Parish of Estevan-Bienfait

Parish Profile

17May2004

Marvin Grill, Chairman Search Committee St Giles Church	St. Peter & St. Paul
317 12th Avenue	Carbon Avenue
Estevan, Saskatchewan	Bienfait, Saskatchewan
Canada S4A 1E1	Canada S0C 0M0

Office: 634-4113	Rectory: 634-2260

http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/anglican

Parish of Estevan-Bienfait

Structure

The Parish of Estevan-Bienfait consists of the congregations of St. Peter & St. Paul in Bienfait, and of St. Giles, Estevan. Each congregation is served by a Vestry, and the Parish sends four delegates to Synod, three from St. Giles, and one from St. Peter & St. Paul. The Parish Council has not been formed in recent years. The Parish is overseen by a Regional Deacon and Regional Coordinator in the Souris Deanery. The Deanery consists of Oxbow, Ogema, Estevan, Bienfait, and Weyburn. These communities fall within the Diocese of Qu’Appelle. Rectors from Estevan, Weyburn, Oxbow have reinforced one another from time to time as needed.

St. Giles participates in the Estevan Ministerial Council, in which most community churches are involved. There are 14 churches in Estevan:

St. Giles Anglican Church

Anglican Parish of Estevan-Bienfait

Church of Christ

Estevan Alliance Church

Estevan Gospel Chapel

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

International Pastoral Charge

Living Hope Community Church & Christian Academy

The Salvation Army

Souris Valley Community Church

St. Paul's United Church

St. Peters Lutheran Church

Trinity Lutheran Church

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Services

Said service occurs at 8 am, and regular service at 10 am at St. Giles, and noon at St. Peter & St. Paul. Communion is held on alternate Sundays for each congregation, on the first, third and fifth Sundays. From time to time lay service is provided by members of the congregation. Shared services are held with Trinity Lutheran Church during the Lenten season, and on other special occasions. Christian Unity services are held each year. A special member of the congregation is the Crucifer and carries the Cross. About 18 people attend services in Bienfait, 12 at the 8 am and about 70 at the 10 am St. Giles services.

Contributions of the Congregations

During 2004 the St. Giles congregation hopes to commence a Stewardship Plan. Vestry has also undertaken a survey of parishioners’ needs and views in March, 2004. These two initiatives build on a survey conducted early in 2003. In the 2003 survey the St. Giles congregation affirmed their desire to sustain a full-time Priest, and to contribute more funds in their annual giving. An interest in more social activities and recruitment was also expressed.

Supports

Paid part-time positions include: Organist, Parish Secretary/Treasurer, Groundskeeper, and Janitor. The Rector receives support for travel, telephone, two weeks continuing education/ study leave, and four weeks off per year, plus ten study days. The Parish rectory is next door to St. Giles. It has three bedrooms, carport, all appliances, and has been recently repainted. The parish pays a person for grounds and other maintenance.

Community Outreach

Activities undertaken by the congregation include Altar Guild, Choir, Vestry, Envelope Secretary, Rector’s Warden, People’s Warden, Synod representation, Meals on Wheels, Hall Rentals, Bethlehem Live – a multi-church Christmas event conducted in the Landscaped Forecourt of the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre. Hall rental is provide free to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Thirty parishioners work a six week program once a year for Meals on Wheels. About twenty members of the congregation assist in purchasing and delivering seven to 10 Christmas hampers to the needy. The Rector helps with this initiative. About ten members help with the Christmas Angel program.

Rector’s Tasks

The 2004 survey of expectations of the Rector as collected from the two congregations produced these results:

There were 33 surveys mailed and 11 returned for Bienfait Congregation for a rate of return of 33%. The rank order for each of the leadership roles desired in a priest is given below in descending order of importance. The highest possible ranking is 55, since the top score a respondent could give to a role was 5, and there were 11 respondents.

47- writing and delivering sermon

45 – visiting hospitals, nursing homes, seniors; visiting shut-ins; planning services

44 – services in the nursing homes

42 – community outreach projects (Angel Tree, Christmas Hampers)

41 – planning music for services; parish education such as lay training, baptisms, confirmation

40 – counseling for marriage, addictions

39 – chairing vestry meetings

38 – crisis counseling such as for grief

37 – scheduling for lay assistants, readers

36 – deanery events

35 – keeping office records

34 – visiting parishioners; visiting you as a parishioner; leading stewardship campaigns; Ministerial Association involvement; providing spiritual direction for bible studies, prayer groups, healing ministries, missions, special events

31 – youth ministry

28 – organizing fund raising events

25 – expanding existing ties with the local Lutheran congregation

24 – developing a music ministry within the parish

Additional comments:

“Be able to deliver a sermon to the common person with relevancy to today.”

