The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican
Saying goodbye to Saskatoon's Father Dan
Skwn. ACW donates $400 to Camp Okema
Refugee committee welcomes Saskatoon's new bishop
On Sept. 19, the diocesan refugee committee held a welcoming potluck dinner and social evening at Holy Trinity Anglican Parish, Saskatoon, to welcome the new bishop, the Right Rev. Chad McCharles and his family. Those attending enjoyed a buffet of mainly African and Middle Eastern dishes and a tempting array of desserts. As part of the event, Bishop Chad (centre); his wife, Dawn (right), and daughter, Amy (left), were presented with a welcome cake that was shared by all.
St. John's, Fort Qu'Appelle celebrates 140 years
Used with permission from Fort Qu’Appelle Times/Grassland News
By Alan Hustak
FORT QU’APPELLE
(Qu’A) — St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church celebrated its 140 th anniversary on Sept. 28 (see article on pg 5).
Bishop Helen Kennedy used the old liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer that was first published in 1662, and the one that would have been used by Bishop Adelbert Anson when the church was consecrated on Dec. 27, 1885.
The church in Fort
Qu’Appelle was built in 1885 by Dan Lewis, who was the missionary in charge of Fort Qu’Appelle at the time. Archibald McDonald, the chief factor of the Hudson Bay Company, was head of the building committee.
Pastoral records show the 59-foot long and 25-foot wide fieldstone church was constructed for $2,428.25. While it was still being built a number of people afraid of an attack during the Metis resistance took refuge behind the uncompleted stone walls in 1885.
One of the church wardens, Capt. John French, was killed at the Battle of
Batoche later that year.
The Burn memorial bell tower named for Bishop William John Burn, who was the second bishop of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, was installed in 1902. The bell in the tower was given to the church by Rev. R.C. Crockett, who ministered for less than a year.
The vestry was added in 1904.
The first of the eight stained glass windows in the a church, a memorial to RCAF pilot Kit Bushell who was killed in the Second World War, was installed in 1946. One of the windows is a memorial to Rev. F.R. Badham, who
for
Eight Anglicans receive awards in P.A.
By Mary Brown
PRINCE ALBERT
— On Oct. 3, eight new members were inducted into the Order of Saskatchewan. Their pictures will be in the December issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican
They are Opal Harris, John and Noreen Hareuther, Lawrence (posthumously) and Priscilla Joseph, Grant Laird, Ethel Macfie and Elaine Thorne.
Opal Harris was baptized, confirmed and married in St. George’s Church in Prince Albert. After her marriage to Clarence she moved to Briarlea where she was a faithful member of St. Martin’s in Briarlea and St. Andrew’s in Shellbrook until 2013 when she moved to Prince Albert.
ministered at St. John’s in the 1960s.
The windows in the sanctuary are to the memory of artist Marion Hamilton and to the Cuddington family.
What is described as a “wooden contraption” was put on top of the tower, but that was blown from the roof during a storm in 1957.
A stained-glass window at the rear of the church was installed to mark the centennial in 1985.
In 1994, His Royal Highness the Prince Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, was present for the communion service on Continued on page 5
She is an active participant in both St. David’s and St. George’s churches in P.A. She has served and continues to serve as the diocesan ACW president, a role she has cherished more than any other.
Her leadership in this capacity reflects not only her dedication to the church, but also her deep commitment to encouraging and supporting others in their faith and service. Opal’s life story is one of quiet strength, enduring faith and community service.
Lawrence and Priscilla Joseph were married 57 years ago and had four children: Rick, Sheryl, Trina and Kevin. Their children grew up with the firm admonition that their lives Continued on page 7
Archdeacon Catherine Harper retires
Obituary
Rev. Marilyn Scutt
Photo by Rev. Peter Coolen
Both Testaments 'are part of our sacred family tree'
“Why does the God of the Old Testament seem different than the God of the New Testament?
By Canon Cheryl Toth
Do you ever wonder how you are connected to the generations before you?
Curiosity about our connection to the past is one of the motivations people have for tracing their family trees.
Extensive genealogical search can reveal ancestors whose traits we admire and perhaps see mirrored in our own character.
It can also show us people who lived in ways that seem very different or antithetical to our current values. Discovering we have an ancestor who owned slaves or employed child labourers can leave us wondering if we want to be connected to them.
For some people, reading the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) can be a bit like discovering family to whom they are related but who look at the world differently. Are we even worshipping the same God?
Christians have struggled with this question from our earliest days. In the tension that developed between early Jewish followers of Jesus and Jews who did not see Him as the Messiah, the debate about how to interpret the Law and the Prophets was intense.
Add to this, the incorporation of Gentile believers into the church. That raised the question of what, if any, Jewish laws needed to be followed by Gentile believers in Christ.
The letters of Paul emphasize God’s grace through Jesus, and reject the need to follow Jewish law except in a few essential matters.
Debates in the first few centuries of the church deepened a polarization between Christians who held the teachings of the Hebrews Scriptures dear and those who saw them of little value. It came to a head in the teachings of Marcion.
Marcion was a second century follower of Christ from modern day Turkey, who believed that God had sent Jesus to establish a gospel of Love to the absolute exclusion of the Law.
Published by the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle. Published monthly except for July and August.
Whole No. 292, Vol. 54 No. 3
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
SUBMISSIONS
Submissions for the January issue must be received by the diocesan editor no later than Nov. 28 All pictures must be sent as JPEGS and 1 MB (megabyte) in size.
by Unsplash.com
For some people, reading the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) can be a bit like discovering family to whom they are related but who look at the world differently, writes Canon Cheryl Toth.
He saw the God of the Old Testament as a despotic, cruel and capricious Creator (whom he called the Demiurge) and believed that Jesus was sent by the Supreme God of Love to overthrow
of Luke’s gospel that he edited to support his views.
As you might imagine, Marcion’s teaching engendered a major discussion about what writings from both Jewish
In the tension that developed between early Jewish followers of Jesus and those Jews who did not see Him as the Messiah, the debate about how to interpret the Law and the Prophets was quite intense. Add to this, the incorporation of Gentile believers into the church. That raised the question of what, if any, Jewish laws needed to be followed by Gentile believers in Christ.
