our doors — holy in their own way, and as beloved of God. Another gift was frankincense — the perfume of prayers.

Faithful adherents or not, regular churchgoers or not, atheists or believers, I have no doubt that needy parents all say prayers, desperate for someone, anyone, God even, to help them shelter, clothe, and feed their children.

The third gift was myrrh, the ritual burial spice. How much pride would you have to bury to ask for help? They’ve done it. How many dreams would your family have to let die in order to meet their most basic needs?

They’ve done that too.

There’s a saying, “Live simply, so that others may simply live.” How often have you said no to your own desires and ego so that you could help out someone in need instead?

How often do you wish that you had … ?

The third century Jewish philosopher

Maimonides said the second-highest form of charity was when neither the giver nor the receiver knows who the other is.

It prevents weird power dynamics, and with no “debt” accruing either direction, it was considered a special “mitzvah,” as it was done for the sake of heaven, not for reward on Earth — and by giving money to our parish discretionary fund we honour that model.

We all tighten our belts a bit in January, either financially, or as part of a resolution to lose that weight we gained from feasting over the holidays.

I do, and I know that I can be both righteous and resentful about it.

But my belt tightening is a pulling back on my abundance. And it’s nothing compared to the genuine needs of others.

What’s a few extra dollars — the price of a few coffees with whipped cream that I didn’t need anyway — when it could be given to the church’s discretionary fund to feed the children of Jesus’ brother and sister?

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

January 2024

Clergy training day a chance to honour diocese's leaders

By Mary Brown PRINCE ALBERT — When I learned that the clergy of the diocese were meeting on Nov. 1 for a training day, I thought I would get a picture of most of them so people could put a face to the name.

In the picture in the chapel from left to right starting at the aback is Ted Williams, priest in Tisdale and Melfort; Brody Albers, youth minister and priest at St. Christopher’s, Christopher Lake; David Butorac, priest in St. Alban’s, St. George’s, Prince Albert and All Saints, Leask and St. Andrews, Shellbrook.

Beside David is Rick Reed, priest for St. David’s, and Emmanuel, St. Louis and St. Stephen, MacDowall; Archdeacon Andrew Hoskin is the diocesan administrator.

Beside him is Jordan Draper, priest in St. Mary’s, Birch Hills, St. George’s, Kinistino and St. James, Muskoday.

To the left in the front row is Michael Lyons, priest at St. John’s, Nipawin and Church of Ascension, Arborfield, then Rev. Pat Martin, retired priest and honorary assistant at St. Christopher’s.

Beside Pat is Deacon Eugene Merasty from Holy Trinity, Stanley Mission and beside him is Rev. Don Skinner, priest in Good Shepherd, Turtleford, St. John, Livelong, and Mervin and Edam.

As it turns out there were more upstairs too, including Deacon Dixie Bird, in Holy Trinity, Prince Albert, and Bishop Adam Halkett and Beryl Whitecap, from St. Thomas, Shoal Lake.

The clergy in the diocese got together on

Clergy with the Diocese of Saskatchewan gather for a picture during their training day. In the chapel from left to right starting at the back is Rev. Ted Williams, Rev. Brody Albers, Rev. David Butorac, Rev. Rick Reed, Archdeacon Andrew Hoskin and Rev. Jordan All Saints Day Nov. 1 at St. Alban’s Cathedral. The day began with everyone meeting for coffee and sharing.

They were requested to come prepared to share their memories about someone, who is now deceased, who was a positive influence on them in their spiritual journey. Someone who helped them to come to know Jesus better and follow Him, someone to remember and give thanks for on All Saints Day. After their sharing time they celebrated Holy Communion in the chapel.

Following the service everyone met for a pizza lunch. After lunch Elder Priscilla Joseph spoke to the group about racial sensitivity.

Draper. In the front row is Rev. Michael Lyons, Rev. Pat Martin, retired priest and honorary assistant at St. Christopher’s, Deacon Eugene Merasty and Rev. Don Skinner.

Photos by Mary Brown

From left are Deacon Dixie Bird, Bishop Adam Halkett and Rev. Beryl Whitecap.

Feeling the Holy Spirit

Bodily temples to serve God and one another

By Rev. Gene Packwood

I

t’s Epiphanytide. Jesus continues to make Himself manifest to the world, only now, it’s also in the power of the Holy Spirit but through people like us. How? St. Paul describes the way in the second reading on the second Sunday

after the Epiphany: …do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have

from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

St. Paul reminds us from whom we come, whose we are, what our bodies are for — that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and we must learn to glorify God with

them. When we do so, Jesus is made manifest.

