Monthly Archives: June 2023

Belize fundraiser supports three scholarships

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The Belize Mission Committee is thrilled with the outcome of a yard sale raising funds for high school scholarships in Belize. Between item sales and envelope donations, approximately $3000 has been raised so far - enough for three scholarships!

Currently, we provide scholarships for four students who would not able to attend high school without support, since high school is not publicly funded in Belize. This additional education provides them with important skills and opportunities. Each scholarship is $1000 CAD per year. The Cathedral also provides $2000 per year to St. Hilda’s Anglican School in Georgeville, Belize, which is used for supplies for the elementary school.

Held on Saturday, June 24, the yard sale attracted hundreds of community members searching for treasures and deals. Items in the yard sale were provided by members of the congregation and community who decluttered and donated their items to be sold at the pay-as-you-wish sale.

A dozen volunteers helped throughout the week to set-up, unpack and sort items, assemble photo collages, greet customers, collect donations, repack items, and distribute leftover items to organizations such as the Multicultural Association, the puzzle lending library at Wilmot United Church, Farraline Place, and charitable stores. Many leftover novels and children's books were also brought to Little Free Libraries and book houses around the city, for our neighbours to enjoy.

A number of people attending the sale asked about the scholarship fund and our relationship with students in Belize.

In Belize, the average age at which a child leaves school is 13 years old, because of the prohibitive costs of tuition for high school, which families must pay. Unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line.

The Cathedral has a special relationship with the staff and students of St. Hilda’s Anglican School, an elementary in the rural village of Georgeville. Over two hundred children attend the school, ranging between kindergarten and grade 8, in addition to a recently established preschool.

Cathedral teams have travelled to Belize five times: in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018. Over 60 Cathedral members ranging in age from 15 to 79 have participated in a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work at St. Hilda's through organizational support, donations and prayers.

In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed students from St. Hilda’s to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education, and all have gained knowledge and experience that will help them in their future.

We are grateful for all who have helped to provide scholarships for these teenagers, and support for programs at the elementary school. Learn more about our mission work in Belize.

You can still contribute to the mission in Belize through offering envelopes or donate online.

If you are interested in participating in future endeavors benefiting the students in Belize, please contact the Cathedral Office to connect with members of the Belize mission committee.

Photos from the yard sale fundraiser

Two archdeacons collated, two canons installed

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"Christ Church Cathedral was the venue for a service of Installation and Collation June 11 as Leo Martin and Paul Ranson were collated as territorial archdeacons of Saint John and Fredericton respectively; and Kevin Borthwick and Chris Hayes were installed as canons of the Cathedral. Dean Geoffrey Hall and Archbishop David Edwards presided. The Rev. Jasmine Chandra preached."

Click here to read the article by NB Anglican Editor Gisele McKnight.

Bishop and Chapter News – June 2023

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Bishop and Chapter met on 19 June 2023 with 12 of 13 members present. Minutes of the meeting on 15 May 2023 were adopted.

FROM THE DEAN

Cathedral

  • outside corporate Communions (2); committee/group meetings (4); Thy Kingdom Come (18-28 May) Novena weekdays; Ordination (30 May); weekly staff meetings (4); work planning with Director of Music; marriage preparation (1) Wedding (17 Jun); home visits (4); 3 home / hospital communions; 2 Cathedral funerals / 2 attended; Evensong - Installation/Collation (04 Jun); Staff and Deacon reviews underway (3); collaboration with I. Cutler re deacon appointment; generally running behind on pastoral visitation; proposing vacation 24 July - 13 August
  • Recommend publicizing “Help Wanted.” Various needs including: communion administrators; home communions; hospital visitors; lectors; intercessors; servers, website content and maintenance, social media maintenance; others identified by committees
  • Vacancies: Chapter Vice-Chair | Chapter Property | Nominating

Diocesan

  • Synod Finance Committee (1); Diocesan Council (1)

DECISION

  • Appointment recommendation to the Bishop. That we recommend our Bishop consider the appointment of the Rev’d Isabel Cutler, as Deacon at Christ Church Cathedral
  • Administration of Communion. Request our Bishop grant permission for Donna Beek to administer communion.
  • Approve transfer of 400 shares of BMO securities to Diocesan Consolidated Investments (Cathedral Anglican Church Women)
  • move an additional $20,000 unrestricted investments to operating fund for summer cash flow bringing the total to $70,000

DISCUSSION

June Report of Planning Study - Source Alliance having returned the final report of the feasibility study (January - May) regarding Cathedral restoration, Our Bishop chaired this portion of the meeting. The Report suggests an urgency as well as several options for consideration. The Report was shared with members of the Chapter with a request that it not yet be made public. Our Bishop requested some time to make several key contacts and that the Chapter continue in discernment.

