Vivian Seegers Ordination January 2018

Hallelujah! Rev. Vivian Seegers is now a deacon in the Anglican Church of Canada!
 I’m proud to say I’ve known her since she first began her dream journey at Vancouver Theological School nearly a quarter of century ago. I’d been a flyin doctor in Northern Canada when for years they couldn’t recruit doctors to work on the reserves. I’d also been honoured to work with Dr. Jack Hilldes and the Northern Medical Unit at University of Manitoba training indigenous people to be doctors.  With that back ground I was wholly supportive of Vivian who feared she’d never be able to shoulder the responsibilities given where she’d been. Rising above a past  of alcohol, residential schools, abuse and violence she became a leading medicine woman within her own Chippewyan community and one of the Sun Dance community.  This night she would take her hard earned rightful place in the larger spiritual  Christian community of the Anglican Church of Canada.
It was glad to be there ,seeing her family, especially her son,  and old friends we share in the recovery community. I was especially pleased to sit with my friend Bill.  I won’t “old" friend Bill because we’re so very young at heart.  Terrific to see Dr. Barbara Harris and our mutual philosopher friend, Andria. So many had come out that rainy cold night to share the warmth of this occasion.
Vivian was radiant.  The ritual was uplifting.  Right Reveverend Melissa Skelton, Bishop of New Westminster,  and the other priests were divinely human. I enjoyed the sermon by Reverend Emilie Smith.   The drummers made the old church vibrate.  We sang gospel songs and when the time came we all joined in saying we welcomed and would support Vivian.  She had said her vows much as in baptism.  But this was a different kind of total immersion.  The ordination ceremony was followed by eucharist.  And I was glad to take the blood of Jesus from Rev. Seegers hands.
Later over coffee, sandwiches and cake, Bill, Barb, Jolene, Ray and I shared together. I told these few how for years I’d attended this church St. John’s Shaughnassey, first when I lived down the street but more so when our mutual recovery friend played saxophone in the evening church  band.  Bill had been here then as well.  Small worlds.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah.  It was so good to be present for Vivian’s ordination.