Saturday, April 2nd at 7 PM, Christ Church Cathedral, 168 Church Street, Fredericton
A concert to raise funds for my new full-length album, “Calming Trust and Coming King,” slated for release in the late spring. A freewill offering will be received.
Friday, April 1st: Becka deHaan at the Light Spot Cafe, 294 Westmorland Road, Saint John, 7:00-9:30 PM.
“If you had told me last April 1st that in exactly a year I would play a beautiful Christian cafe here in New Brunswick called The Light Spot, I’d have thought you were telling me an April Fool, because I never knew the place existed. Well it does, and it’s wonderful. Thanks to Dorothea for welcoming me so enthusiastically among the great talent that performs there regularly. So, come out on a Friday or Saturday night and have a tea or coffee while enjoying some great Gospel music. And if the Friday you come happens to be April 1st, see you there!” Becka deHann
And if you miss those, another such concert is in the works for the evening of Friday, April 22nd, at St. John’s the Evangelist Anglican, Main Street in Fredericton.
Diocesan Archdeaconry of Fredericton Refugee Sponsorship Meeting
Held at Cathedral Hall
Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.
The third meeting of the Diocesan Archdeaconry of Fredericton Refugee Sponsorship Project was held at the Cathedral Hall in Fredericton, NB on March 10th beginning at 1:00 p.m. The meeting was chaired by Archdeacon Pat Drummond. Numerous handouts were distributed to the attendees. Specifically:
Guidebook for Sponsoring Syrian Refugees Through the BVOR Program
Settlement Preparation
Furniture and Equipment “Wish List” for Sponsored Family
A copy of the Bishop’s letter in last week’s Diocesan e-news requesting volunteers
Application for Criminal Record Check
The various areas of need were outlined with a view to designating specific people who would be responsible for assisting our refugee family in each area of need.
Generally speaking, the family will need basic life-skills training re:
apartment regulations
use of appliances
use of a telephone, including 911 and an emergency contact number
use of public transit: bus stops, transit routes, bus schedules, etc.
small-group orientation
Chair and liaison with all parishes involved in the project – Pat Drummond
Application/Liaison with ABC – Kelly Humber Kelly
Note: Ann Deveau to assist Pat and Kelly as necessary with their tasks
Treasurer: Dave Blacklock, Christ Church Parish Church, 457-2894
Kelly agreed to compile an Orientation Binder including:
photos of the contact people
Tele-Help services at 811
maps
bus schedules
immigration documents that need to be completed
Accommodations: Sonya Solven of Considerate Property Management will find the accommodations for the family. Contact Info.: <[email protected]>
Cell Phone: 260-0442. Pat Drummond and Kelly Humber Kelly will assist if need be.
Furniture: Doug and Ann Deveau will oversee the acquisition and storage of furniture. Doug also volunteered to help with moving. E-mail: <amdrm at nbnet.nb.ca>
Medical/Dental: The Fredericton Downtown Clinic has been designated to serve the incoming refugees. Kelly has the list of dentists that may be willing to offer their services. In the meantime, the refugees are covered under an Interim Federal Health Program. Nancy Wiggins will be asked to oversee this area. Sally Grace offered to help. <sgrace68 at gmail.com>
Household Items: Nancy will e-mail an updated list of the Furniture and Equipment “Wish List” to reflect what items have already been acquired or offered.
Clothing: Value Village coupons are available and they are currently offering one free outfit for each family member. Pat explained the family will have to understand second-hand clothing is not an issue in Canada. Gail MacGillivray and Sasha Fetter agreed to oversee this.
Foods, Kitchen, Grocery Shopping: Betty Scovil and Gladys Lacey House have volunteered to oversee this. Elizabeth Hamilton will help. Some crossover with furniture assignment will be worked out.
