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presbyterian.ca
WINTER 2023
Love One Another: AStoryofa Mission Trip
The Rev. Susan Brasier, Keith Randall, Margarita Medina-Ibanez, SNCM worker Ireene Lee and Executive Director Dylon Nippi.
Celebrating a job well done: Edna Nippi, Margarita Medina-Ibanez, the Rev. Susan Brasier, Keith Randall.
By Keith Randall, Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal, Que.
Every other year for the past 20 years, representatives from the Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry (SNCM) visit the good people at the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul (A&P) in Montreal. On the alternate years, a few people from Montreal venture into the ex- panse of Saskatchewan to learn more about the ongoing work of the SNCM (aka “the mission”). The friendships formed through these decades of exchanges have grounded this ministry as an im- portant part of the identity and work of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul. For example, once a
month, a group of Montreal knit- ters gather to create toques, mit- tens and scarves to send to Sas- katoon for the mission’s people.
But this year, the A&P group that headed out to Saskatch- ewan was hoping for something more—an experience more than simply an education. Rather than the usual tour and a chance to chat with the people at the mis- sion, we coordinated with Execu- tive Director Dylon Nippi to help clean the mission basement, ap- ply a fresh coat of paint to the walls and install soundproofing.
We also planned to take the opportunity to visit Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a proposed UN- ESCO world heritage site that for more than 6,000 years has been
a sacred space of the Indigenous people. However, after a few days, when the work fell behind, the group considered abandon- ing the visit. But Executive Direc- tor Dylon Nippi would have none of it and demanded that we stop to rest and visit this important place—a place of God’s beauty, a place where heaven and earth draw near. He was quite explicit that we were not to hurry, to take our time. And so we did. Labour stopped and we soon found ourselves surrounded by God’s natural world, so very far from the cityscape of Montreal.
The Rev. Susan Brasier reflect- ed: “I felt God’s presence in the wind singing through the prairie lands. The autumn sunlight glit- tered on the golden tree leaves as they danced in the breeze. The most remarkable thing was the sound of the leaves. It sounded like clapping. It was something I had never experienced before. The verse from Isaiah 55: 12 flooded my thoughts: ‘For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.’”
A jovial dinner with the ministry board, including retired director the Rev. Stewart Folster, followed
and the next morning we were so far behind in our renovations that it seemed we would leave behind chaos and half-painted walls. But then a wonderful and unexpected thing happened. People from the community came to the mission and helped. The tiny work crew multiplied like bread and fish in the hands of Christ. When we departed that afternoon to head back to another life in Montreal, the work was finished.
Although we travellers hoped to provide a tangible blessing to the mission, we received a far more significant gift. The time away afforded us an opportunity to deepen friendships, discuss theology, pray together, experi- ence new things that bond people
Friends of the SNCM Board after dinner. Top row (left to right): the Rev. Stewart Folster, Margarita Medina-Ibanez. Second row: Al Ireland, the Rev. Susan Bras- ier. Bottom row: Keith Randall, Terry Folster, Patti Polowick, Sharon Nixon.
The South Saskatchewan River flows through Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
in a meaningful way and develop discipleship. Such mission trips are not unlike Jesus sending out the 72 (Luke 10:1–23). The real blessing is creating space away from the demands of day-to-day lives for meaningful life-affirming experiences—and perhaps a glimpse of God.
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
21
A Ministry of Health and Healing
By Laura Van Loon, RN,
Pastoral Care Nurse, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian in Saskatoon, Sask., President, Canadian Association of Parish Nursing Ministry
Helping people navigate the health- care system as a parish nurse is valued by those whom we serve. A parish nurse approaches health care as a ministry of faith, em- phasizing the wholeness of mind, body and spirit. This ministry grows out of the belief that all faith communities are places of health and healing and have a role in pro- moting these beliefs.
As a practicing Registered Nurse (RN) since 1969, and a par- ish nurse since 2011, I have seen,
experienced and worked in health- care systems in several provinces and countries. My current position as a funded Pastoral Care Nurse at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Saskatoon, Sask., is a congre- gationally driven practice and has a volunteer who oversees the position. Our Mission Statement guides us in navigating this health ministry: “St. Andrew’s Pastoral Care Committee is committed to sharing the love of God by ac- companying individuals on their journey of faith, to wholeness in mind, body and spirit, by minister- ing through prayer service, educa- tion and suppor t.”
Family members, substitute caregivers, church friends and
health-care personnel all contrib- ute their skills, time and talents for optimizing the care of each person we serve. What a parish nurse can bring is more meaningful quality of life rather than just adding to the quantity of life.
In Canada, a parish nurse must be a cer tified Registered Nurse with specialized knowledge who is called to ministry and affirmed by a faith community to promote health, healing and wholeness. Not only have we the essential in- formation of working in the health- care system(s) in our province and/or territory, but we promote, advocate and work for the health care that a person needs at any specific time. Many people need
someone to help them through the health-care system, and parish nurses are able to carry this out.
From the first diagnosis of ill- ness to shor t- and long-term planning, parish nurses can bring information and assistance. Navi- gating the medical vocabulary, understanding tests and proce- dures, helping to identify the next level of care needed and acquiring resources are some of the many ways that we bring comfort and alleviate stress for the person we serve and their families. Parish nurses can help ease the spiritual distress that someone may suffer when illness affects them.
To serve and to care as a par- ish nurse is all-inclusive, as we
Laura Van Loon.
are committed to accompanying each person in mind, body and spirit throughout their health-care journey.