Saskatchewan anglican
A thought about Easter Sunday
By the Rev. Scott Sharman ACC National Animator for Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs
In John’s version of the story about Jesus' resurrection that we read on Easter Sunday, it is Mary Magdalene on her own. In other tellings, there is some combination of one or two other Marys, a Salome, a Joanna, etc.
But in each case, the basic idea is the same: In the wake of Jesus’ death, when the majority of the proto church is completely shattered, disoriented, and afraid, it falls to a small group of courageous women to take a step out in faith.
In the tradition of the Eastern churches, this group is often referred to as the Holy Myrrhbearers. On a literal level, this is a title given to describe the function they perform — carrying spices to the tomb to anoint the Lord’s body.
On its own, this also is already an honorable task, remaining faithful to the spiritual and religious customs of their people even when doing so comes with some personal risk.
But, looking deeper, it seems to me there is an even greater layer of meaning contained in their example, and one with some particular ecclesial relevance for the disciples of Jesus today.
To be a Myrrhbearer, in an expansive and contemporary sense, is to be someone who does not shy away from acknowledging the realities of death and decay in the Body of
Christ, but faces them with a special degree of supernatural grace and persistent hope.
They take the risk to open the doors in the midst of considerable upheaval and uncertainty about what is coming next, to carry on in their ways of faith, and to place balm on the Church’s seemingly fatal wounds. They do this somehow believing that the story is not quite over yet.
As they do, they also discover a Jesus who is very much alive and who takes them by surprise anew.
I believe that the icon of the Myrrhbearing women is an especially apt one for picturing the vocation of membership and leadership in the Church in this time.
Although the reality of uncertainty, fear, apparent failure, and maybe even death to the prevailing institutional expressions of the Jesus Way we’ve been used to are all around us, our call is to name it openly, to do the hard things that need to be done, to grieve what needs to be let go of and grieved, and yet to faithfully persevere in living the way of our spiritual forbears with a belief that this present moment may not necessarily be the very last word.
In so doing, we too will find that Jesus isn’t gone at all, but is merely somewhere we had not unexpected. We will discover that a new kind of life can rise up from what seems like decline into the grave.
Holy Myrrhbearers, pray for us!
Italian artist Francesco Vecellio's "The Resurrection" shows how the Roman soldiers guarding Jesus's tomb reacted to His resurrection. How do we react now to that event? Photo courtesy Wikimedia
Saskatoon elects new bishop
By Rev. Peter Coolen
SASKATOON — On March 8, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Saskatoon, the Diocese of Saskatoon elected a new 14th bishop for the diocese, as the Rev. Chad
McCharles, one of three candidates, was elected on the first ballot.
The other candidates were Rev. Dr. Iain Luke and Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy.
Chad comes to the Diocese of Saskatoon from
the neighbouring Diocese of Brandon where he holds many roles.
More information about McCharles' election as the 14th diocesan bishop will be featured in the May issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican
Jesus embodies the beauty of self-sacrificial love
By Rev. Dell Bornowsky
As a Christian theist
I understand the role of Jesus Christ in creation includes what is proclaimed in the Gospel by John: All things were made through him … and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Since beauty seems related to the idea of glory, it seems logical that some of the beauty of that divine Word, the creator who became flesh in the person known as Jesus of Nazareth, is already manifest throughout His creation.
Since the beauty that is proper to artists and creators is displayed in what they create, I accept that everything beautiful in this world is by extension the Beauty of Christ, my creator and my redeemer.
Psalm 19 explicitly makes this claim and Jesus seems to concur when He says King Solomon’s glory (beauty/ splendor) could not even match the lilies of the field. Even atheists who are awed by the beauty in nature are appreciating the beauty of God made manifest in God’s handiwork. They simply fail or refuse to recognize the personal, loving source of that divine Beauty.
I can remember one day walking to seminary in the fall of 2002. The leaves were turning on their autumn colours and I recall seeing a little bush. It was fairly small but it was particularly red, unusually red, remarkably red, almost to the point of seeming to glow.
I heard no audible voice but it almost seemed that I was being visually hailed,
cultural notions that Jesus' ministry and resurrection subvert, writes Rev. Dell Bornowsky.
Photo by Baltasar Vargas de Figueroa/Wikimedia
and I could not help but think of Moses and his encounter with a fiery bush.
Something happened in my heart. I say heart rather than mind, because my experience did not seem to come from a conscious thought.
Rather it was like a jolt of joy; a surprising heightened perception that filled me with delight, lifted my spirits and remained strong enough for me to realize that more than just a casual appreciation of nice fall colours, I had just been given a glimpse into the beauty and glory of heaven.
I remember trying to explain this experience to one of my professors who admitted that his own appreciation of beauty was more likely to occur when he encountered a wellcrafted logical argument. This reminds me that we often use the word “beautiful” when referring to all manner of other experiences such as solving a difficult puzzle, or, achieving a long sought-after goal or any delightful serendipitous discovery.
So Jesus reveals His beauty to me both in Creation and in Redemption. Perhaps that jolt of joy we experience
Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle. Published monthly except for July and August.
Whole No. 292, Vol. 53 No. 8
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when we glimpse something exquisitely beautiful relates to that more ongoing delight that is popularly known as “being in love.”
My son once observed that we seem have more different emotions than we have words to describe. The relationship between our various emotions also seems complex, and we hear an understandable paradox when Juliet says to Romeo “parting is such sweet sorrow.”
Love is “beautiful” but love is also the cause of sorrow when what we love is taken from us.
One friend suggested that the type of beauty Jesus calls us to recognize and that He Himself epitomizes is the beauty of self-sacrificing love. It is common to think that wounds and scars are antithetical to beauty, but this is one of the many cultural notions that Jesus’ ministry and resurrection tends to subvert.
