Close to 1,000 Anglicans and Lutherans from across Canada will be gathering in Ottawa in July for what the Anglican Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, says is an “historic and exciting moment” in church history.

For the first time since 2001, when they signed a declaration of full communion, the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) will be holding a joint assembly from July 3-7 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

With the theme of “Together for the love of the world,” it will be a meeting quite unlike any other meeting,” say Archbishop Hiltz and Lutheran National Bishop Susan Johnson.

Each church will still hold separate sessions to deal with elections and specific church matters but will join together for worship and issues of common interest.
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Women in Ministry: Lives Taken, Blessed, Broken & Shared

“Women who serve professionally in ecclesial ministry have much to offer the church and have much to share with one another.” It is with this conviction that the second Women in Ministry gathering will take place at Queen’s House Retreat and Renewal; Centre, Saskatoon, from February 15 to 17, 2009. This year’s gathering takes inspiration from the book “Life of the Beloved” by Henri Nouwen.

The purpose of bringing together ordained and lay women employed in ecclesial ministry of all Christian traditions is to share and celebrate our journeys of faith and of call, to learn from and to support each other. Ministry commitments and responsibilities can have a way of insulating us from one another if we are not intentional about forging connections and encounters.

Facilitated by Marie-Louis Ternier-Gommers, Rev. Amanda Currie, Rev. Debbie Walker, and Elizabeth Nickel. There will be a special guest presenter, Bishop Cindy Halmarson of the ELCIC Saskatchewan Synod.

Pre-registration is required at least two weeks in advance in order to ensure that the program has adequate attendance to proceed.
Register online at Queen’s House, use the Registration form, or phone (306) 242-1916; fax (306) 653-5941; or email info@queenshouse.org.
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Upcoming programs at the PCE in 2008-2009

2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the announcement by Pope John XXIII of the Second Vatican Council, one of whose two main aims was the advancement of Christian unity. It is also 50 years since Fr. Bernard de Margerie received his call to the ministry of ecumenism, and 25 years since the founding of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism. The theme running throughout our 2008-09 programs will be The Ministry of Christian Reconciliation and Unity: Giving Thanks for the Past, Committing to the Future.

A number of our regular programs have been dedicated to this theme, and some special projects are being planned as well. Here is some preliminary information and dates for this year:

• Ecumenical Contacts Workshop
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
• 6th Annual Ecumenical Scripturefest
• Summer Ecumenical Institute

Ecumenical Contacts Workshop

Saturday, October 25th, 2008 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (Spadina & 20th St.). Beginning with registration at 8:30 a.m., closing at 12:00. “All the Saints Gather for Prayer: theory and practice of prayer together for Christian unity and reconciliation.” Progress in ecumenism comes out of prayer, especially prayer together. We will prepare for our 2009 year of celebrations by exploring theory and best practice for planning worship ecumenically. Led by Nick Jesson and Amanda Currie with others. Worship resources table available. Please join us.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

January 18-25, 2009 Theme: “That they may become one in your hand” (Ez. 37:17)
Our Week of Prayer observances in Saskatoon will be as rich as usual. Mark your calendars with the closing service of the Week of Prayer on the “50-50-25” theme. We have much to celebrate at this service. Plan to join us at McClure United Church in Saskatoon at 3:00 p.m., January 25th.

6th Annual Ecumenical Scripturefest

Scripturefest, a program from Queen’s House of Retreats, will follow our theme for the year. It will be an occasion for reflecting and dialoguing about the scripture readings set for the 2009 Week of Prayer, “That They May Become One in Your Hand” (Ez. 37:17). Saturday, Jan. 24th at Queen’s House, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Keynote Speakers: Rev. David Jobling & Rev. Bill Richards. Cost is $35 (includes lunch). Please book ahead through Queen’s House (306-242-1916).

Summer Ecumenical Institute

Mark your calendars now for June 2-5, 2009 and plan to be with us at Queen’s House of Retreats in Saskatoon. The Summer Ecumenical Institute will follow our 50-50-25 theme, reviewing and celebrating the achievements of the ecumenical movement over the past 50 years, describing where the ‘growing edge’ is today and dreaming dreams for our future.

