Here - Anglican Diocese of Edmonton

January 2013
The Messenger / 1
Art-on-Earth p. 6
Spanish Club p. 7
Youth Daze p. 8
the
messenger
A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL SERVING THE DIOCESES OF ATHABASCA AND EDMONTON
JANUARY 2013
Celebrate the When they saw that the star had stopped,
light of Christ
by Kathryn Scott
On Eagle’s Wings
Fort Simpson, NT
Epiphany, January 6, is when we celebrate the
coming of the Light into our darkness.
We connect it to the journey of the wise men of the
east, as they followed a miraculously bright light in the
sky.
Like the wise men, we travel through dangers and
navigate the confusion of the unknown, looking up for
glimpses of a light to lead us through dark times.
Darkness carries an even more intense significance
in Canada’s north, especially above the Arctic Circle,
where 24-hour darkness is experienced. Here the symbolism of Epiphany has special meaning, for the first
glimpse of light on the horizon marks a day of great
celebration and brings encouragement and reassurance
to spirits that are heavy. For all of us who have felt the
presence and love of God in Jesus, a light dawns on our
hearts, and we too are lifted up.
The ecumenical northern ministry, On Eagle’s
Wings (OEW), has chosen to mark Epiphany each year
by connecting those who share in this ministry: families, churches and communities from the north with
volunteers and supporters from the south. We are together on a journey to see Jesus, seeking the light of his
presence in our dark, confusing and dangerous places.
On Eagle’s Wings invites each person, family and
church community to share in a celebration of the Light
of Christ among us, and to support the ministry of On
Eagle’s Wings either on January 6, or at any time you
are able during the season of Epiphany.
The “Northern Landing Lights” initiative is symbolic of the light returning in the north and the light of
God’s love coming through the people and resources
provided by OEW. Landing lights at isolated airstrips
help guide Piper Aztec aircraft piloted by volunteers,
like Christ Church, Edmonton parishioner Willie King,
into remote communities.
From a base in Fort McMurray OEW, in partnership with the Roman Catholic Church and in a few
communities with the Anglican Church, serves primarily Metis, Cree and Dene First Nations communities
in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan. In addition, the
ministry serves more than 30 remote Inuit, Metis and
First Nations communities in the Northwest Territories
and Nunavut from a base in Yellowknife, NT.
For more information about On Eagle’s Wings, or
to make a donation, please visit
www.oneagleswings.org
Kathryn Scott spent a year as a volunteer-inmission with On Eagle’s Wings, before beginning her
current role in August, 2012, as a Ministry Support and
Christian Education worker. Her desire was to live and
work in the north and she was invited to live in Fort
they were overwhelmed with joy.
Matthew 2:10
Ways to Participate in Northern Landing Lights Initiative
•
•
•
When evening has fallen, light some candles,
and join in prayer for those living in remote,
isolated northern communities
Make a pathway of luminaries or Ice Candles
(http://fun.familyeducation.com/outdoorgames/winter/34935.html) at your church
or home to visualize Jesus as the Light in the
darkness
Sing a song about Jesus as the light
(see www.oneagleswings.org)
Simpson, NT with a Dene woman, Martina Norwegian,
a church leader and long-time On Eagle’s Wings board
member. Her ministry includes connecting churches
and communities in the Decho (Mackenzie River) region, leading programs for children and youth, building
understanding between northern and southern Chris-
•
•
•
•
Plan a service to highlight On Eagle’s Wings
northern ministry (materials available)
Give a donation for the ongoing costs of
transportation and plane maintenance (mail or
online options)
Request Loonie/Toonie boxes for families or
Sunday School project
Invite a speaker to tell your church about the
work of On Eagle’s Wings
tians, and learning by being present, paying attention
and listening to those who are of the north. More about
Kathryn’s experience in the north, can be read in her
blogs, Kathryn in the North
(www.kathryninthenorth.blogspot.com) and Being
There (www.kathrynannescott.wordpress.com)
2 / The Messenger
January 2013
news
Church consecrated in 102-year-old parish
by Valerie Wilbur
People’s Warden
Church of the Good Shepherd
Edmonton
On December 2, 2012, the first Sunday in Advent, Bishop Jane Alexander
consecrated the Anglican Church of the
Good Shepherd in Edmonton. What a
fitting way to enter into the new liturgical year!
Good Shepherd traces its roots to the Mission
of St. Peter’s, established in 1910. The first
services were held in a tent. The first church
was built in 1910 at 123 St. and 130 Ave. and the
parish was formed in 1911. A second church
was built in 1960 at 127 St. and 135 Ave.
The present church was purchased in 1991.
After knocking three times on
the church doors with her crozier, the
bishop, accompanied by the priests
and wardens, entered the church and
processed to the sanctuary where the
documents indicating that the church
was free of debt and all encumbrances
were signed.
The service then began with the
bishop blessing the first candle in
Advent, which was lit by one of the children of the Sunday school. Throughout
the service, the bishop offered prayers of
consecration over the font, the lectern,
the pulpit, and the altar.
