New Messenger May 2016 - Holy Trinity Anglican Church

the new
MESSENGER
Holy Trinity Anglican Church, North Saanich, B.C. “The heart of the community for 130 years”
May
2016
Inside this Issue
Other Communion services
Feature Articles
Coffee & Chat offers variety for May
Highlights from the Synod
Reflecting on the Synod
A poison stronger than love
Insights from a sojourn in Scotland: Part 2
Parishioner publishes book on Irish roots
6
8
9
11
12
16
Regular Features
From the Rector’s Desk
Bible readings
Sunday Services
Daily Prayer Intercessions
News of interest to our Parish
3
6
18
19
20
Everyone is welcome to attend Holy
Eucharist at the following locations:
Sidney Care
Monday, May 9, 10:30 a.m.
Saanich Peninsula Hospital Chapel
Tuesday, May 10, 2:00 p.m.
Beechwood
Wednesday, May 11, 11:15 a.m.
Rest Haven Lodge
Monday, May 23, 2:30 p.m.
Holy Trinity Church
Every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
The Cover
Surf’s up on the west coast of Ireland. More on page 12.
Photo: Nancy Van Kirk
May 2016 Volume 8 Number 5
The New Messenger is published by the Parish Council and appears monthly for the enjoyment and information of
our parishioners and visitors to Holy Trinity Anglican Church, North Saanich. An electronic version in full colour
can be found on our website: www.holytrinityns.org
Text and Photo Contributors: The Rector, Peter Marshall, Brenda Whittingham, John Hudson,
Janet Billinghurst, Mary Earnshaw, Nancy Van Kirk, Pat Dowdall, Helen Evans, Marvin Underwood, Susan Rand,
Pat Sinnott, Becky Morris, Teva Scheer, Simon Chambers, Syd Langhelt, Marsha Tejeda
The Opinions expressed by contributors are those of the author and not necessarily that of the Parish.
The New Messenger
Parish of Holy Trinity
1319 Mills Road, North Saanich, BC V8L 5T2
Telephone: 250-656-3223
E-mail: [email protected]
Page 2
The Venerable Penelope A. Kingham
Photo: John Hudson
From the Rector’s desk
Sunday, the
J erusalem
seventh Sunday of Easter,
this year marks our third
national church observance in
celebration of companionship
in God’s mission with the
Episcopal Diocese of
Jerusalem in Jerusalem, Israel,
Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon
and Syria.
The Diocese is a historic
and active member of the
Christian, ecumenical and
interfaith community of the
Middle East − home to several
thousand Arab Anglicans in
30 parishes and situated in
one of the world’s holiest
destinations for Christian,
Jewish and Muslim pilgrims.
Regrettably, few religious tourists to the Holy Land today
encounter Palestinian and other Arab Christians, or visit a parish
church, school or hospital. Jerusalem Sunday links us with the
“living stones” of the local Anglican church, and the ancestors of
the first Christian communities indigenous to the region.
In a letter to our Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the Anglican
Bishop in Jerusalem
expressed his
gratitude for
Jerusalem Sunday
celebrations. “It is a
tremendous
encouragement and
further testimony to
our oneness in the
Body of Christ and
our bond-of-affection as members of the Anglican Communion.”
In this increasingly torn and divided world, every expression of
unity and journeying together becomes grace-filled opportunity to
Page 3
From the Rector’s desk continued
recommit to our call, as Christ’s own, to draw the circle ever wider
− commitment captured in the visioning and synod themes of
Na'tsa'maht, and Wi’la mola ma’nux of this diocese.
There is a wonderful story from an unknown source that I
have shared with our care home companions over the years that
echoes this innermost longing that all of creation might learn to
live together as God would have us live…
“Where we live, on the Eastern shore of Maryland, the gentle
waters run in and out like fingers slimming at the tips, curling into
the smaller creeks and coves like tender palms.
“The Canada geese know this place, as do the white swans and
the ducks who ride an inch above the waves of Chesapeake Bay as
they skim their way into harbor. In the autumn, by the thousands,
they come home for the winter.
“The swans move toward the shores in a stately glide, their tall
heads proud and unafraid, lowering their long necks deep into the
water, where their strong beaks dig through the river bottoms for
food. And there is, between the arrogant swans and the prolific
geese, an indifference, almost a disdain.
“Once or twice each year, snow and sleet move into the area.
When this happens, if the river is at its narrowest, or the creek
shallow, there is a freeze which hardens the water to ice.
“It was on such a morning that a friend sat beside the huge
window, which overlooked the Tred Avon*. Across the river,
beyond the dock, snow laced the rim of the shore in white. For a
moment she stood quietly, looking at what the night's storm had
painted.
“Suddenly, she leaned forward to the frosted window: ‘It really
is,’ she cried out loud, ‘there is a goose out there.’ She pulled out a
pair of binoculars, making out the figure of a large Canada goose,
very still, its wings folded tight to its sides, its feet frozen to the
ice.