We are delighted that Fr. Tom Ryan, a much-sought-after speaker and retreat leader, has accepted the invitation to be one of our keynote speakers.

Further details will follow later in the fall.
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Is Christianity still relevant today? – Summer Ecumenical Institute 2008

A Summer Ecumenical Institute will be held in Montréal from June 4 to 6, 2008, with the theme “Is Christianity still relevant today? How to respond effectively to a postmodern culture.” This bilingual programme has been planned and organized by the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism. There will be a variety of speakers, including Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton; Fr. Tom Ryan, c.s.p.; Rev. Dr. James Christie; Rev. Dr. Glenn Smith; Rev. Dr. Stephen Bigham; Dr. Édouard Bédard, and Joy Bédard.

For further information, please contact the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism at 1819 René-Lévesque Ouest, Montréal, QC, H3H 2P5; phone 514-937-9176; fax 514-937-4986; email infor@oikoumene.ca or their new website www.oikoumene.ca. The registration brochure is also available online.

Note: The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism will not be holding a Summer Ecumenical Institute in 2008 and encourages Prairie ecumenists to participate in this SEI in Montréal.
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May 21-24, 2008, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon

Each year, the Canadian Community Economic Development Network holds a national conference to bring together those who support community-based efforts to improve social conditions and create economic opportunities in Canada and beyond. The 2008 National Community Economic Development (CED) Conference is hosted by the Canadian CED Network in partnership with Quint Development Corporation.

As the premier CED event in Canada, the conference aims to:

• Strengthen CED practitioners and organizations
• Advance a pan-Canadian policy agenda for CED
• Contribute to skills development and capacity building
• Increase the profile of CED as a viable approach to the economic revitalization of Canadian communities.

Each year, the conference attracts over 400 CED practitioners, civil society representatives, civil servants, business and co-operative developers, and academics for dozens of learning and information sharing sessions, inspirational keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and local site visits. The annual conference provides an opportunity for participants to pause and reflect on our grassroots beginnings, while coming together to develop a vision for what we wish to achieve.

**Registration will be open mid-February 2008**
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March 29 is a Carbon Sabbath

KAIROS wants you to turn off your lights for an hour at 8 pm on Saturday, March 29!

Why? Because our use of fossil fuels -symbolized here by a light bulb- is contributing to global climate change. In 2007, the people of Sydney, Australia, decided that they could send a powerful message for change by turning off all their lights at the same time. More than 2 million citizens and businesses did so. Now, the World Wildlife Fund is taking Sydney’s history-making moment global by encouraging people, businesses, and communities all over the world to turn off their lights and demand action on climate change.

KAIROS asks you, your church, and your community to join in this global effort as part of your commitment to the Re-Energize: Time For A Carbon Sabbath campaign. Use this time to reflect on your use of fossil fuels and their connections not just to climate change but to human rights and conflict as well. Build community around these issues. Advocate with local and federal governments to change their policies and practices related to fossil fuels.
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10 a.m. Good Friday, March 21

This prayerful walk through the streets of Saskatoon features a reflection on the Way of the Cross focusing on justice and peace issues in the world today. For information, contact Tony Haynes at the Roman Catholic diocesan Justice and Peace office, 306-242-1500 or toll-free 1-877-661-5005.
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The Friends of Sophia winter programme continues with a presentation by Dr. Moira Day, Associate Professor, U of S Drama Department. Moira will present a talk entitled “Women, Theatre and Religion in the Western Tradition: From Antiquity to 1700”.

Wed. March 5, 2008 @ 7:30 pm in the Chelsea Commons, rm 231, St Thomas More College.

The Friends of Sophia is an interdenominational group of women, based at the University of Saskatchewan, dedicated to nurturing Christian feminist spirituality through educational opportunities, shared experience and liturgical celebration. For more information see the Friends of Sophia website.
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Foundations, “Exploring Our Faith Together” is a faith enrichment program for adults offered by the parishes in Saskatoon’s Roman Catholic diocese during the fall and spring of each year. The cost of each course is $5 per person, per two hour session. High school students: no charge. Anyone is welcome to attend sessions — it is not necessary to be member of the parish organizing the event. Pre-registration is required. A minimum of 15 people is required for the course to run. A partial selection of topics is included below. The complete Foundations schedule for Spring 2008 and contact information is available on the RC diocesan website.

