This year at the Cathedral, we’re offering preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Laying on of Hands by the Bishop. The programme outline is here. The goal is age-old, to bring those who seek strengthening in the Faith by the Holy Spirit into closer relationship with God and with the rest of the Church. But the approach this year is different. Recognizing what Confirmation really means in our Anglican tradition, we’ll be employing a mentor model which should add an exciting dimension to what may have been in the past a somewhat mundane attempt at enlivening faith. Making disciples will be our primary goal.
The goal is age-old … But the approach this year is different.
Archbishop Fred Hiltz
We’ll recognize that those who are preparing for confirmation are members of the “Catechumenate.” The process will include various components:
“classes” where all gather for a time of instruction and discussion;
“sessions” where confirmands and mentors will meet for a more one on one experience of conversation on topics reinforcing some of the class material;
supplementary activities like an “instructed” eucharist, a Cathedral tour, or mission field trip(s) to explore what it means to put faith into action.
What is the Catechumenate?
The teaching customarily part of confirmation preparation (or confirmation classes) is the Catechism (page 544-555 Book of Common Prayer). In times past, this “instruction” has been minimally a simple memorization of the contents of Catechism. In contemporary times, we’ve come to understand traditional methods of “learning” are less than effective and would look now to other educational methods that better lend themselves to deeper learning experiences. No area of our lives could benefit more from these newer ways than our knowledge and understanding of our faith.
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is one of the rites of Christian initiation. Once thought of as a completion of Baptism, we now more commonly look to Confirmation as representing the event at the age of discretion when we make a profession of the faith that was made for us at Baptism, probably as an infant. Confirmation does not complete our Baptism, as we become full members of the Church when we are baptized. Confirmation is an opportunity to confess the faith personally. Confirmation is but one more step in the life-long process of becoming disciples.
Will you who witness these vows being made do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?
2015 Confirmation in the Parish of the Nerepis and St. John
What’s our part in this process?
At the time of a baptism, the congregation is asked a very pointed question: “Will you who witness these vows being made do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?” We answer: “We will.” Unfortunately, for many of us, that’s the last time we think of the answer. But the community of faith has a responsibility of nurture and support for those individuals. That will be expressed through the participation of mentors this year, who will carry a burden of that support on behalf of the congregation. We all also have a responsibility to pray regularly for those who are part of the Catechumenate. On Sunday, 28 February we’ll officially admit confirmands, parents and mentors to the Catechumenate.
If you would like to explore more fully what a renewed emphasis on the Catechumenate could mean for the life and faith of the Church or have been lead simply to be asking what this is all about, several articles are available, all on the Anglican Church of Canada website:
During the Lenten season, we are encouraged to reflect. With that in mind, the ACW of Christ Church Cathedral invited their recently retired parish nurse, Isabel Cutler, to present a reflection on her life.
This is a report from that Feb. 17 meeting — Isabel’s life reflection, not only her comings and goings, but the communities she became a part of, and the warmth and love of Christ she found in the people with whom she has crossed paths.
She entitled her presentation, “The challenge is to be me, with God’s grace – an ongoing life adventure.”
“Lent is a time of reflection,” said Isabel. “We reflect on our lives, so I’ve had this opportunity to pause, reflect on God’s presence in my life and his leading me where he wanted me to be.
“The challenge is to be who God wants me to be.”
Isabel is 69, newly retired after 50 years of nursing. Her final assignment, for the past 10 years, has been as the parish nurse at Christ Church Cathedral.
“The last part of my career was definitely the icing on the cake for me,” she said.
Approximately 4.6 million Syrians have fled the country as refugees to escape the violence of civil war. More than half of these refugees are children. While the majority of refugees are fleeing to surrounding countries, these resources are limited and cannot accommodate the need. Our Canadian government has stepped up to help thousands of struggling Syrian refugees, and many community groups have come forward to help.
The Cathedral is applying to sponsor a Syrian refugee family, with the help of 10 other Anglican parishes within the Greater Fredericton region. As sponsors, we will be responsible for supporting our refugee family for one year.
Together, we are raising the funds necessary to financially support the family, with some government assistance.
Along with the Multicultural Association of Fredericton, we are preparing for the family’s arrival. We will need volunteers who are willing to provide social support to our family, upon their arrival in Fredericton and throughout the one-year sponsorship.
