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May 2017 MOTHER’S DAY EDITION

Bunnies

Three bunnies are jumping around in my back yard. Three more

bunnies are jumping around in my front yard. They’re so busy and

they remind me of a playful song from my childhood about

Clarence, Kenneth, and Waldo, The Three Funny Bunnies.

Centuries ago, residents of less arable parts of England were

deemed fortunate to have a rabbit warren providing meat and fur as

well as a more comfortable existence. Today, many people have

positive thoughts about bunnies – carefree, productive, playful,

innocent, and lucky.

Snoopy is all smiles when he thinks about bunnies. Bugs Bunny is

lots of fun. The Easter Bunny certainly has a loyal chocolate

following. Thumper gives great advice to Bambi.

However, Peter Rabbit gets into lots of trouble. Bunnies really like

tulip shoots and they’re not against digging a hole in the middle of

the yard to make a home for their babies. In Australia and other

locations, people are not very fond of bunnies and use words like

damaging, hungry, cowardly, and hapless.

When you next see bunnies out your window, think about how you

can be as productive and playful as they are.

Happy Mother’s Day (think of fathers in June too). Please help us

connect with all parishioners by documenting your thoughts and

experiences over the summer, and submitting your articles by the

September 10th deadline for the next “by George!”. Have a great

summer!

Ted Cotton

“by George!”

Contents

1. Bunnies …

2. Calendar…

4. Our Rector …

6. Thought For ..

6. Parish Council…

7. Finance Report

8. Stewardship…

9. Sunday School …

10. Mission and

12. Summer Prayers

13. Altar Guild

14. Choir

15. Doors Wide Open

16. Wine Raffle

The “by George!” connects

all parishioners through

electronic or hard copy

distribution. It is normally

published in September,

November, January, March,

and May. All articles are

welcome; electronic

submissions are appreciated.

The “by George!” would

not be possible without

the assistance of many

parishioners. Thanks! Ted Cotton, Editor

Home 204 488 3606

Work 204 949 8384

tedcotton@mymts.net

bG! page 2

MARK YOUR CALENDARS WITH THESE UPCOMING DATES

Within our Parish Church of St. George, Crescentwood:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DAY DATE Group TIME

Wed 17-May-17 Parish Council Meeting 7:00 Guild Room

Sun 21-May-17 Sixth Sunday of Easter 10:30 am Church

Mon 22-May-17 Victoria Day Building and Office will be closed

Wed 24-May-17 Wednesday Communion Service 12 Noon Chapel

Thurs 25-May-17 Prayers for Peace and Justice 9:00 am Guild Room

Thurs 25-May-17 Ascension Day Service 7:30 pm Church

Sat 27-May-17 Doors Wide Open 11:00 am

Sun 28-May-17 Seventh Sunday of Easter communion service 10:30 am Church

Sun 28-May-17 Doors Wide Open 1:00 pm

Wed 31-May-17 Wednesday Communion Service 12 Noon Chapel

Thurs 1-Jun-17 Prayers for Peace and Justice 9:00 am Guild Room

Sun 4-Jun-17 The Day of Pentecost communion service 10:30 am Church

Wed 7-Jun-17 Wednesday Communion Service 12 Noon Chapel

Thurs 8-Jun-17 Prayers for Peace and Justice 9:00 am Guild Room

Sun 11-Jun-17 Trinity Sunday communion service 10:30 am Church

Wed 14-Jun-17 Wednesday Communion Service 12 Noon Chapel

Thurs 15-Jun-17 Prayers for Peace and Justice 9:00 am Guild Room

Sun 18-Jun-17 The Second Sunday after Pentecost communion service 10:30 am Church