This transformation of the concept of beauty prompted Matthew Bridges’ hymn lyrics, “Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side, rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified; no angels in the sky can fully bear that sight, but downward bends their burning eye at mysteries so bright.”
Thus Beauty not only delights us, but also humbles us and may cause us to hesitate (as Isaiah did; Is. 6:1-5) when invited into the embrace of a Beauty so glorious and majestic that we fear our very presence will sully that which we know we are unworthy of partaking.
Unlike Thomas, I cannot physically touch Jesus’ wounds, but like Thomas I do perceive the Beauty of Jesus and His love when I contemplate the wounds and scars that He willingly received to save me.
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It is common to think that wounds and scars are antithetical to beauty, but this is one of many
How has Jesus revealed His beauty to you?
Rev. Chad McCharles. Photo by Rev. P. Coolen
By Bishop Richard Reed
“Ah, Houston, we’ve had a problem.”
These are the words spoken by astronaut Jim Lovell of the Apollo 13 mission shortly after an explosion on the craft left it leaking oxygen into space, vital for propulsion and breathing.
The explosion and the damage it caused presented a cascading set of problems that, if left misdiagnosed and unsolved, meant disaster.
The Bishop's Corner
Returning to our roots
Anglicans in Canada have had our own “Houston, we have a problem” moment. We can debate about when the explosion occurred, but it is not debatable that our craft has been venting critical gasses for decades, and we have had many cascading and interconnected problems that, if left unsolved, all but ensure we will not land safely back on Earth.
Now, before you think this is another doom and gloom article, I intend to offer a solution to our problem. But first, I want to share a personal story. In 2016, a friend invited me to go fishing south of Chapleau, Ont., on an ATV accessonly lake about 13 kilometres long. We would spend four days deep in the bush, so we brought all the necessary supplies to fish, camp and survive.
On the first morning, my friend remembered he left something in his truck, so he piloted the small aluminum craft to the bay, where he quickly jumped out into shallow water and waded ashore. “Just putter around in here for a bit. I’ll take the ATV to the truck and be right back.”
Obediently, I piloted the boat out into the deep of the small bay, as I listened to the sound of the ATV fade into the distance. Suddenly,
the boat motor sputtered and quit. I put it in neutral and gave it a few tugs. Nothing. My efforts became more frantic as the river grabbed hold of the boat. I began to panic, frantically tugging the cord as the boat started down the river.
I was close enough to the shoreline to grab a small overhanging cedar, so I reached down and grabbed the only rope I saw and tied it to the tiny tree.
As I was bobbing up in down near the bank, I thought, “You better fix this fast!” As my mind raced, I heard a pop! The boat began to move again, flipping around backwards, still close to the bank. I scanned the shoreline for another tree and grabbed it quickly, tying the rope from the front of the boat to its branch.
Then, I sat down to catch my breath, and realized the rear of the boat was filling with water, and it was about to sink. I leapt up, grabbed a bucket, and began to bail, and that’s when I discovered the drain plug was gone. I quickly ripped off my rain pants and jammed them into the hole and continued to bail. Problem solved.
Eventually my friend hacked his way through the bush and found me and diagnosed the engine problem. It turns out when he jumped out of the boat, he disconnected the fuel line just enough to stop the flow but not enough to completely disconnect it. I felt stupid.
Had I calmly assessed the situation at the start, the fix would
have been quick and easy. Instead, my panicked attempts to survive had only made things worse. The boat was now safely tied to a tree 150 yards down a river in rapids surrounded by rocks, and the drain plug was hanging in a cedar tree upstream with my rain pants fulfilling its role.
Addressing the crisis
This is about the Anglican Church of Canada. Our current crisis is not so different. We have experienced significant decline, and we certainly must act, or our boats will sink. We’ve had our share of doom and gloom articles and reports telling us what parishes and dioceses already know.
We’ve also learned from experience that franticly plugging holes and bailing water isn’t working, and “managed decline” is becoming unmanageable. We can’t survive, and certainly not thrive in our current condition.
So, what is the solution? I contend that our problem is the fuel line that appears connected, but in many cases is not, and reconnecting it is what is needed most. And that fuel line is historic (or classical) Anglican Christian doctrine, spirituality, and worship. In other words, we need to return to our roots.
Read the Bible
So, what are those roots? Let’s keep it simple. First, as reformed and catholic, our church’s foundation is supposed to be the Holy Scriptures, God’s word written. How can we reliably know the Triune Creator, the history of God’s redemptive plan, the stories of our ancestors of the faith, or anything truthful about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ apart from the Scriptures?
Our church must repair the breaches, and re-establish a firm
foundation on the Holy Scriptures, and quickly.
Proclaim the Gospel
Second, it is in the Scriptures that the risen Lord Jesus Christ gives us our mission (Mt 28:18-20) to proclaim the Gospel of salvation to the world. It is how the church grows, and it is of course what the world needs most. So, we need to recover the mission our Lord commanded and reject our secularizing tendencies.
Digest the Word
These first two are utterly dependent on a third. As Anglicans we must personally take to heart the Advent 2 collect: “Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
It is not enough to believe that God’s word is authoritative and that we should submit to it, but we must read, mark, learn and inwardly digest it, allowing the Holy Spirit to work God’s word into our hearts and our lives.
Hearing Christ speak to us, and being transformed by the Holy Spirit, is the key to our being “the aroma of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:15) in our day.
Returning to basics
In other words, we all must return to the daily office of Morning and Evening prayer, meditating on God’s word day and night (Ps. 1:2). When the whole church is praying and feeding on God’s word together, the effects will be seen immediately in our
Continued on page 5
Introducing Marie-France Menc, Qu'Appelle's new chancellor
By Joanne ShurvinMartin
REGINA — The Diocese of Qu’Appelle has a new chancellor, as MarieFrance Menc assumed the duties of chancellor in November 2024, taking over from Tom Irvine, K.C., who served in the role since 2014.