REPORTS

Treasurer - May offerings $36,860. Year-to-date deficit to 31 May -$39,739. Summer cash flow deficiency anticipated

Administration and Finance - interview of tour guides this week; June staff reviews underway

Worship - no report

Property - Unforeseen Cathedral furnace repair to be completed in the next few weeks - $34,000 to 38,000 estimated total cost

Health and Pastoral Care - no meeting of purview groups as of yet

Mission Outreach - in process: considering policy for request for benevolent funds; Belize Missions Yard Sale for St. Hilda scholarships; Mijia’s from Honduras visit 25 June

Communications - weddings at the Cathedral website post series; video for St. Saviour Latvia - Night of the Churches event;; Thy Kingdom Come “daily short readings” videos; publicity for current events

Christian Formation - planning for 30 Sept Day of Truth and Reconciliation; fall 2023 Life in the Eucharist

Welcome and Hospitality - assisted with refreshments for a June funeral; Mejia visit refreshments/luncheon 25 June

UPCOMING

NEXT MEETING

  • Monday, 11 September 2023                                                            GMH

2023 Summer Music Series

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The annual Summer Music Series at Christ Church Cathedral is back! All are welcome to attend these concerts, designed to fit perfectly within the lunch hour.

Fridays from 12:10-12:50 p.m., 30 June - 25 August at 150 Church Street, Fredericton.

Join us inside historic Christ Church Cathedral as we present a series of concerts featuring soloists and instruments such as piano, violin, guitar, organ, fiddle and viola. View the poster.

Free admission, donations encouraged. Proceeds will support the Organ Renovation Fund. Online donations will receive a receipt for tax purposes emailed immediately. Thank you for helping us to preserve the organ! 

June 30
Julien LeBlanc, piano
Matthieu Deveau, violin
Julie Ekker, voice

July 7
Stephen Peacock, guitar
Natalia Delacroix, viola

July 14
Katherine Moller, fiddle
Tom Richards, guitar

July 21
Kathrin Welte, voice
J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ

July 28
Christian Vanicek, piano and organ

August 4
Barachois Summer Music Academy

August 11
New Brunswick Summer Music Festival:
Natalia Delacroix, viola
Nicholas Roy, piano

August 18
Jillian Bonner, voice
J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ

August 25
J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ

* * *

Make a donation to the Organ Renovation Fund
(tax receipt emailed immediately)

 

 

Weddings in the Cathedral: Katie & Greg

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The month of June has long been known for its brides, but why, we wondered, were “June brides” so popular?

Well, it turns out that the tradition of “June Brides” dates back to Roman times when Juno and her husband Jupiter were celebrated on the first day of June. Juno was the goddess of marriage and childbirth.

Continuing on to Victorian times the availability of fresh flowers made June a good month to wed. And since baths tended to be taken in the warmer months of May and June in medieval times, those sweet smelling bouquets came in handy!

The Celtics also had a hand in promoting June! Young couples would be paired on Cross-Quarter Day or May 1st. They would then be expected to date until the next Cross-Quarter Day on August 1st. But alas, impatience led to more and more June weddings!

Finally, a June wedding in farming communities was a good thing. If the bride fell pregnant, she would still be in good shape to work the fall harvest!

All of this information got us to thinking about all the weddings that have been celebrated in Christ Church Cathedral! We are looking back and sharing some of those weddings and special memories from the bride and groom! Read all of the wedding reflections, and stay tuned for more!

* * * * *

Were you married in the Cathedral? Or do you have a story of relatives who were? We would love to hear your story and see a photo! If you are willing to chat with a member of the Communications Committee and be included in an upcoming series of articles, please contact the Cathedral Office. Phone (506) 450-8500 or email <office at christchurchcathedral.com>.

Katie & Greg

December 29, 2010

Katie (Catherine) and Greg Young Morris were married by The Very Reverend Keith Joyce almost 13 years ago. They shared these memories:

"Our wedding day fell right between heavy snow storms, and we were fortunate not to have to cancel. The actual day, however, was beautiful and sunny. Katie sported her winter boots in many of the outdoor wedding photos.

We enjoyed music by organist Dr. Willis Noble, and Katie's brother and sister-in-law Neil Young and Talia Profit performed a breathtaking version of Mount Eerie's 'Oh My Heart'. In the provided photo, the happy couple is exiting to the "Prince of Denmark's March" by J.A. Clarke.

Our wedding bulletin featured the following bible quotation:

I went to my garden, dear friend, best lover!
breathed the sweet fragrance.
I ate the fruit and honey,
I drank the nectar and wine.
Celebrate with me, friends!
Raise your glasses—"To life! To love!
-- Song of Solomon 5:1 (The Message translation)

Katie and Greg's three young children can often be seen playing instruments and dancing on Sunday mornings during Come Worship services!

Prayer Network seeks volunteers

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Did you know that you can request immediate, confidential prayer for any matter?

