Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Greetings All!
I think my last email was mostly an update about living quarters, etc... so I will tell you a little more about what my actual work is like.
The actual internship is going quite well. It has been a new learning experience to write sermons every week. I've preached five times in 3 weeks, and so by the middle of October I will have doubled my lifetime preaching experience.
I am at a two point pastoral charge and until the weather gets cold, I have two preaching points. Actually - the second (and smaller) one is in a very rural area where the congregation (approximately 8 persons) is 4x the population of the town. Any time the weather is bad, there is no service there. So my first Sunday (the 11th) we'd received almost 4 1/2 inches of rain overnight, and there was no WAY my little car was gonna make it there, so they cancelled the service.
I have 3 shut ins who I visit on a regular basis - all women. They are lovely... all very busy UCW women in their younger years, and love to receive copies of the bulletin and my sermon.
My poor little car thinks she has died. She (her name is Rosebud) was exactly one month old on Saturday, and she's had her first oilchange and I think week we'll hit the 8,000 km mark. That should give you an idea of what my driving requirements are like out here.
My main responsibilities are worship planning and pastoral care for the shut-ins. I may have a baptism this year, and if my a couple of the teens want to be confirmed, we'll think of how to do some type of confirmation event/classes/? with them. I may also have a wedding. Luckily, have met the 4 funeral directors in Kindersley, and nothing has come up with that yet, although I may have a memorial in the next couple weeks. A former resident would like her ashes to come back here from BC so she can be buried with her husband.
My free time mostly consists of playing with my dog (her name is Zen... she's a 3 year old boxer/lab cross and has TONS of energy) and quilting. I've joined a women's quilting group in LaPorte, and I usually get to escape for all of Thursdays (my day off) to that little town where my cell phone doesnt' work and htere's no phone in the hall. It's a great escape.
Other news is that I will be going to Toronto on October 20 to participate in the orientation for the World Council of Churches General Assembly (which will be in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Feb. 2006). It is an eccumenical orientation with all delegates from all Canadian churches meeting together at the Anglican center in downtown Toronto. Also, today the United Church travel agent booked my tickets to Brazil. I leave Calgary at noon on February 9, 2006, and return on February 24th. It has been over a year since I was nominated and chosen to be one of the United Church delegates, and as it draws closer, it's exciting to think it will happen soon!
Please continue to keep this area (west central SK) in your prayers - the chances of having a break-even harvest get slimmer by the day.
Many blessings
I think my last email was mostly an update about living quarters, etc... so I will tell you a little more about what my actual work is like.
The actual internship is going quite well. It has been a new learning experience to write sermons every week. I've preached five times in 3 weeks, and so by the middle of October I will have doubled my lifetime preaching experience.
I am at a two point pastoral charge and until the weather gets cold, I have two preaching points. Actually - the second (and smaller) one is in a very rural area where the congregation (approximately 8 persons) is 4x the population of the town. Any time the weather is bad, there is no service there. So my first Sunday (the 11th) we'd received almost 4 1/2 inches of rain overnight, and there was no WAY my little car was gonna make it there, so they cancelled the service.
I have 3 shut ins who I visit on a regular basis - all women. They are lovely... all very busy UCW women in their younger years, and love to receive copies of the bulletin and my sermon.
My poor little car thinks she has died. She (her name is Rosebud) was exactly one month old on Saturday, and she's had her first oilchange and I think week we'll hit the 8,000 km mark. That should give you an idea of what my driving requirements are like out here.
My main responsibilities are worship planning and pastoral care for the shut-ins. I may have a baptism this year, and if my a couple of the teens want to be confirmed, we'll think of how to do some type of confirmation event/classes/? with them. I may also have a wedding. Luckily, have met the 4 funeral directors in Kindersley, and nothing has come up with that yet, although I may have a memorial in the next couple weeks. A former resident would like her ashes to come back here from BC so she can be buried with her husband.
My free time mostly consists of playing with my dog (her name is Zen... she's a 3 year old boxer/lab cross and has TONS of energy) and quilting. I've joined a women's quilting group in LaPorte, and I usually get to escape for all of Thursdays (my day off) to that little town where my cell phone doesnt' work and htere's no phone in the hall. It's a great escape.
