volume 32, issue 18 monday, february 13, 2017 morning star · profs roger, dale, roberta and colin,...
TRANSCRIPT
text.
When I retrace the
decades back to my
Uncle Ray, I’m struck
along the way by how
often my personal story
is frequented by both
unintended and formal
mentors. Some tough,
some old, some young,
some surprising. There’s
the story of Brother Bob,
the mentor from hell,
who… well, we’ll skip
him. But there’s John,
who schooled me in the
Mennonite art of wood
cabinetry. And there’s
Fackelbararnas, the
intentional 1970s
community of peer
mentors in Sweden who
radicalized my passion
for holistic biblical
living. And there’s
mentor and coach Linda,
with her insatiable vision
for gender equity. And
there’s my Kenyan
mentor who plunged me
through the barriers of
culture, race, unlearning
and community
transformation. And
there’s the stories of
profs Roger, Dale,
Roberta and Colin, and
their weavings of
Matthew, Luther, Barth,
Weber, Ellul and
Guttierez.
It’s only later in life, (Continued on page 2)
Saskatchewan in the
1960s and 70s was many
things: tough, vibrant,
socialist, conservative,
churched, impatient with
politicians, and bullish
on hard work and
innovative hands. And it
was heading for
industrialized farming.
There are a few
stories I could tell about
my Uncle Ray. He was
not large, imposing or
grandiose. Nor was he a
scholar, priest or public
personality. But he was
what my childhood
needed: grounded,
thoughtful, wise, even
gentle. And he was a
master of the pregnant
silence. In response to
my ever-impatient
‘Why? How?’ he felt no
need to rush. He was the
only Brethren Zen
master I ever met. And
he was a small-scale
farmer enamoured not
with megafarms but with
God’s creation.
Before we go further
with Uncle Ray, allow a
digression about
“story.” I like these
wise words from Bill
Harley to wannabe
teachers and mentors
(and priests and
community leaders): “If
we want it to be
memorable, it must be a
story. Story is how we
are reminded, and how
we remember.” Perhaps
we are here at Wycliffe
to help each other
develop our stories, join
our stories, and tell our
stories.
So how do we find
our stories, corporate
and personal? A good
question, especially for
me, since my stories
always seem to be under
development and
evolving. If you’ve been
following this series in
Morning Star, faculty and
staff have been telling
stories, and my
observation is that no
one is claiming that their
story is entire and
complete. We all have
story parts that don’t
make sense, chapters
that are missing, and
pieces that are far too
complex and interesting
for a cliché. Story-
making means always
trying, sometimes
struggling, to see our
story’s new pattern in
context. Story-telling is
also how we, our clans
and communities make
local theology. It does
not emerge from lecture
notes or PowerPoint
slides, but from
hindsight sense-making,
co-woven with the
threads of presence and
Uncle Ray: an old farm tale, anew
David Kupp
Monday, February 13, 2017 Volume 32, Issue 18
MORNING STAR
Faculty:
Principal
Bp. Stephen Andrews
Room 103, x3521
AD Director
Ann Jervis
Room 232, x3539
BD Director
Glen Taylor
Room 218, x 3541
Librarian
Tom Power
Leonard Hall, x3526
Permanent Faculty:
Annette Brownlee
Room 233, x3540
Terry Donaldson
Room L304, x3537
Alan Hayes
Room L302, x3532
David Kupp
Room 231, x2561
Wanda Malcolm
Room L303, x2557
Joseph Mangina*
Room 231, x3523
Judy Paulsen*
Room 229, X3534
Ephraim Radner
Room L301, x3533
Peter Robinson
Room 225, 3529
Christopher Seitz
Room L305, x3551
Marion Taylor
Room 227, x3542
Permanent Part-Time
Faculty:
Marilyn Draper
Catherine Sider-
Hamilton
* on sabbatical Winter
2017
years after Uncle Ray is
gone, that I realize our
relationship was also my
first story of mentorship. As
a child, I thought he was a
genius: he could deliver a
calf, operate a hundred
types of machines and
tools, read the moisture on
the wind with his nose,
sense the growth of seed
beneath the spring soil, and
wax extemporaneous on
Nebuchadnezzar.
And Uncle Ray was cool.
He had the greatest
collection of frogs in his
creek, the best old stone
barn and farmhouse, and
the most ancient farming
equipment that clanked and
flailed and chugged along.
He could build watches and
clocks from scratch. He was
also the father of my good
friend and cousin, Nelson.
Best of all, Uncle Ray let
Nelson and I do amazing
stuff together all over the
farm.
