Author Archive: Geoffrey Hall

Mission to Ho 2020

Posted on

Lillian Ketch (Cathedral), Cheryl Jacobs (Cathedral) and Robert Griffin (Parish of Grand Mann) departed Fredericton on 12 January 2020 for the Diocese of Fredericton’s Companion Diocese of Ho in Ghana. Daily logs will be here as they are made available.

The Dean of Fredericton offered prayer on Sunday, 13 January

Gracious God,
your Son before he ascended to glory
declared that your people would receive power
from the Holy Spirit to bear witness to him
to the ends of the earth:
Be present with all who go forth in his Name,
protect them all the day long
and bring them safely home.
Let your love shine through their witness,
so that all who come to them
may see your glory in all that is given,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Diocese of Ho (Website)  |  Diocese of Ho (Anglican Communion)
Diocese of Ho (Facebook) | Diocese of Fredericton Companion Diocese Committee

22 January 2020

I guess this is my last update from Ghana – writing tonight from the British Airways departure lounge in the Accra airport. We leave in just over an hour.

This morning we got ready in good time and Bishop Matthias picked us up at the hotel at about 10:00. We then went to a bank so I could withdraw Ghana cedis to pay him back for the hotel bill. I had asked to do this a bit earlier in the trip. First, the bank machines were closed for servicing, then I had to wait further for them to stock them with 50 cedi bills so I could take out a larger amount, though I still had to make two withdrawals to get enough. Double fees, of course! Matthias wanted to be the one to pay the hotel so we could save on the tourism tax.

Finances taken care of, we headed to the Anglican compound to meet Edward and say goodbye to the family, though we missed the children’s recess so did not get to see them again. Also, Matthias had gifts of Ghana clothing for us which we had to try on. We had stopped at the tailor’s shop a few days previously to be measured. Amazing work for the time frame – he runs his shop as a training school. Dresses here are typically form fitting – with the heat/humidity and, just possibly, a few extra pounds gained here, I found it a bit of a struggle to try my two new outfits on – but think they will be okay.

Eventually we were on our way with Edward and Matthias, not quite at the planned 11:00, but rather at 12:30, over the crazy roads of Ho. We took a different, slightly longer route to Accra this time, in order to stop at a craft village. We all worked hard to get rid of our remaining cedis.

We arrived at the airport at about 5:00 pm here (it is now 10:00 pm) so have been sitting around a while. No troubles with check-in or security. This is a very fancy new terminal and it is surprising how many places one can fly to from here. We did have a light lunch since we had not eaten since breakfast (which may help with the new outfits), and expect we will have a midnight repast on the plane (which will counter the above). I watched a traditional weaver making what look like priest’s stoles – we had not previously seen much of woven items.

I will close off now as we expect to be called to board soon. We arrive London at 5:00 am, in the same time zone then will get some exercise at Heathrow! 3.5 hours there until we fly to Toronto.

Good night (or morning). Thanks for reading!

Cheryl

21 January 2020

Hi all,

Actually not much happened related to our purpose for being here today. We did not do the originally planned tour of parishes in the north of the diocese as Bishop Matthias thought the roads are in too bad shape now.

We had a leisurely breakfast and then hung around the pool and patio. I caught up on some reading and thinking re my diocesan spiritual development team, plus the three of us talked about the project some more.

Matthias came to get us at about 2:30. We stopped at some stores and then went to the house until the rest of the family was ready to go out for dinner. We had offered to take Matthias and Lucy out as a thanks for all the cooking she had done for us. But ended up with the whole extended family – that is, anyone Lucy would have made dinner for! We were 12 in total with Matthias, Lucy, their son Prosper, granddaughters Emmanuela and Henrietta, nephew Benedict, 7-year old Cadmon (we were thinking he is an orphan but not sure of that relation – more below), bishop’s chaplain Fr. Prince (who lives with the family) and Edward (who would not normally eat with the family but we included him also as a thanks for driving us many times. I think I mentioned before, but Edward is manager of the Ho Anglican Schools and also Matthias’ son-in-law, and the father of Henrietta. Mary, the mother in this family is currently living away due to her teaching position. Edward has his own place and Henrietta lives with Matthias and Lucy to make it easy to attend the school. This is a fairly common situation here.

We went to a local restaurant that they like to visit and sat at a big round table for 12. We had Ghanaian cuisine, pre-ordered by Matthias, though I expect the kids would have preferred going out for pizza, since Lucy always makes good traditional food anyway. Dishes included plain rice, seasoned rice with veggies, salad, yam fries, baked chicken, fish heads (yup – did not try these), green green (green stew with fish, a bit different from the version Robbie had at the other restaurant, this one had lots of okra but was less spicy) with banku (doughy ‘bread’ made from cassava) and a couple of hot sauces (not out of a bottle).

Once we finished, Prosper (who is director of music for the Cathedral), Lucy and Prince had to rush off for choir practice. Since I would be missing my own choir practices tonight, we looked in for a couple of songs when we got back with everyone else. The choir was a bit small this evening – Prosper sings bass, Prince is the tenor, Lucy and another lady made up the Altos and there was one soprano. Prince also played a mean Dondo drum on Sunday.

I had also expressed interest in purchasing Ghana fabrics for the quilters in my family (per yesterday’s update). I had forwarded a picture from a store and Mom had suggested how much she would like. Matthias, always in search of the best deal, however, had Gloria, a seller of cloth at good prices, come to his house. She did not have quite the variety as at the store, but we all purchased some pieces. Mom and Michelle had asked for 1/2 yard pieces, but the norm here is only to sell in 2 yard increments – as they don’t want to be left with a single yard which would not be of use for anything. The other part of the story is that we found out that Gloria is Cadmon’s mother but he just likes to stay at the bishop’s house.

Tomorrow, Edward and Matthias will take us back to Accra – as noted before, distance 165 kms but will take at least 3 hours due to roads. They plan to take us to a local craft shop and perhaps show us some sights, then leave us at the airport fairly early in order to get back to Ho in decent time. Our flight is at 11:00 pm, overnight to Heathrow, then to Toronto tomorrow, landing in Fredericton at 5:00 pm. I will finish here and try to check in now before sleep.

