FEBRUARY 2012

RupeRt’s Land NewsPUBlishEd BY thE diocEsE oF RUPERt’s lAnd – A sEction oF thE AnglicAn joURnAl

3From the Bishop The power of love

4Central Buganda Diocese runs short of priests

6NS conferenceOrdination of women celebrated

8St James Lenten workshop focuseson indigenous issues

FEAst oF thE PREsEntAtion oF thE loRd – FEBRUARY 2

sEE PAgE 5sEE PAgE 3

From the heart

National

competition

winner

Get messy

St Barnabas

explores

pottery

Make clean our hearts within us

Heart and Stroke Foundation office, Donald Street, Winnipeg. February is heart month.

2 Rupert’s land news SFebruary 2012hEAling

I received a new heart January 21, 2010. It was the day I had by-pass

surgery. I was fortunate that I didn’t have a heart attack on the third tee of the Teulon Golf Course. My golfing buddies just thought I was having a bad golf game. I could hardly make it around the golf course but I was too proud to quit. I knew something was wrong. I went to my family physician; off to the

cardiologist; angioplasty; they found three blocked arteries; and then to the waiting line for surgery. All that took close to five months. During the last days of December into January 2010, I would sit in my chair looking out the window, wondering: was this it? Was I going to die? I laboured with my breath, and nitro-glycerin was my friend. Oh, just to breathe. Each Friday I would phone

to see where I was on the list. By the 10th of January I was making out my funeral wishes: Who was going to preach, what funeral hymns I wanted. Off to the lawyer to update my will. I could tell by the look on my wife’s face and those of my grown children – they were very concerned. My father had died of a heart attack at this same age, so the question of genetics always seemed to rise to the forefront and the knowledge that he never met his grandchildren. The day of surgery came, and the first face I saw as I came out of the anaesthetic was Fr Henry’s. I knew lots of people were praying for me.

Prior to going into surgery, a wonderful lady in our parish said that she felt the Lord say: “There would be a time that this man would not be able to pray for himself… so you pray!” That was a prophetic word, as complications arose during surgery that had little to do with the heart by-pass surgery. My lung had been nicked and without pain medication not only couldn’t I breath but the pain was terrific; and I couldn’t pray! I had problems breathing for the first three days and all I could say was Pnuema God. (Breath of God, Come). I needed God to breathe new life into me.

My heart was renewed surgically, and for that I am forever grateful to the medical community, but I see within this new heart a remarkable blessing from God. It comes in the form of my two grandchildren. Often as I dismiss the congregation of Holy Trinity at the end of the service, I hold within my arms either Jacob or Cara, or sometimes both, as I say: “Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” For I know without a doubt that I was given a new heart and a new spirit within me. Thanks be to God!

Merv Lanctot is rector of Holy Trinity, Winnipeg.

A new heart and a new spiritBy MERv lAnctot

Prison RetreatA training retreat for prison ministry will be held at Stony Mountain Institution on Saturday, March 24.

Registration deadline is Friday, Feb 24. Call Ron Storozuk at 257-9636 or ronstorozuk@mts.net

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

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

GIFTS THAT LAST

CANADIAN JEWELLERS

ASSOCIATION

WEDDINGSGRADUATIONS

SPECIAL OCCASIONS

A m e m o r i a l f u n d h o n o u r i n g Ja c k G i b b o n s , w h o

was chaplain of St John’s College until his death in 1974, continues to support conferences and seminars on the Christian Healing Ministry. The Guild of Health, first organized in the United Kingdom in 1904, has closed all its other chapters. The Winnipeg chapter carries on with its devoted members, Warden Rev. W. B. Phills and President Jerald Johnson mainly because of the Jack Gibbons Memorial Fund. The Winnipeg chapter of the Guild of Health was organized in 1924. It has continued regular meetings every year s ince then. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month from September to

June at 10 am at St James Presbyterian Church, 1476 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg. The format for the meetings is still the same: a healing service with hymn singing, Bible reading and talk by clergy followed by Laying-on-of- hands and anointing with oil. A fellowship coffee hour follows. Following Jack Gibbons’ death in 1974, Arthur Thompson succeeded him as warden of the guild and organized the memorial fund which is held by the Winnipeg Foundation for the benefit of the Order of St Luke and the Guild of Health. All the executive members of the Guild of Health are members of the Interna-tional Healing Ministry: Order of St Luke.

