Our Anniversary - 39 years

I bought the card at the CO-OP on my second coffee break - opted for humour this time.  I ordered the carnations from work and picked the up on the way home.  After looking after Peaches we went out to Humpty'sfor supper - our usual one-size less meatloaf.  Brief stop at Shopper's Drug Mart on the way home, then a quiet evening at home.  Still have to read the card Diane left on the piano for me.   Wonder what Twyla will have planned for us next year :)

March 30th - Men's Chorus

Great time as usual.  Linden Tiezen from Shellbrook came back for the first time this season.  He helped out the 2nd Tenors in the session around the piano.  After the fellowship break, he joined the sparce Baritone section.  Great to have him back.  Gerry Page' handed me an envelope marked St. Alban's Furnace Fund.  Apparently he had tried to go to our concert, but when he couldn't find a parking spot so assumed an overflow crowd and didn't come in.  I will have to ask him why he didn't park in the mall parking lot.

FUNDS FOR THE FURNACE

A Concert of Sacred and Secular Songs featuring Men of the Way and Guests.

Director: Ken Lyons

Accompanist: Gillian Lyons

St. Alban' Cathedral

Sunday, March 29, 7:99 pm

All proceeds for the St. Alban's Furnace Fund.

MEN OF THE WAY

Morris Anderson, Roger Cochrane, Harold Collins, John Hareuther, Andrew Lyons, Ken Lyons, Michael Lyons, Fred Payton, Art Pederson, Doug Porcina, Ed Stephens

ARIOSO

Ruth McIvor, Eunice Mooney, Linda Jensen

ARIOSO ACCOMPANIST

Michael Langlois

ST. ALBAN'S CHOIR

DIRECTOR

Karen Langlois

ACCOMPANIST

Margaret Zulkoskey

TWYLA GANGE (my daughter) FLUTIST

GILLIAN LYONS  (Ken's daughter) PIANIST

The weather was great today.  So was the turnout.  Chris Lyons counted 222 people.  It was a great Concert.  Even the DVD machine co-operated for Twyla's solos. (except for a remote control number button - quickly remedied).   With that many people seated in the Cathedral, the inside temperature definitely rose and some doors & windows had to be opened up during the intermission.  The atmosphere was great.  The reception that followed hosted by the St. Alban's Parish Life committee was a happy noisy crowd of enthusiastic supporters.  If was fun to mingle and talk to so many people.  Diane offered to drive Mary Essel home and look after the cat if I stayed and helped in the kitchen.  Did I have a choice? :)  I am hoping to track down some digital pictures of the evening which I will post with this report later.  A report needs to be submitted to the Diocesan Web page and the Saskatchewan Anglican Newsletter.

Spring?

3 hrs. after I snapped the pillar of ice photo on my cell phone, I glanced over to where it was in the front yard as I was climbing into the car.  I witnessed the pilar of ice falling into the soft melting snow below.   I believe it is indeed a sign of Spring.  Tempertature  is 11c at my weather station on the pole 15 ft. above the ground by my back door.  Beautiful Sunday afternoon.  Praise the Lord!

Sign of Spring?

This pillar of ice has been standing in my front yard for a day or so. Although there is still lots of snow below it, I am suggesting this is my sign of Spring. Eternal optimist :)

Saturday Activities

Went to Rebecca's Gymnastic Competition.  She was the only competitor in the Elite Class, so she automatically took home all the medals and ribbons for that class.  Regardless, she did perform very well.  We sat with William (playing video game), Michael and his parents.  Twyla was a judge of the beam competition.

Helped a little cleaning up after the Rummage Sale, but got there a little too late.

Weatherwise it was much warmer :) with the melting and running water on the streets. About +9c.

Order of St. Luke the Physician Group on Facebook

I decided to invite members of the OSL Group on Facebook to become my friends on Facebook.  The response has been positive.  I also offered to post upcoming events and received a couple of information packages of Healing Conferences and one that had already taken place.  I posted that report under a new Discussion Topic - Conference Reports.  I encouraged the people that submitted the information to also comment on the OSL Group Wall.  Hopefully it will stimulate more conversation on the OSL Group page.  I also gained a few new Twitter friends, as well.