Good night and see some of you soon!

Cheryl

20 January 2020

Hi all,

It was a bit of a later start this morning with not much planed for the morning. The breakfast buffet today included tasty spicy stir-fried veggies (cabbage based) rather than the standard cold salad – and I am happy to be getting oatmeal more regularly than the other porridges.

Bishop Matthias came by late morning and we went shopping for some Ghanaian items. I have been struck by the ‘wax print’ fabrics worn by many, women and men, and found everywhere in fabric bolts – so very colourful and bold and with intricate batik patterns. I will try to find some coordinating pieces for the quilters in my family.

We stopped at the bishop’s house for a bit to chat with Lucy, his wife. During school days she has a stand with candy, biscuits, water and drinks and school supplies outside her house which the school children shop at during school recess and lunch. We were given some of her homemade sobolo, a Ghanaian drink made of Bissap leaves (Roselle hibiscus), ginger, sugar and water which was very good, even for me who has never been a fan of straight ginger.

The big event today was a meeting at the Ho Teaching Hospital with several hospital administrators and department directors and the Rotary club leadership regarding the mobile clinic project. The teaching hospital people have already put much thought into the idea in the few days since they were suggested for a partner – even with a prepared PPT presentation. The idea fits ideally with their public health focus and village outreach strategic plan. It turned into almost an informal launch of the project! There is still some work to decide on the major specifics (e.g., what type of van/truck and where to get it), to write up the needs assessment and sustainability plan for the application for a Rotary Global Grant, and drafting a MOU between all the parties – but there is certainly a will to see Matthias’ and diocesan vision through. The first working meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday!

We returned to the hotel for a swim and then went to Matthias’ house for another delicious supper: chicken, steamed plantain, abolo (steamed bread made of corn flour, sugar and water), pino (gari – powdered baked cassava – in beef stew sauce but without the beef), and Lucy’s hot sauce gravy. Dessert was again fresh mango and pineapple 😋

It is hard to believe our time is almost up here. Until tomorrow,

Cheryl

19 January 2020

Sunday (or Monday) greetings,

Pick-up was at 8:30 this morning, after my oatmeal with watermelon (and toast), to go to Cathedral for Mass, as they call it here. Only two and a half hours long – very high Anglican style with much incense and ceremony. It was an interesting mix of old English liturgy and hymns interspersed with high-energy African drumming, singing and dancing. Mama Lucy got Lilian and me up to participate at one point. We also spoke at the end to bring greetings from home and explain our purpose. And really, it did not seem as long as it was – and weather was cooler today so comfortable in the Cathedral which also has many open doorways. Despite what you may think of as a Cathedral, this one is really quite small, maybe 8 rows of pews for 4-5 people each.

Lunch at the bishop’s house followed. Another large meal of rice (enough for 4 people, maybe), cabbage+ and fish. Lucy’s hot sauce is very good though. But Lucy never eats with us, nor the others who live there: their son, grandchildren (children of their daughters who live there in order to attend the school), a nephew, a priest and at least one other orphan.

After lunch, Matthias drove us around the city of Ho to see some places, including the Ho Teaching Hospital, which will likely be the church’s partner for the mobile clinic, and some universities. One new campus of the health services university, which works with the teaching hospital, was very modern looking. Universities, schools and hospitals are always built as a campus of small buildings, mostly of concrete, rather than large sprawling buildings like at home.

We were also pleased to visit two houses. The first was that of one of the church wardens and his family. This family of 6 was all in their backyard with the mother and one daughter making fufu in the traditional way: a mixture of plantain and cassava pounded in a large stone bowl with a long stick with a flat end. Between each pound down with this stick, however, the mother would roll the mixture around, like kneading, with one hand. It was an amazing synchronized act of knead and pound at a fairly rapid pace. We were told the daughter was better at this than their son who would go too fast – and hard on mother’s hand! They were making this for their supper so we did not get to try it, but it turned into a gelatinous consistency that was formed into large blobs (quite hard to describe actually) – I hope to try before we leave to see if it tastes better than it looked, haha. We also had a horticulture lesson as they had a number of trees in their backyard and next door: plantain and banana (hard to tell these apart before the fruit is ripe), mango, palm nut, and even a pineapple plant almost ready to pick. As this is close to the end of the dry season, there was not much left in their garden. This was not a standard house for here given the amount of land they had.

The second home was that of the diocesan treasurer, a retired professor, who still teaches marketing courses for distance ed. students some weekends. His house was spacious enough but side by side with others on a narrow street. He had a relative there whose main language was French – we had a short basic conversation!

We also drove by a whole subdivision of ‘condo’ buildings, one of which Edward lives in and another where the Archdeacon lives. We did not go in these though.

Peter had sent me some pictures of the new snow in Fredericton this morning so I have been showing to people today. Not many seemed willing to experience in person!

We finished the day chatting with Bishop Matthias at our hotel pool patio until it got dark (close to the equator here so fairly consistent day and night). This was followed by a LIGHT supper (vegetable salad for me) in the hotel restaurant. We have found the service rather slow for meals there, other than the breakfast buffet. So now it is quite late and I will sign off.

Blessings,

Cheryl

18 January 2020

Lazy day today. Bishop Matthias suggested a rest day, though we really don’t need to rest but exercise!!

But we did sleep in some – breakfast buffet goes longer on weekends – some things the same everywhere I expect! In fact, Peter was messaging me when I got up, before the crack of dawn Canada time, and reminded me that he was going to work at our Cathedral breakfast. Sorry to miss the early hour and the -28 degrees, really!!

After breakfast, the three of us went to the market, on our own, as it is a short walk away. The extent of number of booths and items for sale is amazing, and this was not even big market day. The produce available all looked great: fresh green leafy greens, tomatoes, onions, plantain, cassava, yams and sweet potatoes, peppers galore; then mangoes, papaya, coconut, bananas, limes, oranges, even apples; breads, banku and other similar fillers; eggs, dried beans, spices, and a very great number of smoked whole fish (think very dry) of varying sizes. The Volta Lake to the west of the diocese boundary is very large but I have seen docs on how children are exploited to fish it.

