Ecumenical Calling ministry Scout alumni honoured Backbone P.6 P.3 of the church? P.4 he t A SECTIONMessenger OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL SERVING THE DIOCESES OF ATHABASCA AND EDMONTON MARCH 2009 Enright: “People need to hear the hard truth.” Virtual church for BY MARGARET MARSCHALL isolated communities Once the smoke of the smudging BY FIONA BROWNLEE circle had cleared, and the drums of Just over a year ago the diocese of Keewatin began the PowWow band had faded, the an Internet ministry called “Virtual Church School” Rev. Travis Enright, an Anglican that provided weekly Sunday School lessons usually priest of Cree descent, reflected on a based on the Gospel for the day found online at recent residential school symposium www.dioceseofkeewatin.ca/virtual-church-school. with a sense of “awe and hope.” These lessons include some form of opening Enright, Assistant Curate at worship, a story and three craft ideas. The best part? All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral, There is no cost to the parish or local leader who describes the spirit emanating from downloads them. the “Truth and Reconciliation: OWLER The news of this new ministry became wider Healing the Legacy of Residential F ELLY known throughout the Council of the North. People K Schools” conference as, “refreshing © Edmonton’s Yellow Ribbon Dancers perform at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre during the working with children in isolated parishes began - like a really good rain that leaves “Remember the Children” public night where members of Aboriginal communities came together with to use the material. A lay reader from the diocese everything cleansed and restored.” ecumenical leaders from across Canada for a time of remembering, reconciling and celebration. of Montreal who is French offered to translate the More than 600 students and heritage that can’t be forgotten.” truth and reconciliation discussions materials for free so that small francophone parishes members of the general public While emceeing the conference, should continue to be about in Quebec would have access to quality materials. A gathered January 21-22, at King’s Enright says he observed a “restoration, not condemnation.” lay woman from the diocese of Brandon who is on University College in Edmonton transformation in the “sea of The King’s University conference the executive for the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer to listen to personal stories from white faces.” He could sense the made important strides. But it is only and has a keen interest in children’s ministry offered residential school survivors. students’ stereotypical notions about a beginning. Through his ministerial to provide seasonal prayer ideas. As the ministry Apologies from national church aboriginals as “savage warriors” or and community-building efforts, grew so did the enthusiasm for it. leaders for their role in running the “street people” subside, as a new Enright strives to be a Christian role At the end of 2008 the Council of the North schools were also heard. From the understanding of the native culture model, and a “positive reflection of decided that this program should become a mid 19th century until 1969, Anglican emerged. God’s love.” As a new member of the ministry of the Council as a whole. It is one that churches operated 26 of the 80 “The potential for positive relations City of Edmonton’s Aboriginal Urban meets Council mandate to provide pastoral and residential schools in Canada. between aboriginal and non- Affairs Committee, he intends to be a sacramental ministry to Anglicans living in isolated As a member of the organizing aboriginal people exists,” he says, “as voice of reconciliation, and will work communities in Canada’s North. As a result the committee for the two-day event, long as we continue to acknowledge to foster an understanding between program is being promoted within the Council co-sponsored by the Truth and the truth.” aboriginal and non-aboriginals. dioceses widely. Reconciliation Commission’s Enright witnessed the culturally Now that the federal government- The wider church has a hand in this ministry as (TRC) “Remembering the Children” devastating effects of residential sponsored TRC, led by the well. Our church helps to support the ministry of Initiative, Enright is confident that a schools firsthand. His mother, Honourable Frank Iacobucci, is the Council through a yearly grant from the budget key objective - to instill in people the grandmother and grandfather all continuing its mandate to ensure the of General Synod and through the generous gifts belief that Canada’s residential school attended the Gordon Residential voices of residential school survivors Anglicans across the country make to the Anglican history is not just an Aboriginal issue School, at Punnichy, Saskatchewan. are heard and acknowledged, the Appeal. If you are interested in supporting this - was achieved. He credits his grandfather’s faith in spirit of healing that Enright found ministry directly then please do so through the “People need to hear the hard truth. God with “saving our family from at the King’s conference should Anglican Appeal and indicate that it is for “Virtual This is a Canadian issue; a part of our utter destruction,” and believes that continue to flourish. Church School.” 60 seconds on campus with Rev. Sue Oliver SUE: Fort McPherson is a small hamlet I had the privilege of walking with In her new position as Anglican roughly 200 kilometres north of the many young people as they struggled chaplain on the University of Arctic Circle and just a little south with addictions, violence and family Alberta campus, Rev. Susan Oliver of Santa’s workshop! The Gwich’in problems. Through conversation, shares her views on relational people call Fort McPherson their counsel and play we worked through ministry, working in an ecumenical home and for a time they called me many of these issues and so I bring environment and the value of a their gikhyi, which is the Gwich’in this experience with me. Many of good cup of tea. word for minister. After having the Gwich’in people were also very lived in one of the most isolated and committed people of faith. Through MESSENGER: Having lived in the challenging parts of the country I praying with one another, Bible study Northwest Territories for three and return to a city with a sense of the and community worship, the people a half years, what have you learned importance of being honest with one were deeply grounded in God. In OWLER or experienced up North that is another and breaking down the many times of crisis and sorrow, there was F ELLY K a valuable contribution to your barriers we put up in our lives and in an abundance. © ministry at the university? our country. While in Fort McPherson >> SEE UNIVERSITY PAGE 5 Rev. Sue Oliver brings her talents to the university scene 2 / THE MESSENGER MARCH 2009 B i shop’s Corner Feast with me during Lent In the As I sit here on a snowy afternoon out all the stuff that gets in the way. in February thinking about Lent To set priorities for our lives that Footsteps the question I know I will be asked include God. May it be our greatest crosses my mind – “what are you wish, too. of Jesus: doing for Lent this year?” +Jane Lent causes us to reexamine our A Holy Land hearts and our consciences, to check A New Lenten Fast in in quite a formal way with God. Pilgrimage We are called to disciplines of Fast from words that pollute; and feast prayer, fasting, almsgiving, study and on phrases that purify. “In The Footsteps of Jesus: prayer. Not because they make things A Holy Land Pilgrimage” miserable but because they enrich OWLER Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude. takes place from May 25 to F our spiritual lives and give us great ELLY June 6, 2009, guided by Rev. K joy as we grow ever closer to God. © Fast from anger; feast on patience. Joseph Walker, Bishop Greg The purpose is not so we can say, Bishop Jane Alexander Kerr-Wilson, and Rev. Sally “See how I pray!” Or “Look at me, Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism. French. I’m fasting.” Or “Wow, I’m giving I find that forty days of intentional We will be journeying up dessert so I can give food to the living in this way serves to as a ‘tune- Fast from complaining; feast on through Israel, following the hungry.” When we pray, and fast and up’ for the rest of the year. Not that I appreciation. give alms it has everything to do with routinely have a spirit of pessimism, biblical stories and places of our relationship with God. complaining and discontent, you Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness. the life of Jesus throughout It may seem odd when I say that I understand; rather it is that if those the Gospels. am planning on feasting this Lent. symptoms appear you nip them in the Fast from self-concern; feast on We will visit all the major It is something I have done before bud as not being true reflections of compassion for others. biblical sites, from Jesus’ and, lest this sounds strange, let our life in Christ. birth in Bethlehem to his me explain a little more. The idea I wish each of you a beautiful Lent, Fast from discouragement; feast on hope. death and resurrection at came up after reading an article by a time when you and God grow even Jerusalem, with additional an American writer, William Arthur closer. The good news is that even Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on visits to other important sites Ward, about a different Lenten Fast.