​Our world seems pre-occupied by the “idea” of love that is wrapped up in Valentine’s Day: chocolate, gifts, cards, jewelry. These all offer lovely sentiments, but they are quite temporal. Chocolates are quickly consumed. Gifts and cards can be forgotten or disposed.  Jewelry can tarnish. Of even greater import though is the fleeting nature of some of those “relationships” which begin on Valentine’s Day. Too often we get swept up in the romance of the moment and we look ahead into the future with cherubs and hearts dancing on the periphery, as if we’re wearing silly heart-shaped glasses.

​For many, that consumer “holiday” can be one of loneliness and pain as we look at others preparing for dinner dates and possibilities from a vantage point of singlehood or having lost a loved one ourselves. What is deemed the most romantic day of the year can become the most difficult day of the year for some in our communities. Valentine’s Day may not be all it’s advertised to be.

​This year, however, we have been given an incredible gift of stars aligning to provide us with another, greater opportunity to celebrate love on the 14th of February, as we will gather across our Diocese to share the truest, most intimate, and everlasting love that human beings can share – that of Jesus’ love for us recognized, acknowledged, received, and embraced on Ash Wednesday.

​This holy and gentle day on which we gather in solemnity within community is an opportunity for each of us to kneel at the feet of the One who reaches out His hand to raise us up.  It is that quiet and reverent liturgical day which invites us to come away for a while to pray alone and with others, that we might recognize that we have sinned, but we have not been lost. 

We will gather and listen to those gentle words: “Almighty God, from the dust of the earth you have created us.  May these ashes be for us a sign of our mortality and penitence, and a reminder that only by your gracious gift are we given eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”  (Book of Alternative Services pg. 285)

​The outward and visible sign of the ashes traced on our foreheads is a symbol to all who see us, and to ourselves when we look in the mirror, that the most powerful form of love has been given to us as gift. Our valentine from God is that of the divine love God’s Son has shared, and continues to share with us, every single moment of our lives. The ashes we receive and show the world is the greatest reminder to us that we are loved.  We are loved completely.  We are loved as we are. We are loved eternally. Who could ask for a better Valentine than one which lasts for ever?

​As we prepare to dance to the music that has Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day tunes harmonizing together, may you feel the love of Jesus leading you as you dance in his loving arms.  And always remember that you are loved.  You are simply and wonderfully loved.

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As my husband Rob drove past the outskirts of Brandon at the end of the day on 25 November, that thought kept coursing through my mind.  “I pray that this decision the Synod of the Diocese of Brandon has made will be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.”  As I write these words, I truly believe that they will be realized.

​At the Episcopal Synod in November, your delegates – clergy and laity – granted me the privilege and honour of what feels like the greatest invitation I have received in my vocation.  In your decision to call me to be your servant shepherd, you have issued the call for me and my husband to be part of the Brandon Family.  (And in case there was any question, we say “absolutely” with no hesitation!)

​In my post-election words, I spoke of adoption and my sense that I have been adopted by the Diocese.  I am not a child of Brandon.  I have not yet served in this vast and glorious geography. I admittedly know very little of it, but I am eager and giddy with joy to know that the Holy Spirit allowed our paths to

cross and encouraged us to come together as family.

​In the months since +William was called to serve in Ontario, I had been praying for him and for all of you.  I knew that there would be tears of joy that he had been called to serve in a new and exciting way, but I also knew that there would be tears of grief as one who had loved you and walked beside you was being called from your midst.  Not knowing that the road I was walking would join yours, my prayers were simply for a beautiful people walking a hard road through difficult times.  Through the summer I carried you in my daily prayers and simply asked that God would guide you and the one who would be called to join you.  Little did I know where my own road was leading.

​At the time of writing, I do not yet know when I will be consecrated 8th Bishop of Brandon.  My hope is to be on the ground the first of March as your Bishop-Elect, learning the diocese, meeting people, celebrating with joy when we can, and coming alongside those who are in sorrow.  My plan is to spend time in the first while sharing in what my Padre husband calls “a ministry of presence.”  My greatest desire is to learn who you are, what you love, what you don’t, and to witness the ways that each of you seek and serve Jesus Christ in the place where God has planted you.

​I believe that I have been placed in your Diocese by the Spirit in much the way my sister was placed in my parents’ arms the evening she became part of our family: with gentleness and a true call to love you and to be loved by you.  Together our Brandon Family will continue to seek out the will of the Lord and do His bidding right where we are.

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– Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (NRSV)

For everything there is a season. It’s the Bible’s way of reminding us that change happens. As much as we might look fondly at the past, remembering the “good old days”, for everything there is a season.