Bishop Jane’s sermon focused on
all the possibilities with which Advent is
filled for us as Christians, and for all the
possibilities which now lie in the future
for the people of Good Shepherd. She
reminded us that when a church is built,
it is built with future generations in
mind, and she challenged us to use our
resources wisely and examine how we
could attract new families coming to the
area to choose Good Shepherd as their
regular place of worship. Are we ready
to give up our own comfortable chair to
welcome newcomers and fill the church
with new life and people? We were
inspired to look to our future as a parish
with “antiiiiiiicipation”.
With the closing hymn, “Christ is
Made the Sure Foundation”, echoing in
our hearts, we adjourned to the narthex
to conclude our celebrations with a cake,
decorated with an edible picture of the
church, cut by bishop Jane.
This special service of consecration,
conducted by the bishop, was such a fitting and memorable way for us to enter
into this season of Advent, preparing
our hearts for the coming of Christ, as
well as the future for the parish of Good
Shepherd.
On December 2, 2012, the First Sunday of Advent, Bishop Jane Alexander, pictured with Rector
Maureen Crerar, consecrated the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd, located on Castledowns
Road in Edmonton.
Taking part in the church consecration service are, from left: lay readers John Berry and Sandra
Arbeau; honorary assistant Penny Bruce (partially hidden from view) and servers:
Jory Lepine, Karlee Gogol, Darlene Gogol and Lavonne Roloff.
Photos: Betty-Ann Hong
Edmonton diocese to train and license lay evangelists
by John A. Berry
Licensed Lay Reader
Good Shepherd, Edmonton
Since the 63rd Synod this fall, there
has been a lot of talk and excitement
about a new initiative by the Rev. Tim
Chesterton to train and license lay
evangelists in the Diocese of Edmonton.
Just what are licensed lay
evangelists? Are they a new brand of lay
reader (the diocese currently licenses
lay administrants, lay readers and lay
pastoral visitors), or an entirely new
classification?
According to Chesterton, licensed
evangelists are similar to licensed lay
readers. They are volunteer lay ministers, trained to participate in the leadership of worship in our parishes. Like
the Apostle Paul, licensed evangelists
reach out beyond borders of the church
to communicate the gospel to people on
the fringes of church life.
The St. Margaret’s, Edmonton
rector recently visited three dioceses in
the Church of England to find out more
about this calling. A number of dioceses
in the United Kingdom have licensed
evangelists, one of a number of authorized lay ministries, such as lay pastoral
assistants, youth workers, lay readers
and the like.
According to Chesterton, the ministry of Licensed Lay Evangelists is wide-
reaching and diverse. Lay evangelists
could lead Alpha and Emmaus Christian
education courses, variations of Messy
Church worship, or after-school clubs.
Lay evangelists could initiate
outreach projects, such as mobilizing
parishes for random acts of kindness,
an example of which is delivering hot
cross buns door-to-door at Easter. In
England, and also here in Edmonton,
“Street Pastors”, trained volunteers from
Christian churches, walk the streets of
their communities and offer prayers and
assistance to people in need.
Lay evangelists could follow up
prayer walks and prayer visits by offering to include community members in
regular church prayers. Needless to say,
conversations on the doorstep are, if
you’ll pardon the pun, a foot in the door
for prospective parishioners.
Licensed Evangelists might do baptism preparation, either by themselves or
assisting the clergy. They might also do
follow-up visits after the baptism. They
might run wedding fairs, in which the
basics of having a church wedding are
explained. There’s also an opportunity
for a little conversational evangelism on
the side. They might do follow-up visits
with non-church families after funerals.
They might run parish evangelistic
missions and other special outreach
events in congregations, such as music
And Jesus said, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the
good news to the whole creation.’ Mark 16:15
or drama events. When Chesterton was
in England in June, many churches were
running special events for the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee, and parish evangelists
were often involved with these events.
There are endless opportunities for
licensed evangelists to carry out the
ministry of “Relational Evangelism”,
leading people to Christ through relaxed
one-on-one conversations in malls,
pubs, schools or sporting events, mentoring new Christians as they start their
journey in faith.
Eventually lay evangelists will have
the skills to encourage, equip and enable
other parish members for the ministry
of evangelism. The Church of England
takes lay training very seriously and assumes a much greater time commitment
and a much higher academic level than
we do in Canadian dioceses. For lay
readers in England, two years of training
are required in most dioceses. The training can be broken down to one night
a week plus several weekends, much
like our Education for Ministry (EfM)
classes minus the weekends.
In Year One, trainees study together
for a “Certificate in Christian Studies”.
This covers general topics like the Bible,
church history, the Creeds, pastoral care,
worship and sacraments, ethics, mission
and evangelism. In Year Two, students
take courses related to the ministry of
evangelism and complete a practicum
placement. In England, parishes cover
program costs for their trainees.
In our diocese, synod has approved
the introduction of lay evangelists,
requesting that the bishop proceed as
soon as possible with the development
of a program to recruit, train and deploy
licensed lay evangelists to work in our
communities on a volunteer basis to
spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Chesterton and Bishop Jane Alexander
will meet to discuss what a Licensed
Lay Evangelist program could look like
here. Chesterton would like to see a
working committee, composed of clergy
and the laity, to discuss key issues, such
as an overview of this ministry, specific
tasks to be carried out by the evangelists, skills required, suitable candidate
criteria and networking.