A fuller account of the guild in Manitoba is given in the book Channels of Healing by Hazel Birt, published in 1994 by the Guild of Health. Healing ministry activities supported by the memorial f u n d i n r e c e n t ye a r s included the Order of St Luke World Wide Healing Conference in Kelowna, BC in 2010 and the Canada Wide Healing Conference held in August 2011 at the Canadian Mennonite College, Winnipeg. A province-wide healing conference on the theme Kingdom, Power, Glory will be held in St James Anglican Church, Winnipeg from May 10 to May 12 this year. The speaker will be Rev Mike Endicott, a blind Christian healer from Wales.

Memorial fund sustains healing ministry By hAzEl BiRt

For more information, contact Hazel Birthgbirt@shaw.ca 888-6743

Rupert’s land news 3February 20121 FRoM thE BishoP

The Power OF ove

This late winter month of February, besides the date of February 2nd (Feast of the Presentation of our Lord or, for those less familiar with the Christian Calendar, Ground Hog Day) , a l so contains the date of February 14th – St Valentine’s Day. While this date can be numbered among the few Christian Calendar dates that have “crossed over” in to s ecu la r u sage, i t no longer appears in the Calendar listing of saints. This is mainly due to the fact that very little reliable information is available concerning this apparent St. Valentine. (There seem to be two possible candidates – both of whom lived and died in the 3rd century.) However, there must have been some admirable martyr by that name because there is solid evidence in historic artefacts and the remains of an ancient church that bears his name. Clearly, he must have made enough of an impression through his faithful life and death to be remembered in a permanent way. Later this month, on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22, 2012), we will begin the observance of Lent which, among other disciplines, calls us to focus on the amazing love of God shown to us in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But what about the title: “The Power of Love”? The lyric lends itself naturally to song and there have been several written and recorded with that title. Given my age, the one that stands out for me was recorded by Huey Lewis and the News in 1985.

What I particularly like about the music is that it has a sense of driving rhythm and power – it’s not smooth and dreamy or sentimental. One is given the impression that one’s life might actually be changed, moved, even turned upside down by this power. Lewis seems to know this too as in every chorus he punches out these words,

It's strong and it's sudden

and it's cruel sometimes; but

it might just save your life.

That's the power of love.

He even risks a spiritual connection in the song-bridge when he sings:

When it gets hold of you, and with a little help from above, you feel the power of

love.

I think Lewis has it right when he acknowledges that love is emotion-packed, but also represents a power that acts upon us and within us – even to the point of saving our life. St Paul celebrates the gift and power of God’s love in his Letter to the Romans where he writes

God’s love has been poured

into our hearts through the Holy Spirit

that has been given to us.

(5:5b)

I wonder if we ever regard love that way – as something we’re capable of giving and receiving but is still larger than us and capable of completely transforming lives and situations? The prophet Ezekiel clearly understood this in his prophetic writings hundreds of years before Christ, when he speaks God’s words to a broken and spiritually-compromised Israel:

A new heart I will give you,

and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within

you, ... and you shall be my

people, and I will be your God.”

(36:26, 27a, 28b)

Sometimes we hear these words interpreted with an almost perceptible, “Ahh. Isn’t that nice!” But if one reads the verses before and after, these words are anything but “warm and cuddly!” However, they are loving – in a strong and powerful way. God has indeed poured the power of love into our lives and that gift calls for us to yield to it, and let it shape our lives into greater Christ-likeness. But even more than that, we are called to be bearers and givers of that love to the persons and situations we find ourselves in everyday. That love has power – to save life, to forgive and release, to inspire and set free. If you’re the kind of disciple that needs a “memory aid” – have a listen to Huey, and let the power of God’s love be real and vibrant in your life – every day!

the Right Reverend donAld PhilliPs

Bishop of Rupert’s land

You can watch an extended music video of “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFaXTcR4dtE&feature=player_embedded

Jaylene Johnson sings at a December 16 st benedict's table benefit concert for Agape Table at the Ellice Theatre with Don Amero.

