May 2015 - Anglican Diocese of Edmonton

Transcription

May 2015
Economic equality p. 2
The Messenger / 1
Alana’s new album p. 4
“Learning Together” p. 6
the
messenger
A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL SERVING THE DIOCESES OF ATHABASCA AND EDMONTON
MAY 2015
At All Saints’ Cathedral on March 25, 2015, the Annunciation of the Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bishop Jane Alexander and newly-ordained deacons Aaron Parsall-Myler (left) and Michael Lynch (right)
are surrounded by clergy of the Diocese of Edmonton and their presenters.
New deacons sign of church’s connection to world
by Margaret Marschall
With feet firmly planted at the intersection of
church and world, the Rev. Michael Lynch and the Rev.
Aaron Parsall-Myler stood, then knelt before Bishop
Jane Alexander at All Saints’ Cathedral on March 25,
2015, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord to the
Blessed Virgin Mary, to be ordained deacons in the
Diocese of Edmonton.
Ordination to the
diaconate is “a sign
to all of us – whether
ordained or not – that
the church and the
world exist together
at an intersection:
overlapping,
interacting,
sometimes colliding,
sometimes just
carrying on together,”
said the Rev. David
Tiessen in his homily
address.
“The work of the
deacon is a visible
reminder that the
The Rev. David Tiessen
church lives its life
in the world, seeking always connections “rooted in the
love of Christ,” said Tiessen.
“Mike and Aaron are clearly people with a history
of paying attention at the intersection…. They will be a
sign to us all, both in the church and in the world.”
Michael Lynch, 63, was presented for ordination
by the Rev. Terry Dunn and Harriet Campbell.
Raised Roman Catholic, and the first eldest male
in several generations of his family not to become a
Catholic priest, Mike moved to the west from Nova
Scotia in 1979 to seek his fortune in the oil patch.
With the encouragement of friends, he joined a
Christian community in Fort St. John BC. In 1985, he
completed his MDiv at Newman Theological College
in Edmonton.
It was at Newman, while playing in a worship
band, that Mike met his future wife Coleen. An
exuberant rural ministry team, the football loving
couple often wear green for their beloved Riders and
Seahawks, and strum and sing God’s praises together,
while travelling the countryside in their truck “Rocky.”
Currently, the Rev. Coleen Lynch is priest-in-charge
of the Mission of St. Saviour in Wabamun. Mike and
Coleen have one daughter, Dr. Karlene Lynch, who
gave the Old Testament reading (Is 7:10-14) during the
liturgy.
Continued on page 8.
Clockwise from left: Archdeacon Joanne Webster and Bishop Jane Alexander vest Aaron Parsall-Myler for ministry; the new deacons
assist Bishop Jane with communion; Mike Lynch is joined by his family, Hedy Peterson, Miles Peterson, Karlene and Coleen Lynch.
2 / The Messenger
May 2015
news
Video conference deplores economic inequality
asks.
Our belief as Christians and Anglicans
“We need to keep our hearts and
that we should love our neighbours as
minds open to learning about the reality
ourselves, strive for justice and peace
of marginalized people by getting to
among all people and respect every human
know their story,” said Hubbard. “At our
being can lead us into challenging territory.
church, for example, we have started a
It was the complex and growing issue
food justice ministry to look at how we
of income inequality that drew a diverse
can use food to build relationships within
gathering of church and community leaders
our neighbourhoods and at the same time
to the Creating Common Good Conference
care for the health of the earth, our bodies
at Good Shepherd Anglican Church in
and our communities. We have engaged
March.
and will continue to engage a variety of
“Income inequality is a growing
community partners to work towards
moral, ethical and spiritual issue,” said
solutions.”
Anglican Diocese of Edmonton Bishop
More than feeding the hungry and
Jane Alexander. As co-chair of the Mayor’s
clothing the naked, churches are called
Participants view Inequality for All, a film depicting an unjust economy ruled by a wealthy elite.
Task Force to End Poverty she is studying
to help shape a sustainable egalitarian
while
funding
for
emergency
shelters
is
frozen
at
the
the cause and effect of poverty and
system. We can begin with the basic act
same level (www.alberta.ca/Budget.cfm).
cautions that those who have less are getting further
of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to inspire
“This is going to result in more people being left
and further behind those who are blessed with more.
people to action. Ultimately, we must take a bold stance
behind,” said McKeon. “If we want to have a voice
“Speaking as a faith leader, I don’t think we’re
against institutional policies that perpetuate poverty.
and
make
a
difference,
we
need
to
gather
together
supposed to leave anyone behind,” she told a gathering
Hubbard said she was also deeply impacted by
in support of initiatives such as the mayor’s poverty
of mostly church members and social agency
Princeton philosopher and theologian Cornel West’s
elimination task force, which Bishop Jane
representatives, who met to watch and discuss a
is helping to lead, and the city’s plan to end
rebroadcast of the 2015 Trinity Institute Conference,
chronic homelessness,” he said.
held at Trinity Wall Street, an Episcopal parish in New
An opportunity to travel globally, and
York City.
observe the living conditions of people
Throughout the conference, knowledgeable
around the world, brought increased
and charismatic presenters provided insight into
awareness to Creating Common Good
how we can and must work toward a just economic
participant Debbie Hubbard.
paradigm that helps all members of society thrive.
“In order for everyone in the world
In his documentary film Inequality for All, former
to
have
enough we are all going to have
US Secretary of Labor and University of California
to
make
changes to how we live,” said
professor Robert Reich shows an unjust economy
Hubbard, a member of Trinity United
that rewards the upper echelon, but is supported by a
Church in Edmonton. “Until we address
voiceless and overworked middleclass.
the root causes of poverty, one of the social
But to the students in his “Wealth and Poverty”
indicators for health and quality of life, we
class at Berkeley he presents an alternative to economic
What will each of us do to transform unjust structures of society?
won’t create communities and a world that is
inequality: “a good and moral society – where no one
just for all,” she said.
is working fulltime and living in poverty.” In so doing,
presentation to the conference. Perhaps best known
Believing it possible for individuals and faith
he hopes some of them will become part of a broadfor his book, The Rich and the Rest of Us, West says
communities
to
make
systemic
changes,
so
long
based movement of mobilized, energized and organized
churches “have a moral indebtedness to each other.
as “we take the long-haul view and work together
people working toward change.
We need to act not with purity or perfection but with
collectively,” Hubbard was particularly
Creating Common
integrity.” West quoted American Civil Rights activist
inspired
by
journalist
Barbara
Ehrenreich’s
Good conference
and Jewish theologian Rabbi Heschel, who said:
challenge to the church and civil society
participant Bob
“indifference to evil is worse than evil itself.”
to shift focus from “how can we help the
McKeon, coordinator
“Those of us who profess to be followers of Jesus
poor?”
to
“how
can
we
stop
hurting
the
of the Office for
are at a turning point,” said Hubbard. “I think churches
poor?”
Social Justice,
need to decide on the path that
While researching her
Catholic Archdiocese
will truly create the Common
book Nickel and Dimed: On
of Edmonton, says
Good as we understand it from
(Not)
Getting
By
in
America,
talking about the issue
the Gospel teachings.”
Ehrenreich discovered it is
of income inequality
“Part of our work as
possible to work harder and
with each other is a
Christians is to be informed
sink further into debt. “Thirty
“key place to start.”
and to inform,” said Bishop
David Berger of the Edmonton Food Bank is one of per cent of working Americans
“Reich’s
Jane. “This conference is the
many concerned social agency representatives.
are paid less than they can live
video really brings
beginning of a much bolder
on,”
she
noted.
awareness to the effect government macro policies have
conversation. As Gospel
Ehrenreich stresses that poverty
on income distribution,” he said.
people, speaking truth and
is not a character failing, rather it is a
McKeon points to the 2015 Provincial Budget,
hope is part of our DNA.
shortage of money often resulting from
built on the premise of a $5 billion deficit due to a
Being part of the larger
inadequate
pay.
