SEE PAGE 8

JUNE 2011

RupeRt’s Land NewsPUbliShEd by thE diocESE of RUPERt’S lANd – A SEctioN of thE ANGlicAN JoURNAl

2Christus RexNew sculpture forSt John's College

3From the Bishop Playing with fire!

4Marriage in Uganda Bishop Jackson and Perusi review their 40 years

6Ordination The journey startedin childhood

AScENSioN dAy – JUNE 2

SEE PAGE 5

Peguis DayJune celebration at St Peter, Dynevor

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

Psalm 19:1-2

Shop talkArchivists meet in Kelowna

Light for a dark world

PHOTO: TERENCE MOORESunrise over the Assiniboine River, May 2011

2 Rupert’s land News SJune 2011tRANSfoRmAtioN

The Chapel of St John the Evangelist is an impressive and

inspiring place of worship on the University of Manitoba campus and a centrepiece of St John's College. Completed in 1959, the Chapel architects envisaged a figure of the glorified Christ affixed to the large Cross suspended from the Chapel roof. For a variety of reasons, this part of the project was never completed. Thanks to the generosity of a friend of the College it became possible to commission a piece to fulfil the original design intentions for the Chapel. On Sunday, May 1, the work was completed and dedicated at a Eucharist presided by our Bishop and Chancellor, the Rt. Rev. Donald Phillips. We were happy to welcome back to the College the Rev Dr Murdith McLean, a previous Warden and the Revs Doug las Fenton, Dr. Peter Flynn, Geoff Woodcroft and Paul Lampman all chaplains who served at St John’s. All the King’s Men added choral music to the liturgy.

Each year, the clergy and l i censed lay w o r k e r s o f t h e

Diocese of Rupert’s Land gather to spend time building community, praying, finding refreshment and enhancing our awareness of some aspect of our vocation in our world today. This year we are pleased to have the Right Rev Mark Macdonald, our National Indigenous

The nine-foot high figure of Christus Rex is a remarkable sculpture which achieves a balance of inspiration and gesture that complements the modernist style of the chapel. In depicting Christ the King, the worshipper is directed by the use of light coloured woods: the crown is of rare olive, the chasuble of sycamore, the stigmata of cypress, and the main body of linden—materials that embody reference points within Christian tradition. The positioning of the arms, palms facing upwards, and the insistent gaze of the face convey the dignity of kingship, and the acceptance of heaven. This is a truly notable and unique sculpture and those who worship at St John’s will find much to draw their hearts to God in the worship of Christ. The artist was Adrian Schimnowski, a Winnipeg sculptor whose work employs three dimensional forms and natural materials to create harmony in a constructed environment. His creative works focus on architectural installations, as welcoming

Bishop, and the Rev Barbara Shoomski from All Saints, Winnipeg as co-leaders of the professional development aspect of the conference. T h e t h e m e o f o u r conference this year is “ B ec o m i n g Peo p l e o f the Land : Ind igenous Christianity and the Anglican Church of Canada.” Bishop Macdonald writes: “The Anglican Church of

and poet ic spaces. He works primarily with wood exploring its potential within materials such as, metal, stone, glass, acrylic, sound, video, text and light. The focus of his work is the universal human experience—birth, death, love. He challenges mystical and spiritual ideas of creation, ascension, and rebirth within the context of the Canadian environment, multiculturalism, natural e lements and spir i tua l traditions. Spiritual objects, sacred places and curiosity of life are the focus of his approach to art. Adrian’s commissioned works include sculptures from wood, steel, glass and LED lighting for the lobby of the Radisson Hecla Oasis Resort, designed to connect the modern interior space with the cultural heritage of the surrounding area. We invite you visit us at St John's College and appreciate the beauty and sanctity of the College Chapel.