Wed 21-Jun-17 Wednesday Communion Service 12 Noon Chapel

Wed 21-Jun-17 Parish Council Meeting 7:00 Guild Room

Thurs 22-Jun-17 Prayers for Peace and Justice 9:00 am Guild Room

Sun 25-Jun-17 The Third Sunday after Pentecost communion service 10:30 am Church

Wed 28-Jun-17 Wednesday Communion Service 12 Noon Chapel

Thurs 29-Jun-17 Prayers for Peace and Justice 9:00 am Guild Room

Month of JULY

*Please check your notices to see when there are Wednesday

Communion Services*

Sun 2-Jul-17 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost communion service 10:30 am Church

Sun 9-Jul-17 The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost communion service

Sun 16-Jul-17 The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost communion service

Sun 23-Jul-17 The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost communion service

Sun 30-Jul-17 The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost communion service

Month of AUGUST

*Please check your notices to see if there will be Wednesday

Communion Services

Sun 6-Aug-17 The NInth Sunday after Pentecost communion service

Mon 7-Aug-17 Civic Holiday Building and Office closed today

Sun 13-Aug-17 The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost communion service

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Sun 20-Aug-17 The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost communion service

Sun 27-Aug-17 The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost communion service

Sun 3-Sep-17 The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost communion service

Mon 4-Sep-17 Labour Day Building and Office closed today

Wed 6-Sep-17 Wednesday Communion Service

Sun 10-Sep-17

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost communion

service

Wed 13-Sep-17 Wednesday Communion Service

Sun 17-Sep-17 The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost communion service

For the most current calendar and more information about St. George’s, please visit:

http://www.stgeorges.mb.ca

“Ideas” Meetings

Watch for more information about “Ideas” meetings scheduled for the evenings of

Wednesday May 24, Tuesday May 30, and Thursday June 1.

Memorial Fund

At the Annual General Meeting of St. Georges Memorial Fund on February 26, 2017, the

Directors announced that, among other upcoming expenses, there was the possibility that

repairs will be needed to the parish hall kitchen, to ensure it continues to meet code as a

commercial facility. This disclosure raised the question of whether or not repairing the

kitchen is the responsibility of the Memorial Fund. Historically the Fund has not undertaken

any new construction, and the kitchen redevelopment was new construction. Therefore, as

the argument was presented, repair and maintenance of this new facility falls outside the

mandate of the Memorial Fund. The Directors discussed this issue at a meeting on March 22,

2017, referring back to the mandate of the Fund in the Articles of Incorporation. Because the

parish hall kitchen redevelopment constituted a permanent physical change to the structure

of the building, it was agreed that this places it within the mandate of the Memorial Fund to

repair and maintain the physical building. It has not yet been determined if and when these

repairs will be done. The issue has to be discussed by Parish Council, together with the

Property Committee. There remains the option to have a fundraising campaign to offset this

potential cost. The directors would welcome a discussion of this issue by parishioners. Please

feel free to make your thoughts known to any director- Simon, Colleen Silk, Andrew

Thomson, Brian Kirk, James Kirk, Matthew Hudson, or Alison Dennis.

The Directors, St Georges Memorial Fund Inc

In the Broader Community:

May 13 at 9:15 AM: Wardens Workshop at St John’s Cathedral

June 12 to 15: Clergy Residential Study Conference at Pinawa

bG! page 4

Please visit the Diocese of Rupert’s Land website for the most current calendar:

http://www.rupertsland.ca/category/events/

The Rupert’s Land News is now only electronic. To subscribe to the weekly electronic

edition and get the latest news about the Diocese, please use the following link:

www.rupertslandnews.ca and then go to "subscribe to RLN Weekly".

OUR RECTOR WRITES FROM HIS DESK …

Saint George

The origins of story of the man who would become known as Saint George are murky. 4th

century historian, Eusebius of Caesarea, writing in 322 described a soldier of noble birth

who was put to death by Diocletian at Nicomedia on 23 April 303. However, Eusebius did

not record who this soldier was, where he was from or where he was buried. In fact, very

little is known of this ancient figure who would one day become the patron saint of England,

whose date of death would be eventually become a feast in the Church of England and who

our parish is in honour of.

