Author Archive: Geoffrey Hall

But how do we give … when we’re not in church?

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Health concerns in light of the current global viral pandemic (March 2020) and, the Cathedral's response, will influence to some degree who we see in worship over the next little while. At Christ Church Cathedral, we’ll be doing all we can to cooperate with the wider community and attempt to strike the right balance between safety and assuring health for all both spiritual and physical as our top priority. That will include encouraging all to make wise decisions, for the sake of their own health and that of others. We do not wish to unnecessarily impose obligation on those who are not comfortable being in public right now.

During this time of a self imposed regulating of physical contact, Cathedral Staff will continue on duty and, unfortunately, bills will continue to be paid. So, how do we give when we’re not at worship?

take advantage of the convenience and regularity of e-offering

For about half of the 200 or so of our regular contributors, the answer is an easy one. Those who take advantage of the convenience and regularity of e-offering will need not do anyhing different. For the rest of us, there are options.

1. Begin (or modify) e-offering. What better time to start? You don’t need a computer or internet. Choose weekly or monthly giving. The amount or frequency can change with a quick message or phone call to our Envelope Secretary. Complete the form and include a cheque marked “VOID” (many banks provide a downloadable void cheque from their online banking page) Read it's as easy as 1, 2, 3

2. Give through our online giving provider CanadaHelps. From the secure Cathedral profile page (the Give Now! link on Facebook or linked from our website), making a donation is no more difficult than other online transactions, possibly more secure than many. Receipts are returned immediately by email.

3. Hand deliver or surface mail your offering to the Cathedral Office, 168 Church Street, Fredericton NB E3B 4C9. We’re open 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. If it happens that someone isn’t in the office, slip your mail under the office door or through the outside mail slot.

We want to do everything we can to make consistant giving as easy as possible. Contact the Office (506) 450-8500 if you have a question. Your Church Family will thank you for your efforts to stay current in your commitment of financial support. Quite literally, we all benefit!

The Lambeth Conference – What is it?

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Archbishop Justin Welby

Archbishop Justin Welby

While not a governing body of the Church, per se, (being neither Synod nor Council), the Lambeth Conference is a significant moment for the Anglican Communion, drawing together spiritual leaders from around the world about once every decade since the mid 1800's.

Lambeth is scheduled for this year - 22 July - 02 August 2020.

The Lambeth Conference has always discussed church matters and issues of global concern, including: the persecuted church, refugees, faith and order issues, marriage, the family, human sexuality, the ministry of women, racism, war and peace, Christian ethics and the Christian way of life.

The Lambeth Conference dates back more than 150 years; the first was held in 1867 with 76 bishops present and has happened about every 10 years since.

  • The Lambeth Conference in 2020 will welcome over 1000 active bishops and spouses from across the Anglican Communion.
  • In the 1860s a dispute in South Africa prompted Canadian bishops to petition the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Longley, to call a gathering of senior leaders.
  • Fourteen Lambeth Conferences have met since, about every 10 years, with breaks during the two World Wars.

the Lambeth Conference dates back more than 150 years

Despite having no legal powers, Lambeth Conferences gradually gained respect and influence. Christian unity was addressed from the outset. The pastoral letter signed at the end of the first Conference declared Anglicanism was part of something bigger. It began, “We, the bishops of Christ’s Holy Catholic Church…” The ‘Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral,’ approved at the conference of 1888, remains the Anglican statement of the fourfold essential basis for a reunited Church.

Find out more about the Lambeth Conference
Website of the Archbishop of Canterbury
The First Lambeth Conference and Medley's Charge of 1868, Lenten Studies 2009, Canon Ross Hebb

From our parish nurse – hands up

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Hands up for common sense!

Just a few words on the coronavirus for our Cathedral community. There has been much hype in the media, and more each day as the coronavirus spreads in many countries around the world. In Canada, we have not had the high number of cases that are occurring in other countries, in part due to the size of our population and to the number of people who travel.

Health CanadaHandwashing reports that the risk to Canadians is low; to date there have not been any cases reported in New Brunswick. But we still should be mindful to practice good hygiene as the spread of the virus is in its early stages here in Canada at this point.

I would like to remind us of the simple and safe measures which we can use to prevent the spread of this virus. These are the same health and safety measures which were put in place when we experienced the SARS epidemic in 2002 and 2003, and those which we have used ever since that time during our Cathedral worship and activities.


