photo by joyce dodds

VST WORKSHOP —Vancouver School of Theology Professor of Liturgics, the Rev. Richard Leggett at St. John the Evangelist, Fruitvale.

Nine tables of lay and clergy people gathered at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Fruitvale, expecting to be challenged, encouraged, stimulated, and sent back to our churches, re-invigorated in the ministries to which we have been called. We were not disappointed.

Led by Vancouver School of Theology Professor of Liturgics, the Rev. Richard Leggett, in a well thought out and inspiring set of lectures, we laughed, we learned, and, expanded our liturgical knowledge and expertise.

On Saturday, Richard posed many questions, which generated reflection and conversation. Some of his challenges to us were as follows:

• What is the most urgent thing God is doing in the world?
• What is the good news? How do we articulate our understanding of that to a visitor? (In three minutes).
• As a consequence, what are we doing in our own congregations to enable people to articulate their faith?
• Religion is about the WHYs. (Read Ephesians 4 in its entirety, so that we know why we do what we do.) And, further, to know where we are on our journey, and to grapple with the mystery of religion, of liturgy, of who we are and why we are here.
• Mystery is about questions.
• What has been your most significant experience of worship? Our goal as readers and leaders is to be present...and listen for..."the word," as if it were the first time we ever heard it. "We are the reciters of the community's poem"; that is, the Liturgy. It is as if we are the conductors of a great symphony. Our clear instructions enable the congregation to forget themselves and their cares and draw near to God. We set the stage for the drama... and the people gathered are the "theological participants" in God's worship. Further, there is a strong connection between worship and local mission — for mission and mystery are expressed in every aspect of the worship service.
Our preconceived notions about liturgy and our role in it, were, for many of us, "turned inside out" — sending us from the conference, back into the world, inspired to try to translate "God's Mission for Us" into our daily lives and community gatherings.

After meeting together regularly since 2006, the Task Force on Ministry has recommended that continuing education courses like this course be taken yearly, and, is an important component of licensing, for both clergy and lay alike. These courses will be of interest to everybody, and especially to those who are considering becoming lay ministers.

The difference between stipendiary and non-stipendiary clergy is seminary training; therefore, Education for Ministry (EFM) and these courses are increasingly important. As Canon Peter Davison, who is headquartered in Kelowna, is the Director of EFM for all of Canada, we find ourselves in a good position to receive this advanced training. The Rev Leggett will be returning in the fall to bring us the second portion of our "theological feast."

Many thanks to our hosts, the Revs Elizabeth and Douglas Lewis and their team, who organized our time and provided us both Word and Food.

(In 2010, the two Regions of Kokanee and Kootenay Boundary will become one Region. As a consequence, Dean Neil Elliott has invited everyone to join in a "Name That Region" contest, to be discussed at our joint picnic and gathering on a farm in Blewett in late summer.)

Icon Artist, Sandra Kessler Discovers New Technique for Rendering Ancient Art

By Jonn Lavinnder



CREATIVITY — Sandra Kessler working on one of her art pieces.





Sandra Kessler is an inspired icon artist who resides in the Okanagan. She has developed a method of creating art using the images of icons. Sandra makes laser prints of the icons and has developed a way of embellishing them in order to make them look like contemporary icons. Recently, she had a solo show that was held at the French Cultural Centre in Kelowna.

photo sandra kessler

EMBOSSED ABSTRACT — Easter trilogy by Sandra Kessler on display at St. Margaret's in Peachland.

Sandra said, "I made an abstract of the Easter trilogy (a triptych), which was displayed at St. George's in Westbank and St. Michael's in Kelowna. And this Easter it was exhibited at St. Margaret's in Peachland."

Her method includes researching the lives of each saint she depicts. In the course of her research, she has gained a great deal of knowledge about saints. For example, she was intrigued with St. Dymphna, because she is a saint for those who suffer from mental illness.

Sandra said she would like to create a book containing stories and images of saints. She is also interested in teaching her method to others, if there is enough interest.

Images of the Madonna and child are of particular interest to Sandra. She noted that the Christ Child is always shown with an adult expression.

Finding unusual and interesting images is her passion. She recently discovered a painting of the last supper by Callabotte that shows the Disciples as men in black suits with Mary Magdalene lying at Christ's feet. In another painting, by Rembrandt, she said that he had depicted Christ as a self-portrait wearing a black hat.

"I'm currently considering creating a piece using the Pieta, which I hope to render in a metallic background with ivory-collaged paper. I'd also like to create a chapel window at some point.

My medium is to use watercolour paper with acrylic paint, and found objects, such as gold mesh, broken bits of glass, jewelry, handmade papers, stones, gold, copper, silver paint, medals, and acrylic gloss medium. I'd also like to use old computer parts for a background."

Sandra said that she felt privileged to have discovered this technique.