Then there were the booths with cloth for sewing, premade clothing (not Ghanaian traditional) and much cheap accessories. But very interesting and fun to visit. I bought some ground green spice which I was told is hot and some limes. Robbie got some oranges – not quite in season he suggested after. He also needed a hat as he had forgotten his home – something that said Ghana, but he only found ballcaps with American sports company logos and settled for a fedora like style. I guess it was not exactly a tourist hub. Lilian got a few gift items, some for herself.

Later Lilian and I swam (I used the short set she bought while waiting for her luggage as a bathing suit) and sat at the pool and read. Matthias had said he would pick us up between 2:00 and 3:00. We assumed it would be closer to 3 of course, but it was actually closer to 5. He came with plantain chips and nuts and we had beer on the hotel patio. Snacks we did not need as we then went to his house for another delicious and filling meal, though this time we could serve our own portions. Dessert was mango and pineapple, which I could get used to. We also got to speak more with Matthias’ grandchildren who are less shy with us.

Once back at the hotel, Lilian and I walked around the lot, 4 times as it is not that large, to get a bit more exercise and digest dinner. The security guard was not quite sure what to make of us. I’m still stuffed as I sit here writing.

Cathedral service is at 9:00 am tomorrow. We are not expected at the 7:00 am one.

Good night everyone,

Cheryl

17 January 2020

We were given a lazier morning today with nothing planned until 11:00, though we still had to get to dining room before 9:00 for included breakfast buffet. The options are always the same except for the ‘porridge’: one day rice, another a corn base (not my favourite, like a sauce), but today for second time was good ole oatmeal (with watermelon) – enough so that I did not need to go back for the mains. Serving sizes are always generous here – clothes already getting tight!

After breakfast, I sat by the pool and read a bit. Lilian swam but I did not get the memo to bring swimsuit – actually the memo I got was that we should not swim but this is a standard chlorinated pool.

After Edward picked us up and we then picked up Bishop Matthias, we headed off on the ‘lovely’ Ho highway to Apaso, across the Volta River which is the border of the Diocese of Ho. I happily volunteered to sit in the third row of seats in the vehicle, only to realize a ways in that that was not a good plan. I made it most of the way before asking to trade seats with Lilian who never gets car or seasick. We went there to meet with a Ghanaian doctor, Dr. Nee Ayhre, who has been involved in medical missions in Ghana most of his 50 year career. He had come from Accra with visiting friend and had us meet at a very ritzy 4-star hotel. We just had cold drinks!

In any case, it was a very productive visit where he encouraged the vision for the mobile clinic and gave us many good ideas. He also reassured Matthias regarding making the local Ho teaching hospital a partner (along with Rotary club).

On the way back, we stopped to view a piece of land that the diocese owns and plans to build a high school on. Mostly treed at this time so long ways to go with that project. Peter can come over with chainsaw!

We also watched a woman making banku, a dough of cassava and corn which is steamed and used as the ‘bread’ with a meal, the traditional way over a charcoal fire, with her feet on metal rods holding the pot over the fire!

This evening, Matthias took us up the hill to a hotel restaurant overlooking the city. (Yes, our third hotel restaurant of the day 🙂 – this one’s quality rating in between where we had the meeting and where we are staying.). We had traditional Ghanaian dishes – though the bishop had pizza (traditional Canadian style). My dish was called red-red and Robbie’s was green-green.

Tomorrow will be a morning plus of rest, while Matthias gives his back some more healing time as well as finishing his preparations for Sunday services.

Good night from Ho.

Cheryl

16 January 2020

Today seemed warmer and more muggy than previous days, but good to not spend the day in vehicle, despite the AC.  Also, I have yet to see a mosquito, but I am told they are around.

This morning, representatives from most of the Mothers’ Union branches in the parish came to the Cathedral to meet with Lilian and discuss their activities and issues.  These groups operate much like ours at home, meeting weekly for prayer and study, and helping with the needs of their parish, but with very few resources.  When asked about their needs, one lady instantly spoke up and said money, to which all the others agreed.  Particularly, transportation is expensive so they cannot visit members or parishioners who are sick or easily get together with other branches. It was a hardship for some to come to the meeting today.

As part of this meeting, I introduced the Godly Play program and told a story, with Bishop Matthias translating for those whose English was not good.  Ghana is a new country in the GP international association, though this diocese was not yet aware of it.  They appreciated the story and way of presenting.  For those reading this who are not aware of it, it is story and play-based Christian ed.

I also got to hold a baby of one of the ladies and was shown how to strap him to my back.  Lilian has pictures.

As we were waiting for this meeting to start, we toured the school that is on the Cathedral grounds.  This school includes the only classes for special needs children in the city.  I was happy to see a computer lab as well, with about 10 workstations. I wish I had thought to bring some old IT textbooks still hanging about our house. Again, the children were excited to welcome us, and get their picture taken, of course.

After a very filling and tasty lunch made by Lucy (bishop’s wife), we then lazed about at their home for a bit – did I mention it was warmer and that lunch was very filling?  Matthias’ back is still giving him pain plus sleepy from the pain-killers, though we could not get him to go lie down.  As it is not considered a good idea for us to walk around by ourselves in the city, we stayed at the house as there was a follow-up meeting planned with some of the Rotarians regarding next steps for the mobile clinic late in the afternoon, particularly as Matthias had not been able to attend last evening. I was very impressed with all the Rotarians there and would have them on my project team any day.

After that meeting, Edward drove us back to our hotel where we had a light supper and chatted together.  I am missing being able to walk places, but learning to enjoy air-conditioning!!

Tomorrow we travel south some to meet with a doctor from the Christian Health Assoc. of Ghana, to discuss other options for personnel for the mobile clinic.

Good night everyone,
Cheryl

15 January 2020

Today included a 10 hour road trip, first to the airport in Accra to get Lilian’s luggage and then through the southern part of the Diocese of Ho / Volta Region of Ghana.  I have attached a photo of map with our hotel and the three Anglican K-8 schools we visited.  It does not look far but with road conditions (which were not as consistently bad as they seemed to a sleepy person in the dark on Monday night) and city traffic, the trip to Accra, 165 kms, took 3.5 hours and then a good while to get out again.

