Around the Country: 1st Inuit Woman Ordained

On Nov. 13, 2011, the Rev. Sarah Baikie became the first woman of Inuit descent to be ordained in the Anglican diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador.

The bishop of the diocese, Cyrus Pitman, ordained Baikie in the presence of her family and community in her home church of St. Timothy’s in Rigolet, Labrador. Baikie’s five grandchildren, dressed in traditional aboriginal attire, drummed the procession into the church. The Lord’s Prayer was recited in her local dialect of Inuktitut.

-- Anglican Life

Around the country: A study in good nutrition

A $10,000 grant from the Anglican diocese of Ottawa will allow students at the Greater Gatineau Elementary School to continue learning about how to eat healthfully.

The school’s principal, Judy Millar, initiated the Greater Gatineau Elementary Health and Wellness Project–which ran from March to June 2011–with a $6,000 grant from the province. When the funding ran out, the diocese offered to finance the program for another year, under the title, “Daily Bread Project.”

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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Jan 18 - 25

“We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ”

By Rev. Rob Stringer, Diocese of Saskatchewan ecumenical officer

Throughout the Diocese of Saskatchewan, ecumenical co-operation seems to be on the rise.

Over the last year, congregations in Spiritwood and Meadow Lake (my home parish) have entered  shared ministry agreements. These partnerships add to our other ecumenical parishes, such as Turtle River Parish and Birch Hills/Kinistino.

The Mission of Christopher Lake has also had a long history of welcoming members from a diversity of denominational backgrounds. I am sure these trends in are evidence throughout the province of Saskatchewan.

Ecumenical co-operation challenges the disciples of Jesus to strive for the unity He prayerfully desires for His Church (see John 17:20-21). But such co-operation should also lead us to thoughtful, biblical and prayerful reflection on what it means to be the Church and how we might move forward with our ecumenical partners.

Unfortunately, our approach to ecumenism is often guided by the common difficulties we face and not the common blessings we share. Such difficulties may include dwindling and aging congregations, financial troubles and inability to secure a pastor.

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“This is my Son, whom I love”

The Baptism of our Lord

By Bishop Michael Hawkins

St. Mark dives right into the account of Jesus’ baptism in his Gospel, always a part of Epiphany, especially as it is celebrated in the East.

While crowds did come to John the Baptist, Mark’s description of Jesus’ baptism, like many paintings of it,
appears much more intimate. It is, dare I say, almost a private baptism, a secret Epiphany.

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Mission consultation in Toronto

Several Anglican representatives participated in a Dec. 1 consultation with the Canadian Churches Forum for Global Ministries, held at the Toronto School of Theology. Dr. Andrea Mann, General Synod’s global relations coordinator, attended along with Henriette Thompson, General Synod’s coordinator for ecumenical, interfaith, and government relations, and Suzanne Rumsey, public engagement coordinator for the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund.

The objective of the consultation was to consider how the work of churches and the forum can best intersect in the following areas: intercultural ministry and diversity, ecumenism, justice, anti-racism, education and learning, global engagement, and mission and missiology.

New Church in Big River

Everyone is invited to the Consecration

of the new church

in Big River First Nation

Saturday, January 14th

2 PM

"God has a plan for us" - Indigenous Models of Governance

Finding new, Indigenous models of governance is emotionally charged work in the Anglican Church of Canada. That's why members of the Council of General Synod (COGS) received the Mississauga Declaration, a cry for self-determination, alongside other governance updates at its meeting Nov. 18 to 20.

"We affirm that God has a plan for us in the Gospel and that we must claim the freedom to become what God has called us to be," reads the 388-word declaration, penned by 32 Indigenous Anglican representatives at a September 2011 meeting in Mississauga, Ont.

Click here for more information

A message from the House of Bishops

The bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada met at the Mount Carmel Retreat Centre in Niagara Falls, Ont., Nov. 20 to 24. They have released the following statement.

Click here to read the statement.

