Author Archive: Geoffrey Hall

Cathedral Faces – Janet Mahar

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England, Scotland, Indonesia, Bali, Ireland, New Zealand, the Philippines, and a Bible Study tour of the Middle East. That’s a list of a few of the places that Janet Mahar, the secretary of Bishop and Chapter, has visited and/or worked in over the past 34 years!

Janet grew up in Lincoln NB and graduated from the Devon Park Christian School. She was raised in the Baptist faith. After graduating from the University of New Brunswick with a degree in biology and worked for 2 summers at the Huntsman Marine Station in St. Andrews. Janet spent some time working in a lab in Liverpool, England and visiting Scotland.

Shortly after leaving the UK, Janet accepted a position teaching biology in an international school in Indonesia. In this environment, Janet found herself overwhelmed by the work and found it difficult to find the time or energy for church, or a Christian Church that didn’t follow what is known as the “Health and Wealth Gospel.” She taught in Indonesia for 3 1/2 years.

Janet in 2010, wearing a traditional costume from the Indonesian province of Sulawesi for Cultural Night

In 2011, Janet returned to NB and, seeking a new career, enrolled in a Pharmacy Technician course in Moncton in 2014. She attended a Baptist Church there until, wanting to try a different denomination, she attended the Palm Sunday service at an Anglican Church in Moncton where Bishop David Edwards was speaking. Coincidentally, it seemed, when Janet returned to Fredericton for Easter and attended the Good Friday service at Christ Church Cathedral, who should be there but Bishop David Edwards. Janet says that seeing Bishop David at the 2 services in 2 cities in 1 week was a connection for her, and it seemed to be a confirmation of where she should be.

She has been a part of the Cathedral congregation since graduating in June 2015. While participating in a Lenten Study last year, Dean Geoffrey Hall asked if she would be interested in taking on the role of secretary for Bishop & Chapter. Janet saw this as an opportunity to serve and gain more knowledge and experience of the Anglican faith. She is also a member of the Adult Choir and the Server’s Guild. Janet prefers the traditional 10 AM Eucharist. She says she “loves the words that have stood the test of time” in the liturgy.

Janet currently works as a Pharmacy Assistant at the DECH and is working towards her registry as a Pharmacy Technician. She has an older brother in Fredericton, and her younger brother and Mom still live in Lincoln. Janet’s Dad, John W. Mahar, the owner of Topmar Building Supplies and a well-known Fredericton businessman, passed away 9 years ago as the result of an accident.

We are fortunate to have Janet as a member of our congregation and serving the Bishop & Chapter. As one who is so skilled in taking, as she was told, “minutes not hours,” she is appreciated for her excellent work!

Cathedral Communications

Bishop and Chapter News – May 2017

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Bishop and Chapter met on Monday, 15 May with eight of eleven members present. Minutes of the 20 March 2017 were amended and adopted. The Dean led a conversation focussing on Acts 17:22-31 – “the altar with the inscription: ‘to an unknown god.’” What can we do to get outside of ourselves and our worship spaces to create a a better sense of belonging and invitation?

Business Arising
• Safe Church Officer – Nathan Cutler appointed
• Stipends and salaries – Administration and Finance Committee will initiate staff reviews to be complete by the end of June
• Christian formation – item for decision
• Sexton appointment – following six-month probationary period
• HST rebates – the Treasurer following up on past applications

From the Dean
• Routine activities – summary of regular items including; diocesan meetings, 3 funerals, Canadian Bible Society luncheon in March
• Refillable liquid candles – Cathedral candles being converted
• Volunteers and leadership – several areas of leadership require volunteers. How do we more effectively engage the congregation in leadership?
• June – August Clergy schedule – will be created in the next week
• Pentecost 04 June – possibility of worship out of doors with BBQ
• Up-coming – Friday organ concerts and summer recital series

Items for Decision
• Resignation – regretfully accepted the resignation of John Ball as member of the Chapter and chair of the Hospitality Committee
• Administration and Finance Committee – terms of reference adopted
• Director of Christian Formation – half-time position will be advertised until 31 May with interviews in June, targeting 01 July as preferred start
• Commendation for Ordination – following the work of the discernment committee, Alan Hall was commended for further discernment leading to ordination
• Transfers to Diocesan Investment Fund (DCIF) – 1. Restoration Fund savings account to be closed and invested as Restoration Fund in the DCIF; 2. Surplus of operating to be invested

Discussion
Cathedral leadership needs – involvement of congregation in many ministries. e.g. worship greeters, servers, mentors, membership / welcoming team, member of Chapter (Hospitality), stewardship coordinator, Community Kitchen, assistant verger, Helping Hands, visitors, etc. Executive and Communications Committees to develop a plan to challenge all to greater participation

