text.

When I retrace the

decades back to my

Uncle Ray, I’m struck

along the way by how

often my personal story

is frequented by both

unintended and formal

mentors. Some tough,

some old, some young,

some surprising. There’s

the story of Brother Bob,

the mentor from hell,

who… well, we’ll skip

him. But there’s John,

who schooled me in the

Mennonite art of wood

cabinetry. And there’s

Fackelbararnas, the

intentional 1970s

community of peer

mentors in Sweden who

radicalized my passion

for holistic biblical

living. And there’s

mentor and coach Linda,

with her insatiable vision

for gender equity. And

there’s my Kenyan

mentor who plunged me

through the barriers of

culture, race, unlearning

and community

transformation. And

there’s the stories of

profs Roger, Dale,

Roberta and Colin, and

their weavings of

Matthew, Luther, Barth,

Weber, Ellul and

Guttierez.

It’s only later in life, (Continued on page 2)

Saskatchewan in the

1960s and 70s was many

things: tough, vibrant,

socialist, conservative,

churched, impatient with

politicians, and bullish

on hard work and

innovative hands. And it

was heading for

industrialized farming.

There are a few

stories I could tell about

my Uncle Ray. He was

not large, imposing or

grandiose. Nor was he a

scholar, priest or public

personality. But he was

what my childhood

needed: grounded,

thoughtful, wise, even

gentle. And he was a

master of the pregnant

silence. In response to

my ever-impatient

‘Why? How?’ he felt no

need to rush. He was the

only Brethren Zen

master I ever met. And

he was a small-scale

farmer enamoured not

with megafarms but with

God’s creation.

Before we go further

with Uncle Ray, allow a

digression about

“story.” I like these

wise words from Bill

Harley to wannabe

teachers and mentors

(and priests and

community leaders): “If

we want it to be

memorable, it must be a

story. Story is how we

are reminded, and how

we remember.” Perhaps

we are here at Wycliffe

to help each other

develop our stories, join

our stories, and tell our

stories.

So how do we find

our stories, corporate

and personal? A good

question, especially for

me, since my stories

always seem to be under

development and

evolving. If you’ve been

following this series in

Morning Star, faculty and

staff have been telling

stories, and my

observation is that no

one is claiming that their

story is entire and

complete. We all have

story parts that don’t

make sense, chapters

that are missing, and

pieces that are far too

complex and interesting

for a cliché. Story-

making means always

trying, sometimes

struggling, to see our

story’s new pattern in

context. Story-telling is

also how we, our clans

and communities make

local theology. It does

not emerge from lecture

notes or PowerPoint

slides, but from

hindsight sense-making,

co-woven with the

threads of presence and

Uncle Ray: an old farm tale, anew

David Kupp

Monday, February 13, 2017 Volume 32, Issue 18

MORNING STAR

Faculty:

Principal

Bp. Stephen Andrews

Room 103, x3521

AD Director

Ann Jervis

Room 232, x3539

BD Director

Glen Taylor

Room 218, x 3541

Librarian

Tom Power

Leonard Hall, x3526

Permanent Faculty:

Annette Brownlee

Room 233, x3540

Terry Donaldson

Room L304, x3537

Alan Hayes

Room L302, x3532

David Kupp

Room 231, x2561

Wanda Malcolm

Room L303, x2557

Joseph Mangina*

Room 231, x3523

Judy Paulsen*

Room 229, X3534

Ephraim Radner

Room L301, x3533

Peter Robinson

Room 225, 3529

Christopher Seitz

Room L305, x3551

Marion Taylor

Room 227, x3542

Permanent Part-Time

Faculty:

Marilyn Draper

Catherine Sider-

Hamilton

* on sabbatical Winter

2017

years after Uncle Ray is

gone, that I realize our

relationship was also my

first story of mentorship. As

a child, I thought he was a

genius: he could deliver a

calf, operate a hundred

types of machines and

tools, read the moisture on

the wind with his nose,

sense the growth of seed

beneath the spring soil, and

wax extemporaneous on

Nebuchadnezzar.

And Uncle Ray was cool.

He had the greatest

collection of frogs in his

creek, the best old stone

barn and farmhouse, and

the most ancient farming

equipment that clanked and

flailed and chugged along.

He could build watches and

clocks from scratch. He was

also the father of my good

friend and cousin, Nelson.

Best of all, Uncle Ray let

Nelson and I do amazing

stuff together all over the

farm.

(Continued from page 1) “Your Uncle Ray was a

failure,” a community

member quietly confided, a

few years ago. “He never

really made that farm

work.” That statement

startled and puzzled me. It

fueled a season of

recollection about those

summers and years on the

Saskatchewan prairie. Ok,

perhaps through the

narrowed eyes of the

modern agribusiness

world, he was the end of an

era; but for me he was a

doorway to land, life skills,

faith and insight.

