Mrs. Marjorie Moote, widow of the former priest-pilot and Archdeacon of Saskatchewan Clayton T.B. (Bud) Moote, died on May 4, 2008. The Mootes served in the Dioceses of Niagara, Saskatchewan and Algoma. Mrs. Moote was predeceased by her husband in 1993. She was the mother of the Rev. Mark Moote, a priest of the Diocese of Kootenay. Memorial donations in Marjorie’s name may be sent to Covenant House, Toronto, or the Canadian Cancer Society.

The Bishop of Algoma has appointed the Very Rev. Robert Sweet as Incumbent of Trinity Church, Parry Sound, effective June 8, 2008.  Mr. Sweet is presently Dean of the Diocese of Caledonia and Rector of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Prince Rupert, B.C.  He was formerly Priest-in-Charge of Hudson Bay and Arborfield, and then Rector of Melfort, in the Diocese of Saskatchewan.

Before his ordination by Bishop Burton in 1994, Dean Sweet served for twenty years with the Metropolitan Toronto Police Service before studying for the ministry at Wycliffe College. He and his wife, Ruth, have four grown children: Matthew, Jesse, Sarah, and Elizabeth.

PRINCE ALBERT (Sask) – A group of Prince Albert teens is preparing for a unique one-week mission experience working with children on the Crow Indian Reservation near Billings, Montana. The eight young people have been working on plans for the trip since meeting as actors in a theatrical production last fall – “Little Women”, staged by Watch Stop Drama Productions. They come from several different church backgrounds, including St. Christopher’s (Christopher Lake) and St. George’s (Prince Albert) Anglican churches, and the Alliance and Free Methodist churches in Prince Albert.

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By Steve Page.  On Ascension Day, the church remembers that Jesus “was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” right before the eyes of his followers. It’s a festive day, when we celebrate that we worship a risen Lord and Saviour who sits at the side of God the Father, as ruler of the whole universe.

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CHRISTOPHER LAKE (Sask) – It was a very different evening out for thirty-two members of the St. Christopher’s parish in Christopher Lake on Maundy Thursday, March 20.

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By Julie Golding Page.  HUDSON BAY & ARBORFIELD (Sask) - Twenty members of two local Anglican churches, St. Patrick’s (Hudson Bay) and Church of the Ascension (Arborfield), recently spent an entire day exploring their place in God’s mission. Each mission day’s programming ran from 10 am to 4 pm, with an enthusiastically received international supper afterwards.

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Last week's meeting of the Saskatchewan Anglican Board which was held in the Diocese of Saskatoon Synod Office: (l to r) Mr. Fred Stevens, Managing Editor; Mr. Peter Coolen (Associate Editor for Saskatoon); Rev. Julie Golding Page; Bishop Greg Kerr-Wilson (Qu'Appelle); Bishop Rodney Andrews (Saskatoon); Rev. Steve Page; Rev. Christopher Snook; Diane Foley (Treasurer).  Photo credit: Bishop Burton.

The Revs. Julie & Steve Page have been appointed our Diocese's Associate Editors for the Saskatchewan Anglican newspaper and writers for this website.  If you have news to share, please contact Steve & Julie at (306) 865-3488 or by email at: HudsonBayArborfield@sasktel.net

They succeed the Rev. Christopher Snook who concludes his ministry at Fort Pitt Mission this month and will be moving to the United States this fall where his wife, Barbara Swanson, will be continuing her doctoral studies.

Many considered that Bishop Hassan, as he was generally known, was one of the 20th century's saints.....

Pastors were arrested, Church hospitals and blind missions were confiscated, the bishop's house was looted, and later its occupant was arrested and temporarily detained. Then, one night in late 1979, two gunmen scaled the wall of the bishop's house in Isfahan, entered the bedroom he shared with his wife and opened fire. Miraculously, the first four shots narrowly missed – Margaret Dehqani-Tafti still has the pillowcase with its four bullet-holes – and the fifth passed through her hand as she flung her body across her husband to protect him.

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Rowan Williams on Religious Faith and Human Rights may be found here.

Philip Turner on the proposed Anglican Covenant may be found here.

You are invited to Bishop Charles Arthurson's retirement celebrations on Friday May 30, 2008.  A festal Eucharist at St. Alban's Cathedral at 4 p.m. will followed by a banquet at the Marlboro Inn, Prince Albert, at 6:00 p.m.