Paperwork: Ann Buckland has agreed to oversee setting up a bank account for the family. They will require a direct deposit form, a debit card, a child-tax credit form, and a GST refund form. They will need an address in order to proceed. They will have already been issued S.I.N. numbers, but the paperwork they arrive with must be checked to make sure it is accurate. The Multi-Cultural Association has contact information. James McCarthy is able to speak Arabic and has volunteered to help with budgeting. Sasha Fetter and Anne Hewson will assist.
Contract for Phone/TV/Internet: Peter Jacobs has agreed to locate a computer and printer for the family and negotiate the hook-up contract for them. [email protected]
School Enrollment: Multi-Cultural Association will assess their current level of functioning for placement. They also do bridging with family and school. Anne Hunt and Anne Hewson will assist with this.
Language Training: There is an Arabic-English Bilingual Dictionary available at Westminster Books. They are currently on back-order but you can call and add your name to the list. Shipments come every two weeks. Language training sessions are being offered through the Multi-Cultural Association. The family will also require drivers to get to language classes. Anne Hunt and Sherry Pope will assist with this.
Bus System: Sally Grace and Kelly Humber Kelly will assist with this.
Orientation: The city is offering free recreation passes. It would be nice to take the family on a tour of the city. Kelly and Ellery Furlong volunteered to help with this.
Transportation: Gladys Lacey House volunteered to oversee this. We will require a driver schedule and a list of volunteers and phone numbers. Deanna McG. , Gladys L.H., Doug M., and Chris Fetter may help with this. A schedule will need to be developed.
Pat explained that a Criminal Record Check is required for all people who want to volunteer to work with children and vulnerable people. The completed application form should be returned to City Hall or the police station. You will require two pieces of I.D. including a photo I.D. Your passport and/or your driver’s licence along with your Medicare or S.I.N. card will do. It takes 2 to 3 weeks to process and they will call you when it’s ready for pick-up at the police station. Ask your parish minister to write a covering letter for your application. As you are a volunteer, the cost is $11.30.
Pat further explained that Muslim is pronounced Mu-slim rather than Maw-slem. The second pronunciation is offensive to them. Also, for religious and cultural reasons, please make sure to always have a woman from your sponsor group present when visiting the home and have the wife present whenever a female volunteer is interacting directly with the husband.
While we do not need all of our sponsorship monies up front, we are in need of funding to begin the settlement process. To that end, please let your parish know that they may make monetary donations through their Church Treasurer. Just mark the envelope “Refugee Sponsorship Fund” and your treasurer will issue you a receipt and forward the donation to the Treasurer at Christ Church Parish Church for deposit to the Refugee Sponsorship Account.
The meeting adjourned with The Grace at 2:10 p.m.
Sherry Pope
31 March Update
Committee of 11 parishes from the archdeaconry met again March 30th with six parishes in attendance.
Some have contributed money to the trust account, and others are currently doing fund-raising. Pat Drummond will contact others for status reports.
Criminal record checks are ongoing for volunteers.
Members have portfolios such as medical/dental; accommodations; education; language training; budgeting; food; furnishings; transportation; orientation. Some cannot accomplish much until the composition of the family is known and/or the timing of the family’s arrival, but are researching what to do. Donations of household goods are being collected.
For decision-making purposes between meetings, the executive committee comprises Archdeacon Patricia Drummond; The Rev. Rick Robinson; Kelly Humber-Kelly; Ann Deveau.
As a recent example of the need for rapid decisions, the Atlantic Baptist Convention asked if we would accept a Somali family on very short notice. The man is in his 70s, blind, in a wheelchair, illiterate and considered unemployable. His wife is younger and in better health but also illiterate with poor employment prospects. They wondered if we would take this family with high medical needs and do hands-on support for two years, not one as anticipated with a Syrian family. Furthermore, it would be in addition to a Syrian family to be chosen later! As unfortunate as the situation is for these Somalis, the committee discussed it, considered what we have ready for money, preparations and a team, and concluded we did not feel ready to handle such a heavy responsibility well beyond the scope of anything the vestries had agreed to do originally. The larger committee agreed that it was best to decline.