The diocesan chancellor has three main functions: to advise the bishop on any legal matters referred to the chancellor, to advise on any matters of discipline or other issues when requested, and to rule on any points of order at meetings of Synod and Diocesan Council.
Menc brings a wealth of legal experience to the
role. She recently retired from the law firm of Kanuka Thuringer LLP in Regina, where she practised business and non-profit organization law for 17 years.
Before that, she practised in Toronto; briefly in Paris, France; and in London, Ont.
Menc’s husband, Robert Hawkins, is a retired law professor who sits on diocesan council, and until last fall was a Regina city councillor.
The couple have three sons, all in their 30s.
Born to immigrant parents, Menc grew up just north of Toronto with her twin sister. She attended Catholic schools and then Trinity College,
the Anglican college at the University of Toronto.
She studied Law at U of T and then earned a post-graduate degree in international commercial law from Aix-Marseille University in Aix-enProvence, France.
The new chancellor says her first priority is to update the canons and regulations of the diocese.
“This is underway,” she says, and she has been participating as a member of the diocesan legislation committee," says Menc.
The canons (church law) and regulations are very complex and detailed, and a change in one provision must be accurately reflected wherever the subject is mentioned, she continued.
The bishop has asked the committee to “strive for accuracy, brevity and clarity,” says Menc.
Menc is pronounced like ‘men’ as in more than one man, with a hard “c” or k sound at the end.
Announcements for April 2025
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.):
ESC 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.
Also, 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 Saskatchewan Theological Union Courses for 20242025 : The Saskatoon Theological Union has announced the list of course offerings for the coming fall and winter. These course offerings are too extensive to be listed here but information on these may be obtained from Colleen Walker, STU registrar, 1121 College Dr., Saskatoon, S7N 0W3, 639-6381510, colleen.walker@ saskatoontheological union.ca.
g Mentors and Instructors Needed for Em & St. Chad and WECAN Licentiate in Theology : Mentors and instructors for the students of our diocese enrolled in the Emmanuel and St. Chad College and the Western Education Collaborative Anglican Network's Licentiate in Theology.
For your information, a student may be in the L.Th. program for three to five years, depending on their life context and other responsibilities in their lives.
To maintain some continuity, we would like mentors to consider being in this role for two years. Longer would be appreciated and acceptable.
Retired clergy would be warmly welcome to serve as mentors as well as
being willing to participate in the mentor Orientation. Mentors do not need to be clergy or even incumbent clergy.
People with teaching experience, who are respected members in their faith community with a knowledge base relevant to the one of 12 courses required in the L.Th. could serve as instructors.
If interested in being either an instructor or mentor, or both, please contact the Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy at trish. mccarthy@saskatoon theologicalunion.ca.
g Christ Church Anglican, Saskatoon : Celtic Eucharist, Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.; Community Free Supper, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., (once per month, usually third Tuesday, 5-7 pm. check for dates and times); Community Coffee House, every Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Also, Nutflakes Videos (video lending library), Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Free Bread Program, Friday mornings; Men’s Breakfast the first Sunday of each month, a free breakfast for all provided by the men of the parish, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
g Foundations of
Hope/Rudiments of Faith : This six-week Lenten study series covering the basics of the Christian faith from an Anglican perspective is held at Christ Church Anglican, Saskatoon on Sundays, from 9 to 10 a.m.; the series concludes on April 13.
g Courses at the Refinery : The Refinery at Emmanuel Anglican Parish, Saskatoon is offering a series of courses during the Winter 2024 season on a variety of subjects including painting and various other art media, Zumba, and various spiritual and meditative modalities.
The “Painting Table” is held in the lower parish hall, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., the first Wednesday of each month. All art materials are supplied. For more information on the various courses offered or the “Painting Table” or to register, please contact the Refinery at: www.emmanuelrefinery.org or 306 653-3549.
g Evening Contemplative/TaizéStyle Service: A series of evening contemplative/ Taizé-style services are offered at Emmanuel Parish, Saskatoon, at 7:30 p.m., the last Tuesday of each month during March,
April and May.
g Saskatchewan Theological Union Convocation: The 24th Convocation of the Saskatchewan Theological Union (STU), (The University of Emmanuel CollegeCollege of Emmanuel & St. Chad, The Lutheran Theological Seminary and St. Andrew’s College of the United Church) will be held at Christ Church Anglican Parish, Saskatoon, on Friday, May 30. For more information, please contact the members of the STU.
g Appointments: It has been announced by the Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy that Elliot Luo will be taking over the co-ordination of the Saskatoon Anglican School of Discipleship.
g To be included in a timely manner, 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 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.
Marie-France Menc has been named the new chancellor for the Diocese of Qu'Appelle.
Photo by Bishop Helen Kennedy
Easter symbols in Yorkton
Symbols of Easter are displayed around the altar at Holy Trinity, Yorkton. The empty tomb with the stone moved away is an obvious symbol. Flowers, especially white lilies, have been used in Easter celebrations around the world for years. In Saskatchewan, pussy willows are a sign of spring when new life appears after winter. The white cloth draped on a wooden cross symbolizes Christ, who arose after His death on the cross. Butterflies, which transform
from caterpillars after being inactive in their chrysalis, are a symbol of the resurrection. The wreath on the wooden stand is used for both Advent and Lent, using the appropriate number of candles for each week. It was constructed by parishioner Don Ferridge. The tomb was constructed by Randy Hrywkiw. The stone covers the opening on Good Friday until Easter Sunday when it is rolled away.
Photo by Susan Geddes
Where there is holiness, there is beauty
How has Jesus revealed His beauty to you?
By the Rev. Dr. Laura Marie Piotrowicz
Around this time of year, so many of us are keen to notice each sign of spring and each revelation of new birth — the longer days, the melting of snow, the increasing presence of the sun. It can be easy to give glory to God when the beauty of God is literally unfolding before us.