The Rev Dr John Stafford is Dean of Theology and Chaplain at St John’s College

Canada is entering a new era. A key element of the opportunities before us is the relationship of our Church to Indigenous Peoples. As the Word of God and the tradit ions of Christ ian faith become embodied in Aboriginal life, new doors will open for all members of the Church. This gathering of our diocesan professional leaders will explore some of

the ways we can welcome this new day together. As Indigenous Christianity grows, the rest of the Church will also have an opportunity to become a truly Canadian church. God appears to be creating a pathway to a Christian discipleship of the Land.” During the time together each year, the clergy and licensed lay workers worship morning and evening. They spend time in sessions led by the facilitators. They take some personal time in the afternoon to be together to rekindle and strengthen relationships with each other. And they take some time to reflect on the present needs for professional development and begin to plan retreats and Bishop’s Days throughout the year. Fo r c h u r c h l e a d e r s and pastors in the world today, there are many new challenges that need to be addressed as our world grows

and changes. As a missional church it is incumbent on the leaders and on all the baptized Christians to go into our world to seek out the face of Christ in all people, to seek out where God is working in our world, and to stand along with God and work along with the Holy Spirit in our lives. E x c i t i n g t h i n g s a r e happening. A great deal of listening and relationship-building needs to happen between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. This conference will be an opportunity for our clergy and licensed lay workers to spend some more time listening and learning and discerning how it is that we as a whole church can move into the future in Canada. May God be with all our diocesan clergy and licensed lay workers as they gather for their prayer, refreshment and discernment at the sacred site of Pinawa.

Becoming people of the landClergy and licensed lay workers conference at Pinawa

by JohN StAffoRd

by lyNdoN hUtchiSoN-hoUNSEll

Dedication of Christus Rex at St John's College

Bishop Donald Phillips confers with National Indigenous Bishop Mark Macdonald and Rev Barbara Shoomski, co-presenters at the June Pinawa retreat.

Rupert’s land News 3June 20111 fRom thE biShoP

Playing with fire!

When I was a small boy, going on camping

vacations with my family, I loved to build and tend the campfire. I don’t recall any major mishaps with fire, but I’m sure I probably caused my parents some concern as I constantly “played” with the fire – moving logs around, fanning the flames with a folded up newspaper, always trying to improve on the f i re that was already burning. I’m sure I also learned a healthy respect for the power of fire by watching my father light our backyard “homemade” barbeque – an old pot-bellied stove nestled inside a framework of bricks. Especially when we were in a hurry, my Dad would load some charcoal briquettes into the “belly”, pour a small quantity of gasoline onto the black charcoal, stand back a few feet, light a match and toss it into the middle of

the briquettes. Whoosh! With the sound of a small muffled explosion, flames at least a couple feet in height would burst forth before burning down to form good “white” coals from which to cook the meat for supper. In both Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels, John the Baptist proclaims that the Messiah who will follow him is the one who will “baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.” And given the fact that the word “baptize” means to immerse in and/or saturate with, the thought of being “baptized” in this way is more than a little disquieting. At the end of Luke’s Gospel, the Risen Christ tells his followers to remain in Jerusalem “until you have been clothed with power from on high.” That same author, in his second biblical work (Acts of the Apostles), describes what happened to the gathered disciples on the day of Pentecost. “Divided tongues, as of f ire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit ...” In our present liturgical practice, the shape of the bishop’s mitre is intended to represent a “flame” and the colour red is associated

with the Holy Spirit. On June 12, we wil l ce lebrate the Day of Pe n t e c o s t – t h e d ay associated with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on all of the disciples of the risen Christ, and continued by their ministry through Baptism and the Laying-on-of-hands. But what is our expectation of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit that is poured out at Baptism? Clearly we don’t expect anyone to get “burned” by it – though in the Bible the Spirit does carry out a kind of judgment of God’s people - to call them to greater obedience to what God expects of them. In John’s Gospel, the Spirit is portrayed as a “helper” who grants the believer wisdom and understanding – partic-ularly about God’s ways. So what is fire? From a scientific view, it is the visible manifestation of the spontaneous combustion ( o x i d a t i o n ) o f a combustible material. And as long as there is material to burn, and the condition of that material lends itself to self-perpetuating combustion, there will be flames and the generation of heat and light. Likewise,