“Then from the dark skies, she saw a line of swans. They
moved in their own singular formation, graceful, intrepid, and
free. They crossed from the west of the broad creek high above
the house, moving steadily to the east.
*Ed: The Tred Avon River is a main tributary of the Choptank River in
Talbot County on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The river is 17 miles long.
Page 4
“As she watched, the
leader swung to the right, and
the string of birds became a
white circle. It floated from
the top of the sky, as easy as
feathers coming to earth,
landing on the ice. My friend
was on her feet now, one
unbelieving hand against her
mouth. As the swans
surrounded the frozen goose,
she feared what life he still
had might be pecked out by
those great bills.
“Instead, amazingly, those
bills began to work on the ice.
The long necks were lifted
and curved down, again and
again. At last, the goose was
rimmed by a narrow
margin of ice instead of the
entire creek. The swans rose,
following the leader, and
hovered in that circle,
awaiting the results of their
labours.
“The goose's head lifted.
Its body pulled, and suddenly
it was free, standing on the
ice, moving its big webbed
feet slowly. And the swans
hovered, watching. Then, as if
it had cried, ‘I can’t fly,’ four of
them came down around it.
Their powerful beaks scraped
the goose’s wings from top to
bottom, scuttled under its
wings and rode up its body,
From the Rector’s desk continued
chipping off and melting the
ice held in the feathers.
“Slowly, as if testing, the
goose spread its wings as far
as they would go, brought
them together, accordion-like,
and spread again. When at last
the wings reached their
fullest, the four swans rose
and joined the hovering
group, resuming their
journey, in perfect formation,
to their secret destination.
“Behind them, rising with
incredible speed and joy, the
goose moved into the sky. He
followed them, flapping
double time, until it caught up,
joining the end of the line, like
a small child at the end of a
crack-the-whip of older boys.
“My friend watched until
they disappeared over the
trees. Only then, in the dusk,
which was suddenly deep, did
she realize that tears were
running down her cheeks and
had been for how long she
didn’t know.”
I do not try to interpret it,
but think of it in shadowed
moments, because from it
comes one hopeful question:
if so for birds, why not for
us? 
Penelope+
Fundraiser for Syrian
refugee family
was a great success
by pat dowdall
The fund-raising concert for
Syrian refugees, given by the
Greater Victoria Police Chorus
at St Mary’s Church in
Saanichton on April 24, was a
great success. A total of
$3,610.00 was raised for
RAPID (Refugee Action by
Peninsula churches
ImmeDiately.)
The funds will go toward
supporting the refugee family
RAPID is sponsoring.
We have no news yet on
the arrival of our family, but
members of the RAPID
committee, including a
volunteer fluent in Arabic,
spoke to the family by
telephone on April 16.
The family is living in
Adana, Turkey. The father is a
teacher and principal at a
school there. The daughter is
in grade 11 and the son in
grade 9. Both the father and
daughter speak some English.
They are concerned, as are
we, about the delay in
processing their file. We have
written to our three local
MPs, the Honourable John
McCallum, Minister of
Immigration, and the
appropriate visa office.
Elizabeth May’s office made
some inquiries and told us that
the family’s file is designated
urgent and background checks
are still being completed. We
are ready to receive the family
and looking forward to their
arrival. 
FaithLink needs
more interest
by helen evans
Numbers are dwindling, and
interest needs to be stirred up.
Despite a low attendance at the
April meeting, discussions
were good, centred around the
future: how to attract people;
mission and goals.
Plans are going ahead for
the Peace Day Festival, to be
held Saturday, September 17,
in Brentwood Bay. The date
and time of our next meeting is
yet to be determined.
Summer Camp for children
The Amazing Journey 2016
Summer Day Camp for
elementary- and preschoolaged children will run from
July 4 to July 8. The half-day
program (mornings 9:00 a.m.
to 12 noon), sponsored by St.
Luke Cedar Hill and Lutheran
Church of the Cross, will be
held at St. Luke’s this year. For
more information, see the
poster in the Church Hall.
Page 5
Coffee & Chat offers variety for May
by janet billinghurst
Coffee & Chat started its
post-Easter session with a talk
on Beacon Community
Services (see separate article
on page 7), after which we
viewed videos covering the
two creation stories in Genesis.
The lecturer in this series on
the Old Testament, from the
Great Courses Series, is
Professor Amy-Jill Levine,
Professor of New Testament
Studies at the Vanderbilt
University Divinity School. She
tackles her subject with
enthusiasm and humour. Being
Jewish, she often gives a slant
on old stories that give fresh
insights and food for thought.
Our program for May will
start with a talk by Oceanna
Hall of Our Place Society who
will speak to us about poverty
and homelessness in Greater
Victoria. This is a follow-up to
an earlier talk by Patrick Sibley
on Tent City.
Following this we will have
two videos both of which
speak of the human condition
and follow-on from the
creation stories. One will be a
short reflection on the spiritual
dimension of breath by Rob
Bell − we are created in the
image of God and yet at the
same time we are vulnerable
and fragile. The second video,
Page 6
again by Dr. Levine, continues
this theme covering Genesis
chapters 4 – 11 and the
stories of Cain and Abel and
Noah and entitled rather
dramatically “Murder, Flood
and Dispersion.”