Ancient manuscripts, labeled the Acts of St George, describe George as a tribune in the

Roman army who was beheaded by Diocletian for protesting against the Emperor's

persecution of Christians. In the centuries to follow, George’s reputation of bravery and for

defending the poor and defenseless rapidly spread throughout the Christian world.

For example:

8th Century:Arculpus and Adamnan make George known in England

+900: George is generally recognized as a Saint.

1061: A church in Doncaster is dedicated to St. George.

1098: George is said to have appeared to the army on crusade at the Battle of Antioch.

George is subsequently adopted as the patron saint of soldiers.

1191-92: Richard I places his army in Palestine under the protection of St. George.

1191: Richard I adopts the banner of St. George, a red cross of a martyr on a white

background, for the uniform of English soldiers. Sometime later the banner became the flag

of England and the White Ensign of the Royal Navy.

1265: The publication of the Legenda Sanctorum (Readings on the Saints), later known as

the Legenda Aurea (The Golden Legend) by James of Voragine is published. It was this

book which popularized the legend of George and the Dragon though the origins of the

legend are uncertain. It was first recorded in the late sixth century and may have been an

allegory of the persecution of Diocletian, who was sometimes referred to as 'the dragon' in

ancient texts.

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1348: George was adopted by Edward III as Patron of his new order of chivalry, the Knights

of the Garter, whose purpose was to support the efforts of England on further Crusades to

reconquer the Holy Land. The earliest records of the Order of the Garter were destroyed by

fire, but it is believed that either in 1348 or in 1344 Edward III proclaimed St George Patron

Saint of England.

1415 – Archbishop Chichele raises St. George’s Day to a great feast and orders that it be

observed like Christmas Day.

1590: Saint George is a key character in one of the greatest poems in the English language,

Spencer's Faerie Queene. St George appears in Book 1 as the Redcrosse Knight of Holiness,

protector of the Virgin. This is viewed by many as the Anglican church supporting the

monarchy of Elizabeth I:

“But on his breast a bloody Cross he bore

The dear remembrance of his dying Lord,

For whose sweet sake that glorious badge we wore

And dead (as living) ever he adored.”

1679 -1684:Protestant author, John Bunyan (1628-88), recalled the story of George and the

Dragon in the account of the fight between Christian and Apollyon in Pilgrim's Progress.

1778: The Feast of St. George is reverted to a simple day of devotion for English Roman

Catholics.

20thCentury: St. George becomes patron saint of Scouting by Baden-Powell.

1940: During the bombing of Britain. King George VI instituted the George Cross for 'acts

of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme

danger'. The award, which is second only to the Victoria Cross, the highest military

decoration, is usually given to civilians and can be given posthumously. The award consists

of a silver cross. On one side is depicted St George slaying the dragon, with the inscription,

‘For Gallantry'; on the other appear the name of the holder and the date of the award. For

lesser, but still outstanding acts of courage, the King created the George Medal. This also is a

silver cross, with on one side the reigning monarch and on the other St George slaying the

dragon. The island of Malta was awarded the George Cross for actions in World War II.

St George is also, of course, venerated in the Church of England, by the Orthodox churches

and by the Churches of the Near East and Ethiopia. The alleged tomb of St George can be

visited at Lod, south-east of Tel-Aviv; and a convent in Cairo preserves personal objects

which are believed to have belonged to George.

George is a popular Saint. He is the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania,

Palestine, Portugal, Germany and Greece as well of the cities, Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and

Venice. He is patron of many vocations including soldiers, chivalry, farmers, field workers,

Boy Scouts and butchers; of horses, riders and saddlers; and of those who suffer from

plague, leprosy and syphillis.