Other news is that I will be going to Toronto on October 20 to participate in the orientation for the World Council of Churches General Assembly (which will be in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Feb. 2006). It is an eccumenical orientation with all delegates from all Canadian churches meeting together at the Anglican center in downtown Toronto. Also, today the United Church travel agent booked my tickets to Brazil. I leave Calgary at noon on February 9, 2006, and return on February 24th. It has been over a year since I was nominated and chosen to be one of the United Church delegates, and as it draws closer, it's exciting to think it will happen soon!
Please continue to keep this area (west central SK) in your prayers - the chances of having a break-even harvest get slimmer by the day.
Many blessings
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
If you're not from the prairie....
There's a beautiful book by David Bouchard called, "If you're not from the prairie..."
In it, he writes -
If you're not from the prairie,
You've not heard the grass,
You've never heard grass.
In strong summer winds, the grains and grass bend
And sway to a dance that seems never to end.
It whispers its secrets - they tell of this land
And the rhythm of life played by nature's own band.
If you're not from the prairie,
You've never heard grass.
Well, my friends, we are asking you to pray for our prairie grasses and grains now. My little community has been set back again in their harvest by the 4 inches of rain we received on Saturday night. My second service was cancelled Sunday because the road to Loverna was impassable (it's gravel). I think some of the standing crops were either damaged or started to sprout from the rain, and the farmers are worried that the grains which have been swathed (cut) but not combined (harvested) will be damaged or downgraded. That being said, it didnt' rain much yesterday, and it hasn't rained today. All we need is some hot, windy, dry weather to help dry out the grains that are still o.k. to harvest. So we'll see if that happens.
I celebrated my 30th birthday on Sunday - strange because I actually feel 30. And it's not a bad thing. Who knew? I have so many friends who have freaked out about turning 30. I feel like I am finally catching up to myself.
My apologies to those who were frustrated by the 1/2 page of email addresses in my last letter. I think that I finally got that sorted.
Today I'm off to Oyen for more introductions etc.. This email is much shorter - I'll wait longer to send you my next newsletter - but just wanted the good wishes of the West Coast for our harvest here. The congregation keeps joking and saying they only wanted ME - not my weather!
Many blessings.
In it, he writes -
If you're not from the prairie,
You've not heard the grass,
You've never heard grass.
In strong summer winds, the grains and grass bend
And sway to a dance that seems never to end.
It whispers its secrets - they tell of this land
And the rhythm of life played by nature's own band.
If you're not from the prairie,
You've never heard grass.
Well, my friends, we are asking you to pray for our prairie grasses and grains now. My little community has been set back again in their harvest by the 4 inches of rain we received on Saturday night. My second service was cancelled Sunday because the road to Loverna was impassable (it's gravel). I think some of the standing crops were either damaged or started to sprout from the rain, and the farmers are worried that the grains which have been swathed (cut) but not combined (harvested) will be damaged or downgraded. That being said, it didnt' rain much yesterday, and it hasn't rained today. All we need is some hot, windy, dry weather to help dry out the grains that are still o.k. to harvest. So we'll see if that happens.
I celebrated my 30th birthday on Sunday - strange because I actually feel 30. And it's not a bad thing. Who knew? I have so many friends who have freaked out about turning 30. I feel like I am finally catching up to myself.
My apologies to those who were frustrated by the 1/2 page of email addresses in my last letter. I think that I finally got that sorted.
Today I'm off to Oyen for more introductions etc.. This email is much shorter - I'll wait longer to send you my next newsletter - but just wanted the good wishes of the West Coast for our harvest here. The congregation keeps joking and saying they only wanted ME - not my weather!
Many blessings.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Carmen Reaches Corner Gas Safely!
Greetings all,
If you find yourself on this list, it is because you were in my address book and I thought you might like to receive news about my internship year in Alsask, Saskatchewan. Should you not want to receive group emails from me, or if your name has somehow been entered twice, please let me know as soon as possible so I can correct that for you. Don't worry - I won't be offended if you'd rather communicate one on one - that just works better for some people. Likewise, if you know someone who'd like to get this who isn't, please let me know about that too.
I left Vancouver after a frustrating season of fishing. Even with the most positive outlook it has been hard not to feel devastated by the decisions of those in power at DFO. My supervisor at my internship site called and we negotiated a later start date for me - 1) so I could have more time at home, and 2) so they could try and finish their wheat harvest before chruch started up again. They are anxious to spend time visiting and learning about the similarities in the fishing and farming industries. Just from the short talks we've had, it seems that they fight a lot of the same bureaucratic, regulatory and market forces that we fight in the fishing industry on the coast.
