Rupert's Land

St John's held a potluck supper followed by fun skits and our priest Inez Hannett showing pictures of her trip to the Holy Land. It was a great success and we all had a lot of fun and laughs and raised a nice amount for the programme. The skits we did were 'The cremation of Sam McGee', A.C.W Queen pageant and the "Farmers and the mortgage on the cow.

Approximately 60 people came out to enjoy an anniversary dinner and to hear from Bishop Philip Poole (PWRDF board member and Chair of the 50th Anniversary Steering Committee), and Stephen Ford, the incoming diocesan refugee coordinator.

Christ Church Millarville, St James Priddish, and St Geore's Turney Valley in Alberta joined together and held a 50th anniversary celebration event for PWRDF with a special service on January 31. Alison Longon, PWRDF rep in Calgary diocese, gave us a very interesting talk illustrated with short stories from various parts of the world. The service was followed with a soup and cracker lunch using the theme "fast for change".

On Sept 13, 2009 the congregation of All Saint's Weyburn, held their regular worship service with as a 50th anniversary celebration of the work of PWRDF. The church was decorated with figures of the human chain (pattern found in the PWRDF calendar activities). Additionally each member
of the congregation received a smaller version of the human chain to take home with them as a visual reminder that we are all joined together in God's love. Using the service resources provided by pwrdf a very moving and meaningful service was held with a sermon focused on vision.

The Forts/Seine Deanery is hosting "Celebration: A Deanery/PWRDF Event" on Friday February 5 at 6:00 pm, at St Luke's Parish, Nassau St., Winnipeg. Each of the 9 parishes in the deanery will contribute to the meal, and people are asked to bring two or three musical items in an eclectic style, like the One Voice CD. Attendance is free; there will be a free will offering for PWRDF.

On Sunday, November 15 a soup luncheon was held at St. Laurence, Calgary to celebrate the 50th anniversary of PWRDF and to focus on the Refugee Support Fund of the Diocese of Calgary. Nina Chiba, recently retired from the Refugee Committee was our guest speaker. The "Soup Chefs" at the church provided a wonderful selection of delicious, homemade soups. A good time was had by all and funds were collected to support our refugee efforts.

St Matthews Cathedral in Brandon MB celebrated PWRDF's 50th anniversary on Sunday October 18. The Outreach Committee hosted a special Anniversary lunch of Latin American cuisine, and there were displays along with a short PWRDF presentation. Read Dean Robin Walker's sermon here.

St John's Church in Olds Alberta is holding a PWRDF deanery function on October 25 at 3pm. Bishop Hoskin will give a greeting, followed by a presentation by Alison Longon, PWRDF diocesan rep for Calgary, and an update from Nina Chiba on the refugees programme. This will be followed by a potluck supper.