JUNE 4, 2020

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Good morning everyone and welcome to June! Can you believe that we have been operating as a “church without walls” for over 12 weeks! I started this publication the middle of March as a means of keeping us connected during this pandemic time - none of us knew how long it would be before we are together again, face to face, hand to hand, hug to hug…and the time is stretching into more than we had anticipated. But rest assured we will be together again - the winds of change are blowing through. I’ve been thinking a lot about wind this last week. Sparked no doubt by the crazy Saskatchewan winds we have been experiencing that make me, for one, irritable and edgy. We have just celebrated Pentecost with a wonderful on-line Diocesan-wide service - wind figures prominently in Pentecost does’t it. Wind brings about change - sometimes that change is upsetting, disruptive, annoying - when it destroys the plants you have lovingly placed in the ground, throws about your lawn furniture and leaves a trail of dirt and dust in its wake…a friend recently had a mature tree fall in his yard as a result of being pummelled by relentless winds…and sadly this has now resulted in a considerable expense to remove a lovely shade tree. Change is inevitable isn’t it - with or without the “wind” change is going to happen. For many, many years my parents attended the Cathedral - and like many others they had “their”

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THE PARISHES OF ST. LUKE, ST. MATTHEW,

ST. JAMES, ST. PHILIP AND ALL SAINTS

AROUND THE CROSS

JUNE 4, 2020

pew - the place they sat in every Sunday. Everyone knew it was “their” pew and therefore no one else would be brazen enough to sit there - that is until “they” arrived - the couple from another parish - who didn’t know that that was my parents pew and with reckless abandon staked it out as “their” pew. My parents arrived as usual on that fateful Sunday and headed straight for “their” pew - to find….the “new” folks happily ensconced in what was now…“their” pew! The ladies exchanged polite greetings, a tad bit chilly on my mothers side, and there was a pregnant pause as my mother stood expectantly at the edge of “her” pew, no doubt expecting the interlopers to apologize and quickly relinquish the spot. Now these two ladies were two formidable matriarchs within the church - one had held a position of power for many years in her former parish and my mother was the co-chair of the altar guild, (the other chair was her best friend), that sacred realm of power and mystery, and even the clergy were known to tremble when challenging their authority over all things sacred. It became very clear that we now had a standoff - the “new” lady, being well indoctrinated in the church protocol of pew “ownership”, was beginning to realize that she was in my mothers pew - no doubt because my mother was still standing there politely glaring at her! And it became increasingly obvious that the pew poachers were not about to abandon their claim. The immediate situation was resolved by the gentlemen, who greeted each other with genuine warmth and struck up a conversation, forcing my mother to sit in the pew behind, with my father, and relinquish her place….for now! The next Sunday my mother energetically encouraged my father to arrive at

church a half hour before their regular time to re-claim “their” pew. When the “new” couple arrived and headed for the pew it was to find my triumphant mother once more in her “rightful” place…and my father and the other gentlemen sheepishly exchanging words of greetings. This went on for quite some time with each of the ladies trying to best the other in getting to the pew first…and all this was done with the thin veil of genteel politeness that women of that era were famous for. Things truly came to a head when the “new” lady joined the altar guild - that holy sanctum where my mother truly did reign supreme. Now you might suppose that with the pew battle lines drawn, the altar guild would become yet another battle ground….actually you would be wrong. Once these two ladies started to get to know each other by working in the church together, they started to lower their guard and to their great surprise began to like each other and appreciate each other and a friendship ensued. As to the pew…my mother graciously relinquished her hold and took up permanent residence in the

one behind…a place she held until she was not longer able to attend church.

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Today, I want to talk about the Winds of Change. God is the agent of change. Isaiah 43:19 New International Version: 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. For God to fulfil that promise in Isaiah, He has to bring about change.When God does a new thing, that means that there are changes about to happen. He's an agent of change. Romans 12:2 New International Version 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. God is into transformation; that means change. When He gets a hold of a person's life, He changes it. When He gets a hold of a church, He changes it. People find it difficult to change - and certainly change within the church can unleash a torrent of emotions. People resist change…but change happens continuously anyway. Just think of the seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter…God has built change into our very existence. Think of the aging process…no matter how hard you try, or what products, diets, exercise etc. you buy into you cannot turn back the clock - you are going to change whether you like it or not. Change brings uncertainty, fear and that feeling of spinning out of control because so much of the change we experience in life is beyond our control. Like the wind we can’t do anything about it. The church has a history of resisting change. Even the early church found it difficult to adapt to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Think about what Jesus said to the disciples in Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This is where Jesus reinforced the mission he had already given his disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16. And what was their mission? To go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. This is what Jesus was restating in Acts 1:8 by telling them that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to help them to fulfil that mission. That mission was to Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. In other words…local, national and international. So…what did they do? did they fulfil the mission?…nope, they sat around in Jerusalem all the way through Acts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7…it wasn't until Acts 8 that there was a persecution which scattered the disciples through Judea and Samaria. Finally, they were starting to be obedient to Christ’s command…but not by choice…sometimes God has to take drastic measures to get us to obey Him. This time it took persecution, but they still didn't get with the program. Yes, they were preaching the word (Acts 8:4), but they were still only preaching to Jews and Samaritans…what about the Gentiles? Didn’t they know that Jesus wanted them to preach to the Gentiles too? Of course they did!Jesus was very clear about that He said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only

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begotten Son..."He didn't say, "For God so loved the Jews that He gave His only begotten Son..."He said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mk 16:15) This message was never just for the Jews. But people find it so difficult to cope with change. It wasn't till Acts 10 that they began to rethink their theology to come into alignment with God's theology.

