Jacob’s Ladder Lent 2015 Jacob’s Ladder A newsletter from St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Port Hope St. Mark’s says The renowned choir The Coldest Night of the Godspeed to Marg of Britain’s Year” saw a team of Tandy Gloucester walkers from St. Mark’s Cathedral to sing at raise $2100 Parishioners gave a St. Mark’s in the fall resounding farewell to in support of the Green our priest of 13 years Wood Coalition See the photo above and See page 5 pages 4 and 11 See page 9 Hello from the Interim Priest, Mary Ryback A year after her arrival in Canada, Mary met Chet--a widower— My arrival on March 1st landed me into your midst in in the public library where she worked. Five months later they this most solemn season of Lent. I’ve been up and were married! He came as a package deal—with two daughters running ever since! and a son. Two more daughters were born to Mary and Chet. When the youngest child was in grade 8, Mary began her undergraduate studies by correspondence through the University of Waterloo. In 1992 Mary graduated with a B.A. in Religious Studies. This was to be the end of her formal schooling, but a year later Mary enrolled at Trinity College, University of Toronto in the Master of Divinity programme. As part of the requirements for this degree, each student had to spend a term as an intern in a parish church. Mary was able to fulfill this requirement in Cuernavaca, Mexico. She and Chet loved the four months they lived there. Mary graduated with an honours I wish to thank all of the parishioners who have Master of Divinity degree in 1997 and was ordained Deacon at welcomed me with such grace and kindness. My St. James Cathedral in 1998. She spent her curacy at Trinity acceptance into your fold has been a joy to me. It is my Church, Port Credit, where she was ordained a priest. wish that this friendship will continue as I walk with you through the seasons of the church and the selection From Mississauga Mary and Chet moved to Gores Landing process that will culminate in the appointment of your where she was in charge of a three-point parish (Gores Landing, new priest later in the year. Change and transition are Bewdley, Perrytown). Five and a half years later Mary moved to what keeps us on our toes, enabling us to look with fresh Colborne to begin a ministry of two years in a two-point parish, eyes on the “way we have always done things”! Colborne and Grafton. Four years later she retired. As I work to remember your names I ask you to consider Five months after retirement Mary joined the staff of St. Peter’s wearing your name tags to aid me in this process. Church in Cobourg as the Pastoral Associate. Two years later the current rector moved to another parish. Mary resigned her Lent is a time of reflection, meditation, prayer, reading position when the Bishop appointed two clergy to St. Peter’s. and an opportunity to walk --in your hearts and minds-- Christ’s journey through the forty days of this season. Mary enjoys gardening (over an acre surrounds her home), As Holy Week approaches, the tension mounts as we reading, theatre, concerts, cooking and travelling. follow Jesus through his critical last days on earth. I commend this week to you, asking you to do your best to ____________________________________________________ let the noise and busyness of our secular lives fade into Sub-committee of the Advisory Board resurrected the background. Easter isn’t about bunnies, chicks and Easter eggs; it’s about the resurrection of Christ! Parishioners may remember that, as a result of our Vision 20/20 process, we felt it was time to re-evaluate the effectiveness and May God’s blessings be upon you all. success of our Advisory Board. Among the various sub- Mary. committees put in place as a result of that review was the Maintaining and Growing the Congregation group. Unfortunately, it _____________________________________________ never met as no chair was found, but recently it has taken on new life. Mary has kindly provided this short – and very interesting – biography. (ed.) Under the chairship of Peter Kedwell, the committee comprised of Pat Eberle, Patrick Gray and Cathy Carlyle, Pat and Dick Mary Ryback was born in Wollongong, N.S.W., Symonds and Val Mancktelow has met twice and has made good Australia—50 miles south of Sydney. Her high school headway in reviewing its mandate and coming up with new ideas education took place at St. Gabriel’s School, in Sydney. to help “maintain and grow the congregation”. We feel our This school was run by the Community of the Sisters