He is the patron saint of archers, which gives special point to these famous lines from

Shakespeare's Henry V, Act 3, Scene 1, l. 31:

'I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,

Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:

Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge

Cry God for Harry, England and St George!'.

bG! page 6

Sources:

H.Delehaye, Les legendes grecques des saints militaires, Paris 1909

I.H.Elder, George of Lydda, 1949

E. Hoode, Guide to the Holy Land, Jerusalem 1962

G.J.Marcus, Saint George of England, 1939

Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend: Readings on the Saints, Tr. William Granger

Ryan, 2 vols (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993)

Encyclopedia Britannica

Michael Collins, St. George – Britannia History.

Simon+

THOUGHT FOR THIS EDITION

Ideas are like rabbits. If you share a couple good ones, there will soon be many more. Inspired by John Steinbeck Read more at:

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnsteinb121626.html?src=t_rabbits

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

Watch for Parish Council News in the September “by George!”.

Parish Council Minutes are now posted on a bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

bG! page 7

FINANCE REPORT

St. George’s Church – March 2017

Actual 2017 Actual 2016 Budget 2017

Revenue $75 456.67 $68 887.75 $60 909.60

Expense $73 457.78 $71 980.01 $81 322.94

Net Income (Loss) $1 998.89 ($3 092.26) ($20 413.34)

Here are the highlights:

The 2017 Net Income to the end of March is $1 998. This is favourable to last year and to

Budget.

Variances of $700 or more to Budget are:

- Identified Giving is $10 127 favourable to Budget and $3 679 favourable to last year.

- Open Plate is $3 933 favourable. This is timing of donations received through the United

Way.

- General Maintenance is $870 unfavourable. This is heating and plumbing repairs.

- Utilities – Electricity is $764 favourable. This is timing.

- Utilities - Natural Gas is $4 339 favourable. This is timing and a warmer start to 2017.

While the Net Income (Loss) shows how we are doing this year, the Summary Balance

Sheet shows what we have accumulated over the life of the church:

Summary Balance Sheet

As at March 31

2017 2016 change

Actual Actual

Current Assets (chequing, cash) $ 29 287.76 24 053.51 5 234.25

Fixed Assets (building at cost) 785 030.20 785 030.20 0

Other Assets (investments) 477 191.37 482 767.95 (342.33)

Total Assets $ 1 291 509.33 1 291 851.66 (44 600.81)

Current Liabilities (designated) $ 265 783.98 273 838.02 (8 054.04)

Long Term Liabilities (trusts) 7 260.26 7 260.26 0

Equity 1 018 465.09 1 010 753.38 7 711.71

Total Liabilities and Equity $ 1 291 509.33 1 291 851.66 (342.33)

The chequing account is reconciled to the end of March 2017.

bG! page 8

Our Balance Sheet includes about 32 Designated Funds. These Funds range in size from

less than $100 to over $100 000. The key aspect of each Fund is the money can only be spent

on what the money was donated or raised for. For example, the Designated Fund – Norquay

School can only be used for Norquay School. Some Funds have ongoing activity and some

don’t.

Changes to Designated Funds > $500 in October:

- Syrian Refugee Fund: +$1 094. This is rent and other expenses less than the transfer

from the Refugee Fund.

- Refugee Fund: -$2 500. This is a transfer to the Syrian Refugee Fund

The Balance Sheet doesn’t reflect the 2016 auditor’s review. The auditors have completed a

draft of the 2016 review. The results are similar to what was reported at the AGM and also

include an additional favourable impact from realized and unrealized gains and losses on

investments and the exchange rate. As soon as the auditors provide a final review, the

congregation will be advised of the results.

If have any questions on the Finance Report, please let me know.

Ted Cotton

STEWARDSHIP MATTERS

The Stewardship Committee is planning non-financial (time and talent) and financial

(treasure) activities for 2017. If you have any suggestions for the Stewardship committee,

please let us know.

There are always opportunities for those who wish to share their time and talent at St.

George’s. Current opportunities include Stewardship Secretary, Sidesperson, Server and

Flower Arranger. Please let Simon, the Committee Chair, or one of the wardens know

about your interests.