On Wednesday, May 25, at
the invitation of Marvin
Underwood, Bishop Logan
will visit Coffee & Chat to talk
about his spiritual journey
during Lent (see separate
article on page 7.)
If you have an enquiring
mind and enjoy meeting
friends over coffee or tea and
cookies please join us in the
hall on Wednesday mornings,
10.45 a.m. to 12 noon. The
program for the month is also
posted on the hall notice
board. We should love to have
you join us. 
COFFEE,
COOKIES,
& CONVERSATION
Bible readings
The weekly Service Bulletin
may change these readings.
May 8 (Jerusalem Sunday)
Bishop Logan to visit Coffee & Chat
by janet billinghurst
Bishop Logan
At the invitation of Marvin Underwood, Bishop Logan has agreed to visit
Coffee & Chat on Wednesday, May 25, to speak about his Sacred
Journey. During Lent he walked 480 kilometres from Alert Bay to
Victoria seeking a renewed and right relationship with the First Nations
people of this island. This was a journey that the Bishop undertook on
behalf of all Anglicans.
The three local churches of St. Andrew, St. Mary, and St. Stephen will
be invited to attend and we hope that some of our First Nations friends
will also be able to join us.
We look forward to an inspiring talk and are very happy that he can
find time to visit us. Please join us on May 25 at 10:45 a.m. in the hall. 
Talk describes local
help for seniors
by janet billinghurst
Many of us are aware of the
varied services offered by
Beacon Community Services in
the Sidney area and in Victoria,
and some of us volunteer in
one area or another. The wide
range of services offered was a
surprise to many of us who
heard Glenys Cavers’ talk to
Coffee & Chat on April 13.
From volunteers who drive
clients to medical appointments; to a white cane club;
help with income tax;
job training for youths; the
“Better at Home” program to
help seniors remain
independent at home; help
for clients with dementia;
running The Shoal Centre
with its residencies,
restaurant and activity
programs etc., the list goes on
and on.
Of particular importance
are the thrift shops, seven in
all, which are the primary
source of funds for these
programs. Glenys is director of
Thrift Shops and of The Shoal
Centre.
Glenys left us informative
material for our congregation
which will be displayed on
Sunday, May 15, in the hall.
Please take any material
that interests you. She also
stressed that volunteers at The
Shoal Centre were happy to
help with information and
assistance if required. The
phone number of The Shoal
Centre is 250-656-5537. 
Page 7
Highlights from the Synod
In his opening presentation to Synod, Bishop Logan
McMenamie thanked the diocesan community for
its support of him, along with the daily prayers
offered for him and the rest of the Sacred Journey
team as they walked from Alert Bay to Victoria.
“I heard about children being taken from their
families to go to the residential schools.” From
1929 –1975, 200 children each year went to St.
Michael’s residential school. “Every step [of the
walk] was for a child who attended that school,”
reflected Bishop Logan in speaking of the
numerous stories First Nations people shared with
him along the route. “I am still working through
what this journey means for me and for us as a
diocese … We do not live as colonizers, but as kin
equal in the eyes of the Creator. .. Walk gently with
one another; walk gently on this planet; walk
gently with each other.”
He continued in his Charge to the Synod, saying
in part: “Renewal or transformation within the
church will not be realized through structural
change. If the structure fails to bring us into a
closer relationship with Jesus, it will fail to be
transformative for us as individuals and as a
community. We are being changed by coming into a
real and living relationship with Jesus and we are
transformed by the presence and power of the
Spirit in our midst. We are looking at reforming,
renewing, and reshaping the structure which
allows us to bring this good news of God, through
Jesus Christ, to the world and communities in
which we live, work and play. We will not be
satisfied with changing structures that leave lives
untouched by Christ.”
More highlights from the Synod can be found on
the Diocesan website at bc.anglican.ca.
Page 8
The Synod busy at work. Photo by Syd Langhelt
The Diocesan Vision: “Re:newed Hearts,
Re:newed Spirits, Re:newed People” was
enthusiastically embraced by Synod in 2015.
Now, we have embarked on a Vision
Fulfilment journey to discern how God will
guide us towards seeing our Vision come to
life in our parishes, communities and regions.
On the two pages following we
present reflections from our
Synod delegates.
Reflecting on the Synod:
Wi'la mola ma'nux – We are moving together.
From Marvin Underwood
Acknowledging First Nations historical presence
in light of the historical absence of much, if any,
acknowledgement is difficult to handle. On the
surface we want to hear and experience the
words and actions that give us recognition. In
this sense it is a beginning, something to be
thankful for, yet I am wondering what will come
next … will this bring a new beginning. I am in
want of seeing more and in hope that my First
Nations will open their hearts to the possibility
of what can become a new reality for our people
and larger community in time that lies ahead of
both our peoples.
