Lögberg-Heimskringla - 17.09.1999, Side 1

Week at a glance

Hjemkomst a success
Fargo Scandinavian Festival was
enjoyed by all
,,,
Sustainable use vital
Jean Michel Cousteau urges maritime
nations to protect their resources
Friday 17 September 1999 • Number 33 / Föstudagur 17. september 1999 • Númer 33
Lögberg
Lögberg stofnaö 14. janúar 1888
Heimskringla stofnað 9. september 1886
Tekið saman 20. ágúst 1959
Heimskringla
The Icelandic Weekly
Registration no. 08000 Agreement no. 1402161 113th year “The oldest ethnic periodical still publishing in Canada”
service at Grund
News
Looking Forward to Next
Year’s Celebrations
ALLDÓR ÁSGRÍMSSON AND LLOYD
Axworthy, the Foreign Ministers
of Iceland and Canada, met in Iceland
on September 1 and after the meeting
both expressed their satisfaction with
it. Mr. Axworthy was in Iceland on an
official visit at the invitation of Halldór
Ásgrímsson. Among topics the two
ministers discussed were: air commu-
nications between Iceland and Canada;
next year’s celebrations, in commemo-
ration of the thousandth anniversai'y of
the land discoveries by Icelanders in
the New World; as well as cooperation
between Iceland and Canada in the
intemational arena.
Mr. Axworthy met with Prime
Minister Davíð Oddsson in Reykjavík
on September 1 and later in the day he
visited Nesjavellir accompanied by
Halldór Ásgrímsson with whom he
had lunch at Þingvellir. Mr. Axworthy
then flew to Finland in the evening, but
at a news conference in Reykjavík he
said that Mr. Ásgrímsson and he had
discussed a number of important issues
at their meeting.
Mr. Axworthy said that he was
presently working on a policy on
Northern Regions, which he wants to
present to the Canadian govemment
this fall. “As a result I discussed with
members of tlie Icelandic govemment
how we can cooperate in matters of
common interest, particularly environ-
mental issues, regarding pollution in
northem oceans and such matters.”
The foreign ministers also dis-
cussed how to best ensure continued
flight communications between
Iceland and Canada, as the present
contract will mn out in October and
discussions on its renewal or extension
have not yet taken place.
No decisions were made in this
regard as Canadian airline companies
are in the midst of difficult negotiations
and the Canadian govemment cannot
make decisions regarding contracts
with Icelandair until these matters are
settled.
Mr. Axworthy said he considered
News continues on page 5
A festive
G. Isfeid
The Frelsis Church at Grund,
in the Argyle district, is the old-
est Icelandic church in Canada
still standing, built in 1889 by volunteer
labour under the direction of the car-
penters Bæring Hallgrímsson and Árni
Sveinsson. At the time this splendid
church was built, which became the
focal point of the community, the mem-
bers were still living in log houses. The
church was used by two congregations
and after other churches were built in
the district it was looked upon as the
head church of the settlement, or a
mother church.
Today the piajority of the descen-
dants of the Icelandic pioneers have
moved away from the Argyle district,
leaving a number of empty churches
behind, such as at Grund, Brú, etc.
These churches now stand as symbols
of the faith, courage, ingenuity, and
craftmanship of the Icelandic pioneers.
On Sunday, September 15, 1974, the
Province of Manitoba officially
assumed custodianship of Grund
Lutheran Church.
To this day services are occasional-
ly held at the Grund church, and many
people have strong ties to it, as their for-
mer place of worship or that of their
ancestors. Perhaps they have memories
of festive family occasions at Grand or
some sad farewells.
The weather smiled upon the wor-
shippers who headed to Grund Church
on August 15 with many coming from
as far away as Winnipeg, Brandon, and
from the Argyle communities. I must
say it is a pleasant experience to drive
through southem Manitoba at this time
of year, while driving by ripened fields
of various crops, blue fields of flax, or
yellow sunflower fields.
The service at Grand this time
around was especially festive with Rev.
Telmor Sartison, Bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Canada, giving the sermon. Bishop
Sartison was accompanied by his wife,
Adeline. Other invited dignitaries were
Mr. Svavar Gestsson, Consul General
for Iceland in Canada, and his wife
Guðrún Ágústsdóttir. The local minister
Rev. Donna J. Smalley conducted the
service and three solos were given by
Pall Vigfusson, Baldur Oliver, and Vera
Bjornson, who also served as an organ-
ist. A number of seniors had been
brought in from a local care home.
Bishop Sartison mentioned the many
empty churches on the prairies which
used to serve the communities around
them. However he said it was unbeliev-
able how, to this day, churches continue
to be central to many communities and
a guiding force. Bishop Sartison went
on to talk about all the unbelievables
the Gospel for the day contained.
The feeling of connectedness to the
past was very strong in the church and
became even greater when we took a
walk in the Brú cemetery later, guided
by Pastor Donna Smalley.
Following the service a delicious
lunch was served on the church
grounds, where worshippers got a
chance to meet Bishop Sartison and his
wife Adeline as well as Svavar
Gestsson and Guðran Ágústsdóttir, who
were visiting the district for the first
time and very pleased to have this
opportunity to meet the people of the
Argyle district at their mother church.
The women of the church had pre-
pared two baskets of appreciation for
Bishop Sartison and Svavar Gestsson.
These baskets, containing Icelandic
food and books on local people, were
presented by Mrs. Skardal. Mrs.
Skardal drew attention to one of the sto-
ries in the basket about one of the
Icelandic setters of the district who had
managed to farm in spite of the loss of
his feet, one arm, and a dislocated
shoulder.
On our way home we visited the
Please see Grund on page 7
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