The ARCTIC NEWS THE JOURNAL OF THE DIOCESE OF THE ARCTIC The Beaches of Fort Simpson Spring / Summer 2018 BISHOP PARSONS’ MESSAGE On my way to work this rising up indifferent to God. It seems that morning, there were a lot even in the Christian church many of detours. For the past theologians have lost their way. Many have two summers Yellowknife rejected the Bible as the Word of God and has been replacing its old explore their own theories of God and gods. water systems. Old pipes As these lost theologians, with human are being dug up and re- reason, seek to create God in their own placed. This has caused image, concern is for people who attend Yellowknifers to exercise Christian services and are left in the murky great patience as their main thoroughfares maze of uncertainty. People need a message are being closed in preparation for the expan- of hope, life, reconciliation, restoration, sion of their city. mercy and forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ and Only through Jesus Christ. Most people are uncomfortable with change. There’s no other Saviour, there’s no other They get set in their ways: think of the good who can offer eternal life. Only Jesus can old days as if they are without any problems, bring us to God the Father and without Jesus trials, or difficulties. That’s not the case. we are spiritually bankrupt. Any church that There have always been problems, trials, or chooses to teach or follow false prophets, difficulties and times of transition. It may be that stand opposed to scripture, should nostalgic to look back with faded memories remember biblical history. and remember the good times and forget the bad; it’s important to be realistic. Yes, times The Gospel is inclusive for it teaches me that have changed. There were good times in the the all have sinned and fallen short of God’s past but there have also been quite difficult purpose and plan for our life. All are dead in ones, ones that I’m glad are past. But I wasn’t trespasses and sins, there is no righteous alone during those difficult times. Jesus Christ person on earth. Not one of us can have our my Lord and God said, “I will never leave you sins blessed by God. But God sent his Son nor forsake you.” “Come to me all you who Jesus to take our sin, and although Jesus are weary and heavy laden learn of me take committed no sin, He was condemned as a my yoke upon you can You’ll find rest.” sinner in our place so that we may become “Acknowledge me in all of your ways and I’ll the righteousness of God. We give Jesus our direct your path.” sin. Jesus gives us His righteousness. This is the good news that people need to hear. In the dark days of trial and oppressive difficulty, I’ve called out to God, whose ways I hope as you read through this edition of are greater than my ways, whose thoughts Arctic News you are encouraged and will join are high above my thoughts and as I look us in praising God for all He has done. back I can see that He led me in the paths of I covet your prayers for God to guide us in the righteousness for His name sake. I cannot building of His Kingdom, not ours. We need boast in anything. I give all the glory to God our ears open to hear God. Almighty for He has been my deliver and He will lead us into the future. Thank you for your prayers and financial support, and for continuing support of the However, I’m very concerned for the cooling ministry in the Diocese of the Arctic. spiritual lives of many people in the church today. I hear so much about rights, self-will, self-determination. Humanity seems to be 2 BISHOP MCCARTNEY’S MESSAGE Spring in Iqaluit has early Christians who were sent to work as been a few weeks slaves in the Roman mines. Unable to stand later this year. When up in a dangerous and harsh environment, celebrating Liam’s sent there because they followed the way of birthday last year we Jesus Christ. They left their marks in more had the front door ways than one, physical marks - Christian open and sitting out symbols carved into the sides of the mines on the front deck. It they worked in. They never forgot who they was warm and the ice followed and sought to encourage one was well on the way to melting, not this another to remember. year, we had snow. This has allowed more mobility for many as they have been able to As I travel across the arctic, I am encouraged continue using their snow machines out on and humbled by many who continue to be a the land and as a result been able hunt more faithful witness of the Lord Jesus Christ whom easily. they follow. They meet, they share, they minister, they are bearers of the Word and This last week saw old soldier’s day our communities are blessed by their celebrated in some parts of the world. As I presence. read some of my former colleagues posts on Facebook, I could not help but be reminded I want to ask you to remember them in your how the mind is complicated, often selective prayers as they work in challenging in what it chooses to remember. Former environments. Should you be one of the colleagues had met to remember and faithful, I want to encourage you to persevere parade together and in their comments was and I thank you for your witness and reflected something of the “good old days”. partnership in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I smile as I remember some of the “not so good old days”. Something of the Thank you and blessings challenges, something of the pain and uncertainty, don’t get me wrong, I loved what I did but it was not easy. The mind often gravitates towards the happy and the good times and I see Prayer Requests: something of this often reflected in the church. I am sure you know something of Please pray for the Teens Encounter what I am talking about. The good old days, Christ weekend retreat, and the youth when it seemed everyone went to church ministry school. but I am quite convinced that should we choose to go a little deeper in our memories and discuss, we would come to appreciate Please pray for the incoming there were many challenges or struggles at ATTS students. the same time. Please pray for the Arrow Leadership The church has a rich history of people conference for our clergy and our persevering under great trials and hardships. lay leaders in November 2018. I am humbled by the faithful witness of the 3 Arctic Travels—December 2017 was known as Great Whale River but as it is By: Melanie Delva comprised of both Cree and Inuit communities, it also goes by the Cree name In December, I spent 2 weeks travelling of Whapmagoostui. You can tell what part of Nunavik — the Eastern Arctic and most the community you are in based on the northern points of Quebec. I meant to “live syllabics on the signs — some Cree, some blog” it along the way, but not only was it a Inuktitut: lot to take in and process, but wifi is still satellite there and very unreliable in places and at times. But I did want to do a blog talking about what I experienced and learned. Cree and Inuktitut Stop signs in Kuujjuaraapik Everything in Kuujjuaraapik was new and exciting for me — from my first visit to the local co-op general store, to the ski-doos whipping up and down the main street through the town. The first thing that really Our stops along the Hudson and Ungava bays. struck me, though, was the quality of light in with the exception of Kuujjuarapik, all above the tree line! the North. It is very hard to From Montreal we took a Dash-8 Air Inuit describe. The light flight to Kuujjuaraapik. that time of year was low, but is beautiful and the sky brilliant with sun dogs. I couldn’t possibly describe it Sky in Kuujuuaraapik properly but it took my breath away everywhere we went. I was grateful to be traveling with some pretty great people. One was Esther Wesley of the Anglican Healing Fund and the other, the Right Reverend David Parsons of the Our Dash-8 reading for boarding in Montreal Diocese of the Arctic. Esther and I were really Anglican mission began here in 1882! It is the guests of Bishop David on his Episcopal southernmost of the ‘northern villages’ with a travels — visiting parishes and doing services population of about 600 people. Historically it of Confirmation, licensing of clergy, 4 weddings, teaching etc. I felt really honoured This was my first taste of hearing mainly to have been invited. St. Edmund’s, Inuktitut in public places. All along the way Kuujjuarapik has both Cree and Inuit we stayed in the local co-op hotels which are congregations who came together for the staffed by local community members. They service we attended there. Each line the were incredibly welcoming, comfortable and Bishop spoke in English was translated first beautiful. Because none of the communities into Cree and then into Inuktitut. It was we went to were large enough to support a amazing to watch the translators work — restaurant, the co-op hotels all have large, what an incredible gift to really hear what a communal kitchens for preparing meals.