She
describes
a
broken
substantial drop in energy revenues. which he calls “a
conversation around ending
socioeconomic system that oppresses its
mixed bag.”
poverty makes me feel more
poorest members.
“On one hand, the Alberta government is looking at
alive in Christ than I have
If
you
can’t
afford
$1,000
for
a
higher taxes for higher income people, but on the other
felt in a long time. There are
damage deposit, you can’t rent an
hand, it’s cutting outreach support for rent subsidy
large issues facing us, but I am
apartment. The alternative, renting a
programs and Housing First initiatives,” he said.
encouraged to be courageous.”
room
in
a
residential
motel,
is
more
In this sixth year of the 10-Year Plan to End
You can view Robert
costly in the long run.
Homelessness, Edmonton and Calgary both recorded
Reich’s documentary
“What is the sense in trying to
increases in their homeless counts. Yet, the budget
Inequality for All on
extract more money from the poor? Can
decreases provincial investment in the Housing First
Youtube: https://youtu.
we
just
stop
the
meanness?”
Ehrenreich
Bishop
Jane
Alexander:
issues
of
income
Program from $87.8 million to $85.7 million next year,
be/0NdDupITDv8
disparity and poverty are close to my heart.
May 2015
The Messenger / 3
perspective
Paying forward trust and mercy
N
ot long ago, I
saw a Facebook
post that made me
feel a bit old. It was a
suggestion for another
high school reunion.
It is for a significant
anniversary – suffice
it to say it involves
multiple decades.
Really, though, it
wasn’t too awful. When it happens, it will be our
second class reunion, and it seems that there will be
more people at this one. It will be interesting to see
people again, how they’ve changed and to hear what’s
happened in their lives and families. Curiously, there’s
also talk of family reunions in the next year or so, too.
Reunions. They can be interesting events, either
times of joy and reconnecting or times of realized
dysfunction. The principle behind them, of course,
is the opportunity to be present with those we love
and care about in order to both “catch up” and also to
simply enjoy one another’s company again.
We continue to celebrate Easter and are looking
toward Pentecost and the celebration of the coming
of the Holy Spirit. Reunion is very much what Easter
is about. Perhaps it is better to reframe the word as
re-union. In Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are able
to be re-united with our God. We are able to “catch
up” and to simply enjoy His presence – something we
can only have because of Jesus. This is not a gift to
take lightly, and is, in fact, to consume our lives and
eternity. We were, after all, created to know Him and
have a living relationship with Him.
It would be a grave error, though, to presume
that this relationship is merely about “me and Jesus.”
When we become Jesus’, we also become a part of His
family. We are also called to be a part of His mission.
That mission is to bring this invitation of reunion to the
world and to live it out with our brothers and sisters.
This re-union, though, is different than what I
anticipate from seeing high school classmates again
or being with family. I think they will be fun times,
but will also hold a few impediments: such things as
unhappy memories, “masks,” troubled relationship
history and differing expectations. As Christians, we
are called to a deeper re-unioning. We receive first what
God has to give us: forgiveness, re-creation, healing,
commitment and true life. Once immersed in Him, we
give that away, beginning with the family of God. We
are called to give as we have received. We are called to
real community. This kind of re-union requires some
effort, trust and commitment. More than that, it requires
grace. In order for us to be the people God is making
us to be and to participate in Jesus’ mission, we need to
get past superficiality. We need to take the risk of being
open and real with one another, but under the grace,
mercy and covering of the Holy Spirit. Let us be and
build safe communities of trust and mercy, where we
are honest and grow together in Christ, ministering His
love and healing to one another. It should be a great
party.
The Lord be with you,
+Fraser, Diocese of Athabasca
The myth of hard work and success
by Rochelle Nieuwenhuis
You can’t have a million-dollar dream with a
minimum-wage work ethic. Or so the saying goes.
And we believe it, don’t we? When a panhandler holds
out an imploring hand, I’ll admit, on more than one
occasion I’ve thought to myself, “Why doesn’t he just
get a real job?”
Hard work is the key to success. As evidence,
just remind yourself of all the hours you poured into
your education, or how many late nights you’ve
pulled finishing that one last project for work. My
grandfather tells the story of moving to Canada as a
young boy, working long hours in the asparagus fields
to supplement his family’s income, and, through sweat
and blood and damn hard work, he made a way for
himself.
We cherish this familiar narrative because it clothes
us with ambition and accomplishment, just like the
“great” explorers and colonizers of our country.
What we don’t tell our grandchildren are the
irritating stories of those who don’t succeed. At the
Neighbour Centre, a local drop-in centre for the
homeless, I’ve heard many a life story of hard work and
defeat, followed by more hard work. And more defeat.
I know a middle-aged man who has worked hard
doing construction his whole life. In fact, he worked
so hard that he injured his back, and now he’s on the
streets because he can’t afford the pain meds.
Another fellow has done the painfully hard work
of inner wrestling, admitting that he’s an alcoholic,
and daring to give up everything that is familiar and
comfortable by applying to a treatment program. But
the window of opportunity was slammed shut, because
there was no room in the inn.
Another couple has been scrimping and saving for
months, trying to put enough aside for one month’s rent
and damage deposit. But along comes a -40 wind chill
and, in an attempt to protect their health and sanity,
they’re forced to pay for a cheap motel and watch their
savings go down the drain.
How about the single mother who works three part
time jobs just to put food on the table for her kids? If
that’s not hard work and dedication, I don’t know what
is.
As it turns out, it’s expensive to be homeless or
poor, and hard work doesn’t always cut it. In many
cases, there are heavy burdens placed on the poor,
preventing them from escaping the cycle of poverty.
Barbara Ehrenreich, an American journalist and
author, decided to research this by spending three
months working exclusively at minimum wage jobs.
In her book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in
America, she writes, “No one ever said that you could
work hard - harder even than you ever thought possible
- and still find yourself sinking ever deeper into poverty
and debt.”
Hard work is not the key to success. It is an
important ingredient undoubtedly, but not the whole
recipe.
In fact, the mentality of idolizing hard work
can be suffocating for those living in poverty, as it
shapes our policies and attitudes towards them. If we
believe that laziness is the cause of poverty, then we’re
conveniently freed from the obligation to take a deeper
look at the flaws in our economic and political system,
a system which I am very much a part of.
One such flaw is that our accepted minimum wage
isn’t actually enough to live on. Robert Reich, a current
professor at Berkeley and former Secretary of Labour
under the Clinton administration argues that a fair wage
for all is not only morally right, but is also crucial to
a healthy economy. When people are paid enough to
Athabasca clergy
discover resource
in each other
by the Rev. Janice Orr
Fifteen clergy of the Diocese of
Athabasca experienced a time of inspiration,
discussion, and rest at Star of the North Retreat
Centre in St. Albert, March 17 to 20, 2015.
Distance is a significant challenge in a diocese
that covers the entire northern part of the province,
so opportunity to spend time together is rare and
especially valued. We pondered the joy of being
in love with God, the church, our neighbours, our
family and ourselves. We spent time in respectful
sharing and listening around issues which concern
us. We led one another in worship together. We
struck out on individual and group walks. We
played together. We discovered again the rich
resource we have in each other as pilgrims on the
journey with Christ.