We are in the midst of some very significant change, both within our world generally, and within the Diocese of Brandon specifically. October 1 marked the end of Bishop William’s time with us as the 7th Bishop of Brandon. As you likely know, he is now the Bishop of the Diocese of Ontario, centred around Kingston.

Bishop William came to us in March of 2016 at another time of uncertainty, a time when some even questioned whether this Diocese would survive. But thanks to his stewardship, his desire to trust in God and his faith in all of us, we did more than just survive. We flourished, and in doing so, became an example of faith, commitment and reconciliation for places much larger than us.  

Just one example of this is the revival of our church camp and the vital ministry it provides to children all over the north of our Diocese.  This change only happened because of the work of Bishop William in going out and championing our camp to those with the means to support us.  

Yes, we changed,  but not simply for change’s sake, but because we listened for where God was calling us to go, and Bishop William faithfully led us. Trust me when I say this, the way was not always easy, but God does not promise easy. God simply asks that we trust in him. +William did just that.

Well, we’re again in a time of change. We are actively preparing for the election of the 8th Bishop of Brandon. At the same time, one of the larger parishes in our Diocese, St. George’s, deconsecrated their church building and moved across town to worship alongside the people of Redeemer Lutheran. They are moving, changing, to allow them to continue doing the ministry they are called to do, but do it in a new place, alongside new people.

Here at the Cathedral, we have decided to, over the course of the next few months, rent out the entirety of our parish hall, both upstairs and down. We’re also exploring other changes to the cathedral side building to allow for easier access. It is our hope that by doing this, the Cathedral’s finances will stabilize and give us the ability to do ministry well into the future, in the same space, alongside new people.  

In the north of our diocese, there have been some changes, hopefully temporary, to the number of clergy available to do ministry. And I’m quite sure that changes are happening in many other parts of our diocese too.

There will be changes in the publishing of the Mustard Seed too. Until there is a new bishop in place, the “word from the bishop” will move to letters from Archdeacon Jonathan Hoskin, Archdeacon Kara Mandryk and me.  For now, three heads will be better than one!

My sisters and brothers, I know that change can be challenging. But change, if looked at in the right way can also be a time of renewal and excitement as we see and discern what God’s new plans are for us. At the same time, even in the sea of change that we are presently in, we can hold firm to the fact that we follow a God whose unchanging love has always been with us and always will be.

So as we say farewell to Bishop William, our prayers for his new ministry in the Diocese of Ontario follow him. Thank you +William, for your wisdom, your spirit of generosity, your presence among us and the love that you showed us, each and every day. You will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

As for us, for everything there is a season, and a new one is dawning.  

Let us embrace it.

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Thank you. I came among you in 2016 as a southern Ontario boy who knew what rural Ontario was like, but had no idea of what rural Manitoba was like. I had little idea of what was awaiting me. You have been kind, generous and compassionate to me. You have taught me an entire Encyclopedia Brittanica’s worth of knowledge in the experiences I have had serving you. I have come to love this place and all these people, both north and south, and I give thanks to God for your patience and wisdom in teaching me how to do this job.

It has been my privilege to walk with you, to learn from you, to advocate for you and to tell the world about the wonderful dedication and ministry that I have seen in Brandon. I am in awe of the laity who keep our parishes working, the clergy who are preaching and visiting and working day be day to care for the people of God in this place.

After 31 years of being ordained, I would like to observe that it is the nature of ministry that we are in a never ending cycle of beginnings and endings. Births and deaths, time turns on, and our lives change. I have imprinted on my mind many faces who are no longer with us – who have been gathered to Jesus and serve and praise him in his nearer presence. I give thanks for all of them too.

As I prepare to move to Kingston, Ontario, I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you. The Diocese of Brandon has a great deal to offer to the whole church. We are living witnesses to a form of reconciliation and walking together that is a possibility in the church. We wait for each other. We listen to each other. We bear one another’s burdens. None of this is to say that there haven’t been difficult times, there have! But the ability to bear with the crises and trauma of every day life are in fact a sign of the resilience and gospel love which we have for one another.

I believe the next steps for the Diocese of Brandon are healthy ones which will deepen our commitment to reconciliation, broaden our educational offerings and deepen the commitment to discipleship which is already active in our midst. I am proud that for the 7 years, 6 months and 15 days I have served you as the Bishop of Brandon, I have been a part of your lives and part of the tremendous changes we have made. Not to us, but to God be the glory. God has done great things in our midst and will do greater still if we keep to the right path and walk with one another in trust of his plan and his will. I ask your blessing as I go, and tell the friends and family over in Ontario about your wonderful souls and the joy of knowing you. God bless you all.

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