I remember thinking that I had really no experience in this world. Sure, I had acted as a webmaster for the web page of the Diocese of Kootenay and the BC and Yukon Anglican Youth Movement as a teenager, but editor of a newspaper? I had no clue how to design a newspaper!

Fortunately, I was well supported in those early days by the staff of the Anglican Journal,  most especially Saskia Rowley, the Journal’s graphic designer who was incredibly patient with a newbie editor that was learning the ropes. I felt supported by the other members of the Anglican Editors’ Association (AEA), all of whom were newbies at one point, too. I’ve been blessed to be a part of that community since  I began as editor (and I also served as both the secretary for two years and treasurer for two more years, too).

Most importantly, I’ve been blessed to be supported by the readership of this small, but mighty newspaper. I’ve never been wanting for content for each edition of the newspaper, and I’ve been blessed in this role to get a glimpse into the many corners of this diocese, and truth be told, I am richer for it. As I move closer to family (and yes, to a warmer climate), I will very much miss this work.

As I depart from this role, I think that some thank yous are very much in order: to the Rev’d Cheryl Kukurudz, who unfailingly sent out emails asking for content each month, and was another one of those people who supported me in this role. Thank you, Mother Cheryl – your administrative abilities and your kind and compassionate ear continues to mean the world to me, even though we’re far apart. Thank you to Bishop William Cliff, Dean Don Bernhardt TSSF, and Bishop Rachael Parker, all of whom were incredibly supportive of this paper and saw its’ value in the wider diocese and gave me the freedom to tell the varied stories of the Diocese. I personally have been blessed by your guidance and wisdom in my life.

Finally, thank you, dear reader: without you, there would be no point of creating this newspaper each month, as newspapers without readers is like a church without the people!

I won’t say goodbye forever, as I’ve learned the Church is an incredibly small place, but I will say that I hope and pray that God will continue to bless this newspaper as well as the people of the Diocese of Brandon. It has been my honour to be a part of it all, and I look forward to seeing what you all do in the coming months and years! 

The post A (Final) Word from the Editor: June 2024 appeared first on The Mustard Seed.

As you may know, Fr. Matt felt the Holy Spirit calling him back over the mountains to serve a Parish closer to his immediate family (the warmer climate doesn’t hurt!)  While we feel the loss of his leadership and pastoral presence within the Diocese of Brandon, we know that God has called him to new ministries and opportunities. 

Fr. ​Matt, thank you for your creativity, patience, editorial “je ne sais quoi!”  You have been the one who has allowed the vast expanses of our Diocese (and beyond) to stay connected through picture and story.  You will be missed. 

God bless you and your ministry.

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​Our heart as a Diocese recognizes the importance of ensuring that all of God’s children have the truth that they are loved; they are beautiful; and they are uniquely gifted, shared with them until they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are Children of God and as such they are full heirs to God’s Kingdom.  

​The Camp is an incredible opportunity for each of our children to share firsthand experiences of what it is to love and be loved, to laugh and play, to discover God’s Creation in ways that they may not be able to experience in their “day to day” lives.  From North to South and East to West of our Diocese, we invite our children and young people to become Campers and Volunteers and Staff at AMC.

​The “Say ‘Yes’ to Kids’ Camp – Brandon” month of outreach and fundraising is intended to be an opportunity to create pathways and opportunities for our Youth to realize and recognize the call God has on their lives and give them new and unique chances to come to know Jesus for themselves, alongside their siblings in Christ.

​Nationally, people from across the country have the opportunity to donate on the Anglican Foundation website by checking out the article about our camp and hitting the “Donate” button.  All donations made via the National site will contribute to camperships.  There should be no reason a child with limited financial resources within the Diocese of Brandon should miss out on going to Camp!  

​Within the Diocese, and beyond, the Camp is always in need of refreshing, maintenance, food, staff wages, and funds to assist with unexpected “oh wow’s!”  If you or your congregation would like to host an event, pass the hat, or do something creative to assist us, please feel free to go ahead and do so!  Just remember to take pictures, write up a paragraph or two and send it in for the Diocese for The Mustard Seed and the Facebook Page.

​Some ideas may be to:

• ​​host a tea party for a small donation (grandma’s and moms could invite their next generations to get dressed up and come to tea as a Parish!
• ​​for churches with no Sunday School, create a bulletin board with pictures of your children, grandchildren, neighbour kids, etc. and “sponsor” the pictures
• have a special coffee hour and put out a donation basket
• ​​host a neighbourhood barbeque
• ​​offer to babysit your neighbour’s children for a couple of hours for a donation

​Throughout the month of June, I am inviting each and every Congregation within the Diocese of Brandon to think, pray, plan, pay attention to the children and youth in your communities and find ways to promote and support the Camp.  There may just be a child in your community who would love to go to camp even though they don’t come to church … yet!

​Remember, no donation is too small and no word of mouth in support of the Camp is ineffective!  Let’s make June a month when we really do “Say ‘Yes’ to Kids’ Camp” in Brandon!

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Congratulations to Alexis Frei, the newest Licenced Lay Reader in the Diocese of Brandon, now serving at St. Matthew’s Cathedral.

Alexis began attending St. Matthew’s about three years ago, and during this time, her faith and her commitment have both deepened to the point where in addition to her duties as a Lay Reader, is also the Rector’s Warden.

