Parishioners and friends were recently invited to Cathedral Memorial Hall to welcome spring with tea and sweets.
The event, hosted by the Anglican Church Women (ACW) and held on May 21, also celebrated the birthday of Mary Allwood, a long-time, very active ACW member.
Many hands pitched in to create beautiful decorations and table settings which featured the art of the Cathedral Matters rug hooking group. A large banner highlighted important events from 1925, the year of Mary's birth.
The celebration was well attended by several dozen people over two hours, and was enjoyed by all.
Arranging flowers is a rewarding and creative activity, and working in the peace of the Cathedral creating something to the Glory of God and to enhance a beautiful building is a gratifying experience.
Mary Pugh is hoping to build a team of volunteers to look after the flowers in the Cathedral throughout the year. She proposes a workshop on 14 May (or another date suitable for the volunteers) to show a few techniques in handling flowers and what specifically is suitable for the Cathedral. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Mary as soon as possible so flowers can be ordered. Please indicate your preferred date. Email <Pugh at nbnet.nb.ca> or contact the Cathedral Office (506) 450-8500.
All are welcome to enjoy tea and sweets at an event hosted by the Anglican Church Women on Thursday, 21 April, 2:30-4:30 p.m. in Cathedral Memorial Hall.
The tea will also fête Mary Allwood, a long-time, very active ACW member on her birthday (best wishes only, at Mary’s request).
Masks are required at the tea, except when seated and eating.
Join the Dean for lectionary studies during the Easter Season beginning Monday, 18 April, 2-3:15 p.m.. Both online via Zoom or in-person are options. See the Dean for printed materials and please contact him by phone or email if you plan to attend. Everyone is welcome. No former biblical scholarship necessary!
Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus at the tomb is a call to disciples everywhere to live in the power of the risen Christ and encourages us to continue to the story of Jesus. God’s love cannot be contained – in a tomb, closed rooms, or from the world. Stories of a spirit-filled community moving into the world lead us through the Easter season.
The story of Jesus continues through people like Peter who denied Jesus, Paul once a persecutor of Jesus’ disciples, Ananias who gives the gift of healing and reconciliation, Tabitha who lives in solidarity with the most vulnerable, and Lydia whose tenacity and hospitality facilitates a movement beyond boundaries and stereotypes.
We join our stories with these life-giving, liberating, boundary-breaking, resurrection stories and are challenged by the ever-present possibility of radical change and for the church to be a disruptive influence on the way things are.
This Easter season invites us into conversations for self-reflection and change on such things as anti-Semitism, diversity and inclusion, systemic injustice, anti-racism, multiculturism, chains of oppression.
Many members of the Cathedral congregation have recently helped neighbours in our community by donating items for a young mother, and by providing snacks for the monthly Monday morning Outreach program for people in need. Your generosity is appreciated!
Here is a letter of thanks from the young woman, who received items to furnish a new apartment for herself and her son.
THE Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus is firmly rooted in historical events to which Christians have given witness throughout the centuries. The biblical witness is familiar to us. The historian Josephus writes in the first century about “all these things,” interestingly specifically, from an historical perspective not one of faith. The Early Church Fathers bore witness, arguing fiercely as the fundamentals of Christian faith were being drawn together and as the catholic creeds came into existence. Since those early days, many have died for Jesus but, far more have begun to live for him.
Christian faith is nothing to take lightly. The world continues to claim the great unlikelihood of gospel truth and perhaps more so the improbable validity of its tenants even if recorded in history. Yet holding or upholding a Christian perspective on the world is far more than simply agreeing with some historical facts. Confessing Christian faith is also taking a stand and holding a unique perspective on life and the meaning of it. To be Christian is to choose life even in the midst of the death all around us. St. Paul said that Christians are “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible ...” 2 Corinthians 4:10
By the power of God, Jesus rose from the cold dark reality of death. When the Gospel is proclaimed, it is not complete without the shouts of Alleluia! that confirm his final victory of Jesus. When we submit ourselves to a God who has the power to overcome death itself we obtain the promise of the realm of that same God’s eternity forever. When we truly lean into the fullness God intends and live like it’s true we make a difference.
Close to home and on the world stage, fear and death are all around. We’re gripped as we watch the horrors of war, now in 4k video. Having been through times of pandemic isolation, we’re still seeing its effects even now that it has ceased to be the death sentence it once was. Considerable uncertainty about the stability of our world, its politics and its economy continues. The need to witness to the power of life and the fact of Resurrection is as great now as it ever was. Alleluia! Christ is risen. Death does not have the final word.