Electronic Offering Program: If you want to start the Electronic Offering Program or

change your monthly electronic donation during the year, the form and instructions are

always available from the church office or on the church website at Preauthorized Donation

Registration/Amendment Form .

bG! page 9

Envelopes: If you prefer regular donations by cheque, the church office can provide you a

box of envelopes. If you need an occasional envelope, there are multi-use envelopes in the

pews.

Note: parishioners should be aware that about 3% of a credit card donation to a charity goes

to the credit card company and provider of the credit card donation system.

Ted Cotton

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER – MAY 4, 2017

bG! page 10

MISSION AND MINISTRY

Update on the Alzaayat Family

The Alzaayat family is going to move to the Riverbend area for May 1 (northwest corner of

the city). They will have a bit more space and the rent is subsidized by Manitoba

Housing. They will need an automatic washer for their new home, if anyone has one in good

working order available. Our parish financial support for them will end in June 2017. If they

do not have employment in July, they will have to be on social assistance. Ideally, this will

not be the situation, but Ahmed in particular still needs to improve his English a lot. He is

always anxious to take on part-time work - on Wednesday, weekends and in the

morning. Please keep him in mind now that we are in the spring clean-up season. He is a

hard worker. Rick Morgan is coordinating the appointments (rick-morgan@shaw.ca).

Mission and Ministry (Syrians)

West Broadway Community Ministry

Marlene Ramsay has been chosen as a valued friend of their ministry. She is being

remembered for her vital role in the Seniors Program which continues through All Saints

Anglican Church. An award will be presented to her at their HIGH TEA June 3rd (details

below). The also encourage everyone to wear their most beautiful and/or outrageous hat.

Please come out and support Marlene as she receives this award.

HIGH TEA Saturday June 3, 2017 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Free will offering at the door

Hat Contest! Ear your best or most outrageous hat!

Tea and Cakes

Silent Auction

Honoring Four Companions of West Broadway: Sister Rolande Bissonette, Marlene

Ramsay, and Doug & Phyllis Flint, in support of West Broadway Community Ministry

222 Furby Street 204-774-2773

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SUMMER PRAYERS

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Announcement about the Altar Guild

The St. George’s Altar Guild is made up of three teams led by team captains – Donna

Dawson, Elizabeth Punter and Sandra Hartt. At the moment, we have an active membership

of 30. We currently have 14 Honorary Associates (retired members), who are not involved

in regular duties but are invited to our two annual get-togethers: The AGM in November

and the Palm Cross making/Hot Cross Bun eating event, just prior to Palm Sunday.

These three teams rotate monthly September to June. When you break that down, each

member has a week of duties approximately 3 times throughout this time, and can also

volunteer for duties throughout the summer months.

The Guild is responsible for the care of the Vessels for the Eucharist, Chancel, Side Chapel,

Prince of Peace Chapel and Fair linens. Each week requires regular housekeeping duties and

preparation for the services as directed by the clergy. Weekly duties include: setting up the

vessels for Eucharist, dusting the areas within the Altar and Prince of Peace Chapel, setting

out leaflets for all participants, changing the hangings, removing dust covers and

checking/replacing candles.

We also have specified duties for Weddings, Funerals and Baptism.

Lists of duties as well as diagrams indicating what the set up should look like are displayed

in the Sacristy. Since it is often a good length of time between duty weeks, these serve as

important reminders. Even long-time members refer to these regularly as it is often quite a

length of time between duty weeks. We also have a communication book on the counter

where we check to see if any details of the service have changed.

Our Executive consists of our President - Barbara Rempel, two past presidents – Sandra

Hartt and Donna Dawson, Christy Little, Elizabeth Punter, Brenda Cotton, Cathy Dewar and

Sally Corby and Margo Foxford.

Barb keeps us all on track and attends monthly Worship Committee meetings so she can be

up-to-date with details for the services. Donna, Elizabeth and Sandra schedule their team

members for monthly duties. Donna and Sandra, as past presidents, also chair the

nominating committee and search for members to fill positions on the Executive as they

become open.

