KOOTENAY CONTACT
-July 19, 2023-
July 23 - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Bishop's Letter
Dear People of Kootenay,
Greetings from Okanagan Anglican Camp (OAC)!
Last week at Sorrento Centre I got to lead a course about Christian Mystics. Mystics are people who have had an experience of the closeness of God’s presence, or who are seeking such experience, who live with a sense of union or communion with God. One of the qualities of a mystic is an abiding sense of Awe and Wonder at the blessings of life. This is a theme I have carried into worship and “Faith Time” at OAC this week. In the beauty of the natural setting here: with mountains and lake, he smell of pine trees on a hot day, wind rustling leaves….. when I am sharing about Faith with kids, many of whom have no faith background, I talk about Awe and Wonder as the basic groundwork of building Faith. Meister Eckhart, a German Dominican preacher and mystic from the 14th century, said that “this then is salvation, to marvel at the beauty of Creation and praise the Creator”.
At camp we have lots of opportunities to marvel at creation. There is great bird life at camp, so we listened and observed. The kids built nests out of natural materials, and marveled at the patience, architectural and engineering skills of birds. We also examined feathers with magnifying glasses and wondered at the construction and ingenuity of feathers, the sheer miracle of flight. New research indicates crows can remember 1000 human faces and, mysteriously, can communicate that knowledge to other birds and pass it on to the next generation!! Lots of “wow” moments.
We talked about the many images in scripture of God as a mother bird, sheltering us. Jesus compares himself to a mother hen, longing to gather us under her protective wings. We explored God as mother Eagle who teaches her eaglets by carrying them on her strong pinions, flying them out over a cliff into the updraft, dropping them so they learn to fly while held in the updraft, ready to swoop underneath and pick them up on her great wings if they falter. In Exodus 19, in a summary of God’s liberating work of bringing Israel out of slavery into the freedom of the Promised land, God says “I bore you on eagles’ wings”. This is such an amazing image for us to have of God when we feel like we are in “free-fall” - God’s wings are underneath bearing us up.
We read Matthew 5: 25-27, with Jesus teaching us not to worry, to look at the birds, at God’s tender provision for them. How do we trust in God’s care so we are not anxious?
Please pray for the kids and staff at OAC, Director Ian Dixon, and the chaplains, that camp may be a joyful experience of community for all, and a place of transformative encounter with God!
May your summer also have opportunities to marvel at creation and praise our Creator.
Yours in Christ,
+Lynne
Robyn, the head cook, preparing another delicious breakfast!
Camp kids building nests...
Diocesan News
(Above) July 6th- Bishop Lynne paid a visit to the St. Andrew's Gift Farm in Kelowna. Photo Credit: St.Andrew's Kelowna
(Above) Bishop Lynne and the class she led at Sorrento Centre planted a beautiful butterfly bush in the front gardens of Spes Bona on the main campus.
Photo Credit: Sorrento Centre
(Above) July 16th- Bishop Lynne preaching at St. Mary's Sorrento
Photo Credit: St. Mary's Sorrento
Maternity Leave Coverage:
Executive Asst. to Archbishop Lynne
Executive Asst. to Archbishop Lynne
The Diocese of Kootenay is seeking a full-time Executive Assistant for an 18-month maternity leave contract.
Reporting to Archbishop Lynne, this is a dual role that also serves the function of Provincial Administrator. The job description & application details are below, as well as linked HERE.
The application deadline is September 1, 2023.
Committee Corner
A space to learn more about some of our Diocesan committee members...
Sue Basek-
A & F Committee/Diocesan Council
A & F Committee/Diocesan Council
Hello, my name is Suzanne Basek, and I am currently the Clerical Secretary for Diocesan Council. I arrived in the West Kootenay (Nelson) in 1994 from White Rock, BC with my husband and our three young children. I was born and raised in Vancouver, attending St. Faith’s Anglican Church in my youth and later returning there with my first child. In between, I worked in a bank after high school, then went into nursing at Vancouver General Hospital in the 70s and worked as an operating room RN until our move to White Rock in 1990, where our third child was born.
I began attending St. Saviour’s, Nelson with our children, with their varying degrees of buy-in (!), and was subsequently approached by the incumbent to be on church council as Synod rep., and then the next year as Incumbent’s warden. Running parallel to this was the Mutual Ministry model being introduced by the incumbent which included ordained ministry. After a congregational nomination process, I discovered that I had been nominated for a call to priesthood (yikes!) and so began a discernment and educational process that culminated in my ordination in 2004.
During this time however, I was also undergoing a personal / family crisis that resulted in my needing to go back to work in 1996, and so my secular career resumed and I eventually found myself back in the operating room full-time at Kootenay Lake Hospital until my retirement in 2020. Concurrently raising our family, and working with the local ministry team at St. Saviour’s and the other regional congregations as needed, it has been a busy and very full life here.
At this point in 2020, with an incumbent in our parish and a bit more time available, I agreed to a three-year term as People’s Warden, and then to be the West Kootenay Regional rep to Diocesan Council, and soon after found myself being asked to take over the Clerical Secretary position that I am now holding.
I began attending St. Saviour’s, Nelson with our children, with their varying degrees of buy-in (!), and was subsequently approached by the incumbent to be on church council as Synod rep., and then the next year as Incumbent’s warden. Running parallel to this was the Mutual Ministry model being introduced by the incumbent which included ordained ministry. After a congregational nomination process, I discovered that I had been nominated for a call to priesthood (yikes!) and so began a discernment and educational process that culminated in my ordination in 2004.
During this time however, I was also undergoing a personal / family crisis that resulted in my needing to go back to work in 1996, and so my secular career resumed and I eventually found myself back in the operating room full-time at Kootenay Lake Hospital until my retirement in 2020. Concurrently raising our family, and working with the local ministry team at St. Saviour’s and the other regional congregations as needed, it has been a busy and very full life here.