Pictured from left, back row: Clive Scheepers, David
Greenwood, Rosemarie Howell, Dane Neufeld; middle
row: Wayne Putman, Terry Leer, Lesley Wheeler-Dame,
Christobel Lines, Hermann Dittrich; front row: Janice Orr,
Deborah Scheepers, Bishop Fraser Lawton and Dean Iain
Luke. Missing: Chris Boyce and Bill Creaser
live on and expand on, this increases the purchasing
power of the middle class, which in turn creates more
jobs and contributes to economic stability. Again, this
flaw hinges on our underlying narrative. Reich puts
it plainly: “Are workers assets to be developed or are
they costs to be cut?” Target Canada is a prime example
of undercutting employees. Of the $70 million set aside
for employee severance, $15.9 million is for the CEO’s
severance bonus (his entire walk-away package is $5060 million) while many store-front workers will receive
nothing more than their final paycheque.
Somehow, I can’t see Jesus viewing his disciples as
a cost to minimize.
So what can we do about it?
We’ve all got vocal chords. We’ve all got the right
to vote. We’ve all got bodies that can show support by
being present.
How about in our churches? Aren’t we, too, caught
up in the penny-clenching mentality of business? What
would it take to never pay our employees less than a
living wage? What would it take to have friendship
with the poor? What would it take to buy fair trade
coffee and cleaning supplies, thus providing workers
around the world a fighting chance? What would it take
to achieve the ideas in your heart?
Perhaps, we need to start with a better mantra: it
takes more than a million-dollar work ethic to change a
minimum-wage reality.
4 / The Messenger
May 2015
news
Crowd-funding kickstarts new contemplative album
Singer/songwriter Alana
Levandoski, who has made four
secular roots albums, has launched her
first faith-based contemplative project,
Behold I Make All Things New, and
she is using an innovative crowdfunding campaign to help finance the
undertaking.
Alana, who became a member
of the Edmonton diocese four years
ago, says material for her new album
includes music she has written for
Emmaus Road, a contemplative
community she co-leads with the Rev.
Jonathan Crane on Sunday evenings
in the chapel at St Augustine’s on
Fulton Road.
Alana was raised in an evangelical
family near Riding Mountain National
Park in Manitoba, but it was not
until about 10 years ago, while
attending St. Benedict’s Table, an
Anglican Ancient/Future community
in Winnipeg, that she began writing
within a liturgical or contemplative
context.
“I was looking to dig deeper into
church history, liturgy and tradition
and found a beautiful mix of where
individuality meets the bigger picture.
I didn’t lose the intimacy of my
background, but got a fuller grounding
in the heritage and how varied the
body of Christ really is,” she says.
“At one point in my life, if
someone had told me I would end up
openly making an album that could
be categorized as ’Christian’ or ’faith-
based,’ I might have be nauseous,”
says Alana, whose favourite albums
at age 6, were Wilf Carter’s Bridle
Hangin’ on the Wall, Crosby Still’s
Nash and Young’s Déjà vu and John
Denver’s Poems and Prayers and
Promises.
Yet, a rebirth and renewal after
attending Richard Rohr’s Living
School for Action and Contemplation,
have brought her to “an authentic
place.”
Continnued on page 11.
Easter Day Baptisms and Conﬁr ations
St. Faith’s and St. Stephen’s Welcome
Members of Indigenous Communit
On Easter Day, April 5, the parish of Christ Church, Edmonton welcomed Bishop Jane Alexander to
celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the baptism and confirmation of 13 people. Welcomed into
the body of Christ were the newly confirmed (with Bishop Jane, from left): Alexis Taylor, Katherine
Heaton, Madeleine Moran, Laurin Paterson, Abigail Marschall, Thomas Dickson, Gabriel Stephens
and Michelle Chable Barron.
Easter Sunday was especially joyful this year!.The parishes of St. Stephen the Martyr and
St Faith’s celebrated a total of 10 baptisms on Easter Sunday. All of the newly-baptized are
indigenous. From St. Stephen’s, two adults were of Metis ancestry and St. Faith’s welcomed
eight First Nations children, including two babies. It was a joyous celebration of life in many
ways. We rejoice in God for the commitment of faith and prayer, as He continues to renew and
rejuvenate our indigenous and church communities.
Submitted by: Sharon Pasula
Communit Award of Excellence
The Rev. Dr. Adenike Yesufu was presented
the “Rosalind Smith Professional Award”
for exceptional professional contribution to
the community at an Award of Excellence
Banquet hosted by the National Black
Coalition of Canada (Edmonton Chapter).
A deacon at St. Faith’s, Edmonton, Yesufu
organized a Black History Month Liturgy at
St. Faith’s in February. Presenting the award
is Deputy Speaker of the Alberta House of
Assembly, the Hon. George Rogers.
Upon accepting an NBCC Award of
Excellence on March 14, 2015, the Rev.
Dr. Adenike Yesufu shared these words:
Let your light so shine: the newly baptized are (l to r): Daniella Gallardo, Frankie Chilkie, Sherri and
Tysson MacDonald and John Miller.
The journey of life is never a “solo
journey.”
It includes “those” who have walked
along with us.
Bishop Jane Alexander baptizes Tysson MacDonald (left), and blesses the Easter Day congregation
at Christ Church.
Those we have dazzled. Those who have
dazzled us.
Those whose hands we have held. Those
who have held our hands.
Those for whom we have prayed. Those
who have prayed for us and with us.
Family, Friends, Close
Acquaintances.
Those whose lives have been
intertwined with ours in different
ways.
Those we have loved. Those who have
loved us.
On a day like this: whoever you are,
wherever you are,
Those we have helped. Those who have
helped us.
We remember YOU. We bear YOU in
our hearts. We appreciate YOU.
Those we have touched. Those who have
touched us.
We want YOU to know that YOU have
all been Our Significant Others.
Those we have taught. Those who have
taught us.
Therefore, this award is for all of YOU.
Thank you.
May 2015
The Messenger / 5
REACH
REACH contributions build up community
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.
by Rochelle Nieuwenhuis
Shakespeare once challenged social
norms in Romeo’s cry, “What’s in a
name? That which we call a rose by
any other name would smell as sweet.”
In similar fashion we say to ourselves,
“What’s a church building anyway? The
people of God in any other place would
still be as sweet.”
Yes, it is people that are the church,
the body of Christ. Yet buildings are the
50% of St. Columba,
Beaumont’s campaign has been
designated for property and building
upgrades. This includes insulating
the church (never insulated),
restoring the window frames,
re-shingling the roof and
interior painting as needed.
St. Augustine
Parkland, Spruce Grove
wants to decrease their
mortgage and roof
repair debt, which would
free up funds that are currently
going towards interest payments.
St. David’s, Edmonton envisions
hospitality. They want to upgrade
the parish hall and kitchen to host
community events, small groups,
presentations, films, instructional
sessions, book clubs, BBQs and
more. Their dream also includes
expanding their sharing garden
space and renting equipment.
All Saints, Drayton
Valley plans to use
their REACH funds to:
complete the kitchen and
add a ventilation system,
complete the washrooms
and add showers, add
two laundry units, and
complete the elevator to
bring greater accessibility
to the basement.
medium through which we currently
live. We gather together, rain or shine or
blizzard, in a building. We press pause
on our busy lives and are reminded of
God’s presence with us by entering
a building. We tell communal stories
of where we come from, of previous
generations who shared the same
building.
These buildings, places of worship
and history and relationship, are a part
Proverbs 24:3
of several parishes’
REACH Campaign
dreams, which you can
learn about below.
The REACH
Campaign is about
imagining what we could do, be it
reaching out to the elderly or to young
families, implementing new community
programs, or even, humbly, repairing a
leaky roof.
Holy Trinity, Bon Accord has an
immediate need of roof repair and/
or replacement. As other community
groups use this facility, its repair is
considered a part of their mission
and their goal
for the REACH
Campaign.