The letters of Paul emphasize God’s grace through Jesus, and reject the need to follow Jewish law except in a few essential matters.
the Demiurge. Consequently he rejected the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) completely and urged his followers to read only 10 of Paul’s letters (slightly modified) and a version
and Christian sources were to be considered truly representative of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ.
What we know today as the New Testament is one of the outcomes of this
debate.
Over time some early letters and gospels were rejected by the church councils. The teachings of some people, including Marcion, were also rejected. What emerged by the fourth century was the acceptance of what we now know as the Old and New Testaments as the authentic witness of God’s covenant with us.
Both are essential to our identity and our formation. Both are part of our sacred family tree.
The acceptance of both Testaments might not sit well with those who read the Old Testament with some puzzlement. How are we to interpret the stories of God’s interaction with the people of the covenant over thousands of years?
The Anglican reformers of the 16th century might give us a clue. Article VII of the 39 Articles affirms that “The Old Testament is not contrary to the New: for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to Mankind by Christ.”
Like Martin Luther, they saw what they knew Continued on page 4
CONTACT
INFORMATION
Managing Editor: Jason Antonio SKAnglicanEditor@gmail. com 1501 College Ave Regina, Sask., S4P 1B8 Phone: 306-737-4898
Published from 59 Roberts Place Regina, Sask., S4T 6K5
Photo
Archdeacon Catherine Harper retires after 26 years, reflects on ministry
By Joanne Shurvin-Martin
REGINA — Catherine Harper came to the Diocese of Qu’Appelle in a rather roundabout way, and credits settling here to “the hand of God.”
Originally from Trinidad, she was about to graduate with one-year diploma in Anglican studies from the Vancouver School of Theology in 1998, when a bishop from Ontario visited the school.
After speaking with Harper, the bishop said he was on his way to a meeting of the House of Bishops, and would talk to his fellow bishops about her.
As a result, she received letters of interest from four bishops, including Bishop Duncan Wallace, then Bishop of Qu’Appelle. When Wallace learned she had no experience living in rural areas, he arranged for her to visit Qu’Appelle.
She spent about four days in the south-west corner of the province, and recalls meeting Archdeacon David Nevett and Revs. Duncan and Beverly McLean, then in Swift Current, as well as laypeople. She immediately thought, “These are caring people.”
Before attending the Vancouver School of Theology, Harper had received a master of divinity from Regent College, Vancouver.
She was ordained to the diaconate on Nov. 1, 1999, at All Saints, Shaunavon, and ordained priest at the cathedral on April 1, 2000.
She was hired by the Parish of Shaunavon in 1999. Initially the parish included Eastend and Ravenscrag, and a few years later, Gull Lake. She remembers the people of the parish as being very encouraging to her, and “they steered me on the right path and helped me understand living in Saskatchewan.”
Harper remained close to the parish through all her time in the diocese. Shortly before she retired, she recalled how a woman in Shaunavon had told her, “It’s not where you live but how you live.”
People in the rural communities “know how to live fully,” says Harper.
She served her first parish until moving to
signs
Photo by Joanne Shurvin-Martin
From its inception in 2011, there have been over 250 students from 28 parishes who have attended a Qu'Appelle School for Mission and Ministry class. Just in the past three years, there have been 44 new students. A number of them were from dioceses across the country, and many courses have been delivered, over more than 40 sessions. Harper commented that QSMM has been a blessing to her. “The thing that gave me the most joy was seeing the connection that people made with others throughout the diocese, especially pre-COVID, as they shared experiences and learned together.”
Weyburn from 2003 to November 2010. While in Weyburn, she also conducted services once a month in
Centre, outside Lumsden.
She lived in community with the Franciscans who operated the retreat centre, and helped with their work, leading retreats, providing spiritual direction and working with Fifth Step, part of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12step program, which she describes as a very powerful experience.
Harper was the first Anglican to be so involved with St. Michael’s, and said this came about because of the ecumenical board of directors, which included Anglicans, Lutherans and Roman Catholics.
Bishop Rob Hardwick had asked her to consider “a wonderfully challenging experience” and says that her years at the retreat centre were “formative.”
Harper worked at the retreat centre until June 2015, shortly before the Franciscan friars left and the building was put up for sale.
Her next position was as director of ministry development for the diocese, which evolved to include overseeing the Qu’Appelle School for Mission and Ministry.
Harper recalls that before she went to theological college, she had completed a master of education at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
She worked just one year as a teacher librarian in the early 1990s at a K-9 school in Dartmouth, N.S., and before that had taught junior high school in Trinidad.
When she enrolled in theological college she thought, “I will never use my education training again.”
But she put that education to good use in QSMM. The program provided courses on a wide range of theological topics, for both clergy and laypeople.
Initially the classes were in person, but during COVID-19 moved online, which has continued to allow people from across the diocese, and from other dioceses, to attend without the time and expense of travel.
years, there have been 44 new students. A number of them were from dioceses across the country, and many courses have been delivered, over more than 40 sessions.
Harper commented that QSMM has been a blessing to her. “The thing that gave me the most joy was seeing the connection that people made with others throughout the diocese, especially pre-COVID, as they shared experiences and learned together.”
When Shelley Baron retired as executive officer in 2022, the roles she had been handling came back to Harper as executive archdeacon, and others helped her with the more technical aspects of QSMM.
As executive archdeacon, Harper had to deal with many church property matters and the business of the church, and recalls wondering “do these things really matter?”
But then, she says, the Holy Spirit showed her that those buildings and other resources allow for ministries to happen.
In the past 26 years there have been many changes, and Harper acknowledges that some may seem to show decline or lessening.
“But the Holy Spirit continues to work, even in change,” she says.
When asked for some of her best memories of her time in Qu’Appelle, Harper said, “Oh, I have so many wonderful memories of interactions with saints of the church.
"Not only have I had the privilege of being a parish priest, but I have also had the opportunity to preside at more than half of the parishes in the diocese at various times.
"I have journeyed with many from discernment to ordination and following, through my work with the Committee on Ordained Ministry and my work as secretary of the Advisory Committee on Postulants for Ordination (ACPO), which is the provincial discernment group.”
and Kisbey. At the beginning of January 2011, Harper moved to St. Michael’s Retreat
From its inception in 2011, there have been over 250 students from 28 parishes.
Just in the past three
As for the future, Harper says it is unfolding. “I will spend some time in Trinidad and some time here. I will travel and visit relatives, and rest. I will see where the Spirit leads.”
