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The Journal of the Anglican of Yukon Winter 2009

Christmas Greetings from Yukon! page  Northern Lights Winter 2009

Day 10 and 25 Mayo: St. Mary with St. Mark. The Rev. Susan Titterington and the Lay Ministry Team Day 1 & 16 Pelly Crossing: St. James the Lord’s Brother. of Whitehorse: Christ Church Cathedral. Licensed Lay Minister: Betty Joe. The Ven. Dr. Sean Murphy; The Rev. David Pritchard & family; Rev. Martin Carroll, Ruth Carroll & family; Day 11 & 26 Licensed Lay Ministers-in-Training: Gaya Tiedeman, Dawson City: St. Paul’s. Moosehide: St. Barnabas. Beverley Whitehouse, Elsa Cheeseman, Anne The Klondike Creeks; The Dempster Hwy. Bernard The Rev. Dr. Lee Titterington, The Rev. Dn. Percy Henry. The Ven. Ken Snider (Honorary Assistant) and Day 2 & 17 Aldene Snider. Licensed Lay Ministers: Mabel Henry; Fort Nelson: St. Mary Magdalene. Shirley Pennell, Betty Davidson. Toad River, Alaska Highway, mile 150-506 The Rev. Dn. Don Thompson, Lana Thompson and Day 12 & 27 family; Licensed Lay Ministers: Glen Gough, Jeanie Old Crow: St. Luke’s. Arvor and Mark Tudor The Rev. Susan Titterington, The Rev. Dn. Marion Schafer, Esau Schafer & family. and Lay Ministry Day 3 & 18 Team. Watson Lake: St. John the Baptist Lower Post, Swift River. Day 13 & 28 Telegraph Creek: St. Aidan. The Rev. Dn. Sarah Usher: Diocesan Administrative Dease Lake; Glenora. Officer. Licensed Lay Minister: Tim Liverton Members of the Diocesan Executive Committee.. Diocesan Prayer Partner: Diocese of Fredericton. Day 4 & 19 Carcross, Tagish, Johnson’s Crossing Day 14 & 29 St. Saviour’s. The Rev. David Pritchard and family Patti Tetlichi, Yukon Apostolate: Teslin: St. Philips ’s School of Yukon Ministries. The Most Rev. Terry Buckle and the Ministry Team PWRDF Diocesan Representative: Elsa Cheeseman: Day 5 & 20 Diocesan ACW President: Gloria Hockley and all Communities of: Carmacks & Keno, ACW members.