St. Margaret’s, Edmonton is working on a
proposal to move their office space upstairs (thus
freeing up much-needed space in the basement
for Sunday School, youth, and adult study
opportunities, as well as providing their
administrative assistant with a proper
and secure office), bring their bathrooms
up to building code, and connecting them
to the City of Edmonton sewer system.
Building
for
community
the messenger
The Messenger is published
under the authority of the Dioceses of
Athabasca and Edmonton. Opinions
expressed in The Messenger are
not necessarily those of the editor or
publisher.
The Messenger is a section of the
Anglican Journal, printed 10 times
a year (no issues July and August) by
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North York, ON.
submissions ~ The Messenger
welcomes letters to the editor, news,
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St. Matthew, Viking will
ensure their church building
meets their physical needs in
a sustainable fashion, both
now and in the future. One
such project is the addition of
a bathroom in the church hall,
which would be accessible to
parishioners and visitors.
St. Thomas, Sherwood
Park will conduct an
engineering feasibility study
of the basement to see
what can be done and how
much it will cost to make the
basement
accessible
and to
make the
facility a
base for
mission
projects.
The REACH Campaign at St.
Mary’s,
Vegreville will be used to improve
the aesthetics,
use and hospitality of
the property.
Access within the church is essential for welcoming worship, music
and events. Priorities include the installation of an elevator, improved
access to washrooms and updates to the church hall/basement.
At Immanuel,
Wetaskiwin, they plan to
deepen their capacity to use
technology in worship and
teaching.
St. Peter’s, Edmonton is focusing
on accessibility and creating a place of
welcome. They want to welcome children
by making a special space where they can
easily see and take part in the service, and
to move communion distribution so that
fewer people need to navigate the stairs.
Upgrading and expanding the audio/visual
worship aids is another part of the plan.
UPDATE: REACH CAMPAIGN PLEDGES EXCEED $4.5 MILLION
Athabasca Editor ~ Peter Clarke
PO Box 41
High Prairie, AB, T0G 1E0
[email protected]
Edmonton Editor ~
Margaret Marschall
The Messenger
Diocese of Edmonton
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Edmonton, AB, T5J 0X5
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May 31, 2015
6 / The Messenger
May 2015
indiginews
“Wahkotowin - Learning Together” cross-cultural training day
G
athering
in a circle,
praying in Cree
together, being
cleansed by a
smudge, sharing
our connections,
hopes, fears,
learning about our
mutual history
on this good land
the Creator has
Clockwise from top left: Wetaskiwin Mayor Bill Elliott (with feather)
Fiona Brownlee
given us, weeping, participates in the sharing circle; Bonny Graham, Hugh Matheson, Fiona
Brownlee, facilitators Judy and Roy Louis and Sharon Pasula; workshop
laughing, coming together in conversation
participants spend time getting to know one another.
over soup and sandwiches, being sent out to be
Photos: Russ Reiter, Immanuel Wetaskiwin; and Sharon Pasula
better neighbours, to build better relationships.
after the sharing circle, Judy said, “We come to do
All of this and more happened when more than
this with churches because they are leading the way in
30 people gathered recently for the “Wahkotowin –
reconciliation work.” This was an affirming moment
Learning Together” cross-cultural training day.
for the local Indigenous Ministry working group at
This unique workshop, offered through the
Immanuel and for Indigenous Ministry work in our
Indigenous Ministry Initiative of the Edmonton
diocese.
diocese, invited people to Immanuel, Wetaskiwin,
Through humour and gentle words, Roy told the
for a day of learning on March 21, 2015. We were
gathered group about his family’s history in the area:
ably led by Roy and Judy Louis from Samson Cree
the restrictions of living as a Treaty Indian before
Nation from Maskwacis; the immediate neighbouring
1960; the effects of residential school on his family and
community to Wetaskiwin made up of four Cree First
community and his work in healing and reconciliation.
Nations. Folks from Camrose, Leduc, Edmonton and
Listening to Roy speak, those gathered experienced
Wetaskiwin - church people, Wetaskiwin city officials,
the resilience of the aboriginal people to overcome
social workers, historians and indigenous community
challenges brought on by the arrival of settlers. Judy’s
members - all came to learn.
family adopted First Nations children scooped from
Roy Louis is an elder in his community and Judy
their families by Child Welfare programs in the 1960s.
Louis was ‘adopted’ into a Cree family when she was
She and some of her siblings have thrived, while others
a young woman. They brought with them many years
are still struggling.
of experience of reconciliation and healing work with
After the closing circle those gathered were asked
a variety of communities. In her opening remarks,
by the Rev. Hugh Matheson, rector of Immanuel, if
they would be interested in another day that focused
on teaching about ceremonials of our neighbours in
Maskwacis. There was an overwhelming response of
yes. It is hoped that we will be able to accommodate
that desire sooner rather than later.
Neighbourly reconciliation begins with
understanding, education and openness to relationship.
If your rural or semi-rural parish is interested in
beginning the steps of neighbourly reconciliation with
the First Peoples of this land, please contact Fiona at
[email protected]
Fiona Brownlee is the Aboriginal and Rural
Churches Liaison for the Diocese of Edmonton
[email protected]
Smudging equated with confession
S
Elements of a smudge include sacred medicines, such as cedar,
sage and sweetgrass, burning in an abalone shell.
mudging is a
ceremony traditionally
practiced by some
indigenous cultures to
purify or cleanse negative
energy, feelings or
thoughts from a place or
a person. Everyone, not
only indigenous people, is
welcome to participate in
a smudge.
Sacred medicines
such as cedar, sage, sweet
Sharon Pasula, Oskâpêwis
grass, fungus or tobacco
are burned in an abalone shell (other types of containers
are also used). The shell represents water, the first of
four elements of life. Medicines, the second element
of life, represent gifts from mother earth. The burning
represents fire, the third element. The person puts their
hands in the smoke carrying it to their body, especially
to areas that need healing, including spiritual healing
(mind, heart, body). The smoke represents air, the final
and fourth element.
Essentially, there is no wrong way to smudge.
The important aspect is praying and connecting with
Creator. Smudging has been described as praying with
smoke.
In Anglican churches in Edmonton the following
prayer is said immediately prior to smudging:
Holy Creator, Father of all that is right and just, you
sent your messenger Jesus your Son to earth. He came
and taught us the truth about you. He came to fulfill our
old ways. He died on a cross for the things that plague
our people: despair and death. You raised Him from
His death and now He reigns in heaven and will return
again.
From a Christian perspective smudging can be
equated with Confession, the act of standing in the right
light of the Creator.
Confession Circle:
Accept, O God, Creator, our open hands and make
our hearts thankful for what we have been given. Cause
us to humble ourselves for what we have taken. Make
our hearts glad as we return some measure of what we
have been given. Strengthen our faith and heart in the
service of your people. In the name of our Brother and
Saviour, your Son Jesus Christ, And in the power of the
Holy Spirit.
In the Edmonton diocese, the Standing Stones
liturgy is an example of how Cree symbols and customs
can be infused with the worship of Jesus and Christian
ceremony.
Standing Stones is held at All Saints’ Cathedral,
10035-103 St, Edmonton, the third Sunday of the month
at 9:15 am; and at St. Faith’s Anglican Church, 1172593 St, Edmonton, the third Sunday of the month at
11:00 am. A smudge is always available at St. Faith’s at
the Indigenous altar.
Smudge Ceremony and Prayer are offered at St.
Mary’s Anglican Church, 11203-68 St, Edmonton,
every Wednesday, from 11:45 am to-12:30 pm.
A Sharing/Healing Circle, beginning with a
smudge, is also held at St. Mary’s, the first Sunday of
the month at 7:00 pm.