At this point in 2020, with an incumbent in our parish and a bit more time available, I agreed to a three-year term as People’s Warden, and then to be the West Kootenay Regional rep to Diocesan Council, and soon after found myself being asked to take over the Clerical Secretary position that I am now holding.
Camp OAC
-Camp OAC is looking for medical attendants to work at camp for a week during the summer. We currently need to fill the following weeks: July 24th to 28th, July 31st to August 4th, August 14th to 18th. If you are interested in helping, please email the camp director at director@campoac.com
- We are looking for volunteers and staff to work at Camp OAC this summer: https://www.campoac.com/jobs
Camp OAC and the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo are running a fundraiser to raise money for the camp by selling bags of campfire wood (pictured left). Bags are $10 each or 3 for $25. To place an order go to www.woodkelowna.com. This fundraiser operates year-round and raises thousands each year.
Courses for Ministry
Below you will find a letter from Stuart Brown, Principal of Kootenay Ministry Formation (formerly Kootenay School of Ministry) with information on education programs for those feeling called to ordination as a locally trained priest or as a deacon, or as a trained lay leader.
Schedule Highlights
July 17-21 Chaplain at Camp OAC
July 27 General Clericus (James Cowan to lead while Bishop Lynne is in West Kootenay)
July 22-30 Services and Meetings in West Kootenay
Aug 1-19 Bishop Lynne vacation & reading week
Aug 24 General Clercius
Aug 19-27 Services and Meetings in East Kootenay
Synod Office Closures: August 7 (BC Day); August 14-18; August 28-Sept 1
Bishop Lynne's 2023 Preaching & Parish Visit Schedule
July 23- Holy Trinity Grand Forks
July 24/25- Meetings & events with St. Saviour's Nelson
July 26- Parish Tea with St.Mark's Kaslo
July 27- Meetings with Salmo and Fruitvale
July 28- Meeting with leadership at St. Andrew's Trail
July 29- Visits to retired clergy in West Kootenay
July 30- Regional Service & Regional Lunch/Meeting at St. Andrew's Trail
Aug 20- Christ Church Creston
Aug 22- Parish Picnic with Christ Church Cranbrook
Aug 23- Workshop with Kimberley Shared Ministry
Aug 24- Visit to Windermere
Aug 25- Eucharist and Meeting with St. Paul's Golden
Aug 27- Christ Church Fernie
Sept 10- St.George Enderby & St. James Armstrong
Sept 17- St.David's Celista
Oct 1- St. Saviour Penticton
Oct 8- St. John Salmon Arm
Nov 5- St. George West Kelowna
Nov 19- All Saints Vernon
Dec 3- St. Peter's Naramata
Clergy & Staff Birthdays- July
Happy birthday to the Rev. Richard Simpson (July 21)!
Mark Your Calendar
- Oct 16-19, 2023: Clergy Conference at Sorrento Centre. The registration package has been distributed to clergy by email. The deadline to register is Sept.6
- May 23-25, 2024: Diocesan Synod
Additional Events/Resources
“Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme chosen for Season of Creation 2023, the ecumenical celebration held each year from September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
The prophet Amos cries out, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24), and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity.
Below you will find a webinar recording to help you prepare for Season of Creation 2023!
Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN)- July 6, 2023 Newsletter
Register for the ACEN Newsletter HERE
Register for the ACEN Newsletter HERE
Praying with our Partners in Mission- Daily Intercessions
Thank you to Rev. Helen Hall for her work on the prayer cycles!
Quick Start Guide to Safe Church Training:
Step 1. Read the Safe Church Program Introduction
Step 2. Refer to the Role Risk Assessment Guide to determine if you need training and/or a criminal record check for your staff or volunteer role
Step 3. Refer to the Safe Church Modules document to determine the specific training modules you require for your staff or volunteer role
Step 2. Refer to the Role Risk Assessment Guide to determine if you need training and/or a criminal record check for your staff or volunteer role
Step 3. Refer to the Safe Church Modules document to determine the specific training modules you require for your staff or volunteer role
Step 4. Contact admin@kootenay.info to get your training account(s) set up and guidance on how to apply for a criminal record or vulnerable sector check
Program overview and guides HERE
Sexual Misconduct Policy-
Now Available for
Electronic Signature
The sexual misconduct policy was revised and distributed in June. It has now been added to Praesidium so that all parish staff and volunteers can review it and sign off on it electronically. If you need help accessing Praesidium or you need an account set up, please email admin@kootenay.info
News
CONTENTS
- John Lavender — Editorial
- Most Rev Lynne McNaughton — Bishop's Charge to Synod 2023
- Andrew Stephens-Rennie — On Eagle's Wings
- Chris Rosss — Following the Path
- John Lavender — Creating Art as a Spiritual Exercise
- Jane Bourcet — Let Us Pray Together
- Yme Woensdregt — I Celebrate Being "Waoke'
- John Lavender — Retirement Service Canon Neil and Lesley Elliot
Last Laugh
Credit: Rev. Jay Sidebotham, Church Pension Group
Please note: There will be no Facebook night prayer over the summer from June through August
A few of the resources available...
- Staff Directory, Committee Listings
- Safe Church Training
- Sermons & Lections
- Mental Health & Wellness
- National Truth & Reconciliation
- Find a Church
- Pathways & Ministries
- Events Calendar
- Forms
- "A Path Forward" - Diocesan plans for 2023 & beyond
If you have news or events to share with the Diocese, please send them to admin@kootenay.info. If you share photos, please ensure you have permission to do so from the individuals in the photo.