Soon, even with our late Easter this calendar year, we will once again hear the words of Creation from Genesis 1, as God calls all things into being; and we can pay attention to those first verses:
“In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while the Spirit of God swept over the face of the waters.”
I like to imagine here that the Spirit is hovering over the void, excited and energised about what is to come forth.
I can visualise the pulsing enthusiasm of the Spirit, as all things that God creates pass through that blanket of divinity, touching perfect love and
holiness as they take their place in the created order, which is what we know as the cosmos.
It is this undeniable and transcendent joy of close contact with God that gives beauty to the whole of the Earth and beyond. Our invitation, then, is to recognise and truly appreciate that beauty.
This means that we see God’s beauty in the enchantment of a prairie sunset, and also in the slushiness of the snowmelt; we recognise a holy hope in the budding of a flower, and in the prevalence of weeds sprouting in our gardens.
Mud puddles and dandelions may not fit our conventional consideration as items of beauty — and we may all have many other components for that list! — but they have been blessed by that voice that loves all things into being.
This reality encourages me to enjoy those beautiful gifts, while also looking beyond the notion of physical beauty, and to be moved by the message of Psalm 96:9a, “Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness.”
This suggests to me that wherever there is holiness, there is beauty to be seen.
So, beauty can be seen in moments of grace and
forgiveness: when we come together and search for ways to find common understanding. When we are comfortable with the practice of seeking the presence of Christ in all people, our connection with each other can grow and flourish in beautiful and unexpected ways.
Beauty can be seen when we not only desire what is right but hear the call to action. As Proverbs 21:15a assures us, “The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous.”
There is beauty in standing up for what is right, in giving assistance to those experienc-ing need, in advocating for the vulnerable, in loving people as Jesus Himself loved.
As we renew our baptismal vows, many of us in worship at the Great Vigil of Easter, we remind ourselves of our commitments to love one another, to treat others with dignity and respect, to come together as the people of God: this is a beautiful testimony to our faith!
It reminds us of the power of being the people who are led by the Risen Christ to be the whole people of God, living the Good News in our own unique contexts.
When we do all we can
to build up community, we are doing all we can to celebrate the kin-dom of Christ.
By keeping Jesus at the centre of our hearts and intentions, we keep Christ at the core of our interactions with the world.
It doesn’t take much for us to share a smile, a kindness, a compliment, a prayer. Yet for those who have only felt excluded, this can be life-changing.
The beauty of the Lord is here when we recognise the presence of holiness. Further, in so many more ways than I could write about in this column, Jesus waits for us to surround ourselves and
others with that beauty. It’s only when we close our hearts to God’s divine presence in all things that we are rejecting that holiness, thus closing our eyes to the beauty of the Lord.
The ugliness in our world, which does exist, is merely from those who have chosen to turn away from God.
So, the opportunity is for us to see the joy, to identify the beauty, to raise thankful hearts to God for all that we have been given, and to receive the gift that comes from faith, that we are eternally enveloped in the beauty of Jesus.
... Returning to our roots
Continued from page 3 individual lives, and in the life of the gathered, worshipping and then sent congregation. Now, one might object to using the 1962 Prayerbook for all sorts of reasons. Fair enough. But I challenge all of us, whether lay or ordained, to at least spend time in daily prayer, and feeding on God’s word. Specifically, we should be reading the daily lessons appointed though
the church year. Imagine the fuel that would be powering our churches if we were all praying day and night, and inwardly digesting the same Scriptures, week after week throughout the church year. Would all our problems be solved? No. But, I dare say we would find our boats out of harm’s way, back on the lake, and soon we would be catching our limit, and enjoying a shore lunch in the shade.
Priests' trip to Halifax renews relationships, acquires support for baptismal video project
By Mary Brown
PRINCE ALBERT — In 2020, Thomas McCallum was in northern Saskatchewan with his friend Teddy Williams travelling around and playing music for communities in the north.
Since that time Ted Williams, who was a summer student, discerning his future, in the parish of Nipawin, returned to the diocese and is now the priest for St. Matthew’s in Tisdale and All Saints in Melfort.
McCallum returned to Ontario to pursue his music career and now lives in Halifax. He did not forget his time in our diocese and put on a concert in February entitled From Saskatchewan with Love
The concert was free in support of Cree ministry in Saskatchewan. Also playing with him was Karis Tees, who spent two summers in the diocese as a VBS instructor. Matt (a friend of Brody’s from Saskatchewan) played while his wife Amy Bird read a passage from Canon Edward Ahenakew’s book “Voices of the Plains Cree.”
Brody Albers and Jordan Draper spent a week in Nova Scotia recruiting King’s College students for VBS, promoting the work of our diocese and deepening friendships with their brothers and sisters in the Halifax area.
The visit included Holy Communion at King’s College Chapel, a weekend retreat with the chapel students, including sung offices and a daily sunrise Holy Communion, and the Monday night concert at St. George’s Round Church supporting an upcoming video project in the diocese.
The Rev. Eugene Merasty was also going to Nova Scotia, but was unable to attend as he was overwhelmed with many funerals to lead in Stanley Mission.
Albers said they stayed at Trinity House. Trinity House was originally a nine-bedroom rectory for St. George’s Church. The house was built
to accommodate their minister and his many children.
Subsequent ministers to St. George’s did not need such a large house and so the parish converted it into a
boarding house. In lieu of rent, students donate what they can to the church.
When they visited, there were five permanent lodgers. Each tenant is responsible for
looking after the work entailed in inhabiting a house, laundry, kitchen duties, cleaning, etc.
If a student is in need of shelter for whatever reason, they can stay there until their situation
improves.