Sharon Pasula is the Oskâpêwis/Aboriginal Cultural
and Educational Helper, Diocese of Edmonton
[email protected]
May 2015
The Messenger / 7
outreach
PWRDF partners respond to crisis
T
he Primate’s
dollars will enable partners on the ground to provide
World Relief and
emergency supplies including food, water and shelter in
Development Fund is
the aftermath of the cyclone. By placing the funding in
the Anglican Church
the hands of the ACT Alliance our support is best able
of Canada’s agency for
to provide immediate assistance to the island’s 270,000
sustainable development,
inhabitants.
relief, refugees and global
As an island nation, Vanuatu is vulnerable to
justice. The PWRDF,
disasters influenced by rising sea levels and climate
with your financial
change. The scale of the recent catastrophe is far
support, carries out this
beyond what the local government can cope with.
important work through
Unfortunately, the cyclone has wiped out much of the
a number of partnerships
development that has been achieved in recent years and
with international,
there is much rebuilding that will be required.
Dorothy Marshall
national, and local
The good news is that because of the ACT
organizations, heavily relying on existing leadership
partnership, we are able to support this important work
and expertise.
in a timely manner, through our gifts to the PWRDF.
One of these partners is the Action by Churches
This is an example of our Christian faith in action;
Together (ACT); a global alliance
by enabling others,
of churches working to save lives
we have a hand in
and support communities during
doing God’s work in
emergencies. Through this partnership
Vanuatu.
PWRDF can quickly transfer funds to
PWRDF
increase capacity in areas responding
continues to monitor
to a crisis, often with the cooperation
the situation, and
of many other partners.
are in contact with
An example of this is the
the ACT Alliance in
collective response to the recent
regards to the relief
Cyclone Pam, which has recently
needs in Vanuatu.
devastated the island nation of
You can support
Vanuatu. Entire villages have been
the relief efforts in
destroyed by the storm; one of
Vanuatu by donating
the strongest ever recorded in the
online at www.pwrdf.
Pacific islands. The devastation
org or through your
has been tremendous in this
church envelope,
impoverished nation with houses
Cyclone Pam devastation.
Photo: ACT Alliance marked PWRDF.
torn apart, vegetation and building
Ideally each
materials strewn everywhere and big trees snapped
parish should have a PWRDF rep in place; a link to
like match sticks. Communication systems have been
share information and resources. If you are interested
destroyed and the hospitals in the capital of Port Vila
in this important ministry please talk to your rector and
are struggling to meet health needs in the face of the
contact Dorothy Marshall at: [email protected]
disaster. Clean water has been unavailable and the
electrical system was brought down.
Dorothy Marshall is the PWRDF
This good news story involves the announcement
Representative for the Diocese of Edmonton
by PWRDF of an initial grant of $20,000 for the work
of the ACT partnership in relief work for Vanuatu, in
response to the devastation of Cyclone Pam. These
Kits help young sisters stay in school
Feminine hygiene supplies, easily accessible to
costs $6.50, plus shipping.
most women in Canada, are a luxury to our sisters in
Please send a cheque donation, earmarked “Dignity
Kits,” to the Synod Office: 10035-103 St, Edmonton
the Diocese of Buyé. Most families in Burundi live on
AB, T5J 0X5. Let’s take up the challenge to make life
less than $2 a day - less than we pay for a cup of coffee.
better for our young sisters!
Without adequate feminine hygiene supplies,
young girls have no choice but to stay
home from school. Eventually, they fall
behind in their studies and some are
forced to drop out. The ACW and the
Edmonton diocese would like to ensure
girls in our companion diocese have the
opportunity to complete their education.
Through the Transformation
Textiles company, we will ship 300
Dignity Kits to Burundi. Each kit,
made from the scrap materials of
a t-shirt factory, contains two pairs
of panties (tied at the side), two
waterproof shields, six washable pads,
a drawstring bag, small bucket, soap
and a small booklet with information
about caring for these supplies, as well
as understanding menstruation. One kit Many young women in the Buye diocese must leave school early.
Interfaith Community
Observes Day to
Eliminate Racial
Discrimination
by Sharon Pasula,
Oskapewis/
Aboriginal Cultural
& Education
Helper, Diocese of
Edmonton
Love, peace
and joy tumbled out
of my mouth many
times during my
‘words’ of welcome
during the Edmonton
Interfaith Centre’s
commemoration of
the International Day
for the Elimination
Oskâpêwis Sharon Pasula brings
of Racial
greetings and prayer on hehalf of
Discrimination,
the Edmonton diocese.
Photo: Paula E. Kirman
March 19, at City
Hall.
I say words’ which is an indigenous euphemism
(bet you didn’t know indigenous people had
euphemisms) for addressing people at an event. I
learned this from an elder statesman whom I met at
an indigenous journalists conference in Minneapolis
some years ago. This is how we learn things in
indigenous culture, by listening then doing.
Back to the love, peace and joy. These are words
I don’t often use when offering a prayer publicly.
But, several times during my prayer these words
came out. I did thank Creator that apartheid had been
dismantled in South Africa, but mentioned that hatred
and woundedness are still in the hearts and spirits of
people all over the world. So again I prayed for love,
peace and joy in the world. Later I thought about
what the spirit had me pray and, of course, realized
this is the heart of God. I determined that I would
pray this more often, not just when offering a public
prayer. Creator affirmed and encouraged me when I
sat down after giving those ‘words’ when the police
officer sitting next to me leaned over and said, “Well
done.”
At the close of the event everyone was invited to
pray together. I invite you to join in.
Our Prayer:
We believe in the community of free souls,
of friendship that unites all peoples of the
world, with bonds of human love for all races
and faiths.
We know that reason and compassion can
obliterate racial discrimination, and therefore,
refuse the separation it causes.
We know that acceptance of each other is
built upon the fact that we are all equal; before
our Creator: we are one people who live on the
earth as one family.
We unite in sacred service to our world
community. Our house is built on human
fellowship and trust, with gratitude for who we
can become together.
Oh yes, and please cause love, peace and
joy to rule first of all in our hearts so that it can
spread to others. Amen.
8 / The Messenger
May 2015
news
New deacons connect church and world continued
Continued from front page.
While “happily carrying Coleen’s bags,” Mike said
he was “deeply impacted by the tremendous amount of
faith and energy people pour into their church.”
“Mike’s work places him at the heart of listening to
the pain and struggle of others and of seeking to point
them to the love of Christ;” Tiessen said.
In June, he will retire after a 26-year career as a
corrections and addictions counsellor with the John
Howard Society, AADAC and Alberta Health Services.
“I am in awe of the power of God in our lives,
especially during times of upset, and the resiliency of
people in the face of huge challenges,” said Mike.
He “looks with great anticipation” to this calling
and to his appointment to serve as Assistant Curate of
St. Augustine Parkland in Spruce Grove, beginning
September 1, 2015.
Aaron Parsall-Myler, 27, was presented for
ordination by the Rev. Cheryl Boulet and Betty
Squance.
Raised in New Addington, England, Aaron became
a Canadian citizen on March 19, 2015, less than a week
before his ordination. Like Mike, he lived in Nova
Scotia prior to coming west.
He currently works as a manager for the Salvation
Army Addition and Residential Centre.
“Aaron’s work places him square in the path of
human need, of hunger, of homelessness, and I know
it is work that he loves,” said Tiessen, who serves as
Aaron’s rector at St. Matthias Anglican Church in
Edmonton.
While working toward his Masters of Divinity at
Newman Theological College, Aaron plans to continue
to build his pastoral experience at St. Matthias, where
he has been serving as youth minister and now deacon.