the Right Reverend doNAld PhilliPS

bishop of Rupert’s land

if the material is too wet to burn, or made up of non-combustible material, it will not produce flames, heat or light – there will be no fire. What does the Holy Spirit do? There are many places in the Bible that describe – even define – the purpose and work of the Spirit. But perhaps the best way to understand how the Spirit works is to think of the Spirit as making God’s presence, power and love present in our lives. The Spirit enables us to think, say, and do things we otherwise could not – both as individuals and as a Church. Just as we would not describe fire as a “thing” that is added to source of fuel to produce flames, but rather an “effect” on that fuel that produces flames, so too, we should think of

the Spirit of God as an invisible gift that takes the “resources” of our lives (our thoughts, our words, our actions) and sets them “on fire” – makes them powerful and effective to accomplish God’s will in our lives and those around us. Just as fuel resources will not spontaneously burn without some source of ignition, the same thing is true of us. We have to continually offer the “flammable” resources of ourselves – our hearts yearning in love for God and God’s creation – our minds, our bodies, our creativity, our determi-nation, all offered to God’s purposes, in order to enable the Holy Spirit to become ignited in us to accomplish God’s will. This “fire” is not to be played with – but it is the gift of God’s love and purpose for us all!

St John’s College warden

Native Studies p r o f e s s o r C h r i s t o p h e r

Trott, a senior fellow of St John’s College since 2001, will become warden of the college for five years beginning July 1, succeeding Janet Hoskins. Dr Trott’s research has focused on the Inuit. For ten years he was director o f the Pangni r tung Summer Program on Baffin Island. He is chair of the church council and the executive of St Paul’s Anglican Church, Fort Garry.

After 25 year s o f faithful service to the Mothers' Union in

the Diocese of Rupert's Land, Rev Edna Perry resigned as our diocesan chaplain, a position she held from 1985 to 2010. In that capacity, she was both spiritual leader and friend. Sometimes she taught us, always she prayed with us. She consoled us when we mourned and shared our laughter during countless happy occasions. Although we were sad to lose her as chaplain, we rejoice in her continued presence amongst us as a fellow member of the St Stephen's Mothers' Union. It was Edna's hope that Rev Barbara Shoomski might

succeed her as our diocesan chaplain. The Diocesan C o u n c i l u n a n i m o u s l y supported Barb's nomination and appointment. Rev Barb has been an active and contributing member of St Stephen's MU branch for many years. Edna has passed the torch to Barbara and these two gifted Christians continue to enrich the life and work of the Mothers' Union in this diocese. Thanks be to God.Rev Edna was the celebrant at our June 2010 service. Rev Barbara was installed at our annual prayer service in October 2010. Bonnie Main continues as diocesan president, an office she has held for 25 years.

by JENNy cARtER

Barbara Shoomski replaces Edna Perry at Mothers’ Union

The Spirit enables us to think, say, and do things we otherwise could not – both as individuals and

as a Church.

THURSDAY, June, 23rdCORPUS CHRISTI

HIGH MASS7:30 PM

Preacher: Fr. Jamie Howison

THURSDAY, June, 23rdCORPUS CHRISTI

HIGH MASS7:30 PM

Preacher: Fr. Jamie Howison

DAILY MASS300 HUGO ST @ MULVEY AVE

Phone: 452-4227 Email: smaa@mts.netwww.stmichaelswinnipeg.ca

DAILY MASS300 HUGO ST @ MULVEY AVE

Phone: 452-4227 Email: smaa@mts.netwww.stmichaelswinnipeg.ca

4 Rupert’s land News SJune 2011ANNivERSARy

February 13 saw St John’s Cathedra l K a s a k a h o s t i n g

approximately 1,000 people from all walks of life who came to join Bishop Jackson Matovu and his wife Perusi in a thanksgiving service for the couple having completed 40 years as husband and wife. Eight bishops, some with their wives, attended. The Rt. Rev Dr. Stephen Kazimba, Bishop of Mityana Diocese, delivered a vibrant sermon to a very jovial congregation on the topic: “God is full of pardons and Grace.” There must have been blames and disappointments during 40 years of marriage, but due to God’s Grace, these people have managed to go through the waves successfully. He explained that gatherings like this one, help people to share experiences, learn from one another, refresh their minds, while re-examining their marriage l i fe and forgetting their problems. He concluded that to live 40 years in marriage is only