The money is being raised to help pay to produce a baptismal video looking at the role of the different people in the service, and the meaning of baptism as an entrance into the church and the family of God in an indigenous perspective.
Members of St. George’s Round Church in Halifax pledged to match what was raised at the concert ($1,500).
To produce a quality video, it will cost $50,000. The diocese has received a grant from the Anglican Foundation for $15,000 and with other donations have about $25,000 towards the $50,000 bill.
If you or your parish would like to donate, please send a cheque to the Synod Office or you could e-transfer money to synod@sasktel.net
The diocesan affiliation with Nova Scotia goes back to the 1990s when Anthony Burton became bishop and continued his relationships from his time in Nova Scotia.
Bishop Michael Hawkins also had a connection to Nova Scotia and it still continues today with Brody and Jordan.
Trinity House residents and alumni pose with the visitors following the concert. In the back at right is Rev. Jordan Draper and in the middle row with baby George is Rev. Brody Albers. Photos courtesy Facebook
Thomas McCallum (centre) and his band perform at the Halifax event "From Saskatchewan with Love." Thomas was a summer student in the Diocese of Saskatchewan in 2020.
The Painting Table builds community through creative interactions
By Janice Cook
SASKATOON — It started as a dream about building community and has grown into so much more.
Imagine a place where people are invited to come together in a creative, welcoming and inclusive environment.
A church willing to be open to all community, in a non-traditional sense of what “church” is and does in order to invite individual expressions of spirituality through creative engagement.
A place where connecting with others is nurtured through unexpected and spontaneous conversation, as well as connecting with one’s own soul are natural outcomes. In other words, a place for all.
We imagined this place…we created it…and they came!
Emmanuel’s Painting Table events were inspired by the book titled “The Painting Table,” written by Roger Hutchison, where the creation of such a place is encouraged and celebrated.
Our monthly offering of the Painting Table started in the fall of 2022. We started small with eight participants arriving at our first event. The space, art materials, music and refreshments are provided.
There is no cost for community to participate and no particular program to follow. Paints, brushes and a variety of substrates are offered with a table arrangement that encourages interaction but also provides for individuals to reflectively work on their own if desired.
We are low-key and casual at the Painting Table, offering an opportunity to socialize, create without expectation, to express gratitude, lament, joy, or sadness, and time to be present with our souls individually and collectively while painting.
Pastor Fran shares this invitation: “Come just as you are with all you are and create whatever moves you in the moment.”
She opens each event with a reading meant to ground us and invite us into reflection. Whether it be poetry, praise or otherwise, it is offered to enjoy and inspire. The
shared reading creates a collective calm before the wonderful time of creating begins.
At the end of our first year of Painting Table events, an anonymous community donor offered to financially support the continuance of the Painting Table in its entirety.
The donor was touched by the nondenominational welcoming space and the interconnectedness of such an inclusive and soulful community and wanted to ensure that financial circumstances would not be a barrier to our initiative moving forward.
This incredibly kind and generous ongoing donation speaks to the value of the Painting Table and the reciprocal gift to both church and community.
We are now in our third year of offering monthly Painting Table events, with up to 50 people participating each month. Word of mouth has been the primary method of promotion. Posters are
circulated and information is also posted on our website.
The joyful experience shared at the Painting Table has resulted in participants often returning each month with family and friends and has provided opportunities to nurture and build an engaged multi-generational community.
It is not unusual to see those in their 60s or 70s interacting with the youths or young adults who attend, building bridges into each other’s cultural and generational understandings.
The positive influence of the program has extended beyond our walls, prompting other groups to inquire about program design and details.
These organizations expressed a desire to recreate our Painting Table design in their business or by way of community initiatives.
The proven ripple effect of this strengthened community connectedness
is also witnessed each month when the Scout troop, who meets weekly in our church hall, sets up the tables and chairs for each Painting Table event.
The Scout leaders first had the troop design an accurate floor plan, to scale, combining a practical learning activity with their service to church and community.
We are both grateful and encouraged at the willingness of these young Scouts to contribute time and effort to this community initiative all for the greater good.
“…The end result of The Painting Table is not the painting that is created. It is the conversation, sharing, and listening that takes place around the table.” Roger Hutchison, 2013
The Painting Table began as a creative initiative with a simple design meant to gather community in our church hall, but as Roger Hutchison says, it is really about so much more.
People yearn for a sense
of belonging, a sense of community and often a way to creatively express themselves. Emmanuel is dedicated to nurturing artistic, personal and spiritual expression in a wholly inclusive and welcoming environment.
The Painting Table is just one way where we continue to show our passion for inclusion and commitment to meeting the human and spiritual needs of people beyond the parish walls, using the arts as an invitational tool.
The Painting Table offers continued hope for a future where people can talk, share, and engage honestly with one another.
Regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or cultural background, everyone has an opportunity to share their perspectives and grow from spontaneous conversation. We continue to focus on building relationships and embrace a deep sense of community. At Emmanuel we know that everyone has a place at the table.
Examples of works that guest artists have created while attending The Painting Table at Emmanuel Parish in Saskatoon. Photos courtesy Emmanuel Parish
The logo for The Painting Table.
Tables and seats for guests.
Great-granddaughter of altar carver visits Vernon
By Joanne ShurvinMartin, with files from church wardens
VERNON (Qu’A) — In mid-January, the greatgranddaughter of the woman who carved the exquisite oak altar at St. Thomas Church visited the church and community.
Lesley Thomas and her husband, Thomas Quinn, had driven from B.C., and were not at all intimidated by closed highways, slippery roads and frigid weather.
Lesley’s ancestor — Mrs. Valentine Eliot — created the beautiful altar in England over a period of three years in the late 19 th century, and it was sent to Canada shortly after St. Thomas Church was completed in 1899.