From Accra we headed east towards the Togo border, across the lower end of the Volta River, which marked the start of the Ho Diocese.  After a couple of brief stops, including purchasing some giant yam fries, we then headed well off the main road to visit the first school, St. Matthias.  We got there just after school closing time (2:30) but Edward had called ahead to ask them to wait for us.  We had a short meeting with the teachers then visited the Jr. (our middle school) classrooms, and then attended the school closing assembly in the yard with all ~240 students.  We three white persons seemed very interesting to the children.  They were all beautiful/ handsome/ very cute and mostly very orderly and polite, well likely shy.  They also all wanted to visit Canada.

The school needed about $1300 CDN to finish their kindergarten block; Peter will be happy to know that I did not have chequebook with me (not that a CDN cheque would have worked, of course).

We then visited two other schools, St. Mary and St. Mark, both near the Togo border. School was well out by this time but we met some students who lived nearby at the first.  This one was waiting for significant repairs to the Jr. block – with deteriorating bricks sitting by it, waiting for funds for a mason.  At the second we watched a man drawing palm oil from a fallen tree.  We also saw a group of some type of monkey on the way to Accra.

These schools were significantly less equipped than the school in Belize that Peter and I and Cathedral team helped at a few years ago.  I was particularly moved by a lesson on spreadsheets left on the board in one classroom and hearing the school has no computers on which the students can actually practise. And, similar to Belize, there are not enough places and personal resources for young people finishing Jr. school (similar to our grade 8) to attend high school.

I should note that we started the day with a phone call from Matthias to say he had fallen and hurt his back and so we went without him. Edward checked in after we got back to Ho. He had gone to hospital to check, but nothing serious and he was feeling better tonight.  With Edward driving us, we visited schools rather than churches.  He is the director of Ho Anglican schools but does not get to visit the farther away schools as he does not have a vehicle capable of going to these communities.

This evening we went to the Ho Rotary Club meeting.  Bishop Matthias would like to see a mobile health clinic (in a van) for the rural communities of the region.  Robbie hopes to obtain a large portion of the money from Rotary International but that would require his Grand Manan club partnering with the Ho club.  The members were very receptive to the idea and one member, who worked for local doctor training college said it aligned with their goals and could likely supply the doctors/interns. And Lilian won a bottle of beer at the meeting

Tomorrow Lilian and I will meet with Mothers’ Union members in the diocese.  I will also offer to tell a Godly Play story.

Cheryl

14 January 2020

We were late getting out of Fredericton due to weather and plane not arriving  to get us.  Then three planes arrived at once and ground crew got backed up in moving bags and de-icing – unfortunately, our plane was third in line.  We then missed our connection in Montreal to Brussels, by less than half an hour (that flight was barely delayed for some reason haha) and were automatically rerouted via Heathrow, which only worked because that flight was delayed leaving. Arrived for breakfast in Heathrow and got our exercise getting to our departure gate – large airport does not begin to describe it.

Our new routing had us getting in Accra, Ghana, at 8:00 pm Monday, about 4 hours after we were originally supposed to arrive.  There was a further delay as Lillian’s bag and one for Ho that she had checked were not amongst the baggage.  The claim process took a while.  Eventually we got out of the airport to a nice thick tropical heat and then on the road with Bishop Matthias and Edward Matsi driving.  Vehicle had air conditioning.  We arrived in Ho about 3 hours later at 1:00 am (I may have drifted in and out a bit).  About halfway along the roads became very difficult to drive at any speed.  Think of pavement half torn up and then left to erode for a few years.  Edward, whose day job is Director of Ho Anglican Schools, turns out to also be an excellent off-road driver.

We are staying in the Freedom Hotel, with all the amenities we need, including air-conditioned rooms and a lovely pool.

On Tuesday we slept in some then had the hotel breakfast – rice porridge, omelet, toast, beans and salad, fruit and coffee.  Bishop Matthias came by and we met about our plans for the week.  We then went to the market so Lilian could buy a dress while waiting for her luggage. She got 3 outfits, with one for sleeping and one for the pool, all for less than $20 CDN.

We went back to the hotel and there may have been some napping.  Lilian also tried the pool.  Matthias’ daughter Angela, coincidentally in town for the afternoon, came by to say hello.  A call to the airport then revealed the good news that the missing luggage had arrived there.

Then we went to Matthias’ house for a delicious and very filling meal prepared by Matthias’ wife Lucy and two granddaughters.

Plans for tomorrow include an early start to go back to Accra to pick up the luggage, then head east to the southern part of the Diocese of Ho to visit some parishes. We need to be back in Ho for Robbie to have a meeting with the Rotary Club here.

Cheryl

Bishop and Chapter News – January 2020

Posted on

Bishop and Chapter met on Monday, 13 January 2010 with eleven of a usual twelve members present. Minutes of the 16 December 2019 meeting were adopted as circulated. The Dean offered some commentary on the January Anglican Journal coverage of the recent statistical report delivered to the Council of General Synod. Some brief discussion about the complexity of making long term predictions with short term data and pointing towards various other perspectives that might suggest something other than a 2040 closure of the Anglican Church in Canada, including the “4th Turning” (Stauss and Howe). Interesting “update” blog posts are here.

Business Arising

  • Narrative Budget - materials to resource creating narrative budgets have been forwarded to the Cathedral Stewardship Team
  • Director of Music - Thomas Gonder expected to arrive 14 January
  • Cathedral Restoration Fund by-law - will be on the Finance and Administration Committee agenda this new year
  • 10:00 a.m. Sunday refreshments - consideration will be lead by Welcome and Hospitality and Worship committees

From the Dean

Report about normal duties. Christmas attendance: 567

Decision

  • ACW Plaque - made in 2006 at the 100th anniversary of Cathedral Anglican Church Women recommended to be hung in the Cathedral following approval of the Dean/Bishop
  • Clergy Stipend - 2020 stipend to be $15,400 above minimum scale ($58,461 total) plus $16,000 housing allowance
  • Staff Salaries - 2% cost of living increase in 2020
  • Administration and Finance - renamed to Finance and Administration
  • Discussion - nominations for 2020 need attention