achievable when the couple is God fearing, loving and forgiving to each other. After the service, Maama Perusi said that at age 16 she was working as an aide to a midwife at a maternity center in Mukono Diocese. One day her step mother told her she had seen a man for her and that he was coming to see her the following day. An elderly man and his grandson arrived on bicycles. After a cup of tea, the grandfather asked her if she would marry the young man and she after a while answered she would. Three months passed without any word from the suitor which made her think that maybe the young man hadn’t liked her. Then she received a brief note from him saying that he would marry her. Bishop Matovu said he was a lay reader aged 17, and one day he went to conduct a funeral service at a village in Mukono District. Perusi’s step mother saw him suitable to marry her step daughter and she secretly sold the

idea to Bishop Matovu’s grandfather whom she knew. The grandfather welcomed the idea very warmly because Perusi’s family was a reputable one in Mukono area. The bishop said their marriage was negotiated by relatives as this used to be the practice in Buganda. He himself had seen another girl

whom he wanted to marry and was studying her closely and that is why it took him three months to decide which girl he should marry. The day he went to see Perusi with his grandfather, he dressed in a torn collared shirt, trousers with patches and patched rubber shoes, thinking Perusi would object to marrying a poor man who doesn’t even have decent clothes for courting. His grandfather asked him if those were the only clothes he had in life. He seemed to have discovered the boy’s trick and told him that they had to go to visit the girl despite his poor clothes. He said when Perus i answered his grandfather‘s question that she would marry him, he felt defeated

and they rode back home silently and he spent three months praying to God for a suitable choice between the two girls. His grandfather kept pestering him for an answer till God finally chose Perusi for him; a choice he has never regretted. He added that it took him a year to raise the dowry of 400 Uganda Shillings which Perusi’s father asked for. Once that was paid, the wedding took place on the February 4, 1971 in St Phillips Church Mukono. It was curfew time in the country as Idi Amin’s military government was gaining ground so the wedding party had to stop at 6 pm. They served their guests tea and bread.

St Clement Mapleton Columbarium and Churchyard

1178 River RoadSt Andrews Manitoba

Call for info 204-482-7237

Serving all faiths as a place of final rest

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Bishop and spouse celebrate 40 years of marriage

RUPERt’S lANd NEWS JUly dEAdliNEDeadline for the July edition of the

Rupert’s Land News is June 1, 2011Send your material to Terence Moore, Editor

rlnews@rupertsland.ca 1-204-992-4205

Story and Photos by lP mUloNdo

Rupert’s land News 5June 20111

Story by doREEN olivER Photos by bUd olivER

PARiSh lifE

St Peter, Dynevor

Peguis Day celebration

For many years the old stone church of St Peter, Dynevor

has been the scene of the annual observation of Peguis Day on the third Sunday in June. Peguis was chief of the Salteaux people who lived in the Red River Valley. When the Scottish settlers who arrived in 1812 as part of Lord Selkirk's group ran into difficulty, it was the assistance of Peguis and his band which helped them to survive. Thi s prompted Lord Selkirk to write: “Peguis has been a steady friend of the settlement ever since its establishment and has never deserted its cause in its greatest reverses.” As the Red River Settlement grew, hunting became more difficult, so Peguis' band moved further north to Netley Creek. A mission was established here at the mouth

of Cook's Creek in 1834 by Rev William Cockran and a log church was built. Cockran also helped the people build some log houses and started a small farming community to help maintain a dependable food supply. Peguis was fr iendly with Cockran, converted to Christianity and was baptised. In 1840, Peguis and his wife, Victoria were married by Rev John Smithurst who had replaced Cockran. When Peguis died in 1864, he was buried in the churchyard. Peguis day begins with the arrival of members of the congregation, neighbours and people from the Peguis Reserve who make the annual trek to the final resting place of their ancestors who are buried in the cemetery. At 11 am, the service of Holy Eucharist begins in the 157 year old building. At the end

of the service the people move outdoors to the grave of Chief Peguis where they pay their respects to the chief. Following this, people unpack the picnic lunches they brought, put up their lawn chairs in the shade, then dine while enjoying one of the most beautiful vistas in the province. The afternoon is spent visiting with family and friends, participating in races and games and watching youngsters who are learning the traditional dances of their people. This year, Peguis Day will be held on Sunday, June 19 with Bishop Donald Phillips participating in the service. All are invited to attend – just remember your lawn chair and your picnic lunch. St Peter's Church is located on the east bank of the Red River, just south of Highway 4 on Stone Church Road.