“Zombie Jesus or Resurrected Christ” with Blake Sittler
Holy Spirit Parish, Saskatoon, Monday, March 3, 7:30 pm
Every Sunday we proclaim that we believe in the resurrection of the dead but do we really understand what the resurrection is? Blake will investigate the scriptural, theological, historical and practical aspects of our hoped for glorification.

“Theology of Johnny Cash” with Blake Sittler
St. Patrick Parish Centre, Saskatoon, Wednesday, March 5, 7 pm
Visiting different aspects of Catholic theology using the lyrics of Johnny Cash.

“Spirituality & Social Justice” with Gertrude Rompré
Holy Spirit Parish, Saskatoon, Tuesday, March 11, 7:30 pm
How do we develop a balanced spirituality that includes a commitment to justice? How do we create a balanced activism that remains gospel-centered? This session explores these questions and how we can develop a “faith that does justice”.

“A Funny Thing Happened on my Way Through the Bible” with Blake Sittler
Assumption of Our Lady Parish, Kerrobert, Wednesday, March 12, 7:30 pm
A search for the use of humour in the Old and New Testament and a discussion about the importance of making the Word relevant to people today.

“Interchurch Families” with Shirley & Bernie Karstad
St. Anne Parish, Saskatoon, Wednesday, April 16, 7:30
Interchurch marriages are a particular life situation for many Christians that require special pastoral sensitivity. We will explore the realities of these families which share a baptismal and marital oneness.
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St. Andrew’s College, Saskatoon presents: Winter Refresher from February 10th to 13th, 2008. The theme this year is This Sacred Earth: the ecological challenge to religion with the theme speaker Dr. Heather Eaton.

For registration and information regarding Winter Refresher 2008. For additional information contact St. Andrew’s College: toll free: 877-644-8970; or www.standrews.ca.

Join us for Great Music, Engaging Theology, Stimulating Conversation, and Celebration.
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Remembering the Children: Aboriginal and Church Leaders prepare for Truth and Reconciliation

Cross-Canada Promotion Tour
Saskatchewan stop is March 9, 2008

Senior aboriginal and church leaders are crossing Canada this March to promote the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which is being set up as part of the healing process set out in the Indian Residential Schools Agreement.

The tour seeks to bring awareness of the TRC to the general public and especially the people of the churches. At the invitation of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, Saskatoon will be one of the 4 stops on the tour. The PCE organizing committee is made up of representatives of the Roman Catholic, Anglican, United, and Presbyterian churches and the Mennonite Central Committee. Other stops are Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver. We asked for the tour to have a Saskatchewan stop because the residential schools issue is so important in our province.

The Saskatoon event is Sunday, March 9 at the Western Development Museum, starting at 3.00 pm, concluding with a feast & round dance.

Assembly of First Nations leaders and Regional Chiefs are part of the tour, along with senior staff from the Office of the Interim Director of the TRC. The other members include the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican National Indigenous Bishop, the Moderator of the United Church of Canada and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Local church and political leaders will offer a word of welcome to the national tour team at the event. The AFN will be in touch with chiefs in the region about this, and the FSIN have been invited to be present

We are excited that this important event is coming to Saskatchewan. This is a public event. We hope you can be there and will tell others about it. There is no charge for the event. A donations basket is available. Pre-registration is strongly advised to help us plan seating, and is ESSENTIAL if you will be staying for the feast. Register by phone (306-653-1633) or email pce@ecumenism.net or write to the PCE at 600-45th Street West, Saskatoon, S7L 5W9.