Reports

  • Treasurer - December financials reviewed especially regarding year end status. While a 2019 deficit is quite clear, year end adjustments are likely to be required. The 2020 budget was discussed with suggestions as to presentation and confirming that anticipated income should match estimated expenses
  • Finance and Administration - budget coming to completion, Restoration Fund considerations, narrative budgeting
  • Welcome and Hospitality - on the committee’s agenda is the lunch following 10:30 a.m. worship on 23 February, which will be followed by the Annual Congregational Meeting
  • Health and Pastoral Care - regular programming continues with the exception of Chair Yoga which may begin again after winter. Plans for a possible health Information Session in February or March.
  • Christian Formation - Faith Alive! continues. Date setting for Family Faith Fiestas in 2020 (22 March and 25 October). Planning for Lenten studies and/or activities will need to begin soon
  • Communications - on-going attention to social media and the website. Thanks to those who provided “Christmas Memories.” The “people” items are popular so added emphasis in the future on “Cathedral Faces” and other interest posts could be a focus. Photos of interest are pinned to the bulletin board at the Cathedral
  • Mission and Outreach - Some discussion with ACW regarding the 100th Anniversary plaque. A two minutes for ministry has been requested 26 January which will include an update on the Housing First project. A Housing First Committee meeting date will be set soon
  • Worship - the December Christmas Carol Sing was successful with an attendance of about 100. Some debriefing may be of use for planning future similar events

Up-coming

  • 23 February - Annual (10:30 a.m. worship, luncheon and meeting)
  • 26 February - Ash Wednesday
  • 12 April - Easter Day

Next meetings: 10 February; 23 February (Annual Meeting)

GMH

Bishop and Chapter News – December 2019

Posted on

Bishop and Chapter met on Monday, 16 December 2019 with nine of a usual twelve members present. Minutes of the November 2019 meeting were adopted as circulated. The Dean offered some reflections on the process of narrative budgeting referring largely to a version of an article by Susan Graham Walker - “How to write a narrative budget.” Considerable discussion yielded consensus that a narrative budget project would be beneficial to us with a delivery target of the congregational annual meeting in 2021. The Dean will refer to Cathedral Stewardship Team.

Correspondence
• No response as yet to a reply to the request to use the green for an upcoming RCR FROSTival event involving the military
• $1000 gift received from the estate of Sheila Laidlaw (Belize Missions)

Business Arising
• Christmas memories - post preparation in process by the Communications Committee for sharing on the website prior to Christmas
• Director of Music - Thomas Gonder will arrive mid-January to begin in the position. A letter of employment has been completed.
• Housing First project - City Council approvals have been completed. Next step is transfer of land to the Cathedral. The Cathedral group will need to meet to attend to details, including legal and insurance issues. Completion of construction is estimated to be mid to late summer 2020.
• Cathedral Restoration Fund by law - remains as an item for attention in the near future by Administration and Finance Committee
• 10:00 a.m. Sunday refreshments - in consultation with Worship and Welcome Hospitality committees, S. Dibblee to initiate discussion

From the Dean
Report on normal activities, pastoral and liturgical duties.

Discussion
• 2020 Budget - draft 2. Budgeting progress includes good response from committees regarding anticipated ministry next year. Discussion identified several important questions regarding the budget strategy including: how to represent shortfall compared to anticipated offering in 2020. Chapter recommended a small budget team to meet in early January (with 2019 year-end results) to give further consideration, reporting to the Chapter 13 January meeting. Dean to initiate.

Reports
• Treasurer - positive November (tithing Sunday) and a slight strengthening of average offerings since, the running deficit has been somewhat reduced. With seasonal generosity in December, the hope is that revenues will come close to expenses year-end.
• Welcome and Hospitality - six large congregational events during the past year, well received and supported. Committee membership is needed. Inquiries regarding expectations at Annual meeting time
• Health and Pastoral Care - written report read. Normal ministries continue. Up-coming consideration about future Healing Services. Some discussion about possible refreshments for 10 a.m. Sundays.
• Christian Formation - Faith Alive, (confirmation, reaffirmation and reception) currently about 25 participants and is the present main focus
• Communications - door hangers for Carol Sing and Christmas worship delivered to the neighbourhood. On-going maintenance of networks including website and social media
• Mission and Outreach - St. Hilda’s, Belize support transfer of $1000 this month. Housing First. Monday outreach Christmas 16 December
• Worship - new Director of Music 16 January. Carol Sing 18 December

Up-coming
• Christmas Lessons and Carols - 22 December
• 29 December - 10:00 a.m. Carols for Christmas
• 01 January - 11:00 a.m. New Years Day with the Bishop
• 04 January - 11:00 a.m. Our Bishop’s wedding
• 23 February - Annual (10:30 a.m. worship, luncheon and meeting)

Next meetings: 13 January; 10 February

GMH

2019 Christmas Pastoral Letter

Posted on

2019 Christmas header

Advent 2019

Dear Friends in Christ,

Once again Christmas celebration is thrust upon us in the midst of already busy lives. Time flows ever onward whether we are ready for what it holds in store or not. The challenge at Christians is often to be ready to greet whatever comes along and that applies also to the calendar call to celebrate the birth and Incarnation of our Lord once more. If we feel somehow that this year is just like any other or that we are somewhat ill prepared, we might remember a few details of the first Christmas to help orient ourselves for yet another Christmastide.

You’ll remember that the stage of the drama of the first Christmas was a stable. The Saviour was born not in a palace or even a comfortable nursery. Many legends and interpretations exist about the Stable. One truth is clear from the biblical account: the place of the birth of Jesus was ordinary, plain, and common. This should bring us comfort. If Christ could have been born in a stable, he can also be born in any of us.

Seldom is Christ born in the satisfied or complacent, in whom everything is snug and in good order. It seems the Christ is most often born in the lives of people who live with frustration and a certain feeling of helplessness who cannot seem to make of themselves all that they wish. The consciousness of this weakness gives them humility and an openness to the Divine.

In his book "The Drama of Christmas," Morton Kelsey offers an inspiration of some new ‘Beatitudes of the Stable’ which reads:

Blessed are the stables, for in one of them the Christ child was born.
Blessed are those whose lives feel like stables and who want to live differently, for in them the Christ can be born.
Blessed are the persecuted and the heavy-laden, those in sorrow, trouble, need, or adversity, for creative love seeks to enter their hearts and be born in them.