Eliot, the wife of an English clergyman, became renowned for
... Marriage and the Spirit
Continued from page 11 in my day. If ever there was a venture in need of the grace, joy and help the Holy Spirit provides, it would be marriage.
After all, just as Jesus promised, it is, “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,” who will teach us, including wives and husbands, and remind us of what Jesus said (John 14:26). We all need help to remember Jesus’ teaching in our lives and relationships.
In our weakness we also need the Spirit’s help when we don’t know what to pray (or forget to pray). That the Holy Spirit Himself, therefore, in whose name we make our vows and are pronounced married, “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Rom. 8:26) is just as well.
Come to think of it, having the charismatic 1 Corinthians 12 Manifestation Gifts deployed wouldn’t hurt, either. Even those gifts “for the common good” such as words of knowledge and wisdom, faith, healing, prophecy (in the 1 Cor. 14 sense of strengthening, encouragement and comfort) and discernment would not go amiss in a Christian marriage.
her wood carving and created a school for female carvers, especially the daughters of Church of England priests. Her daughter, Phyllis, was the first organist for St. Thomas. Mrs. Eliot herself came to the Vernon area in the fall of 1900, and attended the service of consecration for the altar on St. Thomas Day, Dec. 21.
One of the church wardens, Bruce Farrer, invited the couple to stay with him and his wife on their nearby farm, and hosted a supper to provide an opportunity for them to meet other members of the congregation. The visitors had spent some time in Regina with the other warden, Allison Fizzard and her husband, Brian Herman, earlier in the day.
The altar in St. Thomas Church at Vernon that Mrs. Valentine Eliot carved. Her daughter, Phyllis, was the first organist there. Photo by Joanne Shurvin-Martin
Youth group helps install Rev. Brody Albers as archdeacon
By Mary Brown
PRINCE ALBERT — On the Wednesday after Septuagesima, Feb. 16, the Rev. Brody Albers was collated as archdeacon of Prince Albert.
His title will now be the Ven. Brody Albers. Andrew Hoskin was the archdeacon and is now archdeacon emeritus.
The Ven. Wilfred Sanderson is the archdeacon of Saskatchewan.
Since Wednesday is the night for youth ministry, the youth group attended the service and three of them took part in it.
The collation took place after the sermon given by Bishop Richard Reed in the Holy Communion service. In his sermon, the bishop told the congregation he realized he can’t do everything that needs to be done.
A person needs to surround himself with people who are smarter than him.
He and Albers have spoken together on their shared vision. Reed said with Albers’ energy and passion, great ideas and his gift for administration, he was just the person needed.
As in the Epistle of Timothy 2:1-8, there is one God and mediator between God and men. Albers’ passion reaching people for Christ is what we need the most.
He has Christ at the centre. We have a great unity in Christ as a diocese but we also have division.
The bishop believes he and Albers can work to bring the diocese back together. “I tell you ask, and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be open to you.”
He closed asking that everyone pray for them, they need prayers and help.
In the wording of the collation, it is acknowledged that the candidate has taken the oath of canonical obedience to the bishop and made the declaration of assent to the ThirtyNine Articles of Religion, the Book of Comon Prayer and other necessary declarations.
We were beseeched to join in hearty prayer to Almighty God that He would vouchsafe to grant
to Albers grace to fulfil the duties of his office, and the vows that were made by him when he was ordained by the laying on of hands to the ministry of Christ’s Church.
The main function of an archdeacon is to share in the pastoral ministry and missionary leadership of the bishop, and to lead their archdeaconry in the Five Marks of Mission, in the area to which the archdeacon is appointed.
Archdeacon Albers is also the youth minister for the diocese and priest in charge at St. Christopher’s Church. He will have an office in the synod offices and will be there on Wednesdays.
Young people from the diocese's youth group participated in the service that saw Rev. Brody Albers installed as the new archdeacon of Prince Albert.
Photos by Mary Brown
Bishop Rick Reed, newly collated Archdeacon Brody Albers and Rev. Pat Martin pose for a picture after the service.
Bishop Michael Hawkins and Edwin Laird, a Second World War veteran in Prince Albert, received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal a few years ago.
Photo by Mary Brown
Anglican WWII veteran dead at 101
By Mary Brown
PRINCE ALBERT — One of the last Prince Albert area veterans of the Second World War passed away on Feb. 22, just a few months shy of his 102 nd birthday.
Edwin Laird was born May 5, 1923 in Verwood, Sask. He enlisted in the military in 1941, joining the army at Prince Albert. When he was sent overseas to England, he completed commando training in the 2 nd Field Regiment, and learned Morse code as a signalman.
After the war ended, Laird returned to Prince Albert and worked as a mechanic and then a service manager for Lonestar Motors.
He served as the president for the Royal Canadian Legion for seven years and as the zone commander for 20 years.
In total, Laird spent about 80 years with the Legion. Laird worked to establish a veterans’ home in Prince Albert and volunteered countless hours speaking at schools and events to ensure the efforts and sacrifices of Canada’s veterans are never forgotten.
In recognition of that work, he received many accolades over the years including the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers and the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal.
Ed married Gerry Coombe in September 1948. They celebrated 70 years of marriage raising three children, Tom, Grant and Geri Lynn with 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Ed and his wife Gerry were given the Order of Saskatchewan Medallion for their dedication to the Anglican Church in the Diocese of Saskatchewan.
A personal 'take' on digging more into God's Word
By the Rev. Archdeacon Michael Stonhouse
Editor’s note: Archdeacon
Michael Stonhouse is semi-retired living in Lloydminster. To subscribe to his daily Scripture Reflections, please email ston@sasktel.net
Even though I grew up in a Christian home and was
deeply involved in the church, I did not come to a faith in Jesus Christ until my early adult years. And it was not until I had a real encounter with the Holy Spirit shortly afterwards that I fell in love with the Bible. I couldn’t get enough of it, it became my spiritual food, and I didn’t feel that my day had a proper beginning without it.