Thursday Happenings

The morning started out cold again (-17c).  This is the end of March? Right?

Had a large turnout for coffee gang at the A&W.   

After coffee I went to the Victory FM Radio Studio and recorded a promotion spot which should be airing regularly soon.  Pastor Gregg Rustulka is very good with words and phrasing as he edited my brief thoughts about receiving a blessing from listening to the station and inviting friends to tune in to 100.1 FM.  After several attempts, we finally came out with a version we were both happy with.

This evening I went down to the Cathedral to help the ACW ladies set up for their Rummage Sale tomorrow.  Not much rummage, so didn't take long.  Diane and I stopped off at the downtown A&W for supper before going home.

Wednesday Activities.

Worked my one day this week at the CO-OP - 10 am - 4 pm.  Spent a quiet evening at home except to pick up Roberta from her shift at the hospital.  Watched the Western -  The Magnificent Seven on the Drive-In Channel.

Music Festival

I helped with the numbers board and adjudicator stand for the morning session of the Music Festival Instrumental Section.  Twyla gave me the CD for the background music for the Men of the Way Concert, so that I could try it out at the church later.  I accidently left it locked in Messiah Church  with no afternoon session scheduled.  I followed Kevin Hrycay to the Bed and Breakfast, then picked him up to go out for lunch.  We opted for a no rush relaxed meal at Rickys Restaurant. We didn't get out of there until 2:00 pm.  I went home, tested Peaches, then phoned Messiah Church.  Their secretary had gone in for the afternoon and had noticed the CD.  She said she would take it to the Church Office and I went right down to pick it up.  I went to St. Alban's and figured out how to find and play the two cuts on the CD that Twyla will be using.  It wasn't too difficult once I found the remote.  I will have the first song cued up.  Then load the second song with the line to the amplifier disconnected until it is cued.   Twyla will come down to St. Alban's Thursday after school to test out audio levels.

Weather again :(

Still not a Spring Day..  Forecast is for closer to normal temperatures on Friday and above freezing Temperatures on the weekend.  Bring it on!!!  I actually stopped in at the CO-OP an bought another large bag of Meltz-All.  I never thought I would still need that this late in the year.

Weather :(

It was cold and windy and even trying to snow today.  The forecast is for no change at least until Friday and no real nice weather maybe even until the middle of April.  :(

Music Festival

Today I helped Twyla at the Instrumental Section of the Music Festival at Messiah Lutheran Church. 

The morning was spent listening many young kids playing the same pieces.

With the inevitable cancellations, we managed to finish the morning by 12:05 pm.

Diane was able to get time off to come and listen to William play his pieces.  He did very well winning both his classes with 85 & 87.  He may be playing in the awards concert.

For lunch, I drove the adjudicator to Quiznos Subs and we order takeout for ourselves and Twyla and headed back to Messiah. 

The afternoon session was finished by 3:45 pm and I went home to relax for a while and we had DQ Takeout for supper.

The evening session was filled with the senior entries and it was wonderful to listen to.  The evening concluded with Katie Ormerod's Drummers.  The adjudicator has not adjudicated with a high calibre of musicians in one evening before.  He was very impressed with the talent and teaching level in Prince Albert.

Sunday Evening

Supper at Arbys. Diane bought cat food at Walmart while I let out Roberta's dogs.

At 7:00 pm went to St. George's Anglican Church for an Order of St. Luke Bible Study listening to a CD of Mike Endicott while he was in Saskatoon.  Prayer followed.

Sunday Schedule

9:30 am - Picked up Mary Essel for Choir Practice.

10:45 am Choir Practice.  Soon after I had arrived, I realized I had forgot to pick up the grocery bag of food for Food Bank Sunday.  It hadn't helped that Diane had put it on the chair by the back door.

