PREECEVILLE - The communities of Preeceville and Sturgis in the United Church Pastoral Charge welcomed community members to celebrate the retirement of Reverend Miles Russell after 39 years of serving the church and communities.
Sheila Ivanochko, welcomed everyone to the celebration on May 22 at the Trinity United Church in Preeceville. Karolyn Kosheluk provided the musical entertainment as she played numerous selections of the grand piano.
“It is my honour to be the emcee for Miles’s special day,” said Ivanochko. “It is a bittersweet day, Miles has had a huge impact not only on the church but the communities he served. He has served not only as minister but as a dedicated volunteer of many organizations. It is very hard to sum up his 39 years in a short service but we are here today to acknowledge his accomplishments, hard work and dedication.”
There were special messages from those who were unable to attend the event. Miles and his wife Anna’s older son, Joel, his wife and the couple’s son from London England gave their wishes followed by son William’s brief words. Other special greetings were presented by past ministers.
The Preeceville-Sturgis United Church Choir performed two musical selections followed by a short skit entitled A Day in the life of Miles Russell. The skit enacted the impact that Miles had on the many committees and local churches.
A special slide show featured photographs showcasing Miles’ life followed by two presentations of a swing and a wooden flower sign.
Prior to the retirement celebrations, the Sunday service was a special service that featured the last time that Russell would present a sermon at a combined service held in Sturgis at Grace United. On Sunday, May 29, Russell was to present his very last sermon. “It is an amazing day that means a lot to me and my family. All the gifts we received will always be treasured. June 1 is my official first day of retirement and it is going to be a big change for me but I will enjoy spending more time with my family,” said Russell.
To date the church committee has not found a replacement for the Preeceville and Sturgis United Church Pastoral Charge.
Ivanochko recited a biography on Russell.
Miles Russell was born in the Grey Nun’s Hospital, now known as the Pasqua Hospital in Regina, May 8. 1957 and was the first of two children born to Jack and Ina Russell who farmed at Strasbourg, Saskatchewan.
He grew up on the family farm until age 12 when the family moved to town for his mom’s health needs, although they continued to farm with Russell and his sister still owning the farm.
He attended the Strasbourg Public School (as it was then called), followed by High School in Strasbourg at the William Derby High School. In school he was part of the Lion’s Band, playing trombone, as well as learning to curl, and took part in the Variety Night skits and plays the school produced each year and he also took a couple of years of piano and organ lessons.
“I was always part of the United Church, being brought to church in a baby carriage when I was young (I pre-date strollers). I was baptized as a six-month-old, attended Sunday school and church with my family, was part of the 25 voice junior choir in the church when I was in Grade 5, was confirmed when I was 14, became a youth member of the Session for the Church along with another friend,when I was 16.
“I felt a strong sense of call to ministry when I was a kid and it only grew as I moved into teen years. And so with the support of the church and its recognition that I had a calling to ministry worthy of being tested; I began the journey of many church interviews and entering university in preparation for ministry. I attended the University of Regina beginning in 1975 and received a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History. I then moved to Saskatoon and shared a place with my sister, Marie, who had just begun her educational journey to become an RN. I went to St. Andrew’s College and received my Master of Divinity in 1983,” said Russell.
As part of the process, he did an 11-month internship with the people of Lang-Milestone Pastoral Charge.
“My internship was a wonderful, challenging, life-giving and changing experience. After internship I postponed my return to St. Andrew’s for one year and worked for an agency I had worked for before. It was called “The Alliance of Youth and the Elderly” in Saskatoon. It was an early form of home care. I was a home helper who cleaned clients’ homes, trimmed hedges, raked leaves in the fall, washed windows, rototilled and planted gardens in spring, took clients for groceries or to appointments. It was a great experience often being exposed to the great variety of circumstances in which people lived, including poor living conditions and poverty. I was considered a good worker and clients liked me and often requested me; even the clients who didn’t like any worker who came to help,” he said.