The committee continues to want to sponsor a Syrian family of four or five people. However, the Atlantic Baptist Convention reported to us last week that the whole process has slowed down considerably at the federal government level which has pulled back hundreds of temporary staff from overseas to their regular jobs in Canada. Also, they have several churches ahead of us waiting to choose families from the lists of refugees released periodically by the government. They say, realistically, it may be four to seven months before “our” family arrives in person.
Questions? Contact the Project Chair Jamie Yeamans at <jamieyeamans at gmail.com>
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Why is it important that we have a visitation? There are five reasons:
Spread the good news: all the positive things going on in our church. So SHARING is the first reason
SEEK FEEDBACK from our congregation on our services, programs and congregational life and have this information documented via a questionnaire
CONNECT with recent newcomers and non-regulars and invite them to fully participate in our worship and programs
STEWARDSHIP – We want to make everyone aware of where our money comes from, where it is spent and the need for increased giving in order for us to be able to do God’s work more effectively
INVITE PARTICIPATION and others into the life of our church family
We ask for your prayers and support to make this project a success. Thank you.
The Annual Holocaust Memorial Observance Sunday April 10, 2016 at 3:00 pm. Sgoolai Israel Synagogue 168 Westmorland Street, Fredericton
The keynote speaker is Faigie Schmidt Libman.
Faigie Schmidt, an only child, was born into an affluent family in Kaunas, Lithuania in 1934. Her mother Batia was a surgical nurse and her father Faiva owned a successful bookstore. The Nazis invaded Lithuania in the summer of 1941 just before her seventh birthday. They confined the Kaunas Jewish community into a crowded ghetto. In October 1941 Helmut Rauca the SS Master Sergeant of the ghetto ordered everyone to assemble. He divided families into two groups. One group of families was machine-gunned over open pits that became their mass graves. Rauca’s killing unit murdered more than 10,500 Lithuanian Jews that day. Miraculously, Faigie and her family were not selected. They survived to live three more years of forced labour, hunger and turmoil in the ghetto. In 1944 as they were losing the war, the Nazis sent the remaining Kaunas Jews to concentration camps. Faigie’s father went to Dachau in Germany. She and her mother went to Stutthof in Poland.
Children were routinely murdered upon arrival at the camps, but the day Faigie arrived at Stutthof the ovens were not working. This unforeseen event gave Faigie’s mother a chance to save her daughter. It would be the second time she deceived the Nazis and saved her daughter’s life. Faigie and her mother worked digging trenches at Stutthof and three smaller labour camps. In January 1945 they were forced on a death march where for days faltering meant death. The Soviet army liberated them from the death march near Danzig. They later learned that Faigie’s father had been killed during a death march from Dachau.
While living in an Austrian displaced persons camp, Faigie’s mother located her sister in Montreal. In 1948 they immigrated to a new life in Canada. Faigie married her loving husband Benny Libman in 1952. They had four children and many grandchildren together. Faigie became a kindergarten teacher. Her mother remarried, obtained her Canadian nursing certification and worked in Montreal for many years.
In June 1982 Faigie learned that Helmut Rauca had been arrested by the RCMP for the murder of 11,500 Lithuanian Jews. To her horror he had been living a few blocks from her North York home. It was a turning point for Faigie. She resolved to tell her story and teach about the dangers of hatred and intolerance. “I owe my survival to my belief in God, my mother’s courage and heroic actions and unforeseen miracles,” she said.
Sincerely,
Israel Unger
Chair Holocaust Commemoration Committee
Luke’s gospel refers to a house being swept and put in good order, but it doesn’t say anything about cleaning grease from the vent above a stove.
“It’s a really dirty job, but it’s one of the necessary tasks to be done during the seasonal cleaning of the kitchen at the church hall,” said David Crowe of the Guild of St. Joseph.
A six-member team from the “Holy Joes” recently tackled not only the greasy vent but also they defrosted the freezer; cleaned the refrigerator, microwave, and two ovens; scrubbed three sinks; wiped down the cupboard faces; washed the windows; tidied the drawers and cupboards; checked the dishwasher, and disinfected the counter tops.