Now that our diocese has taken the
all-important first step, much planning,
discussion and discernment are required
to journey down this open road to lay
evangelism.
January 2013
The Messenger / 3
ecumenical
What does God require of us? Christians
around the world embrace Christ’s victory
submitted by Jane Samson
Associate Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer
Diocese of Edmonton
“What does God require of us?” The Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity (January 18 to 25) invites us to be embraced
by Christ’s victory, joining us all together and calling us to
the service of God and our neighbours.
Everyone is welcome to attend the main liturgy on
Sunday, January 27, 2013. It will be held at Good Shepherd
Catholic Church (18407-60 Avenue, Edmonton), beginning
at 7:00 pm. Worshippers will celebrate liturgy and resources
compiled by a number of Indian Christian communities.
Did you know that Christianity came to India in ancient times? The Mar Thoma (St. Thomas) Christians trace
their tradition back to the time of the apostles. When the
first Roman Catholic missionaries arrived 1500 years later,
they were astounded to find a thriving indigenous Christianity in parts of south India. Later still, when most of south
Asia was coming under British rule, reformers in the Mar
Thoma Church worked with Anglican partners to translate
their scriptures from ancient Syriac (which few could still
read) into the vernacular. Other reforms followed and a
close relationship with Anglicanism continued.
Today, Mar Thoma Christians are found in Europe
and North America, as well as India, and the Mar Thoma
Church is in full communion with Anglicans worldwide:
one of our oldest and deepest ecumenical relationships.
In the Edmonton diocese this relationship is particularly close. Each incoming vicar of Trinity Mar Thoma
From top: the Mar Thoma emblem (http://marthoma.in/story-behind-logo)
combines the ancient Indian and Christian symbols of light and life; Week
Church is sponsored by Bishop Jane Alexander and the
of Prayer for Christian Unity artwork by Sebastiano Stabile for the Canadian
church is officially one of her parishes. In recent years I
Centre for Ecumenism; Jane Samson meets Trinity Mar Thoma Vicar Fr.
have been privileged to speak at their Parish Day, and last Rajan Koshy and church warden Varghese Manaloor.
year to meet with Father Rajan Koshy shortly after he arThe roots of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity go
rived as the new vicar.
back to the 1800s; it is one of the oldest, most widely obTo experience the beauty of this ancient tradition of
served ecumenical events in the world. Finding ways to pray
the Christian faith and to take communion along with my
together during this January week, which begins with the
Indo-Canadian brothers and sisters in Christ was a gift that
feast of St. Peter and ends with the feast of the conversion of
I will treasure all my life. If you, too, would like to learn
St. Paul, signifies that we are in harmony with people around
more about the Mar Thoma Christians, Fr. Koshy would
the world. We join with all who are praying, reflecting,
be delighted to welcome you. Trinity Mar Thoma, located
studying, and even eating and drinking together to celebrate
at 7120-98 Avenue, Edmonton, offers English-language
and pray for Christian unity.
services of the Divine Liturgy (Eucharist) every second and
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity resources and inforfourth Sunday of the month, beginning at 9:00 am.
mation are available online at http://www.weekofprayer.ca
Christian leaders come together to build
God’s community south of the Henday
by the Rev. Nick Trussell
Priest-in-Charge
Holy Trinity Riverbend
Part of our mission as Christians is
to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of
the earth; a great call and challenge for
us in Edmonton as the city continues to
expand. For a few months now, Christian
leaders from the Anglican, Presbyterian
and United churches have been gathering in coffee shops south of the Henday. They walk together
through rapidly developing neighbourhoods, praying for God’s
work in building Christian community in new residential areas.
Advent seemed the perfect time to open these small gatherings to the wider Christian community. On the first Sunday
of Advent an ecumenical group gathered to pray together and
share a meal at Holy Trinity Riverbend. About 17 people,
clergy and laity from the three denominations, congregated.
The liturgy was family-friendly and focused on the centuries
and generations of people who had heard God’s call and been
part of God’s work of preparing the way for Jesus. As we pre-
pared for and celebrated the coming of
God’s Word to us in Jesus at Christmas
we were also praying for God’s Word
to be lived and shared in new Christian
communities in our city’s newest neigbourhoods.
This ecumenical group will gather
again at Holy Trinity Riverbend on
January 6, 2013 at 4:00 pm. We will
continue to worship together the first
Sunday of every month, offering ourselves and our prayers to
God that He might raise up a new Christian community from
them.
We don’t know yet what the Spirit might do, or where
God’s work might lead us, but we are excited to see how our
prayers might be answered and how we might be used for the
building up of God’s Church and the sharing of the Gospel. If
you are excited by what God is doing in this ecumenical setting
then you are encouraged to come join us in worship, or email
the Rev. Nick Trussell ([email protected]).
We need all the prayers we can get!