Archdeacon Catherine Harper in her office during her final days of work in the Synod Office. During her 26 years in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, Harper saw many changes, but even in change, “I see the hand of God and
of the Kingdom of God.”
Stoughton
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 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.
g St. Stephen’s, Saskatoon: Book of Common Prayer Eucharist Services are offered at St. Stephen’s, Saskatoon, 10 Gravenor Cres., the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month (Nov. 12 and 26, and Dec. 10) from noon to 1 p.m.
g Courses at the Refinery: The Refinery at Emmanuel Anglican Parish 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.
Announcements for November 2025
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 Emmanuel Anglican Parish, Saskatoon: Emmanuel Parish, 607 Dufferin Ave., is offering a Taize/Contemplative Prayer Service the last Tuesday of each month (Nov. 25) from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
g St. Benedict’s Chapter Meetings at All Saints’, Saskatoon: The Canon Communities of St. Benedict (OSBCn) provide a contemporary Anglican framework for the living out of Benedictine Christianity.
It is, in part, a recovery of the English tradition of canon communities that flourished before the English Reformation, but is also an adaptation of St. Benedict’s Rule suitable for Christian living in today’s world.
The Brothers and Sisters interested in forming a community in Saskatoon meet in chapter the third Tuesday of each month, from September through May, at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Saskatoon. They also worship together and come together spiritually several times a day in prayer by praying the Daily Office. All are most welcome to attend.
g Hospital
Chaplaincy: A friendly
reminder to all Anglicans who find themselves being admitted to any hospital in Saskatchewan.
Upon being admitted you are supposed to be asked if you wish to be identified according to your denominational affiliation.
Up until recently, this information was permanently kept on your personal hospital record. But due to changes with the SHA, this is no longer so. Unless this information is registered every time you are admitted, the local hospital chaplaincy may not know that you are in hospital.
Of course, you can ask your nurse or family to contact your local chaplain at any time; that is the surest way to get a visit during your stay in hospital.
With the resignation of the Venerable Dan Hughes, who had served as hospital chaplain for a number of years, a team of various deacons, priests and lay-pastoral visitors will carry out these duties for the near future until a new hospital chaplain is appointed.
Appointments, Retirements, etc:
g Diocesan chancellor emeritus Ruth Elizabeth (Beth) Bilson, PhD, K.C. died in Saskatoon, on Aug 13. Her obituary appeared in the October issue of the paper.
Diocesan chancellor for
17 years, Beth was made chancellor emeritus of the Diocese of Saskatoon in 2016. A memorial gathering to honour Beth was held at the University of Saskatchewan Health Sciences Building, followed by a reception at the College of Law on Sept. 6.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the University of Saskatchewan College of Law Scholarship “Beth Bilson Memorial Fund” or to United Way Saskatoon. To share memories and condolences or to view the video of the memorial service, please visit www. parkfuneral.ca.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Park Funeral Home, Saskatoon. An obituary for Beth may be found elsewhere in this issue.
g The Ven. Father Dan Hughes, the archdeacon (retired) of the Saskatoon Deanery and hospital chaplain, has accepted the position of rector of the Parish of Rimbey, in the Diocese of Calgary, effective midSeptember.
Bishop Chad has asked for prayers for Dan as he takes on this new role, closer to his family in Calgary, and for “offering him deep gratitude for the may years and ways he has served our diocese.”
g Bishop Chad has announced that Maddison Christianson, a warden, a life-long
member of the Cathedral of St. John and a practising lawyer, has agreed to accept his appointment as solicitor of the diocese. She will join Andrew Mason, the chancellor and registrar, as part of the legal council of the diocese. Please add Madison and her husband Kyle to your prayers.
g Bishop Chad has also asked for prayers for those, both lay and ordained, aspirants and postulants who are in the process of earnest and prayerful discernment of God’s call for their service to Him. Aspirants and postulants of our diocese are Ana Gheyssen, Judy Herbert, Simon Lisair, Elliott Lou, and Rob Maguire.
The Rev. Deacon Alexa Wallace should also be included in our prayers as she discerns her calling to the priesthood.
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 will not be included here, but should space allow, could be the subject of articles and notices elsewhere in the Saskatchewan Anglican.
... Reading the Bible involves our mind and heart
Continued from page 2 of Christ in the Old Testament.
In Christ they found forgiveness, freedom, healing, hope and guidance on how to live.
When they read the Old Testament they saw that as well. God’s anger when the people worship the golden calf Aaron created for them is passionately real. So too is God’s letting go of that anger, forgiving them and giving them another opportunity to follow in God’s Way.
The Ten Command-
ments are God’s guidance on how to live as free people who are asked to respect and care for one another.
The prophets warn of how we go astray and remind us how to live as God’s people.
The prophet Ezekiel gives us a picture of what that means in daily life when he describes a righteous life as one in which a person gives bread to the hungry and clothing to the naked, executes justice and seeks reconciliation, and does not use his power
to exploit, oppress or rob another (Ezek. 18: 5-9).
We can see the life of Jesus in the words of prophets like Ezekiel. We can see their promise of God’s Messiah revealed in him.
When we read Scripture we do so with both our mind and our heart.
There are times when we don’t understand what is being said or why it is being said that way.
Study involves looking at the context of what is
said, what we know of the historical period and how what we are reading is consistent with our overall understanding of God.
It also involves prayer and asking God to open the Bible to us. We are always interpreting what we read in light of what we know and where we are with God.
Reading the Old Testament and knowing that the Law and the Prophets shaped Jesus and were fundamental to His teaching and action can help us see
the Hebrew Scriptures through His eyes. Doing so prayerfully can help us see the many ways Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation — even when it leaves us realizing we still have some questions about how it all fits together! Like our ancestry, sometimes we are connected in ways we don’t fully understand.
Canon Cheryl Toth is a retired priest in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle and an honorary assistant at its Cathedral.
... Anglican presence in Fort Qu'Appelle goes back to 1854
Continued from page 1
Aug. 14.
Although the church itself is 140 years old, the Anglican presence in Fort Qu’Appelle goes back to 1854 when a “praying man,” Charles Pratt, established a mission and built a log church where the provincial courthouse stands today.
