Monthly Archives: April 2016

Bishop and Chapter News – Apr 2016

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Members of Bishop and Chapter met this past Monday evening, 24 April, with 8 of 13 members present. Vice-chair Catherine Schmidt chaired. John 14:1-7 was read and the Chapter reflected on Jesus’ words: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Minutes from the 14 March meeting were adopted.

Business Arising

  • Memorial Hall chair lift – the lift has been repaired and is in working order at a cost of about $5000.
  • Music Director position – the Search Committee reports having completed interviews. The position has been offered and has been accepted pending the incumbent attending to details in preparation for a move. We continue to thank Sharon Pond as interim organist
  • Christian Formation Committee chair – there has been no progress to date. This is a Bishop and Chapter leadership role very important to church life and health
  • Member visitation – visitation has begun with the hope of visiting all by the end of May. About 40 visitors for over 400 identified households
  • Parish Nurse – initial reports are that the pledge campaign goal of $11,000 per year over five years has been reached. After final confirmation of those totals, the Health and Pastoral Care Committee (Health Ministry Team), on behalf of the Chapter, is asked to give consideration to details required to move forward

From the Dean

  • Monthly special care facility Communions, hospitals visits.
  • Confirmation preparation continues with 6 Cathedral students participating and in partnership with the Parish of New Maryland and a tentative date for confirmation of 19 June.
  • Baptism preparation for the Day of Pentecost requests for baptism must begin soon.
  • The Dean spoke briefly about the need for a change in church culture regarding how we are all shaped and continue to grow in the Faith (formation). While we, for the most part, see formation as “continuous and terminal” there is need to move to an approach and widely held understanding of being “intentional and life-long” regarding Christian Formation. (Read Fr. James Mallon)

Items for Decision

  • Steeple repair – it has been determined that necessary repair to roofing on the Cathedral steeple is covered by insurance minus a deductible at a cost of about $13,000. The Property Committee will initiate the work being completed as soon as possible.
  • Organ repair – the Cathedral organ requires maintenance by way of some replacement of parts (contacts and leathers) at a quoted cost of about $3000. Sharon Pond will coordinate getting this work done.

Discussion

  • Cathedral grand piano – The grand piano at the Cathedral is on loan. The owner has determined the need to sell, preferably by 31 May. Appraisal value $16,000. Asking price is $12,000. The chapter will need to determine our course of action, if any.

Up-coming

  • The Day of Pentecost (15 May) worship and luncheon at 10:30 a.m.
  • Ordination 26 June (Sunday) at 4:00 p.m.

Next Meetings

Monday, 30 May 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, 20 June 2016

GMH

Living the Third Mark of Mission

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A community without volunteers wouldn’t be much of a community.

That’s the opinion of Doug Wright who has been a volunteer on a cathedral team at the Fredericton Community Kitchen for about 10 years.

“I think people have to go further than just sitting in the pews,” he said as he chopped broccoli for a salad one recent evening at the soup kitchen.

Working nearby, Wayne Phillips agreed. “It’s good to give back to the community,” he said. “Too often, the church is about money and politics, not about helping people.”

“I think people have to go further than just sitting in the pews …”

Wayne is a 17-year veteran at the kitchen, but newcomers feel the same way.

Rebecca Butler and Kurt Goddard joined a cathedral team this year. “I see it as another form of mission,” Rebecca said, thinking of the third Mark of Mission which is to respond to human need by loving service.

1604_soup_kitchen_2She and Sarah Petite wiped down tables in preparation for dozens of supper guests who would soon line up for turkey rice casserole, beets, vegetable soup, juice, coffee and sweet treats donated by a local “big box” store.

The cathedral’s Outreach Committee co-ordinates four teams who help the chef at supper time on Saturdays year-round. (The kitchen serves supper and lunch daily as well as breakfast on weekdays.) Duties include preparing and serving food, doing dishes, and cleaning up after the evening meal.

Each team has more than a dozen members, and four-to-six are expected to cover the two-hour shift which runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Ideally, it should mean one’s turn comes up every other month, but it varies in reality.

The guests stream in from the homeless shelters, rooming houses or shabby little apartments. A few are living on the street or are transients passing through due to unemployment, addictions, mental illness, poverty in general. Sometimes there are children.

“The people who come here are so grateful for what they receive and what we do.”

“It’s not a tough job,” said longtime volunteer Wayne Burley as he rinsed and stacked plates. “The people who come here are so grateful for what they receive and what we do.”

Jason Parsons stepped up a couple years ago. “I’m busy with my work and my three children, but it’s is a small commitment of time. It really gives all of us a chance to be the hands and feet of God in our city,” he said.

In recent years, the cathedral has not been able to provide enough volunteers to fill four teams. Currently, teams have non-cathedral members serving as volunteers which does add a nice social aspect to the work. If anyone is interested in finding out more, please contact Doug Milander from the Outreach Committee.

