Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton NB is seeking a Sexton, a position which is integral to our overall operations.
Reporting to the Dean of Fredericton and working with the Property Committee, the successful candidate will be tasked with maintaining Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Memorial Hall and the grounds in a clean and orderly condition, and performing minor repairs as required.
Work involves overseeing and monitoring building operations in person and via camera systems. Duties also include opening and closing of both buildings, set-up for special functions, and attention to the Cathedral clock and tower, sprinkler system, sump pumps and other equipment and appliances.
This is a full-time, salaried position with benefits, and flexible working hours, including occasional weekends and evenings.
Please submit a resume and a cover letter which explains why you have applied for the position and why you feel you are a suitable candidate. Applications may be submitted by mail, email, or in person during office hours (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Monday-Friday).
Christ Church Cathedral Office
168 Church Street
Fredericton, NB E3B 4C9
Applications must be received by end of day Thursday, August 22, 2024. Christ Church Cathedral appreciates all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected to continue in the process will be contacted.
Once again, some of the provincial celebrations for the New Brunswick Day holiday will be held on the riverside Cathedral Green, next to the walking trail.
The Cathedral Office will be closed on Monday, 05 August. On that day, we encourage you to spend time with friends and participate in the celebrations!
New Brunswick Day festivities will be held on both sides of Queen Street, at the Legislature, the Cathedral Green, Beaverbrook Art Gallery and Officer's Square. Beginning at 12:00 noon, family-friendly activities and entertainment will include: cultural performances, music, art workshops, street performers, bouncy castles, face painting, and food. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery will have free admission, and the Legislative Assembly building will be open to the public, with photo ID.
Emancipation Day will also be celebrated at the same time, with activities in Officer's Square. This recognizes the Abolition of Slavery Act enacted in 1834 by the British parliament, which became law across all the colonial territories claimed by Great Britain, including land that is now referred to as Canada. Commemorating Emancipation Day along with New Brunswick Day highlights its historical and present-day importance. Family-friendly activities will include music with DJ-Wakanda, a photo booth, local artists, and a photo booth.
A variety of food trucks will be downtown during the festivities, and the night will end with fireworks over the Westmorland Street Bridge.
Read the details, and come on down to celebrate history and heritage!
National Indigenous Archbishop Chris Harper will visit the Diocese of Fredericton in September this year and will preach at the Cathedral at 10:30 a.m. on 15 September.
To speak for Indigenous Anglican People in the Councils of the Church
To interpret what the Councils of the Church are saying to Indigenous people
To be a spokesperson for Mother Earth
To act as a midwife for a self-determining Indigenous Church
To represent the authority of Indigenous identity within the Anglican Church of Canada
The national Indigenous Anglican archbishop is the presiding elder of the Sacred Circle. Indigenous Ministries of the General Synod supports the Indigenous Peoples of Canada (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) spiritually, socially, economically and politically recognizing that the purity of the land base provides for all our needs. As active participants in the life of the church, the Council of Indigenous Peoples strives for reconciliation with the Anglican Communion and works towards Indigenous self-determination.
At the announcement of his appointment in late 2022, Primate Linda Nichols said, “Archbishop-elect Chris Harper brings years of experience in ministry among and with Indigenous Anglicans, urban and on reserve,” she said. “He has a passion for walking together with respect that will be essential as the Sacred Circle within the Anglican Church of Canada establishes its way forward.”
Archbishop Harper is the son of a residential school survivor, a Plains Cree and worked as an emergency medical technician before earning his certificate of Indigenous Anglican theology from James Settee College in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He received his master’s of divinity degree from Wycliffe College in 2005 and was priested the same year. In 2016 Harper was appointed as Indigenous native priest for the diocese of Toronto, a role he held until his election as bishop of Saskatoon in 2018. He has served on numerous committees of the church including the Council of General Synod, and is a member of Sacred Circle.
Here are some letters from the current recipients of Cathedral scholarships. Three students are currently receiving scholarships to attend high school in Belize. Their school year ended in June, and we received report cards and letters from each student. They are very thankful for the support of the congregation. Read their letters below, and scroll down to learn more about the scholarship program and how you can help.
Sylvia Trapp (recently completed Grade 9)
Dear Friends:
I am writing to thank you for your financial support. This year had many challenges, but I overcame them. I studied hard to achieve the top of my class and plan on working harder to achieve my educational goals. I also tried to be as friendly as possible to anyone I meet and I care deeply for my best friends that I met this year. I'm grateful for having friends who push me to go further. I also tried to participate as much as I can in school activities such as the Christmas event, harvest dance and the children's day activities. I am truly grateful for your support with my educational journey. I have been promoted to second form and I will try as hard as possible to come in first place again. I'm looking forward to you continuous support. Thank you.