A fan of dance music and sci-fi movies, Aaron
incorporates pop culture into his youth talks,
helping young people move beyond a basic Sunday
introduction to Christianity, to “begin to find their place
with God and live the gospel outside of church in their
own communities.”
“On this Feast Day the Blessed Virgin Mary offers
to us a model of response to the Word of God spoken
(announced) to us, Isaiah wrote that God “will give you
a sign,” a son whose name shall be Immanuel – God
Clockwise from top left: ordinand Mike Lynch worships with his presenters Terry Dunn and Harriet Campbell; the Rev. Aaron ParsallMyler, Bishop Jane Alexander and the Rev. Michael Lynch; Bishop Jane Alexander consecrates Aaron Parsall-Myler a deacon; the new
deacons are presented to the congregation; servers lead the recessional and assist thurifer Mark Armstrong.
with us,” concluded Tiessen.
“Mary receives that sign with the words ‘Here am
I” -- her words are words of trust that stand in for the
response of the whole Church at the intersection with
the world.”
“Mike and Aaron are “no doubt aware of the
challenge it will be to name the world’s needs,
concerns, and hopes to the church and in turn carry to
the world God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, but
they are offering themselves to do so at precisely that
intersection along with the whole Church. ‘I will,’ they
will say. ‘I will.’”
Prayer is where we meet with God and are transformed
P
rayer is something
people do all over
the world. Anywhere you
go, you will find people
praying in a variety of
ways and as members of
a variety of religions.
All through the Bible
there are examples of
human beings praying
to God and even having
conversations with God.
We see prayer modeled
especially in the life of
The Rev. Chris Roth
Jesus.
What is prayer? How does prayer work? And, why
is prayer sometimes not answered?
Biblically, prayer is communication with God.
Some would call it seeking union with God. Others
would simply call it being with God and enjoying His
presence. Foundationally, Christian prayer is about
bringing our lives to God, not as we wish they were,
but as they are with all our pleasures and problems.
Prayer is where we meet with God and are transformed.
It helps to make us holy by transforming our character
- our will, desires, motives, and behaviors.
Famous Christians have described prayer in
various ways, for example: Clement of Alexandria
said prayer is “dialogue with God.” Augustine of
Hippo said it is “raising of the mind and heart to God.”
John Chrysostom said prayer is an “altar to God in
your mind.” Theresa of Avila said prayer is a “special
friendship.” Richard Rohr has said it is a “way of
living in awareness of the presence.” James Houston
said it is a “homesickness for God.” (Mentioned by
Charles Nienkirchen in an article titled “Prayer,” in the
Dictionary of Christian Spirituality.)
People pray in a variety of different ways. Some
speak out loud; some are quiet. Some stand with their
hands in the air; some kneel. Some use prayer books
and written prayers; and some speak spontaneously.
Some find it easier to pray in the evening; some in the
morning; some pray all through the day as they keep a
quiet discussion with God.
Prayer is about relationship, not magic. We
sometimes treat prayer as if it is a way to manipulate
God to get what we want, and so, we look for
techniques and tips to make sure our will gets done.
Really that is sorcery, rather than prayer.
Prayer is about a relationship with God. It is like
my relationship with my sons. Jesus’ primary way of
referring to God is “Father,” or in the original Aramaic
“Abba,” which means something like “Pappa” or
“Daddy.” It was one of the first words a child learned. It
is what a child yells when they run towards their father
to get picked up. Jesus gives the image of “Abba”
as we approach God in prayer. So an analogy of the
relationship between me and my sons is not a bad one.
I hope that my sons are not primarily concerned
with manipulating me to give them candy or buy them
toys. Though, no doubt, toys and candy pass through
their minds from time to time.
Continued on next page.
May 2015
The Messenger / 9
news
Parishes offering Alpha for Youth
by Amy Croy
Alpha Coordinator, Diocese of Edmonton
Alpha for Youth is expanding in the Edmonton
area. Recently I, Amy Croy, and two student Alpha
leaders from Jasper Place High School visited St.
Timothy’s, Edmonton, to talk to youth from that
parish and also St. Paul’s, about the Alpha for Youth
program.
A number of the youth were excited about the
idea of running Alpha in their home schools, and
are planning to do so this fall. One of the supports
for groups who are running Alpha in their schools is
an Alpha Evening focused on the Holy Spirit. The
first evening was held at Beulah Alliance in April.
It is hoped that there will be a similar event, offered
twice a year, to coincide with each high school
semester.
Currently, I am assisting with Alpha at Alexis
Nakota Sioux Nation School and coaching school
groups. St. David’s, Holy Trinity Riverbend and St.
George’s in Edmonton are also running Alpha for
Youth this spring. If you would like me to come and
speak to your parish, please contact me at:
[email protected].
A dinner and silent auction in support of
the Anglican Educational Chaplaincy
Wednesday, May 6, 2015, 5:30 pm
Visit anglicanstudentministry.ca for details
Amy Croy and student leaders encourage youth from St. Timothy’s and St. Paul’s to lead Alpha for Youth in their schools.
This year, in lieu of a keynote address, we will hear from
three current and former students, telling their stories of
what it means to live their faith.
Addressing the big question: how does prayer work?
Continued from previous page.
I hope that they are more concerned with us being
together because we love each other. That doesn’t mean
they should never ask me for anything. It just means
that the asking is embedded in a relationship.
When my sons make a request of me I can respond
in one of three ways. I can say “yes,” “no,” or “not
now.” If I say “yes” then that means that my son has
asked me within the realm of my will. If I tell my boys
to go play outside in the back yard they could be doing
a variety of things and still be “in my will.” Being “in
my will” doesn’t mean I have defined exactly which
game they play and how they play it. (I once heard the
philosopher and spirituality writer Dallas Willard teach
on this point.)
I think this is similar to how God works. I think
we can be doing a number of things and still be in the
range of God’s will. If my sons ask me for ice cream I
might say, “yes” if that request doesn’t interfere with
my plans for them. Praying according to God’s will
means praying according to our place in God’s story.
Amazingly, we have been given the privilege and
opportunity to cooperate with God through prayer.
However, prayer doesn’t eliminate our need to act.
There is an Old Testament professor named Bruce
Waltke who recalls playing ‘David and Goliath’ with
his daughter. He would be Goliath and she would be
David. She would have a paper ball in her hand and
yell, ‘I come to you in the power of God’ and throw her
paper ball and he would topple over. If she didn’t yell
‘I come to you in the power of God’ he wouldn’t topple
over because she didn’t rely on God. But, he also
wouldn’t topple over if she didn’t throw the paper ball.
Prayer often works with and through human action.
I might also say “no” to my sons request for
ice cream if, for example, it is close to supper time.
Having a healthy diet is more important than having a
treat. So while my sons might see my saying “no” as
being mean, the reason I say “no” is because I want
something better for them.
Similarly, God might say ‘no’ in response to our
requests. We might be denied because there might be
consequences that would be undesirable. For example,
if I prayed for a billion dollars and God did not grant
my request, it might be because He foresees how
it could have a negative effect on my soul. I might
become self-centered and greedy if I don’t have the
character to handle that kind of wealth.
Un-answered prayer can be extremely challenging
to our faith. Especially when we pray for someone’s
healing, who we think deserves healing. That can be
very painful. There is a certain mystery in this where
we trust that God has a broader vision than we do and
even though we can’t understand it, we trust that God
has good reasons. Jesus himself prayed an unanswered
prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26). He
prayed to not have to endure the cross. In the midst of
prayer Jesus’ human will was brought into alignment
with the Divine will so that he came to trust that there
was purpose in the cross. Similarly, there are times
when a no actually leads to our transformation.
There are other reasons we might receive a “no.”