We don’t know yet
what the Spirit might
do, or where God’s
work might lead us...
the messenger
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December 31, 2013
4 / The Messenger
January 2013
bishops’ corner
Going forth into new year with intentional hearts
N
ot long ago I
had the random
thought come to mind
as to when I had last
changed my furnace
filters. I am not sure
why, as I wasn’t in a
meeting or anything
at the time. Perhaps it
was just the awareness
that winter is upon us,
and the furnaces are going to be working hard. I know
I am supposed to change them regularly, why that is,
and what they are supposed to do. None of these things,
however, has made me particularly effective at taking
care of it. I suspect mostly this is due to the fact that I
don’t really spend time thinking about them – they’re
just there (unless something happens to make me think
about them), a part of life unseen and unconsidered.
Anglicans have an interesting relationship with
prayer. It is part and parcel of who we are. Our liturgies are very much about prayer, and we have collects
and litanies for almost any situation. Many of these
prayers have become a part of us, and we can say them
from heart (with someone else leading, of course). At
the same time, many of us are petrified at the thought
of actually praying out loud or leading others in prayer.
In many senses, our relationship with prayer is similar
to mine with the furnace filters – just not something we
give a lot of consideration. No doubt there are many
who are devoted at their prayers, daily spending time
with the Lord in this way.
Just as surely, I suspect, we generally take prayer
for granted. It is simple to say that prayer is conversation with God, but it is profoundly true. I think if
we truly understood what that means, we’d be overwhelmed. At the heart of this is the reality that conversation is about relationship. We cannot have a deep or
real relationship with God unless we spend significant
time in prayer. This is not a matter of continually
bringing before Him a litany of requests, complaints
or directions. Certainly, God cares about our concerns,
pains and requests. In fact, in Philippians 4:6 we are
directed to bring every care to Him. The context of this
direction is important. In a number of places, we are
also directed to continual, persevering prayer (for example: Ephesians 6:18-19, Romans 12:12, Colossians
4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1). This prayer is all
about being open to the direction of the Holy Spirit, to
being formed and shaped by the Lord and His Word, by
embracing His presence, to listening to His voice and
direction, and, above all, enjoying His presence.
Jesus frequently spent time in prayer, seeking out
space and time to commune with the Father. His public
prayers (consider his prayer before raising Lazarus)
focused on the revelation of the Father and His glory.
As we enter this new year, let us do so with a renewed
life of intentional prayer. Parishes have the opportunity
to offer teaching on, and times of, prayer. The health
and growth of the church are not matters of programs
or techniques, but the work of the Holy Spirit. We
will only see this as the fruit of the kind of prayer God
invites us to know and experience.
The Lord be with you,
+Fraser
Answer ‘yes!’ to Jesus and His call upon your life
T
he season of
Epiphany in the
church can often get
eaten up as the “calm
before Lent”. But it is
a beautiful time in the
church calendar as we
celebrate the coming of the light into
the world. We see the
spread of faith and,
Sunday by Sunday, hear wonderful stories of discipleship.
With the moveable date of Easter sometimes we
have a condensed Epiphany season and such is the case
this year as Ash Wednesday falls on February 13th. So
we have only six weeks or so from the turn of the year
to revel in this season. It is a time for saying yes to God
in new and wonderful ways. A time when having welcomed the baby Christ, we commit to stay with him. In
quite another sphere, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has said, “There’s nothing better when something
comes and hits you and you think ‘YES’!” It would be
a wonderful start to this year of our Lord 2013 if we allowed ourselves to be struck by the reality of the incar-
nation and if we said a resounding ‘yes’ to
Jesus and to His call upon our life.
The days are growing lighter and
lighter, and even as the natural light
breaks into our day we are invited to let
the light of Christ break into our hearts.
This is a time for clearing away the clutter
of disappointments or hurts, a time of new
beginnings and relationships. We can take
a new direction. To quote the prophet Isaiah: “Arise, shine for your light has come”
(Isaiah 60:1). We are now living as a
people of the light in the very presence of
Christ. We dare to ask ourselves questions
like “How is my life different now?” and
“How am I reflecting the light of Christ to
the people around me?”
My prayer is that all the energies that
we put into our Christmas celebrations, all the enthusiasm, all the resources, we now put into this our most
important relationship – our loving relationship with
Christ, the incarnate one. Every single parish offers
worship and study and fellowship opportunities to get
to know Christ better. What if this was the year when
we all took advantage of what we offer one another.
Wouldn’t it be great to go to Bible study and have to
search for extra chairs for all the people who have
shown up?
Brothers and Sisters let us walk in the light of the
Lord.
In Christ,
+Jane
We all have a story, tell us yours.
As the Diocese of Edmonton prepares to embark on a year-long Centennial celebration, Bishop Jane invites youu
to a conversation about why church and faith matter to you.
“We all have a story and it’s through sharing our stories that we are all enriched,” she says. “On a basic level
Jesus’ ministry was telling stories.”
Between now and Pentecost (June 8th) 2014, Bishop Jane would like to hear “100 Stories of Faith”:
What do you like about church? What makes you feel closer to God?
Where do you see God in your community?
We hope to share some of your stories in The Messenger and on our newly-launched centennial website
(www. edmonton.anglican.org/centennial)
Please call: 780-439-7344, or email [email protected]
January 2013
The Messenger / 5
mission
Fairtrade promotes positive change throughout the world
triples the income that producers in
developing countries would receive
under conventional trade. Consumers
buy Fairtrade products because they
care about people in the world’s poorest countries who work hard to produce
the goods we enjoy.
