Christian event in Saskatoon draws thousands of faithful (Anglican Church of Canada).

Saskatoon had its largest ever church service on Jan. 2 as thousands of Christians of all denominations filled Saskatchewan Place during the course of the day in an event called SONday.

SONday is a combination of Sunday and Son's day, in reference to Jesus Christ.

Rev. Michael Stonhouse of St. James Church in Saskatoon was on the planning committee for the event. He said he was there with 12,000 other Christians for the morning service and at the evening service attended by 3,000.

"Just to stand there with 12,000 other people and all worshipping God together, you really had a rush," he said. "It was very inspiring to be there, all praising Christ."

Another moving aspect of the service mentioned by a lay person was the passing of the peace, often among complete strangers, he said. "It was a bridging of barriers or gaps between Christians."

Mr. Stonhouse also found the evening's end moving as he watched from the platform as candles were lit from the bottom of SaskPlace to the top.

"In the midst of the darkness, the light was spreading. You could see the light advancing and flare up in little pockets. The good news is going out, even if it is isolated."

A lunchtime service drew 3,000 and the afternoon service held 3,500 people.

Thousands of dollars were raised for the poor and homeless but a final figure was unavailable at press time.

ARM chair named

Captain Reed Fleming of the Anglican Church Army in Canada has been appointed chairman of Anglican Renewal Ministries. Capt. Fleming is the first lay person to hold this position. ARM is an organization within the Anglican Church whose mandate is "Renewing the church to reach the world for Christ".

"It is the church empowered by the Holy Spirit, endowed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and evidencing the fruit of the Spirit that will best reach the world for Christ," Capt. Fleming said.

Baycroft in Rome

The former bishop of Ottawa spent Christmas Eve with Pope John Paul II.

Bishop John Baycroft represented the Anglican Communion during the Pope's televised Christmas Eve mass in Rome. According to a report in the National Post, Bishop Baycroft and his wife, Joan, sat in the front row behind the altar.

Bishop Baycroft was installed as director of the Anglican Centre in Rome on Nov. 27 by Most Rev. Frank Griswold, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican co-chairman of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission.

Bishop Baycroft is the first Canadian ever to head the Anglican Centre in Rome.

As head of the centre, he will be expected to develop contacts with the Vatican and help educate others in ecumenism through contacts with theology students.

The bishop had been a member of ARCIC for a number of years.