People find change so difficult. And the church, down through the ages has been no different. When the Roman emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the empire, the church went into a downward spiral.That downward spiral was already happening since the time of the apostles, but making the church the official religion brought masses into the churches who brought with them their beliefs and their immorality.The church degenerated into a political force and, except for small pockets of genuine believers, there was spiritual darkness for over a thousand years.Then in 1517 Martin Luther declared the revelation he had received from God that the just should live by faith, not works. Guess what happened to him? He and his followers were persecuted.Then along came the Anabaptists who believed that there was another step that had to be taken after committing your life to Christ: You had to be baptized in water. Many of them lost their lives; some responded to the Anabaptists by saying, "Fine, if you want to be baptized, we'll baptize you.” And they held them underwater till they drowned. The recipients of the previous revelation became the persecutors of the recipients of the next revelation. Then along came the Pentecostal outpouring in Azusa Street Revival (The Azusa Street Revival was a historic revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. The start on the three-year revival began on April 9, 1906 and continued until roughly 1915). Guess what the Baptists thought of that? The recipients of the previous revelation became the persecutors of the recipients of the next revelation. People were kicked out of their churches because they spoke in tongues. Then along came the Charismatic movement in the 60s and early 70s. Guess what many of the diehard Pentecostals thought of the Charismatics? The recipients of the previous revelation became the persecutors of the recipients of the next revelation. Many of them didn't like it one bit; you had to do it their way. The church has always found it difficult to cope with change. I don't know what the next move of God is going to be, but I want to make sure that I have an open heart to what God wants to do. And even more importantly, I want to be open to the changes God wants to bring about now in this church. Here's a question for you to think about: Are you ready for what God wants to do in this church? Or are you a resister? Like it or not the winds of change are blowing in our church…we are going to change. Where do our leaders fit into this change..are

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they agents of change? There’s a saying: if nothing needs changing you don't need leaders. Leaders look to see what God wants to change, and its their responsibility to change it…but remember - people find change difficult Are you going to allow your leaders to be agents of change? are you sure? Your leaders are just like you - they make mistakes - can you cope with that? You might say, "But if it's really God, everybody will be behind it."No they won’t. It didn't happen that way for Moses when God told them to go into the Promised Land. It didn't happen that way for Jesus. It didn't happen that way for the 12 apostles. It didn't happen that way for the apostle Paul who constantly had to defend his apostleship and bring correction to the churches. Change is all about yielding to the Holy Spirit. When you pray “come Holy Spirit, come” what are you asking…what are you hoping for…are you resisting the wind of change or are you entering into the wind…letting it toss you about, shake you up, and blow you into a different place - into a new place.

Come, O Holy Spirit by John Henry Newman

Come, O Holy Spirit. Come as Holy Fire and burn in us, come as Holy Wind and cleanse us

within, come as Holy Light and lead us in the

darkness, come as Holy Truth and dispel our

ignorance, come as Holy Power and enable our

weakness, come as Holy Life and dwell in us.

Convict us, convert us, consecrate us, until we are set free from the service of

ourselves, to be your servants to the world. Amen.

I mentioned earlier that wind, that powerful instrument, can be a disruptive force in our lives…below is a picture of how Father Michael experienced wind this week when it knocked down a tree in his yard in one majestic, surprising, and instantly changing act of nature.

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as you can see it narrowly missed power lines etc. whew!

Soup for a windy day

Written By: By Heloise Cruse King

3 16-ounce cans stewed tomatoes 2 16-ounce cans cannellini beans (small white beans) 4 cups water 2 stalks celery, sliced 1 small onion, diced 2 carrots, sliced Pinch each of sweet basil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, salt, pepper 3 to 6 hot dogs, sliced 1 cup (raw) elbow macaroni (prepared according to package directions) In a large pot, heat stewed tomatoes and cannellini beans. Add the 32 ounces of water. Stir in celery, onion and carrots. Sprinkle with basil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer until vegetables are cooked, about 1 hour. Add sliced hot dogs and simmer an additional 15 minutes. In another pot, cook elbow macaroni until firm. Rinse and drain. Add to soup, stir and serve. Makes 8 to 10 servings. — Heloise