This Christmas, we need to swing open the stable doors of our souls and let Christ in. God seeks us like a shepherd his lost sheep. The Holy One seeks us far more than we seek him. That alone makes us worthy to receive what divine love offers us — the Gospel of Christmas!

Christ Church Cathedral will of course celebrate the birth of Divine Love into the world. A schedule for the Christmas Season is here for convenience. Should you be unable to attend one of the Christmas Communions, please contact the Office to arrange for a home visit. It is my prayer that we will once more be ready to receive the Christ—the One who, "full of grace and truth" offers himself to us, and I remain,

Give a festival offering

Or use the envelope in your boxed set

Yours in the faith,

 

 

Geoffrey Hall
Dean of Fredericton

Housing First – United Way Central NB

Posted on

Great news! -- Approved zoning applications for TWO new developments for Housing First in our community. Many years and many partners in the making, these 7 units are another important step toward our goal of building 40 units of housing to foster safety and inclusion for people who have endured chronic homelessness in our community. One more step toward getting people 'out of the cold - for good'.

This step is an example of the COMMUNITY COLLABORATION needed to end our housing and homelessness crisis:

beginning with the collective efforts to create a multi-year plan to end homelessness (with specific targets, best practices, and models for change);
the creation of a capital fund to help drive the construction of purpose-built housing,
the dozens of private citizens and small businesses that took a leap of faith and each donated $35,692 to this fund;
the service providers who bravely moved to adopt harm-reduction and Housing First services to wrap around individuals who have fallen through the cracks of other models;
the private sector partners and individual citizens who have lent their time and expertise to reduce overhead (such as, technical drawings, architectural expertise, legal review, landscaping support, appliances, cabinetry, heating/cooling solutions, and construction);
the elected officials and public staffers who went above and beyond to educate their peers and advocate for new approaches;
our municipality that took the courageous and creative step to re-purpose under-used land;
the faith-groups and service providers that have opened their doors and minds to listen to our wild ideas about a collaboration;
the committee members who took leadership roles to submit an application to our Housing First Fund;
the evaluation committee members who carefully reviewed these applications;
the individuals and professionals came out at night to help with door-knocking and neighbourhood consultations.

One more step toward getting people 'out of the cold - for good'

It took thousands of hours and hands to reach this point.

We have many steps ahead but this is one hurdle worth celebrating!

When all 40 units are finally built in our community, we will not only be able to end the cycle of homelessness for people who have survived long months/years on our streets but we will also create a model of sustainability for many years to come! It is our community's collective vision that these 40 units will be owned mortgage-free by non-profit entities so that revenues from rent-subsidies can be diverted back into much-needed services - not mortgage payments.

All the front end heavy-lifting of these partners means we will create housing, reduce emergency services usage, generate sustainable funds for evidence-based services, AND save lives.

Congratulations and thank you to the thousands of hands that have touched this work and who will help continue to move this important work down the road home.

Posted by United Way Central NB on Facebook
21 November 2019

United Way Central New Brunswick

Fredericton Community Action Group on Homelessness
City of Fredericton
Government of New Brunswick
Fredericton Community Foundation
Christ Church Cathedral - Fredericton
Smythe Street Church
Greater Fredericton Social Innovation Overcoming Poverty Together-Ensemble pour vaincre la pauvreté

Housing First Cathedral project update – November 2019

Posted on

Housing First project taking shape
November 2019 update

If all goes well, three homeless people will have roofs over their heads next summer in a three-unit townhouse owned by Christ Church Cathedral.

Penny Ericson, chair of the cathedral's Outreach Committee, said the cathedral's project on Albert Street and a four-unit townhouse on Jaffrey Street, owned by Smythe Street Church, were approved at a recent meeting of the city's planning advisory committee.

... homeless people are provided with a place to live and support services

"No one spoke in opposition to the projects at the PAC meeting,” she was pleased to report. “Rezoning is required, and next steps are taking place at upcoming City Council meetings. I anticipate that it will be accepted because the City wishes the program to move forward, and the land that they are donating is not useful for them in any other way.”

The small houses fall under a concept called Housing First in which homeless people are provided with a place to live and support services. The goal is to make their lives healthier and more stable by removing the anxiety of chronic homelessness. One four-unit townhouse, operated by the John Howard Society, opened a few months ago on the north side.

“It's taken a community effort to get these projects going, but fund-raising has gone well, building designs are in place, and it's exciting to be moving ahead,” she said.

The land is hilly and will need to be graded in the spring before the three-unit townhouse can be placed on the plot. This work will be weather-dependent, but Bill Jones will have the three houses ready. The PAC was told construction should be finished by late summer.

“I plan to call a meeting for those at the cathedral interested in assisting with the houses and their tenants in February 2020,” Penny said. “I will keep everyone aware of the council's decisions and any changes that occur. It has been a long wait, but it will all be worth it."

Ann Deveau

The Road Home Fredericton
Permanent Supportive Hosuing Request for Proposals

Bishop and Chapter News – November 2019

Posted on

Bishop and Chapter met on Monday, 18 November 2019 with nine of a usual twelve members present. Minutes of the 16 September 2019 were adopted. A lack of a quorum in October resulted in information sharing and discussion with no official business. A short discussion about the Growing in Giving stewardship initiative and a review of the fourth circulation: “Top ten truths of biblical giving”

Correspondence

• Request to use the green - for an upcoming RCR FROSTival event
• Request to consider - a partnership on the Fredericton Soldier Biography History Initiative (NB Archives). More information to follow

Business Arising

• Calithumpians - memorandum of understanding and rental agreement for two rooms at Memorial Hall was completed and occupancy began in early November
• August gift - temporarily restricted to be invested
• Greater Chapter - prior to Synod 2019. Several changes to diocesan canons including direction about corporations retaining copies of insurance policies and requirements on reporting restricted funds

Decision

• Green request - by consensus it was agreed to permit use of the green on the north side of Queen Street by the Royal New Brunswick Regiment FROSTival event 25 January 2020. Inquiry about a potential contribution to Cathedral ministry and public recognition suggested
• 2019 Review engagement - that Bringloe Feeney LLP accountants be asked to perform the third party review of 2019 financials.