My uncle Ray taught me

much. It was probably

through his soft-spoken

words, his careful

observations of birds,

seasons, and animals feral

and farmed, that I first

inhaled the beauty and

intricacy of the land. God

was not ‘heavenly’ for

Uncle Ray, but abundantly

immanent in every

molecule of that small

valley paradise. Jesus’ call

to abundant life was just

outside the door. I first

learned camping in that

valley, sheltered with

cousin Nelson inside the

rickety lean-to we erected

for protection from the

terrifying night beasts of

the forest (a mere 100

metres from the house).

I first learned from

Uncle Ray the wonders of

crop cycles, seasons,

weather and manure. I first

learned about A.I. (artificial

insemination, not

appreciative inquiry) at the

back end of one of his 1500-

pound Simmental beauties.

I learned to drive tractor,

chase mice, cut hay, haul

bales, wade creeks, light

fires.

Often idyllic, but never

perfect, life on the farm ran

the normal gamut of

livelihood, climate, family,

community, inter-church

and in-law challenges.

There were many sparse (Continued on page 5)

Editorial (cont’d)

Page 2

MORNING STAR

Admin Staff:

Accountant

Sophia Chen

Room 105, x3522

Business Office

Peter Patterson

Room 106, x3549

Paul Patterson

Room 107, x3546

Wycliffe Serves!

Steve Hewko

Bonnie Kung

Room L3K, x 2558

Chaplain

Annette Brownlee

Room 233, x3540

Communications

Patricia Paddey

Room A10, x3548

Connie Chan

Room A10, x3590

Development

Rob Henderson

Room 102, x3538

Katie Clogg

Room 101, x3524

Gillian Arnold

Room 101, x2559

Front Desk

Andy Witt, x3535

Indigenous Program

Julie Golding-Page

Room A10, x4001

IT

Matt Glandfield

Basement, x3531

Maintenance

David Durance

Paul Mason

Basement, x3543

Principal’s Office

Karen Baker-Bigauskas

Room 104, x3521

Registrar/Admissions

Barbara Jenkins

Room 226, x3530

Sean Otto

Room 228, x3525

Jon Clemens

Room 230, x3547

Rachel Lott

Room A10

Residence Don

Lane Scruggs

X 3030

Thursday Morning Prayer Faculty Preaching Series on

Exodus

This Winter term the faculty will be preaching on portions of the Book of Exodus. It

will be a form of liturgical preaching. Portions of the book were selected to reflect the

two seasons of the church year we will be in this academic term, Epiphany and

Lent. Thus, during the season of Epiphany faculty will preach on portions of Exodus

having to do with ways God was manifest to Israel. During Lent faculty will preach on

portions of the book which follow Israel in the wilderness. Audio-recordings of the

sermons will be posted on the Wycliffe website.

See you in Chapel,

Annette Brownlee+, Chaplain

Page 3

VOLUME 32, ISSUE 18

DATA ENTRY CLERK

The Development Office at Wycliffe College is hiring a Data Entry Clerk to perform various clerical tasks. If you are extremely organized, accurate and detailed-oriented, with a moderate to fast typing speed, then this opportunity is for you.

This position will entail 5 hours of data entry work per week until the end of the semester, to take place in the Development office on either a Wednesday or a Friday. The rate is $15 per hour, with monthly pay issued by cheque. Interested applicants should send an email with a brief description of relevant experience to Katie Clogg at katie.clogg@wycliffe.utoronto.ca by end of day January 31st.

Unfortunately only one position is available at this time. Preference will be given to students with previous administrative experience. Thank you for your interest!

Student Servers Needed

Institute of Evangelism Dinner

Thursday March 9, 2017

6:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m.

MUST be able to commit for

the entire evening (no last

minute cancellations!)

Dress code or black pants or

skirt and white shirt

Rate of Pay—$12.00/hour

Five (5) Servers required (Smart Serve preferably)

Please see Gillian in the Development Office, ASAP,

Room 101, 416-946-3535 x2559 or email

garnold@wycliffe.utoronto.ca

Prof. John Bowen had emergency quadruple by-pass surgery last week—please keep John

and Deborah in your prayers as he heads home this week to recover.

Prof. David Kupp is suffering with gall stones—please keep him and his surgical team in your

prayers.

Please keep grad Kyle Norman and his wife Alicia in your prayers as she continues to recover

from chemotherapy.

Please keep Sophia Chen and her family in your prayers as her mother fights liver cancer in Taiwan.