Yours sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Jan Bigland-Pritchard
Executive Director,
Prairie Centre for Ecumenism (for the Restorative Justice Committee)

For background on the TRC go to www.residentialschoolssettlement.ca
The tour website is www.rememberingthechildren.ca
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The Friends of Sophia winter programme will begin with a presentation by Dr. Mary Ann Beavis, Professor of New Testament at St. Thomas More College. Mary Ann will explore the relationship between feminist theology and Canadian women’s art, focusing on the work of Bernice Santor, Pnina Granirer and Lilian Broca.
Wed, January 30, 2008, @ 7:30 pm in the St. Andrew’s College Lounge.
Parking is available. Please use the parking circle by the main doors, not the Parking Lot.
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More than 20,000 Baptists from across North America will gather in Atlanta January 30-February 1, 2008, in an unprecedented demonstration of Baptist unity. The history-making event will culminate months of planning by leaders of more than 30 Baptist organizations who laid the groundwork for a new era of cooperation during a series of meetings at The Carter Center in 2006 and early 2007.

The New Baptist Covenant is an informal alliance of more than 30 racially, geographically, and theologically diverse Baptist organizations from throughout North America that claim more than 20 million members. Representatives of these Baptist organizations have reaffirmed traditional Baptist values, including sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and its implications for public and private morality, as well as their obligations as Christians to fulfill the biblical mandate to promote peace with justice, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick and the marginalized, and promote religious liberty and respect for religious diversity.

Under the theme “Unity in Christ,” the three-day Atlanta Celebration will feature speakers and presenters who will address historic Baptist commitments and explore other opportunities to work together as Christian partners. The Biblical text for the Celebration is Luke 4:18-19. Themes for the five plenary sessions are:

• Unity in Seeking Peace with Justice
• Unity in Bringing Good News to the Poor
• Unity in Respecting Diversity
• Unity in Welcoming the Stranger
• Unity in Setting the Captive Free

In addition to the plenary sessions, the Celebration will feature 16 special-interest sessions dealing with topics such as racism, religious liberty, poverty, the AIDS pandemic, faith in public policy, stewardship of the earth, evangelism, financial stewardship, and prophetic preaching.

Joint Midwinter Board Meeting

Prior to the New Baptist Covenant Celebration, the Joint Midwinter Board Meeting of the National Baptist Conventions in America, represented by the four Black Baptist Conventions — National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (NBCUSA, Inc.), National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. (NBCA, Inc.), Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. (PNBC, Inc.), and National Missionary Baptist Convention of America (NMBCA) — will be held January 28 – 30 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The mission of this second historic meeting is to continue strengthening the bonds between the four Conventions.

The Joint Midwinter Board Meeting is expected to draw 10,000 attendees from across the nation, and the world, who will meet over a three-day period to review the business and governance of their respective Conventions, engage in biblically based educational and informational forums highlighting community, domestic, and world issues, and join in Christian fellowship. The four Conventions will come together daily for joint sessions and activities, in addition to holding separate meetings. This is the second gathering of the four Conventions, and as agreed upon by each Convention president during the groundbreaking 2005 gathering in Nashville, TN, it will continue to be a regularly scheduled meeting held every three to four years.
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The sixth annual New Year’s Eve Interfaith Gathering for Peace will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, December 31st at 7:30 p.m. For further information contact Tony Haynes, 306-242-1500 or justpeace@saskatoonrcdiocese.com.
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“How can we, aboriginal and non-aboriginal people, walk together to heal our communities by addressing racism, poverty, and crime?” The 2007 Restorative Justice conference will gather to consider this question on November 14 at St. Mary’s RC Hall, 211 Avenue O. South in Saskatoon. The workshop runs from 1:20 to 9 p.m.
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Dr. Kieran Flanagan will present the annual Keenan Lecture at St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon on the theme What’s in a name? The fate of sociology in theology. The lecture takes place on Wednesday November 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Father O’Donnell Auditorium (room 140) at STM. There will be a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend.