In 2005, there were 548 Fairtrade
producer organizations from over 50
countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America which represented over a million farmers and workers, totalling
over five million people, including dependants.
These people received 25 to 33 percent of the total
revenue from Fairtrade purchases, versus 7 to 15 percent for the same goods under conventional trade.
Unlike conventional goods, the full social and environmental costs of producing Fairtrade products are
found in the price tag and Fairtrade products tend to be
specialty and gourmet products.
Fairtrade certified products are available in many
grocery and health food stores. Popular Fairtrade
brands available in Alberta are: Kicking Horse (coffee), Cocoa Camino (cocoa products), and Wholesome
Sweeteners (sugar). Cadbury’s also offers a pure milk
chocolate bar with Fairtrade certification. See side box
for a list of the best locations to find Fairtrade products
in Edmonton.
In 2010 Vancouver became the first major city in
Canada to achieve Fairtrade Town status, joining 13
smaller Canadian cities and towns and around 900
others worldwide. Three Canadian universities, the
University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and the University of Guelph, have earned Fairtrade
Campus designation.
Edmonton City Council plans to vote in January
2013 on whether or not to adopt Fairtrade and incorporate it into its procurement policy. If you would like
to see the City of Edmonton take the next step toward
Fairtrade Town status, you can view and sign a petition
here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZJ3DX78
For more information, please contact Michelle and
John at [email protected], or visit the
national website at www.transfair.ca.
How does God’s love abide in anyone who
has the world’s goods and sees a brother or
sister in need and yet refuses help?
Little children, let us love, not in word or
speech, but in truth and action. 1 John 3:17-18
Chances are, some of the chocolate you indulged in
this Christmas was made from cocoa beans
harvested by a child in a developing country. Fifty
percent of Canada’s chocolate comes from the Cote
d’Ivoire where, according to the International Labour
Organization (United Nations body), child labour on
cocoa farms is so dangerous it falls into a category
generally reserved for the child sex trade.
At the 63rd Synod of the Diocese of Edmonton,
Michelle Poon and John Leung, who are students at
the University of Alberta and members of the Make
Poverty History movement, explained how trade justice
is an important means of tackling poverty and furthering human rights.
Delegates voted in favour of becoming a Fairtrade
Diocese, and parishes joined a growing number of faith
groups, schools, community organizations, stores and
restaurants promoting fair and ethical transactions in
the marketplace.
To survive, people in poorer nations are often
forced to work in unsafe and unhealthy conditions for
unfair pay and long hours.
Fairtrade seeks greater equity in international trade,
upholding social and environmental standards which
protect food producers and the environment. It is a partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect.
It contributes to sustainable development by offering
better trading conditions and securing the rights of marginalized producers and workers in the ‘global south’.
Fairtrade certification signifies that the coffee, tea,
chocolate and sugar served by parishes are not produced by child slaves.
While it is true that Fairtrade products cost, on
average, 10 percent more than conventional products
of comparable quality, this premium doubles or often
Where to Find
Fairtrade
The following Edmonton stores carry a wide
assortment of Fairtrade certified products:
Earth’s General Store (Strathcona)
Ten Thousand Villages (Strathcona)
Superstore (South Common, Clareview,
Calgary Trail, North Edmonton, Stony Plain)
Save-On (Ellerslie, Magrath, Mayfield,
Millwoods)
Planet Organic (north and south)
For more information about companies
selling Fairtrade products nationwide, visit
the Canadian Fairtrade Network website:
www.cftn.ca
Bishop Jane Alexander
intends, God willing, to ordain
Jessie Pei and Arlene Young
to the diaconate
on the
Commemoration of
John Chrysostom
January 27, 2013
7:00 pm
All Saints’ Cathedral
10035–103rd Street, Edmonton
Your prayers and presence are
requested
Clergy are invited to vest
the colour is green
6 / The Messenger
January 2013
community
Art-on-Earth studio inspires creative self-expression
On Wednesday mornings PrayerWorks Hall, the inviting meeting space
shared by the Edmonton parishes of
St. Faith and St. Stephen the Martyr, is
a mecca for creative souls. More than
a year ago, with funding from the Edmonton diocese’s Indigenous Ministry
Initiative, professional artist and art
therapist Jean Tait
(www.artcanheal.ca) opened the doors
to the Art-on-Earth Community Studio.
In an article for the Alberta Avenue
community newspaper the Rat Creek
Press, Art-on-Earth participant Paula
Gillis shared how her own experience
of joining the community studio helped
her through a sad and lonely time.
On the day she learned her friend’s
dog Nicky had died, Gillis climbed into
her car and drove to PrayerWorks Hall
on 93rd Street for her first Art-on-Earth
class. Gillis had formed a special bond
with Nicky, but she no longer lived
near her friend and her canine companion.
At the community studio, Gillis
was greeted warmly by Jean Tait, who
introduced her to several people seated
around a circle of tables sipping coffee and painting. Gillis found herself
returning to the studio week after week.
As she spent time at the studio creating, Gillis was able to acknowledge the
feeling of loneliness she had carried
since moving away from her friends.
Tait helps Gillis and other community studio participants express their
emotions through colours and textures,
providing them with the materials to
get started.