Hoop dancer

Rev Brian Ford, Bishop Mark MacDonald, Rev Barry Bear

Sitting on the bank watching the pelicans, eagles and the water go by

Races for all sizes and ages of people

Chief Glenn Hudson speaks to the people gathered at the Peguis monument.

6 Rupert’s land News 'deJune 2011milEStoNES

My journey towards o r d i n a t i o n officially began

with a weekend orientation in September 2007, at St John's College, University of Manitoba, when I enrolled in the Diploma in Applied Theology. As a f r iend dropped me off he asked: “Do you know what you are getting yourself into?” I replied, “No, but I'll soon find out!” Four years later, I'm still not sure what I have got myself into, but I have no doubts about ordination. The journey really began in my childhood. I was raised in a Roman Catholic home and developed an appreciation for the liturgical aspects of worship: the colours, vestments, incense and music. The sights and sounds of the Mass spoke to the aesthetic side of my personality. In my mid-thirties, following a divorce, I attended a Baptist church for several years. There I discovered the scriptures, salvation through Christ, and a form of worship which appealed to my intellectual, analytical side. It was in that arena that I began to preach, as a

On April 12, staff and students of the Anglican Church

school at Fisher Branch in Central Buganda Diocese welcomed the visit of Mary Lee, widow of the late Bishop Patrick Lee. Bishop Jackson Matovu and his wife Perusi joined the school director Ms Robinah Sserunkuum to welcome her. Patrick and Mary worked six years in West Buganda Diocese running the Training Department of the diocese. Bishop Patrick described their Ugandan years in his book Safari In Faith (2000).

lay preacher, and lead adult bible studies. I remarried in 1994, and my wife Karin and I began attending St. Aidan's Anglican Church where I found the blend of scripture-based preaching, liturgical worship, and prayerful Spirit-led intercession and healing both comforting and challenging. In the summer of 2007, the Rev. Dr. Brett Cane and Rev. Linda Stokes challenged me, quite independently, to think about ordination and the calling to the priesthood. I wrestled with this notion because I am a great believer in the “priesthood of all believers”; did I really need to be formally ordained when I was already exercising my spiritual gifts as a layperson? Was there any point to being ordained in my early sixties? The call, however, did not subside and finally I resolved to let the discernment process answer these questions and to offer myself to the Church. My placements at St Mary Magdalene, with Rev. Preston Parsons, and at St Paul's (Fort Garry), with Rev. Geoff Woodcroft, have been precious and transformative.

The school now has 417 students and 22 teachers plus eight non teaching personnel. In addition to academic studies, students’ talents are developed in music and games. Also, the school rears some cows and goats for the students to practise animal keeping. School director Robinah Sserunkuuma told Mary that the people gathered before her had come to celebrate and remember Patrick Lee for what he had done in and for Uganda most particularly for Fisher Branch Senior Secondary school, citing a consignment of books the Lee family had donated to the school. She added that it was for these reasons that the school management decided to name the school library after him. She thanked the Lee family for loving the school so profoundly.

College I appreciate the complementary nature of my profession and my calling to the priesthood. The academic analysis and explication of texts, the study of characters, and the exercise of empathetic imagination are good skills to have as a priest. On the other hand, the study of Anglican history has helped me have better insights into the writings of Donne, Herbert,

Central Buganda was a seed that Bishop Patrick Lee sowed for the two dioceses. And referring to Psalm 23 verse 4, he concluded that God will give to Mary the comfort and the healing she needed. Mary Lee thanked all the people who had come to welcome her, and to express their sympathy to her for the loss of her dear husband and

daughter and to be witnesses as she unveiled the plaque at the school library for the memory of her husband and she added,” Patrick would have been very pleased to be here today were he still living because Uganda was very special for him.” She again thanked the people for their prayers for Patrick’s soul and for the encouraging words to her.