Further information about Dr. Flanagan is included in the complete article.
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When I teach my students about the ecumenical movement, I tell them that the establishment of the World Council of Churches in 1948 is an historic achievement. It is historic because the WCC is the principal instrument of the ecumenical movement in the 20th century. It is historic because it sets a benchmark in church history for the commitment of the churches to walk together. It is an achievement of unparalleled importance because it brought together the historic churches of the Reformation together with the Eastern churches in a commitment to seek visible unity and common witness. However, even in 1948 there was an awareness that there were essential voices missing from the ecumenical table.
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Multi-Faith Saskatchewan will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Saturday, November 10th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Craik, Saskatchewan. The meeting will be held at Solar Restaurant at the Eco-Centre. The AGM guest speaker will be Mr. Paul Hanley. He will speak on the theme of “Faith and Sustainability.” For further information, please contact Jean Parker, secretary at 306-522-1514 or mjean.parker@sasktel.net.

Multi-Faith Saskatchewan is a new multi-faith organization formed in 2006 that is provincial in scope. It is open to provincial and regional single faith groups or faith related organizations and to individuals provided they subscribe to the objectives of Multi-Faith Saskatchewan.
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A video and presentation by Professor R. L. Kushwaha from the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering is scheduled for Thursday, November 8th, from 7 to 9 pm in the St. Thomas More College Auditorium.

The international treaty banning anti-personnel mines was signed with great acclaim in 1997 and Canada’s leadership role in this initiative was a source of national pride to many. In 1999, Dr. Lal Kushwaha received his first grant from the Department of National Defence to develop efficient, cost effective devices for clearing landmines. Dr. Kushwaha will talk about the landmine problem, the work of U of S Landmine Research Group (Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering Dept.), and recent developments. There will be an opportunity to talk with Professor Kushwaha afterwards over refreshments.
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“A Perfect Model of Modesty and Confidence”: Phoebe Palmer and the Quest for Holiness” is the title of the first presentation in the “Friends of Sophia” fall program. Presented by Dr. Sandra Beardsall, professor of church history at St. Andrew’s College, this evening presentation will introduce the fascinating 19th century evangelist Phoebe Palmer, and discuss her writings on the quest for holiness.
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Women in ministry, both lay and ordained, are invited to a retreat at Queen’s House in Saskatoon, November 18-19, 2007. “Women in Ministry: Naming, Claiming and Celebrating” will be an ecumenical gathering of women in ministry to share and celebrate our journeys of faith and of call, to learn from one another, to become friends and to support each other. Ministry commitments and responsibilities can have a way of insulating us from one another if we are not intentional about making connections and encounters happen. The team of facilitators includes two Roman Catholic women in pastoral ministry, a recently retired Lutheran pastor, and a Presbyterian minister. Please see the brochure for more information and the registration form.
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The 23rd annual Festival of Faith will be held on Sunday, October 28th at 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Side by Side in Faith.” The Congregation Agudus Israel (715 McKinnon Ave.) will again host the religious community of Saskatoon for this important festival.

Come join in Saskatoon’s multi-faith expression of its spiritual traditions expressed through speech, music, and dance – a celebration for all ages brought together from the four corners of the earth! Free admission. Refreshments served.
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon will be holding a Diocesan Eucharistic Congress from October 26-28, 2007. A Eucharistic Congress is not a common event in any diocese, so it will be as unfamiliar to Catholics as it is to other Christians. Essentially, the Congress is a period of intense study and reflection about the many dimensions of the eucharistic mystery. As Bishop Albert LeGatt describes it, “A Eucharistic Congress… is an occasion to gather all the baptized, the Body of Christ, for the purpose of giving praise to Christ for the gift of the Eucharist.”
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The deplorable conditions at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre have led to a joint letter from the Anglican, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic bishops to the editor of the StarPhoenix that was published on Friday, October 19. The bishops call for urgent attention and action to resolve the over-crowding in the jail. They also highlight the impact that overcrowding has had upon the programs of the SCC, and on the escalating fear, violence, and mental hardship of the inmates.

Together with the inter-church committee on restorative justice, the bishops invite the general public to join them for a candlelight vigil outside the Saskatoon Correctional Centre on Sunday, October 21st, at 7 p.m.