What are temples for?

Worship, sacrifice and prayer.

How, then, do we glorify God in these bodily temples? First, we worship with them — not just in church, although that’s important. We make Continued next page

January 2024

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Members of the Texas 4000 meet and pray with members of the Christ Church congregation on the west lawn of the church.

Photos by Ruth Black

Texas 4000: An epic journey to fight cancer

By Judy Anderson

For July 4 Christ Church Parish provided the Texas 4000 participants with a cake to celebrate their national holiday.

SASKATOON — The Texas 4000 is a charity cycling ride aimed at fundraising for cancer. Each year university students from Austin, Texas cycle from their home state of Texas to Anchorage, Alaska.

Prior to the ride, each student must raise $4,500, cycle 2,000 training miles, and volunteer more than 50 hours of community work.

Needless to say, these students are dedicated, courageous, and strong. Since the Texas 4000 was launched in 2004, it has raised over US$13 million dollars.

It is considered the longest annual charity bike ride in the world.

This past summer, Christ Church, Saskatoon, was once

again honoured to host these amazing young people.

We provided the 23 riders with a welcome dinner and sleeping space for the evening and even provided a July 4 cake decorated with fireworks to celebrate their national holiday.

The City of Saskatoon generously allowed the riders a free shower and a quick swim at the nearby Mayfair Pool. The following morning the students awoke to clean laundry and a breakfast.

After an emotional farewell, the city police escorted them to the outskirts of the city.

We feel blessed to host this amazing group of young people and always feel we have gained far more than we have given.

... A bodily temple means the Holy Spirit is within us Continued from page 10 sure that everything we choose to do and say, or not, honours the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who made us.

As bodily temples of the Holy Spirit, we also serve God and one another sacrificially.

A healthy part of the sacrifice we live out in our God-given bodily temples is to resist sin that can be so tempting and attractive —for some troublesome examples, see verses 12–17 in that reading from 1 Corinthians 6.

We also pray.

Constantly (1 Thess. 5:17).

Note that being a bodily

temple also means that the Holy Spirit is within us.

For those of you who are vintage BCP Anglicans, it happened before you knew it.

Just before you were baptized, the priest prayed that you would be baptized and sanctified with the Holy Spirit (BCP, p523), that the Holy Spirit would be given to you (BCP, p525) and that you would be regenerate with the Holy Spirit (BCP, p529). Power was received, whether you knew it or not.

Then, with confirmation, came the bishop’s prayers that you would be strengthened by

and daily increase in the Holy Spirit more and more (BCP, p560).

For those baptized and confirmed according to the BAS rites, “Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit,” the celebrant prayed, and “Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit” (BAS, p155), “Anoint them” (BAS, p157) and “Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit” (BAS, p160).

The bishop then confirmed it all when s/he prayed, “by the sealing of your Holy Spirit you have bound us to your service.

Renew in these your servants the covenant you

made with them at their baptism.

"Send them forth in the power of that Spirit to perform the service you set before them.”

The bishop also prayed that we would be strengthened, empowered, sustained and would “daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more” (BAS, p628).

They look rather like make-temples-of-theHoly-Spirit prayers to me.

Prayers for making Jesus more manifest to those around us.

Prayers to consecrate the temples of the Holy Spirit we all are. Re-filling

prayers.

As an Epiphanytide Prayer Project, why not make a list of them and pray them for yourself, your family, friends, fellow parishioners and your priest?

The Collect for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany is a good one with which to finish: Almighty God,by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service.

Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call;through Jesus Christ our Lord,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

January 2024

Clamouring for attention By the Rev. Canon MarieLouise Ternier

C Rev. Eimsook Joung (right) was installed as priest of Immanuel Parish, Regina, on Nov. 15. Bishop Helen Kennedy was celebrant and preacher. Photo by Nigel Salway

Immanuel's first incumbent inducted

By Joanne Shurvin-Martin REGINA — Six years after the process to combine five parishes began, Immanuel Parish has its first incumbent. Rev. Eimsook Joung was inducted during the celebration of new ministry on the evening of Nov. 15.