Reports
• Treasurer – current summary reviewed; trusts and designated funds being reviewed
• Mission Outreach – refugee sponsorship continuing challenges; Monday morning has concluded
• Communications – will develop a plan that will see leaders of various ministries speak for 2 minutes (max.) as part of weekly worship and the communication of leadership needs
• Health and Pastoral care – safe church implementation is a process
• Worship – recent meeting hosted conversation with related roles

Up-coming Events
• Hall steps repair to begin soon; Pentecost 04 June

Next meetings:
12 June, 21 August (tentative), 18 September

GMH

OPENING: Director of Christian Formation (1/2 time)

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Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton has an opening for a part-time Christian Formation Director/Coordinator to commence work on or around July 1, 2017. This contract position is based on the person hired working 20 hours per week.

The successful applicant will see as a foundation of this ministry the facilitation of several formation and discipleship activities, working with other leadership towards an increased number of mission-minded followers of Jesus Christ within the Cathedral congregation.

Specific areas of the ministry will include:

  • co-ordination and teacher development for the children’s Christian education program, while looking to expand this to all ages;
  • scheduling, co-ordination, publicity and recruitment of leaders and mentors for baptism, first communion and confirmation preparation;
  • organization of intergenerational activities to recognize special times and seasons in the church calendar;
  • encouraging the organization of home-based study and prayer groups and training of leaders;
  • support for families in both community and home-based Christian formation;
  • support of Alpha Course leadership;
  • development and support of a regular seeker/ new member/ new Christian learning programme(s);
  • particular focus initially on families with children, including engaging with them to determine needs and expectations
  • Day to day supervision will be by the Dean. The Christian Formation Committee of Bishop and Chapter will function as a support group for the Christian Formation Director. This group will work with the Director to develop yearly outcomes.
  • Qualifications of persons considered for this position include having a living, maturing Christian faith, commitment and experience working with children, youth and families, and having knowledge of and/or are supportive of the Anglican expression of the Christian faith.

Successful applicant will be expected to submit to a criminal record check.

Please submit your resume outlining your interest and experiences and two references on or before May 31, 2017. For further information, please contact: the Dean of Fredericton at (506) 450-7761.

Email:   search at cccath.ca
Christ Church Cathedral
Attention:  Formation Search Committee
168 Church Street
Fredericton NB  E3B 4C9

2017 photo directory arrives

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… and we are almost as excited as Steve Martin when he proclaimed that classic movie line “the new phone books are here!”  The directories arrived late last week and are available, free of charge, for pick up at the Cathedral Office to anyone that has a photo in the Directory.  If you chose not to be in the Directory, but would like a copy, there are a few additional copies available at a cost of $20 each.

The members of the Communications Committee hope that the Directory will prove to be a useful communications tool for the Cathedral congregation and we look forward to any feedback that you might have.

For those who may have missed being in the Directory and who would like to be added, we are considering producing an addendum (insert) towards the end of June.  You would need to provide a scanned photo and/or have your contact information in order to be added. We would like the Directory to be as up-to-date and inclusive as possible, so please feel free to consider this option.

We hope you enjoy the 2017 Christ Church Cathedral Directory!

Communications Committee
(Marilyn Lewell, Kirsten McKnight, Rebecca Butler, Geoffrey Hall, Richard Tervo, Gail MacGillivray)

Music Monthly – May 2017

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7 May 2017 – Fourth Sunday of Easter

10.00am: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
A Prayer of King Henry VI – Ley
Mass of St. Denis – Cabena
Psalm 23
Jesu dulcis memoria – Victoria
459,508, 444, 85, 216
Toccata – Mushel

4.00pm: Choral Evensong
Smith Responses
Psalm 103
Brewer in D
Blessed be the God and Father – Wesley
17, 515, 467
Prelude on Wir glauben all’ BWV 680 – Bach

14 May 2017 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

10.00am: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Almighty God, which hast me brought – Ford
Sumsion in F
Psalm 31:1-6, 18-19
A Gaelic Blessing – Rutter
217, 559, 377, 569, 550
Sonata in F major (1st movement) – Mendelssohn

21 May 2017 – Sixth Sunday of Easter – Rogation Sunday

10.00am Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Rejoice in the Lord alway – Anon. 16th century
Barnard in D
Psalm 66:7-18
Ye birds with open throat – Meek
2, 572, 394, 605, 215
Processional – Mathias