Day 6 & 21 Day 15 & 30 Atlin: St. Martin. Those retired from Missionary Service: The Rev. Dn. Vera Kirkwood & family. The Rev. Dorothy Thorpe. Licensed Lay Minister: Dorothy Odian. The Rev. Bruce Aylard & Audrey Aylard. The Rev. Don Sax & The Rev. Dn. Lee Sax. Day 7 & 22 The Rev. Dr. Ellen Bruce OM. Communities of Faro and Ross River The Ven. Ken and Aldene Snider. The Rev. Geoffrey & Rosalind Dixon Day 8 & 23 The Rev. Canon David & Alice Kalles Haines Junction: St. Christopher’s. The Ven. John & The Rev. Dn. Carol Tyrrell Beaver Creek: St. Columba. The Rev. Fred & Marcia Carson. Alaska Highway: mile 918-1202 The Very Rev. Peter & Barbara Williams The Most Rev. Terry Buckle and Lay Ministry Team Marion Carroll. The Rev. Mary & Lino Battaja Day 9 & 24 Licensed Lay Minister: Edith Josie. Parish of Whitehorse: Church of the Northern Apostles. Day 31 and daily: The Ven. Dr. Sean Murphy (Archdeacon of Liard) The Most Rev. Terry Buckle, Blanche Buckle & The Rev. Dn. Sarah Usher, Len Usher & family family. Northern Lights Winter 2009 page  Our Bishop Writes...... As I look back I greatly value the trust that was extended to me when I was elected Bishop of Yukon in 1995 and again when I was elected Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia and Yukon. Now that I prayerfully prepare with my wife Blanche to move on in the journey ahead in new ministry adventure I pray that my remaining months as Bishop of Yukon will serve our Lord’s purpose well. I am deeply grateful for the many people that prayerfully and Dear Diocese of Yukon Friends: financially support the Diocese of e again approach the season of Yukon. God has blessed us through them WAdvent and Christmas and we in wonderful and encouraging ways. I are at this season of the church year give God thanks for those with whom I reminded of the necessity of personal serve in this diocese. They are a blessing readiness for “the coming”. We watch to me by their committed Christian the news and we wonder. There is so service in Yukon communities. I thank much that causes us concern in the God for all our people in our scattered world of today but what of the world little congregations. God bless them. of tomorrow? “How long O Lord?” So we press on here in Yukon to be the Psalmist asks. We too wait and faithful to the One who has called us wonder. We rejoice in the faithfulness knowing again at the beginning of of God and prepare to worship him in another season of anticipation and the awareness of his coming kingdom hope that he is faithful, absolutely in all its fullness. faithful. He is to us, again in the words As we enter a new church year we in of the Psalmist, “my (our) strength and the Diocese of Yukon enter upon a time my (our) song.” And you too, press of challenge and possible change. We on in faithfulness to our Lord in the seek to be responsive to our Lord’s call anticipation and hope of His coming. to possible new mission incentives as Love, joy, peace and hope in Jesus our prayerful consideration is presently Lord this Advent and Christmas Season being given to partner in mission to all of you. God bless you and keep adventure with the Diocese of the you. Arctic. We also prayerfully plan for a time of new leadership in our diocese for in the year ahead, God willing, a new bishop will be chosen to serve with Bishop of Yukon the people of our diocesan family. page  Northern Lights Winter 2009 Summertime is “VBS TIME”!! Wildwood Forest Adventure fter months of planning and nativity story were acted out, sung and weeks of prayer and preparation, danced about, eaten, and crafted. The Athe Church of St. Paul’s in interactive dramas were well received Dawson City was and some of the transformed into boys were even the Wildwood caught dancing Forest and and singing. 17 intrepid Then after a d v e n t u r e r s everything was between the over in Dawson, ages of 4 and 10, all the VBS eagerly began materials were 4 days of Bible taken down, exploration at rolled up and our 2nd Vacation driven to Mayo Bible School. What fun was had by all to be re-erected at the Mayo Recreation - music, games, drama, crafts, sports, Centre for another fun filled experience. videos - you name it there was something Many had there for everyone. Under the direction left to catch of Rev Lee and Rev Susan Titterington, the fish the gang at St. Paul’s strung lights, wrote which were out songs and Bible verses, painted and running in the river; the temperature was +33˚C. It was too hot to play outside, but the centre was air conditioned (yes!) and word got around that something exciting was happening . cut out bugs, trees, vines, and ladders, hung up many, many leaves, erected a tent, and plotted scavenger hunts, all with the intent of sharing God’s love and teachings with young people. Bible stories about Gideon, Elijah, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and the Northern Lights Winter 2009 page 

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After low numbers the first day, attendance just got better and better, till the last day when we had 5 eager young people. What a joy it is to share your faith with young people who are interested in learning about God’s love for them. Dawson City ACW Get Involved in VBS

The ladies of St. Paul’s ACW in Dawson City spent weeks preparing for the summer Vacation Bible School. Snacks were made each day, crafts were prepared, dramas planned, and music learned. What great fun it is to work for the Lord!

Joyce with children at Dawson City VBS Evelyn in Action

ACW National Conference in Western Newfoundland L to R: Gloria Hockley, Lauren Pidgen (PEI),Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Heather Carr, Past National President at National ACW Conference in Western Nfld.