“Fortunately for me, the purpose
of the group was not to give space
for blooming or professional artists
to come together -- although they are
welcome,” Gillis wrote. “I would never
make a living as an artist. But that
doesn’t matter.”
At Art-on-Earth, creativity and the
people who create are valued, which
has been “exceptionally rewarding”,
Gillis says, for herself and the other
participants.
Studies have shown, she points out,
that using art as an alternative to writing can be a powerful method of selfexploration and self-acceptance. The
All Saints’ Cathedral
College Courses
All Saints’ Cathedral College
(ASCC), a joint educational venture
launched in January 2012 by All Saints’
Anglican Cathedral and the Diocese of
Edmonton, is offering several Christian learning opportunities this winter.
ASCC courses are designed to help
Christians be a credible and strong
voice in today’s world, while upholding the Five Marks of Mission of the
Anglican Church of Canada.
At left: Frances Bouchard displays one of her paintings. She also designed a picture frame for her
mother’s birthday; Dennis Korop, Fr. John Gifford, rector of St. Stephen the Martyr, and Juanita
Rodgers prepare lunch for Art-on-Earth participants.
Art-on-Earth participants (left to right) are: Carol McLeod and Donald Bouchard (seated); Sharon
Anne Pasula, Frances and Rose Bouchard, Jean Tait (facilitator) and Paula Gillis.
act of choosing colours and designs
reaches a part of the brain that words
cannot reach.
Though Gillis could not find words
in her heart to express the sadness she
felt when Nicky died, she was able to
transfer her feelings to paper through a
paint brush.
The following is excerpted from
an article, “Coloring lives one painting
at a time”, written by Gillis, and first
published in the Rat Creek Press in
November:
The purpose of the community
studio is to use the media of art to bring
people together as a community. People
The following courses
are offered this winter:
Church, Mission, and
Gospel in the 21st Century
Instructor:
The Rev. Dr. Myron Penner
Saturdays mornings, 9
am–12 pm
January 12, 19, 26, 2013
February 2, 9, 2013
Christ Church
12116-102 Avenue, Edmonton
Required resources: Guder, Darrell
(Editor), Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in
come from diverse backgrounds and
work towards acceptance of self and
others through their projects. Jean Tait,
the woman who leads this group, is not
there to teach people how to become
world famous painters. She is simply
there to provide a bit of guidance as
people discover the fun of etching out
cards or making a fancy mirror as a gift
for themselves or others.
When I wrote about the program
last year I was a full participant. However, with life changes, I found myself
wandering in toward the end of the
morning for coffee and a chat. Sometimes I brought my own project to work
North America (Grand
Rapids, MI: Eerdmans,
1998); Croft, Steven, Jesus’
People: What the Church
Should Do Next (London:
Church House Publishing,
2009). (www.amazon.ca)
This course is eligible for
credit with the Graduate
Theological Foundation, at both the
undergraduate and graduate levels.
PAUL – Apostle to the Gentiles, and a
Man of Letters
Instructor: The Rev. Canon Gwen Bright
Saturday afternoons, 1-4 pm
on while I half listened to the calming
hum of the conversations taking place
around the table.
Everyone has their own agenda
on Wednesday mornings. Some are
serious artists who work to perfect a
drawing. Others, like me, just like to
explore our creative sides. With Jean’s
encouragement I have ventured beyond
the drawing of stick people. Through
my projects I have expressed a range
of emotions. Others are taking risks
as well and are very pleased with their
outcomes.
Frances Bouchard loves the practice of developing her creative side,
while enjoying the company of others. Celebrating 16 years of sobriety,
Frances has worked hard to build a new
life for herself and her five children.
She struggles with health issues today,
but is determined to do the best she can
with her new life.
“I joined the art class because I
wanted to do things that would help
me get through life’s challenges,” says
Frances. “The art is relaxing; almost
like meditation for the brain. It brings
peace, joy and happiness to my life…”
Frances hopes that the new skills she is
developing, or discovering, will assist
with her goal of helping others who
struggle with addictions. Communication skills are a big part of such an
undertaking.
I barely remember Frances from
the first weeks of the program last year.
As I look at her now, I see a woman
confident to share her projects and willing smiles, adding to the peaceful hum
of communication around the table.
Like Frances, I keep going back to
Art-on-Earth. Sometimes it is just for a
cup of coffee and a chat and sometimes
I stay for the lunch that is provided.
Near the end of last year I started a
mirror. Frances made one, too; a gift
for her mother, Rose, who sometimes
stops by to see us. Mine will be a gift
for me, because my inner child loved
the process of making it and because I
am worth it.
The Art-on-Earth Community Studio is open Wednesdays mornings from
10:00 am until 12 noon. Coffee and
lunch are provided. All are welcome!
January 19 and 26, 2013
February 2, 9 and 16, 2013
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
10037-84 Avenue, Edmonton
Required resource: Course participants
are encouraged to purchase The New
Oxford Annotated Bible (New Revised
Standard Version) 2007
The fee for each course is $75, payable to the instructor at the first lecture.
To register, please call
All Saints’ Cathedral College:
780-429-6379. For more information
about the cathedral college, visit:
www.allsaintscathedralcollege.com.