Many of the words I heard and actions I
experienced in our Nanaimo gathering touched
me, at the time in a small way and as I move
beyond the gathering the words and actions
upon reflection have brought me to tears. It tells
me it will take time to open the hurt that lies
deep within, but this is a beginning, none the
less, and one for which I am thankful.
While I am increasingly thankful for my
community of faith and recognize the beginning
of our steps toward a deeper understanding and
prayer between us, I feel this is a beginning, an
opening journey-chapter. I pray for patience on
my part to remain present and accountable on
the journey, yet to come.
I reflect on my father’s advice that “I should
not be afraid on my journey.” Many of the words
I heard this past week tell me or remind me that
my father in a past time gave me words and
advice that I needed to recall this past week.
Words I heard at our gathering and prayerful
reflections bring me, us a step closer on this
journey. I remain thankful for our gathering. 
From Susan Rand
Overall, Synod was a very positive experience for
me. The tone was collaborative, with emphasis
put on the Synod office staff and their role in
helping all of the parishes and ministries. Bishop
Logan spoke about his sacred journey and the
profound humility that surrounded it.
The format of the meeting was very good −
dinner, liturgy, short business meeting on the
Friday to set the tone, and then a full day of
sessions on Saturday. I got to catch up with many
people I’d known in the past and met some lovely
new ones.
The focus of the Synod was the Waller
Report about the capacity and readiness of the
Diocese to undertake a capital campaign that
would enable us to achieve the objectives of the
Vision Fulfilment Journey, begun in 2014. Rob
Waller was very clear that the Diocese has the
capacity to raise $22 million but that we were not
ready to begin a campaign. He stated that we have
four critical issues to deal with but the first and
most pressing is “Trust.” I found this quite
disturbing, but after talking with quite a few
people, the consensus seems to be that Logan is
rebuilding the trust that was lost a few years ago.
To end the meeting, Logan challenged us to
not be afraid and embrace the fact that this is a
time of new life in our Diocese. 
From Pat Sinnott
51 clergy and 97 laity present
The Bishop's address – Journey into action for
First Nations – what does it mean? Not to live as
colonizer, but kin. Recognize the Creator’s
presence in First Nations’ customs and lives. Walk
gently with one another, walk gently on this land,
walk gently with the Creator.
Page 9
From Pat Sinnott continued
The Bishop’s charge: Be a listening Synod:
1. Prayer
2. Work
3. Study
4. Learn
5. Renewal
6. Recharge
“Justice is what love looks like in public.”
We are formally ending the companion
relationship with Myanmar, and the Bishop is
looking to establishing a new companion
relationship elsewhere.
What are the most important next steps for us
to take as a Diocese as we continue travelling together on this fulfilment journey?
1. Trust in God, faith in one another
2. Focus
3. Change i.e. adaptive change − experiment
with options
4. Leadership is key, leadership is stressed −
provoke each other to good works.
A thought Bishop Logan left us with as April
23rd is St. George’s Day in England: “How strange
for England to choose a Palestinian soldier as a
patron saint and how strange for God to choose a
Palestinian peasant for a Son!” 
From the Rector, The Ven. Penelope A. Kingham
Last weekend [April 22-23]saw the 97th Synod of
the Diocese of British Columbia with its theme,
Wi’la mola ma’nux − we are travelling together −
linking the new beginnings from the outset of
Bishop Logan’s episcopacy captured in the
visioning keyword, Na'tsa'maht, a Salish phrase,
meaning unity or working together as one.
With our three delegates, Pat Sinnott, Marvin
Underwood and Susan Rand also reflecting on its
unfolding, I will restrict my own to the closing
remarks made by our metropolitan, Archbishop
John Privett, who commented on the powerful
theme of travelling together, reminding those
present that the word Synod comes from the
Page 10
ancient Greek meaning gathered together.
He reflected on the gentle tone set by our
bishop − to engage and consult in the spirit of
faithfulness and prayer − and said what a joy it
had been to worship with the Synod members.
He commended the creative agenda meaning
the whole of Synod became one visioning team
engaged together and reminded us that we do
have an abundance of resources providing us
with a lot of room in which to minister and work.
The Archbishop also observed that the process had been a time of respectful listening, that
the word conversation is rooted in converseo − to
turn toward one another − saying you are not
alone, we are all facing changing and challenging
times which can be anxiety producing. You have
named some difficult truths, your focus on the
Truth and Reconciliation call to engage in new
and critical ways is really important and is
leading this metropolitan province. Your refugee
report is a response of love and I commend your
work of major discernment around a future financial campaign.
He concluded by underscoring what he
considered the four key areas arising: trust,
critically important because it is a matter of faith;
focus, on keeping the vision directions first and
foremost; change in recognizing that some things
of the past are no longer working which means
understanding and responding to the fact that we
are in a period of adaptive change; and
leadership, saying, “Carpe diem should become
for us carpe deo – let God seize us – in faith, join
hands and inspire hope.”