Jaylene's song Hope won the Anglican Church of Canada national competition for the best song expressing the Marks of Mission.

Please see the story about Jaylene and her national competition win in the February Anglican Journal.

From the heart

PHO

TO: K

ev W

ood

L

4 Rupert’s land news SFebruary 2012

Th e D i o c e s e o f Central Buganda is short of priests.

This perturbing news was revealed by Bishop Jackson Matovu to the 36th sitting of the Diocesan Council on Oct 20 at St John’s Cathedral, Kasaka. Thi s problem of the lessening in number of serving clergy in the diocese has been unfolding for the last three years with some priests reaching retirement age and others leaving for other reasons. In his closing remarks to the council, the part in which the Bishop usually announces promotions and deployments of the clergy, this time he said

Bishop Jackson also appealed to the clergy and lay readers to

strengthen teaching sermons because people have had enough of the preaching sermons. He explained that teaching sermons will help the people to understand whom they serve and why they should serve him and their respon-

his diocese lacks clergy and he went deep into explaining why this was so. He said that young people in his diocese no longer want to join the church ministry and when he realized it, he started getting people from other areas and sponsored them for Theological Education. But these too have not helped to change the situation because after ordination they leave for urban dioceses where clergy are paid handsomely. He explained further that last year, three priests reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 years. He gave them each a one year contract of service ending in 2011; yet he still had no new people

to replace them. Those who are willing might continue as curates where they have been serving. People expressed a lot of worries about the future of the church in the diocese and about the work load that has been put on some of the archdeacons because they already each have duties in four or more parishes as archdeacons and each one has a base parish to priest and they have been assigned more parishes. The problem, however is attributed to the poor remunerations and poor working conditions under which the clergy in rural dioceses like Central Buganda work.

sibilities in supporting the church work. He declared the year 2012 a year for Christian marriage and asked the clergy to get as many people as is possible to get married in church. For those who have been co-habiting the Bishop said the church will sanctify their marriages with no strings attached by the church. And he asked the

clergy to encourage people to go for mass sanctification of their marriages. He also asked the parish priests and the lay readers to teach very wel l the children for confirmation sacrament so that they learn the catechism properly. He will decline to confirm them unless they are well versed with the catechism.

The diocesan treasurer Mr. Christopher Katongole read the Diocesan Financial Statement for the period of January 2011 to September 2011 and he reported that there was a drop in the anticipated income from all avenues down to 129,153,850 Uganda shillings from Ug Shs 276,660,300. (That is roughly equivalent to a

decline to $54,043 Canadian from $116,777 Canadian.) He however was happy that the 30 per cent remittances from the parishes had risen by 38 per cent. For 2012, the treasurer, reported he had estimated a total income of Ug shs 136,808,709 from all the various sources of income of the diocese.