January 2013
The Messenger / 7
community
Multicultural Terwillegar church home to Spanish Club
by Margaret Marschall
In a sun-filled and spacious church sanctuary a
circle of new amigos toss around a ball. Catching the
ball, each child shouts his or her name in español: “yo
me llamo Oscar”. Talkative and enthusiastic, these
school-age kids anticipate two full hours of fun
together at their bi-weekly Spanish Club.
When Holy Trinity Riverbend parishioner Carmen
Carvajal, a native of Colombia, and her husband Greg
Thiessen were searching for a location to start a
Spanish club, their home church was a natural choice.
On the western edge of Terwillegar Towne, in burgeoning southwest Edmonton, the parish is home to two
distinct Anglican congregations. On Saturdays worshippers give their praise to God in Cantonese and on
Sunday mornings the eucharist is celebrated in English.
“Holy Trinity is not an English church or a Chinese
church,” says Priest-in-Charge the Rev. Nick Trussell.
“It’s God’s church and God is all different kinds of
people. We’re happy to show this by sharing in the gifts
and culture of our Spanish members.”
Since moving to Edmonton 15 years ago, Carmen,
who speaks Spanish, English and French and is able to
read Portuguese, has been eager to foster an
understanding of Latin America culture and language in
her community.
Spanish Club members and Holy Trinity Riverbend Priest-in-Charge Nick Trussell gather around Greg Thiessen
for a hands-on science lesson. The kids then have a chance to conduct their own experiments.
“Learning a new language to me is the best way
to expand your horizons,” says Carmen, who has a
Masters degree in Communications from the University
of Quebec.
Carmen and Greg speak Spanish to their 11-yearold daughter Manuela at home, and would like her to
be able to
to speak the
language with
friends her
age.
The
couple hosted
Spanish Club
for the first
time in
October.
Every
second Saturday Carmen
leads
educational
games and
activities,
providing an
Carmen Carvajal makes learning another language fun. She lets the kids play games, like store
opportunity
and memory, while trying to use only Spanish words and simple phrases.
to practice the Spanish alphabet, and speak simple
phrases. Some of the children are learning Spanish
for the first time, while others, like Manuela’s friend
Gabby (11) and her sister Sara (6) are already fluent.
Gabby and Sara’s father Bernardo Morgenstern,
also from the South American country named for
Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus, says his
family moved to Edmonton from BC last summer.
Though they are Roman Catholic and do not worship
at Holy Trinity, they were very pleased to hear about a
Spanish club starting up in their new neighbourhood.
“I like doing science experiments and spending
time with my friends at Spanish Club,” says Gabby.
Carmen provides fun activities and challenging
games for the kids each class. Role-playing in Spanish,
they exchange play dinero (money) for groceries in a
make-believe market. After a quick snack, Greg leads
a science experiment, letting the children drop food
colouring into liquids to observe the properties of oil
(aceite) and water (agua).
When she reconvenes the club after Christmas
break, Carmen plans to share Latin music and a traditional Spanish meal. To learn more about Spanish Club,
where everyone is bienvenido, visit
www.htrchurch.org, or email Carmen at:
[email protected]
Christ Church team takes hammer to homelessness
Christ Church Habitat for Humanity volunteers in group photo, left to right, are: Dan Taschuk, Maurice Taylor, Malcolm Palmer, Marna Taylor, Alexis Taylor, Adrian Besuyen, Kathy
Besuyen, Tim Stephens, Emily King, Bruce Nattrass, Andrea Olson, Shannon Kerr and Joel Nattrass.
by Emily King
Christ Church, Edmonton
On a chilly December morning a team of
volunteers from Christ Church raised their hammers
in an annual effort to end homelessness. Working with
Habitat for Humanity, our team of 15 volunteers helped
to build affordable homes for an Edmonton family in
need.
With beginners, as well as handy men and women,
our team was diverse in experience and skill. Despite
our ranging abilities, we learned and practiced skills
including building decks for eight families, sanding and
painting banisters and building walls. Consequently,
whether we learned something new or contributed with
our expertise, at the end of the day we left with a sense
of accomplishment. We had all been a part of creating
a safe and decent home for a family in our own city,
and helped Habitat for Humanity meet its mandate of
breaking the cycle of poverty, one door at a time.
Our team was sustained by a delicious home-made
meal prepared by another team who volunteered their
time and talents in the kitchen.
We look forward to volunteering on another build
with Habitat for Humanity again soon. For more
information regarding Habitat for Humanity and how
you can get involved with this organization, please visit
http://www.hfh.org/
8 / The Messenger
January 2013
community
Athabasca Youth Daze 2012 - Live Like the Light
by Mary Gislason
to pray for each other, be joyous and exFor the third year, All Saints’
cited and to be a companion. Periods of
Anglican Church in Athabasca was
intensive study were offset with outdoor
fortunate to host an energized and
team games, such as “Bible Smugglers”.
jubilant group of youth from the dioThe conference worship incorpocese over the Labour Day weekend.
rated modern media and contemporary
This enthusiastic bunch was guided
music. Action songs were center stage
by Bishop Fraser Lawton and parent
and joyous singing could be heard a half
chaperones.