It was perhaps fitting, and certainly very
moving, that with technical gremlins precluding
playing of the planned closing video music, the
97th Synod ended instead with Andrew Twiddy
on the drum, leading us in a rousing chorus of
Na'tsa'maht together, Na'tsa'maht as one.
Na'tsa'maht in unity, together in community,
together we are one. 
A poison stronger than love
by Anastasia M. Shkilnyk
reviewed by mary earnshaw
Grassy Narrows. The very name
stirs the imagination by its
haunting beauty, but what
happened at this small Indian
village is not beautiful.
Grassy Narrows marks a
passageway between two lakes
of an extensive water system
close to the transcontinental
railway line. The land had been
allocated to the Ojibwa villagers
by treaty in 1863.
In the summer of 1963, the
Department of Indian Affairs
relocated the people to a new
location about five miles south.
It was a bureaucratic decision
full of good but ill-considered
intentions.
The results were bad. In
1970 it turned out that the
river, on which the Ojibwa
depended for their way of life
and employment, was poisoned
by methyl mercury in the river
water. The story is told in
Anastasia Shkilnyk's book A
Poison Stronger Than Love,
subtitled The Destruction of an
Ojibwa Community. You can find
it in the Holy Trinity library.
The social fabric of the
village frayed into fear,
desperation and resentment,
with all the predictable results
of a cultural mistake. The village
sank into squalor, alcoholism
and domestic abuse.
Fast forward to April,
2016: Far north in Ontario, the
chief of the remote village of
Attawapiskat reported a state
of emergency caused by
insufferable living conditions
and despair. Children there
make suicide attempts and
even suicide pacts to take
their own lives. The response
of officialdom has been to rush
to Attawapiskat and to call an
emergency debate in the
House of Commons.
Now move to a community
where quiet activities
regularly are arranged to meet
and greet the people of nearby
First Nations villages. First
Nations people are on our
doorstep at Holy Trinity
Church in North Saanich. Look
for examples of the Trinity
Time and Companion
Journeying activities in the
Sunday booklet.
To sum up, we are
humbled and grateful that our
friendship circle includes our
First Nations neighbours.
The prayer on the
adjoining column was written
by one of our long-time
parishioners, the late Becky
Morris.
Becky’s Prayer
Eternal Spirit,
guider of life,
we give thanks for the time we
share during Trinity Time.
We are thankful for the caring
and warm atmosphere when
we are together.
We have so much to learn from
each other.
Having a meal together
creates a sense of belonging
and family.
And we give thanks for the
willing hands providing us
with such bounty.
We give thanks for all the gifts
each of us brings to Trinity
Time.
Gifts given in love, gratitude
and humility.
Amen
Page 11
Part 1 of this story appeared in
our last issue. In it, Nancy
described some of her initial
impressions about Scotland and
some of the ways she enjoyed her
time there.
Insights from
a sojourn in
Scotland:
Part 2
story and photos by
nancy van kirk
Page 12
After Edinburgh, we moved
north for a two-week stay in the
Strathtay area near the town of
Aberfeldy, in Perthshire. This is
a village made famous by Burns
in his poem “The Birks of
Aberfeldy” and it is also a
famous white-water rafting site
on the Tay.
By now it was November,
and winter winds and rain had
already begun. We once got
stranded by snow because the
cottage was up in the hills. The
dreadful thing this year was all
the flooding that wreaked parts
of Northern England and
Scotland amid desperate
attempts to save buildings and
hold the water back. The
disaster would have been
covered by international news
media, and, sadly, there were
many people who got flooded
out of their homes and
businesses more than once, all
due to excessive rain.
People said it was the
wettest, windiest winter they
had had in years. The Tay was
one of those swollen rivers and
whole fields looked like lakes,
with islands of soggy sheep
huddled on high ground.
In December we ceased
roaming to stay put in a tiny flat
in a building on the High Street
of Aberdour, a village in Fife on
the north side of the Firth of
Forth. You could see the
Edinburgh skyline across the
Forth from our back windows,
and these very windows came
into their own for a good view
of the Hogmanay fireworks
from Edinburgh Castle on New
Year’s Eve. Joining the crowd of
thousands on Prince’s Street, in
Edinburgh, for this Hogmanay
celebration itself, even if we had
wanted to, was out of the
question because there would
be no trains across the Forth
that night, nor any late-night
buses.
New crossings
Much of the commerce of
Scotland depends on its famous
Forth bridges, the rail bridge
and the road bridge. This year
was dramatic because the Forth
Road Bridge came to a standstill. New and different cracks
were discovered and it had to
be closed to all traffic just
before Christmas. It was eerie to
see the bridge in darkness. A
new road bridge, to be called
the Queensferry Crossing, is
under construction right next to
the old one, so soon there will
be three iconic bridges but the
new one won’t open December
2016. It was endlessly
fascinating to watch (from the
train) the progress of the new
bridge construction
as its platforms precariously
projected out into empty space
above the water. I note also that
the bridge design is very like
the beautiful new bridges in
Vancouver with their towers
and multiple cables.