Banquet tickets are $18.00 and can be purchased by calling Mary Brown at (306) 763-2455 or Stella Demery at 763-3639 by May 14, 2008.

Note: Anyone wishing to make a donation towards a gift of a trip for Bishop Arthurson and Faye can forward their gift to

Diocese of Saskatchewan
1308 5^th Ave. East , Prince Albert , Sk. S6V 2H7 .

If you can't come but would like to send greetings, click here.

Gang members are on the outside, looking in. They consider members of the community as prey rather than as people who need their protection. This was brought home a couple of weeks ago to the Samson Band at Hobbema, Alta.

Toddler Asia Saddleback was sitting at home on the reserve with her mother when the bullet from a gunshot came through the wall and lodged in her spine. She was seriously wounded and doctors fear that she will die if they try to remove the bullet.

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There was a Bible story for each week and then questions to answer. We then mailed the answers to be corrected.

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Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.  Amen.

This collect is not only beautiful; understanding what it is saying is critical to the spiritual life.  It is a wonderful prayer not only to pray but to meditate upon. 

The irrepressible Parish of Hudson Bay & Arborfield have raised the newsletter bar.  Check it out here!

And, in a related, weird, ecumenical development, Julie Golding Page's chin has mysteriously appeared on a German Roman Catholic website discussion of women deacons here.

Prayer is presented to us this morning as the bridge between hearing and doing. By prayer the word heard is received into our minds and hearts, our minds and hearts are changed and empowered by God’s grace that we may both think those things that be good and perform the same. In prayer we remember, and that is often exactly how we commonly express it, “I’ll remember you in my prayers.”

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"Quite honestly, this research surprised us," said Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research and LifeWay Christian Resource’s missiologist in residence. "We expected they’d choose the more contemporary options, but they were clearly more drawn to the aesthetics of the Gothic building than the run-of-the-mill, modern church building."

Stetzer suggested that the unchurched may prefer the more aesthetically pleasing look of the Gothic cathedral because it speaks to a connectedness to the past. Young unchurched people were particularly drawn to the Gothic look. Those between the ages of 25 to 34 used an average of 58.9 of their preference points on the more ornate church exterior. Those over the age of 70 only used an average of 32.9 of their 100 preference points on that particular church exterior.

The Gothic style was preferred by both unchurched Roman Catholics and unchurched Protestants, according to the survey. The average unchurched Roman Catholics gave the design more than 56 of their preference points.

"I don’t like modern churches, they seem cold," said one survey respondent who chose the Gothic design. "I like the smell of candles burning, stained-glass windows, [and] an intimacy that’s transcendent."

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But if the holy prophets had scruples against separating themselves from the church because of many great misdeeds, not of one man or another but of almost all the people, we claim too much for ourselves if we dare withdraw at once from the communion of the church just because the morals of all do not meet our standard, or even square with the profession of Christian faith.

John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentaries

Recent books reviewed here consider the seismic shift in the nature of American Evangelicalism, particularly among the younger generation.

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ht Christopher Snook

There is a reason for rejoicing at Easter. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. This historical reality has significant implications for our lives as Christians.

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This Pastoral Letter was read in churches across the Diocese of Saskatchewan this morning

To the clergy and people of the Diocese of Saskatchewan

Dear friends,

This is a difficult letter to write but I must let you know that I have submitted my resignation to the Metropolitan of Rupert’s Land effective September 1, 2008. I begin that day a new ministry as Rector of the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, Texas.

I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the privilege of serving with you these past 17 years, first as Dean and, since 1993, as Bishop. Our sense of call to Texas is a positive one but at the same time I felt that it would be an opportunity for the Diocese to be overseen with a fresh pair of eyes, and to enjoy the excitement and momentum a change of bishop brings.

Archbishop Clarke will soon be in touch with our Executive Committee to start the process to elect a new Bishop. The person you will choose to carry this ministry forward will be greatly blessed. This Diocese is well known for the singular spirit of cooperation, good will, and thoughtfulness you bring to the challenges of the day. I have good hope and every reason to believe that God has another fruitful season in store for you.

It was said that St. Paul had a thousand friends and loved each as his own soul, and died a thousand deaths when the time came for him to leave them. I suppose every departing bishop feels something of this sense of loss but I feel it acutely today because of the exceptional generosity and openness of heart with which you have consistently encouraged me. I hope to visit with many of you before we go.

Anna, Caroline, Peter and I wish you God’s blessing as you continue steadfast in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.

Yours in Christ,

Anthony Burton
Bishop of Saskatchewan