Yours truly,
Silvia Trapp
Caleb Martinez (recently completed Grade 10)
Dear friends of St. Hilda's.
The school year has ended and all the grades are in, it has been a roller coaster journey at Belmopan Comprehensive High School.
In cycle #1 I struggled getting back familiar with waking up early and going to bed late. In the class, some of the new math concepts were more challenging than others so there was an up and down of my grade for math. Also with some new students in my class I was being distracted a lot because of the noise but I asked my homeroom teacher to move me so I can focus on my school work.
In cycle #2 I paid more attention in class and studied more and all-in-all just focusing on my work. And as I said in the previous letter, I said that I was going to join the school track and field team, at regionals I came in 4th in the 100 meter dash and 4th in the 200 meter dash and next year I plan to continue athletics.
As for the subject that I will be majoring in next year, I'll be taking arts because for my job career I plan to work in the TV industry.
Lastly, I can’t thank you enough for this scholarship as it has been the key to all my obstacles in my academic career.
May you have a wonderful day, friends of St. Hilda’s.
Caleb
Korey Kelly (recently completed Grade 11)
Greetings Friends,
I hope everyone is doing great and enjoying their year. I am entering a new year of school and I am continuously grateful for the help you have offeredme in acquiring my education.
I will be moving on to 4th form even though I had a bit of a rough last semester ending up having to take summer classes for English. During Summer Classes my grades in English have improved. I have to say I believe it is due to me paying more attention in class and listening to the teacher when she teaches. I think and hope that I will perform better in English class when I enter 4th form.
Again, I am very thankful for the scholarship that you gave to me which helped to lessen my mom’s burden.
Korey
About the Cathedral's Belize High School Scholarship Program
Currently, the congregation of Christ Church Cathedral provides scholarships for three 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. We intend to provide a scholarship to a student entering high school in September, so we will again be supporting one student in each grade.
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 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.
Biblical giving encompasses the act of tithing, which involves giving a tenth of one's income, and giving — whether it be money, possessions or time — to advance the kingdom of God and bless others in need.
(Check out a Guide for Weekly Giving to see where you are in your giving and by moving one step to the left discover what growing by one percent would mean for you.)
The Bible teaches that everything we have belongs to God, and by tithing, we acknowledge God's ultimate ownership and trust in the provision we have been given. By obeying this command, we recognize that God is our ultimate provider on whom we rely for our needs. It is sometimes helpful to think about what we have as being on loan, "for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it." (see 1 Timothy 6:7)
Stewardship isn't just about money
God has given us unique gifts and abilities, and calls us to use them to the glory of God. Whether volunteering at our local church, serving in our communities or using our skills to benefit others, giving our time and talents demonstrates our willingness to be good stewards of the abilities God has entrusted to us.
Practically speaking
Practically speaking, being a good steward involves taking responsibility for our finances, time and talents and using them for God's purposes. It requires practicing generosity, supporting the work of the church and caring for those in need based on the foundational belief that we are the caretakers, not the owners, of God's blessings.
In the texts of Scripture can be found foundational budgeting principles: avoiding debt; giving generously and making wise investments. Budgeting helps us "steward" our resources. With practice we can learn and discover "good" stewardship by concurrently prioritizing needs, developing disciplines necessary for setting aside resources for specific and planned purposes and giving generously.
Taking steps toward stewardship
Collectively as a church, exercising good financial stewardship requires these steps:
Establishing a church budget as a way of planning for the future that allocates funds based on needs
Maintaining sufficient transparency so that as a body everyone has the opportunity to understand where the church stands as compared with the current plan (budget); the giving of others in the congregation, and knowledge of current circumstances
Avoiding impulsive spending and accruing unnecessary debt
Seeking financial advice from trusted sources when necessary
By recognizing that everything we possess ultimately belongs to God, we can begin to grasp the concept of stewardship. As caretakers and managers (the definition of stewardship) of God's resources, we can live intentionally and respond with joyful and sacrificial hearts. Acknowledging God's ownership empowers us to use our blessings wisely, from our material wealth to our time, talents and the earth itself, by taking a heart-centered approach to stewardship and giving in alignment with God's will for the church and for us as individual parts of the Body of Christ.
Many Anglicans in the Diocese will know the name Pickett-Scovil, but did you ever wonder who these people were?
