Monthly Archives: September 2022

Bishop and Chapter News – September 2022

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Bishop and Chapter met 26 September 2022 in person with 10 of 14 members present. The article Post-pandemic Church Growth Accelerators by Carey Nieuwhof was discussed. Focus on core mission, community and connection, online worship and agility were among the indicators of church health. Minutes from 20 June 2022 were adopted.

From the Dean

  • outside care facility Communions (3)
  • committee meetings (3)
  • 3 funerals
  • 1 committal
  • 2 memorials (N. Cutler and Elizabeth II)
  • 1 wedding
  • attended 1 funeral out of town
  • Vacancies
    Safe Church Officer
    Synod substitute (16-35)
  • vacation 25 July - 21 August
  • Staff reviews completed
  • Diocesan Finance Committee (2)
  • Synod Planning (1)

Decision

  • Property committee membership - a revised list of committee members was adopted
  • Mechanical retainer - establish an agreement with Carmichael for mechanical contractor services including 2 yearly maintenance visits
  • Vote of thanks - to those involved in the execution of the commemoration of her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
  • Financial update - That an update be delivered on Sunday, 02 October

Information and Discussion

Funds for restoration - Source Alliance has begun preparing the case for support for a campaign addressing the results of the Building Conditions and Issues Report. We should expect a completion of the feasibility study by early spring 2023.

Reports

Treasurer - offerings are down and expenses are up as we move out of pandemic restrictions. Deficit of about $42,000 Total income is $60,047 behind budget target. Finance and Administration recommending providing congregation with more detailed information

Property - lightning protection system repaired ($7000); 2 trees removed due to disease, shed break in with theft of equipment ($200)

Health and Pastoral Care - Health Ministry is attempting to stay on top of issues, Health Ministry will meet in the near future

Finance and Administration - successful tour guide season, work on Cathedral staffing policies and current employment challenges,, chair of Stewardship Team and safe church officer still vacant, considering issues of third party liability insurance for groups using facilities

Welcome and Hospitality - new chair with committee to be built. Corn boil was on 11 September

Communications - $400 collected for souvenirs over the summer. Souvenirs available to view at Cathedral purchased at the office

Christian Formation - Life in the Eucharist with six participants - First Communion 20 November, Dante’s Inferno study group, Godly Play resumed 25 September.

Upcoming

GMH

What is Spiritual Direction?

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Spiritual Direction originated as spiritual mentoring in monasteries, but it is now offered by retreat centers, congregations, and individuals. It is a unique one-to-one relationship in which a trained person assists another person in the search for ever-closer connections with God (however you might call the "something more" beyond yourself), to your true self, and to those in the world around you.

Spiritual Direction encourages you to explore a deeper relationship with the spiritual dimensions of human existence by telling your own sacred story.

Spiritual Direction is more about "holy listening" than of providing "direction" in the sense of offering instructions, assignments, or direct advice, although that sometimes happens and can be requested. A spiritual director listens carefully to the unfolding of your life to help you discern the ways you are being led to a deeper and richer life.

If you are interested in exploring Spiritual Direction, contact Deacon Debbie Edmondson by email <dedmondson at cccath.ca> or phone (506) 282-1015.

“Spiritual direction explores a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. Simply put, spiritual direction is helping people tell their sacred stories every day."
— Liz Budd Ellmann, former Executive Director, Spiritual Directors International

Fellowship and food: 2022 corn boil

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Thank you to all who assisted with the corn boil on 11 September, volunteering their time or assisting with food preparation.

After 10:30 worship, we served corn, watermelon, sweets and lemonade on the Cathedral lawn. The warm day made it very enjoyable to spend time chatting with others in the congregation, as well as some newcomers to Fredericton. We also appreciated sitting in the shade at the Calithumpians' picnic tables!

We hope to have more social events in the future, to foster connections within our Cathedral community, and we hope to see you there!

Medley Lecture: Thick Churches

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John Stackhouse is the Samuel J. Mikolaski Professor of Religious Studies and Dean of Faculty Development at Crandall University in Moncton.

On 12 October, 2022, he will present a lecture in Christ Church Cathedral, hosted by the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton, offering a diagnosis, prognosis, and prescription for the condition of contemporary Canadian Christianity. The title of the lecture is Thick Churches: The Answer to Christianity's Decline in Canada.

This presentation is open to all, regardless of denominational affiliation or faith connection, and will be available in person at Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton or through webinar format. There is no change for admission.

Professor Stackhouse will sum up the grounds of the Canadian Confederation in three sentences; the religious history of Canada in three stages; and the social history of Canada in five minutes. He will show that we are now in a post-Christian Canada and, more broadly, in a post-postmodern civilization. For many of our neighbours, the Christian Church seems like an enemy and the Christian gospel a threat. How, therefore, can Canadian Christians remain faithful to God while also reaching out in useful and welcome service to our fellow citizens?

Progessor Stackhouse has lectured at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Edinburgh, Bristol, Hong Kong, Macquarie, and Otago universities as well as across Canada. His work has been featured by media as diverse as The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Times Literary Supplement, ABC News, and CBC Radio.

Click here to register for the lecture on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 7:00-8:30 p.m. (virtual or in-person).

Questions can be directed to Shawn C. Branch, Parish Development, Anglican Diocese of Fredericton, (506) 459-1801 ext 1008.

Royal visits to the Cathedral

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Since Queen Elizabeth II's death, many people have been reflecting on her life of service to her country, the Commonwealth, and the Church.

The Queen traveled to New Brunswick five times, visiting Christ Church Cathedral during her time in Fredericton. Here are  photos of some of those visits.