Bishop Roland Wood introduced me to Lectio Divina, which enabled me to incorporate my reading of Scripture into my daily quiet time. It became a part of the meditatio and I started writing out the thoughts that came to me. Initially, these were recorded only in my journals but, eventually, I started putting them in my computer. For the
longest time, this was for my personal benefit only. However, as others saw me engaged in this activity or heard about it, I began to share these meditations with others.
My practice has been this: early in the morning, whether before or after breakfast, it doesn’t matter overly, I carve this time out of the day (Yes, even after I had retired).
Rather than choosing a text at random or resorting one of my “favourites,” I take the portion set aside in a devotional guide. At present, I use the American Episcopal Church’s “Forward Day by Day” guide, but have used other guides, such as the Scripture Union one, in the past.
I read over the passage carefully and prayerfully, asking God what He wants me to “take” from the passage. Then I write out, or type out, the thoughts that come to me.
Sometimes I have a real argument with the passage or its message, either not liking the passage at all or not liking the “message” that I have received.
Sometimes I also draw a blank and “hear” nothing, sometimes having to sit and wait upon it for a while, and sometimes
having to resort to a learned commentary or biblical source before I can move on with my meditation.
Generally, I prefer not to have to resort to any of these as I would prefer to get the message firsthand, being quite aware that these other “sources” have their own biases and inner agendas, sometimes very liberal and sometimes very conservative. These resources, however, are very useful in yet another way, namely, to keep my wild imagination from running rampant.
My thinking is that I have come up with an interpretation that has never ever been suggested before then it might just be suspect.
There are two things that guide my general outlook and practice in all this. Firstly, I try to read the passage just as it is, without trying to explain it away or spiritualize it. Secondly, I try to understand its context, both immediate and in general. And, in all this, I try not to skirt around the “problem” or difficult passages.
I have maintained this practice for many years, and much to my surprise
Continued on page 11
Our name has changed. Our work stays the same.
PWRDF is now Alongside Hope
After two years of discernment and consultation, PWRDF’s members* have approved a new name. Alongside Hope emphasizes themes of partnership, accompaniment, community and teamwork that have always exemplified the way we work.
With its tagline — Anglicans and partners working for change in Canada and around the world — Alongside Hope honours the legacy of PWRDF as an agency of the Anglican Church of Canada, and it will carry us forward into the future.
As we walk alongside our partners and many supporters, listening and sharing with one another, we embrace and embody the hope of a truly just, healthy and peaceful world.
Scan the QR code to view a video about our new name and read our list of Frequently Asked Questions, or visit pwrdf.org/our-new-name
* The PWRDF Board of Directors, Diocesan Representatives and Youth Council comprise the voting membership.
Feeling the Holy Spirit Having and holding
By Rev. Gene Packwood
Some wag described part of the job description for a parish priest was to hatch, match and dispatch. Baptisms, weddings and funerals, in other words. I certainly enjoyed them in my time. It was a joy, a privilege and, most often, great fun to be involved in those significant life moments.
I especially enjoyed presiding at weddings, so as we’re about to embark on another wedding season, I thought we’d have a look at the Holy Spirit in the Celebration and Blessing of Marriage.
The Gathering of the Community in The Book of Alternative Services rite on page 528 includes a lovely description of marriage and God’s purpose for it — worth a read — especially if you’re married or are considering it.
Just after that slightly nervous and breathless, “If anyone present knows a reason why N and N may not lawfully marry” moment (at which point in one wedding at which I presided a child somewhere in the congregation, with perfect timing, said aloud, “Oh, Oh!” to great merriment), the celebrant says that the couple “have come to enter this holy state.”
Although the Holy Spirit is not referred to by name here, if marriage truly is a gift of God, a means of His grace, where husband and wife truly become one flesh united in love, just “as Christ is united with his Church,” as the Gathering statement says, then that is, indeed, Holy Spirit work.
The Blessing of the Marriage is where the power of the Holy Spirit is invoked by name so that this holy state can be properly and seriously undertaken with reverence: By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. (BAS, p548)
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life everlasting. (BAS, p549)
Although there are no direct references to the Gifts or Fruit of the Spirit (other than love) in this wedding rite, a life in the Spirit is certainly implied, especially since 1 Corinthians 13 — the Love Chapter — was one of the readings most often used
Continued on page 8
... A personal 'take' on God's Word
Continued from page 10 and delight, God continues to speak to me in new, constantly relevant, and often very challenging ways, even through very familiar passages.
I have not only made it my practice to share these daily meditations via email but have started to put them on my computer with the hope of eventually publishing them.
Farmer Mariluz Suarez of ECLOF,Colombia
By Rev. Christine Burton
Well, we’re a little more than halfway through Lent.
It seems as if there’s a moment in every Lent when I realise that I’ve forgotten to identify or start my Lenten commitment.
Or that I started and, gee, when was it that it came right off the rails? Or I’m doing it, but I have the sourest outlook, and probably the sourest face to match.
When it all seems too hard, and does it really matter, and the comfort of doing nothing and telling myself it’s fine is my Lenten go-to.
Does this sounds familiar? A few weeks into Lent, and you lose your motivation and forget why you decided to make your Lenten promises in the first place.
It can be tempting when you’re in what Danielle Schmitz calls “the midLent slump” to give up entirely and say, “Maybe next year will be better.” SO, who out there has perfectly adhered to their “Lenten sacrifice”? Who
Stewards of God's abundance Perfection is NOT required
out there HAS a Lenten sacrifice?
Probably more of us fall into the second category. We learned that it wasn’t just about “giving up chocolate,” but about giving up bad behaviours and attitudes, or embracing positive ones.
And we told ourselves we’d find something, and then suddenly it was the beginning of April and … well, oops.