In our Diocese, the Pickett-Scovil Memorial Fund, administered by the Anglican Church Women (ACW), assists retired clergy and widow(ers) with dental and medical expenses not covered by medical plans and Medicare.
Elizabeth Scovil, a nurse, started the fund in 1910 with friend and fellow nurse Lucy Vail Pickett, and...
AST’s Certificate in Stewardship is available to anyone. People who work or volunteer in the charitable sector, non-profits, university, government, education, church, and other fields will benefit, as well as anyone who would simply like to do some learning and personal growth. As long as you have Internet access and a device that allows you to open a document, watch videos, and prepare a short final assignment, you can take this program.
Course Delivery: Entirely Online OR In-Person in a local setting
The seven modules of the Certificate in Stewardship can be taken in one of the following ways:
As an Individual. Learn at your own pace. You could complete the program over several weeks, in a weekend, or over the course of a week. It’s up to you. When you enroll, you will receive a workbook that will tell you clearly how to access all the learning materials.
As Part of the AST Stewardship Cohort. Over the course of 7 weeks in Winter 2025, join with other learners and a facilitator to go through the 7 modules, one per week, “live” in real time over the Internet. When you enroll, you will receive a workbook that will tell you clearly how to access all the learning materials. The start date, day of the week, and facilitator of the AST Stewardship Cohort will be identified in September.
As Part of a Local Learning Group. Organize a group in your local area to learn together. You will need a designated leader to register and organize the group. The designated learner could be a manager, minister, priest, or volunteer with strong group facilitation skills. Note: Local Learning Groups are self-directed without instructional support from AST.
Certificate in Stewardship Program Structure and Timeline
You may start the Certificate in Stewardship at any time as an Individual Learner. There is no set time limit for completing the Certificate, but a maximum of four months is recommended.
Those in the AST Cohort will start the program in Winter 2025 (date to be confirmed) and continue together for 7 weeks.
Local Learning Groups may be organized and start at any time, according to the timeframe determined by the designated leader.
The seven program components of this Certificate are Time, Talent, Trust, Treasure, Terrain, Theology, and Thanks. For each component, there is a module that includes:
Pre-recorded video teaching materials (one hour per module)
A list of recommended materials for further learning
Reflection questions (or discussion questions for group settings)
A final integrative assignment (written or video)
Your final assignment must be submitted to AST to receive the Certificate. The assignment is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, and you will receive constructive feedback. If the final assignment is submitted before April 1, you will receive your Certificate at AST’s Annual Spring Convocation. If you are unable to attend Convocation, your Certificate will be mailed to you.
The total time investment to complete the Certificate in Stewardship is approximately 30 hours. However, learners may progress as varying rates.
Admissions Requirements
Anyone is welcome to enrol in the Certificate in Stewardship. AST recommends a minimum age of 16 years. No prior learning credential is required.
Registration Process
To register for AST’s Certificate in Stewardship, please complete one of the following forms and submit to James Cheatley: [email protected]. The appropriate fee should be paid through the AST Business Office, as explained on the application form.
AST Stewardship Cohort Participants: $600 per person
Local Learning Group: $1,000 per group (individual rates do not apply) for a group of any size
Financial Aid
Some employers, congregations, parishes, or other denominational bodies will sponsor or assist with your fees and expenses. Please make your own inquiries to these groups.
For clarification or assistance in registering
Please contact AST’s Continuing Education Convener, James Cheatley: [email protected]
More Information
For information about AST’s other programs, please contact our Recruitment Coordinator: [email protected]
Stewardship is a core Christian practice rooted in scripture. The Bible offers a commentary on human stewardship that begins with God’s purpose in setting our first ancestor in the garden “to till and keep it,” and ends in the new creation, in a recurring pattern of crisis and resolution. That pattern of human crisis and divine resolution flows through the Bible — in the creation, in the covenant with Abraham, in the law, the prophets and the writings of the Hebrew scripture, in the life of Jesus, and in the continuing life of his disciples after the resurrection.
The first crisis of human stewardship came with our first ancestors’ decision to test the sovereignty of God by consuming the only fruit in the garden reserved exclusively to the Creator. Rejecting stewardship and embracing the illusory promise of sovereign possession of the garden, they initiate a continuing pattern of exploitation, entitlement, violence and destruction that plagues human participation in the life of the earth. There is only one essential stewardship question: Will we make use of resources entrusted to us to serve God’s mission, or for purposes that we ourselves devise or that are thrust upon us by an economy that depends absolutely on growing consumption to sustain it?