Join us this season as we walk the way of the Cross through Holy Week, as we watch for the first glimmer of Paschal Light on the Eve of Easter and as we listen again to familiar words on Easter Day. In-person, if possible, but be reminded that a live stream and podcasts will be available for most of our worship events, your visible witness marked and of value even as a virtual attendee.
If you are unable to make your Easter Communion in person, contact the Cathedral Office to make an appointment for a home visit. We have a Team of administrators eager to respond to such requests. A schedule of our Holy Week and Easter worship follows. Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The Holy Eucharist on 16 April is the first of Easter
Passion/Palm Sunday
(10 April 2022)
8:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist
10:30 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms, Dramatic Passion and Holy Eucharist
Our Parish Nurse shares information about Paxlovid, a new treatment for COVID-19.
As another week of COVID-19 continues on with cases surging and reduction to public safety measures, I wanted to remind those who are eligible (see below) thatPaxlovid is a treatment option for eligible New Brunswickers who contract COVID-19.
To obtain the medication, a positive result from a COVID test administered through Public Health is required, so book a test immediately if you think you might have COVID. You must receive a PCR test, not an at-home rapid testing kit.
Inform your Primary Care Provider that you have tested positive for COVID-19 and you would like to be assessed for Paxlovid. If you do not have or cannot reach your primary care provider, call 811 or e-VisitNB to see a New Brunswick nurse practitioner or doctor online.
Paxlovid can be given in the first 5 days of symptom onset. It is available to those who are:
80+
50-79 and partially or under-vaccinated
50-79 who are residing in a long-term care setting; or living in, or from First Nations communities or those receiving home care services
18+ and immunocompromised
To be eligible for this medication you must meet the following criteria:
COVID-19 infection confirmed by a PCR test, or an Abbot ID Now test in First Nations Communities, or a positive rapid test in a nursing home during in an outbreak
Mild to moderate symptoms present (fever, cough, mild shortness of breath, loss of appetite, loss of smell and/or taste, fatigue, runny nose, muscle aches, etc)
Symptom onset was within the past 5 days.
Additional information about Paxlovid and criteria is available on the New Brunswick Public Health website. Contact your Primary Care Provider for more information.
Second COVID-19 booster doses are set to become available in New Brunswick on 19 April at participating pharmacies. Adults over the age 50 are eligible if it has been at least 5 months since a previous booster. NB Public Health is strongly recommending second boosters for individuals over 70 and long term care residents, First Nations, Inuit and Métis and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over. Anyone with a recent COVID-19 infection should wait 3 months from the time of infection before receiving a second booster dose.
The need for discernment in these uncertain times was the theme of an all-day gathering March 30 at Christ Church Cathedral.
The event began with the annual Blessing of Oils and Renewal of Vows of Ministry. About 40 listened as Archbishop David Edwards preached about the pandemic, its aftermath and the role of the church in that.
“I am reminded of the letter I sent out two years ago, when it all began, about the government closure for two weeks, and saying ‘I think we’ll be back by Palm Sunday,” he said with a wry laugh.
We continually pray for our friends in Belize - the students and teachers at St. Hilda's Anglican School, as well as the scholarship students who have moved on to High School. In March, Ms. Jane Ramirez, Principal at St. Hilda's, sent us this update.
Greetings Friends,
I pray that this email reaches you in good health. I am sorry that it has taken so long to send an update. Times have been a bit hectic and we're now trying to establish a new sense of normalcy on a personal and professional level. The COVID-19 pandemic really had an impact on our staff, students and families. There were many who were affected health-wise and financially.
Since January 17th, 2022, we returned to school for two days face to face sessions and we did two days online. It has been a challenge because many children did not participate in the online sessions. In terms of academics, we are far behind but striving to reach our goal. Parents have been skeptical about sending their child for face to face sessions as well. We are trying our best to ensure that safety protocols are in place. Starting this Monday, March 14th, 2022, we will be back fully face to face. We have divided the children into two groups so we will have each group coming on alternate days. Please keep us in prayer that all goes well.
I cannot express how thankful I truly am for your support and prayers. I cannot find the words to tell you how blessed we are to have your partnership. I can testify that whenever our financial resources run low, it is at that right time that you send funds. Those funds have kept us operating, especially this school year. Many parents are experiencing financial difficulties so they cannot pay their fees. Please express how thankful we are to our Friends of St. Hilda's.
I have spoken to each of [the scholarship students] or their guardian regarding their grades. I believe this will be a better semester since most schools have returned or are returning to face to face sessions.
We at St. Hilda's will continue to keep you and your family in prayers.