10:30 am - Sung Mattins Service at St. Alban's led by Lay Reader, Fred Payton.  Fred did a fine job with the sermon this morning - "I am the Bread of Life".

After dropping Mary off, I went home, tested Peaches, then decided to take the grocery bag of food to the church and leave it in the basket with the other offerings.

When I got back home and started doing things on the computer, I noticed that Twyla announced on Facebook that she was setting up for the Music Festival.  I drove over to Messiah Lutheran to help her.  After we had things set up, the adjudicator arrived and we visited for a while.  He had attended U of S first year during Twyla's last year and had gone through U of S with Anna Bekolay.

I arrived home before 3:30 pm and retested Peaches.  

I printed out the Poster and Registration Form for a Healing Conference in Creighton, SK. in May to present to the OSL Group this evening.

As of 4:15 pm, Diane is not back from her First Aid Course.

Prince Albert Music Festival Piano Awards Concert

I attended the Prince Albert Music Festival Piano Awards Concert at 7:30 pm at Calvary United Church.  I arrived early enough to ensure a front row seat in the balconey.  I worked on my Sudoku Puzzles until the concert began.  It was a very entertaining concert.  The skill level of the young pianists is very high in Prince Albert.  I enjoy listening to the kids interpret the music and see if I can sense from their music, an interpretation that corresponds with the title of the piece.  Usually no problem - fire - fly- waterfall, for example.  I enjoyed the duets on one piano or the duo piano performances.  The highlights are the performance by the senior students, and especially the concertos where the student plays one piano and their teacher or someone else plays the orchestra part on the second piano.  Hence the 2 pianos in the graphics tonight.   I left after the concert therefore not staying for the awards presentation.  On the way out I handed out more personal posters of the Men of the Way Concert and bumped into my daughter Twyla.  We discussed using playback equipment at the Cathedral for her accompaniment at the Men of the Way Concert.  I told it was DVD player, so thought it would work best if she could burn her accompaniment music on separate CDs.  She will try that and work out a time when we can test things out at the Cathedral.

Coffee with Guy Shannon

At 2:00 pm I met for coffee with Guy Shannon at the Coffee Shop (formerly Hunt's).  I found he lives in the neighbourhood so that will make a convenient Coffee Shop for us.  We discussed his future business plans hopefully beginning April 1st.  I don't want to share details at this time for confidential reasons.  I told him about the Men's Breakfast tomorrow morning and have since arranged to pick him up at 7:45 am tomorrow morning.

Friday Morning Breakfast at A&W

I arrived at the A&W just after 9:00 am and ordered my usual Bacon&Egger and coffee.  I handed out a number of personal sized posters of the Men of the Way Concert to acquaintenances.  No one else showed up until 9:45 am.  It was Joe.  We stayed until 10:15 am and then I stopped in at the Victory Radio Studio on my way to the Starlight Restaurant.  I dropped off Men of the Way Posters with Walter for Scarborough Baptist and Gregg for Church of the Nazarene.

Lenten Lunch reflection

I found it ironic yet totally in sync with the ideals of the Lenten Lunches that the Covenant Women came to provide the Lunch for  Rev. Dan Stroman after the Baptist Ladies said they couldn't do it.  Keep in mind, this is the same church that asked Dan to resign for his serious error in judgment (sin) and would never re-instate his credentials.  I think it is wonderful that Dan is comfortable asking for their assistance and that the Ladies are gracious and generous enough to help him out.  Thank you, Lord.

Summary of Thursday's Activities

7:00 - 8:00 am Men's Bible Study at St. David's Anglican Church.  I stayed to wash dishes and clean up. Went home to look after Peaches, our diabetic cat.

9:00 - 11:30 am Sat up in the balcony of Calvary United listening to the Senior Piano Section of the Music Festival and play Sudoku games.

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lenten Lunches series at St. Alban's Cathedral Hall.  Had a chance to greet Father Ivan from St. George's Ukranian Catholic Church and sit with a group from the Covenant Church.  Dan Stroman spoke on the crowds during Jesus' time.  He also played a piece from Handel's Messiah on his violin.  I left Sharon Dice a Men of the Way poster to post in her church.  Then I went delivering the rest of my posters.