Bishop Helen Kennedy was celebrant and preacher, assisted by Archdeacon Catherine Harper and Deacon Canon Susan Page.

Seven members of the parish presented symbols of ministry during the service: the Bible, water for baptism, holy oil, the canons of the diocese, key to the church building, prayer books, and bread and wine for Eucharist.

Bette-Lou Paragg read

the first reading from Jeremiah, where God tells the prophet, “I have put my words in your mouth.”

Subdeacon Bob Erickson led the section of Psalm 119, in which the psalmist writes of God’s laws and statutes.

Bert Clarke read from Romans, in which St. Paul tells his readers, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world…” and speaks of the many different gifts given by God. The Gospel from John 15 was read by Page. It begins, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you,” and concludes with Jesus assuring His disciples, “Whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

In her sermon, Bishop Helen Kennedy said, “Today begins a new

chapter in this parish — a new relationship between parish and priest.”

She compared the relationship as being similar to a marriage, in that both require time and effort from both parties to be successful.

Referring to the Epistle, Kennedy said it is hard to resist the urgings to “conform” to the world, citing the constant barrage of advertising to which people are subjected.

She said rather than succumbing to pressure to think of people and groups as different and therefore dangerous, we should always seek the image of God in other people.

Kennedy concluding by saying she was excited to see “where God is leading this parish with this priest.”

ountless minority groups inhabit every society: racial and ethnic groups; people with hearing impairment and mobility challenges; persons with Down’s Syndrome and on the autism spectrum; members of the LGBTQ+ community; blind people and seniors; immigrants and refugees; religious groups; the economically disadvantaged and those suffering abuse and/or addictions.

Numerically, Indigenous and First Peoples may not actually be a minority, but they are treated as such by dominant cultures in every time and place.

Given my age, I belong to the seniors’ group.

Given my hearing aids, I struggle with loss of hearing. Given my CPAP machine, I need mechanical assistance to keep breathing at night.

My frequent use of walking sticks betrays mobility challenges that affect my sense of balance.

Given my country of birth, I still feel like an immigrant, even after 45 years in this glorious land.

People in the categories deserve respect and dignity, compassion and acceptance. It would be a healthy exercise for us to identify the minority groups we are part of through birth, circumstance or life changes.

If we can do that, we might be able foster a greater understanding, compassion and acceptance of others who struggle with their minority status.

There is nothing like personal experience to grow solidarity and understanding.

What happens when some groups have greater political clout than others?

When certain voices for equality and recognition are more easily heard and heeded than others, the power imbalance is not necessarily rectified or eradicated, but it might

merely switch sides.

Political influence by minority groups is often connected to social, educational and economic status and privilege.

Those with less means to assert their presence tend to struggle in silence and without much fanfare, unnoticed even by other minorities caught up in their own struggle for public recognition.

Such is the case for dear friends, a couple in their senior years and both in wheelchairs, still living at home. Their mobility challenges seriously limit where, when and how they can go out.

Deeply faith-filled, they cannot find a church community in their tradition willing/ able to meet their needs, to bring the church to them, or to improve wheelchair accessibility on its premises. Lacking any political power and stamina to join public voices, they resign themselves to social and emotional isolation.

Others suffer in silence with mental health challenges; that number is growing way too fast, unfortunately. Invisible illness is doubly isolating.

On the outside a person can look perfectly fine, but mental and emotional struggles can make that person’s life a living hell without anyone noticing.

Someone posted on Facebook recently: the worst part about having a mental illness is that people expect you to behave as if you don’t.

I am noticing my hearing loss more acutely. I can no longer go into restaurants with background music as it limits what I can hear in the company I keep. I no longer attend large events where a lot of voices can sound like a cacophony of noise, especially with poor acoustics and sound equipment. But it doesn’t occur to me to lobby for a ban on loud music so the hearing-impaired among us can be better included.

Continued next page

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Obituary

Canon Park Buck a 'sharp-dressed man' who cared for others

By Mary Brown

Rose and Park Buck.

...

Attention Continued from page 12 I simply accept the limitations this challenge creates. Sooner or later, life’s challenges turn each of us into a victim of circumstances.

The resulting helplessness and pain can throw us into a minority group we never expected.

If we are not careful and process the resulting frustrations and negative energy in constructive ways, we risk dumping on others in damaging ways.