We are looking for passionate, dedicated volunteers to sit on our Anglican Refugee Sponsorship committee and give of their time and expertise for this incredibly important initiative. As a committee member, you can volunteer to aid the family in one of the following categories:
• Accommodations – search for affordable, practical rental accommodations near a city transit route
• Furnishings and household items – look for furniture and keep a record of what is available through donations
• Education/Language Training – register children in school, help with using the school bus, arrange for language training for all ages
• Food – organize a “church shower” with a planned list of suggested donations; assist with grocery shopping
• Medical – set up family with doctor, dentist, and other medical needs
• Transportation – show how to acquire and use bus passes, review bus schedules, drive family to appointments
• Documentation – assist family in completing documentation (SIN, Medicare, Child Tax Benefit, etc.)
• Social – aid in the transition of our refugee family into Canadian/Fredericton society
• Interpretation – please inform us of any Arabic speakers in the parish who could help communicate with the family
• Secretary – write and distribute meeting minutes
• Personal finances – help family with banking and budgeting
We do not need large numbers of volunteers for each category, but we do need dedicated people! If you are willing and able to join our Anglican Refugee Sponsorship committee, please contact:
Kelly Humber Kelly
<humberk at stu.ca> (506) 262-5101 16/02/21
Members of Bishop and Chapter met this past Monday evening, 15 February, with 10 of 13 members present. The Dean offered some reflections on the discipline of Lent and some ideas from an article by Mark Galli from Christianity Today entitled: “Giving Up Self-Discipline for Lent.”
Minutes from the December 2015 and January 2016 (budget formation) were adopted.
Business Arising
• Nominating Committee – update -Nominations for Synod Delegates and Treasurer have been secured. We still need a member of the Chapter (Christian Formation) and a recording secretary.
• Cathedral Long-term Maintenance Plan -A first meeting was held to consider formulating and tracking a long-range plan. An updated proposal for quotations and scope of work will be acquired with a second proposal, if possible. A history of documents and studies will be assembled, organized with the goal of making these more easily accessible.
• Planning for Memorial Hall upgrades – A group for the purpose of creating a comprehensive overview plan has not yet met but we will proceed with critical known items, including chair lift repair
• Support for Refugees – Ten parishes plus the Cathedral will join initially to sponsor a family as soon as possible. A bulletin insert will be published on 21 February with further information and ways to be involved.
• Organist/Music Director Search – Thirteen applications were received and the Committee is formulating a short list.
Items for Decision
• Financial Statements 2015 and Budget 2016 as presented in the 2016 Annual Report were adopted by carried motion.
• Parish Nurse Staff Position – A further proposal and recommendation was received from the Health Ministry Team regarding a salaried staff position of Parish Nurse and possible funding for the same. The Chapter will endeavour to further consult with the Health Ministry Team.
• All Members Congregational Visitation – A tentative decision was made during the fall of 2015 to conduct an every member visitation for the purpose of communication, feedback and relationship building. Jamie Yeamans has agreed to lead the Project and the Chapter decided to move forward with the last week of April and first week of May as the target for visitations.
• Stair Lift Repair – Conscious of the need for accessibility, it was decided to direct the Property Committee to spend up to $5000 for repair of the Cathedral Hall stair lift.
From the Dean
Baptism preparation for Easter, confirmation preparation beginning this week, 5 groups using “Meditative Prayer” for Lenten Study. Diocesan meetings, home communions, home visits, nursing homes.
Items for Discussion
• Request from Scouts – for additional storage space in the basement of Cathedral Memorial Hall. Several options were discussed and the chair of the Property Committee will communicate with the leadership to propose some options
• Annual Meeting – Last minute details for the Annual Meeting on 21 December at 2:00 p.m. discussed including: child care to be offered for those with young children; the Dean will chair; it was decided there would be no need for refreshments
Information
There were no critical updates from Chapter Committees
What follows is a summary of information shared in a presentation at the Cathedral on the morning of 14 February 2016.
At present we do not have a Parish Nurse practicing at the Cathedral. Isabel Cutler held this role, and calling for the last 11 years, and she retired in December of 2015.