The church has a new roof in time for its 140 th anniversary celebrations. Contractors spent two weeks stripping the old cedar shingles from the landmark building and replaced them with tin.
“The new roof cost $34,000, 15 times as much as it cost to build the church in 1885,” quipped pastor Rev. Ed Dunfield.
“There were no grants from either the provincial or municipal government available. The money for the roof came from the proceeds of the sale of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Balcarres.”
The church in Balcarres closed two years ago.
Since the parish was founded in 1883, it has
been served by 23 priests: Daniel Lewis (1883-88), W.G. Lejeune (1888-89), R.C. Crockett (1889-90), J.R. Sargent ((1890-92), F. Wells-Johnson (1894-1904 and 1934-37), M.H. Winter (1904-07), A. Lewis (191115), E.K. Moffat (1915-17), J.F. Cox (1917-24), C.F. Orman (1924-34), and D.L. Dane (1937-35).
Furthermore, there was James Corkhill (1945-64), F.E.R. Badham (1964-73), S. Ellis (1964-67), Charles Sells (1973-82), P. Folliott (1982-87), George Archer (1987-2005), David Nevitt (2005), Duncan and Beverley McLean (2006-07), Mary Gavin (2007-11), and Warren Huestis (2001-19). Ed Dunfield is from 2019 to present.
Bishop denounces economic disparity during anniversary service
Reprinted with permission from Grassland News
By Alan Hustak
FORT QU’APPELLE
(Qu’A) — The Bishop of Qu’Appelle has called for an end to “the enormous and growing gap” between the world’s rich and poor.
Preaching at the communion service to mark the 140 th anniversary of St. John Church in Fort Qu’Appelle on Sept. 28, Bishop Helen Kennedy told parishioners that “sharing what we have with others is our gospel responsibility. It calls on all of us to make the lives of those around us better.”
Kennedy took as the text for her sermon St. Luke’s gospel (Chapter 16, 19:31), about the parable of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. In the story, an un-named rich man cries out from the depths of hell for help from the beggar Lazarus who is in heaven.
Kennedy used the parable to illustrate the “shocking” level of poverty in Saskatchewan. “The solution to bring people out of poverty is seven times
Church.
cheaper than what we now spend on dealing with the effects of poverty. How ridiculous it that?” she asked. “It is not too late to fix a system that allows the few to enjoy massive wealth while others experience crushing poverty.”
The church was filled to capacity for the anniversary service. The parish priest, Rev. Ed
Dunfield, Archdeacon Kim Sherwin, and the bishop’s assistant, Jonathan Bauer, recently arrived from Virginia, also took part in the anniversary service.
The retiring Archdeacon Catherine Harper, and former clergy including George Archer, Beverly McLean and David Nevitt were also in attendance.
The same liturgy that
at the 140th anniversary service in Fort
would have been used when the church was consecrated in 1885 was used for the service.
Before the service began, the St. Thomas, Vernon brass band played outdoors. At a reception afterwards, churchwarden Mike McKenna gave a history of St. John’s, pointing out that while it is the secondoldest church still standing
in Saskatchewan — the church in Stanley Mission built 30 years earlier is older — St. John’s remains “the only fully functional church still serving its community after 140 years.”
He added that it cost more to put the new floor in the parish hall this year than to build the fieldstone church 140 years ago.
Detail in one of the stained glass windows traces the Anglican presence in Fort Qu’Appelle to a mission built in 1854.
Photo by Alan Hustak
The brass band from St. Thomas, Vernon, played before the anniversary service at St. John the Evangelist
Photos by Alan Hustak
Rev. Ed Dunfield (left) and Bishop Helen Kennedy celebrate the Eucharist
Qu'Appelle.
In early September, Father Dan Hughes conducted his last BCP Eucharist Service prior to his departure for a new parish in the Diocese of Calgary.
by Rev. Canon Marie Louise Ternier
Father Dan Hughes received a gift from Rev. Amy Bunce, incumbent of St. Stephen's, Saskatoon.
During the farewell potluck for Father Dan Hughes, the Rev. Mark Kleiner entertained those present with a number of musical numbers that had lyrics he had composed about Father Dan.
Saying goodbye to Saskatoon's Father Dan
By Rev. Peter Coolen
SASKATOON — In early September, a farewell BCP Eucharist Service and a potluck reception and supper were held at St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish, Saskatoon, to
express love and say adieu and godspeed to Father Dan Hughes. He had served for many years in the diocese in both rural and city parishes and as hospital chaplain and archdeacon for the Saskatoon Deanery.
Father Dan had also conducted the only regular BCP services in the city for many years at All Saints, and with the closure of that parish, had continued to provide BCP services as a part of the ministry team at St. Stephen’s.
In August, Dan accepted and begun a new ministry in the Parish of Rimbey in the Diocese of Calgary. As well as a time of reflection and congratulations, and the presentation of several gifts, the potluck provided a venue to the Rev. Mark Kleiner to regale those present with a series of songs, accompanied on guitar, of several popular melodies that showcased lyrics dealing with Father Dan, his career and personality.
Conference offers Anglicans hope in face of decline
By Rev. Teddy Williams
PRINCE ALBERT — Bishop Richard Reed, Archdeacon Brody Albers, and Ted Williams, a diocesan priest, attended the fourth bi-annual Radical Vocation conference in Dallas, Texas, at the Church of the Incarnation from Sept. 25 to 27.
The conference was for people discerning a ministry in the Episcopal Church. It was also to encourage new clergy.
Most of the conference attendees were American, and many of them seminary students.
Interestingly, a high proportion of the attendees were new to Anglicanism.
The conference also drew people from around the world, such as the Rev. Alice Wanjika Kiara, from All Saints Cathedral Nairobi, Kenya, a minister for children, woman and pastoral care.
Ms. Kiara thought speakers gave a compelling case for why the Gos -
Rev. Alice Wanjika Kiara from All Saints Cathedral, in Nairobi, Kenya, and Rev. Teddy Williams from the Diocese of Saskatchewan.
pel is relevant today. She also thought it was “enriching to meet people from around the world. It is a good experience.”
Indeed, in addition to the clergy from Saskatchewan, there was a group from St. Paul’s, Bloor Street, Toronto, including Bishop Jenny Andison, the Rev. Tiffany Robinson, Kate Andison, Bianca Quilliam, Jeffrey Phail,
and the Rev. Tyler WiggStevenson.