BC/Yukon Presidents at National ACW Conference in Western Nfld: L to R: Chris Broad, Mother’s Union rep, Gloria Hockley, Mary McIntyre, Barb Coleman. page  Northern Lights Winter 2009

Return to Eagle, Alaska Rev. Dr. Lee Titterington

In the previous edition of Northern Usually as you pulled into this stretch of Lights, readers were introduced to river, you would see children playing in a natural disaster in Eagle, Alaska. their yards, or people walking between Flooding and ice flows destroyed a their homes, or people working in their small Episcopal First Nation village. gardens. This was a living, vibrant This article recounts what happened community; a community I was when Rev. Lee Titterington visited honored to serve for the past four years the community after the floodwaters as their traveling . subsided. But what I had known seemed to be gone. No people and no buildings, just s the boat rounded the river raw earth. bend, where previously there So as I prepared to step off the boat, Ahad been a dozen buildings I wasn’t sure what I might experience. stretched along the river bank, I was The US Customs Agent noticed (it was struck by two things. First of all, there hard not to) my large pack and asked was no sign that human habitation had why I was coming into town. When I ever existed on this site. The river told him I was the Anglican priest and banks had been scoured away and what that I had come to help the Episcopal was once perhaps 8 meters of very community, he thanked me saying, steep bank had been chiseled to half “God bless you.” that depth. As I stepped off the boat an old truck It was like gigantic bulldozers had put pulled up and a young Episcopalian down their blades and removed any First Nations man I have got to know sign of the buildings; which is in effect quite well stepped out. “Welcome exactly what happened. Although instead of metal machines, ice chunks the size of large trucks had functioned in precisely the same way to tear away the river bank and push the homes, church and old school building cleanly away and then crumple them like trash. The second thing I noticed was the lack of people. Northern Lights Winter 2009 page 

Return to Eagle, Alaska Rev. Dr. Lee Titterington

home,” he said. “We missed you.” their eyes because Communion is so That feeling of being part of this important to them. I was told later that community infused everything that it had been a year since they have had happened in the visit. I was given the Communion and this was the first since use of a truck and spent much of the the flood. time visiting people in the new village Their belongings were gone but their being assembled. For although the old faith is strong. At one point, I walked village is gone and cannot be rebuilt on along the ground where the homes the river bank because of the damage; used to be and found a small cross on people are looking forward. Those that a beaded necklace, which had been were displaced by the flood and ice are buried. I was able to track down who living with friends and new homes will the cross belonged to and gave it back. be built. The tears of joy from this small act I slept in their community center, made my trip worthwhile. They know because they wanted me close to where Jesus walks with them and they know they were. I went from home to home they will get through any crisis, with and offered healing prayer, counseling God’s help. or sometimes just someone who could I learned a lot in this visit. I learned listen. In my honor, a community about the resilience of people and faith barbeque was arranged. Several people in the face of adversity. I learned about thanked me (although I had nothing to what is and what is not important. do with it) for a chance to laugh and Community is not our buildings. have fun. “It had been so long since we Although most of us know this on an could come together.” intellectual level, perhaps it takes being Communion on Sunday morning was placed in the aftermath of a disaster in the community center. No prayer to know it on an emotional level. or hymn books (those were destroyed); Community is the people who live and we used copies of music and a bulletin worship together. of the BCP service, which I had brought with me. No altar, but a cloth placed over a picnic table. The singing was slightly off key with no musical accompaniment but nobody cared. We were there to praise and worship God. All the people who were in the village came to receive Communion. People went down on their knees with tears in page  Northern Lights Winter 2009 My Childhood Dream Comes True in Yukon Laurie Munroe ow does one explain how have provided support, encouragement, it feels to have a childhood and learning opportunities that will Hdream come true? As long as benefit me wherever I go. I thank each I can remember I have felt drawn to the and every one of you, and pray that God Yukon. I must have heard some stories will continue to bless you in all ways. while growing up in New Westminster I now know what people mean when that planted some idealized images of they say that they leave a part of their beautiful mountains and strong people. heart behind. Part of mine will always It took half a lifetime and pursuing be here. an education at Wycliffe College in Toronto to finally open the door for me to get here. After a whirlwind flight to Rev. Ben & Nancy Hall: Penticton and three-day drive I walked Just before this issue was completed, into the Cathedral office to meet my first we received news that the Rev. Ben Yukoners and it has been an amazing Hall and his wife, Nancy passed away journey since then. within twelve days of each other in During my time here I have been November. They served in the diocese blessed to take part in services in five for a number of years. and some of their different Anglican churches. Each family still live in Yukon. We extend has been a unique experience that I our condolences and prayers to Andy wouldn’t have missed for the world. Hall and Sarah Usher and their siblings Getting to visit people in homes, and families at this time. There will be care facilities, businesses, restaurants more in the Spring issue about their life and agencies, and traveling between and ministry. Whitehorse, Teslin, Carcross, and Haines Junction has simply shown me From the Editor: that those childhood images were really My husband joins me in sending you true. I’ve met many wonderful people our greetings in the Name of Jesus, and seen scenery beyond anything I Emmanuel, God with us We are in had imagined. As one person said to Uganda again for a three month term me, God must truly love the Yukon. so this magazine was prepared and The difficulty now is finding a way to edited from the “Pearl of Africa” for say goodbye. I have no way to express the second year. the gratitude I feel to Archbishop Terry As we approach the Christmas season for inviting me to come here, or to may you know the joy and peace that Archdeacon Sean for the time he has comes from knowing Jesus, the Saviour spent as my supervisor, or Rev. David of the world. and Rev. Dn. Sarah for all their input. In addition, there are all the people who Northern Lights Winter 2009 page 