Shakespeare, Marlowe and others, enhancing my teaching, research and publications. The journey continues to unfold, one day at a time. As Karin and I experience and are equipped by God's love we continue to marvel at His grace to us. Bryan Rivers wi l l be ordained to the priesthood at St John’s Cathedral at 7:30 pm Wednesday, June 1.

Each parish has its particular and unique history, and its own struggles and challenges. Ultimately, however, human needs are the same in all parishes. The sheep may browse in different pastures, but the thirst for grace and compassion is universal. Karin and I have made many friends, and been blessed by the folk we have met. As Professor of English Literature at St. Boniface

Bishop Matovu said that Mary’s coming to Uganda had relieved the heavy hearts of many friends of the late bishop because it gave them an opportunity to express their condolences to her for the death of both her husband and daughter Sharon. “We have a lot of memories about Patrick because very many people of West and Central Buganda dioceses still remember his good and have benefitted from his ministry in Uganda,” he commented. He thanked the school management for naming the school library after the late bishop and added that the plaque of his name will ever be an inspiration to the people who will use the library to ask who Patrick was. He further explained that the strong relationship between Rupert’s Land and

OrdinatiOn The journey started in childhood

MarY LEE Back to safari in faith

by bRyAN RivERS

by lP mUloNdo

Mothering Sunday procession, St John's Cathedral: vows renewed

Rupert’s land News 7June 20111

RUPERt’S lANd NEWS

Publisher The Right Reverend Donald Phillips, Bishop of Rupert’s LandAdvisory Group The Venerable Norm Collier, Len Carlson, Lorraine West, Donald BenhamEditor Terence Moore Layout and Design Gwendolyn Penner

Subscription $20 per year Printer Signal Star Publishing, Division of Bowes PublishingChange of Address Notify your parish or write to Rupert’s Land News, c/o Anglican Journal, 80 Hayden St., Toronto, ON, M4Y 3G2 or email circulation@national.anglican.caJuly deadline The deadline for the July edition of the Rupert’s Land News is June 1, 2011The Rupert’s Land News is published as a section of the Anglican JournalPhone 1-204-992-4205 Fax 1-204-992-4219 Email rlnews@rupertsland.ca

ANGlicAN cENtRE

Address 935 Nesbitt Bay, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 1W6Fax 1-204-992-4219 Website www.rupertsland.caAnglican Centre Toll Free 1-866-693-4418

Executive Assistant to the Bishop Susan Suppes 1-204-992-4212

Director of Finance Bernice Funk 1-204-992-4201

Office Administrative Assistant Cathy Mondor 1-204-992-4200

Diocesan Archives Wednesdays 9:00 am to 4:00 pmPhone 1-204-992-4203 Fax 1-204-992-4219 Email archivesdrl@gmail.com

NANcy PhilliPS

A recent announce-ment from a friend that she had been

accepted to study Pastoral Care caused me to do some reflecting on the value of this ministry in our parishes. Pastoral care activities are carried out by ordained and non-ordained ministers in response to people’s needs. These act ivi t ies may incorporate formal sacramental ministries such as anointing with oil or informal social ministries such as conversations with parish members. The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality identifies four basic activities of pastoral care: guiding, healing, sustaining and reconciling. The guiding function is exemplified in the preaching and educating ministries of the church. The healing, sustaining and reconciling functions are evident in the sacramental ministry of the church and

in counselling and visiting of the sick. The goal of pastoral care is to promote the full well-being of people and to assist them in the ongoing conversion that is part of Christian life. Clergy in the Anglican Church are required to take a basic course in pastoral care prior to ordination. Some clergy specialize in this area and may take further in-depth training in pastoral care. Pastoral care differs from spiritual direction in that spiritual direction is a helping process that has as its principal focus the ongoing religious development of the one who comes for assistance, rather than a focus on problem-solving. A friend once shared with me how disappointed she was at the lack of pastoral care she received from her pastor (not an Anglican, thank goodne s s ! ) Her husband was very ill and required frequent hospital-ization. The time required to attend her husband’s health needs often prevented them from attending their church services, which they had both found to be sustaining and enriching to their faith. My friend expressed frustration that her pastor had not