There were also current and former professors attending from Wycliffe College, including Dr. Ephraim Radner, Dr. Annette Brownlee, Dr Joseph Mangina, and Dr. Justin Stratis.
Last, there was a contingent from the Diocese of the Arctic, including Bishop Anne Keenainak, Bish-
op Annie Ittoshat, and the Rev.Frances Delaplain.
Radical Vocation is one of the few Anglican conferences that directly addresses church decline in a way that maintains a spirit of hopefulness.
Each speaker offered a language of hope to those gathered.
Talks included: “The Hope of Grasshoppers: Ministry in a Normal Life”; “The Grammar of Christian Hope”; “Beyond Hope, in Hope; Trusting the God who raises the Dead”; “The Fecundity of Hope”; and “How to Keep Going: Perseverance and Hope in the Work of Ministry.”
Readers will be glad to know that our Episcopalian brothers and sisters are sensitive to the rifts unfolding in the current political climate.
In fact, there was a panel on politics and preaching, which emphasized the political diversity in our churches, and the need for pastors to maintain a safe place for different political
persuasions. We are pastors to all.
This remains true even when political divisions deepen.
There was also worship: two Evening Prayers and two Holy Communions, traditional and contemporary.
As Christians, we hope for a bright future; this is what keeps us going.
As Anglicans, we ground ourselves in Scripture, like seeds.
We also enter into worship as a way to commune with Christ and fellow worshippers. As Jeffrey Phail puts it, “Liturgy shapes our hearts.” Thus, it wouldn’t be an Anglican conference if we didn’t worship.
Overall, the Radical Vocation conference gave young clergy, and seekers, a hopeful way to follow Christ.
Bishop Reed, Archdeacon Albers, and Mr. Williams, look forward to sharing more over the coming weeks and months. Be sure to ask.
Photos
Photo submitted
Cathedral hosts charity-focused Sew Days
On Sept. 19 and 20, about a dozen people came to the hall of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina, to work on a quilting project for charity. The ample space was appreciated as many spread out quilts and pieces of fabric to work their magic.
... Northern diocese gives major award to eight Anglicans
Continued from page 1 were to be given in service to not only their church of St. Alban’s, but the diocese and their indigenous heritage.
They have given unselfishly of their time, musicianship, organizational skills and mentorship. They have served on the Cathedral Corporation, the diocesan executive committee and other committees for both the cathedral and diocese.
Lawrence was a lay reader for decades and Priscilla co-ordinated and worked on fund raisers, in particular St. Alban’s fall suppers. “Do all things in love” was their guiding principle and Priscilla maintains a schedule of counselling that would exhaust most people.
John Hareuther has been an integral part of St. David’s Church since he moved to Prince Albert in 1977. He has been a lay reader for 44 years and has served on the executive committee of the diocese as well as the finance committee.
He has been on specific diocesan project committees and attended many synods.
He knows every nut and bolt in St. David’s Church and he knows where every key is located and all the intricacies of every system, ensuring that the building is in tip top condition.
He participates and
lead Bible studies, is a long-standing choir member and co-ordinator of the side’s persons. He organizes the Shrove Tuesday pancake suppers and the beef suppers.
He is always available to volunteer at all church events.
Noreen Hareuther, like her husband John, is an essential part of St. David’s Church.
She was a Sunday school teacher for many years, plus the person who organized and facilitated Vacation Bible School events.
She is a regular Bible study leader and has organized the lay readers rotation and schedule for over 40 years.
church hardware that was donated to the diocese.
She was also on the matrimonial commission and has served as a synod delegate.
Noreen and John have two children and four grandchildren.
Grant Laird’s parents, Gerry and Ed Laird, also
for the major diocesan renovations to establish special protected archives storage, office, accessible washroom and meeting area for any Anglican church.
Any time there is a current or potential disaster, Grant knows someone who can fix it.
Outside of her duties at St. David’s, Noreen is the registrar for the Ecclesiastical Province of Northern Lights and worked as Christian Education director in the Synod Office, where she was responsible for the VBS programs for the diocese, the ordering of vestments for the new clergy, and keeping an inventory of vestments and
recipients of the Order of Saskatchewan, would be proud of their son. After retiring from a 35-year career with SaskPower/ SaskEnergy, Grant offered his time and talent to the diocese and St. George’s and St. Alban’s.
A list of “things Grant has fixed” includes repairs to St. Mary’s Church, replacement and repair of grave markers, general project manager
Grant and his second in command, Mike Johnson, cheerfully take care of any issue that needs fixing.
Grant and his wife Arlette have four children.
Ethel Macfie was a school teacher at the age of 17, and by the time she was 19, she became active in the ACW in St. George’s Church in Waitville, and when it closed became a member of St. Mary’s, Birch Hills.
She was a dedicated secretary-treasurer for St. Savior’s Church and Cemetery for 25 years, as well as a participant on vestry, in the altar guild and in fundraising.
Ethel is an avid reader and her interpretations of readings at Bible studies are insightful, illuminating and thought provok-
ing. At 95, she remains active at St. Mary’s, Birch Hills, attending and contributing to church events.
One of her treasured memories is of Bishop Michael and Father Jordan coming down the street in robes to present her and husband Ross with a certificate from the diocese, commemorating their 60 th wedding anniversary.
Elaine Thorne was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Church in Nipawin. She attended Sunday school, was a member of Junior Auxiliary, and the Young People’s Group and taught Sunday school as a teen.
She left Nipawin to attend university in 1969, and when she returned in 1984, she picked up where she left, off teaching Sunday school, joined the ACW as secretary and president, is now a member of vestry and has been treasurer for the last 10 years.
She sews quilts and maintains an inventory of quilts so that every baptized child receives a quilt to commemorate their special day.
She subscribes to the ministry that St. John’s is a family and all members of this family, new and old, are taken care of as family members should be.
She serves the Lord faithfully and is always willing to step up to the plate to serve and assist.
Photos by Angie Friedrich
Rev. Jonathan Bauer to support ministry, bishop in Qu'Appelle
By Joanne Shurvin-Martin
REGINA — Rev. Jonathan Bauer felt the call to ministry as a young man growing up in Leicestershire, England, and at the age of 18 was appointed canons’ verger at Hereford Cathedral.