Sin interferes with our understanding of the will of
“God might say ‘no’ in
response to our requests.”
God. We might have selfish motives by praying for
“my will” to be done rather than “Thy will” to be done.
Sometimes it really is mysterious and beyond our
understanding.
I might also say “not now” to my sons, or I may
answer in an unexpected way. Instead of an ice cream
cone before supper, I may have planned for us to get
hot fudge Sundays after supper. So I might ask them to
wait. God might also have something better in mind. In
the First Century the people were praying for a warrior
messiah that would defeat the Romans. It seemed
like God refused, but really God gave a messiah that
defeated death and sin, rather than merely defeating
the Romans for Israel. What looked like a no was
actually an unexpected yes. At times we really have to
trust that God answers prayer according to His greater
understanding.
Again, we want to be careful to remember that
prayer is about a relationship with God, not merely
asking for things. To pray is to enter into a mystery, and
by doing so, we participate in God’s work in the world.
The Rev. Chris Roth is the rector of St. Timothy’s,
Edmonton. He recently led an Evangelism Training
Day for the Edmonton diocese, exploring some of the
“Big Questions” about Christian faith. This article
was adapted from Chris’ blog entry “How Does Prayer
Work?” (http://revchrisroth.blogspot.ca)
10 / The Messenger
May 2015
community
St. Mark’s Proclamation
Sharon Cox from St. Mark’s, High Prairie, Colleen Strebchuk from the Nazarene Church and
Peter Clarke, warden at St. Mark’s and organizer of the Proclamation.
Photo: Richard Froese
by Peter Clarke
Athabasca Editor
St. Mark’s Anglican Church in
High Prairie hosted a Bible Reading
Proclamation during Holy Week.
For a varied period of 63 hours from
Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday the
church was kept open for people to
come in to read and listen to the Word
of God. As in past years, this event was
promoted to all the Christian churches
in High Prairie. People ranging in
age from teen to octogenarian came
to read from five of those churches.
Several people said their experience
was “awesome and wonderful” and
they returned for additional times of
reading.
Rarely does the Holy Week
Proclamation begin with a full slate of
readers. This year was no exception.
On Palm Sunday there were still 25 of
the 63 time slots left to fill. Previous
experience told us to trust in God and
He will supply. And He did. Readers
registered online the night before the
Proclamation for the remaining time
slots. Using Google Calendar, people
were able to sign up from their homes
or offices whenever convenient to
them.
Offering a time of Proclamation
is a great ecumenical opportunity for
parishes of all sizes. As in our case, all
it takes is one committed promoter of
the proclamation and a few enthusiastic
people to read and the Good News will
spread. Try it.
Thanks be to God.
“Stirring” parish retreat
by the Rev. Laureta Blondin
On March 20 and 21, the women
of St. John the Divine along with a
few of their friends gathered together
at Camp He Ho Ha for a women’s
Lenten retreat. The title of the retreat
was “My Heart, Christ’s Home” and
the music theme was “Be Still and
Know that I am God.”
The retreat included plenty of
time for table discussions and sharing
about cleaning the rooms of our hearts
in order to make room for Jesus. It
also included time for meaningful
prayer and worship. Led by Liz Taylor
on Friday evening before Compline,
all the ladies had the opportunity to
learn some simple liturgical dancing
to the music, “Create in Me a Clean
Heart.” Early the next morning,
before Morning Prayer, she again
led everyone in a series of morning
stretches and exercises — all done to
a recorded piece of scripture. “What
a beautiful way to start the day,” said
one. “I like that kind of praying,” said
another.
Of course no retreat is complete
without some time set aside to
explore one’s creative side, and the
rector’s warden, Elaine Dickie, got
everyone drawing and “doodling”
their experiences on a blank postcard.
On the back of each postcard, we
were challenged to write a message
to ourselves as if it was a personal
message from God.
The retreat concluded with a
New Take on 24 Fugues
A fugue is built upon a single
voice (musical line). When other
In celebration of the 140th
Anniversary of All Saints’ Cathedral,
voices are added it becomes “rather
like a round,” says Munn. After
Johann Sebastian Bach’s “The WellTempered Clavier Book One,” will
the first line is stated, it’s up to the
conductor to decide how the piece
be performed like never before.
will “take off.”
In this premiere performance,
25 talented musicians, conducted
In his notes on orchestrating
the 24 fugues (www.
by Michael Massey, will present 24
preludes and fugues orchestrated
edmontonbachproject.ca),
conductor Michael
for string quartet,
“The dream is Massey says he first
woodwind trio, brass
quintet and a chamber
becoming a reality.” performed Bach’s
choir. The concert will
Alexandra Munn ‘Well-Tempered
Clavier” in 1961, as
be held Wednesday,
student in Jean-Pierre Vetter’s piano
June 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm, in the
acoustically-exciting venue of All
class at Alberta College. He was
“ecstatic” when his teacher and dear
Saints’ Cathedral, 10035-103 St. NW,
friend, Alexandra Munn, asked him
Edmonton.
to put a different light on the fugues
Since 1963, it has been a dream
of longtime Cathedral parishioner
from Book One by orchestrating
them for varied chamber ensembles.
Alexandra Munn, a graduate of
“It motivated me to rethink
the Juilliard School of Music and
these wonderful fugues from the
professor emerita from the University
of Alberta Department of Music, to
point of view of character, colour,
direct a performance of orchestrated
and structure, in order to arrive at an
appropriate instrumental setting,” he
fugues with preludes performed by
said.
pianists.
“I believe that the music
of J. S. Bach has such a
universality that it can be
played with any ensemble of
instruments - even two banjos
and a tin whistle - and still
retain its essential beauty. It
is in this spirit that I humbly
present my vision of these
great works.”
“The dream is becoming
a reality,” says Munn, who
notes this performance is
made possible by a generous
grant from the Edmonton
Community Foundation.
Tickets are $20 for adults
and $10 for seniors and
students. They are available
in advance from TIX on the
Square 780-420-1757 / www.
tixonthesquare.ca
For more
information, visit: www.
edmontonbachproject.ca/
eucharist service led by the Rev.
Laureta Blondin including a time
for prayers of healing and anointing.
The worship music throughout the
retreat was provided by Susan Daniel.
All in all, it was a time of “opening
our hearts to let Jesus in” and “a
wonderful experience of laughing, joy,
The women of St. John the Divine, Onoway open their hearts to Jesus and explore their creativity at the “My Heart, Christ’s Home” retreat at Camp He Ho Ha.
love and tears.” And, as one woman
so thoughtfully concluded, “It was
a stirring weekend for me and has
encouraged me to be still and spend
more time intentionally in our Father’s
presence. I am reminded that I cannot
do it on my own.”
Thanks be to God.
May 2015
The Messenger / 11
community
St. Paul’ s invites city parishes to neighbourhood workshop
“Neighborhoods are the contexts into which God calls us to live
the mission of Jesus. Some of the most radical ways we can be
God’s people are also the most obvious ways of being human.
Alan Roxburgh
This is as it should be!”
God is up to something out
ahead of us in our neighborhoods and
communities. While working with the
Edmonton diocese on our REACH
Campaign, the vestry of St. Paul’s,
Edmonton was prompted to seek a
partner organization to walk alongside
and equip us to engage more deeply
with our communities, both individually
and corporately.
With our REACH funds, we were
able to consider three potential partner
groups, and invited The Missional
Network to come and lead a Moving
Back into the Neighborhood (MBiN)
workshop. The workshop is intended to
help interested congregations throughout
the city engage more deeply with what
God is doing in our neighbourhoods. All
congregations and clergy are invited to
join St. Paul’s at the workshop to gain
encouragement, vision, frameworks and
tools to re-engage their neighborhoods
in living the Gospel.