In 1951, Princess Elizabeth signed the Royal Bible while in the Cathedral. In the photo below, you can see Dean Gray on the left, Bishop Morehead on the right, and Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh behind Bishop Morehead.


Here you can see the signatures written in the Cathedral's Royal Bible.


In this photo, Princess Elizabeth is seen leaving the Cathedral in 1951 with Bishop Morehead.


This National Film Board documentary of the 1951 royal tour shows a brief clip of the royal motorcade passing admirers outside of the Cathedral, and then visiting UNB. Scroll to the 42:10 minute mark.


Queen Elizabeth attended worship in the Cathedral in 1984, while in New Brunswick to celebrate the Bicentennial. She is seen in this photo, with Bishop Nutter wearing the mitre. Behind him is Dean Noseworthy. Prince Philip is standing behind the Queen.


At the 5:29 minute mark of this CBC video reflecting on the Queen's visits to New Brunswick, you can hear the bells of the Cathedral, hear Prince Philip read from the Bible, and see the Queen greeting spectators.


The Government of New Brunswick has prepared a video tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's life and the everlasting legacy she left in New Brunswick.


A provincial commemorative service (Choral Evensong and Memorial) for Her Late Majesty will be held in Christ Church Cathedral at 2:00 p.m. on September 19, 2022.


She led a truly remarkable life.

Rest eternal grant unto her, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon her.

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II

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Thank you to all who assisted with the Provincial commemorative service for the Queen. Photos from the memorial will be shared on our website soon. *

A Provincial commemorative service for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be held in Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton on Monday, 19 September at 2:00 p.m.

Order of Service (read order)
Order of Service (booklet print order)

Attendance will be by invitation only, but the public is welcome to gather on the lawn. Loudspeakers will be placed outside. Please be aware that parking will be limited. A ceremonial gun salute will take place in conjunction with the commemorative service, resulting in increased noise levels in the cathedral area. For safety reasons, traffic and pedestrian access around this area may be suspended. Learn more about provincial commemorative events.

The service will be livestreamed by the Province of New Brunswick. It is a joint effort of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Province of New Brunswick, in collaboration with the Diocese of Fredericton and Christ Church Cathedral.

A Book of Condolence for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be available in the Cathedral on Monday, 19 September, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Online condolences can be shared on the Government of Canada website.

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A national memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II will be held at St. James Cathedral in Toronto, Ontario on Tuesday, 20 September 20 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (4:00 p.m. Atlantic). The service will be livestreamed on the Anglican Church of Canada's website.

* * * * *

Read statements about the Queen's death from the Primate, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, from Archbishop David Edwards, and from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Gracious God, we give thanks
for the life of your servant Queen Elizabeth,
for her faith and her dedication to duty.
Bless us as we mourn her death
and may her example continue to inspire us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Cathedral Organ Scholar

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A message from Thomas Gonder, Cathedral Organist and Director of Music:

“I am thoroughly delighted to announce that upon approval of The Dean, I have appointed Christian Vanicek Organ Scholar to Christ Church Cathedral. Christian just turned sixteen and has been studying with me since late last Summer/Early Autumn. He has progressed at an astonishing rate and recently made a stunning debut this past Summer closing our Summer Concert Series (and broke attendance records!). Christian is currently the organist at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Fredericton, so we won't see him on Sunday mornings. However, as an extension of his private organ studies with me, I will be guiding him through service playing for the bi-weekly Evensong at the Cathedral. He'll shadow me for a month or so before I put him on the bench for Hymns, Psalms, Canticles, Anthems, Preludes and Postludes and the like. He'll do an amazing job. He's a wonderful talent of exceedingly delightful countenance and extraordinary discipline. What great news to share! Welcome, Christian!!”

Christian played the final concert of the 2022 Summer Music Series at the Cathedral on 26 August, on the piano and organ. Here is his biography from the program.

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Christian Vanicek recently turned sixteen and is a native of Fredericton. He is a graduate of Bliss Carman Middle School and currently enrolled at Fredericton High School. He has won numerous prizes at the Fredericton Music Festival and just this past June represented Fredericton at the Provincials. He has studied piano since the age of four and pipe organ since last October. He studies piano with Barbara Marks and organ with J. Thomas D. Gonder. Aside from his musical studies, he is involved with the Calithumpians and enjoys playing soccer. Christian is currently the organist at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Fredericton.

Preparation for First Communion

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The eucharist is the family meal. It is the act of thanksgiving in which we receive the gift of God, the body and blood of Christ. It is the food of God which strengthens us to do the work of God. It is the heavenly banquet. It is communion with Jesus Christ.

Preparation for First Communion for children ages 7+ will begin soon, using the program Life in the Eucharist. An information meeting will be held in the Cathedral at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, 18 September.

Can you volunteer some time to assist? There will be a need for leadership companions for participants and prayer as we accompany our young people on this journey to the Table.

Learn more about First Communion at the Cathedral and contact Kurt Schmidt, Cathedral Director of Christian Formation, if you or someone you know wishes to be involved <formation at christchurchcathedral.com>.

 

Corn Boil

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Members of the Cathedral congregation are invited to gather after 10:30 a.m. worship on Sunday, 11 September for food and fellowship!

Corn on the cob, treats and lemonade will be served on the Cathedral lawn. Feel free to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket. If the weather is poor, we will bring the festivities inside Cathedral Memorial Hall.

Are you able to prepare a plate of sweets to share? If so, please contact Kirsten McKnight at the Cathedral Office by email <office at christchurchcathedral.com> or phone (506) 450-8500.

Thank you to our volunteers - many hands make light work!