Despite the grandsounding title, the position was “a jumped-up janitor,” he says with a laugh.
His two years as verger gave him an inside look at the workings of the Church of England, and confirmed in his mind that he was called to ministry.
However, he did not go directly to theological college, but instead became a primary school teacher after training in Lincoln, and taught in northeast London.
During this time he was accepted for theological college. He attended Ripon College Cuddeson, in Oxford, for three years, receiving a post-graduate diploma in ministry.
Bauer was ordained deacon in Lincoln Cathedral in 2000, and priested the following year.
For the following 11 years he served in several English parishes, and in 2011 took a decade from full-time ministry to run a hospice for endof-life care.
Initially he was chap -
lain at the 10-bed Harrogate Hospice.
He shared this ministry with a hospice in York, where he eventually became clinical manager of out-patient care and bereavement support.
He worked with doctors, nurses, therapists, patients and their families. “It was a very intense 10 years,” he recalls.
In 2021 he returned to parish ministry as rector of St. Nicholas in Chislehurst, south London.
In 2023 he moved to Staunton in the Diocese
of Southwest Virginia, as rector of Emmanuel Parish and dean of Augusta Convocation (equivalent to a deanery).
He also married his husband, Luis, who is originally from Nicaragua. But, “the changing political climate meant it was not the place for us,” Bauer says.
When he saw the job posting from Qu’Appelle, which was looking for a person to replace retiring Archdeacon Catherine Harper, “the job seemed the right thing.”
For about the past 20 years, Bauer has been an oblate with the Benedictine Order of Alton Abbey.
Oblates do not live in community with monks, but follow a Rule of Life reflecting the rules St. Benedict wrote for the Order.
Although the physical abbey has now closed, the connection to the Order remains. Bauer describes the Order as “a rock for me.”
It provides him with stability and structure, a rhythm of prayer and pattern of life, and he says, “I need that consistency.”
In his free time, Bauer goes to the gym regularly, plays the organ and piano — “privately, not for performance” — and enjoys cooking and making candles, as well as learning Spanish and French.
DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan ACW donates $400 to Camp Okema
By Rev. Ted Williams
PRINCE ALBERT — The Diocesan ACW held its AGM on Sept. 6, hosted by the Lady Paul ACW in St. George’s Church.
Twelve ladies registered for the meeting with Bishop Rick Reed spending the day with the group. The meeting opened at 10 a.m.
The minutes of the last AGM held on May 12, 2018 were read and approved. A meeting was held in 2019, with five people present, and in 2022 the scheduled meeting was cancelled due to lack of attendees.
The bishop led the elections for president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, book of remembrance, notes and news and Alongside Hope. He then presided at the Eucharist, after which everyone ate their own bagged lunches with soup and coffee and tea provided.
After lunch the group was able to have a questionand-answer session with the bishop.
There is only one active ACW remaining in the Diocese of Saskatchewan at the present time — Lady Paul ACW at St. George’s Anglican Church in Prince Albert — but there are two other ACW groups who meet socially in the city.
In the past, the ACW received membership fees of $3 per member from other ACW groups in the diocese.
Their only source of revenue would be a bit of a surplus from the Ladies Day Out at Okema every year. Due to the forest fire situation this year, the
event had to be cancelled.
The executive decided to donate the $400 deposit to Okema as their contribution this year.
There are no ACW groups in the dioceses of Qu’Appelle or Saskatoon. When you read the histories of the churches, their success in becoming a viable church family depended on their Anglican Church Women.
There are still members in every church who keep things going, who set up the coffee and snacks, who visit the shut-ins, who donate their time and energy to any function of their church and you could say that they are the new ACW.
When the Ladies Day Out began there would be 25 to 30 ladies attending, now they are lucky to get 15. To make the event feasible there needs to be 15 participants. If you have any thoughts on how to revitalize membership in the ACW, share them with the members.
The executive voted in this year are president (three-year term) Opal Harris, vice-president (two-year term) Cydney St. Denis, secretary/ treasurer (two-year term) Sharon Chesley and book of remembrance (one-year term) Marlene Payton.
It was decided that there was no need for a notes and news or PWRDF Alongside Hope reps as both of these items are covered elsewhere in the diocese. They were grateful to the bishop and his secretary for their support and thankful for those who did attend.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Bauer at the door of St. Nicholas, Chislehurst, England. Photo submitted
Bishop Rick Reed (right) leads a service at the ACW annual meeting. Photo by Kathleen Stewart
Anti-poverty speaker discusses work during bishop's dinner
DIOCESE OF SASKATCHEWAN
Five new deacons ordained during Diocesan Synod
By Mary Brown
PRINCE ALBERT — At the closing of the 71st Synod of the Diocese of Saskatchewan, five new deacons were ordained. Their picture will appear in December.
They are Kathleen Sheila Stewart, honorary assistant to the bishop, Matthew James Joseph Hoskin, deacon in charge of St. David’s Church in Prince Albert, Beatrice Winnifred Fremont, deacon in charge of Holy Trinity Church in Prince Albert, Helen Jane Roberts, assistant of St. Joseph’s in Montreal Lake, and Trevor Daryl Roberts, deacon in charge of St. Paul’s, Sturgeon Lake.
Some intend to become priests, while some will be vocational deacons.
By Kate Berringer
REGINA — We were very blessed to welcome 38 faithful supporters to the fourth annual Diocese of Qu’Appelle Bishop’s Discretionary Fund dinner. Several others made donations but did not attend.
This year, we welcomed Peter Gilmer from the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry as guest speaker. Since 1996, Gilmer has been an advocate and minister for the Anti-Poverty Ministry.
He has chaired the Regina Council on Social Development, the Regina Public Transit Coalition and the brief committee, which lobbies the Saskatchewan Government on behalf of the United Church.
He received a Model UN Award of Honour for
Social Justice in 2000 and the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal in 2005. Gilmer recently received an honorary doctorate from St. Andrew’s College, University of Saskatchewan.
Rooted in God’s radical love, expressed through compassion and action, the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry advocates and educates with and for those seeking social and economic justice.
Gilmer shared information about their work in casework advocacy for those in need of income assistance, public education on poverty issues, and promoting policy change to end poverty. He highlighted the importance of the ministry’s work from a theological and social justice perspective. He spoke about the on -
going challenges faced by low-income individuals, highlighting systemic obstacles within government assistance programs and the insufficient support relative to the cost of living.
