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Hearts and Homes Open to Wildfire Evacuees

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Hearts and Homes Open to Wildfire Evacuees A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL SERVING THE DIOCESES OF ATHABASCA & EDMONTON essenger THE M JUNE 2016 www.edmonton.anglican.org Hearts and homes open to wildfi re evacuees Jodi Schmidt’s view of her Timberlea neighbourhood as St. Timothy’s Passes she and her family evacuated Fort Waterbucket for Red Cross McMurray on May 3. Though fi re consumed Members fi lled the bucket with 20 per cent of the $360, which they agreed would city, the Schmidt’s be used to help Fort McMurray home did not burn. citizens. The next day, at the suggestion of Canon Maureen Crerar, the MARGARET MARSCHALL “We followed the Book of “Hogle Bucket” was passed Alternative Services (BAS) pattern he Sunday after the largest among the two Sunday morning for Ascension Day, but gave room fi re evacuation in Alberta’s congregations at St. Timothy’s. for clergy to speak. We allowed the history, some of Fort Hogle then handed the bucket T prayers to be offered directly by McMurray’s residents who had off to a neighbour who was individuals in the congregation,” been forced to leave their homes attending a Shriner’s event and said Crane, who planned the service on Tuesday, May 3, were reunited it has since made the rounds to with his good friend, the Rev. Dane in Edmonton during a special several service and leisure clubs Neufeld, rector of All Saints’, Fort worship service at St. Augustine of in Edmonton, for a grand total of McMurray. Canterbury Anglican Church. The $1,500 by press time. Throughout the service and service was led by Athabasca Bishop “I truly believe in giving back potluck meal organized by the host Fraser Lawton and clergy from to all the communities in which I parish, people spoke of what they All Saints’ and St. Thomas, Fort Bruce Hogle passing bucket. have lived,” says Hogle, who started had seen, the grief they felt, what had McMurray and St. Augustine’s. n his way to a gathering of the CTV Good Neighbour Fund given them hope, what they learned The familiar liturgy provided the St. Timothy’s Men’s benefi tting charities in central and in the process, their fear for their comfort and a much needed Club Saturday, May 7, northern Alberta. homes, and how coping with the O opportunity for displaced community long-time parishioner Bruce Hogle, “I know that eventually we will aftermath of the fi re was affecting members, around 30 people out of former news director for CFRN TV have the major fi re problems in their life and work. a congregation of 100, to gather in (now CTV Edmonton) grabbed a northern Alberta controlled. But we “It was stunning and amazing to one place, greet one another and bucket from his garage and covered can’t forget the people who will be hear such stories,” Crane said. tell their story of the event, said the it with newspaper headlines related going back and the people who can’t Rev. Jonathan Crane, rector of St. to the Fort McMurray wildfi re. or won’t go back.” Continued on page 2. Augustine’s. The Edmonton Synod Offi ce delivers a truckload of drinking water to the Bold Centre in Lac La Biche, an emergency centre for fi re evacuees. Ordinations p. 4 Being an Inviting Church p.6 Alpha Youth at Alexis p. 11 2 THE MESSENGER JUNE 2016 Community Anglicans unite over Fort McMurray disaster We’re tired at the end of the day, but it’s a good tired. This is ministry. Deborah and Clive Scheepers Continued from front page. St. John’s annual spring rummage sale, inviting evacuees to come and At Northlands Expo Centre, the take what they needed and Cold Edmonton Reception Centre for Fort Lake thrift stores opened their closets McMurray evacuees, Edmonton to evacuees. Gauthier and other City Chaplain, the Rev. John Dowds, members of the faith community coordinated a roster of volunteer met at Lakeland Lutheran Church chaplains, including Bishop Jane to determine the most effi cient way Alexander and clergy from the to collect and distribute food and Edmonton diocese, to provide essential items. The local food bank, pastoral care. run by the ministerial group, was The fi rst point of refuge chosen as the central drop-off and Deborah and Clive Scheepers (left) talking with evacuees at the Bold for thousands of the more than pick-up location. Centre in Lac La Biche. 