There’s an ironic privilege in succeeding to make one’s experience of injustice, victimization and oppression heard and heeded in the public square. While there is legitimate power in finding a collective public voice, when rooted in negativity and anger it can inflict a type of reverse oppression on others.

Calls for justice and respect, dignity and equality are important for certain causes. But such calls might be better served when arising from healthy, healed places within us. Reversing oppressor – oppressed roles serves little purpose.

And always, always, remember the many who remain voiceless in their minority status. Some day each of us might find ourselves in their company as well.

Photo submitted

PRINCE ALBERT — The Rev. Canon Park Buck was born in May 1957 and died suddenly on Nov. 20, 2023, at the age of 66 years. He had four sons with his f irst wife: Ken, Sherman, Joseph and George (deceased).

Park married Rose Dussion in October 2009 and they were always together afterward.

Park’s service to the church began with his appointment as lay reader by the Rev. Charlie Halkett.

He was ordained as a deacon on May 11,1986 and priested on May 24, 1987. He also worked as custodian at the school in Cumberland House.

In 2008 he was made a canon in the Anglican Church.

This past April Park received a long-service recognition award from the Diocese of Saskatchewan for his service to the church for over 35 years.

Park was a regular at the Synod Off ice, attended James Settee College courses and sat on many committees over the years.

When I think of Park, I think of the ZZ Top song “A Sharp Dressed Man.” He was always impeccably dressed, with not a hair out of place.

Buck always made it possible for the diocese to conduct VBS programs in

Cumberland House. He would make sure the instructors had a place to stay and help when they arrived.

He made sure that elders Christie Crane, Philomene Chaboyer and Louisa Buck were presented with the Order of Saskatchewan.

He was a mentor to the Rev. Edmund Bloomf ield and the Rev. Lloyd Young who are no longer with us.

Deacon Sheila Chaboyer has benef itted from his mentoring skills and will be putting them to use.

The Church of the Good Shepherd and the community of Cumberland House will not be the same without Canon Park Buck.

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January 2024

Queen's House Retreat Centre offers many useful courses Submitted

Soul Listening: A Day of Learning and Renewal on Zoom (retreatportal. com)

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

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.

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 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.

Navigating the holidays while grieving: Before and after Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. January 6. Offered at Queen’s House. Facilitator: Brenda Gibbs. Were you feeling alone with your grief and full of holiday dread?

Were you unsure how to manage your grief so you didn’t spoil the holidays for your children or grandchildren?

Meeting and connecting with other bereaved family members is a proven way to strengthen your ability to move through the first couple years of grief.

On Saturday, Jan. 6, you will be invited to join with others to reflect on how you navigated the holiday season – the highlights, and moments of difficulty.

At a time of the year when our predominant culture is proclaiming “Happy New Year!’ you will have the opportunity

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 Queen's House Retreat and Renewal Centre. File photo to reflect on the coming year, and what it might hold for you.

Register by January 2: Navigating the Holidays While Grieving: Before and After - Session Two, January 6 (retreatportal. com) Bereaved caregivers: Living through loss A support group held six Wednesday afternoons, January 17 to February 21, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Please contact Brenda Gibbs, facilitator, prior to registering: 306-227-7323.

Caregivers have often experienced years of anticipatory grief caused by the cumulative losses that occurs when a family is expecting a death. Now the vigil is over, and the final grief can be intense.

No one grieves the same and there is no single recipe or formula to grief work. What's needed is a commitment to do the work and grow in grief.

With grief in your heart, you will never be the same again, yet there is hope in finding meaning and reinvesting in your future.

Registration deadline: Jan. 15. To register: Bereaved Caregivers: Living through Loss (retreatportal.com) Biblical characters and the Enneagram: Images of transformation A retreat held at Queen’s House. Saturday Jan. 20, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Facilitator: Pearl Gervais. The Bible and

the Enneagram confront the possibilities and need for inner work in complementary ways.

They both urge the work of transformation to begin so that we will experience the fullness of life. They awaken people to their personal potential for conversion and growth, by initiating them into the mystery of their own spiritual depths.

The biblical narratives provide us with many models of people who have struggled, denied, celebrated transformative relationships with themselves, the Divine, and others. Once we know our type on the enneagram, how might we connect to the wisdom of the Christian and Hebrew Scriptures?

Join us as we ascribe type to some of the biblical characters. How did they walk with God, and how does the Divine walk, inspire, motivate, and move us to regain our Essence? How do they assist us in discerning the meaning of our individual and collective journeys?