“Our kitchen is a big, beautiful space which is used frequently for shared meals such as the Saturday breakfast and spaghetti Tuesdays, funeral receptions, the Monday drop-in for people in need, teas, luncheons associated with meetings, and so on,” David explained. “Users are good about keeping it tidy from one event to the other, but a thorough cleaning is needed a few times a year.”
The cathedral’s Kitchen Committee, on which David serves, manages the kitchen jointly and shares the workload. The ACW takes a turn doing the “big clean,” as does the Outreach Committee, which operates the Monday morning gathering. The volunteers who work at the Saturday morning community breakfast are also assigned a season.
It’s a case of many hands make light work.
“It’s a case of many hands make light work, and each group’s turn comes up once a year, but the kitchen sparkles at least four times annually,” David said. “The Kitchen Committee is diligent about running a clean, safe, efficient kitchen for everyone to enjoy.”
Groups that use the kitchen regularly are asked to fill out a departure checklist located in a pink binder in the kitchen. This binder is reviewed a couple times a month so that problems, such as a leaky faucet or a lack of vinyl gloves, can be addressed promptly.
With the cleaning chores behind him, thanks to a solid effort by his team, David has a suggestion. “If you left a container, platter, pie plate, cookie tin or whatnot at the hall when donating food for an event, please come back and get it,” he said. “We wash, dry and stack these items on the window sill in the kitchen for a few months, but unclaimed items are given away eventually.”
The committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Committee chair Lois Baker welcomes questions at any time.
Members of Bishop and Chapter met this past Monday evening, 14 March, with 9 of 13 members present. A short discussion on Philippians 2:5-11: “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus …” What was important about the kind of death Jesus died? What nonnegotiable Christian teaching is contained? Minutes from the 15 and 21 February meetings were adopted.
Janet Mahar was appointed Chapter Recording Secretary with the Chapter’s sincere thanks.
Business Arising
• Advisory Committee to the Bishop was appointed on 21 February. Chair and Secretary need to be appointed. Nominated C. Schmidt, secretary, J. Morell, chair. Other members will be contacted for concurrence.
• Hall Starlift parts on order with repair pending.
• Space for Scouts – B. Garland has communicated the available space for use by the Scouts.
• Music Director Search committee reported that initial interviews have been conducted and second interviews are pending. Sharon Pond has graciously agreed to act as interim organist.
• Chapter Vacancy of one member remains with a chair for the committee on Christian Formation needed.
• Every Member Visitation is planned for the last week of April/First week of May. Information package being developed. Training 16 April. Visitors needed.
From the Dean
Monthly special care facility Communions, hospitals visits, one meeting of the deaneries clericus, four diocesan meetings. Two Lenten Study groups on-going with about 12 participants. Confirmation preparation began 27 February partnering with the Parish of New Maryland. Baptism preparation for Easter complete. Efforts of home visitation impeded by time limitations over the last several weeks. Vacation 07 – 21 April with Canon Smith as supply. Have serious concern about ministries of Christian formation. Sunday School is struggling with lack of leaders/teachers.
Items for Decision
• Parish Nurse Staff Position – That Bishop and Chapter approve the hiring of a part-time permanent Parish Nurse, subject to the Parish Nursing Support Group being able to secure pledges, over and above regular offerings, totalling $11,000/year over the next 5 years.
• Arborist Request – International Society of Arboriculture to prune trees on the Cathedral green 04 June. Permission granted with assurances regarding liability received.
• Signing Officers – That Chapter signing officers be Bishop David Edwards, Dean Geoffrey Hall, Chair Jim Morell, Treasurer Carol Dixon and Secretary Janet Mahar.
For information
• Refugee Sponsorship – Guest Ann Deveau visited with updates from the Missions Committee regarding progress on the sponsorship of a refugee family. 10 parishes and the Cathedral initially working together to sponsor one family. Expect a May or June arrival. Several individuals from the Cathedral have joined the action team. Some storage space for collected donated articles was identified for use.