This interactive journey will take
place at North Glenora Community Hall,
13535-109A Ave, Edmonton, on June 5
to 6. It is an opportunity to explore what
God is already doing in participants’
neighborhoods by listening to God
through one another, exploring what
type of church they are and learning
about what a continued journey and next
steps might look like.
Participants will leave the workshop
with hands-on tools to begin a journey
of mission in their neighborhoods,
including:
• frameworks, stories and resources
for creating new, fresh expressions of
mission for their congregation
• resources for creating simple
experiments in engaging with their
communities
• emerging vision of where and how
God is already at work in their
neighborhoods
• encouragement and curiosity about
what might be possible in their
congregation
• connections with other congregations
joining in this journey
Find more info, links to the full
brochure, and registration at http://
stpauls-anglican.ca/events/post/9627,
or call St. Paul’s office at 780-455-0771.
Congregations (clergy and
parishioners) are encouraged to register
as a group by May 31. The registration
fee is $25 per person or $200 for a group
of 10. Child care ($5 per child over two
years) is available onsite on Saturday.
Facilitating the workshop will be
Sara Jane Walker and Tim Soerens. Sara
serves as the President of The Missional
Network, partnering with church
systems and local congregations joining
with God in their neighborhoods. She
is passionate about how we creatively
and faithfully embrace this journey, and
how new modes of social connectivity
are transforming our relationships and
our participation with God in our local
communities.
Tim is an author, speaker, social
entrepreneur, and co-founding director
of the Parish Collective, where he
convenes ministry leaders, teaches, and
consults with organizations seeking
human flourishing in neighborhoods and
across the city. As a social entrepreneur,
Tim is a founding adviser of Impact
Hub-Seattle, an innovative co-working
space for change makers in both nonprofit and business sectors.
June 5 and 6, 2015
North Glenora Community Hall
13535 109A Ave NW, Edmonton, AB
FRIDAY, JUNE 5TH
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Clergy Workshop
6:00 pm
Registra on
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Evening Workshop
SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH 8:30 am
9:30 am - 12:00 pm
12:00 pm
1:00 pm - 3:00
Registra on and coﬀee
Morning Workshop
Lunch (will be provided)
A ernoon Workshop
The workshop is organized by St. Paul’s Anglican Church
and facilitated by the Missional Network .
Crowd-funding kickstarts contemplative album project cont.
Continued from page 4.
“Behold, I Make all Things New is an album
that has been a lifetime in the making,” she says.
“I am ready to integrate my spiritual life and my
artistic life without feeling the need to be cool or
apologetic.”
“This particular body of work dances around
the mystery of incarnation and the call to emulate
the overflowing ascent toward wisdom, and the
emptying descent toward compassion that was the
life of Jesus.”
To raise capital for her project, which she began
recording at Signpost Studios in Winnipeg this
April, Alana launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding
campaign. She and her husband Ian Porteous, a
bluegrass musician, are asking the public to help
them reach their goal of $10,000 by May 10.
Everyone who donates becomes part of the Alana
Levandoski Project and is eligible to receive cool
perks, such as music, clothing and art.
Hoping to convey the earthiness of God and the
holiness of earth, intimacy and inspire conscious
incarnation, Alana, the mother of two young
children, is set to release her album this fall when
she goes on tour with Steve Bell, fellow musician
and co-producer, along with Murray Pulver, of the
“Behold” album.
“I met Steve a long time ago and we attended
the same church community. He has covered two of
my songs and has always been incredibly supportive
of my music,” she says.
Visual artist Julie Ann Stevens, a fellow student
of the Living School, heard Alana’s song “Behold
I Make All Things New” and says the “holy tune
found its way into my heart.” Both Julie Ann and
her mom, who died from dementia this February,
were “enlivened and comforted by the words and the
tune. I was struck by the healing potential of Alana’s
gifts.” Julie Ann wanted to collaborate on the project
and has been painting to the demo tracks in her
studio in Minneapolis. Her paintings will “hang” in
the gallery of the liner notes.
If, God-willing, Alana’s “big dream” is realized,
she will have a CD release concert in connection
with the Anglican community and wider community
in Edmonton and bring in her friend Julie Ann from
Minneapolis to show her work.
You can check out Alana’s new project and even
take part in the crowd funding at:
www.kickstarter.com.
For more information about Alana and her music
ministry, visit: alanalevandoski.com.
12 / The Messenger
May 2015
community
Easter journey experienced across the diocese
On Palm Sunday members
of Christ Church,
Edmonton, gathered in
the church hall at the
start of the 10 am liturgy.
Associate priest Sarah
Holmstrom and her
young assistants blessed
the palm branches and
crosses, while the choir
led by Robert Zylstra sang
“Hosanna to the Son of
David,” The congregation
then processed into the
sanctuary for the Liturgy
of the Passion.
Waiting on the Resurrection
by the Ven. Jacques deG.
Vaillancourt, CD
St. Andrew’s, Camrose
I was largely raised in a world
where most people shared a common
language and belonged to the
same church. On Holy Saturday,
Augustana’s Faith & Life Chapel
once again welcomed this formerly
isolated Christian, along with
different and distinct churches for the
celebration of the Easter Vigil.
The Resurrection is the assurance
of the complete
forgiveness of
our sins and the
sure promise
of eternal life,
in Jesus Christ.
However, in
Photos: Erin Specht
years past, the
local Christian community often
tacitly accepted or even actively
maintained divisions when observing
this celebration of life anew.
The Augustana Chaplaincy
team has over the last decade
transformed this Camrose institution
into a sanctuary for ecumenical
and interfaith worship. The flavour
remains decidedly Lutheran, now
with our
variations added
in, as welcomed
faith ingredients
to this new
liturgical
recipe. On Treaty Six lands initially
settled by Scandinavian pioneers - as
the Eighth Day of God’s creation
unfolds in fidelity to the Bible’s
promises - a Church of God pastor
preached, a United Church minister
shared the Scriptures, an Anglican
priest celebrated the Eucharist, and
we all stood shoulder-to-shoulder
with those whose church history is
enthusiastically informed by Martin
Luther’s Reformation legacy.
In word, song and music, we
prayerfully rejoiced in the baptismal
sacrament conferred, by grace, upon
several candidates. Martyrdom, in
some parts of the world, defines
the risk of being a believer. The
Easter Vigil reminds us that we are
not dismissed when an intentional
choice-in-God is made to be inclusive
of all who seek true holiness.
Thank you Augustana pastors Craig
(Wentland) and Robyn (Simpson
Mohr). Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Members of All Saints’ Cathedral spent an evening together making nearly 400 palm crosses
in preparation for the “Commemoration of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem.” The start of
Holy Week, Passion Sunday is devoted to the suffering of Jesus ‘that we may both follow the
example of His patience and also be made partakers of his resurrection’ (BCP). All Saints’
members distributed the crosses to patients at the Edmonton General and St. Joseph’s
Hospitals and during Palm Sunday services at the Cathedral.
The parish of St Thomas, Wainwright
concluded their six-week journey through
Lent with an Easter sunrise service.
Pictured: the Rev. Ann Marie Nicklin and
her son Michael light the Paschal candle;
the Sunday school children celebrate the
completion of their Easter garden, which
they started several weeks ago with a
paper mache tomb. Buried somewhere in
the Easter garden is a box of “Alleluias.”
Photos: Allan Samm
What is BASE CAMP 2015?

For Jr. High
students only

sleep in a tent

pump water

chop wood

build a fire

paddle a canoe

tip a canoe

cool oﬀ in the lake

make new friends

explore wilderness

sing a crazy song

sleep under the
stars