Central BugandaDiocese runs short of priests

UgAndA

By lP MUlondo, wRiting FRoM UgAndARev Benon Rwekigombe quietly left his station of St Stephen Bugobango in the middle of the year saying that he had decided to go to his home because he was sick. He returned around the time of the Diocesan council sitting and asked for sick leave. Ven. Emmanuel Kakooza of St John’s, Kasaka was allocated to continue to care take of Bugobango parish. Rev. Nathan Natukunda of St Mark, Bujubi parish asked for a one year leave without pay because he has some pressing issues at his home requiring him to be close and a lot of time to work on. The leave was granted and Rev. Paulo Nangagala from St James Bukandula parish will replace him at Bujubi. Rev. Moses Kakembo who has been on study leave will go to St James, Bukandula parish and will also be in charge of Lugaaga parish. Rev. Canon Hosea Mugabi who has been there on contract will retire fully. Rev. Daaki Kattante who has been at St John’s, Lugo and has been also serving as head teacher of Kasalaga Primary school was relieved of parish duties and left to concentrate on school headship alone. The Archdeacon of Kaggulwe, Ven. John Ssekakozi, was assigned to take care of this parish of St John’s, Lugo. Njeru parish has been vacant since the middle of this year when its parish priest Rev Livingstone Lukato left the parish for personal reasons. Archdeacon Jason Musoke of St Phillip’s Nabusanke will continue to priest it. Rev. Mose Mutagobwa of St Paul Nswanjere is to continue to be the care taker of Kanziiira parish. This parish has been without a resident parish priest for three years now. Bishop had only one new posting to make: Rev Andrew Kafeero from college will be the school chaplain of St Mary Gorrette Katende Secondary school and of Palis Parre Secondary school Nakirebe. But he will be based at Kikondo Sub parish in St John, Mabuye /Katende parish.In his opening speech of the council Bishop Jackson thanked the Christians from

the different parishes for their giving to build a respectable diocesan office block and he hoped to start working in it in January.

Enough preaching – use sermons to teach: Jackson

Rupert’s land news 5February 20121

Our Sunday morning s e r v i c e a t S t Barnabas started as

usual on December 11 except that instead of going into the church, everyone was going into the downstairs hall. Many of the parishioners were dressed in old blue jeans and sweatshirts while others were dressed as usual for Sunday service. It was the third Sunday of Advent, but it was also “messy Sunday” at St Barnabas. The

hall was set up with tables covered with newspaper, pots of paint and small paint brushes. Chairs were set up around the perimeter of the hall for those who did not want to decorate a pottery mug but would take part in the service. Ray Christopherson, a parishioner who is a potter was going from table to table explaining to each person how to glaze and decorate their mug with the various

colours and how he would fire the mugs in his kiln at home when it was finished. Everyone was concentrating on their own personal design

while the service started. Reverend Rod Sprange, Pr ies t in charge at St Barnabas, began the service. The first lesson was from Jeremiah 18: The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, ‘Come, go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words’. The lesson ends: “Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel”. Ray Christopherson had formed 30 mugs on his potter's wheel so that the parishioners of St Barnabas could decorate them while holding the service. Adults and children decorated, prayed and sang together. The mugs are to fill a special

need for the orphanage at St Barnabas’ partner parish orphanage at St Phillip's, Nabusanke in Uganda. After they have all been fired, the mugs will be auctioned off in the New Year with funds going to the orphanage. Each person will get to make the initial bid on their own mug. After the service coffee and cake were served. It was a morning of worshiping and performing outreach together. The message we heard that morning was that everything changes when we start to offer all that we do to God. We were asked to think about how different it would be if we offered all of our work and play as worship.

PARish liFE

By sAndRA sloAn

St Barnabas

Go down to the potter’s house and get messy

6 Rupert’s land news 'deFebruary 2012woMEn's oRdinAtion

On St Andrew’s Day, November 3 0 , 1 9 7 6 , t h e

first women priests were ordained in the Anglican Church of Canada. This year, a conference was held in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, to celebrate the 35th anniversary and the continuing ministry o f women wi th in our church. Bishop Don sent me to represent our diocese. This year is also the 35th anniversary of the ordination of women in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Lunenburg is home to St John’s Anglican Church, a well-known and loved historic church, and also to Zion Lutheran Church, the oldest Lutheran congre-gation in Canada. The theme of the conference was “Reflecting the Light of Christ”, symbolized by a lighthouse commissioned for the event. The central event of the conference was the anniversary service with renewal of ordination vows on November 30. We gathered on Tuesday, November 29, having come from Victoria, Saskatoon, Churchill, south-western Ontario, Toronto, Montreal, and the Maritime provinces. Wednesday and Thursday were spent in worship, plenary, sharing circles, and workshops, with free time built in. On Friday we dispersed to our homes and places of ministry. Throughout the week we experienced the fantastic hospitality of the Maritimes. The keynote speaker was to have been The Rev. Dr. Eileen Scully of our national staff. Unfortunately she had to miss the conference, and so her comments were delivered and mediated by our host, Bishop Sue Moxley of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In her address, Dr. Scully reminded and challenged us that we are beacons even if we don’t know it. She observed how all orders of ministry are present in each order: episcope that shines a light to show who we are, the prophetic light of diaconia, pastors who bring the light of warmth and care, and teachers who illuminate and kindle the light of faith.