There were 193 surveys mailed to Estevan Congregation members, and 50 returned for a rate of 26%.

In order of descending importance:

213 – visiting hospitals, nursing homes, seniors

200 – writing and delivering sermons

199 – parish education

198 – planning services

194 – services in the nursing homes

193 – visiting shut-ins

188 – crisis counseling

187 – involvement in outreach to inactive Anglicans

186 – providing spiritual direction

185 – youth ministry

168 – counseling

163 – scheduling for lay assistants, readers

162 – planning music for services; developing a music ministry with the parish

161 – chair vestry meetings

160 – community outreach

158 – keeping office records

155 – visiting parishioners

152 – ministerial involvement within the community

149 – diocesan involvement

137 – organizing fund raising events

136 – leading stewardship campaigns

134 – deanery events

127 – expanding existing ties with the Lutheran congregation

125 – visiting me as a parishioner

Additional Comments

“Job description (x2), plan holidays ahead (x2), following budget, planning time away (x2), adhere to budget (more restraint), involvement in Estevan and Bienfait communities – all ranked 5.”

“We need to rebuild this parish, the congregation. The emphasis ought to be on attracting new members, revitalizing the old ones, otherwise the rest is a moot point.”

“Would like to see a youth group. Not just a Sunday School.”

“For the most part, activities marked 3 or less can be done by others and should be.”

“We need activities for our youth.”

“The rector’s salary is paid by St. Giles and St. Peter and St. Paul congregations therefore a larger part of his time and effort should be spent here not throughout the diocese or in Regina or elsewhere.”

“I know you will do your best.”

“Would be nice to have non-church goers to come out. Some of them we just never see in church.”

“Making sure the needs of St. Giles congregation are the first priority for the new minister. Also, a concerned effort to bring young people into our church and even having the odd service with music by the young people.”

A comparison between the 10 most important selections made by St. Giles and the 10 most important selected by St. Peter and St. Paul revealed the following:

Selected by both	Selected by St. Giles only	Selected by St. Peter & St. Paul only
Visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and seniors	Crisis counseling	Community outreach projects
Writing and planning sermons	Providing spiritual direction	Planning music for services
Parish education	Youth Ministry	Counseling for marriage, addictions
Planning services
Services in nursing homes
Visiting shut-ins
Involvement in outreach to inactive Anglicans

A comparison between the five least important selections made by St. Giles and the four least important selections made by St. Peter and St. Paul revealed the following:

Selected by both	Selected by St. Giles only	Selected by St. Peter & St. Paul only
Organizing fund raising events	Leading stewardship campaigns	Youth ministry
Expanding existing ties with the Lutheran congregation	Deanery events	Developing a music ministry with the parish
	Visiting me as a parishioner

The Rector has shown leadership in the Estevan Ministerial Council, Christmas hamper programme, Toy Store, Angel Tree, outreach to homebound, nursing home, hospital visits. Baptisms, confirmation, marriages and funerals are done. It is understood that the Rector will be involved at the Diocesan level.

Activities

At St. Giles, Sunday School consists of approximately 25 children and five leaders. The curriculum is supplied by the Cook Ministries programme of Godprints. This programme is provided for three groups of children; preschool, younger elementary, older elementary. The curriculum follows the order of the books of the Bible. The older elementary group reads and learns the Bible passages.

Bible study, Education for Ministry (EFM), confirmation classes also occur. EFM participants meet with a mentor in guided study using a four-year programme from the University of the South. More details about this are available at http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMhome.html . EFM has been offered in Estevan for the past 13 years. At present there are five students and 2 active mentors; David Holmes and Jan Harris. We have two fourth year students, one second year student, and two first year students. Although some of the tuition has been paid through Venture in Mission funding, this is no longer available. This may have an impact on the future of this program in our parish. We are always looking from more students. There are five graduates who continue to exercise their baptismal ministry.

Social events for families such as bowling, skating, sleigh rides, annual picnic, cycling, have been held. Another group, called “Parish People” is also an activity in which the congregation expresses itself.

Altar Guild

We currently have 17 members in the Guild. They are responsible for setting up the Altar on Saturday, clearing up after the 8 am service, and setting up for the 10 am service. The Guild has a work bee before Christmas and Easter. Looking after the flowers, candles, wine, wafers, vessels, and linens are other duties.

Finances

At St. Giles there are about 86 envelopes-givers contributing about $63,000 annually. Total revenue in 2003 in Estevan was $86,615. The budget for 2004 calls for a deficit of $6,394. St. Giles has given special attention to reducing its annual deficit and the current plan intends to eliminate it in 2005. The Parish had a surplus of $989 in 2003. As a guide, the Parish uses the Diocese of Qu’Appelle Schedule of Minimum Stipends and Pensions at http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/anglican/stipend.jpg .