Thursday 25 May 2017 – Ascension Day

7.30pm: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Missa Secunda – Hassler
Psalm 47
God is gone up with a merry noise – Croft
245, 419, 310, 83, 247(206)
Heut’ triumphiret Gottes Sohn BWV 630 – Bach

28 May 2017 – Sunday after Ascension Day – Jerusalem Sunday

10.00am: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
O Lord, give thy Holy Spirit – Tallis
Missa collegium regale – Howells
Psalm 68:1-10, 29-32
O God, the King of glory – Purcell
320, 246, 486, 84, 379
Toccata on Deo gratias – Richard Keys Biggs

Agnus Dei Pictorial – Michael Khoury

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These are a few of the many images I made, depicting my rendition of the beautiful stained glass windows inside the Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton. I created this video keeping in mind the Holy Week celebrations occurring this week throughout the world.

photography Michael Khoury
video design Michael Khoury
music ‘Agnus Dei’ – Karl Jenkins

2017 Easter Pastoral Letter

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Lent 2017

Dear Friends,

Easter is “late.” It is not by accident that its date changes each year, always keeping us guessing for the next. The vernal equinox governs the date (as it does the Passover), Easter being the Sunday after the first full moon after 20 March, or the fourth full moon of the year. Various artists depict Jesus in the garden on the night before his crucifixion and often a glorious full moon sets the background. It’s yet another reminder that the God of the universe chose to enter the flesh and blood of a very real world. Jesus Christ is as much human as he is God.

On the Eve of the Crucifixion, Jesus’ intense prayer is described by the Gospel writers as sweat on his brow “like drops of blood falling to the ground.” The pain of garden betrayal unfolds. The religious, political and societal systems all plot against him and his fate is sealed. Jesus is sentenced by the authorities to death.

Listening closely on Good Friday, we’ll hear hard nails pierce soft flesh of the Saviour’s hands and feet. We’ll hear the cry of desperation of a man forsaken by the God he intimately called “Father.” He gasps for a last breath and it is finished. His body removed and put to rest in another garden tomb. The world has spoken. Jesus is dead.

The purpose of all of this, of course, is to remind us of the most important of facts we know of this man called Messiah. Jesus came to earth as one of us. Jesus is as much human as he is God. He is as much like us as he is not. It is that similarity – that closeness of nature – that makes it possible for him to do for humanity something that countless centuries of gods could never do. He saves us from our sins. He saves us from ourselves. Through his death, he has paid the price, bridging the gap between God and his people. The world has counted its years for the last two millennia measured by the coming of the Christ – AD, in Medieval Latin “anno Domini” (the year of our Lord) or CE (the Christian era).

The Resurrection of Jesus marks more than a new beginning in time. It also marks the beginning of life in a world often marked by darkness and despair. Christians live into a hope that would not be possible if Christ had not defeated death for ever. We have the privilege, through faith, to live the risen life and to look forward to the world of the life to come. Eternity is a long, long time, and God created us in his image to live in it and, with him forever.

Once again we’ll mark the journey to the Cross at Christ Church Cathedral through the days of Holy Week and join together at Easter to proclaim the message: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! A schedule of worship is HERE. Those wishing to have the sacrament at home, please contact the cathedral office. Please also note the Easter Sunday schedule change.

In Christ,

 

 

Make an Easter Offering Online

Geoffrey Hall, Dean of Fredericton

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Music Monthly – April 2017

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2 April 2017 – Passion Sunday

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Cast thy burden upon the Lord – Mendelssohn
German Mass – Schubert
Psalm 130
Like as the hart – Howells
40, 408, 306, 64, 454
Theme and Variations – Andriessen
4.00: Choral Evensong
Morley Responses
Psalm 145
Farrant’s Service
Out of the deep – Morley
437,116, 29
Psalm Prelude, Set 2, No.1 – Howells

9 April 2017 – Palm Sunday

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Wood in the Phrygian Mode
Psalm 31:10-19
The Passion according to St. Matthew – Victoria
Salvator mundi – Tallis
181 and 182, 198, 57, 50, 200
Toccata and Fugue in modo dorico BWV 538 – Bach

Wednesday 12 April 2017

7.30pm: Tenebrae
Antiphons – Willan
184, 330

Maundy Thursday 13 April 2017

7.30pm: Eucharist (BCP) and Stripping of the Altars
Missa l’hora passa – Viadana
Ave verum corpus – Byrd
180, 190, 311, 54,

Good Friday 14 April 2017

10.00: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
Psalm 22
Hymn 202
O vos omnes – Croce
Jesus, remember me – Berthier (634)
God so loved the world – Goss