What the Parish Nurse does for our Cathedral Congregation (In-reach)
The Parish Nurse
ministers to us at a grass roots level on a daily basis when we are in crisis, or when we need a helping hand
coordinates obtaining assistance for us, whether it be
providing meals and arranging for rides or accompanying us to office visits
arranging for prayer shawls to be given to us or our family members who needed them and always upholding us in prayer
completing home assessments i.e. arranging and planning for assistance in the home
assisting us to navigate the health care system
referring/partnering with physicians, Social Development and other services to obtain needed health care and home services, and
filling in the gaps in the health care system.
Client Contacts in 2015:
380 contacts with congregational members
102 hospital and home visits
167 telephone visits/consultations
worked 773 hours, on call 24/7
organized events where 830 clients attended, and
coordinated the many volunteers in the Health Ministry.
Confidentiality: Much of the care and ministry that the Parish Nursing team offered was confidential. There are strict privacy standards and provincial legislation to protect the privacy of our personal health information. In a faith community this can be a challenge, but the Parish Nurse upheld this standard.
Comments from parishioners:
“Your kindness and thoughtfulness have been appreciated by Mom in her tough journey.”
“The shawl has been such a comfort. It is as though God is wrapping His loving arms around me and filling me with His Peace and Love.”
“The comfort it gave me to know that I could call Isabel and ask for help. All I had to do was make one phone call, and help was there, in the form of a prayer shawl, meals, and more importantly prayer!”
“Isabel saved my life.”
What the Parish Nurse does for our Wider Community (Outreach):
The Parish Nurse has
made partnerships with the wider community to draw people into our community and to Christ
established growing partnerships with Horizon Health Authority and Social Development
developed partnerships with Community Health Clinics, including the Downtown Clinic
collaborated with UNB Nursing students to participate in the Monday Morning Outreach activities
assisted in providing space in the Hall and support for Prenatal Classes and a Breastfeeding Support Group, and
was anticipating providing space for Social Workers and Counsellors to meet with clients in the Hall.
Why do we need to continue this ministry?
Congregational trust, expectation and reliance: The members of our congregation
have developed trust and expectation that we will continue to support them when needed, and
are relying on the Parish Nurse and the Health Ministry Team.
Christian Witness: What better example of Christian ministry and discipleship to the Diocese could we offer? We may be able to work with other parishes in supporting their congregations to develop this ministry.
Professional community partnerships: This is an opportunity to draw people into our community, to draw them into the love of God, while at the same time allowing us to reach out to them in love and service. We do not want to lose this momentum that the Parish Nurse Ministry has established.
What will we lose without a Parish Nurse?
No Parish Nurse to minister to us as noted above.
NoCoordinator for the Health Ministry Team. The Monthly Teas and the Prayer Shawl Ministry will continue as the volunteers are able to support. The Helping Hands and the Cathedral Visitors will eventually cease if there is no coordination (also the Blood Pressure Clinics, Health Information Sessions, Fit Club, etc.).
No expansion of community partnerships e. outreach to the wider community
Funding: Bishop and Chapter supports the concept of hiring a Parish Nurse, but at the moment sufficient funds are not available. Money is the issue. The Health Ministry Team is working with Bishop and Chapter to provide a solution to obtaining funding for a salaried part-time Parish Nurse position.
We have a long-time congregational member who has undertaken the Parish Nursing Certification Training (funded by the Cathedral) and feels she has a vocation to this ministry. She is willing to take on this role.
Dr. Chris Stevenson
On behalf of the Cathedral Heath Ministry Team
14 February 2016
I continue to work in the ministry of priest at Christ Church Cathedral with a significant sense of thanksgiving. The role of Dean is demanding. Being the one stipendiary cleric in a congregation of our size, is no lunch break. It is still, however, enough of a change for me after over a decade in diocesan administration that I’m enjoying it all. As I continually hope others do, I recognize often that I am but one person and continue to feel fortunate for the number of individuals committed and engaged in various ministries that contribute to making it work. Assistance with pastoral care, liturgical assistance from honorary assistant clergy, administrative work by Bishop and Chapter and not least of all the Chair, Fran in the office, David as interim sexton, our Director of Music and choirs, the Parish Nurse and Health Ministry Team, our Verger, all have been integral to making ministry happen during 2015. And while its important to recognize those who receive compensation for their work, those many who give freely of their time and effort, too many to mention, are perhaps most to be recognized.