[Please note that the original StarPhoenix report included the incorrect date. The vigil will indeed be on Sunday, October 21st.]
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On September 21, the International Day of Peace, musicians from Saskatoon will hold a special festival entitled “Musicians for Peace.” You are invited to join them at one or both of the following venues. Buy a festival pass and visit both venues. These are a short walk from each other, just off Broadway. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Saskatoon Refugee Coalition and Oxfam.
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The College of Emmanuel & St. Chad in Saskatoon is pleased to invite the public to a panel discussion entitled “Canadians and the Anglican World after General Synod” on July 1, at 7 p.m. in the college chapel. As part of the college’s “Faith in the World” summer school for lay people, the panel will consider the results of the 2007 General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. Join Cathy Hartsook, Gary Sinclair, and Dean Terry Wiebe as they frame up their experience of this year’s General Synod; the decisions made, and the ramifications for our relationship with the broader Anglican world.
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The 2007 Summer Ecumenical Institute entitled “Making Peace in the Household of God” is scheduled for June 26 to 29 in Saskatoon. As final preparations are underway, the final timetable has been released along with a list of optional workshops. The conference begins on Tuesday evening with an ecumenical worship service at St. Paul’s Cathedral at 7 p.m. Dr. David Brubaker, one of our keynote speakers, will preach the sermon. The general public is invited to attend this service.
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The Congress of Humanities and Social Sciences will be in Saskatoon from May 26 to June 2. Congress, as it is now called, was once known as the Learned Societies’ Conference. Now in its 76th year, it is an important annual gathering of academic societies in the liberal arts from across Canada. According to the website, it is the largest annual academic gathering in Canada; and its multidisciplinary character marks it as unique in the world. In 2006, approximately 8,000 delegates representing over 68 learned societies went to Toronto from all over North America, Europe, Africa and Asia to present their research and to debate some of the most important social and cultural questions of the day.

Complete programs of events planned by these societies are available on their individual websites. Some highlights include:

Saturday, May 26 (all day)
The theme of the CETA annual meeting is Evangelical-Roman Catholic encounter. All of the presentations will relate to aspects of this theme. Keynote speaker: Gregory Baum (McGill)

Sunday, May 27, 10:30-11:25 (CTS)
Laurie Lamoreux Scholes (Concordia) – Building Bridges across Difference: A Study of the Christian Ecumenical Movement of the Early 20th Century (A Blueprint for the Interfaith Movement?)

Tuesday, May 29, 11:00-12:30 (Joint session of CSCH & CCHA)
Commemorating the Contribution of John Webster Grant to Canadian religious Historiography (a panel discussion)

Tuesday, May 29, 3:35-5:30 (CTS panel)
Bridging Churches: Development of the Understanding of Church through Canadian Ecumenical Dialogues (Moderators: Gail Allan and Mary Marrocco; Presentations: Helmut Harder, Sandra Beardsall, Susan Brown)
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All are invited to a Friends of L’Arche Prayer Night, hosted by the L’Arche Saskatoon Project, on Wednesday May 2, 2007 from 7:00-7:45pm in the hall of St. Timothy’s Anglican Church, 2101 Lansdowne Ave. (2 blocks south of Taylor St.). L’Arche Saskatoon Project is part of an international network of communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together in the spirit of the Gospel and of the Beatitudes that Jesus preached. For more information, contact Wyndham Thiessen at 262-7243 or Robert and Margaret Sanche at 374-5501.
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A forum on religions’ contribution to a sustainable Saskatoon will be held April 12-13 at Nutana Park Mennonite Church, 1701 Ruth Street. Road Map 2020 and Multi-Faith Saskatoon are collaborating to present a forum on sustainability and faith.
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Social Justice Institute 2007: Whose Story? Whose Justice? Imagining Alternatives – with keynote speakers Lee Cormie, Paul Hansen, Kathy Vandergrift, and several other workshop options. This ecumenical event will be held at Newman Theological College, Edmonton. Overnight accomodation, meals available. For brochure with agenda, registration form, more information contact 780-467-2833 or email: sji2007@telus.net.
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All are invited to an ecumenical Friends of L’Arche Prayer Night, hosted by the L’Arche Saskatoon Project, on Tuesday, April 3 from 7:00-7:45 pm in the chapel at Queen’s House (601 Taylor St. W). We will be participating in a liturgy of the washing of one another’s feet. L’Arche Saskatoon Project is part of an international network of communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together in the spirit of the Gospel and of the Beatitudes that Jesus preached. For more information, contact Wyndham Thiessen at 262-7243 or Robert and Margaret Sanche at 374-5501.
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The Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Dr. Helen Caldicott, MD, will speak in Saskatoon on Wednesday, March 7th at 7:30 p.m. at Third Avenue United Church. Her lecture is entitled “Nuclear Power is Not the Answer to Climate Change.” For further information, contact Marion at 306-373-0309; Inter-Church Uranium Committee: www.icucec.org; or email cleangreensask@yahoo.ca.
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The annual World Day of Prayer will be observed on March 2, the first Friday of March. The 2007 theme — United Under God’s Tent — has been prepared by women from Paraguay. Worship services are planned around the world. In Saskatoon, the following services are scheduled:
2 p.m. at Calvin Goforth Presbyterian Church, Sommerfeld & 3rd Street
2 p.m. at Knox United Church, 838 Spadina Crescent East at 24th Street
7 p.m. at Parkview Presbyterian Church, 821 Avenue E North
2 p.m. at St. James Anglican Church, 607 Dufferin Avenue at 12th Street
2 p.m. at Wildwood Mennonite Church, 1502 Acadia Drive

