Our Christmas Angel program has begun! Please help us provide gifts for needy children in the Fredericton area. 🙂
Paper angels from the Fredericton Food Bank are waiting to be chosen from small trees in the Cathedral and in the hall foyer. Each angel indicates a gift or stocking stuffers for a needy boy or girl of a specific age.
Unwrapped gifts, with the paper angels firmly attached, should be brought to the church or the hall by SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4th. Drop-off boxes are set up near the angel trees.
If you cannot bring your gift on time, please take it to the drop-off box in the hall no later than Monday, December 5th. It might seem early, but it is the deadline for the Cathedral Outreach Committee to deliver the gifts to the Food Bank volunteers, who will then distribute the gifts to the children’s parents to be wrapped.
If you prefer to donate money instead of toys or stocking stuffers, please write a cheque payable to Christ Church Cathedral and indicate Christmas Outreach on the memo line. Your cheque or cash should reach the church office by Friday, December 16th. These funds will be divided equally among the Fredericton Homeless Shelters, Transition House and the Fredericton Community Kitchen.
The Outreach Committee thanks you for your generous support in making Christmas special for needy families in our community!
On the celebration of the last Sunday of the Church year, the Reign of Christ (20 November 2016) the Cathedral took advantage of the opportunity to focus on the many ways the Christian community lives out the reality of the Kingdom of God in the midst of the world in which we live. That day we commissioned the ministries that exist among us. Three new members of staff were commissioned to their respective duties. New servers, administrators of the reserved Sacrament at home and, leaders of the daily offices at the Cathedral (8:45 am and 4:45 pm, Monday – Friday) were also commissioned to all important ways that members of the Cathedral community minister the Gospel in many and various ways. An additional commissioning for all other ongoing and existing ministries was part of the celebration.
The Dean of Fredericton made reference to our fragmentation as a congregation, the result of the advantage of a diverse worship experience on a normal Sunday morning. We enjoy comprehensive worship, providing a wide range of liturgical style, but we are ultimately left with a situation where we don’t always know one another as we could or should. The worship on 20 November was a combined worship, incorporating all of our styles into one.
Members of staff commissioned:
Cathedral Sexton (full-time): Louis McKnight Lou has spent most of his life in Sussex, where he was born. He spent 33 years working for the Town of Sussex, both as a recreation maintenance man at the arena, and as an equipment operator at the works garage. He and his wife, Gisele (diocesan communications officer) moved to the Fredericton area in 2012 for Gisele’s work. Since then, Lou has worked at the Grant Harvey Centre and Kings Landing. He is very happy to be the Cathedral sexton. He loves to tinker and tear things apart in his garage. He is a whiz with bicycle and lawn mower repair and loves to build and fix things. His favourite “toy” is his 4-wheeler. Lou and Gisele have two grown daughters. Ashley is a librarian, and Jacqueline is studying to be a social worker.Cathedral
Parish Nurse (half-time): Kathleen Snow Kathleen commenced her role as Parish Nurse on September 1, 2016. She has a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick. She holds certificates in Adult Education, Advanced Mediation, and is a Certified Privacy Professional. She is a Trainer and Facilitator in the Worldwide Mothers’ Union Parenting Program and completed her certification in Parish Nursing in November of 2014. Kathleen’s work experience includes 18 years in Labour and Delivery at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, 10 years as Patient Advocate for Horizon Health Authority and more recently, she held the role of Chief Privacy Officer. Kathleen is passionate about sharing her faith, and has led a woman’s home Bible Study for many years. She has been an active member of Mothers’ Union, and is currently a Representative Member and sits on a Fundraising and Communications Committee of the worldwide Mothers’ Union. She is married to Tim, and has three sons Eric, David and Tim. She loves to run, garden, walk Jack and Maude, and enjoys Sunday lunch with her mother Margaret.
Director of Music (half-time): David Drinkell David Drinkell, from Colchester, England, has been a church organist since the age of twelve. After gaining his degree at Bristol University and a teaching qualification at Cambridge, he was responsible for the music at St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast and St. John’s Cathedral, Newfoundland, coming to Fredericton in 2016. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, Associate of the Royal College of Music and holds the Archbishop’s Diploma in Church Music.