The road bridge closure
meant that trains were packed
with commuters going to and
from work, with families out
shopping and enjoying the huge
Edinburgh Christmas market,
with people leaving the pubs
and bars, who often continued
their partying on the train, and
with evening concert-goers, like
me, who just wanted to get
home. You had to get there early
to get a seat and later had to
squeeze your way close to the
doors long before your stop
came up. I admit it all had a fun
festive atmosphere and less
tension than you would expect
from close proximity to all
walks of life now forced to take
the train. Eventually the FRB
did open again after several
weeks.
Artists’s impression of the new road bridge over the Forth,
Queensferry Crossing The current bridge is on the right hand side.
Photo: Morrison Construction
The charm of Aberdour
Aberdour turned out to be a
delightful village with good
restaurants, hotels and shops,
and the train or bus just five
minutes from the flat. There
are two lovely beaches, the
Silver Sands and the Black
Sands that would make
summer-time like a resort.
This area has even been
dubbed the Fife Riviera. In
winter, it made for quiet walks
with soft gray skies and the
iconic peeps of oyster catchers.
Here, at last, I was able to
start attending church again,
although back in September we
The Forth Road Bridge (FRB).
Photo: Scottish Tourism
The Aberdour Cliffs. Above: The shoreline at Aberdour.
Page 13
had made several valiant twohour drives from Yarrow to
Glasgow to get me to services at
St Mary’s Cathedral. This is the
place I considered my home
church in Scotland but it really
was too far and silly to try
without a car, as I had hoped.
Here in Aberdour, there was
St. Columba Scottish Episcopal
Church just a short walk down
the High Street. Perfect. It is a
tiny stone church built in 1845
by the then Earl of Moray. It is
similar to Holy Trinity with a
single centre aisle and pews
flush to the walls. It belongs to a
church community called All
Souls, Fife, which consists of
three churches in three towns,
so the priest-in-charge was at
St. Columba’s only a few times a
month. The rest of the time
other priests and lay leaders led
the service, but I sang in the
choir and now and then did a
reading.
Scottish Churches, like ours,
have concerns about declining
St. Columba in Aberdour,
Photo: the church’s website.
Page 14
Nativity scene at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Aberdour.
populations and attracting
younger parishioners, but, this
winter, Episcopal churches
were quite exercised by the
outcome of the World Meeting
of Primates at Lambeth Palace.
Being allied with other
Episcopalians, I sensed that
many supported their U.S.
colleagues and were displeased
when its censure was meted
out. Similar letters of regret,
such as those we heard in
Canada from the Bishops’ of
Ottawa, New Westminster, and
British Columbia, were read out
from pulpits in Scotland.
A glimpse of Ireland
On this trip we were also able to
visit Ireland for the first time,
staying three days on retreat at
Glenstal Abbey, a Benedictine
community near Limerick, and
three days in Dublin. My
particular ambition was to
see The Book of Kells, housed at
Trinity College Library, Dublin,
so this stop completed my trek
to connect with famous
Illuminated Manuscripts. On a
previous UK trip, we had visited
Holy Island to see the source of
The Lindisfarne Gospels, and to
visit Durham Cathedral. I say
the “source” because the book
itself is housed in the British
Museum, London, so I have
never actually seen it. Our visit
to Holy Island that day
happened to be on a bright
Easter Sunday, and it was
especially memorable for our
delight in seeing new lambs in
the fields and millions of
daffodils. The display for the
Book of Kells was excellent in
spite of huge crowds and well
worth the visit, not the least for
the additional walk through the
Library upstairs.
Other Dublin highlights
were the National Museum of
Ireland to see their incredible
Celtic Art and Glasnevin
Cemetery, which I found
intensely moving. Of course
the Benedictine community of
Glenstal Abbey welcomed us
with their finest Benedictine
hospitality and it was
enriching to hear the offices
sung once again.
Our 2015-16 sojourn in
Scotland came to an end at the
end of February and it is good
to be back home, especially to
arrive home to Spring time. It
is a gift to get the chance to
experience daily life in another
country, and I continue to be
struck by how much Scotland
has in common with North
Saanich − the people, the
climate, the plants and the
beautiful landscape. 
The sanctuary of Glenstal Abbey.
The entrance to Glenstal Abbey Guest House.
The Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, which the author
“found intensely moving.”
Page 15
Parishioner publishes history of Irish roots
Last month, Teva Scheer’s book on Ireland was
published and is now available. Interested readers
can either use this link (www.amazon.com/TheHarp-Hand-Exploring-Irish/dp/1530385199) or
simply go to amazon.com and search for The Harp
and the Hand.
This is Teva’s third book − and her last, she says.
This book was written for the millions of people
around the world who claim Irish ancestry. Its goal
is to provide readers with an easy-to-read summary of Irish history, from the Celtic period to the
end of the 19th century. It focuses on daily life as
much as history − marriage practices, work life,
religion, and community among other topics.