Fredericton Community Kitchen

Fredericton Homeless Shelters THANKS

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February 16th, 2016

Christ Cathedral Church
168 Church Street
Fredericton, NB  E3B 4C9

Dear Father G. Hall and Congregation;

The Fredericton Shelters and its staff members recently took the much needed time to remember and recognize the tremendous support that it receives from its many generous donors. You are receiving this letter because you are one of those giving, selfless community members who cares about helping those in need. Upon reflection, we realize that we could not do anything to help our homeless men and women without your contributions, and we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

The Shelters continues its daily functions of providing a safe, stable, caring environment to approximately 35 homeless individuals each month. As of October 2014, we have been under the leadership of a new
Executive Director who, like his staff, possesses a great deal of empathy for the people that we serve. Our energy has been renewed, and we are hoping to do everything we can to increase the potential of the shelter, staff and most important, the residents.

homelessIn the past, efforts like yours have kept the doors open so that we did not have to turn away anyone who was in need of warmth and a good night’s rest. Without maybe realizing it, you also have played a significant role in lessening the loneliness of isolation, and you have helped many people know that despite their circumstances, people do care about them.

Our homeless men and women still need your help. We hope that you will stay connected with the shelters as we continue to count on people like you so much.

Again, we thank you and appreciate everything you have done.

Warren Maddox
Executive Director
Fredericton Homeless Shelter Inc.

Visit the Fredericton Shelters website

Parish Nurse Pledge Campaign

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At present the Cathedral does not have a practicing Parish Nurse. 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
  • nurse_tilt_tfilling 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 has upheld this standard.

 

Comments from members of the congregation:

“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.

ccc_blueWhy 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.
  • No Coordinator 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 i.e. outreach to the wider community

healthFunding: Bishop and Chapter supports the concept of hiring a Parish Nurse, but at the moment sufficient funds are not available. Money is the issue. Bishop and Chapter has endorsed a Pledge Campaign to support the 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.

A Pledge Campaign to financially support the Parish Nurse position
at Christ Church Cathedral

The positive/immense value of the Parish Nurse to the members of the Cathedral congregation has now been well documented and appreciated.

The Health Ministry Team, with the consent of Bishop and Chapter, is holding a Pledge Campaign in April to financially support a part-time, salaried position of a Parish Nurse at the Cathedral for at least the next 5 years. From April 10 -24, we will be accepting pledges to raise a minimum of $11,000 each year for the next 5 years.

We are asking you to prayerfully consider contributing to this campaign – whether it be a few dollars a week/month for the next 5 years, or perhaps if you are able, much more than that.

Give online (one time or recurring monthly)

or Download the Pledge Form
(save to your local computer, fill, save, and attach to email)

We are very grateful that, without even being asked, 3 members of the congregation have already each offered $1,000 or more for each of these 5 years.

It is important to note that the Bishop and Chapter requires that pledges made to support the Parish Nursing position be in addition to regular giving commitments.

Can you help? If so, please contact:
Jaye Hawkins <jwh.hawkins at gmail.com>
(506) 455-5519
Jaye and Barb Toole are co-chairing the Pledge Campaign

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Confirmation Preparation Continues

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Preparation for confirmation by 6 students from each of Christ Church Cathedral and the Anglican Parish of New Maryland continues. Confirmation is scheduled for June of this year.

Each participant has an adult mentor who is walking through the process with them. The programme includes nine group meetings of instruction punctuated by 9 meetings with mentors. The meetings are scheduled between the Cathedral and Holy Trinity, New Maryland.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
In the Anglican Church, we are all about making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We have the great privilege to help our young people and students take the next step in their relationship with Jesus, and we are excited by the work God is doing in their lives. One of the ways we are able to help students develop spiritually is through the Sacrament of Confirmation and the meaningful preparation for it.

Through the process of confirmation preparation, students are encouraged to take ownership of the faith that their parents/guardians/sponsors at Baptism have passed on to them. The confirmation program seeks to launch students into the life of a disciple and member of the Body of Christ in the Anglican Church.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Through individual study, Bible reading, group discussion, projects, prayer, and mission/field trips, and mentor sessions, students are led to a point of personal decision. They are presented with an opportunity to make a public response to God’s grace, the reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant and proclaim faith in Jesus Christ.

16_confirmation_class

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

Parent Mentor Training

UNIT 1: The Faith Through Scripture and Worship
Memorize: The Lord’s Prayer

Class 1 – Expectations/Initiation
Session – Getting Acquainted

Class 2 – Worship and Prayer
Session 2 – Holy Baptism

Class 3 – The Holy Bible
Session 3 – The Gospel of Luke
Mission Field Trip

UNIT 2: The Faith Through Doctrine
Memorize: The Ten Commandments

Class 4 – God/Creeds/Doctrines
Session 4 – God/Jesus/Holy Spirit

Class 5 – Ministry/Structure
Session 5 – The Body of Christ

Class 6 – Commandments/Rule
Church Visit / Interview

UNIT 3: The Faith Through Symbol and Sign
Memorize: The Apostles’ Creed

Class 7 – Symbols and Seasons
Session 6 – Spiritual Life
Cathedral Guided Tour – Cathedral

Class 8 – The Sacraments/Eucharist
Instructed Eucharist
Session 7- The Journey Continues

Class 9 – Wrap up OR Retreat?