At the Executive Committee meeting in October 2023, a small committee was struck consisting of myself, Brock Andrew (St. Mary’s, Virden) and Debbie Clevett (Lay Secretary of Synod, St. Luke’s, Souris). For those unfamiliar with those names, Brock and Debbie are incredible people with years of experience interviewing individuals at all employment levels.

We met and discussed in detail the duties of this new position, which would include (but weren’t limited to) communicating with the Diocese about the work of the AMC, grant applications, recruiting of staff and volunteers, relationship building with the youth, and keeping up the high standards of the camp that the camp committee has long upheld.

Following that discussion, the committee set out to hire somebody to fill this position. After the position was advertised in early November, there were seventeen applicants for this position. After examining the resumes, two stuck out and were interviewed by the committee. After we interviewed the two candidates and broke for Christmas, Brock and Debbie contacted and interviewed all three references for each candidate. 

Following this work, and with considered conversation, Mackenzie Kukurudz was chosen as the part-time permanent Anglican Memorial Camp Coordinator. She has a long history with the camp, having grown up going there as a camper and as a counselor. We’re thrilled to have her in this role.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Brock and Debbie for their incredible work in this endeavour, as well as our administrator, the Very Rev’d Don Bernhardt TSSF and the Executive Financial Officer,  Mr. Greig Scott for their administrative guidance during this process. 

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As I write this, even though I haven’t left the parish quite yet, I’m in my final days as the Rector, and I think I can resoundingly say this: saying goodbye sucks, especially when you’ve enjoyed being part of the communities you’ve been ministering to. 

I still remember vividly the drive out from Richmond Hill, Ontario to Virden, Manitoba. It was a fraught experience, truth be told. I drove through multiple snow storms in January 2017, slowly making my way from Richmond Hill to Sudbury one day, from Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie the next, from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay the next, and from Thunder Bay to Brandon on my final travel day, where I stayed overnight with the Bishop. On my first full day in Manitoba, I had a block heater installed on my car (my dealership in Toronto didn’t believe me when I told them that I would need a block heater) and made my way out to Virden. They welcomed this city slicker and over time, he became more and more a part of the community. I would eventually meet my congregations in Elkhorn, Melita and Reston and would get involved in those communities, over time, too. I’ve grown to love all four points of my parish, and I daresay they’ve grown to love me too.

Perhaps that’s why saying goodbye and farewell sucks so much. While I know that God has called me into new adventures, I have loved the adventures that I’ve been part of while here. I am not the minister that I was when I started on January 14, 2017, and I have the people of Virden, Elkhorn, Reston and Melita to thank for that. 

However, as the book of Ecclesiastes tells us, “to everything, there is a season,” and over time, I realized that my season as the Anglican priest in Virden was ending. “All good things must come to an end,” as the old saying goes.

It has been a good thing for me to be here. As I leave this place to continue my ordained ministry, this time in BC, I carry the lessons learned from each of you. Your resilience in the face of challenges and boundless love for one another have inspired and strengthened me. The love and support of these communities as I ministered here has been incredible, and I will be eternally grateful for all of it. 

While saying goodbye is never easy, I am comforted by Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” While our paths may diverge, I know that God will continue to work in this community, as He has done since time immemorial.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your warmth, kindness, and the countless ways you have enriched my life. Take care of yourselves and may God’s grace and peace be with you always.

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​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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