Through interaction, movement and ritual, participants will continue their soul-making experience with these characters as mentors.

Please note: participants must have a working knowledge of their type of enneagram.

Registration deadline: Jan. 18. To register: Biblical Characters and the Enneagram: Images of Transformation

(retreatportal.com) Phone 306-242-1916 x226 to inquire about staying at the retreat centre prior to/ following this retreat.

Soul listening: A day of learning and renewal Friday Feb. 2, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Offered in-person and on zoom.

Facilitator: Julie Bergen.

Join other caregivers as we step away for a day to focus on listening to ourselves and others.

We will learn active listening skills and contemplate how listening becomes soul listening.

We will practice this as we in turn offer a listening presence and receive the gift of soul listening.

This inter-faith program is for: those seeking to further develop their supportive presence with those they encounter; those who wish to volunteer in their faith-group or in the wider community; those already volunteering in their faith-group or in the wider community; those who are caregivers with their families or friends.

This interactive training will provide skills, discussion, and small-group interaction as we practice active listening, attend to feelings, and focus on providing a compassionate presence to others.

In-person registration: Soul Listening: A Day of Learning and Renewal - at Queen’s House (retreatportal.com) Zoom registration:

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 twoyear 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.

For information and to apply, visit www. growinginwisdom.ca.

January 2024

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The future we are living into is God's future By the Rev. Dr. Iain Luke Principal, College of Emmanuel & St. Chad

University students look through donations of winter clothes, collected by Immanuel Anglican Church. Deacon Susan Page (with pink scarf) and Warden Diane Gingras stand behind the table (right).

Photos by Tomiwa Adewumi

Carol Hayford (left) shakes hands with Rev. Eimsook Joung at the winter clothing giveaway event at University of Regina. Other members of the Immanuel parish Welcome Committee look on, including Diane Gingras and Deacon Susan Page.

Winter clothes given to university students

By Diane Gingras REGINA — On Nov. 22, several members of Immanuel Anglican Church in Regina loaded up a half-ton truck and made their way to the Luther College building at the University of Regina.

The truck was full of winter jackets, warm cardigans and pullovers, mitts, scarfs, boots and toques, which had been donated by the Immanuel

congregation.

It was a “Winter Clothes Giveaway,” open to all students from across the campus.

The event was well attended, especially by international students, many of whom had never seen snow and were in their first year of study.

They had been told about the Saskatchewan winters, and headed for the winter jackets and warm sweaters first.

Many of them left proudly wearing the clothes they found, and feeling better prepared for a cold Saskatchewan winter ahead.

This initiative was part of Immanuel’s vision of being “a diverse, open and caring community of people who have come together in fellowship to joyfully live out our love for God and to actively engage in loving our neighbours.”

T

he beginning of a new year always feels, to me, like the moment my car odometer rolls over to a new, big, round number. It’s time to do the math. How far have we come? How much more distant are we from past events?

Often, the new year calculation relates to anniversaries. 2024 will be the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 4. It will be the 75th anniversary of Confederation joining Newfoundland, or at least that’s how they describe it in St. John’s! It’s also the 25th anniversary of the territory of Nunavut.

Many of us will mark events of our own this year. Some readers will celebrate their golden wedding, or count the years since a deep personal loss. Others will mark special birthdays, associated with getting a driver’s license, or a pension payment.

All those ways of marking the passage of time, important as they are, invite us to look back and measure where we are, in relation to events that have already happened. It’s rare that we look in the other direction, unless there is something definite in our very near future, a countdown to graduation, or retirement, or something similar.

Looking into the future is quite different from looking into the past, mostly because we can see the past a lot more clearly. Speakers of other languages sometimes point out how confusing it is in English when we

say the past is “behind” us and the future is “ahead”.

In fact, they say, it should be the other way round, since the past is something we can easily see right in front of us, while the future is hidden.

Yet the New Year is also a time of welcoming the future, with all of its unknowns. Some of those hidden prospects might be fearful, but others can be exciting and fulfilling.

From where I stand, it feels as though the church, in particular, is on the cusp of shifting into some brand-new ways of being.

Some of that shift can be seen, in the present, as changes happen in our parishes and dioceses.

When a church closes, or several parishes merge into one, or dioceses examine their own sustainability, we tend to think about our past and where we’ve come from. We measure what is, against what used to be.