80,000 people evacuated from The Rev. Helen Northcott, Fort McMurray was found in the meanwhile, learned that members “People don’t know what the On May 8, Bishop Jane invited neighbouring communities to the of the Fort McMurray First Nation future holds,” said Clive. “They parishes in the Edmonton diocese southeast. Mere days after being had been evacuated to Lac La Biche. don’t know if they’ll have a home to to take a special collection for relief ordained deacons in the Edmonton In response, the Edmonton Synod return to.” work related to the fi res. “This is, of diocese, the Rev. Donna Gauthier Offi ce delivered a truckload of “So we listen,” said Deborah, course, an extraordinary ask,” she and the Rev. Helen Northcott of St. drinking water to the Bold Centre. “and give them a hug if they need said, “but these are extraordinary John the Evangelist, Cold Lake, took More than 4,000 Fort McMurray one.” times…” action to help families arriving in evacuees registered at the Bold Dividing their time between the Across Canada and around the their communities with little more Centre. Some stayed in the facility Bold Centre, the Athabasca Agriplex world, people have given generously than the clothes on their back. and slept on cots, hundreds were and the Boyle Community Centre, in response to the Fort McMurray Keen to help, Gauthier worked billeted locally, and others moved on they invited evacuees to their Sunday fi re, and the federal government is through the day connecting with to other locations. service at St. Andrew’s, offering a matching every individual donation the local Red Cross and Family “Donations have been liturgy of comfort. Bold Centre staff to the Canadian Red Cross. and Community Support Services overwhelming and we have 500 announced the service and provided As of Monday, May 9, PWRDF (FCSS), the local radio station, people signed up to volunteer,” said shuttle service to the church. had received more than $24,000 in and other churches in the area, all Jihad Moghrabi, Communications “We’re tired at the end of the donations, and an immediate grant in an effort to serve the evacuees. Coordinator for Lac La Biche day,” said the Scheepers. “But it’s a of $15,000 was sent to Bishop Upon hearing from a cousin who County. He stressed the need for good tired. This is ministry.” Fraser Lawton and the Athabasca lost her home to the fi re, Gauthier people to give monetarily through In Drayton Valley, some 500 diocese for emergency relief. On located more than 40 families at the Red Cross or Primate’s World kilometres southwest of Fort May 12, PWRDF sent an additional a Bonnyville hotel. Local stores Relief and Development Fund McMurray, the parish of All Saints’ $6,000 to the Diocese of Edmonton had closed for the evening, so (PWRDF). distributed welcome fl iers at hotels for immediate relief needs for she brought a few essential items Diocese of Athabasca priests and guest homes, providing evacuees evacuees of the Fort McMurray from home and stayed to hear their Deborah and Clive Scheepers began with information about community fi res. A Christian agency focused concerns. She found people were in a ministry of presence at the Bold resources, important contacts and on international development and shock and having diffi culty getting Centre as soon as it opened as an and a prayer by Bishop Jane. global justice, PWRDF was started information about what they were to emergency reception centre. Alberta The Rev. Miranda Sutherland, by Anglicans and Canadians who do next. A quick and reliable means citizens for less than two years interim priest-in-charge of the parish, wanted to help families stricken of communication was one of the - the Scheepers came to Canada volunteered at the local Red Cross by the 1958 mining disaster in fi rst needs Gauthier discovered. from South Africa in January, 2015 distribution centre where “great Springhill, NS. When people rushed to safety, they to minister to the parishes of All generosity from the community” At press time, more than 30 left home without chargers for their Saints’, Athabasca and St. Andrew’s, was received. The parish collected families had contacted the Synod phones - lifelines of information that Lac La Biche - never before had its May offerings for the Red Cross, Offi ce in Edmonton to offer last only as long as their batteries. they encountered a disaster of such while also upholding the Fort assistance and accommodations for A local radio station announced magnitude. McMurray community in prayer. evacuees. Holy God, We give thanks for all the blessings of this life and for the indwelling of your Holy Spirit. This morning we particularly lift up to you the people of Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo region. We pray for all those who have lost their homes, all who have been displaced, all those in distress. Comfort them O Lord. Be present to them. Send the blessing of rain upon this land that fires may cease. Give rest and strength to all emergency support workers and their families. Open our hearts to help.
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