The Cathedral Prayer Network is a committee of caring individuals who pray for others. It is different from the public prayer list printed in the Sunday bulletin. Confidentiality of prayer requests is at the core of the group's work.

The Prayer Network is in need of new volunteers. Contact Coordinator Linda Waugh for details or with a prayer request. Phone (506) 450-3057 or email <lmwaugh at live.com>.

The article below, written by Ann Deveau in 2021 when leadership of the Prayer Network moved from Carolyn Howlett to Linda Waugh, describes the function and the heart of the Prayer Network.

Do you feel called to serve in this ministry?

Award-winning author Philip Yancey writes that prayer stands as the place where God and human beings meet and relate.

“We're supposed to be a praying people,” agrees Carolyn Howlett in recalling why she got involved in the prayer network at the cathedral. “We're on a daily walk with the Lord, and it's important to listen, to care and to bring the needs of other people to Him.”

In 1996 a co-ordinator was needed to take over from Reid and Ethel Saunders who had capably led the prayer network for some time. Carolyn offered to step in, never thinking she would be at the helm for a quarter of a century.

“There was a small, willing group of volunteers in the cathedral community to pray for congregational needs and other issues, and it grew over time,” she says.

Sometimes people ask God for all manner of things: to sell their house, to find a job, to survive a divorce, to make it rain.

“We weren't dealing with those types of problems; we focused on requests for healing,” Carolyn says. She stresses that confidentiality was always of the highest importance, and it remains so.

She would inform the other members by telephone -- in more recent years by e-mail -- that a person was struggling with cancer treatments or a serious accident, that a major surgery was under way, that someone was hospitalized and near death.

Isabelle Hockin, one of several longtime members, puts it this way: “I think it’s a huge comfort to people with an urgent concern to know that they can turn to the prayer chain and trust that there will be a group of believers praying for them and/or their loved ones in their hour of need.”

She sees Matthew 7:7 as the guiding principle: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.

Feedback was usually positive, regardless of the outcome of the particular situation. Typical comments include “the prayer chain made all the difference” or “it uplifted us at a difficult  time” or “it helped me with my grief.”

After 25 years, the time has come for Carolyn to pass the torch to another member of the congregation who also believes that being a Christian means leading a life of prayer.

Linda Waugh has been a member of a Charis group for more than 20 years and has always been willing to pray for others.

“I have been thankful for their prayers when I needed them,” Linda explains. “Prayer is powerful, and it is very comforting to know there are others praying for you. In turn, I was glad to be able to pray for other members when they needed prayer.”

Linda thinks it's possible that some people in the cathedral family don't realize that they can ask for confidential prayers for themselves, their friends and family members who need God's love and healing.

“I hope people will feel free to get in touch with me, so that the good work done in the past can be continued for a long time to come,” she says. “My e-mail address is <lmwaugh at live.com> which will likely be published often in the church bulletin for people's convenience.”

Linda is also thankful that Carolyn has agreed to continue as a member of the prayer network.

“It's such a part of me,” Carolyn says, absolutely confident that prayer is effective in bringing God's compassion and comfort to people in their times of trouble.

--by Ann Deveau

Decluttering for a cause

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Cleaning up around the house? We can help!

Donate your good condition, previously loved items and we'll sell them at our upcoming indoor yard sale. All proceeds will go towards high school tuition for Belize scholarship students.

We're looking for household items, decor, toys, games, books, etc. No clothing or furniture please. We'll also accept reusable shopping bags.

Deliver items to Cathedral Memorial Hall between June 19-23, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Due to storage limitations, we cannot accept items before June 19.

Thank you for your generosity!

If you don't have items to donate but would like to contribute to the scholarship fund, please make a donation using your offering envelope or donate online.

Mark your calendar and shop the pay-as-you-wish yard sale on Saturday, June 24, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon!

Why do we have a high school scholarship program for students in Belize?

In Belize, the average age at which a child leaves school is 13 years old, because of the prohibitive costs of tuition for high school, which is not publicly funded. Unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line.

The Cathedral has a special relationship with the staff and students of St. Hilda’s Anglican School, an elementary school in the rural village of Georgeville. Over two hundred children attend the school, ranging between kindergarten and grade 8, in addition to a preschool recently established at the school.

Cathedral teams have travelled to Belize five times: in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018. Over 60 Cathedral members ranging in age from 15 to 79 have participated in a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work at St. Hilda's through organizational support, donations and prayers.

In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed students from St. Hilda’s to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education. Currently, we provide scholarships for four students who would not able to attend high school without support. This additional education provides them with important skills and opportunities. Each scholarship is $1000 CAD per year.

We are grateful for all who have helped to provide scholarships for these teenagers, and support for programs at the elementary school. Learn more about our mission work in Belize.