Listen to Kathleen Snow during 2 Minutes for Ministry 08 March 2020


In short, the best prevention is to wash your hands, and keep them away from your face.

Visit the Health Canada website for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about coronavirus:

Symptoms
The Health Canada website states that the symptoms of the coronavirus are similar to a cold or flu. They may take up to 14 days to appear (incubation period) and may include fever, cough, difficulty breathing and may lead to pneumonia.

How is it spread?
According the Health Canada, current evidence suggests that person-to-person spread occurs when there is close personal contact:

  • through respiratory droplets when you cough or sneeze
  • touching or shaking hands, or
  • touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.

In short, the best prevention is to wash your hands, and keep them away from your face.

How can we protect ourselves and others?
Again, Health Canada recommends that we can protect ourselves by

  • washing our hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday song x 2)
  • avoiding touching our eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
  • avoiding close contact with people who are ill
  • coughing or sneezing into our sleeves rather than our hands, and
  • by staying home from work, worship activities, and social activities if we are ill to avoid spreading the illness to others.

the best prevention is to wash your hands, and keep them away from your face

What about worship?
As mentioned above, we have been implementing health and safety precautions for a number of years now since the SARS epidemic.

Use of Hand Sanitizers
You will note in the Cathedral that we have hand sanitizers at the Chancel steps, as well as at both front centre-aisle pews. They are in the Sacristy for use, in the Choir room, and at the entrance of both the West and South doors of the Cathedral.

Holy Communion
The clergy and other eucharistic administrators use hand sanitizers prior to administering the Sacrament. Many communicants use the sanitizers as they prepare to make Communion. Intinction (dipping the host in the wine) by the communicant is strongly discouraged and prevented whenever possible. Clergy will administer the host by intiction when requested (a word or other gesture works well). We continue this for all who do not wish to share the common cup. Taking only the host (bread) is another option.

More detailed information is available from our Bishop's Directive 3.4 on the Administration of Holy Communion

The Sharing of the Peace
It is recommended that we be sensitive to each other’s wishes in the sharing the Peace. If parishioners are not comfortable at this time with hand-shaking, then we need to respect their wishes. We have had no direction at this time from our diocese or the national church regarding whether or not to shake hands at the time of Peace. A simple nod of the head and the words of peace may suffice for those who would prefer not to shake hands.

In short, the best prevention is to wash your hands, and keep them away from your face.

It is really all about common sense: washing our hands, not touching our face, coughing into our sleeves, and staying home if we are ill. We are a community of care and a community of faith; we do care deeply about one another. Let us practice these hygienic measures to keep us all well so that we can continue to be a healthy community, worshiping and growing together in Christ.

Kathleen Snow (RN BN), Parish Nurse

Health Canada
World Health Organization
Bishop's Directive 3.4 on the Administration of Holy Communion (Diocese of Fredericton)
As COVID-19 reaches congregations, parish nurses offer observations, advice (10 March 2020 Anglican Journal)

Faith Alive! Deep Dive

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Some are asking: What is a "Faith Alive! Deep Dive?"

Faith Alive! is our Cathedral programme of preparation for confirmation, reaffirmation of faith or reception into the Anglican Church. Both "classes" and "sessions" with participants and their mentors comprise the programme content. Specifically, the classes are opportunities when all meet on a Wednesday evening for a meal and some teaching by various individuals on the various topics.

The "Deep Dive" is being offered by the Dean during Lent as one of our Cathedral Lenten Study options in 2020, 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Formation Room at the Memorial Hall. The Deep Dive is for anyone, Faith Alive! participant or not,  who would appreciate some extended, more detailed focus on the class topics. The extra attention will allow for more smaller gourp conversation and dialogue and are open to anyone who has interest in one or any of the topics.

The schedule with topics:

Ash Wednesday, 26 February 2020 - "Worship and Prayer"
Wednesday, 04 March 2020 - "The Holy Bible"
Wednesday, 11 March 2020 - "God/Creeds/Doctrines"
Wednesday, 18 March 2020 - "Ministry and Structure of the Church"
Wednesday, 25 March 2020 - "Rule/Ten Commandments"
Wednesday, 01 April 2020 - "Symbols, Sacraments and Seasons"

You're welcome to join us.