visited her spouse, either at home or in the hospital. She would often ask her pastor if he could visit occasionally and his response was that he was too busy. He did visit in hospital once and my friend reported that it was clear that he was uncomfortable being present and spent the short visit time joking and keeping the conver-sation trivial. My friend was devastated – her husband needed to talk about deep things, about dying, about repentance and forgiveness, about leaving his spouse and family members behind, but no opportunity was provided for these important conver-sations. In recent years, our parents have faced increasing health issues. Knowing that they are part of a loving church community that continues to reach out to them, and to find ways to allow them to be present to the community in meaningful ways has touched me deeply. I’m grateful for skilled clergy who have devoted time to meet their pastoral care needs. The opportunity for conversations about deep matters of the heart takes on greater impetus when an older person lives alone. With whom can they appropriately discuss issues

of faith, repentance, and an awareness of the sacred at work in their life? Some years ago we had the experience of journeying with friends whose daughter, Melanie, was dying of cystic fibrosis at the age of 20. Her specialized care had to be provided in a hospital far from their home community which meant they were displaced from friends and church community during this time. Their congregation responded with an ongoing ministry of sending frequent cards and letters, which were displayed in Melanie’s room in the ICU, to let these friends know they were being thought of in prayer. During this time, I worried about our friends’ need for support as they faced a myriad of agonizing decisions about Melanie’s care and watched her life slip away from her. A hospital chaplain had attempted to visit several times but had been rejected by our friends. Pastoral care is often best provided in a crisis by someone known and trusted by the recipient of care.

The parish has the privilege of supporting people in their life journeys through a variety of ages, stages and situations. The process of engaging with people at the deepest level of their soul is a sacred trust, given to us by God.

Teresa of Avila, a 16th century

Spanish Carmelite understood this well and expressed it in

her writing:

Christ has no body but yours.

No hands, no feet on earth but yours.

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses

all the world.

Christ has no body now on earth but

yours.

Conversations that matterPAStoRAl cARE

Tel 1-204-956-2096 Fax 1-204-947-0451236 Osborne Street Winnipeg, Manitoba

GIFTS THAT LAST

CANADIAN JEWELLERS

ASSOCIATION

WEDDINGSGRADUATIONS

SPECIAL OCCASIONS

the CoLumbaRium

in the histoRiC paRish ChuRCh of st Luke

now offering single and double niches

including perpetual care

kindly contact our office for further informationor to arrange a personal tour

Call the parish office at1-204-452-3609130 nassau street n. at stradbrook avenueLocated in the soldiers’ Chapel “In the midst of life, we are in death.”

8 Rupert’s land News June 2011 PARiSh lifE

St George's Garden Centre plans to stay open till June 18 at

Regent Park shopping centre (Regent and Brewster ) . Bedding plants, hanging p l a n t e r s , p e r e n n i a l s , vegetables, bagged soil, seeds and gift certificates will be available. The centre will operate from 8:30 am to 6 pm Saturdays and Sundays and from 10 am to 7:30 pm weekdays, weather and volunteer support permitting. Men's Fellowship will meet for breakfast at 9 am June 25. The location will be announced on the sign up sheet at the church. The ACW will meet at 1:15 on Wednesday June 15 in the

church hall. This will be the final meeting till September as the group takes a break in the summer. Our annual BBQ is being planned for Tuesday, June 21 at Harbour View. Please check our website or call church office for additional information. Vacation Bible School, which last year attracted many children and was a great success, will be held again in conjunction with Transcona Memorial United Church. This year VBS will be from July 25 to 29, 9 am to noon.