Farewell to outreach volunteer and unsung hero Sandy Robb

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Sandy Robb - a former guest who turned into one of our most willing outreach volunteers!

Sandy Robb was a survivor.

Most people would have crumpled helplessly under the weight of the obstacles she faced. She was an unwed teenage mother, an alcoholic, a precariously employed cook, homeless more than once, beset by chronic illnesses, in and out of the hospital.

Yet, by the time she died in her sleep recently, she had fought to become a well-housed and sober senior citizen, offering no-nonsense advice as a peer support worker at a downtown medical clinic that helps addicts to recover. She had become well-known to politicians and the media as an effective advocate for the poor and the homeless in our city.

She was also a longtime, valued volunteer with the Monday Morning Outreach program at Christ Church Cathedral where she baked delicious cookies and knew most of the people in need who attended.

Sandy, at the City of Fredericton Unsung Hero awards ceremony in 2018. Pictured: Cathedral Outreach Committee Chair Penny Ericson, Fredericton South MLA David Coon, and Sandy Robb.

Outreach Committee chair Penny Ericson was a dear friend. “I've lost my buddy,” Penny said sadly. “We learned so much from Sandy. She had a big heart, and she was always ready to speak up for what was needed by the less fortunate in our city.”

It's one of the reasons Sandy won an Unsung Hero award from the City of Fredericton in 2018, being acknowledged for helping to shape this community for the better.

“Sandy was a force to be reckoned with - such a kind and generous person in her own way,” recalled retired Parish Nurse Kathleen Snow who worked closely with her at the outreach drop-ins. “A true Christian in many ways.”

Rev. Kelly Burke from New Maryland United Church, who has helped Cathedral volunteers with outreach activities for 15 years, agreed.

Sandy, helping to pack goodie bags for a COVID-safe Monday Outreach in 2020.

“So much life and goodness flowed from that woman,” she said. “She was a wise and challenging teacher for us all. Well done, good and faithful servant.”

“Sandy was the best kind of woman, and it was a pleasure to get to know her at outreach,” added volunteer Susan Colpitts, echoing comments from other volunteers. “She will be missed by all of us who were fortunate enough to share space with her.”

Heather S., a visitor to Monday Morning Outreach for many years, called Sandy “a wonderful woman” who helped her to get free furniture when she finally found housing. “She was always reaching out to somebody, so it's heart-breaking to think that she's gone.”

For the May 29th voucher day, Sandy sent a loaf of sandwiches and a newcomer who needed a pair of shoes. By the time the woman happily laced up a gently used pair of sneakers, eager to thank Sandy, our spunky and extraordinary friend had slipped out of this world.

Condolences are offered to Sandy's family, friends and to all who will miss her. Her legacy of kindness, common sense and advocacy will live on.

- by Ann Deveau

Click here to read Sandy's obituary. There will be a celebration of Sandy's life in Doaktown, Saint John and Fredericton at a later date.

Two articles about Sandy have appeared on the Cathedral website in the past:

Sandy Robb – A Fredericton Unsung Hero (2018)

Portrait of a (formerly) homeless woman – Sandy Robb (2017)

In 2017, Sandy participated in the short documentary film ‘The Rest Will Follow’, a collaboration of DocTalks, the Community Action Group on Homelessness and Housing First.

Spring updates from St. Hilda’s School in Belize

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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 May, Ms. Jane Ramirez, Principal at St. Hilda's, sent us this update to Cathedral Belize committee member Rebecca Butler.

Click here to read the profiles of St. Hilda's students Jaryon and Alynna in the Anglican Diocese of Belize's youth ministry newsletter.

Greetings Rebecca,

I pray that all is well with you and your family. We're almost at the end of another school year. Yeah!! We have overcome many challenges by God's grace and are looking forward to our summer vacation. I just wanted to share some highlights with you.

In February, one of our Standard 1 students participated in a national spelling bee contest among Anglican schools. He placed 4th out of 12 students. In April, we had our annual staff Lenten retreat. Funds were used to pay for food and transportation for our teachers. It was a blessing to spend time together with teachers from the four other western schools.

The month of May is Education month. We celebrated Education week last week with various activities including a sports day, Teacher's day and we had a visit from another Anglican school.

We have our kitchen that is functional and we are feeding 50 children, 3 days per week. Some children give a small stipend to assist with purchasing groceries while others who cannot afford it eat for free.

We also started a garden. We have our gardening, cooking, sports and arts and crafts clubs.

We have two students who will be featured in the Anglican Diocese Youth Newsletter. I am sharing the article that we sent in.

I will be checking for an update with our scholarship students shortly. Caleb brought in his mid semester report and he did well. I will be checking with Gian and Korey for the same.

I continue to say thank you and God bless you all for having us at heart. Your continued support and prayers is very important to our success. I pray all the best for our Friends of St. Hilda's family.

Best,
Jane