She then outlined three spiritual practices to help us shine more brightly: thought-fulness, discernment, and creativity. I attended a workshop on “Story Telling for the Soul” and another on equipping clergy to be agents of reconciliation. Several of us at the second workshop expressed concern about the lack of preparation for clergy in the skills of mediation and conflict resolution. I’m eager to check out some resources I learned about, such as the Network for Biblical Storytelling and the many resources of the Alban Institute. A personal highlight of the conference was the chance to reconnect with people I haven’t seen for many years. I was especially delighted to renew my acquaintance with The Rev. Beth Aime. Beth was both the oldest and the longest-serving woman priest at the conference, and was an important person in my early vocational discernment. I ’m g rate fu l fo r the opportunity to attend the conference. It was a real shot in the arm and affirmation of my priestly vocation. A group from the Diocese of Huron has already volunteered to organize the 40th anniversary conference in five years’ time.

Lunenburg conference marks 35th anniversary of ordination of women By MARY holMEn

The Rev. Beth Aime (left) with the writer. Beth hails from Clandeboye and was ordained for the Diocese of Brandon in 1978. Mary Holmen (right) was priested one year later in Rupert's Land.

Sue Moxley giving the keynote address

Rupert’s land news 7February 20121

RUPERt’s lAnd nEws

Publisher The Right Reverend Donald Phillips, Bishop of Rupert’s LandAdvisory Group Len Carlson, Lorraine West and Rev. Jamie HowisonEditor 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.caMarch deadline The deadline for the March edition of the Rupert’s Land News is February 1, 2012The 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

Over the past while, I’ve written much about contem-

plative practices, prayer, deepening our spirituality, connecting with God and seeing reality from a different perspective. But if these practices and new ways of experiencing God are not grounded in the stuff of our everyday lives, all of this thinking and praying becomes meaningless. It has been said that human beings are the only creatures who have been created with the faculty of reflection. We are able to raise our experience to consciousness. Rocks and sand may also have experiences but no ability to reflect. In reflecting on our experiences we begin to realize that we are not only created, but also creators. In reflecting upon our experiences, we find our purpose.

Our purpose is rooted in our relationship to God. The work of spirituality is to rejoin the one. God is one. Thomas Merton, a modern contemplative, discovered in his reflections that people are inseparable from God and from one another. In becoming aware of this unity in God with all peoples, Merton had a deep experience of nondualism. He found that he could not separate God from God’s creation, but also could not separate contemplation from concern for, and engagement in, the needs and problems of the age in which he lived. God became incarnate and this created a bridge between divine and earthly. Our ability to reflect allows us to become aware of our experience of life at the level of ordinary consciousness – a kind of “one thing at a time awareness”. But our reflective ability also allows us to center ourselves in the midst of an unconscious awareness at both the personal level and the collective level. Getting to know God begins with getting to know yourself. Richard Rohr reminds us in his book, The Naked Now, that only transformed people have the power to

transform others, as if by osmosis. Usually, he says, you can lead others only as far as you yourself have gone. Too often we try to push, intimidate, threaten, cajole, and manipulate others. It seldom works, because that is not the way the soul works. In the presence of whole people, or any encounter with Holiness Itself, we simply find that, after a while, we are different – and much better! Mature religion, Rohr says, involves changing ourselves and letting ourselves be changed by a mysterious encounter with grace, mercy, and forgiveness. God has given us a new consciousness in what we call “prayer” and an utterly unexpected, maybe even unwanted, explanation in what we call “the cross”. Part of that new consciousness involves using our faculty of imagination as a first step in creating a better world. We see imagination being used to span the reality between heaven and earth in the New Testament book of Revelation – in John’s description of images while on the Is le of Patmos. Great artists create visual images using the faculty of imagination. The visual