Holy Saturday 15 April 2017

8.00pm: Great Vigil of Easter
Exultet
Psalm 143
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
This joyful Eastertide
218, 214, 228, 203
Incantation pour un jour saint – Langlais

Easter Day 16 April 2017

10.30: Choral Eucharist (BAS)
Festive Eucharist – Rawsthorne
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24
Alleluia (714)
Christ the Lord is risen again – Rutter
Hymns on Ordo
Toccata (5th Symphony) – Widor

23 April 2017 – Second Sunday of Easter

10.00: Choral Eucharist (BCP)
Cantate Domino – Pitoni
Darke in F
Psalm 16
Come, ye faithful – Thatcher
220, 222, 212, 60, 529
Sarabande for the Morning of Easter – Howells

30 April 2017 – Third Sunday of Easter

10.00: Choral Matins (BCP)
O sing joyfully – Batten
Smith Responses
Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17
Medley in B flat
207, 456, 231, 348
Paean – Chuckerbutty

Christ Church Cathedral – A Documentary

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St. Thomas University journalism student Christopher Robinson completed a class project in March – a documentary about Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton.

Including brief interviews with the Bishop of Fredericton, the Dean and the Cathedral Verger, Chris has captured to video some of the Cathedral’s most striking visuals. At the same time, he offers some commentary on the history and present day reality of Cathedral life. He upholds the place of privilege enjoyed by the Cathedral as an architecturally important piece of the fabric of the City of Fredericton.

Tourists from the world over visit the Cathedral each year. We are committed to see Cathedral doors open Monday – Friday and on Sundays. We invite both visitors to, and residents of, Fredericton to prayer and to enjoy the presence of God so profoundly communicated by this example of mid 19th century Gothic architecture.

 

Cathedral Faces – Canon David Staples

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Father David Staples, an honorary assistant and Canon of Christ Church Cathedral is a regular attendee at the Sunday 8:00 am and Wednesday 10:00 am Eucharist. Many have often remarked how much they enjoy his occasional playing of the organ.

David requested that the interview be held in his home in downtown Fredericton, so that we could see “the real David Staples.” His condominium is filled with seven generations of antique furniture and paintings. He shares this “museum” as he playfully calls it, with his friendly Bombay cat, Lucifer.  Lucifer sports a sleek, totally black coat, peering at you with eyes that change colour with his mood. It is obvious who rules the roost!

Canon David Staples

Canon David Staples

Father David was born in Fredericton, and grew up in Nashwaaksis, attending The Church of St. John the Evangelist which was spiritually and lovingly cared for by the Reverend Canon C. Alvin Hawkes. In the 1960’s, Father David’s organ lessons began at the Cathedral under the competent instruction of Mrs. F. Lansdowne Belyea. Later, while attending Atlantic School of Theology, he was appointed organist of the University of King’s College, Halifax and continued organ and composition studies under Maitland Farmer, a former organist of All Saints Cathedral, Halifax. After receiving his Master of Divinity, David was awarded several scholarships which required the education must be continued outside the Atlantic Provinces. The subject matter was not restrictive, and so organ studies in performance under the internationally acclaimed organist Dagmar Kopecki, with composition, and theory with several other Toronto music professionals filled 1977. He was made a Deacon in 1976 in Fredericton and ordained a priest in 1977 by the Bishop of Toronto for the Diocese of Fredericton. Father Staples returned to the Diocese in 1977 and served as the Rector of the Parish of St. Peter’s, Fredericton, the Parish of New Maryland, and the Parish of Rothesay. Father Staples made many valuable contributions to the fiscal development of this Diocese, chairing several committees of the Board of Finance, and re-organizing and updating the investments of the Diocesan Trust Funds.

For those who know him, David has a remarkable sense of humour, and a ready twinkle in his eyes.  He says that has helped him accept the limitations brought on by the progressive advancement of the degenerative disease called Parkinson’s and the recovery from back surgeries which have curtailed many of his former activities.

For those who know him, David has a remarkable sense of humour, and a ready twinkle in his eyes.

In the past, Father Staples has been Chairman of the Friends of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, a Chairman of the Fredericton Chapter of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, a member of the Board of Governors of the University of Kings College, Halifax, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Artists.  Currently, he continues as an Honorary Assistant at the Cathedral and is a Chaplain of Jurisdiction in the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem.

When asked about what he feels was the highlight of his career, he movingly reflects on interaction with individuals whom he has helped to develop a deep faith.

David has many and varied interests: music, theology, history, visual art, the economy and yes, even medicine, to the horror of his doctors. We wish him well with his health struggles which he appears to be managing well.

Marilyn Lewell