NEWS news news Visitors to Yukon

n January 17th, 2010 there will be Oa 50th Anniversary Celebration to celebrate the building of the present Christ Church Cathedral. This building was opened in 1960. For homas and Cheryl Brauer visited more information contact the Diocese his father in Whitehorse this T of Yukon. summer Michael is a member of Christ Church Cathedral (the maintenance person who keeps the ‘plant’ running) and Thomas is a Priest from the Diocese Women’s Conference of Edmonton who is church planting April, 2010 there in a unique way, reaching out to people through the arts. Thomas, his to be held at wife and father are pictured here with Christ Church Cathedral Archbishop Terry Whitehorse Theme: Women in Mission andra & Robert Fairweather, and Speaker: Stheir grand-daughter Jasmine of New Brunswick also visited Yukon this Archbishop Terry Buckle summer – The Fairweather’s come to All women of the diocese are Yukon to visit their daughter and son- welcome to attend. in-law and while here attend Christ More information in the Spring Church Cathedral. A couple of years issue of Northern Lights ago they happened to be in Whitehorse at the time of the annual Christmas Bazaar and both helped out at that event. This visit (July 2009) Sandra brought quite a number of hand knit socks for the bazaar this year. Thanks so much Sandra.

More news on page 11 page 10 Northern Lights Winter 2009 St. Mary’s is Changing, But Still Here Doing God’s Work! Glen Gough