images artists create are a bridge between their inner world of image and form and colour and the outer world of art medium – paint and clay. The images they create are a bridge between inside and outside – materiality injected with spirit. Images are messengers – angels perhaps – places we have forgotten about. The purpose of art is to move us. Creative imagination moves us to action. All of this reflecting about image and imagination, the tension between inner and outer is rooted and grounded in our relationship with Christ. This relationship is described by William Barry as being analogous to the kind of friendship that develops over a long time between two people. They are aware of each other even when they are apart or not

engaging directly with each other. Although they may not be talking, at some deep level they are in touch with each other. Ignatius’s idea of contemplative-in-action has such a relationship with God. Engaging closely with God over time, we allow the Spirit to transform us into people who are more like the images of God we are created to be – that is, more like Jesus, who was clearly a contemplative-in-action. The first step in creating a better world is imagining a better world. We must spend time on the bridge of our imagination and be open to the energy God is creating to move us to action. Use your imagination to create the world God is calling us to live into. And then move – breathe life into your images of hope and healing and wholeness.

Imagination: A bridge to something bettersPiRitUAlitY

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

We are made holyby our recognition

of God in us.

God is in all and everything. But the reality of God’s presence

only comes about through human recognition.

Ah then!We have the power

to sacralize the world.

By Edwina GateleyThere Was No Path So I Trod One

(1996)

8 Rupert’s land news February 2012PARish liFE

The Red way has been a d i f f i cu l t path for Indigenous

Anglicans. A seek week study in Lent will focus on the Indigenous struggle toward healing, reconciliation and wholeness. “The Red way is the way of the Indigenous person,” explained the Rev. Canon Dr. Murray Still, leader of the six week series that will be hosted in partnership with Rupert’s Land Wechetowin Inc. and St James the Assiniboine Anglican Church at 195 Collegiate Street in Winnipeg. There are four races of humanity known as red, white, yellow and black. The “Red” way of Indigenous peoples (First Nation, Inuit, Métis, non status) in the

Its theme is homecoming, and you are all invited. The Diocese of Rupert’s

Land will host a Sacred Circle June 15 and 16 at St Peter, Dynevor in East Selkirk. The theme of homecoming was chosen to honor the survivors of Residential Schools, many of whom lost their language, culture and spirituality as a part of the experience. For many it was difficult returning home, as they had a hard time communicating and the experience at the schools was difficult. The Sacred Circle is all about reconciliation. It will be an opportunity to welcome them into a spirit of hospitality, fellowship and friendship. At various times between 1 8 2 0 a n d 1 9 6 9 , t h e Anglican Church of Canada administered about three dozen Indian and Eskimo residential schools and hostels. The purpose of the schools was to assimilate Indian children into the Canadian society. Children were taken from their families

Anglican Church has been one of a struggle for equality and se l f -deter minat ion within the Anglican Church of Canada. Through the story of the national Indigenous sacred gatherings, participants in the Lenten study Feb. 28 to April 3, 2012 will hear about a 40-year journey that has resulted in a National Native Covenant, hiring of a national Indigenous Anglican Bishop in Mark Macdonald and the acceptance of Canon 22 that incorporates all Indigenous ministry within the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Canada. “It has been a long journey of about 40 years that has seen Indigenous peoples live with colonization and

later the Indian Residential Schools,” explained Dr. Still. The process of healing and reconciliation is underway and has been aided by the apologies of the Primate on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Government of Canada that was responsible for the residential schools. The nat iona l sacred gatherings have drawn Indigenous Anglicans from all across Canada to discuss common issues within the church. The most recent Sacred Circle was held August, 2009 at Port Elgin, Ontario, and played a large role in the formation of Canon 22. In the Anglican Diocese of Rupert’s Land, there have been five Sacred

Circles and another i s planned for June 15 and 16, 2012 at St. Peter, Dynevor. Each week, participants in the Lenten study will watch one of the videos published by Anglican Video, including “Gathering at the River,” the first diocesan Sacred Circle held in June, 2002. A traditional learning circle will be held following each video. The Blanket Exercise, a visual depiction of the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada, will conclude the study, along with information on the diocesan Sacred Circle in June, 2012.