Other Cathedral ministries commissioned can be found in the Order of Commissioning used on 20 November 2016.
The Cathedral is thankful for the time, talent and treasure that continues to make possible its role as a lead congregation in the Diocese of Fredericton and the home of the cathedra of the Bishop of Fredericton. With the honour and responsibility of being a Cathedral Church, we also give thanks for the enormous privilege afforded us, humbly striving to be, while by no means perfect, a model for Anglican ministry in the province of New Brunswick and Diocese of Fredericton.
Bishop and Chapter met on Monday evening, 21 November with nine of thirteen members present. Minutes of the October meeting were adopted. The Dean offered some reflections on the reality of the kingdom of God among us, leading us into a conversation about ways in which we might move towards becoming less maintenance and more missional in our focus. The discussion took us naturally into considering how “Divine Renovation” by James Mallon might assist us in the task of improving (church) culture
Business Arising
• Cathedral Signage – Word from the Guild of St. Joseph is that it is too late to erect the standards necessary for new signs on the green and that a permit will be needed from the city to install. The project will need to be postponed to spring
• Cathedral outside lighting – we are moving on upgrading fixtures and replacing with energy efficient LED lighting
• Safe Churches policy – online training modules now available. Health Ministry is working toward implementing for ministries under its purview.
From the Dean
• Routine activities – usual activities and duties include facility communions, commitments with diocesan and Cathedral groups and committees
• Board room audio/visual – recommendation
• Absence – 17-21 December to Calgary AB
• Christmas worship – 4, 8 and 11 p.m. Christmas Eve; 10 a.m. Christmas Day Items for Decision
• Audio/Visual – that the board room be equipped with an internet connected screen for meeting use, viewing video and other learning purposes at an estimated cost of less than $1000
Items for Discussion
• Safe Churches – A broad implementation plan will be necessary as well as appointing a co-ordinator (officer) for the Safe Churches initiative which is now officially a requirement in the Diocese
• 2017 Budget Preparation – with the pending departure of our Treasurer, preparation of the 2017 budget needs to begin now. Groups and committees are asked to communicate budget needs through their respective members of Bishop and Chapter as soon as possible.
• Changing Church Culture – The discussion’s goal was review of our current context, what we do well and areas where we especially need to improve and invest in the next year. A comprehensive list was assembled and a short list of potential priorities identified for more detailed consideration. An in-depth discussion led to a decision to have a Chapter planning session on 10 December, which will be led by Bishop Edwards.
Reports
• Financial – a new format report summarizing monthly and year to date receipts and disbursements was received and reviewed.
Up-coming Events
• Advent Procession 4:00 p.m., 27 November
• Advent Friday Organ Recitals
• Christmas Lessons and Carols 4:00 p.m., 18 December
• Bishop’s Reception – 01 January
Next meetings
10 December – planning; 19 December, 16 January
19 February – Annual congregational meeting
For many years, Bishops, members of the Cathedral Chapter and members of the Diocesan Council have wrestled with the challenges of owning and maintaining five old Fredericton buildings (most of them historic) and paying their annual operating costs. Bishop Medley’s beautiful Cathedral is almost 170 years old and many of its aging parts cry out for another multi-million dollar restoration project. To that end a local heritage architect has given us a very comprehensive, multi-year maintenance plan that will be followed as funds become available. Cathedral Memorial Hall sits idle most of the time and, while structurally sound, it is in need of extensive and expensive renovations. Neither Bishop’s Court nor Odell House (the deanery) are being used as homes for the bishop or the dean, but we continue to spend good portions of our annual income to maintain them. The synod office at 115 Church St. is another beautiful old residence but it falls far short of being contemporary office space, and renovations are needed.
Meeting with the Bishop of Fredericton – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, 15 November 2016 at the Cathedral
Annual maintenance and operations expenditures for these properties are substantial. In recent years, the Cathedral congregation’s average expenditures have totalled just less than $200,000 per year for the Cathedral, the former deanery (Odell House) and Memorial Hall, not including insurance. Even with that level of expenditures the deferred maintenance on these three buildings is in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. The diocese is spending approximately $ 36,000 each year to maintain Bishop’s Court and the diocesan office.
