Dear Readers,
I have announced my retirement as Anglican Bishop of Saskatoon, effective February 28, 2010, but I am not retiring from COUNTRY GUIDE.
I plan to continue writing Reflections each month.
Incidentally, my first COUNTRY GUIDE column was published in the fall of 1994. This issue marks my 15th anniversary with the magazine.
My association with COUNTRY GUIDE gives me pleasure and satisfaction, and the privilege of working with fine editors. I particularly enjoy meeting some of you as I travel. I am glad to hear from others by regular mail or e-mail.
Read Also
Ground rules for farm family communications
Establishing meeting ground rules can help your family find ways to communicate that work for your farm. Here are some…
This autumn I have been taking part in Harvest Festival services in small churches in central Saskatchewan. It is not hard for me to sing the hymns or say the prayers at Thanksgiving services.
I have much to be thankful for, including the privilege of sharing ideas and experiences with you each month.
Rod Andrews
OK, we are ready to start the auction&
The auctioneer concludes his
preamble with a commercial for the
lunch wagon. Make sure you try Debbie s
apple pie!
Small items sell first. Democrats and
buggies will sell later. At noon I head
for the food trailer. Balancing my cheeseburger
and pop, I find space on the corner
of a table. A conversation about breeding
horses is marked by banter and jocularity.
While we are downing our pie, a late
arrival joins us.
Where have you been, Jack? The
sale is half over.
I have been to church, the newcomer
replies. Good-natured teasing follows. You
are a day early. This is Saturday. Church
day is tomorrow. Jack is not phased. I
am Seventh Day Adventist. Today is the
Sabbath. I hope for a deeper discussion,
but people drift back to the auction ring.
A few weeks later, I reflect that the
people at a school reunion in Trochu,
Alta., are essentially the same as when
they were nine or 10 years old. They just
look older. Shel Bercovich was one of
my playmates in elementary school. His
father Max operated a general store. Mr.
Bercovich sold good products at reasonable
prices, and extended credit when
customers were short of cash.
Most people in Trochu attended
church on Sundays. I asked my mother
why the Bercovich family did not go to
church. She explained, They are Jewish.
When I asked what Jews believe, I
was told they worship God on Saturday.
I remember thinking Good idea. Even
an hour of religion would beat doing
homework on Saturday morning, and all
day Sunday would be free for play.
Shel and I recalled childhood experiences
and shared where life has led us. He
had a career as a school teacher in Calgary.
Shel described his research into communities
of Jewish farmers who came to
Alberta from Russia and Eastern Europe in
the early 1900s. Shel s grandfather helped
build a combined school, community centre
and synagogue near Sibbald in east-central
Alberta in 1913. The building functioned as
a house of worship, study and community.
Shel s father had his bar mitzvah there.
When the families dispersed in the
1920s because of drought, the building
was moved to Hanna, Alta. It was a
two-bedroom home for 75 years. When
the previous identity of the building was
discovered, Shel and a group of interested
people purchased and moved it to
Heritage Park in Calgary, where it adds
to a collection of buildings depicting early
Alberta history. It has been rededicated as
a synagogue.
Who is right? When is the true Sabbath?
There is truth on both sides of the
argument. The Sabbath day referred to
in the Ten Commandments is the seventh
day. This is Saturday by our calendars.
Early Christians celebrated on the first
day of the week in honour of the resurrection.
Sunday became their Sabbath.
We seem to have lost the value of a day
to rest, and to pray if we choose. Sunday
shopping and entertainment divert our
time and energy. A day of rest makes sense
from a human, physical point of view.
We need rhythm in our lives. One day in
seven has religious significance. It is also a
sensible way to add value to our lives.
Suggested Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17,
Matthew 28:1-10
Bishop Rod Andrews Is With The
Anglican Diocese In Saskatoon