While reporting to an annual meeting is an important way of creating a snapshot in time, I like most reporters, have looked at last year’s report in an attempt to bring an element of consistency to the story being told. In my case, what I found was more than slightly amusing. The report I prepared last year is probably the report I would make this year! That’s not surprising since the Church as a corporate organism – the Body of Christ – moves slowly. Changes are too often almost undetectable save to the trained eye or to one close to the action. We are the way we are and inertia alone, as simple laws of physics affirm, keep us travelling mostly in the same direction. My question from a theological standpoint however is this: Is it the direction God would have us travel?
The report I prepared last year is probably the report I would make this year!
So while it would be of interest to at least some of us to hear a completely new take on where we’ve been and where the Spirit may be suggesting we should be going, I think rather that some repeat of those now year old reflections expressed in a slightly different way will be closer to what is appropriate, at least from my standpoint. For those who missed it last year, it will be new. (Read 2015 for a different translation.) For those who didn’t, perhaps we could take steps again this year to further deepen our prayerful understanding of the issues I hope I’ll raise with at least some success.
Some of the most significant challenges with which we were presented this past year:
• The announcement of the retirement of Isabel Cutler as Parish Nurse;
• The resignation of our Director of Music, Dr. Willis Noble;
• The continuing of illness leave of our Sexton, Kevin Hayward
• Building health and safety issues with Cathedral Memorial Hall
• The need for planning for development of facilities to support Cathedral ministry into the future
• The need for a strategic plan for longer-term maintenance of the Cathedral proper
At least some of our accomplishments in 2015:
• Generous grant from the Diocese of Fredericton to assist with some of the Memorial Hall issues after the dissolution of the joint project planned
• Health and safety issues addressed at Cathedral Memorial Hall, including a new roof
• Continuation of Spaghetti Tuesdays, our effort to reach out to young adults
• Children and Communion programme executed with 10 children making first communion
• continued progress in establishing Bishop and Chapter working committees and encouraging their function
• improvements in communication with monthly Chapter News and new web site launch in December 2015. The web site is a work in progress but now on a framework upon which we can expand and tweak to our future needs
• in December the schedule changed slightly with the Sunday School joining 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship at the Offertory instead of the beginning and leaving before the Gospel
• questionnaire regarding the 2016 budget created a channel for feedback and suggestion in the difficult task of stewarding our resources
• the Dean is an attending member of Diocesan Council, Diocesan Executive Committee, Diocesan Finance Committee, Diocesan Synod Planning, Diocesan Stewardship Team, Diocesan Creative Matters Working Group, Clericus of the Deaneries of Fredericton and York, Commissary for the Bishop of Fredericton and the Bishop and Chapter and its committees and the Board of the Atlantic School of Theology Integrated Alumni Association.
• 52 weeks of worship, 176 sermons preached, seasonal festivals celebrated, liturgical hosting of diocesan events, 21 monthly special care facility communions, home communions on request, hospital visitations
• 68 home visitations
Where to from here?
Although we may wish or want, the spirit being willing, the flesh will be weak. We simply cannot do everything. There is absolutely no shortage of good ideas. (That’s an original quote.) We have a very diverse congregation and a wide range of possible priorities. As Bishop Ed Salmon said to us during a diocesan stewardship conference, “We need to plough the good fields first.” We need to maintain what we do best and continue to do it with that same excellence in mind. I’m one person with but one opinion, but in my role it may be important for all to be aware of my priority list. The non-negotiables, in no particular order: worship (prayer); care of those in need (reaching out); communication (proclamation); formation (modelling faith); stewardship (good management).
We simply cannot do everything. There is absolutely no shortage of good ideas.
There is much we do well. I’ll address what appears to me to require more concentrated focus:
Christian Formation
Who we are is our first most valuable resource. Tertullian (155-240 AD), one of the early church fathers, once said in a sermon, “Christians are made, not born. Christianity does not come naturally. Christians do not come to the church through birth, you get Christians out of the baptismal font.” This faith is not primarily a matter of digging down deep within yourself, thinking it through, closing your eyes and trying real hard to believe. This faith is something that is told to you, given to you, lived before you, a gift.
For those of us who somehow hear the word “formation” translated as “Christian Education” that’s not what this is about. Formation is a life-long, intergenerational process and extends far deeper than our learning more about being a Christian. The day the Church decided that sending the children downstairs (or across the street) during worship to learn what they need to know to be Christian was a sad day indeed. We are only now, in our own day, seeing the results of that fateful approach.