Fundraising

The congregation hosts several fund-raising efforts annually including Fowl Supper, Pancake Breakfast, Lobster Supper, Bake and Craft Sale, Multi-family Garage Sale, and outdoor Saturday-morning lunch kiosk at a local grocery store. These events also serve to unite and provide social bonding for the congregation.

Parish History

The parish of St. Giles, Oxford, helped pay for this church. The original stone church, St. Matthew's, was built in 1895 on the corner of 3rd Street and 12th Avenue. By the end of the first war, it had become too small. The Oxford parish offered 650 Pounds($3500) to help build a new church as a memorial to those who died in the war. The old stone church was torn down, the rectory moved over to the corner, and the new church built where the rectory had stood, by the lane. Building began in 1919, and the first service was held at Easter of 1920. The church was re-named after the Oxford parish.

In addition to the memorial stone at the front of the church, there is one at the back dedicated by the Masons. There are also several memorials in the church for the dead of both wars. One of these is dedicated to twelve airmen who died while stationed at the Commonwealth Air Training Base during the second war. The memorial was hand carved by two of the men stationed at the base and includes an RAF flag.

Timelines

1892 Spiritual needs of the district were looked after by Rev. Cartwright of Cannington

Manor.

1892 Rev. Guy P. Terry stationed at Oxbow as travelling priest for south line.

1892 First church service held in Estevan. An open air service conducted by Rev.Terry in Mr.

Geo. Rooks yard at 1213 3rd St. Planks on nail kegs were used as pews.

1893 Rev. T.W. Cuncliffe appointed as first Incumbent at Estevan.

1893 First Sunday School organized.

1893 September 3 - First wedding: Hillard Edwin Price & Maggie Gow, performed by Rev.

T.W. Cuncliffe.

1893 September 8 - Bishop Burn's first visit to Estevan. He officiated at the first confirmation

in Estevan. Confirmed: Elizabeth Maud Hassard, Martha Hassard, and Clara Gow.

1893 September 26 - First burial: Eliza Holbrook, officiated by Re. T.W. Cuncliffe.

1893 October 10 - First baptism: George Hanley Holbrook, son of Mr. & Mrs. Geo.

Holbrook.

1895 May 26 - North Portal opened for first time as out station.

1895 July 1 - First mention of annual Sunday School picnic.

1895 October 6 - St. Matthew the Apostle is first church in Estevan, consecrated by

Bishop Burn.

1906 St. Bartholemew's Day bell dedicated at St. Matthew's.

1908 North Portal Sunday School opens.

1914 Estevan becomes a Rectory with a stipend.

1919 October 3 - Foundation stone for St. Gile's laid by Rev. J.C. Stuart. Church was to be

built after the style of St. Giles, Oxford, and to be called St. Giles Memorial Church as a

memorial to the soldiers who died during the Great War 1914-1918. St. Giles, Oxford, gave 650 pounds for the construction of the new church.

1925 First ordination: Rev. R.C. Matthews and Rev. B.W. Crowe.

1945 Mortgage burned and church consecrated by Bishop Knowles.

1955 January 2 - New pews and lights dedicated.

1955 October 9 - Organ dedicated.

1956 Old rectory sold and moved to 5th Street.

1958 Rev. D.P. Pasterfield moves into new rectory.

1963 Kitchen and back entrance modified.

1987 David Holmes became the Rector.

1989 Carillon bells installed in memory of Ross & Gerry Harris.

1993 100^th Anniversary Celebrations

Community Profiles

Services

Estevan and Bienfait are located 200 k from Regina, 150 k from Minot, North Dakota, and 86 k from Weyburn. Estevan and Bienfait are about 7 minutes apart by car. Estevan serves as a regional service center in which there are medical, shopping, and other services. Information about schools, real estate and other community services can be found in Estevan Community Profile which is available online at http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/community/profile/index.html .

estevan.jpg (34213 bytes)

Recreational Opportunities

Estevan offers a first class leisure centre with pool, arena, squash courts, craft room, weight room, gymnasium, library, seniors’ centre. Curling, golfing, hunting, boating, snowmobiling, fishing and other sports are also enjoyed.

Demographics

Population of Estevan is 10,242, and the population of Bienfait is 786. Both communities declined in population between 1996 and 2001 by about 5%.