(Continued from page 1) “Your Uncle Ray was a
failure,” a community
member quietly confided, a
few years ago. “He never
really made that farm
work.” That statement
startled and puzzled me. It
fueled a season of
recollection about those
summers and years on the
Saskatchewan prairie. Ok,
perhaps through the
narrowed eyes of the
modern agribusiness
world, he was the end of an
era; but for me he was a
doorway to land, life skills,
faith and insight.
My uncle Ray taught me
much. It was probably
through his soft-spoken
words, his careful
observations of birds,
seasons, and animals feral
and farmed, that I first
inhaled the beauty and
intricacy of the land. God
was not ‘heavenly’ for
Uncle Ray, but abundantly
immanent in every
molecule of that small
valley paradise. Jesus’ call
to abundant life was just
outside the door. I first
learned camping in that
valley, sheltered with
cousin Nelson inside the
rickety lean-to we erected
for protection from the
terrifying night beasts of
the forest (a mere 100
metres from the house).
I first learned from
Uncle Ray the wonders of
crop cycles, seasons,
weather and manure. I first
learned about A.I. (artificial
insemination, not
appreciative inquiry) at the
back end of one of his 1500-
pound Simmental beauties.
I learned to drive tractor,
chase mice, cut hay, haul
bales, wade creeks, light
fires.
Often idyllic, but never
perfect, life on the farm ran
the normal gamut of
livelihood, climate, family,
community, inter-church
and in-law challenges.
There were many sparse (Continued on page 5)
Editorial (cont’d)
Page 2
MORNING STAR
Admin Staff:
Accountant
Sophia Chen
Room 105, x3522
Business Office
Peter Patterson
Room 106, x3549
Paul Patterson
Room 107, x3546
Wycliffe Serves!
Steve Hewko
Bonnie Kung
Room L3K, x 2558
Chaplain
Annette Brownlee
Room 233, x3540
Communications
Patricia Paddey
Room A10, x3548
Connie Chan
Room A10, x3590
Development
Rob Henderson
Room 102, x3538
Katie Clogg
Room 101, x3524
Gillian Arnold
Room 101, x2559
Front Desk
Andy Witt, x3535
Indigenous Program
Julie Golding-Page
Room A10, x4001
IT
Matt Glandfield
Basement, x3531
Maintenance
David Durance
Paul Mason
Basement, x3543
Principal’s Office
Karen Baker-Bigauskas
Room 104, x3521
Registrar/Admissions
Barbara Jenkins
Room 226, x3530
Sean Otto
Room 228, x3525
Jon Clemens
Room 230, x3547
Rachel Lott
Room A10
Residence Don
Lane Scruggs
X 3030
Thursday Morning Prayer Faculty Preaching Series on
Exodus
This Winter term the faculty will be preaching on portions of the Book of Exodus. It
will be a form of liturgical preaching. Portions of the book were selected to reflect the
two seasons of the church year we will be in this academic term, Epiphany and
Lent. Thus, during the season of Epiphany faculty will preach on portions of Exodus
having to do with ways God was manifest to Israel. During Lent faculty will preach on
portions of the book which follow Israel in the wilderness. Audio-recordings of the
sermons will be posted on the Wycliffe website.
See you in Chapel,
Annette Brownlee+, Chaplain
Page 3
VOLUME 32, ISSUE 18
DATA ENTRY CLERK
The Development Office at Wycliffe College is hiring a Data Entry Clerk to perform various clerical tasks. If you are extremely organized, accurate and detailed-oriented, with a moderate to fast typing speed, then this opportunity is for you.
This position will entail 5 hours of data entry work per week until the end of the semester, to take place in the Development office on either a Wednesday or a Friday. The rate is $15 per hour, with monthly pay issued by cheque. Interested applicants should send an email with a brief description of relevant experience to Katie Clogg at [email protected] by end of day January 31st.
Unfortunately only one position is available at this time. Preference will be given to students with previous administrative experience. Thank you for your interest!
Student Servers Needed
Institute of Evangelism Dinner
Thursday March 9, 2017
6:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m.
MUST be able to commit for
the entire evening (no last
minute cancellations!)
Dress code or black pants or
skirt and white shirt
Rate of Pay—$12.00/hour
Five (5) Servers required (Smart Serve preferably)
Please see Gillian in the Development Office, ASAP,
Room 101, 416-946-3535 x2559 or email
Prof. John Bowen had emergency quadruple by-pass surgery last week—please keep John
and Deborah in your prayers as he heads home this week to recover.
Prof. David Kupp is suffering with gall stones—please keep him and his surgical team in your
prayers.
Please keep grad Kyle Norman and his wife Alicia in your prayers as she continues to recover
from chemotherapy.
Please keep Sophia Chen and her family in your prayers as her mother fights liver cancer in Taiwan.