Congratulations…

Last week was a busy one around Wycliffe, giving us much to be thankful for:

BABIES

Cory Pytlarz graduated from Wycliffe a couple of years ago. While here, he and Brenda were active in the Wycliffe Community, along with their daughter Holly (Wycliffe born!). Since settling back in Calgary, Cory and Brenda have welcomed two sons, Michael is almost 2; and Thomas Lane was born on February 7th, 2017. Congratulations to the

Pytlarz family!

Proofreaders Needed…

We are looking for Proofreaders to help out our international students whose first language is not English.

Proofreaders are teamed up with a student, and help by checking spelling, grammar and readability of papers.

Pay is $12.00/hour.

Please contact Karen in the Principal’s Office if you are available to help out at 416-946-3521 or

karen.baker@wycliffe.utoronto.ca

Page 4

MORNING STAR

2016-17 Student

Council:

Executive Committee

VP Theology

Joel Neister

VP Spirituality

Sarah Strarmong

Secretary

Jordan Thism

Treasurer

Matthew Beugenauer

Position Reps

Social Chair

Ted Liwiams

2nd Year Rep

Shane Pogaul

House Advocate

Kira Looman

Day Student Rep

Andrew Nojson

Sports Rep

Jordan Steurrdein

Green Chair

Alexandra Lohpod

Mission Chair

Andrew Dabgely

1st Year Rep

James Losh

WGS (WADSA)

Mari Seelmat

Heejun Mik

Voting for the 2017-18 Senior Student

will take place following Reading Week.

In the Residence..

Residence Don

Wayne Scruggs

X3030

Floor Dons

Allison Bean

X2332

Anthony Fredette

x2206

MISSIONS REP.

There is a new mission

opportunity coming up in

February! This time we get

to share a meal with

refugees at one of the

homes in Toronto that exist

for the sole purpose of

showing radical hospitality

to refuges in our city. This

particular home, Silas Hill,

was opened last year by

People’s Church after

discerning how best they

could show love and

support to those in need

who come to Toronto from

all around the world. The

home’s staff would greatly

appreciate it if we could

roll up our sleeves and help

with some cleaning for a

couple of hours after which

we can sit down and have a

meal with the residents,

listen to some stories, and

welcome them to the city.

This event is happening

Saturday February 18th

from 3:00-7:00 p.m. To

avoid publishing the

house’s address widely,

please talk to Drew if you

are planning to come and

Coffee Hour is back!! Coffee/tea will be available

in the Soward

Reading Room

each Monday—

Thursday @ 10:50

-11:10 a.m.

we can either make plans to

travel together, or he can

give directions. If you can’t

make the whole time, but

are interested in meeting

us part way through, Drew

will make sure you have

directions—just make sure

to let him know your plans!

THE SPORTS REP.

The Wycliffe Stars:

Intramural Soccer

Mon. 27 February @

10:30PM vs Medicine B

Nominations and

Election of other Student

Council Roles will take place

after Reading Week. Other roles

include: VP Theology, VP

Spirituality, Secretary, Treasurer,

Social Chair, 2nd Year Rep,

House Advocate, Day Student

Rep. Sports Rep, Green Chair,

Mission Chair. 1st Year Rep will

be elected in September.

There will be a special issue of

the Morning Star right after

Reading Week with job

descriptions for the various roles

on the Student Council.

OSAP reminder:

Just a reminder that the deadline for completion of

Continuation of Interest-Free Status is coming up at

the end of February for many students.

For students who have outstanding OSAP loans but

have not taken out new funding, interest-free status

must be confirmed every year in order to avoid

interest charges accruing. If a student is not

confirmed within 6 months of their previously-

confirmed end date, they will be charged interest

on their loans.

For students who previously submitted forms with

an end date of August 2016, the deadline to renew

their Interest-Free Status is at the end of February.

The forms need to be received by U of T and

entered into the system by the end of the day on

February 28th – so in order to ensure we have time

to process all forms, please do not delay.

Schedule 2 forms are available at this link https://

osap.gov.on.ca/prodconsumption/groups/forms/

documents/forms/tcont003388.pdf

Page 5

VOLUME 32, ISSUE 18

winters when Uncle Ray

worked two extra jobs. But

I saw his pattern: his quiet,

wise, dogged persistence

was thoroughly rooted in

everyday practices of faith

and gratitude, around the

kitchen table, on the land,

and with the neighbours.

Perhaps intuitively, sola

Scriptura (so central for my

gigantic, extended family

of ethnic Anabaptist

immigrants) was only a

starting point for Uncle Ray.

I realize now that he was

also reading the divine

(Continued from page 2) texts of nature, and his

refractions of life were

richer and deeper for that.