The Bishop’s Discretionary Fund is used by the bishop to respond to situations where she feels the Holy Spirit is leading her to provide help. The fund can help a clergy family in time of need or to help fund a project of a social justice organization close to her heart.
Bishop Helen is passionate about supporting organizations who work to better the lives of people in our indigenous community, at-risk youth, women in need and homelessness.
Preliminary numbers show the event raised approximately $2,750.
Peter Gilmer of the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry speaks during the fundraising dinner for the Bishop's Discretionary Fund. Photo by Kate Berringer
God's gifts and call determine our action
By the Rev. Dr. Iain Luke Principal, College of Emmanuel and St. Chad
Discernment is something of a watchword for Christians.
It describes the way we pay attention to what is going on around us, in our communities and in our churches, but also what is going on inside us, as we live and grow and react to events. In particular, discernment enables us to pay attention to what God is up to, and where God is inviting us to join in.
parishes, and other groups or teams of faithful people. How do you work, think, and pray together to follow God’s lead?
Often we talk about discernment for individuals, where people look closely at the gifts God gives them and then figure out what that means for their calling to serve. In this column, though, I want to talk about discernment for
Putting God first in the process of discernment means asking what we think He is calling us to do, before we ask what we might have to offer. So the first question is always: How do we know what God is calling us to do? And the answer is typically, “Look around you.”
Looking around the community where you live, what do you see? What needs are crying out
to be met? What resources can be brought together in new ways? Who needs a word of encouragement? Who is already doing God’s work, and may be looking for partners?
God’s call is often very simple and obvious, once we pay attention.
Another key insight of faith is that when God calls us to serve, God also gives us the gifts we need to respond. So the second discernment question is: What gifts do we need in order to follow God’s call?
This can be the point where prayer and reflection make a real
difference, by opening us up to creative thinking. The question is not, what gifts do we wish we had, or what gifts do people in other places have. What gifts do we, in our setting, need in order to share in God’s work here? Or you can turn it around and ask, “What gifts do we know God is giving us, and how can we use those gifts to meet the needs we see?”
By this point, if your parish has been talking and praying together about God’s call, you will likely have a sense that you are able to respond with the gifts God is giving you. Even so, you may feel there are constraints or limitations. In my experience, these usually fall into one of three categories: organization, timing, and expertise. Organization can be the easiest to resolve. It is part of God’s call, and part of God’s gift. You probably already know who in your community has the gift of bringing people together to take action. They may be a leader, or a planner, or a good communicator. Let them know that you need them to take part in the work you want to do together. Invite them to say yes!
Timing is another topic for prayer, only this time it is the kind of prayer that waits on God and listens for the go-ahead. While you listen, remember all those occasions in the Bible when God’s people waited for the right time, as God said, “Not yet… not yet… OK now is the time.”
Finally there is the question of the expertise we might need to tackle difficult or complex challenges. Sometimes the right people are already on hand, and expertise is one of the gifts God has already provided.
In other situations, the need for expertise might be an invitation into partnership with other organizations, or a call to use our financial resources to pay an expert advisor.
But sometimes God’s call is for us to develop our own capacities, by equipping ourselves and each other to use our Godgiven gifts.
This is the role theological education and ministry training plays in the church, and it is the reason the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad works to make a wide range of training available to everyone.
Equipping our gifts is a kind of stewardship. Maybe God has given you an open heart, a curious mind, and a capacity to reach out to the people around you. What do you need to develop those gifts so that you can be effective in ministry?
Training can help you develop listening skills and teach you the steps to take in supporting another person in crisis. Education can inform you about what is going on in contemporary society, or how people express their spiritual needs, and it can also teach you how to ask the right questions.
What starts with discernment of our gifts and calling, leads us to a place where we can encourage ourselves and others to develop our gifts, in service to God and neighbour.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. Photo by unsplash.com
Obituary
Rev. Marilyn Scutt was a teacher, musician and priest
Submitted
REGINA — Rev. Marilyn Scutt, who served the Parish of Saskatchewan Gateway, died peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 10, with her children at her side.
Known as “Reverend Marilyn,” she is survived by her children Richard, Mary and David; two sisters, Pam and Margaret; seven grandchildren, daughters-in-law and
other extended family members. She was predeceased by her first husband Lyman Hill, and second husband Harold Scutt.
Born in Surbiton, Surrey, England, she grew up in Croydon and emigrated to Canada in 1952. Her family settled in Montreal where she earned a B.A. in 1961 from Sir George Williams University, Montreal, and
subsequently became a schoolteacher.
After she married Lyman in 1962, the couple moved to Saskatchewan, settling permanently and raising a family in Moosomin. Marilyn and Lyman both contributed significantly to Moosomin’s vibrant musical culture, providing leadership across a range of church and community music activities.
Her years as Junior Choir conductor, her involvement with Moosomin’s Music Festival, and the community-wide production of “The Door,”
an Easter cantata, were among her highlights.
“Reverend Marilyn” had a quiet yet profound effect on many lives in the Moosomin area, first in her teaching and later in her ministry through the Anglican church.
Most recently she became a beloved member of St. Aidan, Moose Jaw. Her obituary records, “She will be sorely missed by those she touched but she will always bring a smile to their faces.”
Along with the late Delta Kelly, “Reverend Marilyn” was raised up and locally ordained for the Parish of
Feeling the Holy Spirit
From glory to glory
By Rev. Gene Packwood
"We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit " (2 Corinthians 3:18, CSB).
TSpirit’s transformation from “glory to glory.”
oday, I suspect most of us Anglicans are “to” timers — living in the “to” space between the glories that St. Paul wrote about as we await that Holy
In the meantime, in our liturgies “we see only a reflection as in a mirror,” and not yet “face to face” (1 Cor 13:12). The glory of the revivals and awakenings involving people like Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley in days of yore, and David Watson, Dennis and Rita Bennet and Terry Fulham in the ’70s and ’80s, and that brought ARM Canada into being, have subsided.
Just as in the days of Eli
and Samuel, we now live in days when the “word of the Lord” is rare and there are few visions (1 Sam 3:1) — in the North American Anglican world, at least.