I also went up to Cooke Municipal Golf Course and paid for the 11 game package for the upcoming season (who knows when that is going to be.)  

2:30 pm Came home and tested Peaches and cleaned out the aquarium and the bathroom sink.

3:25 pm Let Roberta's dog out, came home and relaxed. 

5:15 pm Diane and I used a Grainfield coupon for supper then went to Petland for a while.

We came home for a few minutes and then I was off to another Men of the Way Practice until 9:00 pm.

I came home and drove Diane's car to the gas station.

When I came home, I took the time to fill windshield washer tanks on both cars.

I have spent the rest of the night catching up with my email and adding and getting acquainted with new contacts on Twitter.  I will have to save the word game moves until tomorrow.  It is now 12:30 am and time to call it a day.

Music Festival - Senior Piano

This evening was my first opportunity to drop in at the Piano Section of the Music Festival.  I snuck up to the Calvary Church balconey to watch quietly and work on sudoku puzzles when the kids weren't playing.  The kids varied from 8 yrs and under to senior.  Most were well prepared and the adjudicator was very positive with all of them.  My timing to come down from the balconey was not good for me, but good for Frances, as she needed help putting the chairs away in the hall.  Mitch Holash and another gentleman offered to help, so it did not take very long.  

March 17th - St. Patrick's Day

Today in the CO-OP Hardware, we wore little green shamrocks on our nametags.  I am colorblind and had to be told that my Order of St. Luke medallion I wear is also green.  Diane and I went out to the  St. Patrick's Irish Stew Supper held at St. George's Anglican Church.  We sat beside Kay Walberg and across from the Garsons so we had a great time of fellowship.

Doug Sinclair

Doug Sinclair has been a long-serving Lay Reader.  The Diocese of Saskatchewan featured him in an article.  Check it out at: http://www.skdiocese.com/home/2009/3/15/honouring-doug-sinclair.html. Doug is right front in picture

Fresh Snow

It is March 16th isn't it.  Fresh snow and -11c.  Depressing.

Ed's Inn

Supper tonight was a trip to Ed's Inn at 4:00 pm - Diane's treat.

Music Festival

At 2:00 pm today, I helped Frances Short setup for the Jr. Piano Section of the Music Festival in Calvary United Church Hall which starts on Monday.

Installation Service

Take a moment to scroll down to an update to the post of the  Installation Service.  I have added a picture.

Installation Serve

Shopping Saturday

Starting the day with breakfast at Zellers, Diane and I went through the Gateway Mall, purchasing a Slow Cooker on sale at Sears with gift money from Christmas. Visited 2 of our favourite spots - Nutters (replenish my cereal supply) and Giant Tiger.  Spent the afternoon watchin g golf on TV (and dozing off).  The evening has been the much the same - watching golf on TV.

Busy week

In addition to working at the CO-OP Monday through Wednesday, Monday night - Men's Chorus, Tuesday night - Prince Albert Christian Radio Corporation Board Meeting out at Gerry Sand's place, Wednesday night - first session of Strings section of Music Festival.  Had a few words with the adjudicator, Anna Bekolay, originally from Prince Albert and St. Alban's and a Facebook friend of mine.  I volunteered to look after the Class Entry Board.  I enjoyed Anna's adjudications.  She has a way of making the kids feel at ease.   Thursday morning - Men's Bible Study - I stayed to wash the dishes.  Went home to look after Peaches, then off to Rivier to the Music Festival.  I received a call on vibrator which I did not recognize.  I phoned the number back and found out it was Roberta.  She was at work and thought she had forgot to shut off the coffee maker.  I went over to her house and sure enough - the coffee maker was on.  I shut it off and went back over to the Music Festival.  I went to the Lenten Noon Lunch at St. Alban's.  No sooner had I told Rev. Greg Rustulka that we would have to change the Radio Announcement for next week because Dan Stroman was having his knee surgery that day, when in walked Dan.  He had waited in his hospital gown for 3 1/2 hours and then they sent him mome because there was not bed after surgery.  The operation has been postponed until April 16th.  Pastor Dennis Defoe from Under the Juniper Tree Church was the speaker talking about the women disciples of Jesus.  At 1:00 pm, I dashed home to test Peaches, then returned to the Music Festival.  Left to be home in time to meet Diane and test Peaches and go across the river to deliver a birthday card to our niece Jordyn.  Had a short visit with Paul and Vickie, then off to look after Roberta's dogs and a bite to eat.  Thursday evening - Ham Radio Meeting.  Friday morning - A & W coffee with Fred Payton and Rev. Norbert Haukenfrers.  Next, I cleaned out the fish tank and watched golf on TV.  Friday evening - quiet evening at home.

