Back to Church Sunday at Swift Current

The day began at 6:30am at the Cathedral with the first serving of porridge, freshly made pancakes, sausages and maple syrup at the weekly breakfast for the homeless and those in need in the city centre. Most of the takers are First Nation people which is a sign of the economic and social pressures they face.
Then after about 100 had been fed - the numbers are greater in the winter - we head off for Swift Current. The service sheet mentions the Companion Links with Lichfield, Muyinga and West Malaysia. Plans are in place for this coming Sunday's 'Back to Church' service, including lunch for all afterwards in the typically useful hall and kitchen attached to the church. The two hours and fifteen minute drive each way passed quickly thanks to wonderful conversation with Rob Hardwick, the Executive Archdeacon for the Diocese. Rob shared how he came to be called initially to serve at Swift Current and the moving welcome he and Lorraine received. The Deanery Chapter meeting gave an opportunity to meet the new incumbent Jonathan Hoskin who may come to visit Lichfield next year, as well as meeting Peter, a retired Archdeacon, who has visited Lichfield several times and also Eleanor who visited West Malaysia for 5 weeks with a combined group from Qu'Appelle and Lichfield.
Rob tells me of how positive a placement had been for a Reader from Lichfield who had had spent 4 months with him at Swift Current. Perhaps we can look more actively for future placements and exchanges. I have encountered a strong sense of hospitality and generosity amongst the people I have met. Furthermore I sense that there are similarities in many of the challenges and opportunities we face in mission and ministry. The wheat comes from a recently made stained glass window at Swift Current which connects us with the Prairies. Rob tells me there are 5 shades of blue in the Prairie skies but only 3 in England.