2012 Cycle of Prayer online

The first few weeks of the Diocese of Saskatchewan Cycle of Prayer for 2012 can now be found on our website. Click here, or use the Resources menu at the top of the page.

Indigenous ministries coordinator appointed

The Anglican Journal is reporting that the Rev. Canon Virginia "Ginny" Doctor, a Mohawk from the Six Nations and canon to the ordinary for the Episcopal diocese of Alaska, is the new indigenous ministries coordinator for the Anglican Church of Canada.

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Christmas 2011 Message from the Bishop

I enjoy all our Christmas nativity scenes and carols but in their soft familiarity they may allow us to forget the harsh details of the birth of Jesus.  In the idealized version Mary smiles, her hair is unruffled.  She looks fresh as a daisy, unlike any newly delivered mother.  Jesus is silent and still, clean and pink and happy unlike most newborns.  But we need to think and imagine a little more accurately about the birth of Jesus. 

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Council of the North’s Suicide Prevention Program

“One of the great First Nations elders said, not long ago, “in former times, our enemies were famine, war, and disease.  Now we struggle against alcoholism, suicide and poverty.”  Suicide has become one of the great spiritual battles of our time.  It is almost impossible to overstate the urgency and importance of this issue for Indigenous Peoples.  For those who are a part of their communities, especially those who are called to serve in the Name of Jesus, this must be our priority.  Our response will be the proof of our love and our faithfulness to the way of Jesus.  If we have no response, we can claim neither love nor faithfulness.  May God give us all the grace to turn this around." -- Reflection by National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald

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Primate reports on meeting of the House of Bishops

In an Anglican Journal article on the recent meeting of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Primate is quoted sharing his concern that the Anglican Communion Covenant 'falls short of the gospel'. 

Anglican covenant   Section IV continues to be the sticking point in this document, designed to deal with dissent within the Anglican Communion. “There are no difficulties with sections I to III. The language sounds very relational and very Anglican,” said the archbishop. “Section IV also starts off relational but begins to sound juridical, and that creates a problem.” While upholding autonomy, this section also makes it clear that the exercise of autonomy has consequences. “My personal concern is what happens when the direction you move in is not in accordance with the standards of the communion. You’re out. It does not end on a note of restoration or hope, so I say it falls short of the Gospel,” Archbishop Hiltz said. A guide to navigating the covenant was posted last June on the church’s national website.

Full Anglican Journal Article

The Archbishop of Canterbury writes the Primates of the Anglican Communion

The Archbishop of Canterbury has published his Advent letter to the Primates of the Anglican Communion.  In his letter he takes some time to defend the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant and the need for the moratoria.

"I continue to ask what alternatives there are if we want to agree on ways of limiting damage, managing conflict and facing with honesty the actual effects of greater disunity.  In the absence of such alternatives, I must continue to commend the Covenant as strongly as I can to all who are considering its future.

These questions are made all the more sharp by the fact that the repeated requests for moratoria on problematic actions issued by various representative Anglican bodies are increasingly ignored.  Strong conscientious convictions are involved here.  No-one, I believe, acts out of a desire to deepen disunity; some believe that certain matters are more important than what they think of as a superficial unity.  But the effects are often to deepen mutual mistrust, and this must surely be bad for our mission together as Anglicans, and alongside other Christians as well.  The question remains: if the moratoria are ignored and the Covenant suspected, what are the means by which we maintain some theological coherence as a Communion and some personal respect and understanding as a fellowship of people seeking to serve Christ?  And we should bear in mind that our coherence as a Communion is also a significant concern in relation to other Christian bodies – especially at a moment when the renewed dialogues with Roman Catholics and Orthodox have begun with great enthusiasm and a very constructive spirit."

The full text of his letter is attached.