block away from the church. How gratiGuest speaker Jonathon Hansen
fying it was to hear such praise in lyrics,
illuminated his topic “Live Like The
like: “I will declare my choice, I will not
Light” by asking the questions: What
be shaken, I will not be moved; those
are you feeding your soul? Is your
who love the Lord are satisfied, Is it true
soul starving? What was the soul
today that when people pray cloudless
created 4? What should you feed
skies will break, God of wonders beyond
your soul? He encouraged the youth
our galaxy”.
to live as people of light, quenching
Sunday was a special time with the
their soul’s thirst with faith in Christ. Bishop Fraser Lawton and Alyson
bishop and students taking part in the
Do not get drunk with wine, for that Shewchuk.
service. The altar youth were Allyson
is debauchery; but be filled with the
Shewchuk and Finn Marceau. The youth
Spirit, Ephesians 5:18.
registrar was Kim Marceau. The Sunday service ended
What a blessing that Bishop Lawton and his wife
with the youth presenting a beautiful, handmade thank
Veronica kept the long weekend open to share their
you card to All Saints’ church leaders. There was also
gifts with young people in the diocese. Mrs. Lawton
an oral card from Terry Francis, Athabasca Parish
has such a beautiful, melodious voice, which combined
chairman and All Saints’ Church bishop’s warden.
with the musical talents of James Lawton on guitar and
After the service, a potluck dinner was shared
Evan Toote on electric guitar made for a stellar band.
by the youth, Bishop Lawton and his family and All
Through his teachings, Bishop Lawton inspired all
Saints’ parishioners.
Story of successful entrepreneur’s
life rooted in simple core values
encountered one segment of Dave Smith’s career
already, as he was one of the co-founders of Smith &
Hawken gardening suppliers, importers of Bulldog
Tools from England. His fourth chapter, “Temperance:
The Briarpatch Way” traces his involvement with the
firm—and, sadly, the disappearance of “the Smith, and
the Hawken, and Bulldog Tools”.
The other phases of his career are individually
intriguing – work for the United Farm Workers Union,
by Clytemnestra
association with Cesar Chavez, involvement in the
Prothero
organic-food cause in Mendocino County. Collectively
what they all add up to may strike readers in a different
n to be of use, Dave Smith has written a memoir of
geography, different culture and different generation as
his work experience, in seven chapters titled accordall just a little TOO Californian and organic and selfing to the seven classical Christian virtues from faith to
consciously “left-coast right-minded.” But the indilove, although Smith is at some pains to detach the virvidual vignettes of his work experience are engaging,
tues from any “narrow, sectarian” framework, and reloand the personalities (he’s a devoted dropper of names)
cate them as generic principles of wisdom. The whole
memorable. Readers are more likely to carry away
enterprise is rooted in the perception that “it is at work,
stimulating glimpses and fragments than to be overand in our work, that most of us define ourselves and
whelmed or transformed by a unified vision of a world
become who we are.” Where a hundred years ago most
of spiritually healthy and personally authentic work.
people were self-employed, now most people work for
For obvious reasons, this is a book likely to be of
giant corporations. Where it might have been simpler
more practical use to people at or near the beginning
and more natural to make business and work decisions
of their working lives. Accordingly, the book could be
in light of personal values in the past, now the relation
an interesting and provocative resource for discussions
between personal ethic and corporate ethos is a good
with high-school, college or university students. On
deal more complicated, and often more difficult.
the other hand, in a world where we are all supposed to
Readers who are serious gardeners may have
change careers how many times? three? six?
Meaning comes most naturally when we find during our working lives, it may well appeal
more widely – and more repeatedly! A movand fulfill our purpose. This implies that there ing introductory poem by Marge Piercy concludes: “The pitcher cries for water to carry/
is an overall higher purpose, one beyond
and a person for work that is real.” To be of
simply surviving and satisfying our own selves use might go some distance toward suggesting solutions and strategies to the person of
on what someone once called our separate
any age who cries for work that is real.
Smith, Dave. to be of
use: the seven seeds of
meaningful work. Novato, California: New
World Library, 2005.
ISBN-10: 1-57731490-5. 259 pp.
I
little islands of commodities. Dave Smith
Qu’Appelle diocese
elects 12th bishop
On the first ballot, Anglicans from the Diocese of
Qu’Appelle have elected the Ven. Rob Hardwick to be
the 12th Bishop of Qu’Appelle. Archdeacon Hardwick
currently serves as the Executive Archdeacon of the
Diocese of Qu’Appelle, based in Regina.
“I am humbled by the call of God and by the faith
of the Diocesan Synod in electing me to be the 12th
Bishop of Qu’Appelle,” said Hardwick. “Southern Saskatchewan is a place I am proud to call home and so, as
Bishop, I look forward to all that God is calling us to,
in our mission journey together.”
The Diocese of Qu’Appelle covers the southern third of the civil province of Saskatchewan, and
encompasses approximately half of the Saskatchewan
population. The cathedral and administration of the
diocese is based in the capital city, Regina. Established
in 1884, the diocese now consists of 63 congregations
worshipping in 57 communities. The bishopric became
vacant when the previous bishop, the Rt. Rev. Greg
Kerr-Wilson, became Bishop of Calgary in September.