Up-coming
Easter Sunday (27 March) combined worship at 10:30 a.m.
The Day of Pentecost (15 May) worship and luncheon at 10:30 a.m.
Proclamation is the reading of God’s word aloud in public and in its entirety from beginning to end traditionally over a 10 day period. Reading schedules have been developed integrating Old Testament readings with Psalms, Proverbs and New Testament readings.
For many Canadians, both those who listen and read it is a remarkable new experience. But the roots are as old as the book of Nehemiah, where in the eighth chapter, Ezra and the priest reads the law aloud to the whole assembly of Israel from beginning to end and spiritual renewal follows.
As well as reinvigorating the church, Proclamation is a public witness. The events bring together many different congregations, parishes from many denominations and confessions. This co-operative spirit makes a powerful statement of unity to the community. (from “Proclamation” on the Canadian Bible Society web site)
For many Canadians, both those who listen and read it is a remarkable new experience
In Fredericton, Proclamation 2016 is an event during which all are invited to hear the reading of God’s word aloud in public and in its entirety from beginning to end over a 10 day period. Reading schedules have been developed integrating Old Testament readings with Psalms & Proverbs and New Testament readings.
More than an event, it is an opportunity to experience the bible read as it was intended, aloud. In Nehemiah 8, Ezra engages this process with the priest and together they read the bible aloud to the whole assembly of Israel from beginning to end. The story bears witness to spiritual renewal in those who hear this proclaimed word.
As well as reinvigorating the church, Proclamation is a public witness. The events bring together many different congregations, parishes from many denominations and confessions. This co-operative spirit makes a powerful statement of unity to the community.
Ten years ago, during Proclamation 2006, 40 Churches and 6 groups participated. More than 1300 voices proclaimed the Word of God. Plan to join us this year to be a part of this experience of Christian unity!
Proclamation will be held in Fredericton from May 4 – May 13, 2016 at St. Anne’s Chapel of Ease at Christ Church Parish Church, 201 Westmorland Street.
May 4 – May 13, 2016
All neighbouring Christian churches, regardless of denomination, are invited to participate, and to be part of the Proclamation event. All group and religious organizations are encouraged to sign up.
Want to help out?? We are currently seeking readers and hospitality volunteers from each participating community. Please call Rev Priscilla Geisterfer <geisterferp at hotmail.com> (506) 260-7637, for interest in Reading, and Gladys Lacey-House, <lhouse at nb.sympatico.ca> (506) 454-3381 for interest in Hospitality.
Help bring Proclamation to life here in Fredericton!
With the dawn of Easter the Christian Church once again realizes anew the greatest joy of faith. The preparation of Lent and the horror of Holy Week breaks with the celebration of new life — the Saviour is risen!
We celebrate the newness of life at Easter. Jesus’ Resurrection is the climax of the Christian year and represents the way God would have us be. It is the rising again of our Lord that is the foundation of faith giving meaning to our past and hope for our future as individuals and as the People of God.
At Christ Church Cathedral, we join in celebration with the whole Church of the Risen Christ at this most important time. The schedule of worship and other events for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter follows or check our Calendar.
Passion/Palm Sunday (20 March)
8:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms, Holy Eucharist and Dramatic Passion
11:45 a.m. Blessing of Palms and Come Worship Eucharist
Maundy Thursday
11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Renewal of Ministry Vows and Blessing of Oils
5:45 p.m. Maundy Thursday Shared Meal (Memorial Hall) Please sign up
7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist and the Stripping of the Sanctuary
Good Friday
10:00 a.m. Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
Easter Eve
8:00 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter
Easter Day
10:30 a.m. Holy Baptism and Eucharist
* The 5:30 p.m. Eucharist on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy week will be preceded by said evening prayer beginning at 5:00 p.m.. Please feel free to enter and join in the saying of the Office as you arrive.