It did end!

Nice day today with + c temperatures.  Had no problem replacing electrical connections for interior car warmer and block heater.  Sure is nice not to have to go inside the house to warm up my hands.

When is it going to end??

It's almost the middle of March and it is -29c.  BRRRRRRR!!  When is it going to end?????  Everyone is soooooo tired of this cold weather.  Promising to warm up to possible melting by the weekend.  I sure hope they are right.

Sunday Morning Sermon

Rev. Ken Lyons was definitely struggling with his voice throughout the service.  The guest preacher was the Rt. Rev. Larry Robertson, Suffragon Bishop of the Arctic.  He gave a wonderful children's talk with his puppet friend, Wally the Wolf with a clear invitation to the children to accept Jesus into their lives. His sermon on the prodical son, illustrated with true testimonies, was very powerful.

I had a chance to chat with him for a few minutes during coffee hour to exchange notes about the Arctic.  He knows Jonas Alloolloo,Priest in Arctic Bay while I was in Nanisivik in 1989.  Jonas is now in northern Quebec.  He advised me the cartoon I thoroughly enjoyed in the Yellowknifer Newspaper is still being published.

Bishop Michael Installation - Saturday morning March 7th

Bishop Michael Hawkins was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Saskatchewan at the Installation Service 11:00 am Saturday morning.  Bishop Michael had asked me to be his chaplain for this service a couple of weeks ago by email.  When I went to seat myself at my designated seat next to the Bishop, I found my spot already occupied by a Cree Clergyman.  I opted to stand beside the Bishop and follow him down to a space on the pew below the pulpit during his sermon.  I joined the Choir for the singing of the Lenten Prose, so overall, there was not that much conspicuous standing :)  In the picture above I am the 3rd person to the right of the Bishop in the back row.

Consecration Service - My observations

I asked prayer of several group lists that I am on for this service.  I felt their pray support. What a wonderful show of support from a wide and diverse Christian community, including celebrating the Eucharist.  I even noted members of the mass Choir and congregation singing along with the Cree singers using the phonetics printed in the service booklet.  

About a week ago, I had chatted with Rev. Jean Paul Westin, a close friend of Michael's from the Maritimes.  I asked him if he was coming and he said "No", but when I went over to St. Mary's High School for the reception, there in person was Jean Paul.

I sang in the Men of the Way, the Mass Choir, and St. Alban's Choir and my daughter, Twyla Gange accompanied the Men of the Way with her flute during the Communion number.  She also played along with the organ and violin for the Hymns.

Consecration Service - Friday March 6th.

I probably will say a bit more about this wonderful evening, but I want first to include the comments of Pastor Daniel Graham, of the Free Methodist Church as he shared with members on his newsletter list.

I had a great experience last night attending the service for "The Consecration of Michael Hawkins as a Bishop in the Church of God".  In other words, Michael Hawkins is now a bishop in the Anglican church.

If you have attended a wedding, funeral, special service, mid-week service, or even a regular worship time at St. Alban's Cathedral, then you have maybe met Michael. He has been the pastor there, and the Dean of the Prince Albert area for about 8 years now, and when that is your role, you are stationed at St. Alban's (St. Alban's is the big church that the mall and Dairy queen were built around.)