of group’s five areas of concern mesh well and overlap in some ways the Church, an Anglican order of nuns. with the mandates of the other subcommittees. We remain excited and energized as we continue to review and establish Following graduation, Mary worked in the Wollongong some new ideas and programs for St. Mark’s. Public Library for five years, by which time her itchy feet persuaded her to go to Europe. After working in If YOU have any ideas which you feel would be helpful, England, Mary travelled to the continent, Denmark and please speak to or phone/email any committee member. We are Sweden. While working again in London Mary visited all ears and happy to receive your suggestions. You may find that England, Wales and Ireland. A year and a half after her your idea(s) is already under consideration. Peter Kedwell, Chair arrival, she was off again—this time to Canada. 2 AMONG FRIENDS Jack Goering turned 90 on February 16th. We held a festive celebration for him after church on February 15th. Compiled by Claire Mowat The birthday cake was there for all St. Markers who were born in February. For some reason quite a few of th Canon Graham Cotter’s 90 birthday was January 12. us were: We celebrated it here after church on January 11 with cake and refreshments. Many of Graham’s family and friends were Claire Mowat ….Feb.5 here. There was a display of photographs and mementos of John DeVisser….Feb.8 the life Graham shared with Evelyn and their family and the many years of service in the Anglican Church of Canada. Valerie Smith…. Feb.14 Jack Goering……Feb.16 Graeme Lawson..Feb.17 Robert Smith… Feb.29 If you have a February birthday and we don’t know about it please tell us: Ian McDonald, Claire Mowat or Barb Grandy at the church office. Last year marled the seventieth anniversary of the liberation of France during WWII. In grateful recognition to Canada for its part in the conflict the President of the Republic named a number of veterans to The Legion of Honour, his country’s highest award. Geoff Dale was one of a number of veterans of his Regiment to be so honoured. Many happy returns, Graham. We are so pleased that you have been part of St. Mark’s, Port Hope, for many years. Mourning our four-footed friends: Steve Poste’s pot- bellied pig died a few weeks ago. Bunny, the Chocolate On January 12th there was a spectacular concert at the Labrador dog belonging to Trish Doney also died Capitol Theatre in memory of the late Farley Mowat. recently. Our condolences to Steve and Trish. Internationally celebrated pianist Angela Hewitt offered to do this benefit concert as a tribute to Farley who loved her St. Mark’s Mid-Winter Snowbirds: George Clements music. Over the years Angela and Farley traded her CDs and has been in Florida since just after Christmas. Tony his books. Angela had performed with Friends of Music and Val Mancktelow also headed south and visited several times since her first performance in 1987. Angela’s with George. Ken and Sue West have also been in the father, Godfrey Hewitt, was the organist at Christ Church sunny south and so was Jane Pinchin. Mark and Cathedral in Ottawa for fifty years. Nora Holmes are newly back from Florida. Gary and Barb Russell are spending seven weeks in Portugal. Special thanks to Ron and Pat Paddon, with assistance Stephen Smith has recently returned from four weeks from Doug Armstrong, for assembling a photo memorial in New Zealand. Peter Kedwell savoured a brief about St. Hugh’s House. This can be seen in the display case holiday in the Bahamas and is now headed for Cuba. at the back of the church. Here at St. Mark’s we have a long Carolanne Bjarnasson visited her daughter and association with housing for people with special needs. St. family in Holland. Elmer Bogyay has returned from Hugh’s House, on Rose Glen Road, was founded by two several months in Hungary. Anne Finlay, Evan Anglican nuns, Sister Eileen and Sister Anna, in 1954. It Legakis and their daughters Sarah and Kate spent was a kind and caring home for a dozen women before the the march break in Barbados. days of government funded group homes as we now know them. For many years all the residents of St. Hugh’s House St. Markers will be interested to read the inscription on attended St. Mark’s Church, and some of them still do. This one of the marble plaques on the south wall of the nave. house continues to provide a home-like residence for those It commemorates the collapse of the bridge over the who need some assistance in their day-to-day life Desjardins Canal near Hamilton in March of 1857.