We await another visitation, another awakening, another outpouring of the Spirit, where folk will flock to our services and gatherings hungry and thirsty for more of the LORD simply because His presence is so palpable and obvious in healings and changed lives.
While we wait, I am convinced that the Daily Divine Offices in our prayer books are excellent and indispensable tools with which to pray for that next visitation.
For example, I’ve counted over 400 references to the Holy Spirit in The Book of Alternative Services (BAS).
To watch for them as we pray the Divine Office individually or in groups, and as we come upon them, pause and pray for a new outpouring of God’s glory across our church would be a good, faithful way to pray us all from glory to glory.
Consider, for example, the Service of Light and Evening Prayer in the BAS. It begins, as usual, with Trinitarian praise and worship in the ancient chant “O Gracious Light”: Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (pp 61 & 66).
Saskatchewan Gateway. She was ordained deacon on June 2, 2002, in St. Alban, Moosomin, by Bishop Duncan Wallace. On Nov. 2, in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Regina, she was ordained priest.
A private celebration of her life was held for her immediate family.
The family suggests that people may make donations in Marilyn’s name to the RUH Foundation Movement Disorder Fund at https:// ruhf.org.donate/ then select RUFH – Rajput Research in the dropdown menu.
submitted
are designed and effective for moving us from one level of glory to the next. Pray that “the outpouring of his Spirit” will, indeed, open our blindness to the glory of his presence./ Strengthen us in our weakness./ Support us in our stumbling efforts to do your will/ and free our tongues to sing your praise (p63)/ while renewing our “life in the Spirit of the risen Lord” (p65).
Don’t be afraid to make the prayers your own. Make them personal. Open my blindness to the glory of Your presence. Strengthen me, for example.
Use the words of the office to prompt silent reflection, extemporaneous prayer, praise or worship.
The Thanksgiving prayers (pp 62-65) are evocative words for thankful worship. They remind us that it is the light of Christ that enlightens our darkness and that God the Father is the giver of the Holy Spirit.
The Advent and Resurrection thanksgivings especially
If you’re praying in a group, give yourselves permission to pause and pray into words and phrases that light up for you. Pause to give glory to God.
Take a few moments to worship in song. Thoroughly appropriate liturgical behaviour for those who are on their way from glory to glory.
Photo
Thoughts on Synodality Part 2: Conversations in the Spirit
By the Rev. Canon Marie Louise Ternier
Editor’s note:
The following material was compiled from RC sources by Rev. Canon MarieLouise Ternier, ecumenical officer for the Anglican Diocese of Saskatoon.
Also, Part I by the author appeared in the October issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican
Conversation in the Spirit, or spiritual conversation, is a practical art, an ancient practice of the Church that might still be found in monastic communities.
It is particularly helpful in ensuring all the voices to be heard. It can be used for faith sharing, difficult conversations, or when
lots of creativity or ideas are needed. It is an excellent tool to ground any conversation, open us to new voices and possibilities, and move us to action when appropriate.
Conversation in the Spirit relies on good communication: being able to hear and understand one another.
This can assist people with poor hearing, those with English as an additional language, or those whose verbal skills are not strong.
This applies to all conversations, of course, but the intentional slower pace and the silences allow for depth and meaning to emerge more fully than in ordinary chatting.
Conversations in the Spirit encourage the
sharing of healed and unhealed contributions and experiences, painful and anguished words, fierce convictions and agonizing doubts, fears and deep questions, all held gently in a safe and sacred circle of trust.
Once a focus question has been crafted, a few moments of silence are observed to allow pondering the question.
Guided by a trained facilitator, in the first round every person can share his or her thoughts on the question; there is no discussion or response. A time of silence follows.
In the second round, each person shares what resonated most for them and what moved within them in the time of silence.
Once everyone has had a chance to speak, a second silence is observed. Finally, in the third round, participants share any
new insights that may have arisen or are the common themes fruits of the conversation. In this way, extroverts are nudged to listen while introverts are given space to speak.
Periods of silence are important ways to reduce quick reactions and encourage interior pondering. For those who find silence difficult, participants can write down their thoughts, doodle, or take their imagination for a walk.
If the group talks over each other, reset the group with a silence and a gentle reminder. Alternatively, have a stone or a talking stick. The process of putting the stone down and picking it up helps slow the pace of the conversation and aids listening.
the Eucharist.
Authentic listening and the ability to find ways to continue walking together beyond fragmentation and polarization are indispensable for the Church to remain alive and vital and to be a powerful sign for the cultures of our time.
The radical call is, therefore, to build together an attractive and concrete Church: an outgoing Church, where all feel welcome, managing tensions without being crushed by them. This Church is not afraid of variety but values it without forcing it into uniformity.
Trying to walk together also brings us into contact with the healthy restlessness of incompleteness, with the awareness there are still many things whose weight we are not able to carry or bear (cf. John 16:12).
Although this method feels slow, giving people time to think can make for effective communication. All voices are heard, while, the wisdom of the group is built up; new connections and possibilities can emerge.
The official working document on Synodality, the Instrumentum Laboris, includes the following:
“Synodality is grounded in the vocation of all the baptized – we are all sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Christ in the one Spirit and sent for the common mission. Central to becoming a Synodal Church is the renewal of structures, institutions and procedures to allow for co-responsibility to be exercised and practised.”
In becoming a listening Church, we discover the joys of truly listening and being listened to, just as Jesus listened to those He met. Our listening is not just within our communities, but to the world, and especially to the marginalized.
Through this listening, we desire to grow in humility and recognize that as a Church we must ask forgiveness and have much to learn. A synodal Church is one of encounter and dialogue, especially with other Churches, recognizing our common baptism.
This is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be cultivated. A synodal Church is also a Church of discernment.
As we listen to each other’s experiences, we grow in mutual respect and begin to discern the movements of God’s Spirit in the lives of others and in our own, in the hope of becoming a Church increasingly capable of making prophetic decisions that are the fruit of the Spirit’s guidance.
Next time a chance to catch up with Roman Catholic presents itself, ask how the implementation of the Synodal project is going in their parish and diocese.
To learn more, visit: - https://www.synod. va/content/dam/synod/ common/phases/ universal-stage/il/ ENG_INSTRUMENTUMLABORIS.pdf
Carrying the weight of these questions should not be the personal burden of those who occupy certain roles, with the risk of being crushed by them, but a task for the entire community, nurtured by