Alexis is a single woman who was a child in Alberta, but grew up in Montana when her parents moved for work purposes. She moved to Brandon to be with friends when she decided the United States was the “land of the free and the home of the brave only if you looked and acted like all your neighbours.” (Her words, not mine.) Alexis talks about “living for the larger good” and “bettering the world”. She wants to relieve suffering with what resources she has.

When she came to Brandon, she went to several churches, but settled at the Cathedral because she felt welcome, in a quiet way. People spoke to her, but didn’t push her. She learned about the eucharist and what it meant. What we take as a simple thing she thought was extraordinary – the passing of the peace – that people who did not know her would acknowledge her and say “Peace be with you.”

She says she would care about people in any event, but she has begun to study her bible and will ask questions of both our rector and our assistant. “Our duty is to share the light of Christ in the world.”

“My faith sustains me in serving others. When it isn’t easy, when things get tough, when I doubt if I should, my faith is there to confront and encourage.”

Alexis is also taking courses through Huron’s Licentiate in Theology program. Her church family wishes her the best. Welcome, Alexis!!

St. Paul’s, MacGregor, submitted by Lynda Driedger

On April 13, a group of parishioners from St. Paul’s, MacGregor gathered to bless the new business of Bryan & Lynda Driedger. The business is a wool processing facility in Austin. The Reverend Chris Evetts led a short liturgy, which was followed by a time of snacks and conversation. 

St. Mark’s, Minnedosa, photo and text submitted by Lynne Tolton

The Rev’d Chad McCharles, alongside his wife, Dawn, refurbished a pair of brass candle holders that were original to St. Mark’s high altar, but had ceased being used many years ago because of the expense of the candles. He did all of this work to the glory of God and in loving memory of his great aunt Jean Wark, a longtime member of St. Mark’s altar guild.

The post News from the Pews: June 2024 appeared first on The Mustard Seed.

However much the architecture and history of the buildings themselves may call upon my heartstrings to do and be more within the Church, it isn’t the building or the trappings that truly call me to serve within the Church and outside the Church.  The true call for me lies in what a Cathedral stands for and what it speaks out into the Community surrounding it – both the city within which it exists and to the Diocese for whom it exists.

​The ‘cathedral” is named that because it is the building which houses or “hosts” the cathedra – the Bishop’s Seat.  I love the reality that every Church I visit and within which I am privileged to “come home and celebrate the sacred mysteries” essentially becomes the “cathedral” when I am there.  It is a reminder to me that where I go, so goes the work of the entire Diocese, and that really means that every single person who gathers to worship with me is an intrinsic and important partner in the work we all do together as the Diocese of Brandon.  We all worship, from time to time, in the Cathedral or a cathedral, as you and I worship together.  And do you know what that means?  It means that our Christian work and call to serve Christ in the community we live in, emanates from each and every one of our various “cathedrals.”

I have been having some powerful and energizing conversations of late about the role of Cathedrals within the Christian Church.  The Cathedral is at one and the same time two very distinct entities.  It is the Parish Church of the local congregation who call it home.  It is that place where congregants gather on Sundays and other days to break open the Word and share the Gifts of God in sacrament and actions.  It is the home of Bible Studies and AA groups.  It is the seat of arguments about whose pew is it or whether flowers should be on the altar or elsewhere.  It is a real, working parish church that does the local work of Jesus within the congregation.  That’s the first identity that a Cathedral holds.

​The second, and equally important identity a Cathedral holds, is that of being a shining light of Christ out into the community.  The Cathedral may be one of many, or simply a few, Anglican churches within a region, but it should always strive to become the heart of the Christian-Anglican presence for the entire community and Diocese.  It should do the work of serving the homeless, comforting the inconsolable, feeding the hungry, speaking truth to power on behalf of the powerless.  The Cathedral should be a safe harbour in a stormy sea for its own people (congregation and diocesan) and for all those who are Christ among us seeking to know that we are actively looking for Christ among us.

Some of you may be aware, and all of you should become aware, that our Cathedral Church of St. Matthew’s – like many of our local and smaller churches – is finding itself in a difficult financial place.  It may seem to many that the Cathedral is treated differently.  And oftentimes it is … as it should be.  It is the physical and geographical centre of our spiritual home as Anglicans in the Diocese of Brandon.  It is not more important; it is not more spiritually powerful; it is not more beautiful than any other of our Diocesan churches.  It is simply that touchstone which every single Anglican within Western Manitoba is encouraged to call their own.  The Cathedral is yours – it belongs to all of us.

​To that end, I would ask two things of all of you.  First, I ask that you share the following prayer together and individually each week.  Second, I ask that you take the time to read the monthly article that will be in The Mustard Seed entitled “The Cathedral Cloister” beginning in September.  You are also encouraged to send in your own thoughts, memories, hopes, dreams, possibilities for the relationship you have had or hope to have with your Cathedral.  St. Matthew’s needs you and we all need St. Matthew’s.  Together we will support and encourage our Cathedral to be both the congregational home for the regulars at St. Matthew’s and we will support and encourage our Cathedral to become all a Cathedral is meant be as a Beacon of Light and Hope in the Community and our Diocese.

A Prayer for Our Cathedral

 Creator of life, hope, and service, we uphold our Cathedral of St. Matthew. Open our hearts, eyes, minds, and hands, that we will know how You wish us to support our Cathedral.
May it truly become home for all of us. May it truly serve Your people in ways we cannot yet see. In Christ’s Holy Name we pray.  Amen.

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