We might feel very differently if we held ourselves accountable to the future, to what is to come. It’s challenging to do this, because we don’t know what the future holds. But we can see signs of what is coming, and those signs hold a lot of potential.

What would it be like, for example, if our church’s future involved a lot more co-operation, with people of other parishes, or of other denominations, or even of other faiths?

What would it look like if, in our future, we emphasized people growing in their faith every day, and acting out our faith together in serving our neighborhoods, as much as we now emphasize going to Continued on page 16

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

January 2024

St. Mary's, Regina receives AFC grant for reno work

By Rev. Christine M. Burton REGINA — Church halls can be messy places, but ever since St. Mary the Virgin Parish in Regina received a grant from the Anglican Foundation Canada (AFC)S, its lower hall has been messier than usual.

“Both our upper and our lower halls were being used extensively — by our parish community, by the Ethiopian Orthodox community that uses our church for worship, and by local groups and entrepreneurs looking for affordable, welcoming spaces,” said rector, Canon Claude Schroeder.

“But it’s fair to say the lower hall, and especially the lower kitchen, had passed their ‘best before’ dates. The kitchen is often a deciding factor for groups wanting to use space, and we wanted to ensure everyone coming in had access to a safe, clean, and modern set-up.

"So we applied for a grant from the Foundation, and were blessed to be approved for $9,000.”

Yes, St. Mary’s has two halls. The upper hall is attached to and beside the church sanctuary. It is the main, more modern hall, and the one currently primarily used for events such as coffee after worship, church dinners, the St. Nicholas Fair and Saskatoon Berry Festival.

The lower hall is the “old” hall, located beneath the church proper, and accessed by the same side door leading into the sanctuary, upper hall, and the church offices located above the upper hall.

The lower hall has a venerable history, having served as site of local theatre productions, open mic events, a summer children’s day camp, and the traditional after-worship feasts of

The before and after photos of the lower hall and the work that contractors did to renovate it.

Photos by Terry Page the Ethiopian Orthodox community.

The Ethiopian church worships in St. Mary’s on Saturdays, and donated $20,000 towards the renovation work.

The hall also contains spaces used for children’s faith formation, including an art room and “oasis” gathering space.

The renovation is primarily focused on updating the lower kitchen, which expands the type of activities that can be conducted in the lower hall.

“This past summer we had our first-ever Saskatoon Berry Festival.

We served pie and drinks in the upper hall, where we also had local musicians performing. We were quite crowded, and some of those attending

wished there was a quieter space where they could converse a bit more freely,” said Schroeder.

“The kitchen will enable us to serve from both halls and expand the number of those who can attend.” The materials and colours being chosen will also lighten up the space, making it feel bigger, and making it easier to clean.

“I didn’t expect that part of my priestly calling would oblige me to become, essentially, a general contractor,” Canon Schroeder jokes.

“I was somewhat aware of, but really didn’t know the number of decisions that were required in such a build – from flooring to shelving to placement of electrical outlets … .

"We’re incredibly blessed to have the

assistance of our Sexton, Terry Page, who’s an engineer both by training and by extensive experience, which is incredibly relevant when you’re dealing with a church that’s nearly 100 years old. His leadership and support have been invaluable.”

Work started on the project in mid-August, and is expected to be completed by the end of January.

“Once the renovation is complete, we hope to start Phase 2, which is the beautification project,” continued Schroeder.

“This will comprise of art panels on the theme of ‘Eating and Drinking with Jesus’ to be hung on the walls, and to have the verse from John’s Gospel: I am the living bread which came down from

heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world (John 6.51) painted in calligraphy lettering on the ductwork.

“This renovation will help us remain an integral part of the community even outside of worship and parish-specific events.

"We hope that those who come to events here may be touched by God, who is present in all time and space, and may decide to pursue that relationship further,” added Schroeder.

What is certain is that this renovated space will help the people of St. Mary’s and the surrounding community continue to give glory to God in all their activities.

... A future where we acted out our faith everywhere daily Continued from page 15 church and being active in its organization?

What would it feel like if our future included seeing every member of the church as an ambassador for our faith community, and making

sure that we all felt well equipped for that role?

All these developments are reasonably foreseeable, based on the changes that are starting to happen in our parishes, and in the Anglican Church of

Canada, right now.

We can look forward to being part of a church that is different, in the ways I just described.