When he moved to Saskatoon he met and married Anna Jean Van Der Koot on July 8, 1983 in Mayfair United Church in Saskatoon.
The year 1983 was a big one for Russell. He convocated from St. Andrew’s College, was ordained at the end of May in St. Andrew’s United Church in Moose Jaw by Saskatchewan Conference and was settled effective July 1, 1983 at Preeceville-Sturgis United Church Pastoral Charge north of Yorkton.
He accepted a ministerial position with Preeceville and Sturgis in the United Church Pastoral Charge.
“I thought we were coming for about five years, but life just kept changing and new tasks and ideas developed, new things needed to be tried, and the years went by. Anna and I are blessed with two sons who were born at Preeceville; Joel, who is now married to Amy and lives in London, England with their son, our first grandchild, Elliott who will be 2 this fall. And William our youngest now lives with his partner Spencer in Halifax.
“During my time at Preeceville-Sturgis, I have been blessed with a pastoral charge that was willing to grow and change, and try new things and let go of old things. I also was growing and changing. I have been blessed by the many who have willingly helped volunteer, offer leadership, shared faith and laughter, challenge and commitment. We have grown together as a people of faith in a way I could not have imagined at the beginning.
“During that time, I have worked with the church in worship, including special services developed at Christmas and Easter in particular, as well as many events, such as a 30-year community church play (comedies) that travelled to each of the three main communities on the charge; Preeceville, Sturgis and Stenen…often making me take the roll of the dastardly villain or for many years, having my character dressing up as a woman in disguise, much to the laughter of the several hundred from the community who attended.
“We have had two major building projects; one for each of the churches, Grace in Sturgis, and Trinity in Preeceville. I took supervision training and together we hosted five internships on the charge for individuals who went on to become United Church ministers. I was also able to support neighbouring Pastoral Charges with four other internships.
“I was always encouraged and expected to be part of the wider church so have always served on something in Presbytery or Conference and now Regional Council, as well as having attended three General Councils in my life. I served in the Pastoral Relations and Division of Mission work for many years, as well as other committees or tasks. And I took my turn as Chairperson of Presbytery, and became President of Saskatchewan Conference from 2009-2010.
I was given the opportunity to serve on many community groups locally, including President of the Arts Council, Recreation Board, Nursery School Board, Sturgis Chamber of Commerce, Family Resource Centre Chair, the local Food Bank program called Filling the Gap, President of the local ministerial for many years and active in its many programs, as well as other ecumenical events in Preeceville, Sturgis and Stenen.
“In the church I was able to lead worship, write skits and plays for worship, plan many special events and services along with others. I was able to help lead youth group, take part in Vacation Bible School. I was privileged to be invited into peoples’ lives through funerals, weddings, baptisms, hospital and home visits; times of joy and times of crises. I have been part of many special programs we tried locally, including hosting the Moderator Jordan Cantwell to an area United Church gathering a few years ago. I have been able to act in the church plays, sing in the special Christmas and Easter Choirs, curl in the Church Family Bonspiels, and dress up and work with the youth in hosting the annual Halloween Party put on by the church for 100 local elementary children and their parents each October, plus other things.
“It has been a gift to be a minister serving this pastoral charge. I have been blessed to be part of a community of faith that has continued to evolve and grow and be willing to try new things, work together, grow in faith and service.
“As I enter retirement, I pray for the blessing of the Pastoral Charge I have served. Anna and I will not be moving away any time soon, but we will be able to take the opportunities that retirement brings to travel for extended periods of time to see our children and grandchild who live far away, and for that I am grateful…What the future calling for me is at this moment is unclear, as I take time to begin retirement with rest, increase time for my family and extensive travel, and enjoy the ability to plan things at the last minute, rather than a year ahead.
“I have been so blessed to be a minister, part of the United Church of Canada and this Pastoral Charge. And I am so grateful to all who have surrounded me by love and care during my ministry, not least of which is my wife Anna and our sons Joel and William. And for all these gifts of love and life, I give humble thanks to God,” concluded Russell.