St George's gathers for BAS Euchar i s t serv ice Sundays at 10 :30 am, including Children's Sunday School and also on Mondays at 7 pm for our unique Contemplative Eucharistic Service. Home communion, hospital visits and prayers for healing are always available as requested; we also provide a monthly service (2nd Wednesday, 9:45am) for residents of Park Manor PCH and hymn sing there last Friday evening each month – more volunteers (especially singers) needed for both.

by PAt AllAN

As p a r t o f o u r 150th anniversary c e l e b r a t i o n , S t

Clements Church, Mapleton will be hosting a family fun day on Saturday, June 18. The day will begin at 1 pm with Bounceroos, pony rides, fish pond and face painting for the kids. The Khartum Temple Komedians will also be on hand to bring smiles to everyone’s face. There will be an antique car display, as well as an antique tractor display on the grounds for you to see. Concessions will be available with hamburgers, hotdogs, chocolate bars, and drinks. The church will be open to browse through, and don’t forget to sign the guest book. Take note of the walls, the windows, doors and the light fixtures. Remember that our church is 150 years old! You will be able to see the design of our celebration stained glass window, although the

St Clements, Mapleton

Family Fun Day

St George's Transcona

Garden centre at the mall

window will not be installed until the fall. We have three bands who will entertain under the outdoor tent starting at 2 pm. The Todd Hunter Band; Brian Mayo and Company; as well as a father and son guitar and fiddle duo Barry and Brenton Thorvaldson, have all been confirmed. The entertainment will take a break at 5 pm. At 5 pm you can enjoy a delicious Pork BBQ in the church hall. Tickets will be available for this supper. Entertainment will commence again about 6:30 and will continue until 8 pm. T h e re i s n o ch a rg e for the activities or the entertainment, although donations will be accepted in the entertainment tent. There will be a minimal charge for the food at the concession stand, and tickets will be available for the pork BBQ. See you there.

by SANdRA SloAN

Check out the website for additional information as it becomes available. http://stclementchurch.ca

To help or for more information about our (scent-free) church or any activities, please call our church office 222-1942 or visit www.stgeorgesanglicantranscona.ca

by GloRiA RomANiUk

Shop talk in the vault!

In some cases, there truly are documents which are irreplaceable.

Some legal or insurance records, for instance, can play a pivotal role in certain decision-making circum-stances. When we cannot find these records, or when they are damaged beyond repair, there may be serious consequences, perhaps limiting your options. This summer, the Archives of the Diocese of Rupert's Land i s undertaking a special project where we will inventory and assess the condition of Property Management Records. We are reviewing the property-related records in the Archives, and we

The diocesan archives in Kelowna boasts, among other things,

hangings from two churches which have been closed; one of them is decorated with real human hair, apparently a Victorian custom. Who knew? When I, as archivist of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land, visited the Diocese of Kootenay Archives in Kelowna in May of this year, Kathryn Lockhart, Kootenay diocesan archivist, indicated the unique craftsmanship of the hanging. Not an easy task to inlay human hair in order to authentically replicate a

are inviting all parishes to participate in a "parish onsite review". We are sending each parish a survey questionnaire, asking that the administrator or appointed volunteer open the file cabinets or closet doors to look for building blue prints, land title certificates or insurance documents. Your questionnaire may have arrived in the mail. If you have questions, please contact either Gloria or Jennifer, this summer's project assistant at the Archives, by telephone at 992-4203 or by email at archives@rupertsland.ca. As we complete the survey, we will be at your service to help you care for these tremen-dously valuable records!

figure! There it was! Hangings are not normally cons idered “archiva l” . Archival records are typically two dimensional. They are most frequently unique and unpublished documents, rare publications, or photos. Museums usually collect three dimensional artifacts like hangings, candle sticks, linens, vestments, furnishings, or the like. All museums hold at least their own archival documents; many archives, like both the Diocese of Kootenay and the Diocese of Rupert's Land do not have museums, and hence care for

special artifacts. Kathryn and I first met in Calgary in November 2010 at the Western Canada Anglican Church Diocesan Archiv i s t s Conference, where each represented their respective archives. In 2011, the Diocese of Rupert's Land Archives will host the National Conference of Diocesan Archivists, in Winnipeg, Nov. 4 and 5. Plans for the conference include a tour of the Hudson's Bay Company Archives and the offices of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Records Collection Centre.

by GloRiA RomANiUk

Invaluable? Irreplaceable? You bet!