Reflections on decline – Cheryl Jacobs

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I will admit that I often just skim through the Anglican Journal when it arrives - reading the article titles and picture captions, and perhaps the letters to the editor to get a sense of the national temperature.  It is also often the case, that as a member of the bishop and synod staff, that I have read through a number of articles for the NB Anglican prior to them going to print - so I perhaps look at the paper as old news. But, having some downtime while on my trip to the Diocese of Ho, I read through the copy of the Journal I took with me.

The theme for the January edition of the Anglican Journal was around the challenge, the “wake-up call”, presented by the recent statistics report highlighting the declining numbers in the Anglican Church.  Despite this bad news that one could focus on, I found many a good word to our church at this time.

My eye was first caught by the letter from the Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Cuba to Canadian Anglicans with lessons from the change in the Cuban church - a church that could have been wiped out by the change to Communism in that country.  Bishop Maria noted the two-dimensional nature of the church, in Cuba and Canada, both an “institution that signaled guidelines and norms, and, the missional, sacramental and living church.” She warns of this shadow of secularisms that exists in both countries which can distance us from a lively, passionate faith; but because Canadians are also loving and accepting of differences, we have “great possibilities of deepening faith in the lives of many.”

In his Editorial Letter, Matthew Townsend cautions on how we speak about the state of decline in attendance in Anglican (and other) churches.  One way we do so is to lament the loss of Christendom; and here, I must agree with the editor that this is really a good thing for the spiritual health of the church.  Certainly, one can question how much long-term disciple-making was going on when Christianity was part of the culture. The other is speaking of decline as if it is still a future thing and we just need to come up with a solution, not taking God's will into account.  Matthew’s article ends well: “Every time two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus Christ, the true King, the church lives. Everything else is just statistics.”

Our new Primate, in her column, continues on this theme, further encouraging us to keep our eyes on Jesus: “Like the Israelites in the Exodus, we are being sent out not knowing our destination. We are being sent out of the comfort and plenty we once knew into discovering a new resiliency.”

I found many a good word to our church at this time

Archbishop Mark MacDonald's column also helps us to accurately identifying our challenge: “survival, as a goal, tends to generate a morality and procedure ensuring death.” “The task is presented as the management of decline. The real task is the rediscovery of hope.”  He identifies the challenge in terms of four crises: of identity, of commitment, of people, and of resources which, to my thinking, he correctly rewords to a crisis of imagination and faith.

Though longer and perhaps more of a disjointed read, the interview with awarded philosopher Charles Taylor is worth the effort as he discusses the spiritual restlessness of our time and what we have to offer.

And one should not miss the articles in the 20-40 section, including an inciteful one by our own Dr. Cole Hartin. He also supposes that God’s will in involved here and that we must realize we are in exile, grieve and then pray.

So let us not look back to Egypt.  Let us set out on this new exodus, praising a God who is always faithful and grace-giving - who has entered our reality through the person of Jesus Christ to show us how to live, but who is God yesterday, today and tomorrow. Let us look for the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud, and go where the Holy Spirit leads, knowing God's people are destined for the promised land and we want to share that with all God's creation.

Borrowing from Archbishop Mark's letter, it will be as we turn to Jesus, rediscover discipleship and reach out to the other, we will 'imagine a form of Eucharistic community that is replicable, sustainable and transformational.'

Footnote:  Please do not miss the Green Shoots section on thriving congregations where two New Brunswick parishes are highlighted.

Psalm 126

5 Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.

Cheryl Jacobs
Cheryl  chairs the Diocesan Council Spiritual Development Team.

Read past issues of the Anglican Journal
See comments of the Dean of Fredericton in his Annual Report to the Cathedral Congregation in February 2020.

Report of the Lay Chair of Bishop and Chapter for 2019

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The year 2019 was a busy and productive one for the 14 members of Bishop and Chapter who were acting on behalf of our large and active congregation. Like many mainline churches, we have our challenges, but we also have opportunities. Both keep us busy and engaged. The Chapter does not function in a 'business as usual' mode. Rather we adjust and try to move ahead, doing God's work, amidst constantly changing and challenging circumstances. The Chapter is strong, capable and hard-working. We try to find the right balance between overseeing our day-to-day 'normal' operations, paying attention to what our people expect today, and positioning our congregation for a potentially different tomorrow. In doing so we work closely with and support Dean Geoffrey in his role as our pastor and our CEO, and we enjoy a strong and special relationship with Bishop David, who is the chair of the Chapter. And through it all we continually try to discern God's will for us as his church.