I don’t suggest an about face is possible, but I do intend to continue a constant pressure on our rudder as a course correction for the Cathedral community. Our very future depends on it. Actually, our present also depends on it. What this means is that we all need to see a role in forming, molding, shaping one another in the faith. Most importantly, we need to respond to opportunities to model that faith for others. Sunday morning is important for our own individual faith, but as long as its all about Sunday morning, we’ll not be attending to the critical priority of building the Body of Christ. Some specific programming that will continue to help us do that include an emphasis on: Baptism Preparation, First Communion Preparation, Confirmation Preparation, Charis groups, various outreach initiatives and I’m sure many others will arise if we are attentive to the need. Specifically, a mentor model will be employed whenever possible. The Committee on Christian Formation, while not necessarily any more important than the others, I believe carries an absolutely critical mandate for us.
Christian Stewardship
Many of us hear the word “stewardship” and sadly immediately think only of what pertains to Sunday monetary giving to the Church. Its one of the least understood of all the churchy words we use. If it weren’t so firmly biblical, or if another could replace it in meaning and comprehensiveness, we might well use another. Its those of us who find our financial giving to the church a challenge that least understand what stewardship is about. There are those of us who know what we don’t know; those who don’t know what we know; but most destructively those of us who don’t know what we don’t know. Stewardship is not the church trying to get us to give up what is ours. Stewardship is about us finding the joy in using what God has given to our own greater satisfaction and the greater satisfaction of God. (Another original quote.) Frankly, most who discount proportional giving as something that “does not work for them” have never tried it. We all believe we are the special case. None of us are that special.
“Stewardship” is one of the least understood of all the churchy words we use.
Needless to say, even in light of fairly regular and consistent advice to the contrary, we’ll continue to keep stewardship before us as a learning edge, not in an attempt to make those among us most challenged in this area uncomfortable, but to continue to invite us all to take steps in faith that will always assure surprising results.
Christian Mission – continuing to focus outward
While a certain amount of our energy needs to be spent on things internal, reaching outside of ourselves is the only activity that will bring true regeneration and life. That’s entirely counter intuitive and flies in the face of the common survivalist/scarcity mentality taught by our secular culture. That mentality is not misguided because its secular, its wrong because the Church is different. After all, isn’t that why we are Christians? Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that “the church can only call itself the church if its focus is outward, not inward.” If our reason for being is not something besides self-preservation, we have little reason. Worship is not a show. Sermons are not self help lectures. Our buildings, beautiful as they may be, are “facilities” and they need to facilitate. Said yet another way by Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple: “The Church is the only organisation that does not exist for itself, but for those who live outside of it.”
“The Church is the only organisation that does not exist for itself, but for those who live outside of it.” Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple
Each time we step outside of the tighter Cathedral community circle, we venture into the world God has made. We become the Church scattered. Our task there is to proclaim what we have heard, seen and experienced when we were last the Church gathered. Not the sermon, but maybe the sermon. Not the scripture, but maybe the scripture. Not the announcements, but maybe the announcements. More to the point, to proclaim the Good News that is ours because we are part of a family called together by the Divine. What does our connection to and membership in the Church communicate at the deepest level? Anglicans characteristically don’t think much about that. But its time we did. That may mean issuing an invitation to worship but more importantly it will be an invitation to God. It may mean a visit to the hospital or helping at Monday Outreach, or the Community Kitchen. Or it may be the simple conversation with someone you thought you knew well. Faith on the inside is the simple part. Faith on the outside more the challenge – its not about us at all.
Faith on the inside is the simple part. Faith on the outside more the challenge …
Conclusion
Thank you for the opportunity to serve. Forgive me for the times I misstep or express myself in ways too easily misinterpreted. With all of the talking I do in the run of a week, I’ll without doubt stumble from time to time, issuing offense when the intention was challenge. With my attempt to maintain a discipline of prayer and study of scripture, at times I hear God saying something to us that we all may not. Pray for me that I will find ways to best steward my limited time, energy and resources to best fulfill what God would have me do on your behalf. My prayer for you will be likewise and that he will richly bless as we stumble together into the plan he has for us.
Respectfully submitted,
Geoffrey Hall, Dean of Fredericton
What is the Catechumenate?