“ T h e d i o c e s a n Sacred Circle’s theme is “Homecoming – lighting the home fires,” said Still. “This gathering is meant for the whole of the diocese and is open to all ages. It will be a time of learning, of healing and of welcoming Indigenous survivors home. The Lenten ser ies i s co-sponsored by St James the Assiniboine and Rupert’s Land Wechetowin Inc., a local non-profit service agency that ass is ts the Indigenous community with issues of pastoral care, justice and healing.

at an early age and sent to the schools, some of which were great distances away. While at the schools, children were not allowed to speak their language or practice their spiritual beliefs. Often, siblings were kept apart from each other. Many children were abused s exua l l y, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Anglican Church of Canada apologized to Indigenous Anglicans in 1993. That apology was followed eventually by an apology from the federal government in June, 2008. A class action lawsuit resulted in the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) now holding events across Canada. In 2010, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs hosted a national “Hidden Legacy” event that shone a light on the effect of the Residential Schools on survivors’ children and grand children. The youth will play an important role at the diocesan Sacred Circle. The Hidden

Legacy conference proved the need for a reconciliation movement that involves all ages. The Diocese of Rupert’s Land called for a Sacred Circle at its Synod in 2010. Until that Synod, the Rupert’s Land Indigenous Circle (RLIC) hosted the gatherings. To make this truly a diocesan event, we want all Anglicans to make an effort to come to the gathering. Reconciliation will only happen when Indigenous and non-Indigenous people come together and meet one on one. There will be programs for all ages, so the more Anglicans that come, the more successful the event. This will be the sixth diocesan Sacred Circle since 2002. T h e S a c r e d C i r c l e will feature the National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, Mark Macdonald, who will be

joined by the Metropolitan of Rupert’s Land, Archbishop David Ashdown and diocesan bishop Donald Phillips. The two day gathering will feature a Gospel Jamboree Friday evening at 7 p.m. The Sacred Fire will be lit early Saturday morning to begin the day’s events that will feature a guest speaker and various sharing circles. The elders will also have a chance to meet and give input as the Sacred Circle determines a way forward for healing and reconciliation. T he p l ann ing t eam, consisting of members of RLIC and non Indigenous member s o f Diocesan Council, want to thank the TRC and Health Canada for their support of the gathering. Rev. Canon Dr. Murray Still, Rector of St James the Assiniboine parish, is co-chair of the sacred circle planning team.

By MURRAY still

St James the Assiniboine

Lenten workshop to focus on indigenous issues

St Peter Dynevor

Diocese to host sacred circle in June

Two young people from this parish undertook service in the Uganda diocese of Central Buganda, the companion diocese of Rupert's Land.

Jana Charlo is going over in February for several weeks to work at Fisher Branch Kalagala High School.

Kurt Petersen has been in Uganda for several months working with Eagle Wings orphans. He has also paid visits to Fisher Branch Kalagala High School and to St George's Wakefield's link parish.

St George’s,WakefieldServing in UgandaBy sAllY BUllivAnt

For further information, contact Dr. Still at 888-3489 or Rupert’s Land Wechetowin Inc. at 803-4715.

For additional information, contact Murray Still at 888-3489 or the diocesan Synod Office at 992-4200.

RUPERt’s lAnd nEws MARch dEAdlinE

Deadline for the March edition of the

Rupert’s Land News is February 1, 2012

Send your material to Terence Moore, Editorrlnews@rupertsland.ca

1-204-992-4205