Further information about the World Day of Prayer can be found on the website of the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC) at www.wicc.org/
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An ecumenical panel will give a presentation on Sunday, February 25th on the topics of “The role of Mary in the Church” and the “Understanding of the Eucharist.” The controversial issues have been the subject of extensive ecumenical dialogue over the past 40 years. The Keynote speakers are the Rev. Canon Colin Clay (Anglican), Marie-Louise Ternier-Gommers (Roman Catholic), and Bishop Allan Grundahl (Lutheran). The panel will present at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at St. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Parish, at the corner of Taylor Avenue and Munroe Street. This event is sponsored by St. Philip Neri Parish, St. Timothy Anglican Church, and Redeemer Lutheran Church.
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A weekend for young adults led by Brother Emile of Taizé will be held in Edmonton from February 23 to 25th, 2007. “Leaving Discouragement Behind – Finding new Hope” is the theme of the weekend. This ecumenical time of prayer, reflection, and sharing is part of Taizé’s “Pilgrimage of Trust across the Earth.”
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The Friends of Sophia are pleased to be hosting Dr. Barbara Reid, OP, who will be presenting a series of three lectures entitled “The Passion of Christ: A Feminist Perspective.” Planned for January 28 and 29, 2007, the lectures will be held at St. Andrew’s College and St. Thomas More College on the university campus. Further details are available on the Friends of Sophia website at www.usask.ca/uscm/friendsofsophia/
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The Friends of Sophia will be hosting Dr. Barbara E. Reid, O.P. on January 28 & 29, 2007. Dr. Reid is professor of New Testament at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Michigan. An educator, scholar, and retreat director, she is the author of “New Collegeville Commentary on
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Conflict is not necessarily a bad thing. Yet in the churches there is a fear of conflict, and a tendency to go for peace at any price, sweeping conflict under the carpet until it cannot be contained. The 2007 Summer Ecumenical Institute aims to help church people build a vision of how conflict can become a force for good in our communities, and to equip participants with the basic skills they need to become active peace-builders in their own settings.