Although the book has hundreds of endnotes and
a voluminous bibliography, it can also simply be
read for the story. To make the book easier and
more fun, Teva invented two fictitious families,
one in the north and one in the south, to illustrate
life and history over the centuries. She calls it the
James Michener formula for Ireland! From now on,
Teva will be found out in her garden, making up for
the past five years of neglect while working on The
Harp and the Hand.
Teva Scheer earned a Ph.D. from the University of
Colorado in 2000. The Harp and the Hand is her
third book of historical non-fiction. The first,
Governor Lady, is the biography of the first woman
elected a state governor. Governor Lady was
nominated for best biography in 2001 by the
Colorado Book Awards (Colorado Endowment for
the Humanities). The second, Our Daily Bread, was
written for the thousands of genealogists with
German ancestors, who want to learn more about
how their ancestors lived. Teva and her husband
live in North Saanich, where she writes, teaches,
and gardens. 
Page 16
ISBN-10: 1530385199
ISBN-13: 978-1530385195
PWRDF responds to wildfires at Fort McMurray
by simon chambers
As the city of Fort McMurray
sits under a mandatory
evacuation notice and wildfires
continue to rage around the
city, 80,000 people have been
forced to flee. More than 20,000
are expected to arrive in
Edmonton today (May 4)
according to the CBC.
“The worst of the fire is not
over,” said Bernie Schmitte,
manager of Alberta Agriculture
and Forestry at a press
conference Tuesday evening.
“We’re still faced with very high
temperatures, low relative
humidity and some strong
winds.”
PWRDF will respond
through local Anglican channels
as the needs become evident in
the next few days.
Naba Gurung, PWRDF’s
Development and Humanitarian Relief Coordinator, has
been in contact with the
Dioceses of Athabasca and
Edmonton and will continue to
liaise with both dioceses
throughout this
emergency.
The Rev. Lesley WheelerDame of the Parish of the
Northern Lights – St. Paul’s
Anglican Church told PWRDF
that her parish covers four
community centres and people
are offering help to evacuees in
whatever way they can.
“The highway is jam-packed
with vehicles,” said Lesley.
“We’re about 300 km south
of Fort McMurray. It was
devastating to see the vehicles
bumper-to-bumper, covered
with ash. People look worn out.
“We are offering space for
people to stay, to park vehicles,
to gather and pray.”
The parishes of Cold Lake
and Spruce Grove in the
Diocese of Edmonton are doing
all they can to respond to the
needs of evacuees.
Please continue to pray for
those affected by the fires and
those battling them.
You can support PWRDF’s
relief efforts:
Online: You can designate
your online donation for “Fort
McMurray wildfire.”
By Phone: For credit card
donations contact: Jennifer
Brown at 1-866-308-7973
Please do not send your credit
card number by email or fax.
By Mail: Please make
cheques payable to “PWRDF”,
mark them for “Fort McMurray
wildfire” and send them to:
The Primate’s World Relief and
Development Fund
The Anglican Church of Canada
80 Hayden Street
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2
For more information, contact
the PWRDF Humanitarian
Response Coordinator:
Naba Gurung 1-866-308-7973 
Latest news about our
Syrian refugee family
by pat dowdall
The fund-raising concert for
Syrian refugees, given by the
Greater Victoria Police Chorus
at St Mary’s Church in
Saanichton on April 24, was a
great success. A total of
$3,610.00 was raised for
RAPID (Refugee Action by
Peninsula churches
ImmeDiately). The funds will
go toward supporting the
refugee family we are
sponsoring.
We have no news yet on the
arrival of our family. Members
of the RAPID committee,
including a volunteer fluent in
Arabic, spoke to the family by
telephone on April 16.
The family is living in
Adana, Turkey. The father is a
teacher and principal at a
school there. The daughter is in
grade 11 and the son in grade
9. Both the father and daughter
speak some English. They are
concerned, as are we, about the
delay in processing their file.
We have written to our
three local MPs, and the
Honourable John McCallum,
Minister of Immigration, and
the appropriate visa office.
Elizabeth May’s office made
some inquiries and told us that
the family’s file is designated
urgent and background checks
are still being completed. We
are ready to receive the family
and looking forward to their
arrival. 
Page 17
S U N DAY S E R V I C E S
TIME
SERVICE
READERS
SIDESPEOPLE
PRAYERS/
CHALICE
Counters: Robin and Richard Lake
MAY 8 (JERUSALEM SUNDAY)
8:00 a.m.
HE, BCP
Jan Horner
Sandra Greenard
Hilda Stopforth
Val Noakes
9:00 a.m.
HE, CON
Fernando Ospina
Lorne Seier
Pat Dowdall
Lorne Seier
Helen Evans
Peter Marshall
Derek Watson
Peter Marshall
Penny Donaldson
10:30 a.m. MP, BCP
MAY 15 (DAY OF PENTECOST)
HE, BCP
Mary Larkin
Sandra Greenard
Gregor Macintosh
Val Noakes
9:00 a.m.