What will your church look like in five years? In 25? In 150?

Those questions are

difficult to answer, but it is worth trying to answer them, in our imaginations, in our dreams, and in our plans.

The future we are living into is God’s future, and that is really

the only thing we can say with certainty.

It may also be the only thing we really need to know, in order to celebrate our call into the future, just as deeply as we celebrate our roots in the past.

January 2024

The Saskatchewan Anglican

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Saskatoon reaches out with free monthly community dinners

By Judy Anderson

Volunteers at the ready, the November Christ Church Community Dinner is about to start; tonight on the menu a Ukrainian feast of borscht, perogies, sausage, sauerkraut, salad and dessert.

Photo by Ruth Black

SASKATOON — At Christ Church we have become increasingly aware of the number of people in our neighbourhood who are hungry, lonely and without community.

One of our central mission statements is to find ways to reach out to our neighbours and to let them know that our doors are open.

Towards that end, this past summer, we decided to start a free community dinner program serving a home cooked meal every third Tuesday of the month.

The four founders of the project reached into their pockets and funded the first dinner.

Each dinner has a theme from Mexican, Thanksgiving, Ukrainian, etc. Fifty-five people attended the first dinner, and since then the numbers have grown with

an average attendance of 150 people, though once we exceeded 200.

The people attending are often young families, seniors who live alone, people who are financially and emotionally struggling and neighbours who are checking us out.

Although the dinner is free, we typically receive around $300 in donations after each dinner.

Each meal, on average costs around $500. Sask Energy has generously given us a grant for $500, which helps to offset some of our costs.

At this stage, we are looking to partner with other churches that might wish to sponsor a meal by either a providing a cash donation and/or by providing volunteers at the dinner.

If you or your church are interested, please contact Judy Anderson at janderson1@sasktel.net or 306-229-2190.

Seasonal sales Several parishes held fundraising sales in the season leading up to Christmas. At St. Paul's Cathedral, Regina, the Christmas Bazaar offered sewing, knitting and crocheting, hand-painted pictures and many Christmas crafts. Jewelry, pet accessories and Christmas decor were also for sale. The Caring Crafters, an ecumenical group

that meets twice monthly at the Living Spirit Centre in Regina, offered a huge selection of quilts, sewing, knitting and crocheting.

Also, women set out baking before hungry shoppers arrived.

Photos by Margaret Ball

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

January 2024

Attendees at the 2023 LAW fall retreat held at Emmanuel Anglican Church in Saskatoon pose for a picture.

Photo by Scott Verity

Women's retreat focuses on finding hope in life's dark moments

By Margaret Fast SASKATOON — “God reached down from on high and drew me out of the mighty waters” II Samuel 22:17.

Thirty-six women from Lutheran and Anglican parishes across Saskatoon gathered at Emmanuel Anglican Church in Saskatoon for a fall retreat in late October.

Under the theme “Out of the Depths – Living

in Hope,” Pastor Fran Schmidt gently guided us to embrace hope through sharing our stories of our personal life journey.

During two morning sessions we were given the opportunity, as we felt able, to speak of difficult times of grief, losses, and transitions in health, ageing and family.

Each of us was invited to draw a chart of our life path, highlighting those difficult events, but

also the times of joy; the valleys and the peaks of our journey.

In the quiet of the afternoon, surrounded by the beauty of the stained-glass features in our worship space, we explored our faith journeys in small group conversations.

In our sharing, our burdens lightened and hope bloomed, as we recognized the risen Christ reaching out to us

in our depths, bringing us up into joy and renewed hope.

Rejuvenated, we were encouraged to consider that in a life of purpose, we make a choice to align our established values with actions towards others and ourselves, thus we cultivate hope.

A worship service, with communion, completed the day.

The planning committee chose, as the mission

project, to give donations to the art therapy program through the Saskatoon Public School Foundation.

The project involves atrisk children, grades 5 to 8, in Saskatoon’s inner-city schools.

Using professional art materials, and led by local artists, the children are able, through art, to address their feelings and facilitate healing from traumas that many of them live with.

Correction to summer churches article Incorrect information appeared in a cutline to two photos in the October story about the summer churches. The photos in the October

issue were from Deer Creek Church. These photos above are from Briarlea Church. We apologize for the error.

January 2024

The Saskatchewan Anglican

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The Saskatchewan Anglican

January 2024