Congratulations…
Last week was a busy one around Wycliffe, giving us much to be thankful for:
BABIES
Cory Pytlarz graduated from Wycliffe a couple of years ago. While here, he and Brenda were active in the Wycliffe Community, along with their daughter Holly (Wycliffe born!). Since settling back in Calgary, Cory and Brenda have welcomed two sons, Michael is almost 2; and Thomas Lane was born on February 7th, 2017. Congratulations to the
Pytlarz family!
Proofreaders Needed…
We are looking for Proofreaders to help out our international students whose first language is not English.
Proofreaders are teamed up with a student, and help by checking spelling, grammar and readability of papers.
Pay is $12.00/hour.
Please contact Karen in the Principal’s Office if you are available to help out at 416-946-3521 or
Page 4
MORNING STAR
2016-17 Student
Council:
Executive Committee
VP Theology
Joel Neister
VP Spirituality
Sarah Strarmong
Secretary
Jordan Thism
Treasurer
Matthew Beugenauer
Position Reps
Social Chair
Ted Liwiams
2nd Year Rep
Shane Pogaul
House Advocate
Kira Looman
Day Student Rep
Andrew Nojson
Sports Rep
Jordan Steurrdein
Green Chair
Alexandra Lohpod
Mission Chair
Andrew Dabgely
1st Year Rep
James Losh
WGS (WADSA)
Mari Seelmat
Heejun Mik
Voting for the 2017-18 Senior Student
will take place following Reading Week.
In the Residence..
Residence Don
Wayne Scruggs
X3030
Floor Dons
Allison Bean
X2332
Anthony Fredette
x2206
MISSIONS REP.
There is a new mission
opportunity coming up in
February! This time we get
to share a meal with
refugees at one of the
homes in Toronto that exist
for the sole purpose of
showing radical hospitality
to refuges in our city. This
particular home, Silas Hill,
was opened last year by
People’s Church after
discerning how best they
could show love and
support to those in need
who come to Toronto from
all around the world. The
home’s staff would greatly
appreciate it if we could
roll up our sleeves and help
with some cleaning for a
couple of hours after which
we can sit down and have a
meal with the residents,
listen to some stories, and
welcome them to the city.
This event is happening
Saturday February 18th
from 3:00-7:00 p.m. To
avoid publishing the
house’s address widely,
please talk to Drew if you
are planning to come and
Coffee Hour is back!! Coffee/tea will be available
in the Soward
Reading Room
each Monday—
Thursday @ 10:50
-11:10 a.m.
we can either make plans to
travel together, or he can
give directions. If you can’t
make the whole time, but
are interested in meeting
us part way through, Drew
will make sure you have
directions—just make sure
to let him know your plans!
THE SPORTS REP.
The Wycliffe Stars:
Intramural Soccer
Mon. 27 February @
10:30PM vs Medicine B
Nominations and
Election of other Student
Council Roles will take place
after Reading Week. Other roles
include: VP Theology, VP
Spirituality, Secretary, Treasurer,
Social Chair, 2nd Year Rep,
House Advocate, Day Student
Rep. Sports Rep, Green Chair,
Mission Chair. 1st Year Rep will
be elected in September.
There will be a special issue of
the Morning Star right after
Reading Week with job
descriptions for the various roles
on the Student Council.
OSAP reminder:
Just a reminder that the deadline for completion of
Continuation of Interest-Free Status is coming up at
the end of February for many students.
For students who have outstanding OSAP loans but
have not taken out new funding, interest-free status
must be confirmed every year in order to avoid
interest charges accruing. If a student is not
confirmed within 6 months of their previously-
confirmed end date, they will be charged interest
on their loans.
For students who previously submitted forms with
an end date of August 2016, the deadline to renew
their Interest-Free Status is at the end of February.
The forms need to be received by U of T and
entered into the system by the end of the day on
February 28th – so in order to ensure we have time
to process all forms, please do not delay.
Schedule 2 forms are available at this link https://
osap.gov.on.ca/prodconsumption/groups/forms/
documents/forms/tcont003388.pdf
Page 5
VOLUME 32, ISSUE 18
winters when Uncle Ray
worked two extra jobs. But
I saw his pattern: his quiet,
wise, dogged persistence
was thoroughly rooted in
everyday practices of faith
and gratitude, around the
kitchen table, on the land,
and with the neighbours.
Perhaps intuitively, sola
Scriptura (so central for my
gigantic, extended family
of ethnic Anabaptist
immigrants) was only a
starting point for Uncle Ray.
I realize now that he was
also reading the divine
(Continued from page 2) texts of nature, and his
refractions of life were
richer and deeper for that.