The Summer Ecumenical Institute (SEI) — scheduled for June 26 to 29 in Saskatoon — is sponsored by the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.
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The annual Restorative Justice Week will be marked in Saskatoon by a workshop at Mount Royal Mennonite Church, Avenue O & 29th Street on November 15 at 1 p.m. Theme: “Creative Partnerships – Collaborative Action: Working Together for Restorative Justice.” The afternoon workshop will include a shared supper. Registration is $15.
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La semaine du 12 au 19 novembre est la Semaine de la justice réparatrice au Canada. Le thème de 2006 est Partenariats novateurs, collaboration solide. « Ce thème célèbre l’esprit d’innovation qui caractérise déjà certains partenariats existants. Il nous appelle à poursuivre nos efforts en établissant de nouveaux partenariats plus solides où tous les intervenants s’entraident
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A one woman musical entitled “The Gospel of Mary Magdalene” will be performed on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Andrew’s College Lounge. The musical play was written and composed, and will be performed, by Angie Tysseland. In the musical, the story, spirit, and songs of Mary Magdalene are sung and played with a contemporary spin. The original music is at times meditative, and at times quirky and lively.
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The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism’s Fall Workshop for Ecumenical Contacts will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at St. Francis RC Church, Saskatoon (Willow St. & Melrose Ave.) from 9:00 a.m. – noon. Our theme is “After you say hello: going deeper in inter-church dialogue.” Lots of people can generate some enthusiasm for ‘surface’
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The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism’s Fall Workshop for Ecumenical Contacts will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at St. Francis RC Church, Saskatoon (Willow St. & Melrose Ave.) from 9:00 a.m. – noon. Our theme is “After you say hello: going deeper in inter-church dialogue.”
Lots of people can generate some enthusiasm for ‘surface’ ecumenism (occasional potlucks, an annual joint service, etc.), but how do you move yourself and your church from polite greetings to meaningful, lasting engagement? This can be particularly challenging for lay people who operate at varying distances from the centres of power in their churches. Sharing enthusiasm and tested ideas with us will be the Rev. Dr. Jim Halmarson, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, who is serving with the Anglican parish of Christ Church, Saskatoon, and who also teaches at the Lutheran Theological Seminary.
The workshop forms part of the ongoing training and development of Ecumenical Contacts – people in parishes and congregations who accept the call to work for Christian unity and reconciliation – but it is open to anyone who is interested in the subject. Registration is from 8:30 am. There is no charge for the workshop (donations welcome). For further information call the PCE at 306-653-1633 or email pce@ecumenism.net.
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The Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches USA hopes people will see a new connection between film and theology when it holds its first-ever Oikumene Film Festival to promote further exploration of visual media as a form of ecumenical expression. The festival will be part of the commission’s 50th-anniversary celebration, July
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Nidus is a festival for people from all streams of Christian faith with music, arts, keynotes, worship, dialogue, drama & dance. Several thousand youth, young adults, families and others will gather in Kitchener, Ontario from August 4th to 6th. It will be a unique opportunity for people to come together to express faith, celebrate through
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The annual Holocaust Memorial Service will be held Sunday, April 30th at 1:30 p.m. Hosted by the Congregation Agudas Israel at 715 McKinnon Ave., Saskatoon. This year, the keynote speaker is Philip Weiss. Born in 1922 in Drohobycz, Poland, Philip, along with his parents, his brother and sister, were first placed in a ghetto, then
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On Earth Day, April 22, 2006, a conference in Saskatoon will feature local, national, and international speakers on nuclear issues and healthy positive energy alternatives. Entitled “Towards a Nuclear Free Future,” the conference will be held at the St. George’s Senior Citizens’ Club, 20th Street & Avenue M, Saskatoon, from 9 am to 4:30 p.m.
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A workshop for ecumenical contacts and leaders entitled “God in Your grace, Transform the World: An eyewitness report from the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches” will be held April 22 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Saskatoon.
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The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism will be hosting a very special retreat this summer, perhaps a unique event in Canada. Pastors and members of three very different church traditions – the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Mennonite Church Saskatchewan and the Foursquare Gospel Church – will spend three days together sharing their treasures of corporate worship and private devotion. Each worship session will be led by a member of the tradition to which it belongs, with explanations of the service’s meaning and time for questions. In addition we will be introduced to ways of private prayer and devotion characteristic of these traditions, with explanations and private time in which to ‘try out’ different types of prayer for ourselves.

Thursday May 25 to Saturday May 27, 2006 at Queen’s House of Retreats (601 Taylor St. West, Saskatoon)

Costs: $175 live-in, $150 commuters. Please register with Queen’s House directly (tel. 306-242-1916) by May 10 to ensure the viability of this event. If you would like more information about the retreat, contact the PCE at (306) 653-1633. This event will be held in lieu of the 2006 Summer Ecumenical Institute.
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