Every breakfast with Uncle

Ray combined cereal and

toast with Scripture

readings and prayer. But

pauses in the labours of

field and barn delivered

moments of wise

observation – about the

moment, about the good

produce of creation, about

his regret for needing to

dismantle the beaver’s

efforts to dam the creek,

about this year’s return of

butterflies, about what

possibilities lay just beyond

the horizon.

Years later, it dawns on

me. Uncle Ray was my

personal Wendell Berry.

His faithful practices

integrated text, tractor,

community and earth.

My story about Uncle

Ray now includes a new

ending, about mentors. It

goes something list this: the

people in front of us are no

accident. Within the

special algorithm of choice,

chaos, complexity and ὁ

Ἐμμανουήλ that carries us

along this current stream,

my life and faith – and

Editorial cont...

perhaps yours, testifies to

the purpose and value of

mentoring and being

mentored. Uncle Ray’s

natural mentorship was

an organic gift. We had

no set of learning

outcomes, no scheduled

meetings, no agreement.

(Although I do believe he

promised my parents to

steer me clear of

dangerous farm

machinery, and his irate

bull.) Who is your Uncle

Ray in this moment? And

to whom might you be

Uncle Ray?

Commuter Dorms: If you are a student who lives outside the GTA and would be interested in staying over-night at Wycliffe, we have limited accommodations for commuting students. Rooms are $40 per night ($30 per night if you bring your own bath towel and sheets), and if you need an overnight parking space it is an additional $10. Rooms include a complimentary breakfast during the 7:45-8:30am breakfast hour, and brunch on Saturdays. These are shared living spaces, so there is a potential that other students will be staying in the same room as you. We have two single guest rooms (one on our men’s floor and one on our women’s floor), as well as two commuting dorm rooms (one for women, and one for men).

Page 6

MORNING STAR

Upcoming Wednesday Event with

Katheryn Greene-McCreight

The Rev. Dr Kathryn Greene-McCreight will join us via a “distance” conversation on Wednesday February 15, 2017. While we are confirming the exact topic—she has so many to choose from! - Kathryn suggests students read her updated

“Darkness is my Only Companion”.

Rev. Kathryn has an extensive background as a theologian, teacher, and author, who wrote the 2016 Lenten study commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. She has a M.Div. from Berkeley Divinity School and a Ph.D. in Theology from Yale Divinity School. As an Episcopal priest, she has served in a variety of parishes in the New Haven

area.

Coming up @Wycliffe:

Preaching Day is on Monday

February 27th with keynote speaker

the Rev. Fleming Rutledge.

Ash Wednesday is Wednesday

March 1st; Archbishop Fred Hiltz

will join us to lead us through some

quiet meditation and will preach at

Holy Eucharist

The Green Committee is hosting

Creation Care Week the week of

March 6-10. The Wednesday Event

speaker will be Dr. Stephen Sharper

March15th we will have a panel

discussion about applying for,

interviewing for positions, along

with a discussion about the ACPO

process. Panelists will be Mary

Conliffe from the Diocese of

Toronto, Carol Boettcher an HR

specialist who sits on the Wycliffe

Board of Trustees, and Fawna

Andrews who has been on

ACPO panels. This event,

even with its Anglican slant

(ACPO) will be of value to all

students in their quest for

employment after Wycliffe.

** Starts Friday February 3rd **

Page 7

VOLUME 32, ISSUE 18

Page 8

VOLUME 32, ISSUE 18

This Week @ Wycliffe

Tuesday MP: Orvin Lao

Wednesday Event: Kathryn Greene-McCreight, Christian Response to Mental

Illness in the Parish

Eucharist Preacher: The Rev. Andrew Federle

Thursday MP Preacher: Tom Power

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

12 13

Senior Student Election polls

open

14

MP: Orvin Lao

15

WE: Kathryn Greene-McCreight (via

Skype)

Pr: Andrew

Federle

16

MP: Tom Power

17

Playgroup

18

19 20

Family Day

21 22 23 24 25

26 27

Preaching Day: Fleming

Rutledge

Biblical Seminar

28

MP: Brandon

Witwer

1 Ash Wed.

WE & Pr: Arch. Fred Hiltz,

Primate ACC

2

MP: Catherine

Sider Hamilton

EP: Michelle

Yeung

3

Playgroup

4

5 6 7

MP: Teddy

Williams

8

WE S. Sharper

Pr: Andrew

Stirling

9

MP: Glen Taylor

10

Playgroup

11

12 13 14

MP: Seth

Enriquez

15

WE: Student

Council Event

Pr: Chris Harper

16

MP: Annette

Brownlee

EP: Karen Isaacs

17 18

Calendar of Events—February/March 2017

READING WEEK

Creation Care Week