hanges abound everywhere them coming back for a third time!! Cand all the time, and nobody As we sent them away with prayers, knows that more than the St. Mary onto their new adventures in Florida, Magdalene Anglican Church family the Holy Spirit was certainly there in Fort Nelson. In the last four years empowering Dawn and Neville as well there have been three different as the congregation as we faced a new (four if you count the priest who chose reality of our ministry in Fort Nelson to return after a one year absence!). and beyond. The Church has also sold its church Just the week before, Archbishop building, bought a new Church House, Terry visited the parish. It was as and has worshipped in three different if he was there to close one chapter places. Should I continue…we have and open a new one, and at the same also ordained a ; once again are time was giving Dawn and Neville an without a priest, and instead have three appreciative pat on the back for a job Licensed Lay Ministers to provide well done; the Archbishop licensed support in leadership. Change can be three Lay Ministers (Jeanie Arva, difficult, but it can also be a blessing. Mark Tudor and Glen Gough) to The changes St. Mary’s have gone work alongside our recently ordained through have been disruptive, nobody Deacon Don Thompson. These four can argue that; but the changes have make up what we call the Ministry also allowed a bonding of our church Oversight Team. This team takes on family in a way that may not have been the role of worship leaders, administer possible without those changes. communion (from reserved sacrament), Many are aware that our last priest was and ensures that all the ministries of a not an individual but a husband and wife church are available to the parish and team. The Revs. Dawn McDonald and community. Neville Critchlow were here for one year Thanks to Dawn and Neville and with their main ministry priority being a great deal of hard work from the to train members of the congregation to parish members, we now have teams lead the parish without a priest. They in place to prepare people for baptism, not only trained some worship leaders, confirmation, and couples for marriage. they trained an entire congregation to We have people equipped for pastoral take up their Baptismal obligation and care, grief support, and outreach participate in every aspect of ministry projects. We have Bible and Book that any church undertakes. On the studies ongoing and Alpha due to begin last Sunday of August we worshipped in January 2010. We have regular together for the last time with many fellowship times such as the Comfort tears, hugs, prayers, and jokes of Quilters after church each Sunday, and Northern Lights Winter 2009 page 11

NEWS News News

Watson Lake Thrift Shop Continues to Thrive.

The Thrift Shop at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in Watson Lake has been serving the community for forty years. The Thrift Shop is the only outlet in town that has a full line of children’s clothing (apart from the Sears Catalogue!!) The dedicated group of people who run the Thrift Shop is employment and the Lord’s direction grateful to the community for the regarding the Zaccheus ministry. The many donations that are given. book Dawn is working on will soon be completed. From Fort Nelson to Florida! The Rev. Dn. Don Thompson, a long The Rev. Dawn McDonald and her time Fort Nelsonner will be assuming husband, the Rev. Neville Critchlow responsibility for the parish. Please have moved to warmer climes! Instead remember them in your prayers. of being bundled up and shovelling the sidewalk, Dawn is not getting a tan while weeding her garden! Dawn and Neville request prayer for meaningful Magdalene Anglican Church would go away because we did not have full-time St. Mary’s is Changing, , or because we have had so many continued from previous page changes; but we assure you we are very many other opportunities being planned much a part of our community, our throughout the year. We have members Diocese and the Christian family, ready of our church stepping up to do every to praise God at every opportunity! big and little thing necessary for our You can contact the St. Mary’s by church to run smoothly and enable it to phone at 250-774-6427 or by email at be a witness to the community of Fort [email protected] Nelson. When you walk through the door on Sunday, it is just as welcoming, just as worshipful, just as caring as we have always been…priest or no priest! For the Spring issue of Northern Lights You may have thought St. Mary will be February 20, 2010 Northern Lights magazine is published by the Diocese of Yukon and its goal is to inform people everywhere about the life, work and mission of the Anglican Church in the diocese and to inform the churches of Yukon about each other, thus strengthening the bonds of mutual appreciation. Opinions expressed herein are those of the writer or contributor and not necessarily those of the Diocese of Yukon. Subscriptions: $10 or greater donation per year (3 issues per year) Editor: Rosalind G. Dixon Email: [email protected] Articles, photos and any inquiries including subscriptions, changes of address, donations and correspondence regarding the work of the diocese should be directed to: Diocese of Yukon, PO Box 31136, Whitehorse, YT. Y1A 5P7 (867) 667-7746 Fax (867) 667-6125 Email: [email protected] Web site: http://anglican.yukon.net Printed by: Arctic Star Printing Whitehorse, Yukon