The guests who attend the Monday morning drop-in at Cathedral Memorial Hall are lucky. People who have never even met them collaborate to make the event a success.
They have a warm, welcoming place to hang out and socialize with their friends. Thanks to members of the congregation who generously donate sandwiches, muffins and fruit, they never leave hungry.
Thanks to others who set up the room, they can enjoy a cup of coffee while sitting in comfortable chairs. Their dirty dishes will be made sparkling clean by volunteers in the kitchen.
WHEN THE SAINTS – When the Saints Go Marching In is one of the favourite songs performed by a small group of Christian men who sing and play at the Monday morning drop-in.
Some guests are busy “shopping,” looking through the free stash of used clothing and small housewares donated by cathedral members, their relatives and friends.
Archdeacon Pat Drummond offers a Bible study each week. Parish nurse Kathleen Snow takes blood pressures and chats with people about their health problems, often pointing them toward helpful resources.
A few Christian men from a local Baptist church bring their guitars and banjos to play gospel music, with some country tunes and oldies mixed in. Sometimes there’s a singalong.
A social worker from the downtown health clinic circulates through the crowd to assist people he knows or has just met. Cathedral volunteers chat, making the day a little brighter for guests struggling with loneliness, illness, poverty, and addictions.
BP CHECKS – A blood pressure check is one of the services offered by parish nurse Kathleen Snow at the Monday morning drop-in for people in need.
“We enjoy wonderful partnerships with people from the cathedral and elsewhere in the community who believe in opening their hearts to help people in need,” said a smiling Penny Ericson who is chair of the Outreach Committee. “We couldn’t do it without their kind and faithful support.”
She noted that the Cathedral ACW helps by providing funding as well as food once a month as do the pastors and parishioners of St. Margaret’s Anglican and New Maryland United.
“We have a great time working together in the kitchen and talking with the guests,” she said. “The people who come appreciate what we offer very much. About 40 people attend every Monday, although on the last Monday of the month when we give out a $10 gift card or bus tickets, the turnout climbs. We are grateful to the Bishop and Chapter for the money to fund that part of our activities.”
Penny welcomes questions from anyone who is interested in learning more about the Monday drop-in.
06 November 2016 – Twenty-Fifth after Pentecost – All Saints Sunday – Remembrance
10.00 Choral Eucharist and Holy Baptism
Christ hath a garden – Drinkell
German Mass – Schubert
Psalm 149
O quam gloriosum – Victoria
528, 250, 361, 274, 57, 276
St. Anne Fugue in E flat BWV 552 – Bach
4.00: Choral Evensong
Smith Responses
Psalms 148 and 150
Walmisley in D minor
Give us the wings of faith – Bullock
275, 520, 282
Sarabande in modo elegiaco – Howells
13 November 2016 – Twenty-Sixth after Pentecost
10.00 Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Cast thy burden upon the Lord – Mendelssohn
Darke in F
Psalm 98 And I saw a new heaven – Bainton
370, 515, 527, 76, 535
Sonata No. 1 (1st mve.) – Mendelssohn
20 November 2016 – Last after Pentecost – The Reign of Christ
10.00 Choral Eucharist (BAS)
O praise God in his holiness – Weldon
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
Benedictus O taste and see – Vaughan Williams
184, 606, 374, 48, 602
Exurgat Deus – Hurford
27 November 2016 – First Sunday of Advent
10.00 Choral Eucharist and Great Litany (BCP)
Wood in the Phrygian Mode
Psalm 122
How beautiful upon the mountains – Stainer
112, 99, 116, 52, 110
Passacaglia in C minor BWV 532 – Bach
4.00 Advent Procession
The Great O Antiphons of Advent
Matin Responsory – after Palestrina
O come, O come, Emmanuel
The Truth from above – arr. Vaughan Williams
There is a flower springing – Praetorius
Hills of the North, rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord alway – Anon. 16th cent.
‘Twas in the year – arr. Wood
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Vesper Responsory – after Praetorius
Lo! He comes, with clouds descending
Litanies – Alain
🙂