Cathy Dewar, our Supplies Coordinator, makes sure we have enough wine, host, and candles

for our regular duties. We have a fair linens committee of seven members headed by

Elizabeth who launder and iron the fair linens. The time commitment here is about two

weeks every three months.

Christy Little organizes the duty roster for July and August, which as well as the regular

duties, includes being “Greeters” and “Sidespeople”. Sally Corby organizes the Christmas

Services’ schedule which includes a number of extra services. Brenda, whom you have heard

from earlier this year, is in charge of scheduling the flower arrangers each week, plus

purchasing and arranging the poinsettias at Christmas and the Lilies at Easter. Margo is in

charge of the Designated Fund for Memorial Flowers which allows us to have beautiful cut

flowers on the altar every Sunday, and Gwyneth coordinates the delivery of weekly flowers

and the Easter lilies to our shut-ins.

bG! page 14

All in all, we are a very busy group whose mission is to prepare for each of the weekly

services as well as many the special services throughout the year. We do our best to get

things prepared for Simon for each and every service so that the Eucharist can run smoothly.

I hope this has helped give you a clearer idea of the Altar Guild’s contribution at St.

Georges.

Donna Dawson

Announcement about the Choir

St. George’s choir currently has 30 members - divided fairly evenly between soprano, alto,

tenor and bass. The trebles rehearse on Tuesdays on their own and then again on Thursdays

with the adults. All the adults are volunteers, but the trebles receive an honorarium each

month (up to the age of 16) based on attendance and number of years in the

choir. Repertoire covers music from the 17th to the 21st centuries - but is generally quite

“traditional” in terms of harmonies. The choir sings each Sunday morning from September

to the end of May. We also sing a Choral Evensong four or five times a year. There are also

a number of special services during the year such as the Nine Lessons and Carols, Ash

Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Ascension Day Eucharists, and the Good Friday

service. Being in the choir is quite a major commitment as we do a lot of music! And there

are only 3 trebles right now and it would be great to have a few more! We are very lucky to

have strong support from the congregation for the work we do.

Rick Morgan

bG! page 15

DOORS OPEN

WINNIPEG

SATURDAY, MAY 27 • 11:00 AM TO 5:00 PM

SATURDAY TOURS:

11:30 AM

1:30 PM

3:30 PM

SUNDAY, MAY 28 • 1:00 PM TO 5:00 PM

SUNDAY TOURS

1:30 PM

3:30 PM

ORGAN DEMONSTRATIONS TEN MINUTES PRIOR TO EACH

TOUR

ORGAN GALLERY TOURS AT 3:15 PM EACH DAY

DISPLAYS AND REFRESHMENTS BOTH DAYS

St. George’s Church is participating in the 14th annual Doors Open Winnipeg event on the

weekend of May 27 and 28, 2017.

Doors Open is a free public event produced by Winnipeg Heritage that aims to celebrate the

city’s cultural spaces and historically-rich buildings and sites. More than 89 buildings and

tours are expected to participate this year. Hundreds of stories are housed in the unique

attractions selected for the event and St. George’s is proud to take part and celebrate our

building and parish story. http://www.doorsopenwinnipeg.ca/featuredbuildings/

Heritage Winnipeg Executive Director Cindy Tugwell, in speaking with Andrew Thomson,

warden and event organizer commented, “I am hopeful that Doors Open Winnipeg will raise

bG! page 16

awareness to the history of St. George's Church and of course its future. We are pleased to

have you participate in this year's event.”

If you would like to volunteer to assist in this event, please contact Andrew at

andrewsthomson@gmail.com or call him at 204-290-4510.

This would be a great time to take a moment to look for any St. George’s articles in your

home – leaflets, minutes, commemorative pamphlets, photographs, slides or objects such as

pins or awards. Shirley Anne Smith, parish archivist, is always looking for new materials.

You may have something that is not currently in the parish collection.