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PRAYER…I’ve had a lot of requests for prayer in this last month or so…in fact my prayer list has increased considerably. People are requesting prayer for a variety of reasons…health issues, loss of a family member or much loved friend, anxiety over finances and employment, loneliness, fear, move to a new home, missing pet, anxious and irritable kids, feelings of hopelessness, marital or partner problems…and on and on. Every time I pray for you I hold a picture of you in my heart and say your name. Saying your name is important - praying for you by name is important. I will continue to pray for you of course, but prayer is also stronger when it is done in community. I would like us to pray, with your permission, for each other - right here - on paper - in community. And so I would like to start a little prayer corner…send me your prayer requests or the name (first name only) of a person you would like held in prayer, and together we will lift them, and their concerns to God. So today I ask you to pray for: Judy, Carole, Ron, Wayne, Maureen, Bob, Pat, Raymond, Archdeacon Cheryl (fell and injured her knee quite badly), Jim, Sharon, Daryl, and please continue to uphold in prayer Bishop Rob, Dean Mike, Archdeacon Catherine, the staff of the synod office, our parish leaders, the 521 renewal committee, steering committee and working groups and the members of our congregations. And for this week the members of Diocesan Council, meeting via Zoom this Saturday.

The grey cloud

There have been times when having the energy to strike a match to light a candle and to pray that tomorrow is another day has not been possible.

In those day times those grey times help me to do the next thing lovingly, the next thing carefully, the next thing joyfully.

Then break through the cloud of my despair that I may see the things of beauty by which I am surrounded.

- Kate Mcllhagga

On-line Worship Services This Sunday is Trinity Sunday…The clergy of the 521 parishes are again offering an on-line worship service beginning at 9 a.m. via the link posted on the 521 Facebook page. This Sunday Father Michael and Pastor Zsofi will be exploring the sacred mystery of the Trinity from an Anglican and Lutheran perspective. Both these gifted theologians will have something to get us thinking…something to increase our knowledge and understanding of the Trinity…I am sure, so tune in and see for yourself! As you all know Father Michael has been putting in a considerable amount of time producing, editing and posting

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these worship videos - along with his other pastoral responsibilities - and guess what? he’s tired and needing a little time of rest and refreshment! So, he is taking a well deserved week off (June 14th - June 22nd) and that will include a week off from filming - which means that there will be no on-line worship service from the 521 clergy on Sunday, June 21st. But don’t despair…we will provide you with a list of worship resources and links to worship at our Cathedral and throughout our diocese and beyond. Your clergy have been working hard for you, albeit in new, different, and ever challenging ways - and we will continue to be there for you and do our very best to provide “church” in a variety of creative ways…the church is not closed - our buildings are closed - but the church is open for “business as usual” and will continue to be so.

Here are the readings for Trinity Sunday….

Collect

Father, we praise you: through your Word and the Holy Spirit you created all things. You reveal your salvation in all the world by sending to us Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Through your Holy Spirit you give us a share in your life and love. Fill us with the vision of your glory, that we may always serve and praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Genesis In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the dark- ness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was

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evening and there was morning, the third day. And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights— the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multi- ply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creep- ing things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created hu- mankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and fe- male he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

Genesis 1:1—2:4a

Psalm

Refrain O Lord our governor, how exalted is your name in all the world! O Lord our governor, how exalted is your name in all the world! Out of the mouths of infants and children your majesty is praised above the heavens. R You have set up a stronghold against

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your adversaries, to quell the enemy and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set in their courses, R What is man that you should be mindful of him? the son of man that you should seek him out? You have made him but little lower than the angels; you adorn him with glory and honour; R You give him mastery over the works of your hands; you put all things under his feet; All sheep and oxen, even the wild beasts of the field, R The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea. O Lord our governor, how exalted is your name in all the world! R Psalm 8

A Reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians Finally, brothers and sisters, fare- well. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

2 Corinthians 13:11–13

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16–20

Your morning chuckle….

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We are here for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out for prayer or conversation. Below are the contact numbers and email addresses for the clergy of the five parishes represented in this newsletter.

Father Michael Bruce (Incumbent, St. Luke/Associate Priest for St. Matthew and Regional Dean) fr.MBruce@gmail.com 306-591-1124

Rev. Winna Martin (Associate Priest: St. Luke, St. Matthew, All Saints) martinwinna@gmail.com 306-536-4308 (cell) or 306-525-1575 (landline)

Pastor Zsofi Schmiedge (Interim Priest/Pastor, All Saints) allsaintspriest@sasktel.net

306-586-4420 (All Saints Church) 306-581-0672 (cell)

Rev. Nancy Yee (Interim Priest, St. James, St. Philip) yeen@sasktel.net

Deacon Rita Brann (Deacon, St. Philip) rrbrann@sasktel.net

Deacon Canon Susan Page (Deacon, St. Lukes) 306-537-3946 (cell) spage@sasktel.net

I hope you are enjoying Around the Cross. As editor I am always delighted to receive your articles, information, pictures, etc. - anything you would like to share. I do however reserve the right to “edit” as appropriate or to not publish anything that I deem inappropriate. Remember this is YOUR Epistle so please send me whatever you think our readers may enjoy - we would love to hear from you! God’s richest blessings….Winna+

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