Stewardship is a response to the mission of God. When we invite persons into discipleship and baptize, we also invite them into the practices of faithful stewardship. Those practices are properly framed in terms of whether or not they contribute to what God desires in and for the life of the world.
The parable of the two sons opens up a stewardship crisis for leaders among the baptized. When we have turned inward to focus on our wants and needs, when we have used the language of stewardship to address our own religious agenda instead of God’s mission, when we have reduced the challenge of stewardship to servicing the existence, program and practices of the church, then we have squandered the treasure of God in a far country.
Will we make use of resources entrusted to us to serve God’s mission?
For Canadian Anglicans, no faithful conversation about stewardship can be undertaken without consideration of the Baptismal Covenant and the Marks of Mission of the Anglican Communion. The former is, like the “Rule of Life” that preceded it in the Catechism of the Book of Common Prayer, (p. 544) a framework for faithful personal participation in the mission of God. And the Marks of Mission form a framework for faithful corporate participation in that mission. The Resources for Mission Department works in partnership with dioceses to foster a generous sense of stewardship across the Canadian Church.
The Baptismal Covenant offers an expansive vision of stewardship, including commitments to the community and its common life; to resisting evil and turning away from our participation in it; to offering the world the gospel of Jesus Christ as an alternative to its story of entitlement, consumption, and conflict, to embody that gospel in acts of service and to work for justice, peace and the dignity of persons.
The Marks of Mission complement and support the principles and practices of the Baptismal Covenant with a commitment to shape our common life in alignment with the mission of God., Beginning with “the Good News of the Kingdom” they offer a set of shared practices that include inviting people to inhabit that Kingdom through baptism, and to enact the Kingdom’s ethos in response to human need, in a commitment to justice, in care for creation and in reconciliation and peace-making.
God sets out in mission to make all things new. It is God’s mission to transform persons, to redeem us and restore us to joyful and useful participation in God’s work. It is God’s mission to transform the church as well, to redeem and restore our common life so that we might live as stewards of God’s abundant gifts, and invite others into that stewardship – for the sake of the world God loves.
This document was approved as a theological rationale for the work of the Resources for Mission Department of General Synod by the Standing Committee on Philanthropy.
The Season of Creation runs annually from September 1 through October 4. The world’s 2.2 billion Christians are invited to pray and care for Creation during this time.
The Season of Creation unites the global Christian family around one shared purpose. It also provides flexibility in celebrating prayer services and engaging in a variety of actions to care for Creation.
The Feast of Creation of September 1, also known as Creation Day or World Day of Prayer for Creation, is the big celebration that inspires and nourishes the larger season that flows from it. Inspired by a rich tradition of the Orthodox Church, it was later embraced by most other churches. Besides being a moment to repent for our sinful desecration of the gift of Creation and pray for its healing, the feast honours God as Creator and commemorates the great mystery of the creation of the cosmos (learn more about the feast’s history and symbolism).
In other words, it is not just about celebrating “Creation as the created world” that God gifted us, but most importantly it is about celebrating “Creation as foundational mystery” of our Christian faith. In a nutshell, it is a moment to thank and praise God as Creator.
Christians around the world are invited to give particular attention to praying and caring for God's creation as part of the global Season of Creation. General Synod 2019 passed a resolution adopting the Season of Creation in the Anglican Church of Canada as a time of prayer, education, and action and encouraging dioceses and parishes to participate. Resources and events related to Season of Creation may be found on the Anglican Church of Canada website to help you plan.
Note: To avoid confusion it is worth noting that the Season of Creation is not a liturgical season like Advent or Easter but rather a time of intentional prayer and reflection.
This year, 01 September happens to fall on a Sunday, so it could be a special occasion to include the feast and mystery of Creation in the Sunday celebration. It is worth reminding the community about Sunday’s dual symbolism as both “the day of creation” (“the first day of the week” when God began the creative act, as per Genesis 1) and “the day of the resurrection.”
Are faith and science incompatible? In Where to Start: Faith & Science, you’ll learn how to approach this topic with humility and discernment, whether you’re in a classroom, at a dinner table, or in a Bible study. Led by BioLogos President and astronomer Deborah Haarsma, this is an introductory course to integrating faith and science, with optional “Going Deeper” sections throughout for a more thorough exploration of the topics.
Discover the necessary relational and intellectual tools to navigate important scientific, theological, and philosophical questions surrounding faith and science. This course will provide you with a solid foundation for engaging in constructive and respectful conversations in pursuit of truth.
Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton NB is seeking a Sexton, a position which is integral to our overall operations.