And those in the first category are likely looking away because we’re far from perfect in our observance.
We learned the same lesson, and thought maybe we’d do something tangible and something spiritual. Or just the spiritual. And since it wasn’t concrete or tangible, we promptly forgot about it, or weren’t very good at it and abandoned it the way we abandoned giving up chocolate in our childhood.
So it’s a good thing that we’ve still got a few weeks to go. And it’s a good thing that God doesn’t require perfection.
Jesus knew that trying for perfection was a mug’s game: “Why do you call me good?”
Jesus answered. “No one is good — except God alone” (Matt. 10:18).
Both the prophet Micah and Jesus laid out what we should strive for: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8), and “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matt. 6:6).
But it’s not too late and it’s not too hard. The prophet Joel speaks for God when he says, “Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God.
"For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment” (Joel 2:12-13).
When we find ourselves in “the mid-Lent slump,” we need to remind ourselves of why we committed to Lent in the first place, and bring ourselves back to God’s path and His embrace.
Here are some steps we
can take.
Acknowledge our lapse: it’s important to recognize our mistake, but we don’t need to beat ourselves up; simply acknowledge it and choose to recommit.
Consciously repent for falling away, and recommit in prayer and by writing out our commitments again (or for the first time).
Seeking forgiveness may give you comfort or accountability. Talk to your spiritual advisor (e.g. priest, deacon, spiritual director) if you think this could help.
An accountability partner, whether spiritual advisor, or just a friend you can trust to walk with you through Lent, can be a check-in, and can offer support and encouragement when things get hard.
Reflect on your motivation: think about why you chose that particular Lenten sacrifice in the first place and use that to reignite your commitment.
Make it “routine”: build your Lenten commitments into your daily schedule. Just as biking to work makes your
fitness regime part of your daily routine rather than yet another “extra thing to do,” finding ways to make your Lenten commitment part of your regular activities makes it easier. Was your commitment to find ways to support charities or help kids? Do you take your recycling to SARCAN every week? Turn it into a Drop and Go, with the funds going to Camp Harding. Did you want to increase your prayer time? Do you drive to work? Turn off the radio and do a few minutes of praying — even if it’s a just a few minutes after you’ve dropped the last of those who ride with you.
Adjust if needed: Does your commitment take too much time, money, effort, for right now?
Consider how you might modify or even change to a completely different sacrifice to make it more manageable.
Most importantly, if and when you hit that “slump,” remember that God does not seek perfection.
He examines our hearts, and loves us, and in His kindness He will strengthen us and lift us up on wings to fly through the rest of Lent.
ESC-WECAN's theology program offers much ministry training
By Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy
SASKATOON — Besides the rich worship and educational offerings at the parish level, you have (through your computer) a whole other world waiting to nurture your spirit, enhance your lay ministry skills and discern about the ordained ministry.
Program Components: The multi-diocesansponsored Licentiate in Theology (LTh) courses designed by the Western Educational Collaborative Anglican Network in collaboration with the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad College are administered by the Anglican college.
The LTh program consists of these courses: 1) Biblical Studies, 2) Theology, 3) Anglicanism, 4) Leadership, 5) Liturgy, 6) Homiletics, 7) Teaching and Learning, 8) Pastoral
Care, 9) Ethics, 10) Indigenous Relationships and Wisdom and Teaching of the Elders, and 11) Ministry Internship.
Inner Workings: Guidelines are set in our ESC-WECAN Licentiate in Theology Handbook for those who teach the subjects mentioned above.
Local L.Th. coordinator, mentor and instructor orientation and mutual consultation workshops are available about every six months and are led by diocesan L.Th. co-ordinators in collaboration with the L.Th. co-ordinator.
Accompanying the student: Students enrolled in the ESCWECAN LTh program are accompanied by mentors who receive orientation. These students are also supported by diocesanappointed internship supervisors and a five- to seven-person lay training
group that receives the training for their roles.
Practical and contextually oriented: This part-time, practical and contextually oriented LTh can be completed within 3.5 to four years if you include the parishbased internship.
These part-time studies would be comprised of three to four courses per year along with being mentored in the first three years and later, supervised in a ministry setting.
General emphases are: Christ-centred biblical interpretation, clear and creative communication, commitment to ongoing discipleship, Canadian Anglican identity, Indigenous reconciliation and relationships, collaborative and community-based leadership, contextualized adaptive ecclesiology — an understanding of church that is flexible, practical
and relevant to its local context — and innovative and responsive ministry.
So, if you are or you know someone who has been “showing signs” of balanced leadership, compassion in ministry, and who maintains a solid prayer life, mull over the information because the ESC-WECAN Licentiate in Theology may very well be a next step in responding to God’s daily and vocational call!
For more info, contact trish.mccarthysaskatoon theologicalunion.ca. To register, visit www.escwecan.ca. Whether you are enrolled in the whole Licentiate in Theology program or not, you can register for any courses :
1. Proclamation and Method: Tools for Christian Preaching with Ryan Turnbull, St. John’s College, Winnipeg. On Wednesdays, 6 to 8:45 p.m.
April 30 to July 2; online. Register: uofmanitoba. ca/st-johns-college/form/ pamregistration
2. Spiritual Practices for Cultivating Resilience and Compassion: with Trish McCarthy Thursdays 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 2025.
3. Leadership: with Bishop David Greenwood, Rev. Dr. Trish McCarthy and LTS Prof. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero from 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays, Nov. 6 to Dec 4. Course being planned: Anglicanism with retired Bishop Don Philips.
Courses in progress: Teaching and learning: Diocese of Saskatoon, started Feb. 6, and Anglicanism: Instructor Jamie Howie, Qu’Appelle Diocese, started Feb. 25
So, the ESC-WECAN Licentiate in Theology program is practical, Christ-centred and contextually oriented!