Read the entire Annual Report for 2019

 

The Chapter does not function in a 'business as usual' mode

In the past year there have been several new and significant developments:

  • We made a commitment to become a full partner in a ground-breaking local program called 'Housing First'. We will soon become the owner and operator of three small homes at the corner of Albert and Regent Sts. By next fall three individuals will reside in our homes. These folks will be carefully chosen by other partners as they enter the Housing First program, and then will be supported by professionals (and by us) as, together, we help them become more independent and more productive citizens.
  • We established the Project 2045 Task Force to develop recommendations regarding our future facility needs, so that our congregation and our Christian ministries will be strong and vibrant 25 years from now - approximately 200 years after Bishop Medley began the construction of our beloved Cathedral. (Final report is here.)
  • After several years and many discussions we sold Odell House, primarily because the trend today is for Anglican clergy to own their own homes. The proceeds of the sale are now in a restricted trust fund that will help ensure a fair and adequate housing allowance for Cathedral Deans for years to come.
  • We undertook a purposeful stewardship campaign in the fall to encourage members of our whole congregation to re-evaluate their individual Christian stewardship habits in offering 'time, talent and treasure' to our church for God's purposes. Our committee chairs shared important information about their programs and how congregation members could help. In response, on Stewardship Sunday the large increase in congregational offerings was very encouraging.
  • We approved a new 'Gift Policy' to clearly state how offerings and financial gifts/bequests will be wisely and properly stewarded by our church. A new 'Records Management' policy was also approved to ensure the multitude of documents and records we continue to produce are safely and permanently stored and accessible.
  • As part of our outreach emphasis we welcomed The Calithumpians as new tenants in lower floor of Memorial Hall - a mutually beneficial sharing of our under-utilized facility.
  • Beyond those highlights the Chapter was kept busy with a multitude of 'normal' programs, events and issues. The Chapter's eight committees oversee this important work and we are grateful for the leadership shown by the 14 members of Chapter. Their reports follow. We thank God for them, for the many willing volunteers who populate their committees and teams, and for our dedicated staff … all of whom offer 'time and talent' to support the work of the church and to help those who need support.

As the Lay Chair of the Chapter, as I look forward to 2020 and beyond, I see three main challenges as our church family seeks God's will:

  1. Reaching out into our community to invite people (especially young families) to know and follow Jesus, and in so doing grow our congregation,
  2. Making important decisions regarding the long-term future of Memorial Hall and the Cathedral, and
  3. Given the reality that we are an aging congregation, taking steps now that will help ensure the long-term sustainability of our congregation, our ministries and our Cathedral building.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Morell, Lay Chair of Bishop and Chapter

Lenten Studies 2020

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During the Season of Lent, all members of the Cathedral congregation are encouraged to take part in small group study or reflection.

The 40 days of Lent are an excellent time to take on a discipline of deeper reflection on the Christian life, growing personally in discipleship as well as helping us grow as a community of Christian faith in the world.

Download, fill and save, print or email the registration

 

Living the Fifth ~ the Fifth Mark of Mission is: to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth. The online webinar from Queen’s College, Newfoundland, will explore the three themes. Wednesdays: 3-4 pm 04 and 18 March; 03 April

Liturgy of the Ordinary ~ Two groups offering a series of reflections on this diocesan-recommended text urging becoming aware of God's presence in overlooked moments and routines. Mondays, 2:30 p.m. OR Thursdays, 7:00 p.m.

More Monk-y Business ~ The Roots of Western Monasticism conceived as a 'sequel' to the series last Lent on the Desert Mothers and Fathers, will further explore the development of monasticism in western Europe, legacies of prayer and discipline. Mondays, 6:30 p.m.

Faith Alive! Deep Dive ~ Conversations on class (or session) topics from “Faith Alive!” – the Confirmation, Reaffirmation or Reception preparation programme now underway. Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m.

Parables: Scandalous Stories of a Saving Grace ~ exploration according to the book of the same title by Bishop Bill Hockin. Thursdays, 1:00 p.m.