Anyways - I got under way with my mom's friend Kathleen Schelle on Sunday, September 4. We had a lovely drive up the Coquihalla, Rogers Pass and Kicking Horse Pass, hung a left at the Icefield Parkway and drove up to Saskatchewan River Crossing. We stopped at Siffleur Park and sat around a campfire with friends of Kathleen's and then headed off to their lovely place in Rocky Mountain House where we spent the night. Kathy stayed on their with them, and I got a late start in the morning to drive the rest of the way to Saskatchewan by myself. Sunday's drive was LONG, and I was so grateful for that, because it meant I only had 5 hours to drive on my on on Monday. I arrived in Alsask just before 5pm SK time. I arrive to warm greetings from my next door neighbour Florence, and my supervisor and her granddaughter in my house throwing a casserole in the oven and putting the kettle on for tea.
I love my house! I live in a 3 bedroom (now two bedroom and a home office) duplex (the family who lived next door recently left Alsask, so it's empty) with a fenced in back yard. My next door neighbour is the best quilter in Alsask, and so I was wise in choosing to bring my newfound quilting hobby with me. I am the 14th consecutive intern to serve in Alsask, and they love to have interns come and train here as part of their mission. Officially it is a three point pastoral charge, but the church in Marengo has closed, so there are two preaching points - my services are at 10am in Alsask, and 1:30 pm in Loverna every Sunday. When the weather gets cold and unsuitable for long drives, those in Loverna who want to worship will come to Alsask, and so the dead of winter will bring only one service a week. I've yet to go to Loverna, but the church in Alsask is darling. If any of you have been to Quadra Island United, it reminds me of that church (without the fishing-themed stained glass, however!). It's a small church, which explains why the church office is at the home of my supervisor, and my office is here at home.
The town of Alsask is rapidly becoming a ghost town, as has Loverna. The school is a quaint little brick building behind my house and it is completely boarded up. The children go to Marengo for school. There are two commercial buildings open (post office and a petro company who rents one room to a hairdresser who's here 2 days a week), and the hotel is still open, but for sale. Yesterday I got to go to both Kindersley, SK (a town of close to 5,000) and Oyen, AB (half that size, and half as far away) for shopping and running errands. Luckily most things I would need over the year are within those two drives. It doesn't sound like there's much here in Alsask. In fact - I missed it when I drove here! There was a sign that said Alsask, and it didn't point to turn right off the highway, so I kept going. About 5K later I turned around and found it, but laughed at myself. Everyone talks about how flat the prairies are, but where I am there are many rolling hills, and I actually find them kind of disconcerting. There is the big sky for sure, but the hills cut off your view from different angles, and so it makes finding landmarks absolultely impossible. It is beautiful though.
I haven't had much opportunity to watch Corner Gas, but I can see why people say it truly represents the people of Saskatchewan. My supervisor and her husband (Helen and Bud Thomson) have a sense of humour which I've only seen on T.V., and they laugh all the time. In my mailbox there was a letter from Saskatchewan's premier addressed to all clergy in the province. September 4 marked Sk's 100 year anniversary, and as the premier acknowledged in the letter, the faith of Saskatchewan people has been a cornerstone of the development of this place. The theme of the centennial is "100 Years of Heart" and I have already experienced that... Besides the caserole in my oven on my arrival, the members of the congregation had left my kitchen stocked for me - including gluten free cake mixes, rice shortbread (absolutely amazing - Pete if you want the recipe it's yours), fresh fruit, carrots, potatotes, onions, beets and lettuce fresh from their gardens, my bed made, and letters of welcome.
I'm off to Fort Qu'Appelle this afternoon for a two day orientation for SK's interns, and back to finish writing my sermon and services for Sunday. Thanks to everyone who sent their love and best wishes before I left. I would love to hear how you all are doing too... and I promise if you write me I"ll write you back.
If you find yourself on this list, it is because you were in my address book and I thought you might like to receive news about my internship year in Alsask, Saskatchewan. Should you not want to receive group emails from me, or if your name has somehow been entered twice, please let me know as soon as possible so I can correct that for you. Don't worry - I won't be offended if you'd rather communicate one on one - that just works better for some people. Likewise, if you know someone who'd like to get this who isn't, please let me know about that too.