Religion

Characteristics	Estevan			Saskatchewan
Characteristics	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female
Religion
Total - Religion	10,075	5,070	5,005	963,150	475,025	488,130
Catholic ⁽⁵⁷⁾	3,465	1,775	1,695	305,385	149,275	156,110
Protestant	4,915	2,325	2,585	449,200	212,945	236,255
Christian Orthodox	65	45	20	14,280	7,080	7,205
Christian, n.i.e. ⁽⁵⁸⁾	315	155	160	27,070	13,355	13,715
Muslim	0	0	0	2,230	1,250	980
Jewish	0	0	0	865	415	445
Buddhist	25	15	10	3,055	1,580	1,470
Hindu	0	0	0	1,590	880	710
Sikh	0	0	0	500	300	200
Eastern religions ⁽⁵⁹⁾	0	0	0	775	415	365
Other religions ⁽⁶⁰⁾	0	10	0	6,750	3,340	3,405
No religious affiliation ⁽⁶¹⁾	1,280	745	540	151,450	84,190	67,260

Characteristics	Bienfait			Saskatchewan
Characteristics	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female
Religion
Total - Religion	785	400	385	963,150	475,025	488,130
Catholic ⁽⁵⁷⁾	245	140	105	305,385	149,275	156,110
Protestant	445	195	250	449,200	212,945	236,255
Christian Orthodox	0	0	0	14,280	7,080	7,205
Christian, n.i.e. ⁽⁵⁸⁾	10	10	0	27,070	13,355	13,715
Muslim	0	0	0	2,230	1,250	980
Jewish	0	0	0	865	415	445
Buddhist	0	0	0	3,055	1,580	1,470
Hindu	0	0	0	1,590	880	710
Sikh	0	0	0	500	300	200
Eastern religions ⁽⁵⁹⁾	0	0	0	775	415	365
Other religions ⁽⁶⁰⁾	0	0	0	6,750	3,340	3,405
No religious affiliation ⁽⁶¹⁾	90	60	35	151,450	84,190	67,260

Incomes

Characteristics	Estevan			Saskatchewan
Characteristics	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female
Earnings
All persons with earnings (counts) ⁽⁴⁸⁾	5,815	3,250	2,565	534,355	282,255	252,100
Average earnings (all persons with earnings ($))	32,622	41,669	21,155	25,691	30,608	20,185
Worked full year, full time (counts) ⁽⁴⁹⁾	3,220 ^R	2,050	1,170	276,420 ^R	163,810	112,605
Average earnings (worked full year, full time ($))	43,627	51,204	30,333	35,461	39,626	29,402

Characteristics	Bienfait			Saskatchewan
Characteristics	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female
Earnings
All persons with earnings (counts) ⁽⁴⁸⁾	450	250	200	534,355	282,255	252,100
Average earnings (all persons with earnings ($))	31,699	39,041	22,302	25,691	30,608	20,185
Worked full year, full time (counts) ⁽⁴⁹⁾	195 ^R	140	60	276,420 ^R	163,810	112,605
Average earnings (worked full year, full time ($))	40,851	46,299	27,892	35,461	39,626	29,402

Sources

Statistics Canada http://www.statcan.ca

Estevan’s community web site: http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/

Estevan’s Community Economic Profile: http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/community/profile/index.html

History of St. Giles http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/community/ATaleThatIsTold/chapt06/Anglican.html

A walk through time http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/community/tours/index.html

Estevan: The power centre http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/community/thePowerCentre/Churches.html

Diocese of Qu’Appelle http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/diocse/

Typical Interview Questions

Practical Matters

When would you be able to start?

Will you require use of the Rectory or would you rather find your own accommodation?

What is the minimum length of time you would be willing to commit to this role?

What are your salary expectations?

Do you have goals with respect to continuing education, and/or away time?

Personal Aspects

Are there family, personal needs with which we can help?

Do you have a hobby, sport or other personal interest you would like to pursue while in Estevan/Bienfait Parish?

Ministry

What work or voluntary experience have you that is relevant to this opportunity?

What educational background have you that is relevant to this opportunity?

What is your posture with respect to social justice issues?

What ideas have you for service innovation?

Have you programme ideas for children, families, seniors?

How would you describe the stafe of development or state of your own faith?

How does this opportunity fit in with your career goals?

Do you have ideas for musical liturgy that you would like to suggest to the congregation?

Are there initiatives you would like to try in Bienfait/Estevan regarding ministry or outreach?

Are there aspects of parish life you prefer not to do or would rather delegate?

What strengths and weaknesses do you bring to this opportunity?

What experience and skills have you that will help you be Rector?

Have you experience with conflict resolution?

What reading have you done recently that has inspired you in your work or you have found noteworthy?

What is your posture regarding lay involvement or leadership in the service?

Have you questions for us about being Rector in Estevan/Bienfait Parish?

Required Submission: Resume with cover letter describing your interest in this parish. Send submissions to:

Marvin Grill, Chairman

Search Committee

St. Giles Anglican Church

317-12^th Avenue

Estevan, Saskatchewan,

Canada S4A 1E1

GCS/gs

17May2004