Discussion

• 2020 Budget - Chapter committees and the groups and organizations under their purview are asked to give consideration to budget requirements for the coming year. A preliminary budget was discussed with an early forecast provided by the Treasurer. There was discussion about the challenges that arise due available resources, especially in areas where we may need or should make changes in our level of investment in ministry initiatives to better reach into communities
•  Sunday Refreshments - suggested investigation about possibility with 10:00 a.m. Sunday

Reports

• Treasurer - While a deficit still exists, Tithing Sunday (03 November) will have had a positive impact on year end. The Treasurer offered a mid November report which helped capture some of the offering activity early in November
• Hospitality and Welcome - There continues to be need for commitments for welcomers during Sunday worship. The goal is to have at least one individual scheduled at each time
• Administration and Finance - work continues to implement the policy on records management. The Committee will work with the Treasurer over the next several weeks as we continue to clarify reporting and prepare next year’s budget
• Christian Formation - Confirmation, Reaffirmation and Reception preparation will begin in early December. Expressions of interest still being accepted. A work plan for the coming year will be on the agenda this month
• Communications - working with Worship on the possibility of a Carol Sing in December. Weekly Gleaner ad has been stopped by parishes of the Fredericton and York deaneries. Christmas promotions being considered. Content for website is requested
Mission and Outreach - City approvals for Housing First homes in process. Cathedral’s project expected to be complete by late spring, early summer
Worship - offer of employment made to a new Director of Music with verbal acceptance to begin 03 January 2020.

Up-coming

• Lessons and Carols - 01 December (Advent), 22 December (Christmas)
• 29 December - 10:00 a.m. Carols for Christmas
• 01 January - 11:00 a.m. New Years Day with the Bishop
• 04 January - 11:00 a.m. Our Bishop’s wedding
Next meetings:    16 December, 13 January; 10 February

GMH

2019 Out of the Cold

Posted on

19 December UPDATE - The new shelter is open at 332 Brunswick Street with 20-30 beds and they still need many items to function this winter. Donations to Wilmot United Church, Monday to Saturday 10 am-1 pm. An up to date list of needs is posted at the back of the Cathedral. Former and new volunteers are needed to help with cleaning, time with the community, and as helping hands for staff and residents. Shift times: Evening: 7 -11 pm / Night: 11 pm.-6am / Morning: 6-8 am. Cleaning shifts: Mondays / Wednesdays / Fridays, 8:30 - 10:30am. <ootcshelter at gmail.com> To volunteer <connectfredericton.ca>

Help Needed -  St. Paul's United Church, corner of York and George, has issued an urgent and immediate call for volunteers to help at its overnight warming space for homeless people, which will fill a gap in services until the planned, new, out-of-the-cold shelter is up and running. Volunteers would need to stay overnight in the church from 8 p.m. until 7 a.m., working in a team of three or four people, one of whom would be an employee of the John Howard Society or the provincial Department of Social Development. Currently, the warming space is averaging seven guests nightly, but the demand is predicted to increase sharply as the cold weather worsens. People willing and able to serve in this ministry to vulnerable people are asked to contact Shelby at (506) 467-6034 with their name, phone number and email address.

Community Action Group on Homelessness - Out of the Cold website

Growing in Giving – top ten truths

Posted on

4. Top Ten Truths

About Biblical Giving

1. The Tithe Is the First 10 Percent
"Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly from the field." (Deuteronomy 14:22) Few of us bring in a yield from the field these days. But a "yield" we do possess.

Wondering how to calculate your tithe? It's easy! The tithe is the first 10 percent of your gross income—before any expenses or obligations, including taxes. Find out that number for the year, month or weeks and move the decimal point one place to the left. How do we know? God says, "Honour the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce." (Proverbs 3:9). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines firstfruits as "the earliest gathered fruits offered to God in acknowledgment of the gift of fruitfulness" (See also Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:32; Hebrews 7:2, 4).

There's something spiritually significant about giving God our first and best, rather than the leftovers. And it means something to him, too. In Malachi 1:6-12, some of the priests at the Temple got a bright idea. Instead of offering unblemished animals as sacrifices to the Lord, they decided to make sacrificing more convenient and cost-effective. So, they began encouraging people to give their blind and lame animals, instead of the best of the bunch. The priests were giving God the leftovers instead of the first and best. In response, God said, "Where is the honour due to me? And if I am a master, where is the respect due to me? says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 1:6). God viewed the practice as dishonouring him—because it was!

When God gave his first and only Son as a sacrifice for our sins, he gave his first and best. He deserves nothing less from us.

2. The Tithe Belongs to God
"Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21)

Some people get very defensive when a church leader talks about the tithe. "All they want is my money!" they'll say. That kind of attitude comes from a spirit of fear and judgment, and it is outside of the walk of love we are called by God to make our way of living. Most pastors are trying to help others understand the principle of tithing for their own benefit! But the real question isn't about whether or not a pastor is trying to get your money—it's whether we understand that the tithe belongs to God.

Is God really of first importance in our lives? If he is, there won't be such strong opposition to the idea of giving him our first and best. Scripture says, "All tithes from the land, whether the seed from the ground or the fruit from the tree, are the Lord's; they are holy to the Lord." (Leviticus 27:30).

In other words, when we tithe, we aren't giving our money to a pastor or a church—we're giving it to God. Certainly, it's important to be sure we are giving into good soil, but once we make that determination, our heart needs to release the tithe into God's hands for his purposes. If we don't, release it, there's no way around it—we're robbing God (Malachi 3:8). There is no blessing in robbing.

3. We Present Our Tithes to Jesus
"In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives." (Hebrews 7:8)

In the Old Covenant, the people presented their tithes to the high priest. Today, Jesus is the High Priest, so we present our tithes to him (Hebrews 4:14-16). That's why tithing isn't about money—it's about honour. We honour God with our tithe when we present our tithes to Jesus. How do we do this? First, we do it joyfully—we don't murmur. "God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7) Then, it becomes a deliberate act of worship.