Resources

Resources will be made available by the leaders of each of the studies. Contact the leaders directly to: express interest / ask a question / register, place the form on the offering plate or submit to the Cathedral office. Some flexibility in schedules and locations may be possible within given restraints.

Group Leaders

Mark Nichols, Creation Car Animator (Eastern Nfld and Labrador)   Webinar link
Kurt Schmidt <formation at christchurchcathedral.com>  (506) 259-3711
Alan Sears <asears at unb.ca>  (506) 450-9971
Geoffrey Hall <dean at christchurchcathedral.com>  (506) 450-7761
Harry Palmer and Keith Radford <radford at unb.ca>   (506) 452-1793
Cheryl Jacobs <cajacobs84 at gmail.com>   (506) 459-5795

Five opportunties at six different times

“Living the Fifth” Online webinar format
Wednesday, 04 March - 3-4 p.m. “A missional calling”
Wednesday, 18 March 3-4 p.m. “A communal calling”
Wednesday, 01 April 3-4 p.m. “A personal calling”
Open the link in your web browser to join     Mark Nichols

 “Liturgy of the Ordinary” Charis Group
Mondays 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Cathedral Hall Lounge     Harry Palmer/Keith Radford

More Monk-y Business
Mondays 6:30 - 7:30 p.m
Cathedral Hall Formation Room     Kurt Schmidt

Faith Alive! Deep Dive
Wednesdays 1:00 - 2:15 pm
Cathedral Hall Formation Room    Geoffrey Hall

Parables: Scandalous Stories/Saving Grace
Thursdays 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Cathedral Hall Formation Room     Alan Sears

"Liturgy of the Ordinary” Home Study
Thursdays 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Jacobs’ Residence   Cheryl Jacobs

Please register by completing the form, place it on the offering plate or email to Kurt Schmidt.

What is the World Day of Prayer?

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The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year. Through preparation and participation in the worship service, we can learn how our sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the Biblical passages in their context. We can hear their concerns and needs and can join in solidarity with them as we pray with and for them. In this way, it is possible to enrich our Christian faith as it grows deeper and broader in an international, ecumenical expression.

World Day of PrayerThe motto of the World Day of Prayer movement is Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action. Through our participation in the World Day of Prayer, we affirm that prayer and action are inseparable and that both have immeasurable influence on the world.

For more on

 

Christianity Through a Worldview Lens – February 2020

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Dr. John Valk presented "Christianity Through a Worldview Lens" in Fredericton on 11 and 12 February 2020. A "Christian forum" organized by the Spiritual Development Team of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Fredericton, John delivered a comprehensive overview which serves to describe the challenges of Christianity (and other religious faiths) in a post-modern world.

We live in an age of science, logic and reason. This is a time when religion and religious faith are struggling to be recognized to have a voice in a context where  dimensions of reality, existence and meaning -- the "big" questions -- are disregarded.

John noted that his presentation was drawn from a more lengthy treatment of the subject in his paper with the same title: "Christianity Through a Worldview Lens." His insights are enlightening and descriptive of the challenge religious faith is experiencing. John's perspective is ultimately of great value and importance.

 

Read "Christianity Through a Worldview Lens" here

GMH

Project 2045 Final Report

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Our task force was formed last spring to develop recommendations that would lead to important and farreaching decisions respecting the future of the Cathedral and Memorial Hall in relation to the congregation’s worship, ministry, fellowship and operational needs.

As our congregation looks ahead to 2045 – the 200th anniversary of the date the Cathedral’s cornerstone was laid – our report for Bishop and Chapter is primarily related to facility changes that would ensure (a.) we will be a sustainably healthy, vibrant, growing and mission-focused congregation and (b.) the Cathedral itself is structurally sound and able to serve as the ‘Mother Church’ of the diocese and as an iconic resource to our community.

From our first meeting 10 months ago the task force has therefore been focused on the future more than the present. We are very aware of the fact that our congregation is aging, and that means – if present trends continue – we are likely to experience a very significant decline in numbers and financial offerings in the next 10- 15 years. Further we have been told that it is increasingly difficult for the Chapter to recruit willing volunteers who have the knowledge, experience and time needed to tend to the many and frequent issues that regularly occur in our aging facilities.

Read the entire report here