Every breakfast with Uncle
Ray combined cereal and
toast with Scripture
readings and prayer. But
pauses in the labours of
field and barn delivered
moments of wise
observation – about the
moment, about the good
produce of creation, about
his regret for needing to
dismantle the beaver’s
efforts to dam the creek,
about this year’s return of
butterflies, about what
possibilities lay just beyond
the horizon.
Years later, it dawns on
me. Uncle Ray was my
personal Wendell Berry.
His faithful practices
integrated text, tractor,
community and earth.
My story about Uncle
Ray now includes a new
ending, about mentors. It
goes something list this: the
people in front of us are no
accident. Within the
special algorithm of choice,
chaos, complexity and ὁ
Ἐμμανουήλ that carries us
along this current stream,
my life and faith – and
Editorial cont...
perhaps yours, testifies to
the purpose and value of
mentoring and being
mentored. Uncle Ray’s
natural mentorship was
an organic gift. We had
no set of learning
outcomes, no scheduled
meetings, no agreement.
(Although I do believe he
promised my parents to
steer me clear of
dangerous farm
machinery, and his irate
bull.) Who is your Uncle
Ray in this moment? And
to whom might you be
Uncle Ray?
Commuter Dorms: If you are a student who lives outside the GTA and would be interested in staying over-night at Wycliffe, we have limited accommodations for commuting students. Rooms are $40 per night ($30 per night if you bring your own bath towel and sheets), and if you need an overnight parking space it is an additional $10. Rooms include a complimentary breakfast during the 7:45-8:30am breakfast hour, and brunch on Saturdays. These are shared living spaces, so there is a potential that other students will be staying in the same room as you. We have two single guest rooms (one on our men’s floor and one on our women’s floor), as well as two commuting dorm rooms (one for women, and one for men).
Page 6
MORNING STAR
Upcoming Wednesday Event with
Katheryn Greene-McCreight
The Rev. Dr Kathryn Greene-McCreight will join us via a “distance” conversation on Wednesday February 15, 2017. While we are confirming the exact topic—she has so many to choose from! - Kathryn suggests students read her updated
“Darkness is my Only Companion”.
Rev. Kathryn has an extensive background as a theologian, teacher, and author, who wrote the 2016 Lenten study commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. She has a M.Div. from Berkeley Divinity School and a Ph.D. in Theology from Yale Divinity School. As an Episcopal priest, she has served in a variety of parishes in the New Haven
area.
Coming up @Wycliffe:
Preaching Day is on Monday
February 27th with keynote speaker
the Rev. Fleming Rutledge.
Ash Wednesday is Wednesday
March 1st; Archbishop Fred Hiltz
will join us to lead us through some
quiet meditation and will preach at
Holy Eucharist
The Green Committee is hosting
Creation Care Week the week of
March 6-10. The Wednesday Event
speaker will be Dr. Stephen Sharper
March15th we will have a panel
discussion about applying for,
interviewing for positions, along
with a discussion about the ACPO
process. Panelists will be Mary
Conliffe from the Diocese of
Toronto, Carol Boettcher an HR
specialist who sits on the Wycliffe
Board of Trustees, and Fawna
Andrews who has been on
ACPO panels. This event,
even with its Anglican slant
(ACPO) will be of value to all
students in their quest for
employment after Wycliffe.
** Starts Friday February 3rd **
Page 7
VOLUME 32, ISSUE 18
Page 8
VOLUME 32, ISSUE 18
This Week @ Wycliffe
Tuesday MP: Orvin Lao
Wednesday Event: Kathryn Greene-McCreight, Christian Response to Mental
Illness in the Parish
Eucharist Preacher: The Rev. Andrew Federle
Thursday MP Preacher: Tom Power
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
12 13
Senior Student Election polls
open
14
MP: Orvin Lao
15
WE: Kathryn Greene-McCreight (via
Skype)
Pr: Andrew
Federle
16
MP: Tom Power
17
Playgroup
18
19 20
Family Day
21 22 23 24 25
26 27
Preaching Day: Fleming
Rutledge
Biblical Seminar
28
MP: Brandon
Witwer
1 Ash Wed.
WE & Pr: Arch. Fred Hiltz,
Primate ACC
2
MP: Catherine
Sider Hamilton
EP: Michelle
Yeung
3
Playgroup
4
5 6 7
MP: Teddy
Williams
8
WE S. Sharper
Pr: Andrew
Stirling
9
MP: Glen Taylor
10
Playgroup
11
12 13 14
MP: Seth
Enriquez
15
WE: Student
Council Event
Pr: Chris Harper
16
MP: Annette
Brownlee
EP: Karen Isaacs
17 18
Calendar of Events—February/March 2017
READING WEEK
Creation Care Week