HE, CON
Dan LeBlanc
Dan LeBlanc
Ellen Stensholt
Dan LeBlanc
Janet Billinghurst
Nick Allfree
Nick Allfree
David Terrell
Teva Scheer
Teva Scheer
8:00 a.m.
HE, BCP
Hilda Stopforth
Sandra Greenard
Jan Horner
Val Noakes
9:00 a.m.
HE, CON
Robin Lake
Robin Lake
Fernando Ospina
Robin Lake
Brenda Whittingham Peter Chance
Mary Earnshaw
Syd Baker
Janet Billinghurst
Penny Donaldson
8:00 a.m.
HE, BCP
Peter Maytom
Sandra Greenard
Hilda Stopforth
Val Noakes
9:00 a.m.
HE, CON
Jim Dickson
Jim Dickson
Thea Dickson
Thea Dickson
Lorne Seier
Alison Cubbon
Charles McKenzie
Annemarie Weston
Scott Weston
Jim Cumming
Janet Billinghurst
BCP = Book of Common Prayer
CON = Contemporary Service
BAS = Book of Alternative Services
Page 18
Team
F
Counters: Susan Rand and John Phillips
MAY 29 (PENTECOST 2)
10:30 a.m. HE, BCP
Team
E
Counters: Mary and Paul Larkin
MAY 22 (TRINITY SUNDAY)
10:30 a.m. HE, BAS
Team
D
Counters: Penny Thomsen and George Glover
8:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m. HE, BCP
ALTAR
GUILD
8:00 a.m. spoken
9:00 a.m. with organ
10:30 a.m. full choral
Team
A
Daily prayer intercessions for May
8: Jerusalem Sunday − +Logan; Parish of Central Saanich, Rob Szo and Gil Shoesmith; Diocese of
Caledonia, Bishop William Anderson; Companion Diocese of Mandalay, Bishop Nyi Nyi Naing
9: Companion journeying with our First Nation brothers and sisters
10: Nancy and David Ford, Christ Church Cathedral and Director of Deacons
11: Youth and Family Ministries
12: Lon and Marian Towstego, St. Peter & St. Paul, Esquimalt
13: Members of Episcopal and Diocesan Commissions and Task Teams
14: Blair and Jerryann Haggart, St. Peter, Campbell River, and St. Saviour-by-the-Sea, Cortes Island
15: The Day of Pentecost − +Logan; St. John Gualbert, Port McNeill, Tanya Packer-McKoen; Diocese
of Kootenay, Archbishop John Privett; Companion Diocese of Sittwe, Bishops James Min Dein and Francis Sein Aung
16: Congregations of St. Columba, Port Hardy and St. John, Port Alice
17: Heather Robinson, St. John the Baptist, South Cowichan
18: Ember Day for Jill Harris, Gillian Hoyer, Chris Samsom, Matthew Brown, Dyan Davison, Gail Rodger,
Rob Crosby-Shearer, Marg Misener, Paul Schumacher, Matthew Cook, Rod Negrave, Bill Poppy, Patrick
Sibley, all Postulants of our Diocese
19: RCMP Chaplains
20: Ember Day for Postulants of our Diocese
21: Ember Day for Postulants of our Diocese
22: Trinity Sunday − +Logan; Holy Trinity, Sooke, Dimas Canjura; Diocese of New Westminster,
Bishop Melissa Skelton; Companion Diocese of Yangon, Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo and Bishop
Samuel Htang Oak
23: Don Walls, St. Luke, Victoria
24: Lincoln McKoen and Tanya Packer-McKoen, Christ Church, Alert Bay, St. Olaf, Quatsino, and St.
George, Kingcome Inlet
25: Ed and Phyllis Lewis, Diocesan Post Editor
26: Logan and Marcia McMenamie, Bishop
27: Lynn Cawthra, St. Paul, Nanaimo
28: Boyd and Carol Shaw, EfM Co-ordinator
29: Pentecost 2 − +Logan; Parishes of St. Columba, Port Hardy, and St. John, Port Alice; Diocese of
Yukon, Bishop Larry Robertson; Companion Diocese of Toungoo, Bishop Saw John Wilme
30: Christopher and Heather Page, St. Philip, Oak Bay
31: Jacquie Nevins, Diocesan Archivist
Page 19
News of interest to our Parish
Wednesdays, May 11, 18
10:45 a.m. Coffee & Chat
Thursdays, May 12, 19
4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Trinity Time
Food Skills class. All welcome.
Thursday, May 19
12 noon. Trinity Time
luncheon. All welcome
Tuesday, May 24
10:00 a.m. Parish Council
meeting
Wednesday, May 25
10:45 a.m. - 12 noon
Bishop Logan speaks to Coffee
& Chat. All welcome.
May Outreach
New Kitchen Coordinator
Susan Rand is taking on this
role from Pat Sinnott. Please
contact Susan if you have
restocking needs.
Victoria Human Exchange
Society (VHES) which provides
assisted temporary housing
needs; camp bursaries for
young families.
Photographer Marsha Tejeda took a photo of our church and then used Photoshop
to create an entirely different image.
Page 20