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Give a gift for mission

As you plan your Christmas giving, consider supporting the mission of the church through the new, online Gifts for Mission gift guide. You can help fund a national youth ministry forum, boost the work of northern clergy, give hot lunches in Haiti, and much more. The 2011 gift guide of the Anglican Church of Canada reflects the vibrant ministries of General Synod and its partners: the Anglican Foundation and the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF). Produced by the Resources for Mission Department of the national church, Gifts for Mission builds on the success of the first guide in 2010 and responds to those who would like to expand their gift giving, including more items for children.

Learn more online.

Highlights from the 67th Session of Synod

Group shot: delegates to SynodThe 67^th Synod for the Diocese of Saskatchewan took place on Friday October21st, 2011 in the Cathedral Church of Saint Alban the Martyr, Prince Albert.

The opening of synod began with Holy Eucharist which gathered clergy, laity and observers from across the diocese. Our Bishop, Michael Hawkins based his sermon and charge on scripture verses of Saint Pauls’ letter to the Romans, focusing namely on the Family of God, Body of Christ and Temple of the Holy Spirit.

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Three-Church Party in Arborfield

The Church Hall was packed for the lunch after our annual Parish Sunday communion service. Photo: Glen GrayThe Mission Parish of Arborfield and Hudson Bay, in the Diocese of Saskatchewan, consists of two churches. But those two points are separated by more than 120 kilometres of bush and scattered farms. Yet they have faithfully worked together for more than 20 years now.

On a fine summer day in July, they held their annual Parish Sunday and Barbeque. The churches alternate as hosts of the event. This year, it was Church of the Ascension’s turn, in Arborfield. But the 2011 edition had a new twist.

This year, the neighbouring parish of St John’s Church, Nipawin, was invited to join in

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Gift will support Suicide Prevention Program

A $100,000 grant from the Diocese of Toronto will expand suicide prevention work in Canada's north. This gift, reflecting a portion of sales from the diocese's surplus properties, was presented to the Suicide Prevention Program of the Council of the North, the Anglican Church of Canada's ten northern dioceses.

For more information, click here to read the full story.

The close of VBS in the Diocese

By Tracy Harper

^NKJ Mark 10:14  "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.”

Vacation Bible School is finished for another year.  Some of the fondest memories are of hearing the children sing as loud as their angelic voices could.  Watching them play games, and repeating their favorite ones.  Even though the mosquitoes were out in full force and the heat was, almost intolerable, it did not detour any of the activities and you knew God is at work when the lessons of the week, are repeated back to you.

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The Charge of the Bishop of Saskatchewan

To the 67^th Session of Synod

October 21^st 2011

We assemble here and I speak to you in the name of the true and living God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Welcome my sisters and brothers in Christ.  We gather as always in the open recognition that we are but a portion of the One Body of Christ. 

The Church

This is a Church meeting and it is very important that we begin this knowing truly what the Church is.  In the Nicene Creed we confess that the Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic.  In our Catechism (BCP page 552) we say that the Church is “the Family of God, the Body of Christ, and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.”  So we read in Romans 12 of how St. Paul calls us to live as such, as brothers and sisters, recognizing and loving each other as such in the Family of God, as members that belong to each other and serve with each other in the one body of Christ, and as those who offer ourselves, our souls and bodies as a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, our spiritual worship, in the Temple of God.  We gather here as brothers and sisters in the Family of God, as members of the Body of Christ and as living stones of the Temple of the Spirit.  All of these are images of the unity of the Church which is in another phrase to be “Together in the Gospel,” “Mamuwe Isi Miywachimowin.”  We are called to unity and to live out that unity, as the Family of God, we are called to, or rather sent out in, mission and service as the Body of Christ, and we are called to holiness as the Temple of the Spirit.  The Family of God is one and Catholic, the Body of Christ is Apostolic sent by Jesus, commissioned by Jesus to do  his work in the world, the Temple of the Holy Spirit is holy, offering spiritual worship, worshipping the Father in the Spirit and in the Truth in all times and in all places.  That is who we are, the Family of God, the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit and if you don’t know yourself and if you will not recognize others here as a child of God, a member of the body of Christ and a living stone of the Temple, you’ve come to the wrong meeting. 

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