I left Vancouver after a frustrating season of fishing. Even with the most positive outlook it has been hard not to feel devastated by the decisions of those in power at DFO. My supervisor at my internship site called and we negotiated a later start date for me - 1) so I could have more time at home, and 2) so they could try and finish their wheat harvest before chruch started up again. They are anxious to spend time visiting and learning about the similarities in the fishing and farming industries. Just from the short talks we've had, it seems that they fight a lot of the same bureaucratic, regulatory and market forces that we fight in the fishing industry on the coast.
Anyways - I got under way with my mom's friend Kathleen Schelle on Sunday, September 4. We had a lovely drive up the Coquihalla, Rogers Pass and Kicking Horse Pass, hung a left at the Icefield Parkway and drove up to Saskatchewan River Crossing. We stopped at Siffleur Park and sat around a campfire with friends of Kathleen's and then headed off to their lovely place in Rocky Mountain House where we spent the night. Kathy stayed on their with them, and I got a late start in the morning to drive the rest of the way to Saskatchewan by myself. Sunday's drive was LONG, and I was so grateful for that, because it meant I only had 5 hours to drive on my on on Monday. I arrived in Alsask just before 5pm SK time. I arrive to warm greetings from my next door neighbour Florence, and my supervisor and her granddaughter in my house throwing a casserole in the oven and putting the kettle on for tea.
I love my house! I live in a 3 bedroom (now two bedroom and a home office) duplex (the family who lived next door recently left Alsask, so it's empty) with a fenced in back yard. My next door neighbour is the best quilter in Alsask, and so I was wise in choosing to bring my newfound quilting hobby with me. I am the 14th consecutive intern to serve in Alsask, and they love to have interns come and train here as part of their mission. Officially it is a three point pastoral charge, but the church in Marengo has closed, so there are two preaching points - my services are at 10am in Alsask, and 1:30 pm in Loverna every Sunday. When the weather gets cold and unsuitable for long drives, those in Loverna who want to worship will come to Alsask, and so the dead of winter will bring only one service a week. I've yet to go to Loverna, but the church in Alsask is darling. If any of you have been to Quadra Island United, it reminds me of that church (without the fishing-themed stained glass, however!). It's a small church, which explains why the church office is at the home of my supervisor, and my office is here at home.
The town of Alsask is rapidly becoming a ghost town, as has Loverna. The school is a quaint little brick building behind my house and it is completely boarded up. The children go to Marengo for school. There are two commercial buildings open (post office and a petro company who rents one room to a hairdresser who's here 2 days a week), and the hotel is still open, but for sale. Yesterday I got to go to both Kindersley, SK (a town of close to 5,000) and Oyen, AB (half that size, and half as far away) for shopping and running errands. Luckily most things I would need over the year are within those two drives. It doesn't sound like there's much here in Alsask. In fact - I missed it when I drove here! There was a sign that said Alsask, and it didn't point to turn right off the highway, so I kept going. About 5K later I turned around and found it, but laughed at myself. Everyone talks about how flat the prairies are, but where I am there are many rolling hills, and I actually find them kind of disconcerting. There is the big sky for sure, but the hills cut off your view from different angles, and so it makes finding landmarks absolultely impossible. It is beautiful though.
I haven't had much opportunity to watch Corner Gas, but I can see why people say it truly represents the people of Saskatchewan. My supervisor and her husband (Helen and Bud Thomson) have a sense of humour which I've only seen on T.V., and they laugh all the time. In my mailbox there was a letter from Saskatchewan's premier addressed to all clergy in the province. September 4 marked Sk's 100 year anniversary, and as the premier acknowledged in the letter, the faith of Saskatchewan people has been a cornerstone of the development of this place. The theme of the centennial is "100 Years of Heart" and I have already experienced that... Besides the caserole in my oven on my arrival, the members of the congregation had left my kitchen stocked for me - including gluten free cake mixes, rice shortbread (absolutely amazing - Pete if you want the recipe it's yours), fresh fruit, carrots, potatotes, onions, beets and lettuce fresh from their gardens, my bed made, and letters of welcome.
I'm off to Fort Qu'Appelle this afternoon for a two day orientation for SK's interns, and back to finish writing my sermon and services for Sunday. Thanks to everyone who sent their love and best wishes before I left. I would love to hear how you all are doing too... and I promise if you write me I"ll write you back.