Last night's service was a 2 hour event with all the rich symbolism and tradition that you might expect from our Anglican brothers and sisters at such an important time. loved seeing the robes.  I love the grandeur of the Sacred Heart Cathedral where it was held.  The gifts of a ring, cross, Stole (shawl) & Cope (cloak), Mitre, Bible, and Staff from various church leaders and his own family seemed like such an appropriate set of tools so that Michael may never forget the great trust placed upon him by those he will serve.  The liturgy of prayers, scriptures, responsive readings, and statements of truth was never boring, but rather... um... captivating.  The whole atmosphere was fresh to a guy like me, raised solidly inside the ultra-pragmatic world of evangelical protestantism; and so I thoroughly enjoyed the many symbolisms in the service because they reminded me that we are part of something really important.  I am glad that my friend Michael has been selected to be the Bishop of Saskatchewan ('Saskatchewan really meaning the area around Prince Albert and the north, in Anglican leadership terms).  He is wise, he is a capable leader, he has been a competant pastor at St. Alban's, he is very personable, he has a great track record, and most importantly - he relies on Jesus for guidance and strength.  Lord, may your servant Michael be ever more reliant upon you as he is given greater responsibility.  Give him your grace and wisdom as he helps to lead a major denomination through unstable waters.  Work through him so that he is a blessing to everyone whom he comes into contact with.  Bless our Anglican brothers and sisters in Christ that they may see many new disciples made through their churches.

Amen.

March Winter Storm :(

The morning started out nice - but by about 10:00 am it started snowing and by 10:30 am it was a heavy snowfall.  Downright depressing watching the snowfall coming down heavy while I was in the barber chair.  I was just getting ready to climb into the Jimmy to go to the Lenten Lunch when my cell phone rang.  It was Volunteer Services asking if I could take over a  Meals on Wheels route.  A lady from our church was involved in an accident at 6th Ave. E. and 22nd St. and her car was damaged too much to finish the route.  I went straight there and arrived at the same time as the police cruiser.  Her son arrived about a minute later and helped me load the meals into my car.  I finished the East Hill Route in time to arrive at the Lenten Lunch by 12:30 in time to hear the speaker and the ladies providing the lunch made sure I had lots to eat.

I drove through the inclimate weather to another practice of the Men of the Way in preparation for the Consecration of our Bishop tomorrow night.  

With the weather and road conditions what they are I told Diane I would drive her to work tomorrow morning.

Promising Day

Woke up at 5:30 am to -9c, no fresh snow.  After Bible Study it was up to -7c.  Hopefully, by noon it will be approaching 0c.  Still have to try and get a haircut this morning and then go to noon Lenten Series at St. Alban's.

Day at Work

I spent most of morning at the CO-OP with work associated with the Compound/Greenhouse.  I had to shovel the snow away from in front of a half pallet of 50l Potting Soil to take down to the Hardware downstairs.  I also had to with the assistance of my manager, remove the top row of bales of Peatmoss off the pallet in the warehouse so that I could take the pallet through the front door to the Compound.  While doing that something fell in my eye and I had to rush and flush out my eye.  Eventually, I got all the pallets where they were supposed to be and apparently nothing serious with my eye.  I finally had a chance to take off my boots and coat, about 1 1/2 hours after I started work and went for my coffee/lunch break just before noon. 

Still Missing Muffy

I did not go home at noon hour today.  It did seem strange.  Diane went to the Vet to the pay the bill.  I think it was good for her to talk to our Vet.  If you scroll down to my first report of Muffy you will find a picture of her (after a clipping).

Missing Muffy

Reflections on a weekend without Muffy:

Peaches is showing no sign of missing Muffy.  Diane definitely is.  She wants to delay washing the blankets Muffy laid on on the couch - not ready to give up her scent.  Diane asked me if I was coming home from work Monday for my noon hour.  I immediately said Yes, then I realized that with Muffy gone, I had no reason to come home.  With the rush that it always is, I opted for not coming home.