My hope and prayer is that during this holy time you find blessing and meaning in walking the way of the Cross, more conscious of time with family and friends and, making this season a true celebration of the joy of our salvation and the Resurrection that brings life to the world.
Sincerely and faithfully yours,
Geoffrey Hall (The Very Rev’d), Dean of Fredericton
“Stones Across the Water” is the name of the Youth and Intergenerational Ministries team of Diocesan Council’s upcoming youth mission conference at Camp MedleyHAS BEEN POSTPONED. New date TBA.
The conference name, “Stones Across the Water,” comes from the Mother Teresa quote, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” This quote inspires our youth that by working together in mission and following Jesus’ plan that they too can make a difference.
I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples. Mother Teresa
It is YIG’s goal and responsibility to create and develop disciples of our youth through both traditional and innovative ways. The YIG team believes the time is right for a youth-centered event that will draw on these themes. Last summer there were over 700 children and youth who took part in at least one youth-related diocesan — camping ministry at Medley or Brookwood; St. Michael’s Youth Conference, TEC and Diocesan Choir School.
Often they are pumped up and ready to take on the world in the name of Jesus, but after returning to their normal lives and communities, the opportunity to plug into mission may be lost or misused. We have to seek out these opportunities when our youth return and allow them to flourish in their communities.
Stones Across the Water is hoping to bridge that gap and find ways for our youth to plug into mission in their communities.
Postponed – New date TBA
The conference is open to any youth ages 13-18 from the diocese. Through speakers and various workshops, the youth will learn how to be missional. There will be an emphasis on local mission opportunities but internationally as well.
The cost for the weekend is $25. Registration is available on the Diocese of Fredericton website. The YIG team is encouraging parishes to encourage their youth to participate.
If any adults who would like to volunteer, contact the YIG team. We could use your skills and assistance. Further information can be found in eNews, the YIG Facebook page or via email: <yigfton at gmail.com>.
The big wicker basket near the baptismal font is seldom empty. People arriving for worship each Sunday drop off a box of cereal, canned soup, toothpaste, pasta sauce, tea and more.
“It’s a small but quiet ministry at the cathedral,” says Doug Milander from the Outreach Committee. “We provide the basket to make it easy for people to help the hungry. We deliver a few bags of donations every week to the Greener Village Community Food Centre.”
Better known locally as the food bank, Greener Village currently serves more than 1,100 families monthly. Incredibly, 39 per cent of the clients are children.
“From September until June, they particularly need items for school lunches and other little snacks for children,” Doug said. “Examples include puddings, fruit cups, peanut-free granola bars, raisin boxes and juice boxes.”
Registrants receive a food box once a month. The box contains enough food for three to five days – not the entire month.
“Food is a basic human right, but inflation and the low Canadian dollar are taking a toll on our purchasing power,” Doug said. “It’s depressing to think of people struggling and going hungry. The Outreach Committee is pleased that the congregation responds to the need by filling the food bank basket. We appreciate the support.”
It’s depressing to think of people struggling and going hungry … Doug Milander
Greener Village accepts all kinds of non-perishable items, but it does ask that nothing be dented, opened, expired or unlabelled.
The items in highest demand are pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned vegetables, macaroni and cheese, and condiments such as ketchup, mustard and salad dressings.
Other ideas include gluten-free products, powdered milk, canned beans, infant cereal, canned fruit, Mr. Noodles, dish detergent, shampoo, cooking oil and many more items to be found on a wish list at http://www.greenervillage.org/food-bank/current-wish-list
“Many people tell us that it’s hard to remember to bring a bag of groceries to church on Sunday, so there is also an option to donate money through your offering envelope,” Doug added. “Greener Village does bulk buying with financial donations, which means they can sometimes add meat, frozen food or fresh milk to the food boxes.”
One last item, which probably everyone can easily contribute to the wicker basket, is clean plastic bags. Greener Village needs thousands of these grocery bags when packing food boxes.