"Honour the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10) So, every time we give—we present our tithe to the Lord with honour. That's the heart that leads to increase; that is the heart with which we tithe.

4. We Give Our Tithes in Faith
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

If we tithe in fear—fear that we won't have enough left over, fear that we won't be able to make ends meet, fear that we won't get a return, fear that it won’t be used properly—we're not tithing in faith. And if we're not tithing in faith, we're not eligible to receive the benefits.

So, don't just tithe—tithe in faith! Do it believing that God will rebuke the evil one for your sake (Malachi 3:11) and that he'll open the windows of heaven over your life (Malachi 3:10). If we aren't tithing faithfully, our priorities are in the wrong place. Our priorities are in the temporal realm instead of the spiritual realm. And it's what's in the spiritual realm that will always bring us out of trouble and bring about abundant blessing.

Faith says, "We're going to tithe first." And faith knows God will take care of us in the meantime.

5. We Tithe Using Words
At harvest thanksgiving this year we read from Deuteronomy 26:2 "Take some of the firstfruits…. and say to the priest ...”

If we approach our giving as a matter of the heart, rather than just bucket-plunking, we'll not only begin to see it as an act of honour and worship, but an act of faith. Part of that act of faith is that we give using words.

In the Old Covenant, God's people would place the firstfruits of their increase—in a basket, present it to the high priest, and say to him, "Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us." (Deuteronomy 26:3). Redemption was being spoken.

For the Christian, Jesus is the High Priest. When we present our tithe to him, we should do so with our words, declaring the benefits and protections. Say out loud, "As I give, I believe the evil one is rebuked in my life, and the windows of heaven are opening up over every part of my life. As you give, it "... it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." (Luke 6:38) And it is!

6. Giving the Tenth Protects the Other 90 Percent
"I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 3:11)

Isn't it "the locust," which threatens to destroy, for no good purpose, that which we hold dear?

"I can't afford to tithe." Have you ever heard or said those words? You may have even thought, “When I can afford it, I'll tithe. “ Some of us may have been thinking that for 10 years, and we still don't think we can afford it. That should tell us something. What we're doing is not working.

Here's a simple truth about giving the 10 percent: Give God what is his, and he will protect what is yours. As you honour God with the 10 percent that belongs to him, he'll get involved with the rest. The other 90 percent will go further than ever before because you've got the generous heart God wants you to have when making financial decisions. Good financial decisions is what stewardship is all about. The majority of us don't make them. It’s the witness of every tither that the tithe given is never missed.

The tithe of our income belongs to God. It lays the foundation of our financial success and abundance. There’s a protection plan attached to the tithe.

If you're not a tither, you can look back in your life, and you can see where your fruit was destroyed, where your situation didn't work out, where your job didn't come to full fruition, where you weren't able to do what you intended to do. What's missing in all of that is assurance that we have invested in what really matters. Of one thing we can be assured, what we invest in the work of God matters and it is blessed. With that blessing also comes enormous blessing for us.

7. Tithing Is the Only Area of Life Where God Says "Test Me!"
"Put me to the test!" (Malachi 3:10)

This is God himself speaking, and God is saying, "Prove me in this." This is the only time in the whole of the Bible where God instructs us to test him, and it is the one area where most people have withdrawn from proving God. He tells us the evil one will be rebuked. "See if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing." (Malachi 3:10-11) Have you ever tried to test God? Have you experienced a result? Why not?

Tithing is a lifestyle choice, not a hobby. A tither is a giver from the heart. So, don't just toss some money in a bucket and wait to see what happens. It is necessary to test the Lord with the giver's heart. That's when harvest comes. If we're not sowers we're not entitled to the harvest. Harsh reality. Vivid truth.

8. Tithing Is a Covenant Connection
"They have transgressed my covenant that I imposed on them. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their own belongings. Therefore the Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they turn their backs to their enemies, because they have become a thing devoted for destruction themselves. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you." (Joshua 7:11-12)

Refusing to give based on Scripture's direction, disconnects us from the Covenant which blesses. When we tithe, we give God the legal right to intervene in our affairs, to bless us richly, and to defend us against the destruction the evil one brings.

Why should we wait until our back is against the wall? Why not begin now? Meditate on the blessings God's Word promises. Learn to act on the Word now, and when Satan tries to put you in a financial corner, failure will result. Live into the covenant of God and there will be little which can ultimately prevail.

9. God Created the Giving Heart for Our Benefit
"Honour the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10) Has that been quoted before?

Tithing isn't sowing—it's giving back to God what belongs to him. As a result, we will live in the overflow! That's the harvest. A good harvester is one who plans to give back what is already owned.

10. Our Giving Only Opens the Door to Blessing
"Then you ... with the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house." (Deuteronomy 26:11)

Being a wise and obedient steward of what God has given us is the least and the most that God requires of us. Perhaps it all begins with the proper handling of what belongs to God—the tithe. Tithing is an open door to the blessing that God set forth to bless us and keep us.

In Deuteronomy 28, God spoke to the Israelites about the curse and the blessing. But just prior to that, in Deuteronomy 26, he spoke to them about letting him in on their finances—through the tithe. Why? Not because God needed the money, but because they needed the help. They were going into the Promised Land where there would be many challenges. He told them about tithing, the curse and the blessing ... and in that order.

It's still the same for us today. If you've been thinking, “I believe in tithing but, I just can't afford it,” you're going backward. Because if you don't invite the blessing, you invite the curse.

These are 10 truths about giving. Is any of this magic or empty promises? Put these truths to work in your life—perceive them as the revelation they are—and just see if the result of God's promises don't increase. Are you hesitant to walk the life of a tither—take the plunge. Read the verses in scripture about giving, its central role in the walk of faith and, act on them. Start to tithe! Then, buckle your seatbelt and get ready for a truly exciting journey!

Scripture from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Growing in Giving ... #1 - A Giving FAQ - What about stewardship? What about the tithe?
Growing in Giving ... #2 - What is a tithing (“demonstration”) Sunday?
Growing in Giving ... #3 - Principles of giving - a biblical quiz
Growing in Giving ... #4 - Top ten truths about biblical giving